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A surgeon once told Lionel Pailloncy to give up running after back surgery. Years later, he’s not only running again, he’s finished the original six World Marathon Majors and just took 20 minutes off his marathon PR in Tokyo. From Paris to Boston and beyond, Lionel’s story isn’t about being the fastest, it’s about refusing to let one diagnosis or one hard year define what’s possible.

We talk about the real mechanics of a comeback: physiotherapy, respecting your body in everyday movements, and rebuilding confidence one small step at a time. Lionel shares how he went from park runs to a 10K, then a half marathon, then his first Paris Marathon and why each race feels like its own emotional “cathedral.” We also get into the mental side of endurance, including the pressure of Strava metrics, the unpredictability of race day, and the moment he pivots away from chasing numbers toward gratitude and meaning.

If you love practical running conversations, you’ll enjoy the details too: vegan fueling while traveling, A-B testing gels, hydration habits, gear choices down to socks and seams, and the packing ritual that calms the mind before the gun goes off. Lionel also shares what might be the wildest week ever, defending his PhD viva in Paris and immediately flying to Boston to run again.

If this story gives you a spark, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a five-star review. What part of your own journey needs a little more courage right now?

coaching highlights

You can reach out to us at:

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email: Carla@coffeycrewcoaching.com
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Nineteen marathons sounds glamorous until you hear what it really takes: 5 a.m. runs before work, hard conversations with yourself at mile 20, and the patience to chase a goal for years. Nicole Gray joins us fresh off Tokyo Marathon to unpack how she went from a struggling first full marathon to earning her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star medal and lining up for Boston again.

We get specific about what actually moves the needle for marathon training and long-term running health: committing to strength training, learning to pace the first 10K, using simple mantras to shut down spirals of self-doubt, and trusting a coach who sees more potential than you feel in the moment. Nicole also shares the less-glamorous craft that separates a good day from a disaster, including running tangents, handling race travel, and building a pre-race routine that makes the start line feel normal.

Fueling and gear get the honest treatment too. We talk gels, timing, sensitive stomach troubleshooting, when sports drink becomes essential, and why the “pasta dinner” tradition doesn’t work for everyone. If you’re chasing a Boston qualifying time, exploring the World Marathon Majors, or simply trying to run stronger for longer, you’ll leave with practical strategy and a mindset you can use on your very next run.

If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a running friend, and leave a review so more runners can find the show.

coaching highlights

You can reach out to us at:

https://coffeycrewcoaching.com
email: Carla@coffeycrewcoaching.com
FB @ Over the Next Hill Fitness Group
IG @coffeycrewcoaching.com

and Buy Me a Coffee
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Carlau

https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNH20

https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNHBOGO?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fhydrapatch%C2%AE

https://rnwy.life code: OTNH15

https://jambar.com code: CARLA20

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Running can feel like a club you’re not invited to unless you’re fast, thin, or fearless. That’s why this conversation with coach Lisa Pozzoni landed so hard for me. Lisa started running as an adult, built confidence through personal training and better nutrition, and eventually fell in love with trail running and ultrarunning. Her perspective is refreshingly practical: most of us are not chasing podiums, we’re chasing a life that stays adventurous and healthy for decades.

We get into the races and formats that make that possible. Lisa explains how stage races like TransRockies can feel like “summer camp for big kids,” and she breaks down her Dawn Patrol role: starting about an hour early to help back-of-the-pack runners stay safe and make daily cutoffs, then handing off to sweepers once the main field catches up. We also talk about why she loves race companies that create space for slower runners, plus how community changes everything when you see the same faces day after day.

Then we go honest on sustainability, injury prevention, and training after 50. Lisa teaches chi running and chi walking technique, yet she’s navigating Achilles tendinitis and the hard lesson many coaches learn too: doing “easy miles” forever still requires rest, strength training for hips and glutes, and real recovery. We also connect walk-run methods like Jeff Galloway with technique work, and why both can help you keep running for life.

If you’re curious about trail running, ultramarathons, timed loop races like Across the Years, or simply finding your people, hit play. Subscribe, share the show with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review so more runners and walkers can find us.

Lisa can be followed at:

Therunninguniversity.com

on YouTube and Facebook

@True coach Lisa on IG

coaching highlights

You can reach out to us at:

https://coffeycrewcoaching.com
email: Carla@coffeycrewcoaching.com
FB @ Over the Next Hill Fitness Group
IG @coffeycrewcoaching.com

and Buy Me a Coffee
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Carlau

https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNH20

https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNHBOGO?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fhydrapatch%C2%AE

https://rnwy.life code: OTNH15

https://jambar.com code: CARLA20