Nudge Nudge

The mental tricks used to break the 2-hour marathon

Aug 24, 2026 · 23m

Summary

Host Phil Agnew explores the psychological tactics behind Sebastian Sawe’s historic sub-two-hour London Marathon, drawing insights from Alex Hutchinson’s book *Endure*. The episode details mental hacks like carb rinsing, crowd support, and positive self-talk that reduce perceived effort and boost endurance. Agnew also shares personal tips from his own race, including lucky charms and charity motivation, to help listeners unlock their potential.

Topics discussed

Sebastian Sawe breaks the 2-hour marathon record The psychology of endurance and the carb swish trick How mouth rinsing boosts brain motivation The impact of crowds and positive feedback on performance Relaxing your face to reduce perceived effort Deceiving yourself about the finish line distance The power of lucky charms and superstitions How donating to charity increases endurance Kipchoge's mindset and the science of positive self-talk Conclusion, book recommendation, and newsletter plug
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