Phil Sesemann joins Elise to break down a big couple of years of marathoning – two 2:07 performances (Amsterdam and Valencia), Olympic reflections, and the steady, linear progression that’s taken him from 2:12 to the fifth fastest Brit of all time.

For Phil and his coach Andrew Henderson, marathon progress is built block by block (never biting off too much), with incremental gains shaping Phil’s professional career. He talks about “hedging his bets” by racing marathons close together to maximise the chance of perfect weather, and the factors that separated a smooth Amsterdam from a tougher Valencia.

We get into 140-mile weeks (that’s 225km!), “easy runs with purpose”, and his go-to fuelling ritual for healthy bones – a pint of chocolate Nesquik after every run. Phil shares how training with athletes like Emile Cairess has improved his own self-belief and lifted his ceiling.

Plus: life as a new dad (fewer training camps and more disrupted sleep), the legendary Mileage Mutts (his dogs Eliud Kipchoge and Haile Gebrselassie), moving away from a career in medicine, his commitment to an Olympic tattoo, and what a “best ever performance” at the forthcoming London Marathon really means.

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Phil Sesemann is a professional runner sponsored by ASICS and based in Leeds, UK. He ran 2:07:11 at Valencia in 2025, which is the 5th fastest time ever by a British athlete. He represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

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Check out Phil's YouTube channel:

youtube.com/@phil_sesemann

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer