Back for 2026

2:15:49. Alex Burks is a two time Olympic Trials Qualifier. That's right, he's back. Alex Burks is our guest for this episode of the Beers and Miles Podcast. We've cataloged his post collegiate journey throughout the history of this podcast so it's time to check in on how he's been doing. Alex takes us through his preparation for the 2024 Olympic Trials, where he placed Top 50. We go through his experience at the Trials, the years after, and finally his preparation for qualifying for the 2028 Trials. Now available on all podcast platforms. Want to follow Alex? Give him a follow on Instagram @alexander.burks. Want to follow Cris? Give him a follow on Instagram, @beersandmiles. Have an idea for a guest, send it to [email protected]

We're back with another episode of the Beers and Miles Podcast. On this episode we interviewed David Nguyen, the man behind some of your favorite running media of emerging starts in our sport. David takes us through his journey to running, creating a place for himself in the media space and highlights along the way. Now available on all podcast platforms. Want to follow David? Give him a follow on Instagram @themidwestmiles, @dsn.pics, or @daviiid.nguyen. Want to follow Cris? Give him a follow on Instagram, @beersandmiles. Have an idea for a guest, send it to [email protected]

We're back with another episode of the Beers and Miles Podcast. On this episode we interview Andrew Ye! Hot off of his 2:18:07 at the Houston Marathon, we chat through his journey to get there. From a 19 minute 5k time trial in 2020 to ripping sub 5 miles down the streets of Houston, Andrew provides us with insight on how he found his footing in this sport and his trials along the way. Andrew is a student of the sport and his seemingly endless pursuit of miles is something incredibly impressive. Beyond that, he's just having fun and not taking himself too serious, and we appreciate that. Now available on all podcast platforms. Want to follow Andrew, give him a follow on Instagram @ayex457. Want to follow Cris? Give him a follow on Instagram, @beersandmiles.

It's the same old story, Cris is back after a long hiatus and well there's some new things in the works.Background Music Credit: DELOSound

Last week the USATF announced the Men's and Women's Olympic Trials Marathon Standards. The 2028 Olympic Trials Standards are 2:16:00 and 2:37:00. With this news breaking, Cris is joined by fellow trials chaser, Rose City Track Club's own Lauren Ross! Join Lauren and Cris as they discuss the new Olympic Trials Standard, their feeling about the news, and their opinions on the standard's effects on running in the US. Afterwards we turn our conversation to those that are contemplating chasing. We talk tips, lessons, and hope to encourage those on the fence to dream. Now available wherever podcasts are found. Follow Lauren on Instagram at @laurenross.rd. Follow Cris on Instagram on @beersandmiles.

We're back with another installment of Beers and Miles: The Elite Files! Joining us today is Rose City Track Club's own, Lauren Ross! For episode one, we focus a bit on Lauren's introduction to the sport. From downhill skiing and running as form of fitness activity to chasing an Olympic Trials Standard years later, Lauren takes us through her journey in the sport. She provides a very refreshing point of view in the sport and I'm sure you'll love listening to her journey just as much as I enjoyed talking to her! Now available wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Have questions for the podcasts, guest recommendations, or topic ideas? Send them to [email protected]. Want to follow Lauren? Follow him on Instagram at @laurenross.rd. Want to follow Cris? Follow him at @beersandmiles. We'll be back with episode two next week! 

We're turning it around for another special podcast just in time for the Olympic Trials! Joining Witty, Mike, and Cris is the University of Michigan and Novi's own Joost Plaetinck! Joost takes us through his decision to debut at the marathon distance, his workouts along the way, and the race itself where he punched his ticket to the Olympic Trials in just his first marathon! Mike and Joost then go into their recovery post CIM, the short training block between CIM and the Olympic Trials, and what it has meant to qualify. We're full of fun stories here and we're sure you'll be cheering these boys on as they tow the line this weekend! Now available wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Have questions for the podcasts, guest recommendations, or topic ideas? Send them to ⁠[email protected]⁠. Want to follow Joost? Follow him on Instagram at @toost_joost. Want to follow Mike? Follow him on Instagram at @mikeblaszycyk. Want to follow Witty? Follow him at @Witty_31. Want to follow Cris? Follow him at @beersandmiles. 

Almost two months later, we're finally talking about it. The boys come together to recap the 2023 California International Marathon. The boys have a lot to talk about and thankfully we have one of the British citizens of Albion, Adam Ditri to moderate and keep us on topic. Join Cris, Witty, and new special guest Mike Blaszczyk as they take you through their experiences leading up to the 2023 California International Marathon. We talk about the road to choosing CIM as our target races, our training leading up, and finally, the race itself. Now available wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Have questions for the podcasts, guest recommendations, or topic ideas? Send them to [email protected]. Want to follow Ditri? Follow him on Instagram at @awditri Want to follow Mike? Follow him on Instagram at @mikeblaszycyk. Want to follow Witty? Follow him at @Witty_31. Want to follow Cris? Follow him at @beersandmiles. 

In Spring of 2021, Alex had a breakthrough performance at the first McKirdy Micro Marathon. He ran 2:16:51, destroying his personal best and running a time that would be under the eventual Olympic Trials qualifying standard of 2:18:00. The problem? The standard window hadn't started. Over the next two years he would take multiple shots at the standard and would come up short on the day. After four attempts at it, he would line up for his last shot this past October, less than two months before the window closed. Alex takes us through his journey, going into detail on his mentality, the adjustments he made, and everything that led to his last shot back at Rockland State Park, back to where it all started those few short years ago. We talk about his build, adjusting to altitude, race day, qualifying for the Olympic Trials, and about his preparations for his next race, the Olympic Trials Marathon this February. And of course we have to end out the podcast as we always do, with off the wall questions. Now available wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Have questions for the podcasts, guest recommendations, or topic ideas? Send them to [email protected]. Want to follow Alex? Follow him on Instagram at @alexander.burks. Want to follow Cris? Follow him at @beersandmiles.

Josh Peterson joins us for part two of our two parter! Josh hosts his own podcast, Chasing Three Hours, a podcast about what runners are chasing, why they keep pushing themselves, and what keeps them curious. For episode two we focus on the big one. Breaking three hours for the first time and running under the Boston Qualifier. Josh takes through setting new, aggressive goals during he build up to the 2022 Chicago Marathon. Following Chicago, he would find out a year later that he would be on the wrong side of the Boston Marathon cutoff time. Josh provides us with a refreshing perspective on how to stay positive and ready for the next race despite the bad news. Now available wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Have questions for the podcasts, guest recommendations, or topic ideas? Send them to [email protected]. Want to follow Josh? Follow him on Instagram at @joshtweeterson. Want to check out Chasing Three Hours? Follow the podcast at @chasingthreehours. Want to follow Cris? Follow him at @beersandmiles.