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Malcolm Gladwell is a staff writer at The New Yorker, bestselling author, and podcaster. Chris Chavez is a journalist, podcaster, and the founder of CITIUS MAG. I just passed a thousand episodes, which has me rethinking what I want this to feel like. So for this one, no agenda, no notes. Just three podcasters rolling the dice. Where it went: the art of the interview. Farming attention with integrity. The state of running. Why America loses at the sports it thinks it should dominate. Enjoy! Show notes + MORE Watch on YouTube Newsletter Sign-Up Today's Sponsors: Gusto: Get three months free when you run your first payroll
Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber drop the full preview of the 2026 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Icahn Stadium in New York City, held Thursday through Sunday.CITIUS MAG will have daily end-of-day recap podcasts, a daily newsletter, and interviews on YouTube throughout the weekend.Watch on USATF.tv, Peacock, and NBC (Saturday and Sunday TV windows). Free tickets are available courtesy of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's 500-ticket giveaway for Thursday and Friday. If you live within a couple hours of Icahn Stadium, no excuses.Some of the events discussed in this episode:– Women's 10K (Thursday): Thin field after Karissa Schweizer scratched. Top eight from last year's USAs are not competing. Kyle's read: the scratch actually makes for a better race — more wide open.– Men's 10K (Thursday): 13 men entered. Grant Fisher versus Woody Kincaid as the headline matchup — Grant riding the momentum of his first Diamond League victory and doubling in the 5K.– Women's 100m (Friday): No MJW vs. Sha'Carri head-to-head.– Men's 100m (Friday): Noah Lyles vs. Kenny Bednarek. Noah has been everywhere at Fanatics Fest and FIFA World Cup events so the question is how much that toll has taken. Kenny knows this is a great opportunity to get one up on him.– Women's 3000m steeplechase (Saturday): One of the deepest American steeple fields of the season — seven athletes entered at 9:20 or faster. The fastest American time of the year comes out of this race.– Men's 3000m steeplechase (Saturday): Matt Wilkinson at 8:09 is the ninth-fastest man in the world and a clear favorite — remarkable given he was on crutches after last year's USAs and came back with a straight-up PR.– Men's 1500m (Saturday): Top five from last year not competing so the race opens up.– Women's 1500m (Saturday): The rest of the field will be watching Nikki rather than racing their own race, so it's becoming a Faith Kipyegon dynamic where others defer rather than attack.– Women's 800m (Sunday): Roisin Willis is the top seed and story of the year in the women's 800 — US indoor record holder, strong outdoor season, coming off a brilliant performance in Stockholm. Addy Wiley has a Diamond League victory.– Men's 800m (Sunday): Brandon Miller scratched after London. Cooper Lukhenhaus vs. Donavan Brazier as the top billing — two of three members of last year's World Championship team.– Women's 5K (Sunday): Parker Valby vs. Shelby Houlihan. These two have never raced. Parker has run 14:39 this season (going by herself, no one could hang). Shelby was fourth at Worlds, has been running 800s, 1500s, 2 miles, 10Ks — she's fit and she's an 8:15 person with the ultimate kick.– Men's 5K (Sunday): Grant Fisher the heavy favorite.____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSBANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: timrossi@banditrunning.comCORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!
Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia reconvene to debrief the rest of the London Diamond League. Chris and Kyle Merber's emergency pod captured the immediate reaction; this episode is the follow-up, covering everything that got overshadowed by the world record.We discuss:– Preet in the building: Eight flights of stairs between the mixed zone and the seating area to watch Josh Kerr's world record run.– Post-race mixed zone: Josh got emotional exactly once — when Hannah England asked him about the mental toll of the entire process. His first beer since his December wedding was that Saturday night. For a Scotsman, six months without a beer is its own kind of suffering.– Was the world record overshadowed by the World Cup? The day before the World Cup final, England played France in a 6-4 third-place match the same evening. The next morning, BBC Sport's homepage had zero stories about Josh Kerr.– Does this get Josh knighted? Chris's very American question.– Does the mile world record mean as much globally as the 1500? Preet raises the question: the mile matters enormously in the US and UK, but does it land elsewhere?– Sawe vs. Kerr: which was bigger?– Women's 800m — Keely wins in 1:56.21: The pacemaker went through 400 in 56.8, suggesting they were targeting sub-1:55 but backed off — if she'd gone through in 55 flat as planned, it might have been a 1:55 race. Preet's context: this was Keely's 50th sub-2:00 performance and her nineteenth sub-1:57.– Would you rather have Josh's career or Keely's right now?The rest of London — the performances that got overshadowed:– Brandon Miller, 1:42.19 in the men's 800m: Nearly a full second PB, fifth all-time for Americans. Timed his kick off the final bend perfectly.– Julien Alfred, 21.66 in the women's 200: Third win in nine days.– Karsten Warholm, 46.61 in the 400 hurdles: World lead, first hurdles race win of the season, meeting record.– Ja'Kobe Tharp, 12.89 in the 110m hurdles: Fifth time under 13 seconds this season — the first athlete in history to go sub-13 in five consecutive 110m hurdles races.– Kayinsola Ajayi, 9.84 in the men's 100m: Beats world champion Oblique Seville for the second time this season — turns and looks at him as they cross the line.– Rai Benjamin, 44.05 PB in the men's 400m: Beats Matthew Hudson-Smith (44.18). First Diamond League 400m win.– Marileidy Paulino, 48.97 in the women's 400m: Fourth sub-49 this season.– Jess Hull wins the women's 3000m, 8:24.69: Fierce surge with 200 to go– Looking ahead: Josh Kerr to appear on the CITIUS MAG podcast Wednesday. Full US Championships preview episode dropping with Chris and Kyle later this week. Daily shows from USAs throughout the weekend. Subscribe on your platform of choice.____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSBANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: timrossi@banditrunning.comCORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!
A special sponsored bonus episode for you diving into a topic that's become one of the biggest trends in endurance sports over the last few years: heat training. Olympian and CORE-supported athlete Clayton Young joins to share what it is, why it works, and how to do it safely at every level.Discussed in this episode:– Why heat training has gone mainstream in running: Running follows cycling, and the data has finally caught up to what some athletes like Clayton were already doing as far back as 2019.– Heat training isn't just for hot races: The cardiovascular adaptations — increased plasma, blood volume, red blood cell production, VO2 max, recovery — translate to cool races just as effectively.– Clayton's heat training origin story: NCAA 10K in Austin, 2019 — hot, humid, and Clayton was the only guy in the field who didn't grab a water cup at a single aid station. He'd been implementing sauna sessions based on his own reading of the literature.– The near-blackout story: Ten days before that same national championship, Clayton pushed too far in the sauna, blacked out twice in the hallway and it only got scarier from there.– The Core body temperature sensor: Provides real-time zone tracking (Zone 1-2 = safe, Zone 3 = target for heat adaptation, above Zone 3 = stop). Takes the guesswork out of a discipline that was previously measured with nothing more than a watch and willpower.– Heat adaptation score: Ranges from 0-100%. You gain benefits quickly and lose them slower than you think. Even one to two sessions per week during peak training blocks can maintain most of the adaptation.– How Clayton structures heat training into his week: Key workouts are done as cool as possible — that's the time to get fit, not to heat adapt, per USOC researcher Randy Wilbur's framework.– For everyday runners: Start with 15 minutes every other day and build from there just like mileage. Adjust your paces for heat and humidity the same way you would for altitude.– Safety guidelines– Special offer: If you're interested in trying the CORE 2 Body Temperature Sensor yourself, CITIUS MAG podcast listeners can get 10% off with the code CITIUS10 at corebodytemp.com.
Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia are back for a packed episode. With Preet heading to the stadium on Saturday for the London Diamond League and the aftermath of the Monaco Diamond League, there's a lot to discuss:– World Cup check-in: England squeaked through in a stressful Saturday night match that Preet describes as not fun to watch.– CITIUS MAG x New Balance at the 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships– Running's baby boom– Emmanuel Wanyonyi, 1000m world record, 1:11.83: Monaco Diamond League. Broke Noah Ngeny's 27-year-old record of 1:11.96 set in Rieti in 1999. Can he inch closer to David Rudisha's 800m WR in London?– Julien Alfred, 21.51 in the women's 200m: Third-fastest women's 200 in history behind Flo-Jo (21.34) and Shericka Jackson (21.41). Why this one is not a shocker and we're living in the best year of the women's 200m with her, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Gabby, MJW, Shericka, plus Adaejah Hodge.– Collen Kebinatshipi goes 43.44 and is now on the conversation for the men's 400m world record, if he can maybe run the first 200m a bit more aggressively. The dream matchup is still Kebinatshipi vs. Samuel Ogazi.– Masai Russell's dominance: The five fastest women's 100 hurdles times of 2026 all belong to Masai Russell. Off the final hurdle, she sometimes begins to celebrate slightly before the line — that tiny relaxation may be the difference between her and the world record.– Agnes Ngetich runs 8:08.95 for No. 3 all-time in the 3000m, but what's up with Faith Kipyegon?– Graham Blanks showcased his best kick against pros in the 5000m in Monaco, which he nearly won.– More from the Monaco Diamond League– Russia was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee but there is still more to be sorted by Seb Coe and World Athletics' stance to keep Russian and Belarusian athletes out until the war in Ukraine ends– Celebrating records by decades rather than all-time to sidestep the doping era problems– Unpacking Josh Kerr's London mile world record attempt now that the full start list has been revealed. Preet argues that most of the field will just get on the fast train with Yared Nuguse as the potential spoiler if Kerr falters. Chris wants Hobbs Kessler to play spoiler from the gun by fighting for the front early.– The women's 800m has been billed as Keely Hodgkinson's world record attempt for months but it should be framed as a comeback race for the Olympic champion. The field is legitimately dangerous with Georgia Hunter-Bell and Femke Bol.+ More____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSBANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: timrossi@banditrunning.comCORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!
CITIUS MAG crew is LIVE from Hayward Field in Eugene, previewing everything you need to know before the meet with special guests, athlete interviews, and predictions across the whole card. This show is a partnership between CITIUS MAG and TrackTown USA, streamed from the VIP Village and Fan Festival stage.Fans looking to watch every minute of the action will have to toggle between a few different networks, but the easiest and most consistent way to watch is on Peacock (subscription required), which will stream the final hour of Friday, July 3, from 11:30pm-12:30am EDT and the hot window on Saturday, July 4, from 4:00pm-6:00pm EDT.You can read our meet preview here and listen to our full meet preview episode here. ____________Hosts: Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney + Karen Lesiewicz | @karen_les
CITIUS MAG crew is LIVE from Hayward Field in Eugene, previewing everything you need to know before the meet with special guests, athlete interviews, and predictions across the whole card. This show is a partnership between CITIUS MAG and TrackTown USA, streamed from the VIP Village and Fan Festival stage.Fans looking to watch every minute of the action will have to toggle between a few different networks, but the easiest and most consistent way to watch is on Peacock (subscription required), which will stream the final hour of Friday, July 3, from 11:30pm-12:30am EDT and the hot window on Saturday, July 4, from 4:00pm-6:00pm EDT.You can read our meet preview here and listen to our full meet preview episode here. ____________In today's show, Paul Hof-Mahoney and Karen Lesiewicz recap yesterday's action, preview the events ahead this afternoon, and welcome on a few guests, including Dawn Staley, Brandon Miller, Cooper Lutkenhaus, & Val Allman. ____________Hosts: Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney + Karen Lesiewicz | @karen_les
The Prefontaine Classic is this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, and CITIUS MAG will have a live pre-show on both days streaming on our YouTube channel.This episode is the full breakdown of every event on the card:– Men's 800m (Friday): Cooper Lutkenhaus makes his Pre Classic debut as a professional alongside last year's World Championship team — Donavan Brazier and Bryce Hoppel.– Men's 2 Mile (Friday): Grant Fisher is coming off his 5000m victory at the Paris Diamond League to go up against Andreas Almgren and Parker Wolfe.– Women's 100m (Saturday heats + final): The best women's 100m field assembled all year featuring The Clayton twins, Adaejah Hodge, Shericka Jackson, Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.– Men's 400m (Saturday): USA vs. Collen Kebinatshipi.– Men's 200m (Saturday): Letsile Tebgogo should have this one.– Men's 110m Hurdles (Saturday): Ja'Kobe Tharp returns to the exact track where he ran 12.75 for his first Diamond League race as the world record holder.– Women's 2 Mile (Saturday): Likely a world record attempt and 8 of the 14 entrants are Ethiopian.– Men's 100m (Saturday): Oblique Seville, reigning world champion, is the clear favorite — one of only two men in the field who have broken 9.90 this season.– Women's 3000m Steeplechase (Saturday): The three fastest women in the world this season — Chemutai (8:51.06), Cherotich (8:51.48), Yavi (8:51.54) — are all here. Just 0.48 seconds separates the top three. Eight Americans in the field. Doris Lemngole is the wild card.– Women's 100m Hurdles (Saturday, straight final): All five of the world's top five this season on one start line.– Women's 800m (Saturday): Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the British Championships 400m after one or two strides when something felt off — a smart call. She's in Eugene and we'll see where she's at.– Women's Mile (Saturday): Faith Kipyegon is back! Georgia Hunter Bell (3:55.63, second in the world) is her primary rival. The subplot will be if the American record falls to Nikki Hiltz or Emily Mackay.– Men's Bowerman Mile (Saturday): The grand finale! Cam Myers (3:28 world leader, Australian record), Yared Nuguse (two Diamond League wins, American record), Azeddine Habz (3:29), Timothy Cheruiyot (looking like himself again), Niels Laros (1:43 800 speed, devastating kick), Cole Hocker (Olympic champion, fitness question mark after a niggle and a lost 3K). Who ya got?– Where to watch: Saturday on NBC and Peacock, 12:30 PM Pacific / 3:30 PM Eastern.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez + Preet Majithia | @preet_athletics + Kyle Merber | @kylemerberProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSBANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: timrossi@banditrunning.comCORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!
“A big part of it was finding the right environment, the right people, and the right team that I was excited to be a part of.”My guest for today's episode is someone we've had a great joy of watching develop from high school through the collegiate ranks. Gary Martin is now a professional runner. He's signing with Brooks and joining the Brooks Beasts, and it feels like it was just yesterday that we were sitting down with him at the Armory after his New Balance Nationals mile victory.For those who've been following along with CITIUS over the last couple of years, you know that Gary is an athlete that we've propped up and he's even written for CITIUS MAG. So now, four years later after competing for the University of Virginia, his resume speaks for itself. He has a 3:48 mile PB from the Millrose Games (second fastest in collegiate history), he has an ACC cross country title, and a DMR national championship.In this conversation, we get into why he chose the Beasts, what he asked Danny Mackey about in his first meeting with him, the move to Seattle, the training progression in college, and the self-belief that will suit him as a professional runner. Plus, we also get into what his hopes and expectations are for his pro debut this weekend in the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez Guest: Gary Martin | @gary.martin20Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSBANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: timrossi@banditrunning.comCORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!
Disclaimer: Both Chris and Kyle were watching the Knicks when multiple big track performances happened, so some of the detail recall is shakier than usual. No regrets.Discussed in this episode:– Knicks NBA Champions: Chris and Kyle grew up as New York sports fans, and CITIUS MAG as a company exists in part because the two bonded over the Yankees and Knicks.– Cooper Lutkenhaus beats Emmanuel Wanyoni in Oslo, 1:42.08: Photo finish — 1:42.08 to 1:42.09. World lead. Personal best. At 17 years old, he has now beaten the Olympic gold medalist and the Olympic silver medalist in the same 2026 season. His 2026 unbeaten record: six finals, six wins. – Ja'Kobe Tharp, 12.75 world record (110m hurdles prelim): The least surprising collegiate record of the weekend — it was coming — but the world record was genuinely shocking.– Adaejah Hodge, 10.63 (+1.9) in the 100m prelim: Breaks Sha'Carri Richardson's collegiate record of 10.75. Moves to #5 all-time globally, behind only Flo-Jo, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. Also runs 21.68 in the 200 final for the collegiate record (breaks Abby Steiner's 21.8 from 2022).– Habtom Samuel, 5K/10K double: Light work. His kick is on another level from the current NCAA field. Marco Langon made a brave move at 400 to go and was humbled for it — not his fault, it's just that Haptam had a whole other gear.– Jaiden Reed, 19.63 (200m): Breaks Walter Dix's NCAA record that had stood since 2007. Most surprising record of the weekend.– Simeon Birnbaum, 3:36.05 (1500m): Second place was 1.13 seconds behind. Wire to wire. He broke the 25-year curse: no athlete who broke the NCAA mile or 1500 record had also won the title that same year. Birnbaum did both. Kyle gives his hypothetical 2026 World Championships team if one existed.– Jane Hedengren: Third in the 10K, ninth in the 5K — after being bedridden with illness all week, disclosed after her 10K race.– LA Grand Prix | Parker Valby wins the 5K in 14:39, a 10-second personal best from her 14:49 opener three weeks ago. She's now ninth on the US all-time list, ahead of Molly Huddle and Jane Hedengren. We set the over/under on 14:27.5 for this season.– Looking ahead: Ostrava on June 16th (Noah Lyles vs. Gout Gout in the 150, Tebogo vs. Gout Gout in the 200 — the more interesting race). Portland Track Festival this weekend. FBK Games in Hengelo. Stay tuned to CITIUS MAG channels for results, analysis, and commentary.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez + Preet Majithia | @preet_athletics + Kyle Merber | @kylemerberProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSCORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!OLIPOP: Raspberry Sherbet is a limited-edition, nostalgic new flavor that blends tangy raspberry with creamy vanilla. Every can of Olipop contains their Olismart blend, which includes ingredients designed to support digestive health and help feed your gut microbiome. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about! Head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.
Runners of NYC is relaunching. We're changing up the format — fewer studio sit-downs, more conversations out in the wild across the five boroughs — and we're thrilled to welcome Patryk Odedina as our new co-host. Same mission of surfacing the untold stories behind NYC's running culture, with a fresh approach to how we tell them. More soon.First...Meet Patryk.------"I was at the gym one day, doing the typical dude thing — asking my neighbor Kenny what he was working on. Chest? Back? Arms? He just looked at me, straight-faced, and said: 'Five or six miles on the treadmill.' I swear, I had never heard someone say something like that in my life. And Kenny's not some lean guy — he's a husky dude. So I'm standing there like, what is he talking about? Then he tells me he's training for the New York City Marathon. That's all I needed. I thought, if Kenny can do it, I can do it."Patryk Odedina is a Bronx-based runner who picked up the sport at 29 after a gym conversation with his neighbor Kenny, and has since completed all six World Marathon Majors while chipping nearly 90 minutes off his debut time.Background:– Born in Poland, raised in the Bronx from age 3. Polish mother, Nigerian father.– Played basketball at Lincoln High School (the one in Yonkers) and Lehman College. No running background.– Spent six-plus years in tech salesThe origin story: Late 2018, lifting weights in a Harlem gym, his neighbor Kenny mentioned he was training for the NYC Marathon. Patryk had never heard anyone say something like that out loud. He signed up for the 2020 race through Team for Kids before knowing what a 5K was.Marathon résumé:– 2020 NYC (virtual): 4:40. Ran the actual route solo in the rain; mom as support crew.– 2021 NYC: ~4:57. The 50th anniversary edition.– 2023 London: 3:58. Finally cracked sub-4 on his fourth attempt.– Six Stars: NYC → London → Berlin → Tokyo → Boston → Chicago. Wore a Yankees singlet in Boston.– 2026 Jersey City: 3:09. Now chasing sub-3.Beyond the race: Associate board member of the Bronx Burners, a 501(c)3 that has distributed $100K+ in college scholarships to Bronx youth. Creator of the Run Clubs of NYC video series — 49 NYC clubs and counting.This is Runners of NYC. A podcast from CITIUS MAG. You can catch the latest episode of the podcast on iTunes so subscribe and leave a five-star review. We are also on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter | @RunnersOfNYCEmail any comments, feedback or possible sponsorship ideas to runnersofnyc@gmail.com
Some amazing things went down at Cocodona, so we cover those from the road runners perspective, before diving into a wide ranging conversation regarding Sara Hall's new book (as well as other books), roasts of comedians and runners, and getting pepper sprayed in the face in Deep Ellum. Plus, more details on Summer GRIT and our contest to join us at Western States with Hoka. JOIN US AT WESTERN STATES!Believe in the Run and Hoka are bringing one lucky fan to join us at Western States! Stay with us in Olympic Valley as we host shakeout runs, tackle the High Camp challenge, run the legendary beer mile, and soak in every moment at the Escarpment and finish line of the most iconic 100-mile race in the world. Apply HERE to join us in June: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRssHXBjPhvjNqV7achcoJkPwWTBIcKB7C5HJqKlz4NqpiGg/viewformSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LMNT Summer hydration has never been better, because Lemonade Ice Tea is finally here! Crisp and refreshing, it delivers 1000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium, and 60 mg magnesium, plus– 50 mg of caffeine, just enough for that extra boost. And if you're an insider, you can get the limited-edition Pink Lemonade. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: https://drinklmnt.com/thedrop PILLARIf you're training hard, traveling to races, or just stacking miles week after week, you know how easy it is for your immune system to take a hit. That's why we've been reaching for PILLAR Ultra Immune C. It contains a high dosage of Vitamin C (about 16-17 oranges worth in one scoop), which helps fight off illness and protects your body from the stress of intense training. Head to pillarperformance.shop or TheFeed.com/pillar and enter code BITR for 15% off first-time purchases.
“You can't just say from nowhere that you're going to podium. My bib number was 15, which means there were 14 faster than me on paper. What you can do is read your body during the race. In Boston this year, once it started unfolding, I just knew everything was clicking.”My guest for today's episode is Zouhair Talbi. This is his second time on the show this year. We had him on in January after his victory at the Houston Marathon in 2:05.On Monday at the Boston Marathon, he finished fifth overall in 2:03:45, became the top American in the race, and broke Ryan Hall's American course record that had stood since 2011. He did it in regular prescription glasses, after back-to-back marathon blocks with barely ten days off between each, and after a training build that included a half marathon PR at the NYC Half while still in the middle of a full training load.Zouhair was born in Morocco and grew up there before coming to the United States, where he now trains in Colorado Springs with coach Scott Simmons. CITIUS MAG first covered him at the Trials of Miles Texas Qualifier in February 2021, and this performance at Boston was a long time in the making.In this conversation, he takes us inside the lead pack on race day, explains what it felt like to run next to John Korir and read the field in real time, and shares his honest thinking about what it will take to go from 2:03 to being a genuine contender at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials and beyond. He also speaks directly and thoughtfully about what it means to represent the United States, and what he wants his son — born here, growing up here — to see when he watches his father compete.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavezGuest: Zouhair Talbi | @zouhairathleProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSXENDURANCE: When you finish a hard workout, the work isn't actually done. That's when recovery starts. Xendurance Protein is designed specifically to help your body recover, rebuild, and get stronger after training. It combines four different types of protein, so your body gets both fast absorbing protein for immediate recovery and slower release protein to support muscle repair over time. Check it out at Xendurance.com and use code CITIUS for 25% off your first order.WAHOO: With the Wahoo KICKR RUN, you can simulate the exact Boston or London Marathon course right in your own home. You can also use the run free mode, which uses sensors to automatically match the belt speed to your stride. No buttons, no interruptions, no breaking your flow. When you use code CITIUS at checkout, you'll also get a free KICKR Headwind Smart Fan. Check it out today at wahoofitness.com.OLIPOP: Olipop's Tropical Punch tastes like a vacation in a can. It has the perfect balance of pineapple, passionfruit, mandarin, and apple. Every can contains their Olismart blend, which includes ingredients designed to support digestive health and help feed your gut microbiome. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about! Head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.
“No one's going to hustle or care as much as you do, and no one's going to understand you as well as you do. Being able to present the best picture in front of a brand and understand what they value has been really rewarding."My guest for today's episode is a good friend of CITIUS MAG and one of the most thoughtful, transparent, and compelling figures in American marathoning. I'm talking about Clayton Young. He joins us with some major news ahead of the spring marathon season. After seven years with ASICS, Clayton is officially entering a new chapter as a Brooks athlete heading into the 2026 Boston Marathon.This wasn't some quick, easy switch; this was months of conversations, lab testing, contract negotiations, and one of the biggest decisions of his professional career. He did it all while representing himself while coming back from a serious ankle injury and trying to get ready for Boston on a compressed build.If you've listened to his previous appearances on this show, you know that Clayton is absolutely no stranger to betting on himself in every possible way as an athlete, as his own agent, as a creator, and as someone still chasing the biggest goals of his career.He talks about why Brooks felt right, what he learned through the self-representation process, and how performance remains the center of every decision that he makes. We also get into the injury that derailed nearly five months of training, the breakthrough that got him running pain-free again, and how he's approaching Boston with a mix of curiosity, realism, and the same competitive fire that made him one of the top American marathoners in the world. He's still pushing forward even when things aren't necessarily going according to plan.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavezGuest: Clayton Young | @_clayton_young_Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop's Tropical Punch tastes like a vacation in a can. It has the perfect balance of pineapple, passionfruit, mandarin, and apple. You get that nostalgic fruit punch flavor, but way more crisp and way more refreshing. Every can contains their Olismart blend, which includes ingredients designed to support digestive health and help feed your gut microbiome. If you haven't had tried Olipop yet, grab a can and see what the hype is all about! Head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.XENDURANCE: When you finish a hard workout, the work isn't actually done. That's when recovery starts. Xendurance Protein is designed specifically to help your body recover, rebuild, and get stronger after training. It combines four different types of protein, so your body gets both fast absorbing protein for immediate recovery and slower release protein to support muscle repair over time. Check it out at Xendurance.com and use code CITIUS for 25% off your first order.
“My times were dropping and it was so exciting. Every week, they were dropping, dropping, dropping. It was pretty early in the season, too. At that point, I hadn't even made NCAAs. At the time when I ran 2:00, I had the number one time in the country. There was a lot that happened super fast… I think that was my favorite race of my life. I never even thought in my mind that I could run 2:00 even earlier on in the season. It broadened the horizons of what I think I'm capable of in the future and to never limit myself.”My guest for today's episode is Victoria Bossong. This week on the podcast, CITIUS MAG is bringing you interviews with some of Team New Balance's latest signees as we celebrate five years of partnering with them on all things from the high school to the professional front. Yesterday, we brought you an interview with Roisin Willis and now we've got another strong rising 800m runner.Victoria was a star high school sprinter in Maine who almost on a whim tried the 800m late into her prep career and found success. Fast forward a few years and she's fully committed to the event. In 2025 while at Harvard, she was the NCAA Indoor Championships runner-up and ran an outdoor personal best of 1:59.48. She just opened up her indoor season as a pro with an indoor 1000m PB of 2:36. Off the track, she's just as impressive. She has her degree in neuroscience and has worked in a Harvard Medical School lab. In our chat, she discusses how she managed to balance all of that as a student-athlete, how she comes at the 800m from more of a sprinter background, and her goals for her first professional season.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Victoria Bossong | @victoriabossong on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop's Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop's flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.
The indoor season is already on fire and now it's time for the 118th Millrose Games at the historic Armory.We're LIVE from New York with a CITIUS MAG Millrose Games Preview Show, breaking down everything you need to know before the fastest, deepest, and most tradition-rich meet of the 2026 indoor season.Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, Eric Jenkins, Aisha Praught-Leer, and Anderson Emerole dive into the biggest storylines, must-watch races and athletes.What we preview:• An all-time men's two-mile field that could threaten history• NCAA phenoms Doris Lemngole and Jane Hedengren colliding with pros in the women's 3000m• U.S. vs. Europe in a loaded men's 800m• The first-ever CITIUS MAG–sponsored women's 1000m• Jess Hull, Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson and Dorcus Ewoi are chasing the win in the women's Wanamaker Mile• Yared Nuguse going for four straight titles in the men's Wanamaker Mile+ More_____________________How to Watch Millrose Games: The professional events begin Sunday, February 1 at 4:00 p.m. ET, airing live on NBC & Peacock.Our full written preview on CITIUSMAG.com can be found here.We'll be on-site all weekend with live coverage, post-race interviews, and a full post-meet show dropping Sunday night._____________________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a better-for-you soda that puts 6-9g of fiber in every single can. This winter, Olipop's holiday cans are back featuring their Yeti Trio. Olipop is a smart, simple way to add more fiber to your day. No recipes, no resolutions, no salads required. Whether you're team Vintage Cola, Crisp Apple, or Ginger Ale, bundle up, pour yourself a can, and sip on some fiber. Visit DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.
Breaking news: There will be a live pod in Houston. I repeat... there will be a live pod in Houston! Save the date for Friday, January 9th at 7 pm at the Cullen Theatre. Ticketing link coming very soon. This episode starts with an update on Kara's power outage and some crazy house issues that she's been dealing with over the weekend. She and family are ok, but there's been a lot of extra stress lately. Cue the deep breaths needed. Then, they turn to a discussion on the emerging details from Grand Slam Track's bankruptcy filing, including the large sums of money they owe so many creditors. Michael Johnson promised us transparency, and we are finally getting it because the court is forcing his hand. These new details also raise questions of transparency for some of the "journalism" partners involved. Des and Kara weigh in on whether Citius Mag in particular owed us more transparency about their financial partnership with GST. Big J or little j? Does it even matter when we are just asking for the big T - Transparency?! To conclude the episode, you get thoughts on The Marathon Project's place in the sport, an update on Save the 10,000, and a holiday top 5 to finish it off. Happy holidays everyone!
It's mid-December and the running news keeps coming! Grand Slam Track filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — we dig into the creditor list, the shocking $272K owed to Citius Mag, and what it reveals about the league's spending. On Friday, we broke the news that Athing Mu has left coach Bobby Kersee and moved to Dallas — what's next for her? Plus race recaps from the Brooks XC Championships, the Kalakaua Merrie Mile in Hawaii, and European Cross Country in Portugal. 279.26 we're joined by Yared Nuguse, who previews his quest for a fourth straight Wanamaker Mile title at the Millrose Games on February 1st. Can he break the world record in the indoor mile again?
“As much as I wanted to win – what I really was after, what really drove me was finding out how good I could be. And it turns out I did. I found out how good I could be. I had a four or five-year stretch where seventh place in Boston was as good as I could be and 2:09:02 and 2:08:52 – right in that range was as fast as I could run. So, I found out. And it wasn't good enough to win a major, but it was fun. It was a lot of fun to find out.”My guest on today's episode is a close friend of CITIUS MAG and for the better part of a decade, one of the most respected, most relatable marathoners in the United States: Scott Fauble. He's here with us for a big announcement after years of doing things his way and doing them well. Scott is officially retiring from professional running.If you've followed American marathoning at any point over the last seven or eight years, you know that Scott wasn't just good; he was consistently, relentlessly, unapologetically confident. Boston became his stage. He was top American in 2019, 2022, and 2023, each time dipping under 2:10 back when that wasn't happening all that often. He even beat Conner Mantz in Boston before Conner became the star that we know now.If Scott had spent the last few years chasing flat fast courses like Chicago or London, his PR probably would live somewhere in the 2:07s. But that was never the point. You could hear it in past interviews that we've done with him. Scott built his career with a chip on his shoulder and gave American fans something real to root for at these major marathons. His toughness, his honesty, and the way he kept leveling up made you believe in the power of hard work.In this episode, we look back on his career, unpack what happened over the last few years, and talk about what it means to move on and move forward from the sport that shaped him.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Scott Fauble | @sfaubs on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSNOMIO: Made with 80% broccoli sprout juice, 15% lemon juice, and 5% sugar, Nomio activates your body's natural defense systems to reduce lactate, speed recovery, and enhance muscle adaptation. Take one 60 ml shot three hours before training or racing and feel lighter, stronger, and more resilient. Available at The Feed — use code CITIUS15 for 15% off | https://thefeed.com/collections/nomioWAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn't just another treadmill; it's a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Whether you're chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at WahooFitness.com and use code CITIUS at checkout.OLIPOP: Olipop's Crisp Apple: it's like sparkling apple juice meets those gummy apple rings from your childhood. It's sweet, fizzy, and comforting. Like every Olipop, it's made with real ingredients that do good. 50 calories, 5g of sugar, and full of prebiotics and plant fiber that help your gut feel right. You can find Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, or just head to DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 for 25% off your orders.
Jessica Warner Judd suffered a tonic clonic seizure at the European track and field championships in 2024 and stuggled with symptoms in early 2025. She decided to leave the track to focus on making her marathon debut in New York City. She stopped by the HOKA Flagship Store on 5th Avenue to discuss her preparations for the race.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Jessica Warner Judd | @jesswarnerjuddxx on InstagramProduced by: Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSHOKA: CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with HOKA for another year of programming out of the HOKA flagship store at 579 5th Avenue, including: giveaways of commemorative HOKA x NYC 2025 merchandise including shirts, tote bags, and more; an easy run with Sofar Sounds + secret concert experience, tonight at 6:00pm; and opportunities to test and shop the HOKA Mach X 3 and the Rocket X 3. HOKA will also have a hub at the marathon expo. Plus, the HOKA Flagship store will host CITIUS MAG's coverage of the elite races. Register or get more details for all of the events here.
The 54th running of the New York City Marathon is shaping up to be a great one. The women's race features four of the most exciting road racers on the scene today, all duking it out for claim to the title of world's top active marathoner. The high-quality men's field looks wide open, and the masters battle between two of the sport's GOATs is sure to keep things interesting. And you can always count on the million-plus spectators lining the streets of all five boroughs to bring unmatched energy to the race.With a forecast calling for pretty ideal conditions—low-40º temps at the start, a high that shouldn't exceed the mid-50s, and gentle breezes—the weather shouldn't slow things down too much; that's a job for the notoriously challenging course.Not counting the Sydney Marathon, which only joined the World Marathon Major ranks this August, New York City boasts the slowest course records of all WMMs. (The men's record of 2:04:58 was run by Tamirat Tola in 2023, and Margaret Okayo set the women's mark of 2:22:31 way back in 2003.) If the other non-Boston WMMs have a tendency to become time-trial-like races of pure attrition, NYC is more often a tactical affair, albeit one with plenty of bridge-induced attrition!HOW TO WATCH: The professional women's field is scheduled to start at 8:35am ET, with the men following at 9:05am. From there, the civilian fields will get underway on a rolling basis, beginning at 9:10am.Coverage of the race will begin a bit earlier, at 8:00am, and will conclude at 11:30am. You can tune in via New York's ABC 7 if you're local, or ESPN2 if you're not in the Tri-State area. Additionally, ABC7NY.com will stream live from the finish line from 10:30am until 6:00pm, should you want to watch a particular athlete cross it.The HOKA Flagship store will host CITIUS MAG's coverage of the elite races. Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, and Aisha Praught Leer as they bring you their commentary, analysis, and humor on our LIVE watchalong on Sunday morning.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins on Instagram + Aisha Praught Leer | @aishapraughtleer on InstagramProduced by: Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSHOKA: CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with HOKA for another year of programming out of the HOKA flagship store at 579 5th Avenue, including: giveaways of commemorative HOKA x NYC 2025 merchandise including shirts, tote bags, and more; an easy run with Sofar Sounds + secret concert experience, tonight at 6:00pm; and opportunities to test and shop the HOKA Mach X 3 and the Rocket X 3. HOKA will also have a hub at the marathon expo. Plus, the HOKA Flagship store will host CITIUS MAG's coverage of the elite races. Register or get more details for all of the events here.
Hillary Bor will be making his marathon debut in Sunday's New York City Marathon. He is taking great confidence from a healthy training block and a runner-up finish at the US 20K Championships, where he ran 56:32 for No. 2 on the U.S. all-time list. He stopped by the HOKA Flagship Store on 5th Avenue in New York City to discuss his preparation for the race.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Hillary Bor | @bor.hillary on InstagramProduced by: Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSHOKA: CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with HOKA for another year of programming out of the HOKA flagship store at 579 5th Avenue, including: giveaways of commemorative HOKA x NYC 2025 merchandise including shirts, tote bags, and more; an easy run with Sofar Sounds + secret concert experience, tonight at 6:00pm; and opportunities to test and shop the HOKA Mach X 3 and the Rocket X 3. HOKA will also have a hub at the marathon expo. Plus, the HOKA Flagship store will host CITIUS MAG's coverage of the elite races. Register or get more details for all of the events here.
Patrick Sang — the coach behind Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Kipyegon and many other Kenyan stars — reflects on humility, intuition, and the unseen architecture of greatness from more than two decades of coaching. In this wide-ranging interview that we recorded from the NN Running Team Pop Up in New York City (15 E 40th Street), Sang discusses his role as a coach, teacher, mentor, and friend to some of the best in the world, the lessons on longevity and how he's taking great inspiration from Kipchoge's career to foster in Faith Kipyegon's future success on the roads.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Patrick SangProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSHOKA: CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with HOKA for another year of programming out of the HOKA flagship store at 579 5th Avenue, including: giveaways of commemorative HOKA x NYC 2025 merchandise including shirts, tote bags, and more; an easy run with Sofar Sounds + secret concert experience, tonight at 6:00pm; and opportunities to test and shop the HOKA Mach X 3 and the Rocket X 3. HOKA will also have a hub at the marathon expo. Plus, the HOKA Flagship store will host CITIUS MAG's coverage of the elite races. Register or get more details for all of the events here.
“In years past, I just imagined myself as a hurdler and long jumper who sometimes did the hep. I just didn't like doing the hep. I finally accepted that this is what I do. This is what I can be really good at. It just shifted my mindset. The medal confirmed what I already knew and I see how much room there is to grow.”Taliyah Brooks came up CLUTCH in the second day with three PBs to notch a personal best of 6,581 points to tie for the bronze medal and move to No. 8 on the U.S. all-time list. This is her second World Championship medal in 2025 after earning a bronze in the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships back in March.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Taliyah Brooks | @love_tbrooks on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins and Anderson Emerole as they recap all the highlights from Day 9 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.Here's a full summary of day eight at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, covering all key results and storylines:USA Sweeps Relays & Sets Records:Women's 4x100m – Gold & Sprint Treble for Jefferson-Wooden- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden joins Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as the only women to win the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at the same World Championships. USA clocked 41.75 to edge Jamaica (41.79), with Germany (41.87) earning bronze. The race also marked Fraser-Pryce's farewell, as she earned a final medal before retirement.Men's 4x100m – Dominant World Lead- Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, Courtney Lindsey, and Christian Coleman ran 37.29 WL. Canada (37.55) took silver, Netherlands (37.81 NR) claimed bronze.Women's 4x400m – Championship Record- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone anchored with a 47.82 split, bringing the team home in 3:16.61 CR. Beat their own 1993 record. Jamaica and Netherlands rounded out the podium.Botswana Men's 4x400m – Stuns USA in Thrilling Finish- Anchor Collen Kebinatshipi outkicked Rai Benjamin on the home straight.- All three podium teams (Botswana, USA, South Africa) clocked under 2:58.Individual Champions and Big Moments:Cole Hocker – 5000m Redemption- Just six days after a controversial DQ in the 1500m, Hocker surged late to win in 12:58.30. Beat Belgium's Isaac Kimeli and France's Jimmy Gressier in a tactical but fast finish.Lilian Odira – 800m Champion with a Historic Time- Closed hard to win in 1:54.62 CR, breaking the oldest championship record. First time three women broke 1:55 and five went under 1:56. Silver: Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR), Bronze: Keely Hodgkinson (GBR).Leo Neugebauer – Decathlon Gold- Won with 8804 points, following a massive 64.34m PB in the javelin. Took lead from long-time leader Kyle Garland before holding off Ayden Owens-Delerme (PUR).Nicola Olyslagers – High Jump Gold- Cleared 2.00m in rainy conditions to edge out Maria Zodzik (POL) on countback. Bronze shared between Mahuchikh (UKR) and Topic (SRB) – both at 1.97m.Daniel Stahl – World Discus Hat-Trick- Won his third World title with a clutch 70.47m final-round throw. Denied Mykolas Alekna (LTU) a maiden global gold; Alex Rose won Samoa's first-ever medal (66.96m).____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, and Mitch Dyer as they recap all the highlights from Day 8 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.Here's a full summary of day eight at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, covering all key results and storylines:Distance Doubles: Chebet & Perez Repeat Gold Feats- Beatrice Chebet (KEN) – 5000m Champion- Added to her 10,000m gold, replicating her Olympic double from Paris 2024. Outsprinted teammate Faith Kipyegon in the final lap of a tactical race.800m: Wanyonyi Breaks Championship Record- Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) – 800m Gold- Won in 1:41.86, a new championship record and world lead.- Historic depth: All top 8 broke 1:43 – never done before.Heptathlon: Anna Hall Ends 32-Year Drought for USA- Anna Hall (USA) – Heptathlon Champion- First US woman to win this title since 1993.- Dominated from event two; ended with 6888 pointsRelay Heats: Drama & National RecordsMen's 4x400m:- Botswana leads with 2:57.68.- USA and Kenya to re-run due to interference.Women's 4x400m:- USA and Jamaica advance smoothly.- Great Britain surprisingly miss out.Men's 4x100m:- Ghana leads with national record 37.79.- Canada and USA through.- Jamaica and Great Britain fail to advance.Women's 4x100m:- USA, Jamaica, Great Britain, and Germany all safely through.____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole and Mitch Dyer as they recap all the highlights from Day 7 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Some of today's highlights include champions holding their ground as Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Femke Bol, Noah Lyles, Pedro Pichardo, and Rai Benjamin each struck gold.Jefferson-Wooden completes sprint double- Five days after her 100m win, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden added the 200m title in a world-leading PB of 21.68, becoming the eighth-fastest woman of all time.- She outran defending champ Shericka Jackson and a late-surging Amy Hunt (GBR), who earned silver in 22.14. Jackson held on for bronze in 22.18.Bol defends 400m hurdles title- Femke Bol ran a commanding race to defend her 400m hurdles world title in 51.54, the fastest major championship time of her career.- USA's Jasmine Jones grabbed silver with a PB of 52.08.- Emma Zapletalova (SVK) took bronze in a national record of 53.00 — just the second Slovak woman to ever win a world medal.Pichardo strikes gold in final triple jump leap- Pedro Pichardo (POR) delivered gold with his final jump of 17.91m, a world lead, to reclaim the crown he first won in 2022.- Italy's Andrea Dallavalle had taken the lead moments before with a PB of 17.64m. Lazaro Martinez (CUB) won bronze with a season's best 17.49m.Lyles takes fourth straight 200m world title- Noah Lyles held off a packed field to win his fourth consecutive world 200m title, clocking 19.52 in a historically deep final.- Teammate Kenny Bednarek earned silver in 19.58. Bryan Levell (JAM) ran a PB of 19.64 for bronze. Letsile Tebogo (BOT) and Zharnel Hughes (GBR) also dipped under 19.80.Benjamin adds world 400m hurdles title- After silvers in Doha and Budapest, Rai Benjamin finally claimed world gold in the 400m hurdles, winning in 46.52 despite clipping the final barrier.- Alison dos Santos took silver (46.84) and Abderrahman Samba bronze (47.06).- Ezekiel Nathaniel set a Nigerian record of 47.11, beating Karsten Warholm, who faded to fifth.Women's 800m semifinals- Lilian Odira led the fastest semi (1:56.85), followed by Audrey Werro (1:56.99).- Jessica Hull rebounded from her heat fall, running 1:57.15 (Oceania record) to sneak into the final.- Keely Hodgkinson and Mary Moraa won their respective semis.- Medal contenders Tsige Duguma and Halimah Nakaayi were eliminated.Men's 5000m heats- Isaac Kimeli and Biniam Mehary won their respective races.- Final will include: Jimmy Gressier, Grant Fisher, Cole Hocker, Jakob Ingebrigtsen (snuck in after 1500m elimination)- Out: Andreas Almgren (fastest outdoor time this year) and Niels Laros (stepped off track)____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
At only 26 years old, Camryn Rogers had already created a legacy in the women's hammer throw that few could match. Winning a World title in 2023 and an Olympic title in 2024, she had emerged as the most consistent championship performer in the midst of the best era in the event's history.On Monday, she took the next major leap in her career, becoming the fourth woman to break the 80 meter barrier and the third to win three or more global titles. Her 80.51m second-round effort secured gold in Tokyo, moved Rogers up to No. 2 on the all-time list, and decimated one of the best fields ever assembled by nearly three full meters.After receiving her medal, Rogers sat down with Paul Hof-Mahoney to open up on the emotions of an iconic victory, her experiences with some of the sport's biggest legends, keys to her consistency in an event defined by inconsistency, and so much more.____________Host: Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramGuest: Camryn Rogers | @rogers_camryn on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
It's not unreasonable to say that no one could've predicted this podium. That's not to say that Isaac Nader, Jake Wightman, and Reynold Cheruiyot aren't all medal-worthy contenders in their own rights, just that the series of circumstances that had to stack on top of one another to make this particular outcome happen was highly improbable.Without Jakob Ingebrigtsen to assume the role of pacemaker, the field hit 400 meters in a relatively pedestrian 59.45, and each successive second that the tempo lagged injected a little extra variability into the last lap. No one saw Kerr's untimely calf injury coming: the Scotsman is remarkably consistent in global finals, with his lowest finish of the decade being sixth in 2022. And heading into the last lap, one measly second separated the top 12 contenders.Nader and Wightman are both known for their footspeed, and the race was set up perfectly for them to take advantage. In particular, Wightman has looked like a rejuvenated runner throughout these championships after missing the last two British teams with injuries and changing coaches in 2024. Nader won the Oslo Dream Mile earlier this season and has finished near the front of a few other Diamond Leagues, but this was still only the second global final of his career and doesn't have the shiny PBs of some of his competitors.But that didn't matter on the homestretch, when Niels Laros looked vulnerable for the first time in months, eventually fading to fifth, and Nader swung into lane three for the first time after riding the rail to power past both Cheruiyots and nip Wightman at the line by 0.02 seconds. Even though this is an event where fans often feel passionately about their favorite athlete, we can all appreciate the fact that, when the dust settled, the crazy ride was fun for everyone.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Isaac Nader | @isaacnader on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
It's not unreasonable to say that no one could've predicted this podium. That's not to say that Isaac Nader, Jake Wightman, and Reynold Cheruiyot aren't all medal-worthy contenders in their own rights, just that the series of circumstances that had to stack on top of one another to make this particular outcome happen was highly improbable.Without Jakob Ingebrigtsen to assume the role of pacemaker, the field hit 400 meters in a relatively pedestrian 59.45, and each successive second that the tempo lagged injected a little extra variability into the last lap. No one saw Kerr's untimely calf injury coming: the Scotsman is remarkably consistent in global finals, with his lowest finish of the decade being sixth in 2022. And heading into the last lap, one measly second separated the top 12 contenders.Nader and Wightman are both known for their footspeed, and the race was set up perfectly for them to take advantage. In particular, Wightman has looked like a rejuvenated runner throughout these championships after missing the last two British teams with injuries and changing coaches in 2024. Nader won the Oslo Dream Mile earlier this season and has finished near the front of a few other Diamond Leagues, but this was still only the second global final of his career and doesn't have the shiny PBs of some of his competitors.But that didn't matter on the homestretch, when Niels Laros looked vulnerable for the first time in months, eventually fading to fifth, and Nader swung into lane three for the first time after riding the rail to power past both Cheruiyots and nip Wightman at the line by 0.02 seconds. Even though this is an event where fans often feel passionately about their favorite athlete, we can all appreciate the fact that, when the dust settled, the crazy ride was fun for everyone.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Jake Wightman | @jakeswightman on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole and Mitch Dyer as they recap all the highlights from Day 6 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Some of today's highlights include:McLaughlin-Levrone Claims the 400m Throne- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delivered another historic performance on the Tokyo track, winning the women's 400m in a Championship Record of 47.78 — the second-fastest time in history.Botswana's Breakthrough: Kebinatshipi Wins Men's 400m-In one of the championship's most powerful performances, Collen Kebinatshipi stormed to gold in 43.53, a national record and the 10th-fastest time ever.Men's 200m Semifinals- Noah Lyles unleashed a world-leading 19.51, the fastest semifinal ever, sending a message ahead of the final.- Bryan Levell won the second semi in 19.78, finishing ahead of Letsile Tebogo (19.95).Women's 200m Semifinals- Shericka Jackson ran a smooth 21.99.- Melissa Jefferson-Wooden clocked 22.20 as she continues her quest for a sprint double.- All four US women advanced to the final.Men's 800m Semifinals- Defending world champion Marco Arop and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Olympic champion) progressed with ease. Surprise performers: Cian McPhillips and Mohamed Attaoui both ran PBs of 1:43.18, winning their semis.Women's 5000m Heats- Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon (already 10,000m & 1500m champions here) advanced comfortably. Gudaf Tsegay also qualified, setting the stage for a potential showdown.____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole and Mitch Dyer as they recap all the highlights from Day 5 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Some of today's highlights include:Shock 1500m Gold: Nader Times It Right: Isaac Nader delivered a major upset in the men's 1500m, emerging from a crowded finish to take the title in 3:34.10 — just 0.02 seconds ahead of Jake Wightman.Steeplechase Queen: Cherotich Strikes Gold: Faith Cherotich, a two-time global bronze medallist, finally stood atop the podium in the 3000m steeplechase with a blistering championship record of 8:51.59.In the Rounds: Sprints, Hurdles, and MoreMen's 200m Heats: Bryan Levell ran a stunning 19.84 — fastest 200m heat ever at a global meet. Other qualifiers: Noah Lyles, Letsile Tebogo, Kenny Bednarek, Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Makanakaishe Charamba.Women's 200m Heats: Anavia Battle led in 22.07, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ran 22.24. Shericka Jackson, the defending champ, cruised through.400m Hurdles Semifinals: Femke Bol, Dalilah Muhammad, Anna Cockrell advanced easily.Men's 400m Hurdles Final Set: A star-studded field: Karsten Warholm, Rai Benjamin, Alison dos Santos, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Abderrahman Samba.____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
A year ago in Paris, Grace Stark made her Olympic debut and finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles. It was a taste of the big stage and a “delayed but not denied” moment, as she put it. In Tokyo, she delivered on that promise.Stark stormed to a bronze at the 2025 World Championships with a time of 12.34 seconds. In one of the deepest fields in championship history — featuring Olympic champion Masai Russell, world record holder Tobi Amusan and reigning champ Danielle Williams — Stark emerged as the only American to reach the podium and just edged out Russell to claim Team USA's lone medal of the night.For Stark, the medal is proof of resilience. After a devastating injury at Florida nearly ended her career, she fought her way back to be among the world's best. Now, she's a global medalist and her story may just be beginning.She joined Chris Chavez and Anderson Emerole at the CITIUS MAG HQ to talk about it all.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on InstagramGuest: Grace Stark | @grace_stark on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
Clayton Young is carving out a reputation for consistency on the sport's biggest stages and was the top American marathoner at the World Championships in Tokyo.Young fought through chaos — an early false start, a massive pack that stayed bunched past halfway, even a fall at 14 kilometers where he was clipped from behind and hit the pavement. He bounced right back, gave a thumbs up to the cameras, and rejoined the leaders. For nearly 40 kilometers he was right there, stride for stride with the world's best, before the brutal late pace broke the field apart.In the end, Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu took gold in 2:09:48 in a photo finish, but Young battled through to take ninth in 2:10:43 — the same place he earned in Paris last summer.He crossed the line, emptied the tank and showed once again why he's among America's most reliable marathoners in championship racing.He spoke with Chris Chavez LIVE from the ASICS House in Tokyo.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Clayton Young | @_clayton_young_ on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, Mitch Dyer, and Paul Hof-Mahoney as they recap all the highlights from Day 4 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Some of today's highlights include:1500m: Kipyegon Claims Fourth World Title- Faith Kipyegon continued her dominance, clocking 3:52.15 to secure her fourth straight world title at 1500m.- Teammate Dorcus Ewoi ran a massive personal best of 3:54.92 to take silver.- Jessica Hull of Australia added to her breakthrough season with a 3:55.16 performance to earn bronze.Hammer Throw: Katzberg's Monster Throw Breaks Record- Canada's Ethan Katzberg defended his title with a massive 84.70m throw—the longest in the world in 20 years—breaking both the championship record and his own North American record.- Merlin Hummel of Germany surprised with a personal best of 82.77m in round one to briefly lead.- Bence Halasz of Hungary followed with 82.69m, just edging out Ukraine's Mykhaylo Kokhan (82.02m).- For the first time ever, four men surpassed 82 meters in one competition.High Jump: Kerr Completes Global Gold Set- Hamish Kerr of New Zealand, the reigning Olympic champion, soared to 2.36m, matching his Oceanian record and earning his first world title.- Woo Sanghyeok of South Korea cleared 2.34m in a tense battle to take silver.- Jan Stefela (Czech Republic) and Oleh Doroshchuk (Ukraine) tied for bronze at 2.31m.110m Hurdles: Tinch Takes the Title- Cordell Tinch of the USA fulfilled his potential by winning in 12.99 for his first global gold.- Jamaica's Orlando Bennett ran a personal best of 13.08 to take silver.- Tyler Mason, also of Jamaica, equaled his personal best with 13.12 for bronze.- Notably absent from the final was defending champion Grant Holloway.In the Rounds…Women's 400m Semifinals- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) scorched the track in 48.29, breaking the US record and moving to #7 all-time globally.- Marileidy Paulino (Dominican Republic) ran 49.82, and Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain) clocked 49.47 as they also advanced.Men's 400m Semifinals- Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana ran a world-leading national record of 43.61.- Jacory Patterson (USA) advanced with a time of 44.19.- Paris Olympic medalists Matt Hudson-Smith (Great Britain) and Muzala Samukonga (Zambia) were eliminated.- Yuki Joseph Nakajima of Japan excited home fans by qualifying with a time of 44.53.Men's 800m Heats- Top contenders Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya), Donavan Brazier (USA), and Mohamed Attaoui (France) all advanced comfortably to the next round.____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
For 80 meters, Kishane Thompson looked like the man to beat. Exploding out of the blocks in the men's 100-meter final at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, the Jamaican sprint sensation surged into the lead, his long, fluid strides daring the field to catch him.But just as in Paris a year ago, the closing meters would tell the story. This time it wasn't Noah Lyles, but his countryman Oblique Seville who reeled him in. Thompson crossed the line in 9.82 seconds, securing the silver medal behind Seville's blistering 9.77 – the fastest global final since 2019.For Thompson, it was validation: back-to-back podium finishes at the sport's biggest stages, and proof that Jamaica has not just one, but two world-class sprinters carrying the legacy of Bolt and Blake into a new era.His silver, paired with Seville's gold, delivered Jamaica's first men's 100m 1–2 at a global championship since the London Olympics.He spoke to Anderson Emerole about the 100m final at the World Championships.____________Host: Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on InstagramGuest: Kishane Thompson | @ iamkishane_ on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
Sometimes the most coolest moments in sport arrive by accident. When Julia Paternain crossed the finish line of the Tokyo World Championships marathon, she wasn't thinking about history and she wasn't even sure the race was over. Yet in that instant of disbelief, she had just given Uruguay its first-ever World Championships medal.In just her second marathon, the 25-year-old stunned the world with a fearless run, climbing from 15th place at halfway to finish third in 2:27:23 behind legends Tokyo Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and former world record holder Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia. For a runner once who was among the last ones qualified for the championships, the bronze was unthinkable — and unforgettable.Born in Mexico, raised in England, tested in the NCAA system in the U.S., and now calling Flagstaff home, Paternain carries a layered identity but an unwavering pride of all those places. And with her medal, a nation of three million found itself on the global podium for the very first time.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Julia Paternain | @juliapaternain_ on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
The World Athletics Championships marathon in Tokyo was always going to be a test of patience, heat management, and guts and two American women rose to the occasion.For over an hour, Susanna Sullivan was the story of the race. A sixth-grade math teacher from Virginia, she surged to the front by 5K, running alone through the streets of Tokyo with nothing but the sticky, humid air and a clock for company. By halfway, she had built a 63-second lead on the pack of global stars behind her. And when they finally came for her, Sullivan didn't panic. She held her rhythm, managed the late miles and battled all the way to the line for fourth place in 2:28:17 — just seconds away from becoming the third American woman ever to medal in a World Championship marathon.Alongside her, Jess McClain was running her own masterclass in composure. McClain tucked in behind Sullivan early, endured the surging heat, and stayed locked in when the race splintered. Running smart and steady, McClain delivered the best global performance of her career, finishing eighth in 2:29:20. In a field stacked with some of the fastest women of all-time, McClain proved she belongs.Peres Jepchirchir and Tigist Assefa settled gold and silver with a final-lap sprint inside Japan National Stadium. Uruguay's Julia Paternain stunned the world with a historic bronze. But it was Sullivan and McClain who gave Team USA its heartbeat. Two working professionals, two fearless racers.____________Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Susanna Sullivan & Jess McClain | @susannasullivan4 on Instagram & @jesstonn on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
Valarie Allman has known the joy of Olympic gold. Twice. She's stood atop the podium in Tokyo and Paris. She's held world leads and set marks that haven't been seen since the 1980s. But until now, one medal had eluded her.In Tokyo once again, which was the site of her first Olympic triumph, Allman finally became a world champion. With a 69.48-meter toss, she claimed her first global title, winning by the largest margin in 18 years. It was a performance that broke open the event, stamped her dominance with a 29-meet win streak, and made her the first American woman ever to pair Olympic and World outdoor gold in a throwing event.After world bronze in 2022 and silver in 2023, this was about closure — about finishing the climb and silencing any doubts. In this conversation LIVE from the ASICS House in Tokyo, she calls it a dream come true.The moment itself was pure Valarie: lying down in the ring after the competition, arms and legs carving a victory angel into the infield grass. A mixture of joy, relief, and the playfulness that has made her one of the most beloved figures in U.S. track and field.Now, with two Olympic titles, a world crown, and the year's farthest throw on her résumé, Allman has fully written her name into history — not just as the face of U.S. throwing, but as one of the greatest to ever pick up the discus.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramGuest: Val Allman | @valallman123 on Instagram____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, Mitch Dyer and Paul Hof-Mahoney as they recap all the highlights from Day 3 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Some of today's highlights include:Mondo Duplantis Breaks World Record (6.30m)- Sweden's Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.30m to set his 14th world record- Secured his third straight world title- Vault came on his third and final attempt, capping an electric evening- Historic depth: First time seven men cleared 5.90m+ in a single competition- 2nd: Emmanouil Karalis (GRE) – 6.00m- 3rd: Kurtis Marschall (AUS) – 5.95m (=NR)Beamish Ends El Bakkali's Steeplechase Streak- Geordie Beamish (NZL) wins in a tactical race, kicking late to defeat Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR)- El Bakkali's long championship win streak comes to an end- 1st: Beamish – 8:33.88- 2nd: El Bakkali – 8:33.95- 3rd: Edmund Serem (KEN) – 8:34.56Cole Hocker Disqualified from 1500m Final- Hocker originally finished 2nd in his semifinal- Disqualified for jostling in the final 100 meters- Appeal by USA Track and Field was denied- Disqualification shown on broadcast approximately one hour after the raceDitaji Kambundji Stuns in 100m Hurdles- Swiss hurdler sets a national record (12.24)- Upsets top names including Tobi Amusan- 1st: Kambundji (SUI) – 12.24 NR- 2nd: Tobi Amusan (NGR) – 12.29- 3rd: Grace Stark (USA) – 12.34Simbu Wins Historic Marathon for Tanzania- Alphonce Felix Simbu claims Tanzania's first global gold in the marathon- Outkicked Germany's Amanal Petros by 0.03s- 1st: Simbu – 2:09:48- 2nd: Petros – 2:09:48- 3rd: Iliass Aouani (ITA) – 2:09:53____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, Mitch Dyer and Paul Hof-Mahoney as they recap all the highlights from Day 2 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo as five first-time individual gold medalists were crowned.Key Highlights from Day 2:Melissa Jefferson-Wooden – Women's 100m Champion- Time: 10.61 (Championship Record)- Context: Broke the previous championship record and tied the fastest time ever at a global championship (Elaine Thompson-Herah's 2021 Olympic record).- Margin of Victory: 0.15 seconds — second-largest in meet history.- Podium: Jefferson-Wooden (USA) – 10.61 CR, Tina Clayton (JAM) – 10.76 PB, Julien Alfred (LCA) – 10.84Oblique Seville – Men's 100m Champion- Time: 9.77 (Personal Best)- Narrative: Delivered on years of potential with a statement win.- Drama: Letsile Tebogo (BOT) was disqualified for a false start; Noah Lyles prevented a Jamaican sweep with bronze.- Podium: Seville (JAM) – 9.77 PB, Kishane Thompson (JAM) – 9.82, Noah Lyles (USA) – 9.89Peres Jepchirchir – Women's Marathon Champion- Time: 2:24:43- Storyline: Echoed her Olympic gold in Tokyo with another win in the same city, outkicking Tigist Assefa in the final 100 meters.- Surprise: Julia Paternain (URU) took bronze — Uruguay's first global championship medal.- Podium: Jepchirchir (KEN) – 2:24:43, Tigist Assefa (ETH) – 2:24:45, Julia Paternain (URU) – 2:27:23Jimmy Gressier – Men's 10,000m Champion- Time: 28:55.77- Shock Result: Pulled off a stunning upset, outsprinting favorite Yomif Kejelcha in a slow, tactical race.- Podium: Gressier (FRA) – 28:55.77, Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) – 28:55.83, Andreas Almgren (SWE) – 28:56.02Field Event Gold Medalists:Valarie Allman – Women's Discus Throw- Best Mark: 69.48m (5th round)- Background: Two-time Olympic champion earns her first world title.- Podium: Allman (USA) – 69.48m, Jorinde van Klinken (NED) – 67.50m, Silinda Morales (CUB) – 67.25mTara Davis-Woodhall – Women's Long Jump- Best Jump: 7.13m- Performance: Took the lead with 7.08m on her first attempt and sealed it with 7.13m in round four.- Podium: Davis-Woodhall (USA) – 7.13m, Malaika Mihambo (GER) – 6.99m, Natalia Linares (COL) – 6.92m (=PB)____________PRESENTED BY ASICSFor the third consecutive year, CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with ASICS for our global championship coverage. With their support, we're able to bring you the best coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Support our sponsor and check out ASICS's latest including the MegaBlast and SonicBlast. Shop at ASICS.com____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Mac Fleet | @macfleet on Instagram + Eric Jenkins | _ericjenkins on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Mitch Dyer | @straightatit_ on Instagram + Paul Hof-Mahoney | @phofmahoney on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | @jasminefehr on Instagram
Join Chris Chavez, Eric Jenkins, Anderson Emerole, Mitch Dyer and Paul Hof-Mahoney as they recap all the highlights from Day 1 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.Among the top stories:
Cooper Lutkenhaus, the 16-year-old high school star who shattered his own U.S. 800m high school record and broke the 800m U18 world record with a 1:42.27 runner-up finish at last month's U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, has opted to forego all of his remaining high school and collegiate eligibility to turn professional and sign a contract with Nike. The decision comes before he is set to race the 800m at the World Championships in Tokyo next month and makes history as the youngest American ever to represent the U.S. at a World Championship.“I'm just super excited and blessed for the opportunity,” Lutkenhaus tells CITIUS MAG. “To be able to run professionally at such a young age is not very common, so to be represented by the best brand is very exciting.”Lutkenhaus will remain enrolled at Northwest High School in Texas, where he's beginning his junior year. He is represented by Ray Flynn and Flynn Sports, who have also represented top high school stars over the past 30 years, including Alan Webb and Drew Hunter. He will continue being coached by Northwest head cross country and track coach Chris Capeu. Classes started on Aug. 13th.Lutkenhaus is the fourth-fastest American in U.S. history at 800m (behind American record holder Bryce Hoppel, 2019 World champion, and 2025 U.S. champion Donavan Brazier and 2025 World Indoor champion Josh Hoey) and No. 18 on the World all-time list. He is the sixth-fastest man in the world in 2025.Listen to previous episodes here:Cooper Lutkenhaus Interview: https://apple.co/4oRrS9f | SpotifyChris Capeau Interview: https://apple.co/4m3BnzH | SpotifyRead our full news story here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/cooper-lutkenhaus-signs-nike-contract-turns-professional-before-world-championships-2025SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Straight out of Bikini Bottom, Olipop's limited edition SpongeBob cans have arrived. Pineapple Paradise features a burst of juicy pineapples and a splash of mandarin. It's on shelves now at Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Circle K, Amazon, and select stores nationwide. You can check out all of their flavors and get 25% off your orders at DrinkOlipop.com using code CITIUS25 at checkout.NEW BALANCE: The FuelCell Rebel v5 was built to feel fast—and look the part. With a sleek, race-inspired mesh upper and lightweight PEBA/EVA foam blend, it offers a responsive, energetic ride that's ideal for everything from steady miles to speedwork. A redesigned heel and added forefoot rubber provide comfort and traction, making this your go-to for runs when you want to pick up the pace. The Rebel V5 shows up every time. Find the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 at newbalance.com or your local running shop today.
“When I saw the time, I was like, ‘I did that. We are back. I'm me again…' It felt so good to be like, ‘I'm back and doing things as good as I know how to do them, which I haven't done in a while. It felt really good!”My guest for today's episode is one of the most electrifying athletes in track and field right now: Anna Hall. The two-time decathlon Olympic champion Ashton Eaton went as far as to say that she might be one of the best athletes on earth right now.Just days after winning the Hypomeeting in Götzis with 7,032 points, Hall now sits second on the all-time heptathlon list, tied with Carolina Kluft and trailing only her mentor, the great Jackie Joyner-Kersee. That mark was achieved with four personal bests, including a gutsy 2:01 in the 800m – a reminder that the final event of the heptathlon was more than a win. It was a comeback statement after last summer's heartbreaking fifth place finish at the Paris Olympics.In this conversation, Anna opens up about the emotional weight of that Olympic result, the rehab process after knee surgery, and how this performance in Austria healed her. We also talk about what it means to chase a legend and have such a close connection with someone like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the mental and physical toll of the heptathlon, and what's next as she eyes a potential world title this fall.She's looking to become just the second American to win gold in the heptathlon after Jackie Joyner-Kersee won in 1987 and 1993. Anna is the kind of athlete who competes with heart, guts, and joy.Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Anna Hall | @annaa.hall on Instagram SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders.GRAND SLAM TRACK: This summer, Los Angeles isn't just the city of stars; It's the city of speed. Grand Slam Track, the new global home for professional track and field, is coming to Drake Stadium at UCLA June 28th-29th. The tickets are officially on sale now. The Los Angeles Slam is the fourth and final stop in the league's inaugural season and it's bringing the heat. Grab your tickets now at GrandSlamTrack.com and witness the future of the sport live and in person. Grand Slam Track: new league, new rules, same fast. The stars will see you in LA!SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS' new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!
Imagine this: you're standing inside a trendy L.A. grocery store—maybe it's Erewhon. You've got a cooler full of canned soda that claims to be good for your gut. You're not a celebrity and you're not even the founder of the company. You're just a guy with a vision, a few samples, and the audacity to talk your way into a product launch.That was Steven Vigilante back in 2018. Today, Olipop—the better-for-you soda brand that he helped bring to life—is in more than 30,000 stores across the country. They've partnered with Barbie, NASCAR, the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and somehow even made it into a Luke Combs music video.But it didn't start there. Steven cut his teeth in venture capital, betting early on health forward brands. When he saw the potential in a fiber-packed functional soda, he jumped in—first as an advisor, and then as the architect behind some of the boldest growth and partnership strategies in beverage today.So how do you build a soda brand that dares to take on the likes of Coke and Pepsi? One that trades sugar for science and still wins hearts and taste buds across America? In addition to all of that, they're also major partners for CITIUS MAG.This is the latest episode of The Build with Steven Vigilante, Director of Media and Partnerships at Olipop, on staying scrappy, scaling smart, and crafting a new kind of soda, one can at a time.Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Steven Vigilante | @stevenvigilante on XSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSPILLAR PERFORMANCE: We all know that sleep is where the magic happens. That's when your body is rebuilding – but getting into those deeper stages of sleep is what makes the difference between just going to bed and actually recovering. Just mix in a scoop of water about 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. It's simple, it's clean, it's vegan, and NSF certified. If you're someone who takes their training and recovery seriously, this is something worth trying. Head to pillarperformance.shop, or if you're in North America, go to thefeed.com and use code CITIUS for 15% off your first purchase.GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at GrandSlamTrack.com and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS' new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!
This week in track and field: Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia unpack some results and news from around the track and field world including Athing Mu's first 1500m since 2023 (which came at a Division II meet in Los Angeles); Jakob Ingebrigtsen's Achilles injury and some of the key races to watch at the Doha Diamond League this weekend.Plus: Anderson Emerole's biggest winners and losers from the 2025 World Relays via The Final Leg. Be sure to subscribe to his podcast here.Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Preet Majithia | @preetmajithia on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on InstagramWatch: Anderson Emerole's World Relays RecapSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders.GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at GrandSlamTrack.com and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS' new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!
“In the track and field world, every four years is a whole new story, a whole new plan. Everyone's trying to rush to get things together. I think for us coming off a crazy Paris, having an idea of the direction we're going and the team that's going to help us get to that place is really exciting, so we're really looking forward to the next four years.”My guests for today's episode are two of the most electric and inspiring figures in track and field: Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall. They're not just standout athletes; they're also a powerhouse couple rewriting the playbook on how to achieve success in the sport and market themselves.Fresh off of double gold medal performances in Paris, Tara and Hunter have just signed with Nike. In this episode, we chat with them about why they chose to go with the swoosh, but also, more importantly for Hunter, why it signals the brand's deeper commitment to Paralympic athletes.Tara, a two-time Olympian and the reigning Olympic and world indoor champion in the long jump, is just as magnetic off the runway as she is on it. Hunter, a three-time Paralympian and five-time medalist, just captured his first gold in the 400m T62 in Paris and has been pushing the limits of what's possible in adaptive sport since day one.In this episode, we chat about what they're building beyond the medals and what's next for two of the sport's most compelling athletes to follow up an astounding 2024.Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuests: Tara Davis-Woodhall | _tarraa_ on Instagram + Hunter Woodhall on InstagramSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders.GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at GrandSlamTrack.com and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. Grand Slam Track: bigger stakes, bigger stars, and a fan experience that hits different.SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS' new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!
“It's almost been ten years and for me it was just kind of time. Contract changes, life changes now with having a two-year-old and wanting to grow the family side of things... A lot of factors all came together at the right time for me to make the decision.”My guest for today's episode is Clayton Murphy, who's been part of American middle-distance running history for the better part of a decade and is now officially hanging up his spikes.From the small town of New Madison, Ohio, to the Olympic podium in Rio — Clayton's career is the stuff of dreams. He was the kid from the Mid-American Conference who took down giants. The collegiate star who doubled up at NCAAs. The 21-year-old who kicked his way to Olympic bronze in the 800 meters — running 1:42.93, still the fifth-fastest time by an American in history.Over the years, Clayton's worn the red, white, and blue across the globe — from the Pan Am Games, where he struck gold, to two Olympic Games, multiple U.S. titles, and countless memorable finishes.But it hasn't always been smooth sailing. He's battled injuries, coaching changes, and the highs and lows that come with being one of the best in a brutal event. And now, after a career that spanned over a decade at the professional level — Clayton is here to reflect on what it meant, how he made peace with the decision, and what's next.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Olipop is a prebiotic soda that tastes like a throwback to your favorite childhood drinks, but it's loaded with benefits that your body will thank you for. Each can has 2-5g of sugar, 6-9g of fiber, and a science-backed formula designed to help you support your digestive health. They've got plenty of flavor options like Classic Root Beer, Crisp Apple, Grape, Cream Soda and wild hits like Peaches and Cream. You can grab Olipop at Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart or you can go to DrinkOlipop.com and use promo code CITIUS25 at checkout for 25% off all of your orders.GRAND SLAM TRACK: This isn't your average track meet. This is Grand Slam Track, where legends are made, records fall, and the stakes are high. After a sellout crowd in Miami and $100,000 awarded to each Slam champion, the league now heads to one of the most iconic stages in American track: Franklin Field in Philadelphia, May 30th-June 1st. Grab your tickets now at GrandSlamTrack.com and witness it all packed into one unforgettable weekend. Grand Slam Track: bigger stakes, bigger stars, and a fan experience that hits different.SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS' new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. The super-soft, adjustable uppers allow for a customized fit across your forefoot, while the moisture-wicking lining keeps your feet dry and comfortable. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!
“If I just focus on competing, it's turned out to be really fun and turned out to work in my favor each time. That's been the mindset: Let's just race, focus on competing, and not really worry about the clock. That's a lot of how I approached Boston.”After finishing one spot off of the Team USA squads in the marathon and the 10,000m for the Olympics and the half marathon for the World Road Running Championships, Jess McLain has made it a habit of being so close, yet just off of these national teams.But on Patriots Day in Boston, she kicked it open, running a smart, gutsy race that saw her surge through the Newton Hills strategically with Emma Bates and Sara Hall chasing a lead pack and then closing in 5:15 seconds for the final mile. Jess cemented her place as one of the top contenders in American distance running.In today's conversation, we get into what changed with this particular marathon build, from training under coach David Roche to how she's getting used to these major marathon scenes. We talk a lot about the importance of carbs and how that's also been a game changer for her as well as why her drive to compete instead of focusing on times works so well. With big goals on the horizon and the 2028 Olympic cycle now underway, Jess McClain might just be getting started and really coming into her own as a marathoner.Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on InstagramGuest: Jess McClain | @jesstonn on InstagramSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSOLIPOP: Big name sodas are rolling out bold new flavors in 2025, but the real buzz is happening in the prebiotic pop aisle. If you haven't already jumped on the Olipop train yet, now's the time. BuzzFeed just came out with an article that recently named Olipop the best overall soda for flavor — and with a lineup that includes classic root beer, vintage cola and cherry vanilla, it's easy to see why. Try Olipop today and save 25% on your order using code CITIUS25 at checkout at DrinkOlipop.com.SWIFTWICK: Socks: sometimes you don't think about them until you do – like mile eight of a long run when your heels are on fire or when your sock has mysteriously vanished into your shoe. That's why we're teaming up with SWIFTWICK: the go-to sock brand for endurance athletes who care about performance and longevity. For a limited time, CITIUS MAG listeners get 15% off your first order with the code CITIUSMAG at checkout.VELOUS: Recover smarter with VELOUS' new active adjustable slide! Tired feet? VELOUS has you covered. VELOUS just launched the NEW Active Adjustable Slide, designed to take your recovery to the next level. With a perfectly contoured midsole, these slides maximize cushioning and support to help ease tired feet and legs. The super-soft, adjustable uppers allow for a customized fit across your forefoot, while the moisture-wicking lining keeps your feet dry and comfortable. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS. Check out the entire collection and enjoy 20% off your purchase by entering code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout!LITTLE SESAME: Run a 5K, get free hummus! Move for the planet with the Little Sesame Earth Day 5K. Run, walk, or bike 3.1 miles anytime in April to celebrate Earth Month—and score a free container of our creamy, dreamy hummus. Pledge to move, get outside, and snack sustainably. Sign up now. It's that easy.
"There's a stigma about retiring from pro running, that it's this huge thing and it's so hard. And there are parts of it that are challenging. But I'm seriously so great. I'm loving life." Aisha Praught Leer is no stranger to the Ali on the Run Show. She returns today for her fifth appearance — but it's her first in this new phase of life. Last year, Aisha officially retired from professional running. The longtime Puma athlete, two-time Olympian, Commonwealth Games champion, and six-time Jamaican record holder is now embracing a career in corporate America, while also continuing to be an advocate for professional athletes, and working in front of the camera and on the mic with Citius Mag. In this episode, we're catching up on all of it, including how Aisha feels about that 9–5 life, what her relationship with running is like now that she's no longer competing professionally, and what it's actually like retiring from your dream job in your thirties — and figuring out what comes next. FOLLOW AISHA @aishapraughtleer SPONSOR: Oofos: The best in recovery footwear! Check out Oofos's new limited edition Boston Marathon collection — before it sells out! In this episode: How Aisha is doing right now, and how she's feeling about “racing” this weekend at the New Balance Marathon Relay in Boston (4:15) Aisha's takeaways from the first Grand Slam Track event (16:15) Why Aisha decided to retire from professional running in 2024 (24:00) What it was like working with a career coach (35:40) All about Aisha's job in tech sales at Adobe (48:30) How Aisha's relationship with running has changed since retiring (59:40) How Aisha's personal relationships have changed since retiring (1:04:10) What's next for Aisha? (1:12:00) Follow: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT: If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!