In our latest episode Brenn and Siobhan share impressions of the latest jaw-dropping performances at the Millrose Games. In this Olympic year, Josh Kerr and Elle St. Pierre showed particular star power. As the hosts approach milestone birthdays, goal setting gets talk time, including a new cloud.By Brenn Jones & Gregg Lemos-Stein

This year we offer a fresh look at the Millrose Games as journalist Siobhan Crise shares funny and profound observations and a race-ready takeaway from her first time at the event.By Brenn Jones & Gregg Lemos-Stein

We return to the virtual studio to chat with Siobhan Crise, who is running her third NYC Marathon for Sandy Hook Promise. We discuss the organization’s important work, and Siobhan shares a fresh tip for the 50,000+ hearty souls lacing up on Sunday.By Brenn Jones & Gregg Lemos-Stein

The Millrose Games featured its trademark thrilling distance races, and we’ve got audio clips from the Elle Purrier St. Pierre, Geordie Beamish, Josh Kerr, Alicia Monson, and other protagonists who took it out hard and closed with a vengeance. Coach James Chu joins the booth to offer his Chuey Awards and race-by-race insights.…

Junk Miles podcast hosts Chip Chantry and Jeff Lyons describe how they used a most unlikely event in Philadelphia to mobilize runners, raising tens of thousands of dollars for a local food bank. Gregg describes embodying Rudy Giuliani at the Fraud Street Run, and in a bonus interview we turn from Philly to New York State and introduce Dr. Ammitai W…

David Alm at the East New York Fall Classic. Photo by Drew Reynolds. In his typical renaissance fashion, David Alm wears a few hats in this one, outlining the progression of his East River 5000 events, including the recent East New York Fall Classic and the Beach to Brooklyn Relay, before adapting the role of therapist for Gregg’s mid-life running …

The skyrocketing popularity of sports card collecting in recent years has left us scratching our heads: Where are all the track and field cards? We test the theory that now is the time for proper sets dedicated to track & field and marathon running by interviewing the greatest card collecting authority of them all, Dr. James Beckett.…

Kate Grace wins the 2021 Millicent Fawcett Mile in 4:27. Photo courtesy Kate Grace Kate Grace has hit her stride on the Diamond League circuit, with three consecutive PRs in the 800m and a dominant win in the mile — all after heartbreak at the US Olympic Trials. What’s her secret? We ask in Episode 106, as she rejoins the interview booth eight year…

Peter Brady wins the Sid Howard 800m run in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Photo by Jay-r Mojica. We share our highlights from the thrilling USA Track & Field Olympic Trials and usher into the the studio former 800 meter masters champion Peter Brady. Pete, who hosts his own Masters Milers podcast, discusses an adventuresome day at the Legendary 5000 and Sid H…

We look back at the Olympic Trials with Katie Ruhlman and ahead to a return to normal races. Katie, who competed at last year’s Trials in Atlanta, is also a full-time nurse and college running coach. Brenn and Gregg compare their recent running streaks, and mull a half-baked idea to capitalise on the sports card boom.…

Photo by Michael Sherman Today’s youth help us take on 2021 with renewed optimism. University of Colorado runners Kashon Harrison and Josh Ramos join the interview booth, describing their running exploits and their organization Fundamental Needs, which is offering support to Navajo Nation lands in the Southwest.…

Photo by Matt Parker (insta @mattflynnparker) Kim Conley, a runner’s runner, rejoins the booth with an update on her quest for a third Olympics team, a look back at inspiring finishing kicks on the track, and lessons from her marathon debut in New York City. We touch upon the wildfires in California, where Kim attended high school. We also welcome …

Photo courtesy of Jack Smith The elite-only London Marathon Oct. 4 will feature multiple superheroes of distance running, but only one Spiderman. Paul Martelletti is a New Zealand-born marathoner and ultramarathoner who enjoys toeing the line as often as he can, and occasionally in costume. In 2015, he set a record by running a 2:29 dressed as ever…

Joseph Gray shares the rarefied air of a mountain running champion in Episode 100. Gray, who broke barriers as the first Black American at the top echelon of his sport, has racked up eight mountain running world championships and is motivating young Black athletes to take up distance running through his Project Inspire Diversity. Meanwhile, track i…

We’ve got two stories to tell in Episode 99. One of the victims of Covid-19 is Anick Jesdanun, an AP reporter and beloved member of the NYC running community. We hear from his NYC Flyers teammate Stephanie Tang, who ran her “Backyard Boston” marathon in his honor. Med school student Martin Hehir then joins the interview booth and describes his 6th …

We hear from listeners in such far-flung locations as Paris, Valencia, and New York City during this time of both deep stress and unity. In our main interview we talk shop with “The Morning Shakeout” podcast host Mario Fraioli, who offers a level-headed look at running right now and memories of a thrilling showdown with Gregg’s coach Nate Jenkins.…

“Hill”-lanta was the setting of the epic, windblown 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, and we’ve got post-race interviews with the top five women’s finishers —Aliphine Tuliamuk, Molly Seidel, Sally Kipyego, Des Linden, and Laura Thweatt—in addition to Distance Project NYC stars Caitlin Phillips, Angela Ortiz, and Lauren Perkins. Gregg and Brenn discuss …

We look ahead to Saturday’s Olympic Trials in Atlanta with 2:13 marathoner Patrick Rizzo, who plans on making this his last race as a pro. With typical heart and candor, Rizzo shares highlights of his career, assesses the governing bodies and drugs in the sport, and offers a glimpse at what comes next. Rizzo picks a few darkhorses to medal on Satur…

NYC brings us the world as Millrose Games stars Chris O’Hare (Scotland), Justyn Knight (Canada), Natoya Goule (Jamaica), and Ally Ostrander (Alaska, USA) grace the airwaves with post-race interviews. Coach James Chu relives the action with his third annual Chuey Awards, and Gregg takes a quick peek at the upcoming Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta…

Morgan Pearson runs 29:54 to win the Open Men’s 10k in the rain and mud. Photo by Gregg Lemos-Stein. The Tinmen Elite tore up the field at Lehigh University with their third consecutive USATF National Club Cross-Country championship. We speak with Tinman Coach Tom Schwartz on what it takes to win in the mud. Gregg announces his next marathon, and B…

Nate Jenkins with wife Melissa and son Brennan We give thanks to all things running in Episode 93, including an interview with coach and 2:14 marathoner Nate Jenkins. In an attempt to get his groove back after the New York Marathon, Gregg lays out his plan for running more miles this winter, and gets a dose of thoughtful feedback from the guy who c…

Lindsay Crouse after her 2:57:37 PR at the California International Marathon, Dec. 2018 New York Times reporter and Central Park Track Club runner Lindsay Crouse has helped bring urgent issues in the sport to the fore, most recently with her video of Mary Cain calling out Nike and Alberto Salazar. In this episode Lindsay discusses how she developed…

Photo by Andy Kiss In our pre-NYCM shakeout podcast, we discuss the race at hand while limiting shoe talk (for the most part) to what will be on our own feet. Gregg shares an anecdote from “cutie” Nate Jenkins about chasing Meb through Central Park.By Brenn Jones & Gregg Lemos-Stein

Matt Futterman after finishing the 2019 Chicago Marathon in 3:16:11 We interview New York Times reporter Matthew Futterman about his book Running to the Edge, which celebrates coach Bob Larsen, Meb Keflezighi, the Jamul Toads, and the better angels of our sport. Then we ask him about Alberto Salazar. David Alm introduces the East River 5000, a race…

Photo courtesy Luke Puskedra Luke Puskedra, who ran 2:10 at the Chicago Marathon in 2015 and finished 4th at the 2016 Olympic Trials, retired at the tender age of 29. Now he’s dabbling at 110 miles per week. We catch up with Luke to ask whether that retirement from professional running was indeed permanent. We also catch up with Cape Verde Olympian…

Fair is foul, and foul is fair in the world of track and field these days as lowlights and highlights compete for attention. Celebrate Kenenisa Bekele’s fantastic Berlin Marathon? Lament the meager crowds at Doha? Despair at drug use in the sport? Swoosh or syringe? We sift through the current events, and Gregg updates us on his approach to the upc…

Photo by John Le Tran We recap the exceptional pro races at the 5th Avenue Mile, with interviews of Jenny Simpson, Elinor Purrier, and Nick Willis. In amateur land, Brenn reports on his mile race, and Gregg, back in the USA after several years abroad, vows to adhere to Nate Jenkins’ training plan in preparation for the Chicago and NYC Marathons.…

Gregg discusses the perils of scoring water from an aid station while running as a rhino, the ups and downs of an ultra, and the ethics behind finding a race he can win. Brenn reports from the comeback trail. We share wise counsel from Judge Polly, Adharanand Finn, and Ruben Sanca.By Brenn Jones & Gregg Lemos-Stein

Eliud Kipchoge’s exquisite victory at the London Marathon was a sight to behold, as was Big Ben’s finish. We catch up with Big Ben and a man whose dog ate 50% of his 4% shoes before his race. Gregg gets the skinny on running as a rhino as he preps to make good on a promise he made to his daughter before he broke three.…

Kate Pallardy running 2:38:27 at the 2019 Boston Marathon. Photo courtesy Kate Pallardy. Our guest in Episode 84 ran 2:38 at the Boston Marathon on a day when she didn’t feel her best, and in a race that’s well short of her preferred 50-mile distance. We learn a lot about toughness from Kate Pallardy in this one. We also look ahead to Sunday’s Lond…

Alyson Dixon en route to winning the Blyth 10k. Photo by Lee Cuthbertson. British Olympian Alyson Dixon chats with us as she prepares to take on the 123rd running of the Boston Marathon on Patriots’ Day, April 15. Dixon describes her goals and recent training regimen since turning 40, and offers several tips for helping listeners hit their own targ…

In the special episode interlude, we encourage our listeners to deploy their half marathons to the cause of victory in the BOP (Battle of the Podcasts). Time is running out, and we need a big comeback! We also touch on irksome developments in track and field and provide quick race reports on the NYC Half and the Big Half in London.…

Coach Tom “Tinman” Schwartz has injected fresh blood into the competition among America’s best professional distance programs, as Drew Hunter’s national championship victory in the 2-mile was just the latest breakthrough performance on his squad. We’ve got an extensive interview with Coach Schwartz in Episode 82, and numerous interview clips from A…

In our Millrose recap James Chu joins the booth with his second annual Chuey Awards. Kate Grace chimes in from the pre-race press conference, and Natoya Goule, who set the Jamaican national indoor record in the 800, discusses racing Ajee Wilson. It was a remarkable meet, with thrilling miles on the track and a life saved on the infield. Here’s a li…

Photo courtesy Ruben Sança Ruben Sança, who ran the 5000m at the 2012 Olympics for Cape Verde, is aiming to hit the 2020 Olympic Qualifying Standard in the marathon while helping others get up to speed through his work at Lowell Running. We speak with Ruben, and eye the indoor track comings and goings, including turnover at the Nike Oregon Project …

Photo courtesy Gene Dykes Is that Santa I see? Of course not—it’s Gene Dykes! With his usual wit and wisdom, Gene discusses his 2:54:23 at the Jacksonville Marathon, the fastest 26.2 for a 70+ year old runner ever. We also converse with another superhero of 2018, Nate Jenkins, who coached Gregg to his sub three. Happy holidays! https://cloud259.com…

When Jenna Colon neared the finish line of the 2018 NYC Marathon, her first attempt at the distance, it was with mixed emotions. “I almost didn’t want to cross” she said in our Episode 78 interview, “I don’t want the feeling that it’s giving me to end.” On this Thanksgiving week we give thanks for that late race feeling when everything on that day …

A year after Shalane Flanagan’s breakthrough victory at the New York City Marathon, Gregg achieved his very own F&@% yeah! on the course, reaching Cloud259 (2:58:49, to be exact) for the first time in 41 attempts at the distance. In Episode 77 the 50-years young co-host of the show relives the race-day experience and explains the key advice that ma…

Photo credit: Adam Barcan @barcanshootWe’ve got the Big Apple covered with a bevy of elite interviews heading into the New York City marathon, including Des Linden, Jared Ward, Beverly Ramos and Stephanie Bruce. Another pro, Ryan Vail, sent us a quick dispatch about sharing elite status in this year’s race with his wife Eva. And for those looking f…

Shaun Dixon of the Let’s Get Running podcast While Nate Jenkins has been trying to get Gregg under three, he simultaneously has taken on coaching duties for Shaun Dixon, a fellow podcaster with fewer subs to his sub-elite status than Gregg. Shaun is looking to run 2:19 at this weekend’s Frankfurt Marathon, and Gregg asks him about his training and …

Photo courtesy Cameron Levins We stay north of the border in Episode 74 to recount Cameron Levins’ Canadian record 2:09:25 at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Levins takes us through the city streets and the mental and physical ins and outs of his race. We cover Levins’ move to sponsor Hoka One One, the prototype shoes he wore, tapering,…

Reid Coolsaet sets a course record 1:07:31 at the 2018 Rochester Half Marathon. Double Olympian Reid Coolsaet, who has been tearing up the shores of Lake Ontario with recent wins at the Rochester Half Marathon and the Ajax Waterfront 15k, will be defending a broader swath of the lake at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 21. We c…

In Episode 72 we focus on two races from the Berlin Marathon: Eliud Kipchoge’s astonishing 2:01:39 world record, and Gregg’s determined effort to crack three. We offer shout-outs for some excellent listener performances, and Gregg outlines where he goes from here. https://cloud259.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/episode72.mp3 Download…

Photo credit: Copyright SCC EVENTS/Camera4 First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin in Episode 71. Jenny Simpson, Nick Willis, and Jake Wightman chime in after their sterling Fifth Avenue Mile performances, and Nate Jenkins gives taper tips on the precipice of Gregg’s sub-3 attempt at the Sept. 16 Berlin Marathon. https://cloud259.com/wp-conten…

Bernard Lagat answers the call from 26.2. Photo by James Chu. In Episode 70 we focus on two incoming marathons, NYC on Nov. 4 and Berlin on Sept. 16. Bernard Lagat is stretching his track prowess all the way to the marathon, while Gregg continues to face challenging workouts in his quest for 2:59. Our marathon shoe talk continues, with input from R…

Despite the heat, Gregg hits his targets on a marathon workout, making this sub 3 dream appear more plausible. Coach/guru Nate Jenkins explains why marathons are less of a crapshoot than we think, and weighs in on all the fuss over the Nike Vaporfly 4% shoes. https://cloud259.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/episode69.mp3 Download…

In Episode 68 we report from the London Diamond League meet, where Alex Yee, Kate Grace, Clayton Murphy, and a resurgent Matt Centrowitz weigh in on their PBs and podium finishes. Gregg provides his latest training update on Nate Jenkins’ plan to get him under three. https://cloud259.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Episode68.mp3 Download…

Heat be damned, the countdown is on, as fall marathon training kicks off for some and kicks into high gear for others. In Episode 67 Nate Jenkins channels his inner Sade to further Gregg’s revitalized effort to break three. We take a peek at the upcoming Diamond League action in London, highlighted by the Millicent Fawcett Mile. https://cloud259.co…

Gregg is getting serious about this 2:59 stuff and has hired 2:14 guy Nate Jenkins, our guest in Episode 66 (we first spoke with Nate in Episode 35), to take the reins on his training plan. With one week down under the plan and 10 to go before the Sept. 16 Berlin Marathon, Gregg describes his first assignment: 12 x one mile at marathon pace, with a…

The fastest Americans at the London Marathon, Stephanie Bruce (10th, 2:32:28) and Fernando Cabada (13th, 2:17:39) are our guests in Episode 65. Their world class determination, perseverance, and leadership shine through as they discuss the race in the hot conditions and the road ahead. https://cloud259.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Episode65.mp3 D…