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This month's Hot Seat features repeat guest Steve Winrow of Winrow Performance, answering nutrition questions from our coaching athletes. Steve is a sports nutritionist with a background in exercise physiology, working with everyone from recreational runners to professional tennis players. He's also one of Nick's current athletes, training for a sub-3 Manchester Marathon.

Topics Covered

Overmarketed Nutrition Trends Steve calls out three: low-carb/keto diets (no benefit for endurance performance — the "godfather" keto study was based on just five athletes), fasting protocols (overstated benefits largely based on rodent studies), and the gut health/probiotics craze (not harmful, but a well-balanced diet does the heavy lifting).

Intermittent Fasting & Autophagy The autophagy argument doesn't hold up. Hard endurance training is already a far stronger stimulus for cell repair than fasting. Withholding fuel post-training just impairs glycogen replenishment and increases inflammation. Fasting can work for calorie control — but it doesn't do anything metabolically "fancy."

Appetite Hormones: Ghrelin & Leptin Ghrelin drives short-term hunger (rises before meals, drops after). Leptin reflects longer-term energy status and sits in fat tissue. Rapid weight loss drops leptin fast, which slows metabolism — one reason weight loss stalls. Protein is the most effective macronutrient for managing satiety. Poor sleep and underfuelling disrupt both hormones.

Key Takeaways

1. There is no benefit to low-carb or keto diets for endurance performance. If you want to run fast, eat carbs.
2. Fasting is fine for calorie control but does nothing special for cell repair or metabolism.
3. Aim for 2g/kg protein per day. Use the 3-2-1 method as a starting point and adjust carbs to training load.
4. Fuel the work required — ~0.8–1g/kg carbs either side of hard sessions.
5. Sleep is your number one recovery tool. Prioritise it ruthlessly.
6. Consistency is the biggest predictor of success. Illness and injury kill consistency. Recovery prevents both.

Guest Details

Steve Winrow — Winrow Performance Instagram: @winrowperformance Weekly newsletter every Monday (February focus: recovery)

Right, that's us done. If that was useful… share it. Stick it in your club WhatsApp, send it to that mate who's always getting injured three weeks before race day. You know the one ;)

If you want to go deeper on any of this, Nick puts out videos every week on YouTube, and the entire team of coaches are sharing helpful tips on their instagram channels... links below. And if you're thinking you actually need a proper plan and someone in your corner… we've got Guided Coaching from 97 quid a month, right up to full one-to-one coaching with the coach of your choice. Either way, maximummileagecoaching.com is where you want to be.

See you on the next one.

To work with us - https://join.maximummileagecoaching.com/home-page-9835

Nick's YT - youtube.com/channel/UCgdIPeN3bF7I7-tcspyFbVg/

Faye's IG - https://www.instagram.com/fayejohnsoncoaching/

Rachael's IG - https://www.instagram.com/rachforthelongrun/

Hannah's IG - https://www.instagram.com/coach_hannah_witt/

Matt's IG - https://www.instagram.com/ultracoachmatt/

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We’re back… for the first proper Maximum Mileage Podcast in just over a year. Nick and Faye catch up on what’s changed at Maximum Mileage (new coaches, Faye going full-time, a growing global community)… plus their own running years, highs and lows, and a bit of real talk about health, recovery, and what actually matters.

Then we’re joined by Tina Muir (former GB and Northern Ireland international) for an honest conversation about diet culture, underfuelling, RED-S, and why trying to “cut weight” while marathon training so often backfires. We also get into the current fuelling trend (yes, carbs)… and Tina’s work helping runners and races take practical steps toward sustainability, without the guilt trip.

Key takeaways (the stuff we want you to remember)

• Training hard + cutting calories is a risky combo… performance drops, recovery suffers, niggles appear.
• “Health” is the long game… run well now so you can move well later.
• Underfuelling isn’t just a women’s issue… men get hit too, just with fewer obvious signals.
• Sleep problems can be a big red flag… stress + low energy availability can show up at 3am.
• The goal isn’t perfect eating… it’s a relationship with food that supports training and life.
• Sustainability doesn’t need to be all-or-nothing… start with one uncomfortable “no thanks”.

Quote pulls

• “Training for a marathon and trying to be on a diet at the same time are not very compatible.”
• “Focus on longevity… wellbeing… and performing well in training.”
• “Your body goes into survival mode… what’s less important right now?”
• “The freedom of not having those constant horrible thoughts… is worth everything.”
• “Get used to being uncomfortable… and saying ‘no thank you’.”

Thanks for being part of our running community. Keep clocking those miles, keep pushing your limits, and above all, keep finding joy in the run. See you on the next episode of Maximum Mileage Running Podcast!

You can find more resources including the blog or enquire about having one of our coaches as your Running coach by visiting the website https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Or find us on Instagram @maximummileage

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Join us for another action-packed episode of real running talk, pro-tips, and a bit of humour to keep things lively. Tune in, learn, laugh, and take another stride towards becoming the best runner you can be. Remember, at Maximum Mileage, we're all about running long, running strong, and relishing the journey!

Thanks for being part of our running community. Keep clocking those miles, keep pushing your limits, and above all, keep finding joy in the run. See you on the next episode of Maximum Mileage Running Podcast!

You can find more resources including the blog or enquire about having one of our coaches as your Running coach by visiting the website https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Or find us on Instagram @maximummileage

Send us a text

In this episode, Nick talks through his "supplement stack" and why he takes these specific supplements!

Supplements for running are all the rage and it can be a real minefield of what is good and what is snake oil!

Thanks for being part of our running community. Keep clocking those miles, keep pushing your limits, and above all, keep finding joy in the run. See you on the next episode of Maximum Mileage Running Podcast!

You can find more resources including the blog or enquire about having one of our coaches as your Running coach by visiting the website https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Or find us on Instagram @maximummileage

Send us a text

New Year, New You, right? You're going to turn over a new leaf, pick up a new hobby, fit in more exercise, run every race that's advertised on your TikTok and start that über specific diet you've seen on instagram. And then 48 hours later it's all fallen apart. We've all been there. But fear not, because Coach Faye is here to set you on the right path to achieving your goals by...(drum roll please)...actually considering how and why you set them in the first place!

Naturally there are a fair few running specific references, but hey, this is damn good advice for all flavour of goals you will inevitably set yourself this year. So do yourself a favour and get off to a great start by listening in - maybe even take some notes!

Thanks for being part of our running community. Keep clocking those miles, keep pushing your limits, and above all, keep finding joy in the run. See you on the next episode of Maximum Mileage Running Podcast!

You can find more resources including the blog or enquire about having one of our coaches as your Running coach by visiting the website https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Or find us on Instagram @maximummileage

Send us a text

It's 2025 and we're hitting the trails and roads hard!

In this episode, Matt being the nosy bugger that he is, wants to know what other people have in their training sessions. Because frankly, the nitty gritty of what a 5K runner is doing in their session versus what a 50 mile runner is doing in theirs is really interesting! After all, it's bringing that specificity in that separates a good coach from an online training plan that anyone can download and follow, regardless of their goals and current status. So join us as we pull apart different interval sessions, why the length of your longest run is basically irrelevant, why strength training is important across the board but how it differs from the speedsters (5K) to the foodies (ultras) and lot's of other tidbits that help peak behind the curtain of your running pals training sessions...

Thanks for being part of our running community. Keep clocking those miles, keep pushing your limits, and above all, keep finding joy in the run. See you on the next episode of Maximum Mileage Running Podcast!

You can find more resources including the blog or enquire about having one of our coaches as your Running coach by visiting the website https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Or find us on Instagram @maximummileage

Send us a text

It's moving ever closer to that festive time of year, plus the questionable discount period of Black Friday, so what better time to get a bit nerdy over the type of tech designed for and marketed towards runners? With such a huge range of items to choose from, covering pre-run prep, running performance and post-run recovery Nick and Matt jump in to discuss watches, heart rate monitors, body temperature monitors, footpods, foam rollers, inflatable leg warmers and massage guns with a blend of personal experience and (sometimes) actual science.

So do yourself (or your loved ones!) a favour, and give this a listen before filling those stockings with shiny tech that might not quite be as useful as you'd hoped...

Oh, and if you get to this before the end of November 2024 follow these links to get FREE kindle copies of Nick's two cookbooks for runners...proper tasty grub to keep your training on track!

The Ultimate Recipes for Runners Cookbook

The Ultimate Cookbook for Runners: Delicious Recipes for Optimal Performance and Endurance

Thanks for being part of our running community. Keep clocking those miles, keep pushing your limits, and above all, keep finding joy in the run. See you on the next episode of Maximum Mileage Running Podcast!

You can find more resources including the blog or enquire about having one of our coaches as your Running coach by visiting the website https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Or find us on Instagram @maximummileage

Send us a text

This week Nick and Faye are delighted to be joined by Paul Thomas, owner of actual, real life, bricks & mortar running store Sole Mate, based in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales and right on the door step of some fantastic road and trail running.

In the world of online shopping from faceless big box stores, Sole Mate has taken the local running scene by storm by providing a genuine customer experience whilst being laser focused on giving back to the community. Under the banner of "Mind and Sole Mate" they run a community interest company to raise funds for therapy and mental health workshops, as well as providing kit to get out onto the trails for those who need it most (because we all know how powerful running can be for our mental health!)

Sole Mate's approach is clearly working as Paul shares some of the successes that have come from their hard work - such as their weekly social run having grown just 7 to regularly over 50 runners traveling to attend. Paul also shares a little "behind the scenes" into how Sole Mate came to be and what it takes to run the enterprise, whilst Nick and Faye join Paul in sharing their frustrations over examples of Gait Analysis done badly...

Maximum Mileage are proud to be partnered with Sole Mate, providing discounts to members of our Patreon (links below). If you're ever in the area, or frankly even if it's a bit of a drive, Sole Mate is totally worth the visit for runners of all flavours

Thanks for being part of our running community. Keep clocking those miles, keep pushing your limits, and above all, keep finding joy in the run. See you on the next episode of Maximum Mileage Running Podcast!

You can find more resources including the blog or enquire about having one of our coaches as your Running coach by visiting the website https://www.maximummileagecoaching.com/

Or find us on Instagram @maximummileage