LetsRun.com's Track Talk: The Home of Running and Track and Field

LetsRun.com

LetsRun.com's weekly podcast where we go behind the scenes of the professional running, marathoning, and track and field world. If you want a second podcast every week join out Supporters Club https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe

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20 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes20

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Tuesday · 1 hr 33 min
Could Josh Kerr beat Seb Coe, Morceli, Jim Ryun, & El Guerrouj?
🏃 Presented by Orosport USA Cooling vests, headbands, and wrist wraps to help you train through the heat — use code LETSRUN for 10% off. orosportsusa.com/letsrun 👟 LetsRun Shoe Deals — Nike Vomero 18 $93, Pegasus $87 (40% off), Vaporfly 4 $143 (47% off) Josh Kerr's Commonwealth Games mile annihilation reignites the debate over where he ranks among history's greatest milers, with Rojo's "beat every great miler ever" thought experiment digging up crazy closing splits from Noureddine Morceli and Jim Ryun. Coach Danny Mackey weighs whether Kerr should chase a 1500m world record or protect his health for the World Ultimate Championships. Elsewhere, Abdihamid Nur and Alicia Monson's decision to skip USAs for a faster race in Belgium sparks a debate over what national titles are actually worth. And on the college side, Kenyan half-marathoner Dennis Kipkogei's commitment to Texas gets a debate going on the NCAA ranks. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS If All The Top Milers in the World Lined Up, Would Kerr Win? The Pareto Frontier: Jonathan Pritchard's closing-speed data deep dive Did Texas Just Sign the Favorite for the 2026 NCAA XC Title? Changing allegiances from Jakob to Kerr (forum thread) Colorado Buffaloes loading up on Africans for 2026 XC (forum thread) Shoe deals Need a VPN? — https://www.letsrun.com/vpn Free LetsRun shirt — https://shop.letsrun.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor Intro & Episode Preview 02:45 Off-Air Banter: VPNs, Weather & Cooling Gear 08:52 Josh Kerr's Commonwealth Games Mile Domination 12:57 Kerr's World Ultimate Championships Outlook 18:45 Could Kerr Beat Every Miler in History? 23:10 Comparing Eras: Ryun's Kick vs. the Doping-Era 90s 26:53 Danny Mackey's Decision on a 1500m World Record Bid 34:00 Other Commonwealth Games Standouts 36:22 Africa's Distance Running Decline & the Kipsang Mystery 40:50 Jakob Ingebrigtsen's Fitness, Qualifying Rules & Fan Rivalries 48:30 Skipping USAs: The Nur & Monson Debate Begins 53:49 USATF Points System Under Fire 58:12 Off-Topic Tangent: Wejo's College Racing History 1:02:38 USATF Foundation Grants & Accountability 1:06:58 Dennis Kipkogei Headlines Texas' Loaded Recruiting Class 1:10:28 Full-Ride Scholarships & the NCAA Funding Arms Race 1:16:41 Conference Realignment, Age Caps & Remote Coaching Fantasies 1:21:53 Colorado's Kenyan Recruiting Rumor & International Talent Debate 1:26:35 World Juniors Preview & Closing Thoughts CONTACT Contact us: 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 Wejo, a 2-time Team USA member, and Rojo, 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.
July 29 · 2 hr 14 min
Lutkenhaus Dominates, Brazier Fizzles, Nikki Nine in a Row, Jakob's Back and Charles Hicks Talks Marathoning
🏃 Presented by Oro Sport USA Beat the summer heat with ORO Sport's cooling vests, headbands, and wristbands. Use code LETSRUN for 10% off at orosportusa.com. Aletheia — a wearable stride sensor that decodes your running form with PhD-level biomechanics feedback. Free 30-day trial with code LETSRUN10 at aletheia.run. LetsRun Shoe Deals — Nike Vomero 18 $93, Pegasus $87 (40% off), Vaporfly 4 $143 (47% off) Summary The US Champions left Eugene for the first time since 2019, heading to Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island. in NYC. Cooper Lutkenhaus capped a near-perfect season with a dominant 800-meter title at just 17 years old, while Nikki Hiltz made it an amazing 9 straight US titles. Grant Fisher suffered a stunning upset in the 10K, Donovan Brazier's comeback stalled badly, and Jonathan Gault's "nearly man" take on Vincent Ciattei aged spectacularly in less than 24 hours. Plus, Jakob Ingebrigtsen announces his return at European Championships, Commonwealth Games sprint times defy belief in the Glasgow rain, and an in-depth interview with marathon rising star Charles Hicks at 99:59 ****on chasing 150-mile weeks and the 2:06 Olympic standard. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Shop LetsRun — 24% off all T-shirts with code JULY24 LetsRun Shoe Deals — Nike Vomero 18 $93, Pegasus $87 (40% off), Vaporfly 4 $143 (47% off) Oro Sport USA — code LETSRUN for 10% off Aletheia Running Sensor — free 30-day trial, code LETSRUN10 Hobbs Kessler Interview Jonathan Gault on Vincent Ciattei as a 'Nearly Man' Commonwealth Games 100m Final Nomio broccoli shot Supporters Club LetsRun VPN TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro and Sponsors 00:51 Welcome and Weekend Overview 04:36 Cooper Lutkenhaus Caps a Near-Perfect Season 07:05 Teen Phenoms and Why Lutkenhaus Is Different 12:45 Nia Akins Wins Her Third US 800 Title 14:22 Grant Fisher Upset in the 10K 20:06 Only 37% of World Team Members Showed Up 22:57 Nikki Hiltz's Historic Nine Straight US Titles 25:39 Can Nikki Win World Ultimate? 30:46 Wanyonyi-Chipchurchir Baby and World Ultimate Outlook 33:44 Wes Ferguson's Breakout and the D2 Pipeline 39:02 Donovan Brazier's Lost Season 45:00 Noah Lyles, Ciattei, and Mackay: Winners and Losers 47:24 Gault's 'Nearly Man' Take Ages Terribly 54:36 Hobbs Kessler on Sacrifice and Going All In 58:26 What Does Going All In Really Mean? 62:48 Addy Wiley's Breakout Weekend 64:17 Jakob Ingebrigtsen Returns at European Championships 68:47 Commonwealth Games Mile Preview 70:09 Commonwealth Games Shockers: Sprints and 10K 74:09 Glasgow Sprint Times Defy the Conditions 79:44 Kai Robinson Wins Gold, Kenya Stumbles 82:48 USAs in New York: Attendance and the Future 89:04 Can You Sell a Four-Day Track Meet? 94:03 Pros and Cons of Icahn Stadium 99:59 Interview: Charles Hicks on Marathon Training 104:20 Hicks on Mileage as the Number One Variable 112:00 The Altitude Experiment in Park City 119:43 Chasing the 2:06 Olympic Standard 122:27 Training Data and What It Actually Tells You 126:54 Fueling, Nomio, and the Broccoli Shot 131:39 Hicks' Best Jerry Schumacher Story Contact Email: podcast@letsrun.com Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) About the LetsRun 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.
July 22 · 1 hr 56 min
Josh Kerr Mile World Record & his coach Danny Mackey tells us all about it
🏃 Presented by Aletheia Run Aletheia Run is a sensor and app that captures a force portrait of your running mechanics, giving you feedback and drills to run more efficiently and avoid injury. Get a free 30-day trial and 10% off with code LETSRUN10 — linkhere https://www.aletheia.run/start-my-free-trial EPISODE SUMMARY Josh Kerr shattered Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old mile world record in London, running 3:42.66, while training partner Brandon Miller stunned the field with a career-best 1:42.19 in the 800m. Wejo, Rjo and Jonathan debate whether Kerr's mark is more believable than the EPO-era record it replaced, whether he should chase the 1,500m world record this year, and how his rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen now stacks up. Coach Danny Mackey joinsus at 73:31 to recount race day, the chaotic pacing situation, and what comes next for both athletes. Elsewhere: the NCAA scraps altitude and flat-track conversions in a move the hosts call one of the dumbest rule changes in years, Niels Laros ends his season with an Achilles injury, and USATF Outdoors kicks off in New York with several top milers sitting out. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS **** Aletheia Run Sensor & App Use code LETSRUN10 Brandon Miller junior phenom video After breaking mile world record, can Josh Kerr become the first man to run 3:25 for 1500m? **** Free USAs tickets giveaway TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor Intro 00:29 This Week in Track: Kerr's Record and More News 06:46 Fake Josh Kerr 08:28 Reflecting on the Mile World Record 13:59 The Drug Era and Believing in Records 17:56 What's Next for Josh Kerr 21:46 Chasing a 1,500m World Record 27:54 Debating Kerr's Recovery and Peak Fitness34:05 Injuries Rock the Miling Ranks 42:14 Should Niels Laros Get Achilles Surgery? 45:34 Kerr vs Ingebrigtsen: The Head-to-Head Record 47:03 Brandon Miller's Historic 800m Win 50:57 Miller's Turbo Kick Explained 56:51 USA Outdoor Championships Preview 1:03:50 Who's Skipping USAs and Why 1:08:53 NCAA Scraps Altitude Conversions 1:13:31 Guest Danny Mackey: Race Day Morning in London 1:19:36 Watching the World Record Unfold 1:25:36 The Workouts Behind the Record 1:31:24 Training for a Championship vs a Record 1:34:10 The Case for a 1,500m World Record Attempt 1:37:39 Commonwealth Games and Brandon Miller's Rise 1:42:40 Reworking Miller's Training and Kick 1:47:40 Whose Idea Was the World Record Attempt? 1:52:52 A Perfect Night in London 1:55:32 Sponsor Outro Aletheia Run Sensor & App Use code LETSRUN10 Contact Us 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
July 14 · 1 hr 19 min
Josh Kerr Chases History in London + Monaco & Another World Record for Wanyonyi?
🏃Improve your running form with Aletheia Aletheia is a biomechanics sensor and app that analyzes your running form stride by stride, then delivers personalized feedback and exercises to help you run more efficiently and reduce injury risk. LetsRun visitors get a free 30-day trial and 10% off your first year with code LETSRUN10. https://www.aletheia.run/start-my-free-trial Jonathan Gault, Rojo & WEjo break down a huge week in track: Emmanuel Wanyonyi's 2:11.83 world record 1000m at a stacked Diamond League Monaco, then preview Saturday's London Diamond League, where Josh Kerr targets Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old mile world record with Yared Nuguse also in the mix. They debate the doping-era asterisks on El Guerrouj's mark, rabbit strategy, and whether Marco Arop or Emmanuel Wanyonyi could snap the 800m world record on the same night**. Graham Blanks'** near-win in Monaco sparks a Grant Fisher comparison and a 2028 Olympic 5,000m/10,000m draft. Elsewhere: Keely Hodgkinson's world record hopes look shaky, USA Championships heads to New York for the first time in decades, and England faces Argentina in a World Cup semifinal. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Josh Kerr's Mile World Record Attempt Preview Aletheia Run (free trial, code LETSRUN10 Running with the Buffaloes: Beyond Fast by Chris Lear Discussion: What would El Guerrouj run with today's tech LetsRun.com Shop (T-shirts) TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor: Try Aletheia Run use code LETSRUN10 01:25 Welcome, Show Preview & World Cup Banter 05:16 Monaco Diamond League Recap 10:22 Grant Blanks vs Grant Fisher 15:03 5000m Talent Pool & 2028 Olympic Draft 19:16 London Preview: Josh Kerr's Mile World Record Bid 25:04 Rabbit Strategy for the Record Attempt 28:23 Doping Era Debate: El Guerrouj's Legacy 33:40 El Guerrouj's Historic Splits & Pacing 36:40 Wildcard Predictions: Birnbaum 40:29 Yared Nuguse's World Record Chances 46:40 Final Predictions: Does the Record Fall? 52:36 Keely Hodgkinson & The 800m Debate 56:07 800m World Record Watch: Arop vs Wanyonyi 62:37 Supporters Club & Beer Run Recap 64:44 Hurdles Rivalry: Thorpe vs Britt 71:11 USA Championships Head to New York 74:53 England vs Argentina: World Cup Semifinal Contact us: 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.
July 7 · 1 hr 12 min
Pre: Nikki, Tate Taylor, Sha'Carri v Melissa, Josh Kerr's World Record Attempt
🏃 Big Savings on a great running shoe & stay healthy with Aletheia.Run Save big here on Under Armour running shoes, including the Velocity Speed 5 and Sharon Lokedi's Boston-winning marathon shoe, now discounted in last year's colors here. Aletheia is a biomechanics sensor and app that analyzes your running form stride by stride, then delivers personalized feedback and exercises to help you run more efficiently and reduce injury risk. LetsRun visitors get a free 30-day trial and 10% off your first year with code LETSRUN10. https://aletheia.run/ Also celebrate the LetsRun.com Shop's 250th anniversary sale — use code JULY4 for 25% off at shop.letsrun.com. EPISODE SUMMARY Fresh off the 2026 Prefontaine Classic, Wejo, Rojo, & Jonathan Gault break down a meet with no world records but plenty of drama. Nikki Hiltz stuns Faith Kipyegon for the biggest win of their career, while Tate Taylor's blistering 19.75 200m into a headwind raises questions about his amateur status and Nike NIL kit. Brandon Miller outkicks Cooper Lutkenhaus in the 800m, and the crew debates Donovan Brazier's stalled season and a possible Colorado-Flagstaff training gap. Brewing tension between training partners Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden after a razor-thin 100m finish and pointed post-race comments. Elsewhere: an AP article riddled with apparent AI-generated errors, Josh Kerr's looming mile world record attempt in London, and a full slate of World Cup banter. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Nikki Hiltz upsets Faith Kipyegon in the 1500m at Prefontaine Tate Taylor runs 19.75 in the 200m at Prefontaine Discussion: Would Sha'Carri vs MJW rivalry be different if they were male Ed Murphy Track Classic 400m watch: Samuel Ogazi's pro debut Associated Press article with apparent AI-generated errors on the Prefontaine Classic Sha'Carri Richardson - Melissa Jefferson-Wooden 100m rivalry Aletheia running form sensor and app — use code LETSRUN10 for a free trial at aletheia.run TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor / Intro 01:23 Prefontaine Classic Preview and World Cup Banter 07:42 Nikki Hiltz Makes History 11:33 Debating Nikki Hiltz's Path Forward 17:33 Tate Taylor's Stunning 200 24:04 Brandon Miller Upsets Lutkenhaus 28:30 Donovan Brazier's Search for Answers 32:53 Josh Kerr's Mile World Record Bid 37:29 Colin Solomon's Rough Day at Pre 39:38 Coaching Carousel and World Cup Wrap-Up 41:53 Aletheia Free Trial with code LETSRUN10 42:58 Cam Myers and the Commonwealth Games Duel 48:34 Monaco Preview and the 400m Watch 52:45 The Sha'Carri Richardson-Melissa Jefferson Rivalry 55:36 Is This Rivalry Sustainable? 1:02:23 Lessons From Past Training Partner Rivalries 1:04:04 Wrapping Up: Lukaku, Palace, and World Cup Talk 1:10:31 Closing Thoughts and What's Next 1:11:39 Outro: Aletheia and Under Armour Contact us: 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.
July 2 · 1 hr 31 min
Pre Preview, Kenny Bednarek (guest) + Lutkenhaus AR?, loaded Bowerman Mile, Kipyegon returns
Jonathan Gault and Rojo preview a stacked Prefontaine Classic, from Cooper Lutkenhaus chasing the American 800m record and Jackson Spencer's shot at Alan Webb's high school mile mark, to a loaded Bowerman Mile featuring Yared Nuguse, Cole Hocker, Niels Laros and Cam Myers, and Faith Kipyegon's much-anticipated return in the women's mile. They also break down the men's and women's 100m fields, Keely Hodgkinson's build toward a world record attempt, and Marco Langan's surprise pro signing. At 50:52 US 100m champion Kenny Bednarek joins to discuss switching from the 200m to the 100m at Pre, his rivalry with Noah Lyles, his elaborate recovery routine, his Grand Slam Track experience, and his goals for the Ultimate Championship in a season without Worlds or the Olympics. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Cold Open 00:24 Prefontaine Classic Weekend Preview 02:15 Podcast Schedule Banter and Supporters Club 04:42 RoJo's Parenting Story 06:16 Cooper Lutkenhaus Chases the American Record 12:33 Donovan Brazier's Disappointing Season 16:08 Jackson Spencer's Bid for Alan Webb's Record 19:30 Men's Two Mile and Marco Langan's Pro Signing 25:42 Faith Kipyegon's Return to the Mile 30:59 Bowerman Mile Field Preview 34:21 Bowerman Mile Predictions 40:27 Steeplechase, Women's 800, and Keely Hodgkinson 45:55 Men's 100 and Saturday's Sprint Showdowns 50:52 Kenny Bednarek guest 55:02 Favorite Racing Venues 58:21 Travel, Recovery, and Pre-Race Routine 62:01 2026 Goals and the Budapest Double 65:09 Rivalry with Noah Lyles 67:33 Secrets to Consistency and Recovery Investments 75:31 Reflecting on Silver Medals 77:45 Training Partner Sam Blaskowski 81:38 Grand Slam Track and Athlete Pay 86:30 Prefontaine Preview and Closing Thoughts Contact us: 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. Find out more at http://podcast.letsrun.com
June 23 · 1 hr 24 min
Niels Laros is back! Femke Bol wins again! Chaos in Kenya. Quincy Wilson gets beat. Where are the US stars?
🏃 Presented by Aletheia.Run Use code LETSRUN10 to save 10% and get a Free 30 Day Trial Aletheia is a biomechanics sensor and app that analyzes your running form stride by stride, then delivers personalized feedback and exercises to help you run more efficiently and reduce injury risk. LetsRun visitors get a free 30-day trial and 10% off your first year with code LETSRUN10. https://aletheia.run/ EPISODE SUMMARY Welcome to the LetsRun.com Track Talk Podcast. Another busy weekend has taken place and we are pumped to break it down for you. Podcast listener Niels Laros is back and better than ever – at least in the 800, where he ran a 1:43.83 pb to earn a dominant win in Hengelo. We’ll tell you why he’s now our favorite for the Bowerman mile. It was actually double Dutch as Femke Broeders-Bol joined him with a 1:57.41 win at the same meet. Across the North Sea, Georgia Hunter Bell earned a dominant 800m win at the British champs but Keely Hodgkinson left the start line of the 400m in tears. The Kenyan Commonwealth Games trials were chaotic as always, and we’ll tell you how that dysfunction benefits USA and Europe. And America has another Diamond League winner thanks to Addy Wiley’s 800 win in Doha. in the high school ranks, Quincy Wilson was beaten by another rising high school 400m star - is Jayden Deleon now the US’s #1 400m prospect? Plus some of America’s best runners are still MIA in 2026 - where are Athing Mu, Jonah Koech, Josh Hoey etc.? Plus lots of World Cup talk at the end. LINKS How much mileage is too much for a high school cross country runner? T Jayden Deleon runs super fast to take US U20m crown from Quincy Wilson -- is he now the better 400m prospect? Dutch delight in Hengelo: Niels Laros gets pb, Femke Broeders-Bol kicks to victory at FBK Games Sha'Carri Richardson runs 10.77 - her fastest time in nearly 2 years - at low key meet at high school track in Florida Addy Wiley Wins Doha Diamond League 800 Jenny Simpson Shows ‘Encouraging Improvement’ After Track Collapse — Already Asking About Her Mile Time Nike Outdoor Nationals vs New Balance Nationals: Which Meet Is Better? TIMESTAMPS 01:43 – Welcome & Episode Intro: Breaking down a massive weekend in track and field. 02:47 – Jonathan’s World Cup Vacation & Rojo's Life Advice: The guys banter about showing up every day versus taking trips to see Harry Kane. 06:32 – Kenyan Commonwealth Games Trials Chaos: Analyzing the last-minute scheduling, the messy two-section 10,000m final, and how administrative dysfunction impacts athletes. 14:28 – Timothy Cheruiyot's Rejuvenation: A deep dive into the Men's 1500m Kenyan trials, Cheruiyot's consistency under Thomas Lewandowski, and the tactical pacing of the race. 21:21 – Rosemary Longisa's Incredible Double: Praising the Iowa State-bound NCAA champ making the Kenyan squad just a week after collegiate nationals. 23:38 – Jenny Simpson Health Update: Addressing the scary situation at the Sir Walter Miler event and sending well-wishes to an American legend. 25:01 – The 2026 MIA Report: Where are reigning US Champion Jonah Koech, Olympic Champion Athing Mu, and World Indoor record-holder Josh Hoey? 29:54 – Puma Shoe Lawsuits: Exploring the rumors, athlete complaints, and how footwear changes affect elite performances. 35:44 – The Dutch Wonder Twins in Hengelo: Niels Laros drops an incredible 1:43.83 800m PB, and Femke Bol handles the pressure in the women's 800m. 46:32 – Keely Hodgkinson's 400m Tears: Interpreting Hodgkinson pulling out of the British Champs 400m final and the immense pressure of chasing world records. 50:27 – US Under-20 400m Showdown: Did Jayden DeLeon pass Quincy Wilson as America’s top high school 400m prospect? 60:37 – Sprinting Stars to Watch: Breaking down Tate Taylor, Jake Odey-Jordan, and the upcoming World Juniors excitement on home soil. 01:03:01 – The World Cup Segment: Jonathan's live reactions, the expanded 48-team tournament, Messi's missed penalties, and Rojo's wild rule change proposals (like expanding the goals in overtime). 01:22:50 – Show Wrap-Up & Supporters Club Plug: How to subscribe, get your LetsRun t-shirt, and final remarks. 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
June 17 · 1 hr 21 min
NCAAs -Birnbaum arrives, Valby 14:39 PB, Werro 1:54, Femke 1:57, + Frederik Ruppert guest
🏃 Presented by Aletheia.Run Use code LETSRUN10 to save 10% and get a Free 30 Day Trial Aletheia is a biomechanics sensor and app that analyzes your running form stride by stride, then delivers personalized feedback and exercises to help you run more efficiently and reduce injury risk. LetsRun visitors get a free 30-day trial and 10% off your first year with code LETSRUN10. https://aletheia.run/ EPISODE SUMMARY Weldon and Robert break recap the Ostrava Golden Spike, where Femke Bol ran a massive 800m PB of 1:57.13 behind Audrey Werro's 1:54.45 and Noah Lyles broke the 150m world record. They debate Simeon Birnbaum's superstar potential after his dominant NCAA 1500, Parker Valby's 14:39 5K PB and what it means for the future, and the outrageous Doris Lemngole NCAA 5K DQ. Then @47:36 in a wide-ranging interview Jonathan Gault talks to Frederik Ruppert the first non African to go sub 8 in the steeplechase. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Ostrava Golden Spike: Noah Lyles 14.68 150m World Record, Audrey Werro 1:54.45, Femke Bol Massive 800m PB 2026 USATF LA Grand Prix Results: Parker Valby Runs Huge PB of 14:39.88 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Summer Training 101: How to Build Mileage Without Getting Hurt TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Aletheia Run Sponsor / Intro 01:25 Mid-June Track and Field Rundown 03:39 Ostrava Golden Spike Recap 09:44 Femke Bol's 800 & Coach's Prediction 15:19 Summer of LetsRun 17:08 Nathan Green Wins Mile 19:21 Simeon Birnbaum's Superstar? 24:20 Jane Hedengren's 'Subpar' NCAAs 28:21 Parker Valby's 14:39 5000 34:23 Aletheia.Run 37:32 NCAA 5000 DQ Controversy 42:48 USATF LA Grand Prix Highlights 45:10 World Cup Predictions and USA Soccer 47:06 Interview: Frederik Ruppert 50:51 Ruppert on Double Threshold Training 55:30 Breaking the Eight-Minute Steeplechase Barrier 60:05 Ruppert's Training Changes and PB Progression 64:44 European Championship Goals and the Diamond League 69:49 Why German Distance Running Is Thriving 73:16 Supplements, Bicarb, and Race Nutrition 76:27 World Cup Pick and Sign-Off 77:48 Jon's voicemail 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.
June 9 · 48 min
How Tyler Andrews Smashed the Everest Speed Record by an Hour Using Double Thresholds
🏃 Presented by Aletheia.Run Use code LETSRUN10 to save 10% and get a Free 30 Day Trial Aletheia Run is a wearable sensor that clips onto your belt and creates a force portrait of your running mechanics. The new iapp includes 170+ running-specific strength and mobility exercises tailored to you. Try it free for 30 days here— use code LETSRUN10 to save 10%. EPISODE SUMMARY Tyler Andrews, a two-time Olympic trials marathon qualifier turned speed mountaineer, joins the LetsRun.com podcast after shattering the record for fastest ascent of Mount Everest, climbing from base camp to summit in 9 hours 55 minutes, over an hour faster than the 22-year-old previous mark. Andrews details the logistical nightmare of speed climbing Everest, from navigating the deadly Khumbu Icefall at night to waiting until the season's final day for a crowd-free mountain. The conversation covers his unconventional training, double threshold sessions applied to mountaineering, hypoxic training at simulated altitudes above 30,000 feet, and living at elevation in Ecuador and Nepal. After going 0-for-6 across three seasons due to broken gear, bad weather, and crowding, everything finally aligned on attempt seven. Andrews also hints at a return to road racing with eyes on the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Use code GOAT50 to save 50%. LINKS Try Aletheia.Run for 30 days Free with code LETSRUN10 LetsRun.com Supporters Club Aequilibrium Speed (Tyler Andrews' shoe) Tyler Andrews instagram Tyler Andrews on strava LetsRun.com newsletter Shop LetsRun.com Training Talk Live with Marius Bakken (Supporters Club exclusive) TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Aletheia Run -Free trial + save 10% with code LETSRUN10 1:20 Start 06:02 Climbing Logistics, Crowds, and Gear 13:03 Training for Everest With Double Thresholds 20:18 Seven Attempts: What Went Wrong 23:34 Proof, Danger, and the Ethics of Speed Climbing 31:08 How Hard Is It to Climb Everest? 34:24 From Marathoner to Mountaineer 39:48 Risk, Ethics, and the 2028 Olympic Trials 43:17 Life as a Full-Time Mountaineer 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.
June 8 · 58 min
Stockholm Madness: COOPER wins at 17, Werro's 1:53.98 to take down Keely, Nuguse keeps winning
🎧 Run smarter with the device that helps improve your form & hopefully prevent injuries - Aletheia.Run Check it out today with a free 30-day trial and 10% off with code LETSRUN10. Details here The Stockholm Diamond League delivered one of the most jaw-dropping days in recent track and field memory. Seventeen-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus won his first-ever Diamond League 800 in 1:42.70, as Swiss star Audrey Werro shocked everyone including Keely Hogkinson with her 1:53.98 win- the fastest time in 43 years. Yared Nuguse went back-to-back on the Diamond League circuit, outgunning Australian teenager Cam Myers in the 1500. What's wrong with Kenneth Rooks? Alook ahead to Oslo? and debate the Diamond League Mount Rushmore. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club —https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=public LINKS Aletheia free trial with code LETSRUN10 Cooper Lutkenhaus Wins Audrey Werro 1:53.98 LetsRun.com T-shirts — shop.letsrun.com Join the Supporters Club TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Aletheia.Run free trial with code LETSRUN10 02:29 Intro / Stockholm Diamond League Recap 05:37 Cooper Lutkenhaus Wins Diamond League 800 in 1:42.7 16:30 Audrey Werro Runs 1:53.98, Fastest Women's 800 in 43 Years 22:11 Werro vs. Hodgkinson: A New Women's 800 Rivalry 27:47 Men's 1500: Yared Nuguse Edges Cam Myers 33:15 Nuguse's Diamond League Legacy and American Distance Running 36:55 Men's Steeplechase: El Bakkali Wins, Kenneth Rooks Struggles 39:37 Women's Steeplechase: Bouzayani Breaks Nine, Top Americans Reviewed 46:59 Oslo Diamond League Preview: Lutkenhaus vs. Wanyoni and 5K Showdown 51:53 Diamond League Mount Rushmore and Hocker/Kerr Season Plans 54:57 Outro / Join the Supporters Club 57:47 Aletheia Run Free Trial with code LETSRUN10 CONTACT Contact us: 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.
June 3 · 1 hr 56 min
Nuguse Wins, Stockholm Showdown Set, Cooper's DL Debut & Tyler Andrews on Mt. Everest Record
🏃 Join the best club in running & get a bonus podcast every week A super soft T-shirt, and savings on running shoes and exclusive content. Use code GOAT50 — just $5/month for the first year. Money-back guarantee. letsrun.com/subscribe**** Diamond League Rabat delivered fireworks: Kenny Bednarek ran 19.69 in the 200m, El Bakkali got the big win as Frederik Ruppert became the first non-African-born man to break 8:00 in the steeplechase, and Yared Nuguse won his fifth Diamond League race before his big showdown with Cam Myers in Stockholm. The hosts debate whether Cam Myers can break the world record at Stockholm, break down Cooper Lutkenhaus's Diamond League debut, and ask if Keely Hodgkinson will greak the 800m world record this summer. Then Tyler Andrews @68:50 joins to tell the incredible story of his record-breaking 9-hour-55-minute ascent of Mount Everest from base camp to summit — his seventh attempt — and what it took to get there. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS LetsRun.com Supporters Club Shop LetsRun.com Sam Blaskowski 9.89 Was Cooper Lutkenhaus's 1:42.27 for 800m the greatest performance ever by a 16-year-old? Thread: Bednarek's 200m at Diamond League Rabat Aequilibrium Speed (Tyler Andrews' shoe) Training Talk Live with Marius Bakken (Supporters Club exclusive) TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Start 01:11 Intro and Episode Preview 07:38 Diamond League Rabat: Bednarek's 200m Dominance 11:49 First Non-African Sub-8 Steeplechase 18:16 Is El Bakkali the Steeplechase GOAT? 20:31 Yared Nuguse's Historic Diamond League Streak 22:46 Cam Myers Mania and the Stockholm 1500 26:00 Can Cam Myers Break the World Record? 33:47 Stockholm 1500 Race Tactics and Sam Blaskowski's 9.89 40:17 Cooper Lutkenhaus's Diamond League Debut 44:44 Keely Hodgkinson's 400 and the 800 World Record Chase 51:22 Will Hodgkinson Break 1:53 This Summer? 53:08 Mechanical Rabbiting and World Record Fantasies 56:08 Alan Webb vs Cooper Lutkenhaus vs Jane Hedengren 63:41 Jordan Anthony vs Noah Lyles in Rome 68:50 Tyler Andrews: Fastest Ascent of Mount Everest 73:31 Climbing Logistics, Crowds, and Gear 80:33 Training for Everest With Double Thresholds 87:49 Seven Attempts: What Went Wrong 91:05 Proof, Danger, and the Ethics of Speed Climbing 98:39 How Hard Is It to Climb Everest? 101:55 From Marathoner to Mountaineer 107:19 Risk, Ethics, and the 2028 Olympic Trials 110:48 Life as a Full-Time Mountaineer 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.
May 27 · 1 hr 49 min
Parker Valby Is Back, BU Is Banned, Andrew Greif on the Enhanced Games
🏃Join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club Join for $5/month with code GOAT50. Get a bonus podcast every week, exclusive content, and a super soft T-shirt when you join for a year. https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe**** Parker Valby made a triumphant return to outdoor track with a 14:49 personal best victory in the women's 5,000, her first professional outdoor race in nearly two years. Brandon Miller got the men's 800 at LA Track Fest rand aised questions about Donovan Brazier, while Josh Kerr posted an 800 PB fueling mile world record speculation. World Athletics dropped bombshell 2027 World Championship standards — 1:43 flat for the men's 800, 3:30 for the 1500, 12:50 for the 5K — and banned BU's indoor track for qualifying. The episode closes with NBC's Andrew Greif (author of Beyond Fast) talking about his experience at the Enhanced Games, where $250,000 first-place prizes couldn't overcome Father Time. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS LetsRun.com - the home of running Marius Bakken's New Book: The Norwegian Method Applied Is a Must-Read LetsRun.com Supporters Club — (code GOAT50) World Athletics Announces Super-Hard Qualifying Standards for 2027 World Championships Hot Rumor: WA Will No Longer Accept Times From BU Indoors (LetsRun Forum Thread) Enhanced Games: Drugs Don't Get Athletes Banned, They Get Rich — Andrew Greif, NBC News Beyond Fast by Andrew Greif and Chris Lear (Amazon) LetsRun.com Training Talk Live with Marius Bakken (Monday 1:00 PM Eastern, Supporters Club members only) TIMESTAMPS 00:05 Sponsor and Supporters Club Plug 01:09 Intro and Episode Preview 06:29 LA Track Fest: Biggest Winners and Losers 07:08 Parker Valby's Triumphant Return 11:57 Is Parker Valby's 14:49 Good Enough? 15:11 Most Disappointing Performances 18:22 Men's 800: Brazier, Kerr, and Kessler 22:51 Hobbs Kessler's Ceiling and Parker Wolfe's Rise 27:14 Josh Kerr's 800 PB and Mile World Record Talk 30:26 Weldon's World Cup Team and Soccer Tangent 36:09 Steeplechase Roundup and Cooper Lutkenhaus 42:14 2027 World Championship Standards Are Insane 45:39 BU Indoor Track Banned for Qualifying 53:01 Will These Standards Kill the US Trials? 56:04 Quota Reallocation and the Future of Team Selection 59:39 Sound Running, Track Meets, and Quick Hits 66:08 AI, Princeton Reunions, and Random Banter 68:38 The Enhanced Games Recap 69:19 Andrew Greif Joins: Inside the Enhanced Games 74:39 The Money That Lured Athletes Out of Retirement 77:28 The Spectacle in Las Vegas 82:55 Why Clean Athletes Competed at the Enhanced Games 85:00 Fred Kerley and the Olympic Eligibility Question 88:11 Did the Drugs Actually Work? 92:59 The Protocol Problem and What Comes Next 98:19 Father Time Is Undefeated 102:13 The Emotional Cost of Crossing the Line 103:44 Doping in the NCAA and Closing Thoughts 109:03 Outro and Supporters Club 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
May 20 · 1 hr 25 min
Comebacks: DL, Coburn, Brazier & Valby + Enhanced Games, Athlos Doubles Down
🏃 Want a bonus podcast every week, a super soft shirt, all for less than $5 a month? Join the Supporters Club for a second weekly podcast, bonus content, and access to live events. Use code GOAT50 for a discount. https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe The Diamond League returned with a historic men's 3,000 in Keqiao where 14 men broke 7:30, more than any full year in history, while distance racing's became even more international with a win by Mark English. A North Carolina high school relay team was controversially disqualified for a minor celebration, Parker Valby makes her outdoor pro debut at the Sound Running Track Fest, Donovan Brazier continues his unlikely comeback, and Emma Coburn returns to the steeplechase at 35. This weekend we have the Sound Running Track Fest on Saturday evening at UCLA with a stacked lineup of American stars. Athlos announced a new two-meet format for 2026 with $2.1 million in prize money, a 2.7x increase over last year. And the Enhanced Games launch Sunday in Las Vegas with $250,000 on the line in the men's 100. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Links Marius Bakken's New Book 'The Norwegian Method Applied' Is a Must-Read (Book Review) Sound Running Track Fest Athlos Announces New 2-Meet Format for 2026, $2.1 Million in Prize Money LetsRun.com Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LetsRun.com VPN recommendation — https://www.letsrun.com/vpn Timestamps 00:00 Sponsor / Intro 01:07 Diamond League Format and Weekend Preview 08:30 Historic Men's 3000 Meters in Keqiao 10:33 The Globalization of Men's Distance Racing 14:57 Doping, Super Spikes, and Why Africa's Dominance Is Fading 20:51 Women's 1500 and Australia's Commonwealth Games Selection Puzzle 26:19 Sprint Recap: Lyles, Jordan Anthony, and Rai Benjamin 28:44 US Women's Steeplechase Check-In 32:01 From Soccer to Ivy League Steeple Champ: The Pia Belolo Story 35:16 Nick Plant's 1500 and 4x400 Double at ACCs 38:58 North Carolina High School DQ Controversy 41:25 Celebration vs Taunting: Where's the Line? 49:01 Sound Running LA Track Fest Preview 54:59 Donovan Brazier's Comeback and the Men's 800 Storyline 60:26 Emma Coburn Returns to the Steeplechase 62:51 The Enhanced Games: Should We Watch? 68:58 The Ethics of Enhancement and What It Means for Clean Sport 72:03 Athlos 2026: Doubling Down on Prize Money 76:41 Athlos Teams, Messaging, and Sustainability Questions 82:28 Athlos vs Grand Slam Track: Spending Smarter Contact us: 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.
May 16 · 41 min
Marco Langon: Going Pro, Penn Relays Revenge, and NCAAs - "I'm Not a Runner, I'm a Competitor"
🏃 Use the VPN we use https://www.letsrun.com/vpn**** Villanova senior Marco Langon joins the LetsRun.com podcast to break down his 3:32 1500m personal best, the No. 2 time in NCAA history, and explain why he's locked in on the 5K at NCAAs. He relives one of the greatest Penn Relays weekends in recent memory, losing the DMR anchor duel with Simeon Birnbaum on Friday, then coming back to win the four by mile on Saturday. Langon opens up about his decision to turn pro after this season, signing with agent James Templeton, his family's financial reality, and why he refuses to filter himself. He also pushes back on the narrative that a runner's first pro year is always hard, calls out misinformation about Kenyan training, and reveals his favorite training shoes. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content for $5 a month the first year. Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Eamonn Coghlan's Chairman of the Boards Frank O'Mara's Bend, Don't Break The Norwegian Method by Marius Bakken Gear: Diadora Atomo Star (favorite training shoe) Diadora Gara Carbon https://www.runningwarehouse.com/catpage-MRFDIGC.html\&from=letsrunhttps://www.runningwarehouse.com/catpage-MRFDIGC.html\&from=letsrun(LetsRun may get affiliate commissions from some of the links above)https://www.runningwarehouse.com/catpage-MRFDIGC.html\&from=letsrun TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor / Intro https://www.letsrun.com/vpn 00:30 Marco Langon's 3:32 1500 and Why He's Running the 5K at NCAAs 05:01 Penn Relays: The DMR Heartbreak 10:12 Villanova History and Marcus O'Sullivan's Legacy 15:01 Four by Mile Strategy and the Simeon Rivalry 16:41 On Profanity, Authenticity, and Growing the Sport 22:18 Olympic Dreams: Competitor, Not Just a Runner 25:46 Final Season at Villanova and Going Pro 29:09 Signing with Agent James Templeton 32:17 Big East Preview and Summer Racing in Europe 35:32 Altitude, Work Ethic, and Kenyan Farming Myths 39:31 Shoe Review: Diadora Atomo Stars and Gara Carbons 41:18 Supporters Club 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.
May 13 · 1 hr 26 min
Diamond League is back, Birnbaum 1:44, Valby's return, Gout Gout, Hocker vs Fisher
🏃 Presented by the LetsRun.com Supporters Club Get a bonus podcast every week, (and the Parker Valby clip on today's episode), a free T-shirt, and more. Join the coolest club in running at letsrun.com/subscribe for under $5 a month with code GOAT50. The 2026 Diamond League season kicks off Saturday in Shanghai as the outdoor track calendar heats up. Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum lowered his 800m PB to 1:44.67, strengthening his case as NCAA 1500 favorite despite a 12-man curse on NCAA record holders. Australia's Gout Gout got a 60 Minutes profile, reigniting debate about sprint phenoms and Erriyon Knighton's four-year trenbolone ban. The hosts preview a loaded Diamond League season, debate whether Cole Hocker or Grant Fisher will finally win a DL meet, rank teen phenoms Lutkenhaus, Myers, and Gout Gout, and ask whether any world records will fall in 2026. Late-breaking news: Parker Valby enters the Sound Running 5K for her first outdoor track race since the Paris Olympics. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=publichttps://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=public LINKS LRC Who Wins in a 250 Mile Race: Rachel Entrekin or Sabastian Sawe? Gout Gout on 60 Minutes (YouTube) Gout Gout on 60 Minutes (LetsRun Forum) Simeon Birnbaum 1:44.67 PB at Oregon Invite Marco Langan 3:32.79 at Azusa Pacific, #2 in NCAA History Mike Holloway Interview on Botswana Doping Rae Edwards on Shoe Companies Supplying Drugs Kenny Bednarek on Grand Slam Track (Front Office Sports) What if they ran marathons at night? Cooper Lutkenhaus Podcast Interview Simeon Birnbaum Podcast Interview Diamond League 2026 season preview and predictions article on LetsRun.com Grant Holloway injury update (Instagram) Parker Valby Sound Running Invite entry Bodey Lutes breaks Prefontaine's 800m record TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Supporters Club Promo and Intro 00:55 Welcome and Episode Preview 06:35 Simeon Birnbaum's 800m PB and the NCAA 1500 Curse 12:18 Bicarb, Super Shoes, and the 800m Revolution 16:03 Birnbaum as Centro 2.0 and Marco Langan's 3:32 23:00 Bodey Lutes: The New Fastest Runner From Coos Bay 26:22 Wilma Nielsen's Oregon Debut and Quincy Wilson's Hurdles 29:07 Gout Gout Gets the 60 Minutes Treatment 35:42 Gout Gout vs Erriyon Knighton and the Name Factor 37:53 Erriyon Knighton's Doping Ban and the Trenbolone Cases 38:30 Mike Holloway on Botswana Doping 40:41 The USADA vs WADA Battle Over Knighton's Case 46:02 Diamond League Season Preview and Cole Hocker vs Grant Fisher 50:36 Grand Slam Track and Athlos Updates 56:23 Who Will Be the Best Men's 1500 Runner in 2026 60:56 Teen Phenom Rankings: Lutkenhaus, Myers, and Gout Gout 67:04 Will Any World Records Fall in 2026 71:18 Femke Bol's Move to the 800 Meters 75:22 Josh Hoey Concerns and Top US 800m Runner 80:19 The Athing Mu Mystery 82:18 Shanghai Diamond League Preview and Sign-Off 85:50 Parker Valby Enters the Sound Running 5K 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.
May 5 · 1 hr 18 min
Sub-Two, Rojo on NPR, Felix's Comeback at 42, Drew Hunter, a Near World Record in Botswana
🏃 Get the LetsRun.com Pink shirt — Order today or tomorrow and $5 goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. Get the pink LetsRun shirt**** Sebastian Sawe's sub-two-hour marathon is still front and center, especially after RoJo's appearance on NPR's On Point, where he debated the moment's significance alongside Alex Hutchinson. This week, the crew digs deeper into the shoe science, unearthing Jack Daniels' 1982 weight study and running the numbers on the Adidas advantage over the Nike Alphafly. The World Relays in Botswana delivered a near-world-record men's 4x400 and South Africa's Lythe Pillay split a jaw-dropping 42.66. Allyson Felix announces an Olympic comeback at age 42, Drew Hunter and Karissa Schweizer win the US 5K Championships, and the running world mourns Parker Morse while pulling for Michael Sandrock. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS RoJo on NPR's On Point with Alex Hutchinson and Meghna Chakrabarti Sean Ingle reminds us Paul Tergat said sub-2:00 was impossible 5 Thoughts on World Relays The Norwegian Method by Marius Bakken RIP Parker Morse Michael Sandrock battling for his life Sean Ingle banned from Enhanced Games Running with the Legends by Michael Sandrock Rachel Bachman's Wall Street Journal article on the new Adidas super shoe Howard Calvert: How I Ran a Sub-2:30 Marathon for the First Time as a 47-Year-Old Gear: Get the pink LetsRun shirt The Norwegian Method by Marius Bakken Running with the Legends by Michael Sandro **** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor / Intro 01:02 RoJo's NPR Debut and Sub-Two Reactions 06:35 The Next Big Mainstream Running Moment 09:50 Super Shoes and the Science Behind Sub-Two 15:09 Jack Daniels' Weight Study and the Adidas Advantage 19:43 Tailwind, Doping, and What Made London Historic 21:35 Text Line Is Back, Supporters Club, and The Norwegian Method 24:51 World Relays Recap from Botswana 28:04 Lythe Pillay's Historic 42.66 Split 31:33 Altitude, Timing Debates, and Southern Hemisphere Edge 34:55 Elaine Thompson-Herah Returns to the Track 36:46 Should World Relays Bring Back Distance Events 39:25 Gabby Thomas Skips the World Relays 41:08 Allyson Felix's Olympic Comeback at 42 46:41 Allyson Felix's Legacy and the Aging Athlete Debate 52:31 Remembering Parker Morse and Pulling for Michael Sandrock 57:01 London Marathon's Two-Day Experiment and Travel Costs 61:49 RoJo's Old School Marathon Pitch 68:58 Enhanced Games, Night Marathons, and Shakeout Debates 71:50 US 5K Championships and Who Didn't Show Up 77:49 Outro and Announcements CONTACT Email: podcast@letsrun.com Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) If you're interesting in partnering with the shoe please reach out advertise@letsrun.com 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.
May 2 · 25 min
Nico Young on his road debut, 2026 big plans, extra workout & World Ultimate Champs
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. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Use code GOAT50 for your first year. LINKS Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race Ultimate World Championships Nico wins 2025 Oslo Diamond League 5K Nico's Gear: Adidas Supernova (affiliate) Nico's Gear: Adidas Boston TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Start 00:23 Intro and Nico Young's Season Overview 01:36 Reflecting on the 2026 Indoor Season 03:11 The Heartbreaking US Indoor Final 05:51 Why Nico's Rookie Pro Year Was a Success 07:05 New Training Partners and Group Dynamics 08:49 Training Adjustments: Adding a Third Workout 11:09 Peachtree Road Race, Road Debut, and Outdoor Plans 12:08 Outdoor Season and World Athletics Ranking 15:05 Boston Marathon Reaction and Marathon Plans 15:36 European Diamond League Plans: 1500 and 5K 17:34 Chasing Fast 5Ks and Returning to Oslo 20:14 The American Record and Ultimate World Championships 23:15 Go-To Training Shoes and Wrap-Up 24:54 Supporters Club 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.
April 27 · 1 hr 41 min
Sub 2 Happened & Did the Marathon Change Forever? Sawe 1:59:30 + 2:05 Shocker in Toledo
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. 🎁 🎧 Join the Supporters Club for $5 a month with code GOAT50 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe 1:59:40 Shirts on Sale! LINKS LetsRun.com Sub-2 Marathon Recap The Two-Hour Barrier Fell: How Sabastian Sawe Rewrote the Record Books in London Rachel Bachman's Wall Street Journal Article on the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 3 "The Myth of a Sub Two Hour Marathon" by Robert Johnson (May 6, 2013) The Myth of the Sub-2-Hour Marathon: Part II by Robert Johnson (April 27, 2026) Vincent Mauri's Strava Account LetsRun Thread: "Anyone Else Feel Kind of Deflated Now That the Two Hour Barrier Has Been Broken?" McFarland/Penn State Instagram Taunting Incident 1:59:40 Collector's Edition T-Shirts TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor / Intro 00:43 Sawe and Kejelcha Shatter Two Hours in London 05:21 The Jaw-Dropping Second Half Splits 07:57 The Adidas Shoe That Changed Everything 15:50 Watching History Unfold on Race Morning 18:05 Tailwinds, Pacing, and How Fast Can Sawe Go 20:22 Why the Marathon Wall Has Disappeared 24:37 Sawe's Final 10K and the Fueling Revolution 26:52 Drug Testing and Sawe's $50K Clean Sport Pledge 32:47 Does Breaking Two Hours Feel Deflating 36:20 Did Kipchoge Ruin the Sub-Two Moment 41:06 Will Sawe Be Remembered in History 46:09 The Last Great Barrier Is Gone 47:50 Cheptegei Struggles Again in the Marathon 52:19 London Women's Race: Assefa Defends Her Title 56:50 From Paul Radcliffe to the Vincent Mauri Bombshell 63:23 Putting Vincent Mauri's 2:05 in Perspective 71:18 The Backstory: How Vincent Mauri Did It 77:24 Penn Relays: Oregon vs Villanova Showdown 83:14 The Four by Eight Record and Taunting Controversy 92:10 Quincy Wilson Leads Bullis to Historic Win 95:20 Gabby Thomas Sub-11 and the Retro Marathon Proposal 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. They provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.
April 23 · 46 min
Cooper Lutkenhaus: World Indoor Champion & His "Just Send It" Mentality
🏃 Join the best club in running for $5 a month Get all LetsRun content, a bonus podcast every week, and a super soft t-shirt for less than $5/month. Use code GOAT50 for 50% off your first year. Money back guarantee. https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Cooper Lutkenhaus, the 17-year-old sensation who became the youngest man ever to win an individual global track title, joins Jonathan Gault and Weldon Johnson to talk about his undefeated indoor season that concluded with 800m gold at World Indoors in Toruń, Poland. Cooper breaks down his tactics, his "just send it" mentality, and what it's like being a world champion walking the halls of his Texas high school. The conversation covers his Diamond League debut at Stockholm on June 7, the sibling rivalry with his brother over who breaks four minutes first, his surprisingly frugal spending habits despite a Nike deal, and why he's targeting USA Outdoors as the capstone of his 2026 season. Cooper also shares his admiration for David Rudisha's racing style and explains why he thinks 800m times are dropping so fast.https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Cooper Lutkenhaus wins World Indoor Gold Cooper Lutkenhaus: Where Your Dreams Become Reality Athlete of the Month Join the Supporters Club use code GOAT50 Timestamps 00:00 Sponsor / Supporters Club Intro 00:44 Intro and Episode Preview 03:02 Winning World Indoors: Tactics and Confidence 10:29 Life as a 17-Year-Old Professional Runner 15:40 World Champion in the High School Hallways 21:52 Outdoor Season Plans and Diamond League Debut 26:40 Dream Venues and Racing Where Rudisha Set His Record 29:14 World Indoors Final: The Decisive Move With 200 to Go 32:07 Outdoor Goals and the Sub-Four Mile Race Against His Brother 36:13 World Under-20s, USA Outdoors, and What's Next 40:03 Jim Ryun Comparisons and Why 800m Times Are So Fast 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 a marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.
April 22 · 1 hr 39 min
The Fastest Boston Marathon Ever + Simeon Birnbaum 3:31, Michael Norman Returns
🏃 Join the Supporters Club for less than $5 a month! Use code GOAT50 at https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=public John Korir obliterated the Boston Marathon course record with a stunning 2:01:52, negative-splitting the second half in 60:02 to repeat as champion. The top three men all broke the previous course record in what became the first marathon in history with three sub-2:03 finishers**. Sharon Lokedi** defended her women's title with a devastating 14:48 5K split between 35K and 40K that destroyed the field. Zouhair Talbi ran 2:03:45 to post the fastest time ever by a US citizen, igniting debate over whether he or Conner Mantz is America's top marathoner. Meanwhile, Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum smashed the NCAA 1500 record with a 3:31.69 at Hayward Field, and Michael Norman made his long-awaited return to competition after surgery. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Fastest Boston Marathon Ever: Korir Destroys Course Record, 13 Men Under 2:06 Sharon Lokedi Repeats as Boston Marathon Champion Thanks to Sizzling 14:48 5K Split How Did They Run So Fast in Boston? Inside the Fastest Race in History Simeon Birnbaum Smashes NCAA 1500m Record With 3:31.69 Michael Norman Is Back: Runs First Race in 19 Months With New Coach Why the AIU Handed NCAA Champion Adaejah Hodge a Secret Doping Ban Joe Klecker's Strava Stephen Pifer's Strava (Sharon Lokedi's Borrowed Garmin Data) Mary Ngugi Cooper Post-Race Interview "No One Cares If You Get Second": Simeon Birnbaum on Why Winning Is All That Matters (Podcast) Fiona O'Keeffe's Withdrawal Announcement (Instagram) TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Mary Ngugi Cooper Audio / Intro 00:48 Show Open 05:25 John Korir: Best Marathoner in the World? 08:33 The Kipchoge Legacy Debate 14:33 Record-Shattering Men's Results 22:05 Conner Mantz vs Zouhair Talbi: Who Is America's Best Marathoner? 28:41 Richard Ringer's Surprise Run at Age 37 32:52 Non-African-Born Runners Rewriting All-Time Lists 39:25 What Went Wrong for Korir in Chicago? 44:20 Korir's Rise: From 70 to 150 Miles Per Week 47:40 Where Your Dreams Become Reality 51:07 Technology's Impact on Marathon Depth 53:27 Sharon Lokedi Defends Her Boston Title 59:41 How Good Was Lokedi's Performance? 62:00 Jess McClain Leads the American Women 66:05 Fiona O'Keeffe's Withdrawal and Durability Questions 71:21 Mary Ngugi Cooper and the Let's Run Effect 74:14 Simeon Birnbaum Smashes the NCAA 1500 Record 79:10 NCAA 1500 Depth and the Championship Preview 83:26 Michael Norman's Comeback 87:13 Tate Taylor, Adaejah Hodge, and Sprint Controversies 94:41 Katelyn Tuohy's Health and Pro Struggles 97:35 SC Exclusive: Nick Willis' Theory 98:05 Supporters Club Plug 98:26 Closing Remarks and London Marathon Preview 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.