Sweat Elite Podcast

Is getting lighter always the answer for runners chasing faster race times? Matt Fox is joined by Dr David Lipman for a short, sharp discussion about weight loss, performance, RED-S and the risks of taking leanness too far.
Dr David Lipman Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidlipman/
Website: https://www.drdavidjlipman.com/
Listen to David's Podcast
For more conversations exploring the science, psychology and hidden stories behind sport, check out 1% Better - Hidden Stories in Sport, co-hosted by Xylon van Eyck and Dr David Lipman.
Matt Fox Links
Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/
Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
Email: matt@sweatelite.co
Matt and David explore why being lighter does not automatically make an athlete faster. Although reducing excess body fat may improve running economy and performance, there is a lower limit where continued weight loss can begin to compromise health, recovery and long-term performance.
Matt shares his own experience of becoming faster after losing weight, while David explains why the human body cannot be treated like a simple machine. Some body fat may provide an important energy buffer because the absorption and use of fuel can vary between athletes and from day to day.
They examine Ryan Hall's experience as a cautionary example. Hall initially improved while becoming extremely lean, but his performance and health eventually declined after taking the process too far. This temporary improvement can create a dangerous "more is better" mindset, where athletes continue restricting food because the early results appear positive.
The conversation also breaks down Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, commonly known as RED-S. Rather than viewing RED-S as the result of one isolated mistake, David describes it using a stress bucket model. Training load, inadequate fueling, poor sleep, work pressure and other life stressors can accumulate until the athlete's ability to recover is overwhelmed.
Matt and David discuss carbohydrate periodization and carb cycling, including when lower-carbohydrate training may have a place within an endurance program. However, they stress that these strategies do not eliminate the risks of chronic under-fueling. Athletes still require adequate carbohydrates, protein and dietary fat to support performance, recovery and overall health.
They also cover behaviours associated with disordered eating, the spectrum between structured nutrition and unhealthy restriction, whether runners should deliberately lose muscle mass, and the difficult tradeoffs that can exist between short-term performance and long-term health.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Is Lighter Always Faster?
00:43 Fat Buffer and Absorption
01:31 Ryan Hall Cautionary Tale
02:38 When Leanness Backfires
03:28 RED-S and the Stress Bucket
06:27 Carb Cycling and Risk
08:43 Macronutrients and Carb Periodization
10:29 The Disordered Eating Spectrum
12:13 Muscle Mass vs Running Goals
13:20 Health and Performance Tradeoffs
14:28 Wrap Up and Thanks
This conversation is provided for general educational purposes and is not individual medical or nutritional advice. Athletes concerned about RED-S, disordered eating or persistent under-fueling should speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

Jack Kelly joins the Sweat Elite Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on massive weight loss, injury prevention, marathon training, running performance for triathletes, heat adaptation, recovery, and the small "one percenters" that can make a big difference.
Follow Jack Kelly / The Triathlon Hour:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetriathlonhour/
Jack Kelly with Elliot Jenkins - Heat Training:
Listen on Spotify
Follow Matt / Sweat Elite:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3152859
Sweat Elite Supporters Club: https://www.sweatelite.co/supporters/
Jack is the host of The Triathlon Hour and a coach working with professional triathletes. In this episode, we discuss his transformation from around 125kg down toward 80kg, the unconventional approach he used to lose weight while staying injury-free, and why walking, varied movement and high-frequency training may be underrated tools for endurance athletes.
We then go deep into marathon training, breaking down some of our favourite sessions including 25 x 600m, 1K on/1K float, progression long runs, 2K repetitions, long marathon-pace intervals and the classic 2 x 10K marathon dress rehearsal.
We also discuss sleep consistency, post-workout carbohydrate intake, creatine, Nomio, sauna and heat adaptation, occasional "hero sessions," energy drinks, and the importance of considering heart health when using stimulants.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Jack Kelly Joins
00:27 Japan Detention Story
02:49 Weight Loss Turning Point
07:57 Andorra Reset Plan
12:18 Walking For Resilience
16:55 Secret Injury Proofing
25:25 Coaching Career Highlights
27:51 Ari Klau Progress
30:18 Triathletes Running Fast
35:49 Marathon Million Dollar Hypothetical
36:26 Fastest Triathlon Marathon
38:08 Kristian Marathon Potential
39:14 Gustav Motivation Question
39:50 The Secret Marathon Workouts You Need to Know
01:36:12 The Six 1%'ers You Can Focus On To Imrove
01:39:51 Japan Detention Sleep Reset
01:41:02 Irony of Gummies and Jail
01:42:23 Sleep Aids and Insomnia
01:43:35 Recovery Fuel After Training
01:46:15 Creatine Water Weight Explained
01:47:52 Nomio Supplement Deep Dive
01:54:17 Sauna and Heat Adaptation
01:57:37 Hero Sessions Superman Cape
02:01:12 Monster Energy Pre Race Ritual
02:03:25 Heart Health and Stimulants
02:05:00 Wrap Up and Where to Follow
Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical or nutritional advice. Always consider your individual health circumstances and seek appropriate professional advice where necessary.

Race Weight and Carb Cycling: Losing Weight to Get Faster Without Sacrificing Key Workouts
Welcome back to another short, sharp sub 15-minute episode. Today, I discuss the relationship between race weight and endurance performance, using examples including Josh Kerr, the new mile world record holder, Comrades Marathon winner George Kusche, and Olympic triathlon champion Kristian Blummenfelt.

I explain how losing weight has helped me improve my own marathon time from 2:35 to 2:18, while also addressing the risks of aggressive dieting and underfueling. This episode is not intended for anyone with a history of eating disorders, and I am sharing my personal experience rather than professional nutritional advice.
I break down how I use a moderate calorie deficit on most days while carb cycling around important workouts. The goal is to fuel heavily with carbohydrates for approximately 12 hours before and three hours after key sessions, then return to lower-calorie, filling foods during easier periods.
Matt's Links
Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/
Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/
Email: matt@sweatelite.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Elite Weight Clues
02:05 Podcast Setup and Warning
03:55 My Race Weight Journey
06:04 Critics and Risk
08:14 Calorie Deficit Basics
10:21 Carb Cycling for Workouts
12:52 Foods That Keep You Full
14:11 Resources and Wrap Up

Recording from Beijing International Airport during a delayed Air China flight, I share a short, single-topic episode exploring the "speed gap" and why pure speed can be a major limiter for marathon and half-marathon performance.
Using examples such as breaking three hours in the marathon and my own goal of running 2:19, I explain why runners need enough speed at shorter distances to make marathon pace feel sustainable. I also discuss why many runners and coaches place too much emphasis on mileage and threshold training while neglecting speed development.
I finish the episode by sharing three practical ways to improve speed without dramatically changing your training: short max-effort hill sprints, regular strides after easy runs, and strength training focused on squats, hamstrings and calves.
Links
Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/
Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/
Email: matt@sweatelite.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/
Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
Episode Timestamps
00:00 Airport Podcast Setup
00:40 The Speed Gap Idea
01:36 Performance Versus Fun
02:43 Marathon Goal Example
05:13 My Own Speed Limits
07:31 Why Runners Avoid Speed
09:19 Hill Sprints Prescription
10:20 Strides And Mechanics
11:02 Gym Strength For Speed
11:36 Wrap Up And Next Episodes

Eight days after her outstanding marathon debut at the Gold Coast Marathon, Allie May joins the Sweat Elite Podcast to break down her 2:36:22 performance, her journey from elite surf lifesaving to road racing, and the lessons she learned from her first marathon.
Allie May
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allieeemay/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/52067205/
Matt Fox
Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

Supporters Club: https://sweatelite.co/supporters-club/

Email: matt@sweatelite.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359
Allie shares how she executed an almost perfect even split of 1:18:11 for both halves, why she targeted a 2:35 debut, what surprised her most over 42.2km, and how she recovered in the days after the race. She also reflects on her background in the Ironwoman Series and the Coolangatta Gold, explains how those endurance events prepared her for the marathon, and discusses her transition to road racing after having children.
The conversation also covers her training environment, nutrition and fueling strategy, overcoming previous struggles with disordered eating with the help of a dietitian, shoe choices, strength training, racing alongside Reenie Ringe, and what's next after an impressive marathon debut.
Timestamps:
00:00 Meet Allie May
00:30 Even Split Breakdown
01:46 Recovery After Gold Coast
02:26 Surf Lifesaving Roots
03:52 What Is Surf Lifesaving
06:14 Early Running and Training Load
09:02 Switching to Road Racing
11:36 Marathon Fear and Respect
14:25 Chasing a 2:35 Debut
16:13 First Marathon Block Lessons
17:32 Team Training and Balance
20:20 Nutrition and Fueling Mindset
25:52 Fueling Matters Most
26:25 Race Day Nutrition Plan
28:54 Shoe Rotation Choices
30:49 Carbon Shoes Debate
32:07 Elite Start Experience
35:13 Doubts and Dark Patches
38:31 Next Goals and Races
41:21 Strength Training Add On
42:39 Wrap Up and Where to Follow