Race Weight, Sodium Loading, and Chasing Sub 2:40 at Gold Coast Marathon - Marty Bordignon

Marty checks in 26 days out from the Gold Coast Marathon to discuss his peak marathon training, achilles niggle, biggest long run yet, fueling plan including sodium loading, race weight, sauna, strength work, and shoe choice. Marty Bordignon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martybordignon/ Marty Bordignon Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/martybordignon/ Marty Bordignon Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/user/martyb-au?si=sgXyMAYERJGyKdGCYeXTUw Train with Matt: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Private Podcast Feed + Discord: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/ Contact Matt: matt@sweatelite.co Matt Fox Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Matt Fox Strava Training Log: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359/ With 26 days until the Gold Coast Marathon, Matt and Marty review Marty's peak marathon build, including a 36.36 km long run averaging 4:07/km with 22.57 km at 3:46/km, faster than his current 2:46 PB pace. Marty explains that the run felt hard partly due to early Achilles tightness, which flared after stopping, and he reflects on whether he could have extended the marathon-effort segment closer to 30 km. The conversation covers Marty's confidence around breaking 2:40, his doubts about holding 3:45/km on race day, and his estimate of around a 30% chance if everything comes together. Matt and Marty also discuss his weekly mileage rising toward roughly 160 km, a strong 2 km "on" / 1 km float session, and the mental benefits and drawbacks of group training, Strava comparison, and chasing other runners' sessions. They also talk through Marty's current race weight of around 66.5 kg, his plan to take 100 g of carbohydrates per hour, heavy sodium loading to reduce cramping risk, minimal fluids, and possible beetroot and bicarb trials. Marty shares that he has neglected sauna and strength work since moving but may add heat sessions back in, while Matt and Marty debate sauna protocols, strength training tradeoffs, and whether the Puma FastR is the right race-day shoe despite Achilles concerns. Timestamps: 00:00 - Marathon Build Check In 01:06 - Big Long Run Breakdown 02:54 - Achilles Scare And Effort 05:45 - Confidence And Goal Pace Doubts 09:37 - Mileage Ramp And Consistency 11:01 - Float Session Fitness Boost 12:28 - Group Training And Strava Mind Games 15:25 - Sauna Plans And Heat Protocol 19:14 - Strength Training Debate 25:30 - Race Weight And Nutrition Update 27:00 - Elite Weight Targets Story 28:19 - George's Weight Cut 29:02 - Comrades Race Preview 29:46 - Chasing Race Weight 31:06 - Gold Coast Fuel Plan 33:42 - Hydration and Cramping 35:04 - Beetroot and Bicarb 38:26 - Shoe Choice Debate 41:42 - New Shoes and Kit 43:43 - Wrap Up and Next Episode