Transcript
Speaker: Johannes, thank you so much for joining. Super honored to have Johannes Mutschmann, who's a professional runner from Germany. Incredible PBs. You can correct me, but I think 210 in the marathon, 61 minutes in the half marathon. One the top times of all time for Germans. Top 10 finisher in London. i mean, your times are...
Speaker: Just staggering, man. Your splits, it's it's insane. Thank you. Super honored to have you. Thanks so much for joining. Thank you for letting be letting me here. It's an honor.
Speaker: Thank you. Yeah, man. And Johannes also goes by Mojo. So maybe we'll call Johannes Mojo today on the pod. Johannes, how you doing, man? and Good. I'm in training camp in St. Moritz. I'm still a little bit injured. So I run and bike.
Speaker: like I do a mix of cross training and a bit of running. But I'm getting there. so And Switzerland is beautiful. So it's it's nice. How about you? Everything's good here. Yeah, man. summer yeah's hum it It's It's probably pretty warm. And I remember those New York summers. They're they're tough, but they get you very fit.
Speaker: I think, ah I mean, like everyone says, ah ah humidity is a poor man's altitude. It's good training for sure. And I've had some... some tough summer months of training in New York, but that definitely helped me in the fall.
Speaker: once ah Once the air was really nice and crisp, i you just feel like you're flying. So yeah, there's definitely benefits to it. I like that, the poor man's altitude. That's good. I've never heard that.
Speaker: But I understand it. Yeah. All right, let's jump right in. So Johannes, tell me your top three most memorable running moments. Most memorable running moments, I would say number one would be running in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
Speaker: um i don't know, for maybe any history freaks out there or anyone who's interested in in history, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin carries a lot of history.
Speaker: and I mean, it was built for the um Olympics 1936 in Berlin, which were, mean, of course, I mean, anyone, people know the history of of Germany, 1936. It was like Hitler's Olympics and um he kind of used those Olympics as propaganda, but then ah Jesse Owens won the 100 meters, which was awesome. and So yeah, there's a lot of history there. And and also my favorite football club, Hertha Berlin, they play in that stadium.
Speaker: And I got to race European Championships in 2018 in that stadium in the 3000 meter steeper chase. and Before I went to the marathon on the roads, I was runner on the track.
Speaker: So and yeah, there was an honor to wear the Germany singlet and to run on that historic track in a big stadium with ah tens of thousands of spectators.
Speaker: That was very cool. and another ah Another running moment I would mention yeah is the London Marathon that you mentioned in the intro.
Speaker: I got to finish ah top 10 in a major marathon. And I really enjoyed the atmosphere in London and phenomenal course. And just, yeah, so the atmosphere was just electric. It was amazing. It was really ah almost like moving. It was very, very special to be part of that, of that race.
Speaker: and And the number three for me is probably just any Berlin marathon because the Berlin marathon is my home race. And I, do it nearly every year. I try to do it every year.
Speaker: And it's, and yeah, me being from there, it's my favorite race. and Even though I think the atmosphere is probably not quite as good as in and London or Boston or from what i heard, New York.
Speaker: and But yeah, to me personally, it's a very special race. So any Berlin Marathon is special. And I mean, so many world records have been broken there. and Yeah, I can only recommend the Berlin Marathon.
Speaker: Totally. Those are both on my list for someday London and Berlin. What about your top three running shoes? Top three running shoes. and Also pretty straightforward. I would say me as an Adidas athlete, but i mean I really enjoy the racing shoes from Adidas, the carbon plated shoes, especially i would probably put number one, the Pro Evo 2.
Speaker: And i mean, we just saw the Pro Evo 3 at the London Marathon earlier this year. I haven't gotten to wear it yet, but the first sub two marathons, the first two sub two marathons were run in the Pro Evo 3. But yeah, I would pick the Pro Evo 2 because that's what I ran and in my mar marathons last year. And then also the Adios Pro 4.
Speaker: ah which is also a racing shoe and I use it for races, but also for for training. I usually use this one for like my hard sessions in training and then the Pro Evo for racing.
Speaker: And I also really like the Evo SL, the Adidas Adizero Evo SL. I think it's the best looking, most stylish trainer out there. And it's kind of like a very versatile shoe that you can use for nearly anything and yeah I think it looks really nice and so I'll pick those three beautiful you heard it from Johannes Adidas he's an Adidas guy yep cool what about your um top three running moments that didn't go as planned I know most runners have these yes number one is probably my one and only Boston marathon so far I ran it in last year in 2025 and And, well, me as a European, I'm probably pretty spoiled by these really fast pancake flat courses in Europe, whether it's Valencia or Berlin.
Speaker: and i mean, London isn't quite as flat, but compared to compared to Boston, it's still pretty flat. um So I wasn't quite used to the hills, especially the downhills. And I should have definitely prepared more for the downhills. But I also was in a I was kind of um in training. My training has been kind of going downhill the four weeks before, but I thought I could still knock out a pretty good marathon and I still went out at my goal pace.
Speaker: But then ah that was the toughest marathon ever because i already failed it at like 10 miles. already fell at 10 miles, what I usually feel like at maybe mile 22. So it was a really, really long way with a lot of cramping. But it's point to point and it's a major. So I wanted to finish it. I walked up um Heartbreak Hill. There was a lot of walking in there, with power ah yeah which I've never done before in a marathon. But I mean, I knew it's point to point, so I have to get back to Boston anyway. So I finished somewhere in the
Speaker: to 20s, which I mean, for me, you always have to, I know for some people, that's very good. For some people that's, and yeah, they want to run faster. Unbelievable. yeah But I was still proud I finished and I still try to enjoy the experience because I still knew it's a privilege to be in Boston, to be in the elite field of Boston, to be running this historic race. Incredible.
Speaker: and But yeah, it didn't go it didn't go as planned. And um but I was still proud to make the to make to the finish line. um The other one would maybe be Maybe a race in high school, if I can if i can pick that one. and We ran the steeple.
Speaker: Like I just mentioned the steeple, what I did in college and before I did the marathon, but in high school, in the under 20s, which would be, i guess, junior, senior year of high school in in America. ah Yeah, in high school in Germany.
Speaker: I ran the German National Champs and I ran the 2K steeple and I was a favorite going into the race and I was leading the whole race and I just fell into the into the water on the last water barrier um in that race after leading the whole race. And yeah, I was very disappointed of just that I just finished, I think, sixth place after that.
Speaker: But mean, that's the steeple and I think, yeah, I don't know. It's funny sometimes to watch those steeple fail videos. i mean, so many. i mean, every steeple has probably fallen over over one of those barriers before and then and most often into the into the water jump.
Speaker: So looking back, it's it probably looked pretty funny. and But yeah, at the time, I was very disappointed. um But yeah, and then number three would maybe be my first NCAA cross race. So I just came to America in 2014. joined i joined ah the track team of Iona College. um And obviously it was a lot of change for me coming, coming from Germany.
Speaker: and My English wasn't necessarily the greatest and was a lot of new impressions and new experiences. But I was very determined to, of course, run as fast as possible and to um kind of,
Speaker: give back to the to the college for the opportunities if they've given me. And what I really like in in America in in college racing is the team aspect that you're racing for the team.
Speaker: And ah so I was very hyped to be to be selected for the top seven of of our team to be running the NCAA cross-country championships.
Speaker: And i was i just thought I was very excited and very eager. And I think I went out way too hard. And then... um Yeah, I finished, I think, 192nd,
Speaker: which was very close to the to the last to the last place. But that was my that was my first NCAA cross-country championship. And I think it's very common to have that experience for most runners coming out of high school. yeah and And looking back, I was still proud to to make that team. And I'm still very very privileged that I got to experience college racing and running in America and yeah just an athletic scholarship at Iona. I thought that was life changing and um yeah I have a lot of great memories from it. and But that's that's one of the one of the memories.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there was a lot of lessons learned there in college running. Definitely. And I hope you come back to Boston and give it another try, man. I will. I must. For sure. For sure. I need redemption after a lot of downhill training.
Speaker: Exactly. What about your top three pieces of essential running gear? Well, I mean, in today's time, probably the GPS watch. um I'm a big Strava fan. It's my favorite social media because you don't necessarily have this like algorithm that sucks you in. It's a bit more about the people you really want to follow. So I really like Strava. I'm also a bit of a nerd when it comes to maps and stats and all that stuff. So the GPS watch, because that yeah gives this opportunity to use Strava. and Then I also really like this... um
Speaker: Chorus Heart Rate Armband. because it tracks your heart rate. And I'm not a fan of the belt around your chest. The chest. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because that's kind of uncomfortable and you don't really feel it on your arm.
Speaker: um So I think that's ah that's really nice. and And again, for the data, for the stats, I really like to look at that and to kind of keep your training in check too, especially if you can't always measure lactate or anything.
Speaker: if you're training solo. So you can check your heart rate and I think that's very beneficial. And my last piece of running gear would probably be very simple, but just hat in the summer. Because it's something, obviously, the effects of the sun, of the UV, I always underestimated it when I was younger. And now you hear it so often. So I always, in the summer, I always wear a hat now to protect my skin. And...
Speaker: and um Yeah, that's something I never used until I was like, i don't know, probably after college, I only started wearing hats. Probably should have done it sooner, but would probably pick that, yeah. What about your top three running pet peeves?
Speaker: maybe with training or other runners, running culture, anything? that's ah That's a good question. peeves. I mean, probably some of those most common ones that anyone don't like. Let's say you um agree on a certain training session and then your training partner is either um never sharing the lead with you in a session, ah even though he agreed on it, you know, and and if you said you're working together... the Same in racing. If someone is just sitting behind you the whole time and never sharing any of the work, I think, um yeah, the honorable thing to do is that you're working together. Of course, whenever in the last kilometers of a marathon, it's about racing. But let's say you are at mile 10 in a marathon. I think you should work together.
Speaker: You get the most out of it together. and So yeah, someone who doesn't share the work, I would say, and just sits behind you. That's one thing.
Speaker: and I guess maybe another thing is a lot of the performative stuff on social media ah these days. i don't want to say anything too wrong, but yes, just, I mean, I think you kind of know, you kind of know what I mean on social media when there's a lot of pretending sometimes going on maybe and the nice thing about the sport is that you can put in the work and then get usually usually get good results of course sometimes it's frustrating you get injured or you maybe have a bad day but long term you will get the results you deserve after putting in the work and sometimes see on social media these like
Speaker: challenges or where people say, oh, it shouldn't be it shouldn't be about competition. it should be Of course, it should be about fun and feeling good and making friends and all the social aspects. But there's nothing wrong with going for it and wanting to get in good results. What about your top three favorite races that you've done? I mean, you kind of mentioned... yes um the the one in the Olympic Stadium, would those be your top in London? Are those like in general, regardless of your performance, are those your top?
Speaker: Do you have any other top favorite races that you've done that you love or that you recommend? I would say, i would say, let's say major marathons as one, because I mean, they're all amazing. And I would recommend, I would recommend all of them. Major marathons are amazing. And then, um,
Speaker: One thing I feel like that doesn't get enough attention is also yet what I said, cross country, cross country running, whether it's NCAA cross country championships, college racing, and all the European or world cross country championships. I think those are amazing. And um that's true grit and true competition. And it's very tough running. And I really like that. And I really like to watch it, participate in it. And i think it deserves more attention.
Speaker: And... um Another one would maybe be the Berlin half marathon again, because it's at home. And I really like the half marathon distance. It's probably my favorite distance.
Speaker: And that's a great race too, fast race, good atmosphere. and so yeah, that would probably be my third one. Is that one at the same time as the full or is it like a different time a year? No, that's in the but spring. That's in the spring, the Berlin half. So you can do the Berlin half in the spring and then, um yeah, the full marathon in the fall, which is nice.
Speaker: What about your top three just favorite places to run? Number one is probably Moritz, Switzerland, where I'm right now at altitude. And it's the most beautiful place with mountains and lakes and valleys and trees and cows standing next to you on the run. So it's a really, really beautiful place. And again, I feel very privileged to be here.
Speaker: running here and training here. And number two would probably be Central Park in New York City, which I really like. i have a lot of good memories of training and with my friend and coach, Brendan Martin, there. and Did a lot of marathon sessions there, but also easy runs on the bridle path. And I really like so the energy of the park, especially in the evening when there's so many people training. I would even compare it or even say it's better than... and I've been to E10 Kenya, where most of the famous East African long distance runners come from. And a lot of people go there for training.
Speaker: And there's also hundreds of runners, whether it's Kenyans or they call them Muzungus, which is which is and Westerners who go there for for training.
Speaker: and which also creates an amazing energy and you just want to be part of it and you feel motivated to train. And I feel the same thing in Central Park, which is which is amazing. And number three would be probably Flagstaff, Arizona. Again, beautiful trails, beautiful running mountains.
Speaker: ah Yeah, hard to beat. Seems like a lot of the pros are training in Flagstaff. Just because of the altitude and the weather, is that the main thing that brings everybody there? Yes. Because I think, and well, I guess in Kenya, you could train year-round. In St. Moritz, it's a ski resort in the in the winter. ah Yeah, you can't run here. It's too much snow. Flagstaff, it does snow every now and then. And it can have like it can snow heavily but also melts very quickly because it's so yeah it's in Arizona close to Phoenix and has a lot of sunshine too and an abundance of trails.
Speaker: Cool. So when you were in New York, did you do a lot of your training in Central Park? A lot your running? ah Yes, I was right on the after college. um Well, during college I was at Iona, which is just north of New York City. And then after college, I was for two years on the Upper West Side. um okay Basically in the same, close to the finish line of the New York City Marathon. And I basically ran in Central Park.
Speaker: every single day. and West Side Highway too on the bike path, but the cyclists, they don't like it. But I still, I feel it's flat, you know. Sometimes he wants ah the flat running. and But yeah, Central Park is my favorite.
Speaker: Nice. And so this last one would apply how your mojo is a plant-based vegan athlete here representing. So your top three ah recovery tools or foods?
Speaker: Food's probably just my vegan chocolate protein shake that I always have after hard sessions or after lifting. um Just delicious, plant-based.
Speaker: And sometimes i struggle a bit to get in a proper meal right after a hard session. So I try to have like a little protein bar, a little vegan protein bar, a protein shake, some easy carbs, which is really essential, I think, for for recovery. Another tool, if you could call it like that, would be a hot bath.
Speaker: I guess. if you love them Yeah, yeah. but yes The bathtub which and on the one hand helps with recovery, but also is a great tool for heat training if you're preparing for a hot race.
Speaker: Could be a marathon or 10K or whatever. We, for example, always run this 10K in Berlin in July, which is pretty warm. and So I use the bathtub four for heat training. I go in for half an hour into a really hot bath right after running. And yeah, I'm really sweating and it really helps helps with that.
Speaker: And um cool my last tool would be to invest in a really good sleep setup. So for example, obviously you have a good mattress, and have a good temperature in your, in your bedroom. But I think probably my tool would be the eye mask, sleeping eye mask that has really, that has really helped me to probably get 30 minutes of more sleep on average, and which great.
Speaker: The best legal performance enhancer, I think, to to get in as much sleep as possible. is I would probably pick the to sleep mask. Yeah. Recovery protein shake, plant-based protein shake, hot bath, sleeping mask.
Speaker: The eye mask. Love it. all right. One thing I want to mention is that not only is Johannes an incredible runner, you're also a coach. And um I'm super fortunate to be coached by Johannes right now. So that's an amazing thing. And I know Johannes is coaching a lot of amazing people. So one ah last question is just, can you leave us with one last thought for runners in general?
Speaker: Well, one thing I like to say is to not overcomplicate running. I feel like these days there's so many, what you mentioned, recovery tools and other little tiny things or supplements. And i think um some people forget the basics and they make the basics make 99% of your running of your performance and how you're feeling and how you're improving, which is your training, sleeping and eating.
Speaker: Those three things are by far the most important things before any kind of special new recovery tool or and anything like that. And and so I think...
Speaker: you should always focus on those three first. And then of course, if there are other things that help you for that last percent, that's great. But those three should always be the priority.
Speaker: And what I also just mentioned is that sleep is incredibly important and to stay flexible in your training. I know um many people have lots of obligations in their general life, whether it's work related or family related. And I have a lot of respect for all the ambitious runners who run major marathons, other marathons, who still have a family life, work full time, still get in the miles.
Speaker: and But make sure you stay flexible and aren't too stubborn about getting in your training sessions following the exact training plan that you had mapped out for this marathon. Stay flexible, listen to your body and make sure you recover right. And yeah, what I just said, i have a lot of respect for all of those people. And um I think it's a very common...
Speaker: um feature for runners that we are, but I'm too, sometimes pretty stubborn and we want to get better and um funny it's hard to take a step back, but you should always keep the bigger picture in mind.
Speaker: I think that's very important. You heard it here from the amazing Johannes Muchman, a.k.a. Mojo. Thank you so much for taking the time, man, to be on the runner's podium. Thank you, David. It's an honor to be on here. And I'm very fortunate to be training you too. It's very fun to coach for you.
Speaker: And I'm very much looking forward to the next races with you. Thank you so much, man.
