Season 2 • Episode 21
Paying to Suffer: The Strange Economics of Marathons with Special Guest Steve Sisson
Steve Sisson of Telos Running joins Jennifer and Julie to explore marathon costs, destination races and why runners pay to push their limits. Drink of choice: Michelob Ultra.
About This Episode
Running is supposed to be the cheap sport. So how did we end up with expensive shoes, destination-race weekends, and a credit card bill that needs its own recovery plan?
This week on Money Well Studio, Jennifer and Julie welcome running coach legend, Steve Sisson of Telos Running, to unpack the economics of marathons—and the even stranger psychology of people who keep signing up for them.
We follow the money from carbon-plated shoes and race entries to hotel rooms, road closures, charity fundraising, and the finish-line beer tent. Steve explains why runners happily pay for the privilege of suffering, how a race bib becomes permission to travel, and why reducing months of training to a single finish time can rob us of the best part of running.
Along the way, British royalty gets blamed for the final miserable 0.2 miles, Jennifer makes the case for bacon and mimosas at mile nine, and Steve delivers a spectacularly unfavorable review of our featured beverage, Michelob Ultra.
Come for the marathon math. Stay for the reminder that the return on all those miles might be a bigger life, rather than a faster time.
Hear more from Steve—and work with him
Coaching: Explore Telos Running’s training programs for Austin training and online coaching, or individual consultations for help with training, race preparation, mental skills, and self-coaching. Contact Steve at sisson@telosrunning.com.
Coach Sisson Podcasts:
- oyo.run: Steve’s current project, focused on taking ownership of your running—even when you have a coach. OYO means “on your own.”
- Running on Purpose: Explore the archive for the physical, mental, and philosophical dimensions of running.
- Keep Going: Steve and shoe designer Michael Krajicek’s candid conversations about running and life. The archive’s transition announcement directs listeners to oyo.run.
- Running Rogue: Head to episodes 1–100 to hear Steve co-hosting with Chris McClung. The show continues with Chris.
Drink of Choice: Michelob Ultra
Serve chilled. This episode’s pairing is a beer, with Steve’s candid review included in the conversation.