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Nico Young joins Jonathan Gault for a deep dive into his 2026 season outlook. The adidas-sponsored distance star reflects on a heartbreaking US indoor final where he missed the world team by a hundredth of a second, and reveals he's added a third workout per week to his training. Young announces a loaded European Diamond League slate, a 1500 in Stockholm, back-to-back 5Ks in Oslo and Paris, before making his road debut at the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th, where he'll try to become the first American winner (outside of years it served as the US Championships) since Ed Eyestone in 1991. He says he views the Ultimate World Championships like a major global championship and plans to peak for it, and considers himself the American outdoor 5K record holder at 12:45.
Sabastian Sawe ran 1:59:30 at the London Marathon to become the first person to officially break two hours, with Yomif Kejelcha running 1:59:41 in his marathon debut to become the second. The top three all broke Kelvin Kiptum's previous world record of 2:00:25. On the women's side, Tigist Assefa defended her title in a women's-only world record of 2:15:41. Meanwhile in Toledo, Ohio, unsponsored 25-year-old Vincent Mauri shocked the running world with a 2:05:54 solo effort at the Glass City Marathon, making him the fourth-fastest American ever on a record-eligible course. The crew also breaks down Penn Relays drama, Cheptegei's marathon struggles, and whether Kipchoge's exhibition stole Sawe's thunder.
Don't spend millions on a podcast, like AI did recently. Rather spend the price of a coffee and become a Supporter of The Real Science of Sport. Click the link, make a monthly pledge, and get access to the conversations that happen before and after the podcasts!Show notesThis week, we kick off in Roubaix, where Wout van Aert and Franziska Koch won the prestigious cobbled Monuments. For van Aert, in particular, it was the culmination of a "life's work", in a dramatic, very fast, and very eventful race that featured multiple technical issues for leading contenders. We look back on the races, and at the tech issues that befell the riders, and the tech that was disallowed from even being used. Staying on cycling, the UCI threatened podcaster Benji Naesen with the possibility of 'criminal action' for posts and comments they suggested were injurious to them, without specifying those posts. We discuss the letter, and why the UCI's actions have backfired so badly, with thoughts on how engagement with the community should and could look for constructive dialogue.We then shift gears, and chat briefly about Rory McIlroy's Masters defence, and some data on performance and physiology that lay behind his victory. Weather doping comes up because once again, Ramona produced record-breaking discus performances, and in Australia, Gout Gout (and six other men) used perfect conditions in the final of the Australian 200m championships to run PBs, Gout leading the way with an exceptional 19.67s. We talk about that time, and why everyone may need to calm down and manage expectations despite the expected breakthrough from sprintings teen phenom.We end on the roads, as Boston looms large and London follows on, to discuss the elite fields, and one athlete in particular - Sebastian Sawe - who has made it a personal mission to restore credibility to his performances by requesting and funding much more regular drug testing.And finally, an amateur turns elite to chase a swimming time set by his fathere in 1976. We discuss Adam Wilkie's campaign, and wonder what the chances of success are?LinksWhy did the UCI ban Visma's tyre inflation technology?Benji Naesen gets a letter from the UCI with a not-so-friendly warning to rein in the criticismsPerformance analysis of McIlroy's Masters win, despite way worse than average drivingSome of McIlroy's Whoop data from the final round at AugustaGout Gout runs 19.67s, but any reasonable discussion seems impossibleA good Letsrun analysis of Gout's performance and progressionAnother good Letsrun article on Sawe's self-funded doping controls and pursuit of performance credibilityAdam Wilkies' son attempting "the impossible" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum joins the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast after off a breakout NCAA indoor season. The former South Dakota high school phenom - who left the high school ranks #2 all-time at 1500 & 3200/2-mile - finished second in the NCAA indoor 3,000m and reveals the tactical mistake that cost him the title. Birnbaum says the Habtom Samuel DQ was "pretty soft" and discusses how running fast means nothing, all that matters is winning titles. He opens up about choosing Jerry Schumacher over other programs, the injuires that derailed his early college career, Schumacher's strict no-Strava policy, the NIL landscape for track athletes, and why he picked Diadora over Nike.
Like thid pocast? Join the Supporters Club today! This podcast was out 3 days ago for Supporters Club members. Join our club. Money back guarantee, bonus podcasts, exclusive content. https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=public Josh Kerr is going after one of the most historic world records in the sport, Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record. After winning his second straight World Indoor 3000m title in Torun, Kerr sat down with LetsRun.com to lay out his plan to break the 27-year-old mark of 3:43.13 at the London Diamond League on July 18th. He wants a negative split, he's picking his own pacers, and he's not moving the race if it rains. Kerr talks race field politics, whether Cole Hocker or Jakob Ingebrigtsen could crash the party, the mile vs. 1500 debate, his bicarb usage, the rise of Western milers, and what it would mean to join Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, and Steve Cram as a British mile world record holder. Plus: Danny Mackey, Brooks Beasts, and Josh's daily trainer pick, the Brooks Glycerin 23 and the workout shoe: Brooks Hyperion Elitehttps://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Josh Kerr's Mile World Record Announcement Josh Wins World 3000 over Cole Hocker Hicham El Guerrouj's Mile World Record (3:43.13, 1999) Brooks Glycerin 23 Brooks Hyperion Elite TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Music 00:33 Intro and Welcome 02:25 World Indoor 3000m Race Tactics 05:18 How Satisfying Was the World Indoor Title 07:23 Bouncing Back and Building for 2025 09:10 The Mile World Record Announcement 12:39 Weather Worries and Why London 15:17 Who Gets to Race and the Business of Running 19:13 Pacing Strategy and Negative Splits 23:09 Biggest Rival and the Golden Age of the Mile 25:26 British Mile Legacy and Chasing History 28:50 Mile vs 1500: Which Record Is Harder 33:50 Bicarb and the Rise of Western Runners 36:37 Danny Mackey, Jakob, and Looking Ahead 41:52 Shoe Picks: Glycerin and Hyperion
Get the full podcast, join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club at 50% off with code GOAT50 https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=public or watch for free on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpdHnChkn3g Cooper Lutkenhaus, just 17 years old, became the youngest world champion in World Indoor Championships history, winning the men's 800 in Toruń, Poland — on spring break. His coach Chris Capeau joined the show live to break down the race tactics and what makes Cooper different. Keely Hodgkinson dominated the women's 800 in 1:55.3, then stunned with a 50.1 anchor on Britain's 4x400. Georgia Hunter Bell claimed 1500 gold, capping a historic day for British distance running. East Africa went home without a single distance medal, and Mariano Garcia pulled off a brilliant wire-to-wire 1500 win for Spain.https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Timestamps 00:00 Music 00:22 Intro / Cooper Lutkenhaus Wins World Gold 02:42 Coach Chris Capeau on Cooper's Race Tactics 05:42 Why Cooper Ran a Full Indoor Season 09:04 Cooper's Family and What Makes Him Different 11:57 World Champion on Spring Break 16:14 Coach Capeau Watches the Final From Texas 18:17 From Tokyo Flame-Out to World Champion 20:17 Cooper's Winter Training and Leveling Up 24:10 Farewell to Coach Capeau and Bold Predictions 27:00 Men's 1500: Mariano Garcia Goes Wire to Wire 32:26 Women's 1500: Georgia Hunter Bell Takes Gold 35:58 Keely Hodgkinson and Women's 800 Results 39:00 Biggest Winners and Losers of the Meet 41:16 Nikki Hiltz: Seven US Titles but Can They Win Gold? 44:03 Keely's 4x400 Anchor and Non-Distance Highlights 47:54 NCAA, Cole Hocker, and Final Thoughts Contact Email: podcast@letsrun.com Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running. The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.
**Want the full podcast?**Join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club today for exclusive content, a bonus weekly podcast, shoe savings, and more. Cancel anytime .https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=public If not you can watch for free on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clKJYKEfoAE Josh Kerr outmaneuvered Cole Hocker to take the men's 3000 and claim his third world title, throwing Hocker's signature celebration back at him. Cooper Lutkenhaus dominated his 800m semifinal with the fastest time at World Indoors since 1997, positioning the 17-year-old Texan as a legitimate gold medal threat. Sprint upsets rocked the straightaways as Julien Alfred and Trey Cunningham both fell short of expectations. Simon Ehammer broke Ashton Eaton's heptathlon world record, while Emily Mackay delivered a stunning silver in the women's 3000m and Nadia Battocletti got gold. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor / Intro 00:23 Introduction and Race Preview 02:44 Men's 3000m Final: Kerr vs Hocker Showdown 05:01 Hocker's Tactical Missteps 06:43 The Celebration and Rivalry 11:12 Jan Shrub's Stunning Bronze 13:10 Nuguse Disappoints, Beamish Off the Pace 16:55 Women's 3000m: Emily Mackay Silver, Batocletti Gold 21:11 John, Let's Turn to the Women's 3K 24:31 East Africans Struggle at World Indoors 24:56 Sprint Upsets: Alfred and Cunningham Stunned 27:06 Cooper Lutkenhaus: A Star Is Born 28:38 World Record in Heptathlon, Mondo Wins Pole Vault 29:34 Two-Section 400m Finals Debate 31:18 Men's 400m: Morales Williams vs McCray Battle 33:00 Lutkenhaus: From Prodigy to World Stage 39:12 Can Lutkenhaus Break the World Record? 40:06 Final Preview and Calf Sleeve Mystery 41:34 Women's 800 and Sunday Preview 45:29 On Location in Toruń, Poland Contact us: Email podcast@letsrun.com or call/text 1-844-LETSRUN podcast voicemail/text line. Want a 2nd podcast every week? And savings on running shoes? Join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club today for exclusive content, a bonus weekly podcast, shoe savings, and more. Cancel anytime .https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Check out the LetsRun.com store. https://shop.letsrun.com/ We've got the softest running shirts in the business. Thanks for listening. Please rate us on your podcast app and spread the word to friend.
The LetsRun.com crew previews the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Poland. The men's 3000m headlines with a Paris Olympics rematch featuring Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, and Geordie Beamish. Seventeen-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus attempts to become the youngest world indoor champion ever. On the women's side, Georgia Hunter Bell and Nikki Hiltz battle for 1500m gold with Faith Kipyegon absent, while Keely Hodgkinson enters as the prohibitive favorite in the 800m.
Join our Science of Sport Supporters Club, and get all the perks mentioned on the show, including access to our listener community and their great questions and insights, and also our Live Sport chat, which resume this weekend with the Milan San Remo races. Make a monthly pledge to become a member!In this Spotlight, we run our eye and offer our insights on the world of sport, covering a range of sporting events. We start with the Six Nations, which went beyond the wire in a spectacular tournament that shows the health of "the product". We discuss the ongoing Cape Epic, where the pairs format throws up some pacing and tactical challenges for unbalanced teams. And we preview the year's first Monument, where Tadej Pogacar will have to test and challenge Mathieu van der Poel's durability and 5-min power to win the elusive title. We discuss the requirement for Pogacar and UAE to extend the efforts above FTP and even VO2max to climbs even before the Cipressa, in order to make van der Poel vulnerable to a five minute effort on the decisive Poggio climb.Switching to running, we briefly discuss the remarkable 2:10 performance by Fotyen Tesfay in Barcelona, and why it's the de factor WR, but may be as questioned as the incumbent WR by Ruth Chep'ngetich. Another dramatic finish in Los Angeles, a marathon decided by 0.01s where the 'loser' went the wrong way, and didn't, apparently, take in a single gram of carbohydrates in the race.While on the subject of dramatic finishes, recent research shows that the odds of a cardiac arrest are significantly higher in the final kilometer of running races (20km and half marathon). We compare that to triathlons, where the odds of cardiac arrests are way higher in the first part of the race, in the swim. We discuss the physiology and emotional reasons for these risk increases.We then move into the resistance training space, to talk briefly about the American College of Sports Medicine's position stand on resistance training. It says what many people know, but challenges what a lot of people think, and the reaction has been enlightening!And finally, a few short results and discussion points from around the world of sport, including an unprecedented reversal of an entire tournament result, and a rare "defeat" (on a technicality) for Johannes Klaebo in cross-country skiingLinksRelevant to the discussion on recovery after high intensity efforts, here's an article on how our 'battery' is recharged, or reconstitutedArticle on Fotyen's 2:10:51 marathonGood insights on Fotyen from Letsrun.comThe research out of Paris showing the higher risk of cardiac events in the final kilometer of racesA similar study on cardiac arrests in triathlonThe LA Marathon finish and race are discussed in this articleThe ACSM Position Stand on Resistance TrainingStuart Phillips' posts on the ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The LA Marathon delivered the closest finish in race history but controversy erupted when video revealed leader Michael Kamau avoiding a spectator on the course followed a lead vehicle off course and ending us losing $15,000 by the slimmest of margins. Jacob Kiplimo cemented his half marathon dominance with a 57:20 world record in Lisbon without a pacer, and the crew debates whether runners without Olympic track gold can be considered all-time greats. Grant Fisher makes his much-anticipated half marathon debut at the NYC Half on Sunday, Fred Kerley's two-year whereabouts ban is officially confirmed , and Michael Johnson faces fraud allegations as Grand Slam Track's bankruptcy heats up.
Femke Bol made her 800m debut. What did we think? Grand Slam Track's bankruptcy plan will pay the athletes nearly everything they are owed, but vendors only 1.5%. Plus: Why track and field will never be popular year-round (and why that's okay), USATF Outdoor Championships are coming to New York for the first time since 1991, and Robert shares his thoughts on ski jumping regulations that you won't believe. The guys also preview this weekend's stacked meets including the ASICS Sound Invite featuring Cole Hocker vs. Sam Ruthe in the mile and Cooper Lutkenhaus in the 800m, answer listener emails, and debate whether cross country running belongs in the Winter Olympics.
The 118th Millrose Games delivered a great show and we break it all down. But the biggest performance of the weekend was in Boston not Millrose as Sam Ruthe, just 16 years old, ran 3:48 in the mile to become the youngest man ever under 3:50 by more than a full year. Cam Myers dominated the Wannamaker Mile in 3:47, Colin Sahlman broke a 37-year-old NCAA 800m record with a 1:44.7 victory, and Cole Hocker looked every bit the world's best distance runner in winning the two mile. Meanwhile, Roisin Willis set the American indoor 800m record in Boston, Nikki Hiltz got a big win, and Cooper Luktenhaus added another high school record to his collection. But it wasn't all celebrations. Is Bryce Hoppel's window closing? Why can't Ollie Hoare find his form? Is Hobbs Kessler's injury excuse a relief or a red flag? The episode also digs into the controversial decision by World Athletics to invalidate Jacob Kiplimo's 56:42 half marathon world record due to drafting behind the lead vehicle. Plus: Is it good for young stars to experience defeat? Should Cam Myers skip World Indoors for a domestic meet? And what exactly happened with the Millrose pacing lights?
Grant Fisher — double Olympic medalist and world indoor record holder — joins the show to talk Millrose, his NYC Half debut, and what it felt like to break Kenenisa Bekele's 2K world record and still lose to Hobbs Kessler in Boston.
Sage Hurta Klecker joins us 77:51 to discuss her amazing 2025, this weekend's world cross country race, and her 2026 plans including a possible American record attempt at the Millrose Games. (Written highlights here) We kick off 2026 with our annual 2025 Quiz,J ohnson vs. Johnson, testing the brothers' knowledge of the past year in running. Then we review our 2025 Bold Predictions (Robert nailed the Emmanuel Wanyonyi call!) and make our 2026 Bold Predictions, including hot takes on Quincy Wilson, Athing Mu, Cole Hocker, and Cooper Lutkenhaus. Plus: Hakone Ekiden TV ratings, Ethiopian athletes denied visas for World XC, Beatrice Chebet's pregnancy announcement, and an interview with Sage Hurta-Klecker ahead of World Cross Country and the Millrose Games.
It's the final pod before Christmas and we've got a packed episode! Evan Jager joins us at 52:45 to put a bow on his incredible career. The Marathon Project 2.0 results are in — Priscah Cherono wins the women's race at age 45 in a 2+ minute PB, while JP Flavin takes the men's title and Turner Wiley runs 2:09 as an unsponsored father working full-time with D2 college PRs. Ben Rosa becomes the youngest person in history to break 4:00 in the mile and 2:10 in the marathon in the same year. Plus: World Cross Country team announcements from France and Ethiopia, the Emily Venters/Evelyn Kimboy NCAA controversy and what it reveals about FERPA, and our full exit interview with Evan Jager reflecting on his incredible steeplechase career — the 2015 Paris fall, Olympic silver, the Oregon Project split, Fancy Bears, and his new job with Nomio in Sweden.
Rosario breaks down the 2025 men's and women's races for you. It's Sunday morning at 9:15 am ET. Get the new shirt here: The LetsRun.com Store
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?
We break down the massive breaking news that Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu has parted ways with coach Bobby Kersee and relocatesd to Dallas. Plus: Stanford NCAA champion Roisin Willis turns pro early, and Weldon Johnson joins late from all the way out on the West Coast.
Evan Jager's officially retired & the NCAA Cross Country Championships are in the books and we break it all down. We talk Jager's legacy, course cutting, foreign recruiting, Hedengren vs Lemngole, OSU's dynasty, Rocky Hansen's breakout, Ryan Schoppe's heroics, and more. Quick reminder: the best running gift on earth is a Gift Supporters Club Membership for $67 . https://shop.letsrun.com/collections/all/products/gift-supporters-club-membership Quick Links: Join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club: https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Gift the SC Membership (67 dollars): https://shop.letsrun.com/collections/all/products/gift-supporters-club-membership Links for rest of pod coming Timestamps: 00:00 Black Friday Deals and why the Supporters Club Gift Membership at 67 dollars is a no brainer 00:35 Evan Jager audio from the iconic Paris fall 01:40 Start of the show 03:00 Evan Jager's career and the race that defined him 08:35 The impact Jager had on US distance running 14:15 Jager betting on himself as a freshman 17:45 LetsRun small talk from nationals weekend 28:45 Course cutting at NCAAs and what should have been done 44:50 Rojo's near death driving adventure 47:29 Do runners ever get DQd in cross country 52:27 Breaking down Jane Hedengren and Doris Lemngole's race 58:20 NC State is officially a dynasty 01:04:03 The foreigner debate 01:06:53 A team of all star Americans would have finished 01:11:09 Rojo gets to the bottom of the foreign explosion 01:23:10 Men's race analysis 01:25:06 Simeon Birnbaum and Connor Burns 01:28:36 Ryan Schoppe fifth man of the week plus Where Your Dreams Become Reality Runner of the Week 01:31:09 Sadie Engelhardt steps up 01:34:04 Closing thoughts and upcoming events Contact us: Email podcast@letsrun.com or call/text 1-844-LETSRUN podcast voicemail/text line. Want a 2nd podcast every week? And savings on running shoes? Join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club today for exclusive content, a bonus weekly podcast, shoe savings, and more. Cancel anytime .https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Check out the LetsRun.com store. https://shop.letsrun.com/ We've got the softest running shirts in the business. Thanks for listening. Please rate us on your podcast app and spread the word to friend. Find out more at http://podcast.letsrun.com Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/letsrun/8cf35cfd-7fb2-4ab0-a813-117ccf6e4ed5
The NCAA Cross Country Championships are Saturday and we break them down. Can Jane Hedengren be the first freshman to win NCAAs on the women's side in 40 years? Is she as fit as any American ever? USATF's books are out and we break them down. Show notes with timestamps below. Links: NCAA XC Contest Join the LetsRun.com supporters club Macbook air $749 Thread of week: Will Jane Hedengren's height eventually hold her back Max Siegel video NCAA Cross Country is RUINED - Teams like Florida Women, OSU and New Mexico ruin NCAA Cross Country - LetsRun.com New NCAA ranking system Want our NCAA preview podcast from the course? And savings on running shoes? Join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club today for exclusive content, a bonus weekly podcast, shoe savings, and more. Cancel anytime. Find out more at http://podcast.letsrun.com Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/letsrun/3f793ad9-3d79-4c30-93fe-d3b8142d259d