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The Training Blog

s5e24 Breaking4, Boston Qualifying Changes, and the Big Business of Women's Sports with Jonathan Levitt | The Running Explained Podcast

  • Jul 24
  • 3 min read

Updated: Aug 6

In the latest episode of The Running Explained Podcast, Coach Elisabeth is joined by Jon Levitt, host of For the Long Run and Long Run Labs, endurance athlete, and resident expert in both running and running-adjacent banter. They explore the power of storytelling in elevating the sport, the challenges runners face both mentally and physically no matter their level, and how the running community is changing, especially in terms of marathon qualifications, gender equity, and athlete branding. This episode is for anyone that's curious about the culture, industry, and future of running.





What You’ll Learn:

  • Why trail running is seeing a surge in popularity

  • How the running industry is growing as both a sport and business

  • Why storytelling is essential to making running more engaging and accessible

  • The controversy around changing Boston Marathon qualifying standards

  • The importance of brand involvement in elevating women’s sports

  • What the future might hold for competitive and recreational running alike


Sound Bites:

  • “I like how brands are doing these moonshot events because the more moonshots we see, the more people are willing to make their own moonshots.” 

  • "If a brand wants to put their money where their mouth is and invest in women's sports for whatever reason, I think that's a great thing.”  

  • “There are just so many stories to be told, and I think that there are people who are craving a connection to something, and they're craving...being told that they should be a fan of this or that, and that they should be inspired by that.”

  • "I just like running, and I don't need to kick down any doors...My invitation to people is like, just try it."

  • "For me, Boston gave me something to work towards for four years, and that journey inspired me to be a better version of myself in both running and not running."

  • "There are participation trophies, and there is inclusivity, and there are ways we can be inclusive without being pedantic, and I think that that's a very fine line to walk."


Chapters:

  • 00:00 Introducing Jon Levitt

  • 12:32 Breaking Four: The Mile Event

  • 15:29 Investing in Women's Sports

  • 21:02 The Role of Storytelling

  • 25:59 Breaking Four: An Aggressive Goal

  • 31:15 Bravery in Breaking Records

  • 37:04 The Boston Qualifying Controversy

  • 41:44 Boston is a Downhill Race

  • 46:06 Exclusivity in Running

  • 54:14 Strava Caption or Shenanigans


Connect with Jon:

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About Your Host

Elisabeth Scott is a running coach, educator, and the founder of Running Explained, where she helps runners train smarter, run stronger, and enjoy the process. After getting sober at 29, she laced up her running shoes with the goal of finishing a 5K—and never looked back. Since then, she’s gone on to complete multiple races, including marathons with a Boston Qualifying time, all while deepening her expertise in endurance training.


With a science-based approach, Coach Elisabeth is passionate about making complex running concepts accessible and actionable for runners of all levels. Her coaching philosophy centers on building a strong aerobic base, improving running efficiency, and developing a whole-human approach to training that prioritizes consistency, injury prevention, and sustainable progress.


Through Running Explained, Elisabeth offers training plans, online courses, and 1:1 coaching designed to help runners achieve their goals while avoiding the common pitfalls of overtraining, under-fueling, and burnout. Whether you’re training for your first half marathon or chasing a new PR, her guidance will help you train smarter, race stronger, and love the journey.

📲 Learn more at ⁠RunningExplained.com⁠

📢 Follow on Instagram: ⁠@runningexplained

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