Marathon Talk Episode 46: Chris Slater - Finisher at 2024’s Marathon Des Sables

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The Marathon Des Sables is among the toughest tests of endurance any runner can attempt, and on this week's show, fresh from a Top 50 finish at last month's event in the Sahara Desert, we welcome the remarkable Chris Slater.

It’s a privilege and a pleasure for Chris to join us on Marathon Talk - his recovery from addiction that has led him on an endurance running journey like no other is truly inspirational and we have so much to talk about.

Elsewhere in the show, we put the spotlight on The Hardest Geezer, Russ Cook, as he sets off on his next adventure; track & field take centre stage at the next Olympics, and we hear about a curious new dating-running series that has everyone talking.

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In this episode of Marathon Talk

0:00 - Kicking things off, Martin and Deena round up their fortnight watching the riveting US Olympic trials, and how they’ve been exploring different running formats‍
12:00 - All the latest in the running world sees a new challenge for the Hardest Geezer Russ Cook, track & field taking top billing in L.A, and a new, faster way to go dating…‍
23:45 - Chris Slater is our incredible guest this week, with not only an inspirational story overcoming addiction, but in doing so he’s an 81 time marathon finisher and is fresh from a remarkable 250km Marathon Des Sables
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Episode highlights

“I think I like the notion of getting ready for something, being able to do your best at it, and then that performance being able to take you onwards.” - 5:20 - Martin Yelling

“This running dating series is so perfect because, in covering the Abbott World Marathon Majors series, there are proposals along the 26.2 mile journey. There's proposals at the finish line, there's couples running together holding hands at the finish line - We see it all. ” - 15:00 - Deena Kastor

“I haven't always been a runner. I've been a team sportsman, and running really only came to me because of lockdown. But before that, I was in a really, really, really bad place in my life.” - 26:30 - Chris Slater

“I've had to admit defeat and accept things. That's the work I've had to do, and then to have the ability to listen to my running coach, my drug recovery sponsor, the counsellors in rehab, because they're the ones that have done this all before.” - 36:50 - Chris Slater

“Two weeks out from the MDS, I went to a controlled heat chamber. After 1 hour I had to be pulled out, I was in a state of shock. 8 hours later, I was okay, which was mind blowing.” - 42:05 - Chris Slater