Ritzenhein missed most of the 2014 season through injury and since returning to action, the 32-year-old has eschewed a more cautious approach to training which paid dividends when he finished seventh in the Boston Marathon in April.

As he sets out to make his fourth Olympic team in succession next year, Ritzenhein speaks exclusively to worldrunning.com about how he structures his training, the dos and don’ts of carbo-loading and why he’s finally developed the wisdom to listen to his body.