The Marathon Week Mindset

You’ve done the work. Now it’s about letting the fitness rise to the surface. A few reminders for the final stretch:

1. Control the controllables.
Don’t chase last-minute fitness. Sleep, hydration, and calm routines are what matter most now.

2. Keep it boring.
Eat the foods your stomach knows, keep the miles easy, and avoid the “extra run” temptation.

3. Visualize the day.
Picture the course, your pacing plan, the crowds, and how you’ll handle the tough miles. Mental rehearsal builds calm.

4. Trust the taper.
Feeling sluggish or restless is normal—it means your body is storing energy. That’s a good sign.

5. Remember why you’re doing this.
When the race gets hard, return to your “why.” Gratitude and perspective go a long way at mile 22.

New Episode: Joe Klecker’s Marathon Debut

We sat down with Joe Klecker as he prepares to toe the line for his first-ever marathon. From the long runs that built his confidence to the lessons he’s borrowing from his track career, Joe opens up about what it takes—mentally and physically—to step into unknown territory.

If you’ve ever been a week out from your own big race, you’ll relate to this one.

Listen now: https://youtu.be/-dK6EczHGjo

If you want to shop all of Joe’s favorite marathon products, check out his store link here. 

Meet Our New Coaches — Limited Spots Available

Alright everyone — I’ll keep this simple. Hammer & Axe has added three incredible new coaches, and they each bring something unique to the table. The catch?
They’re all full-time professional runners, which means their coaching rosters are limited.

If one of these profiles sounds like you, don’t wait — apply now to lock in your spot.

Jacob Hunter

Jacob works best with athletes who have just graduated college and want to keep competing post-collegiately. After his time in a mentorship program at UVA, he’s passionate about helping runners continue their journey beyond the structure of a college team—building training, purpose, and community in the next phase of the sport.

Apply to work with Jacob.

Emily Durgin

Emily is focused on coaching women’s marathoners—or women looking to move up to the marathon distance from shorter road races. She brings a hands-on, thoughtful approach to coaching, meeting her athletes where they’re at and helping them build confidence mile by mile.

Apply to work with Emily.

Austen Dalquist

Austen currently coaches at a local high school that’s quickly rising to national attention. His mix of belief, energy, and threshold-based training has built a powerful team culture. If you’re a high schooler (or coach of one!) looking for guidance from someone who truly gets it, Austen’s your guy.

Apply to work with Austen.

Three Workouts to Try This Week

Mix things up and add some flavor to your training. Here are three workouts inspired by different eras of distance running:

1. Prefontaine’s Famous 200s (30-40 workout)

Steve Prefontaine was known for his fearless racing and relentless workouts. One of his go-to sessions was all about rhythm and grit.
Workout: 10-20 x 200m on the track, alternating fast / float (run one at 5k effort, the next at steady tempo).
There’s no standing rest—just continuous movement. It teaches you how to hurt well while staying smooth.

2. Threshold Session

Classic and effective—this one never goes out of style.
Workout: 3-4 x 8 minutes at threshold effort (around your 1-hour race pace) with 90 seconds jog between reps.
Keep the heart rate steady, stay relaxed, and let the pace come naturally.

3. Hill Power Session

A favorite among modern pros for building strength and turnover.
Workout: Warm up well, then do 10–12 x 30 seconds uphill hard, jog back down for recovery.
Keep it controlled but powerful—think tall posture, quick feet, and strong arms.

New coaches. New workouts. Same mission— to empower and guide runners to their loftiest goals through effective training and meaningful relationships.