Gabi Rooker: 9th Overall and 3rd American at Chicago

Gabi Rooker joins Lindsey Hein and Matt Chittim fresh off her ninth-place finish at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, where she was the third American woman and ran a 2:26 marathon to secure her qualifying time for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials.Gabi’s rise in the sport has been nothing short of incredible. She ran her first marathon in 2021, clocking 2:54, and just three years later, she’s competing among the best in the world as a Nike-sponsored athlete. A former national champion on vault in gymnastics at the DIII level, Gabi’s athleticism and determination shine through in her transition from gymnastics to elite marathon running.In this conversation, Gabi shares her experience at the 2024 Olympic Trials, her journey with the Nike Dreamweaver Project, what it’s like being coached by her husband, Alex, and how she balances training at an elite level while working full-time as a physician assistant.This episode is supported by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Jack Daniels’ VDOT formulas and trusted by coaches and athletes to simplify training and track progress. Learn more at V.O2.com.

Jane Bareikis joins Road to the Trials fresh off her win at the Twin Cities Marathon, becoming the first female qualifier of this Olympic Trials window. A 2:29 marathoner (Berlin 2023), Jane is a mother and coached by her husband. She grew up in Kenya and didn’t start running until 2017, after having her son. Jane competed in her first U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2024 (Orlando), where she placed 35th on a tough day, and she now has her eyes set on 2028 and beyond. Her story is proof that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, anchored by her simple but powerful mindset: “Why not me?”This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.

Megan O’Neil is a Hansons–Brooks marathoner from Michigan who just punched her OTQ at Twin Cities in 2:36:43, taking second on a warm, windy day. She’s a former steepler turned road racer who works in software product/marketing, trains with the Hansons high-mileage model, and brings a gritty, good-humored Michigan vibe to everything she does.In this episode, Megan recaps how the race unfolded keying off an OTQ pacer, handling hills and heat, and slipping under the standard while the live tracker lagged. She talks about mindset in the final miles (“level up” now so the next build can aim higher), why Kevin Hanson was cheering from his daughter’s wedding, and how Hansons’ cumulative-fatigue approach compares to Dathan Ritzenhein’s style. We get into the nuts and bolts of her training, how she manages stress with work, community runs, and a sports psych, and why a stint of climbing (and even boxing during an injury) made her tougher.Enjoy this episode with Megan!This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.

Hosts Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka welcome Nick Hauger—pro marathoner, coach, and newly minted 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier—fresh off his 2:11:48 at the Berlin Marathon, good for 15th overall. Hauger explains why the result is both “objectively his best marathon” and a touch bittersweet: he trained with a clear eye on 2:09, adjusted on race morning for heat and humidity, and still executed with discipline. He unpacks the day, the calm-yet-electric Berlin atmosphere, and how course knowledge (he paced wife Calli Thackery there in 2024) and heat prep in St. Moritz helped him keep pushing.He also dives into his performance pillars, his coaching mindset, and more!This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.

In this episode, hosts Matt Chittim, Peter Bromka, and Lindsey Hein sit down with legendary coach James McKirdy, the founder of McKirdy Trained. Over the past decade, McKirdy has built one of the most recognizable and influential coaching groups in the U.S., guiding dozens of athletes to Olympic Trials Qualifiers and shaping the way amateur runners approach high-level performance. Known for his passion, direct style, and ability to break down complex training concepts into simple, actionable advice, McKirdy has become a leading voice in the sport.The conversation dives into the state of the 2028 Olympic Trials qualifying window, the rise of super shoes, and the unique pressures athletes face as they chase OTQ standards. McKirdy shares stories from Berlin and CIM, reflects on how to balance risk and durability in marathon training, and explains why sleep, nutrition, and recovery are as important as mileage. He also talks through the mental side of the journey—how athletes can handle setbacks, stay motivated, and surround themselves with the right community. The hosts dig into the role of social media in today’s running world, the danger of comparisons, and how McKirdy has built races designed to give everyday runners the same professional-level opportunities as elites.This episode is packed with practical insights for anyone chasing big goals on the roads, from BQ hopefuls to athletes with OTQ dreams. It’s also an inspiring look at what it takes to believe in your potential, block out the noise, and build a sustainable path toward your best performances.This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.

Host Matt Chittim and co-host Peter Bromka sit down with marathoner Mike Duggan to relive his one-second OTQ at CIM on the final day of the window and the chaos of gun time versus net time. Duggan shares lessons from a rough Berlin attempt and jet lag, the power of Jeff Cunningham’s Austin training group and why Chicago is next. He talks pack dynamics, late-race mindset, and how that approach carried him to a strong day in Orlando. This is a candid look at chasing the standard then and now, and what it takes to line up again.This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at ⁠https://www.vdoto2.com⁠. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.

Co-hosts Peter Bromka and Matt Chittim sit down with elite coach Jeff Cunningham to unpack the multi-year, step-by-step process of developing athletes for the U.S. Olympic Trials. The conversation explores how to structure seasons for steady progression, what differentiates first-time Trials qualifiers from veterans, and how clear communication and buy-in drive consistent training. This conversation digs into balancing volume, intensity, and recovery to improve performance while limiting injury risk, with practical takeaways coaches and athletes can apply immediately.This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.

On this episode of Road to the Trials, Olympian Dakotah Popehn shares her journey from Division II walk-on to placing third at the 2024 Olympic Trials and finishing 12th in Paris. She talks about the belief and consistency that carried her rise, the heat prep that made Orlando feel almost routine, and the big goals she’s chasing next—including a PR attempt in Chicago this fall and another shot at the Olympic team in 2028. Still coached by Chris Lundstrom, Popehn brings a mix of hard mileage, purpose-driven racing (plus her now-iconic shades), and a personal mission to raise funds for the American Cancer Society in honor of her mom.Link to Dakotah's fundraiser here.SponsorBig shout-out to the best coaching platform in the business - V.O2. V.O2 was built from the foundation of a scientifically-validated training methodology. Based on former Olympian, author, and legendary running coach Jack Daniels’ exercise science principles, the methodology not only benefits runners of all ages and abilities when it comes to improving their running fitness but it also serves as the best measure of running economy. Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://vdoto2.com⁠⁠⁠ today for more information.

Road to the Trials welcomes Olympian Jared Ward, fresh off a year in the UK completing an MBA, for a focused conversation on sustainable high-performance training and mindset. Jared explains how he’s reframed workouts as stimulus for long-term adaptation, what he learned from the 2016 Trials and sixth place in Rio, and why he’s still chasing meaningful goals while balancing family life and health.Topics include: returning to Utah’s training group and coach Ed “Easy E” Eyestone, managing Hashimoto’s, the “probability bubbles” approach from 2016, a Boston PR built partly on the treadmill, a Hobble Creek cattle-tempo tale, thoughts on 2016 auto-qualifiers for 2028, and a fall tune-up at the Philadelphia Half.SponsorBig shout-out to the best coaching platform in the business - V.O2. V.O2 was built from the foundation of a scientifically-validated training methodology. Based on former Olympian, author, and legendary running coach Jack Daniels’ exercise science principles, the methodology not only benefits runners of all ages and abilities when it comes to improving their running fitness but it also serves as the best measure of running economy. Visit ⁠⁠https://vdoto2.com⁠⁠ today for more information.

Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Theresa Hailey, a dedicated marathoner who has qualified for the Olympic Trials twice. In this episode, Theresa shares her experiences overcoming injuries, her mental strategies for racing, and her goals for the future. Discover how she balances her passion for running with her new role as a foster parent.SponsorBig shout-out to the best coaching platform in the business - V.O2. V.O2 was built from the foundation of a scientifically-validated training methodology. Based on former Olympian, author, and legendary running coach Jack Daniels’ exercise science principles, the methodology not only benefits runners of all ages and abilities when it comes to improving their running fitness but it also serves as the best measure of running economy. Visit ⁠https://vdoto2.com⁠ today for more information.