Manon Lloyd, the former Team GB cyclist sat down with Ben and Anya to open up about becoming a beginner runner, avoiding the “engine trap,” and building to her first half marathon the right way after injury setbacks.
From the outside, Manon Lloyd’s career looked powerful. There was Team GB selection, European Championships and years inside British Cycling’s high-performance system. Lloyd built an engine that most endurance athletes would dream of.
But in this episode of The Runna Podcast, Manon shares what happens when elite cycling fitness collides with the reality of running. Because despite her world-class aerobic base, she’s entered multiple races, including Manchester Marathon and Hackney Half, and not made it to the start line due to injury.
This conversation is all about learning to respect the demands of running, manage your ego, and train for longevity instead of proving a point. Something all runners can learn from.
What This Episode Explores
Why aerobic fitness built from other sports doesn’t automatically protect you from running injuries
The “engine trap” – when your cardio outpaces your structural readiness
How impatience and competitiveness can derail progress
Why impact tolerance matters more than VO2 max for new runners
The role of social running clubs in building confidence and consistency
How to approach mileage, shoes, and terrain as a beginner (even if you’re not new to sport)
Facing the Hurdles That Come With Transitioning to Running
One of the most striking themes in this episode is that Manon’s strength was part of the issue. On the bike, she could push 900 watts in a seated sprint. She could train for five hours at a time. She knew how to suffer.
But running isn’t limited by your lungs, it’s limited by your joints, tendons, and bones adapting to thousands of repetitive impacts.
Manon says: “I’ve entered Manchester Marathon and a half twice and I’ve not made it to the start line due to injury… and I feel like I could just give up on that dream. But there’s something in me that just wants to try and actually make it to a start line."
As Ben explains in the episode, 10,000 steps means 10,000 opportunities for something to overload. And if your engine can handle more than your body can tolerate, injury isn’t bad luck, it’s predictable. It challenges a common assumption: If you’re fit, you’re ready.
The Ego Shift No One Talks About
Another powerful topic discussed is identity. Manon spent years in an environment where every performance was measured and constant targets were set. Places Pressure was constant.
Now she’s learning about 10% mileage increases. Walk-runs. Zone two. Not chasing a time, just trying to reach the start line healthy. There’s something deeply relatable about that shift for every new runner.
“With running I definitely need someone to hold me back and stop me doing too much. I thought I was building gradually last time… turns out I wasn’t."
Going from elite athlete to beginner takes humility. It requires holding back when you feel capable of more. It demands training your body, not your ego. And for competitive personalities, that might be the hardest part.
Sustainable Progress Over Proving a Point
This episode isn’t just for cyclists. It’s for:
Anyone starting running with a background in other sports
Anyone who keeps getting injured when they increase mileage
Anyone training for their first half marathon
Anyone who struggles to slow down
Manon’s story reframes progress as something built with patience, especially when transitioning from low-impact sports.
Watch or listen to the full episode to hear how Manon's approaching her half marathon differently this time.