#230 How a 777 Pilot Runs a 2:42 Marathon: Alex Orr on Training Around Flights, Jet Lag & the OTQ

The Marathon Podcast is now proudly sponsored by Saysky Copenhagen. Use code TMP15 for 15% off at saysky.com. Get 20% off a Strava annual subscription with code KRISTIANSave on FlexBeam using code WARWICKRUNS or this link: https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/55GAPb How do you train for a 2:42 marathon while flying as an international airline pilot? In this episode of The Marathon Podcast, part of our series with Tracksmith’s Stamata team, Kristian talks with Alex Orr, a United Airlines pilot who flies the Boeing 777 and runs for Georgetown Running Club in Washington, D.C. Alex is a 2:42 marathoner (set in Berlin) and a 1:15 half marathoner, and she is chasing an Olympic Trials qualifier. She explains how she plans every week around her flight schedule, why she protects her hard workouts at home, how she handles jet lag and cancelled flights, and what a normal training week looks like when she is gone for days at a time. We also talk about cockpit naps, recovery on layovers, and how she tells the difference between a tough day and a day to back off. Alex shares the story of how she found her way back to running after stepping away from the sport, what she learned from two marathons that did not go to plan, and how being part of Stamata, led by Steph Bruce and supported by Tracksmith, has shaped her journey. In this episode:How a 777 pilot fits in a marathon buildPlanning workouts around flights, jet lag and delaysJoining Tracksmith’s Stamata teamStepping away from running and finding her way backFrom a 2:46 in Chicago to a 2:42 in BerlinLearning from Indianapolis and Eugene, two marathons that did not go to planA 1:15 half marathonA full training week, including VO2 sessions and long runsRecovery, sleep and naps in the cockpitHer next goal at CIM Timestamps 00:00 Introducing Alex 01:07 Kristian’s training update 02:31 Welcome, and fitting running around flights 07:13 Who Alex is and how she got into running 08:05 Living the dream as a pilot and runner 08:57 Joining Tracksmith’s Stamata team 11:15 Flight schedules, bidding and training camps 13:13 Getting time off for races 14:52 Early years of running 18:15 Her coaches 19:49 Life after college 20:23 Losing her father 22:52 Coming back with GRC 24:29 The breakthrough in Chicago and 2:42 in Berlin 25:15 Grief and running 27:39 What running means to her 30:01 What drives her 31:51 Chasing the OTQ 32:42 Indianapolis and Eugene, and what went wrong 37:47 The 1:15 half marathon 39:11 Lessons from the marathon 41:42 A typical training week 46:39 Marathon pace work and long runs 50:04 Recovery, sleep and cockpit naps 52:08 International trips and training around them 56:14 Recovery data on work days 59:22 Running in layover cities 1:03:41 Next up: CIM 1:05:56 OutroAlex on Instagram: @alexrunstheskiesStart your free Musicbed trial: https://fm.pxf.io/kristianwarwickFull episodes + the Boston 2025 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@Warwickruns Follow my training journey on Instagram: @warwick.runs Music from Musicbed: MB01XPYH8ZYENVAMB0133EV2TCQFZY