How Elite Marathon Runners Get Faster & Best Running Shoes 2026  | Stephen Scullion

How Elite Marathon Runners Get Faster & Best Running Shoes 2026  | Stephen Scullion

From UNTAPPED with Spencer Matthews by High Performance

March 23, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

Irish Olympian Stephen Scullion discusses the factors that differentiate elite marathon runners from good ones and shares insights on running performance and gear.

Irish Olympian Stephen Scullion (2:09 marathon) joins us to break down what really separates good runners from the elite, and it’s probably not what you think. Stephen challenges the zone 2 obsession, shares his "Just Another Sunday" philosophy for race-day confidence, and ranks the fastest super shoes on the planet. We also discuss why discipline beats motivation, the weight-performance paradox, and his "patchwork quilt" approach to finding marginal gains. Plus: Why Mo Farah squats 140kg at 55kg bodyweight, and what it really takes to run fast when no one's watching. Heights 👉 Stay sharp like Spencer. 20% off Heights with code UT20: https://highpfrmc.com/ut-vitals-au1  WHOOP 👉 Join Spencer in untapping your own potential with 1 month free here: https://highpfrmc.com/UT-WHOOP-au3  Eight Sleep 👉 If you’re ready to upgrade your nights and unlock more energy in your days, start with Eight Sleep. Use code UT for £350 off the Pod 5 Ultra here: https://highpfrmc.com/UT-EightSleep-AU  Randox Health 👉 Take care of your health today and into the future. Save 20% on all health checks now with the code untapped at: https://highpfrmc.com/UT_Randoxhealth_au  EXCLUSIVE…

People in this episode

Guest: Stephen Scullion

Topics covered

  • marathon running
  • elite athletes
  • running shoes
  • performance improvement
  • discipline vs motivation

Keywords

  • marathon
  • running shoes
  • performance
  • discipline
  • marginal gains

Sponsors

Heights, WHOOP, Eight Sleep, Randox Health, NordVPN

More episodes of UNTAPPED with Spencer Matthews

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the UNTAPPED with Spencer Matthews podcast page.