303. Why Strength Training Prevents Late-Race Collapse
From Marathon Running Podcast by Marathon Journal by Marathon Journal (Letty Lundquist, Ryan Lundquist)
March 2, 2026 · 24 min · Season 6 · Episode 301
About this episode
This episode discusses how strength training can prevent late-race collapse in marathon runners.
In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast , updates and expert insights to keep you informed on the latest in running and competitive sports. We sit down with Arj Thiruchelvam , performance coach at Performance Physique , to dissecta groundbreaking new study from Loughborough University that is changing how we view the "marathon wall." We ask the tough questions: Why do we collapse in the final 10K? Is it a lack of cardio, or something deeper? Arj breaks down the science of "durability" and explains why heavy lifting and plyometrics are the missing link for well-trained runners looking to maintain their economy under extreme fatigue. Why You Should Listen: You will learn why a 35% increase in time to exhaustion is possible through strength training and how to implement "bouncy" exercises like drop jumps to transform your running gait. Our guest this episode: Arj Thiruchelvam — performancephysique.co.uk Connect with Us: Our website: https://www.marathonjournal.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marathonjournal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runningpodcast Followus on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/30798607
People in this episode
Hosts: Letty Lundquist, Ryan Lundquist
Guest: Arj Thiruchelvam
Topics covered
- strength training
- marathon running
- performance coaching
- durability
- exercise science
- fatigue management
Keywords
- strength training
- marathon wall
- performance coach
- time to exhaustion
- plyometrics
- running economy
- drop jumps
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Performance Physique, Loughborough University
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