Podcasts · The Marathon Podcast

#207 Meo The Machine: Altitude Camps, Race Day Chaos, and Going Pro (Martin Egebjerg Olesen)

28 Aug 2026 · 1 h 16 min · S1 E207

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Kristian welcomes back "MEO the Machine" Martin Olesen, straight off representing Denmark at the European Championships marathon in Birmingham, for a catch up on altitude training, race day chaos, and what it might take for him to go full time as a runner.

Martin shares what an altitude camp with training partner Jimmy Whelan in Font Romeu actually looked like ahead of Birmingham, and how a security breach at the athlete hotel the night before the race left him running on just three hours of sleep. He breaks down the brutal, technical Birmingham course, finishing 34th as a full time employee alongside professional athletes, and reflects on the mix of gratitude and hunger for more that came with it. The conversation closes with an honest chat about balancing a demanding job with training at an international level, and whether going full time as a runner might be next.

In this episode:

- Racing the European Championships marathon in Birmingham

- Training alongside Jimmy Whelan at an altitude camp in Font Romeu

- A security breach at the athlete hotel the night before the race

- Racing on almost no sleep and still finishing 34th

- Breaking down a brutal, technical championship course

- Being a full time employee competing against full time professionals

- The mix of gratitude and hunger for more after the race

- Balancing a demanding job with training at an international level

- Whether going full time as a runner might be next

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome back, straight from the European Championships

02:11 Kristian's own rough week battling a fever

05:44 A nutrition update and finishing up work with his nutritionist

07:41 Introducing Martin and previewing the conversation

08:19 Training in Barcelona and altitude camp with Jimmy Whelan

11:24 A full breakdown of the Font Romeu altitude camp

18:59 What Jimmy Whelan taught him about training

29:44 Reflecting on his second European Championships selection

31:27 The marathon that first proved his potential

32:14 What it means to represent Denmark as a full time employee

36:48 His first real altitude camp experience

37:56 Long runs and track sessions alongside Jimmy

41:22 Whether the altitude or the lifestyle made the difference

49:03 How he felt physically after the altitude block

1:02:11 Race recap: finishing 34th at the European Championships

1:03:02 Comparing his grade adjusted time to his marathon PR

1:04:39 The security breach that cost him a night's sleep

1:07:01 The feeling of gratitude and hunger for more after the race

1:11:31 What his coach says about balancing work and elite training

1:13:48 Considering a future full time as a runner

1:14:46 Closing thoughts and what's coming up next

Martin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meothemachine/

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The episode on the publisher’s site ↗ (opens in a new tab)