Inside the Lilac Grand Prix with Donavan Brazier

TEMPO editor-at-large Riley Wolff is joined by Stewy McSweyn for a very rare, very special talk live at Up There Athletics. Topics include: Stewy’s COVID recovery, his race schedule for the first half of the year, planning for a double major year, lessons from his Tokyo 2020 experience, pacing Eliud Kipchoge at the Ineos 1:59 challenge, DMs from Cheptegei and his relationship with Jakob Ingebrigtsen off the track.Big shout outs to the team at Up There Athletics for hosting such a great event.LinksWatch Running Things on YouTubeStewy McSweyn on InstagramRiley Wolff on InstagramUp There Athletics on Instagramuptherathletics.comTempo Journal on Instagramtempojournal.com

Tim Rossi talks with Jess Hull before she runs the 1500m at the Lilac Grand Prix. They cover getting back on the track, her 3K national record, warming up in a parking garage during a blizzard, setting priorities for the year ahead, feeding off the success of her teammates in the Union Athletics Club and their world record attempt at the Lilac Grand Prix.The Lilac Grand Prix is on Friday 11 February in Spokane, Washington. Get your pay-per-view tickets now.⁣LinksLilac Grand PrixJess Hull on InstagramUnion Athletics Club on InstagramTim Rossi on InstagramTEMPO Journal on InstagramTEMPO Journal on FacebookTEMPO Journal on the web

David Ribich is a host of the Sit and Kick podcast and a member of the Brooks Beasts track club. He sits down with Tim Rossi in the lead-up to the Lilac Grand Prix to talk rivalries, building media platforms that can grow the sport of running, a big breakthrough at the Portland track festival, Olympic trials and being a 7.38 guy trapped in a 7.50 guy’s body.David runs the 3000m at the Lilac Grand Prix in Spokane, Washington. Starts Friday 11 February, 12.50pm PST. Get your pay-per-view tickets now.⁣LinksLilac Grand PrixDavid Ribich on InstagramSit and Kick PodcastBrooks Beasts on InstagramTim Rossi on InstagramTEMPO Journal on InstagramTEMPO Journal on FacebookTEMPO Journal on the web

With a healed leg and a new indoor 400 PR, Donavan Brazier is healthy and ready to defend his World 800m title in 2022. But first, he takes on the 600 at the Lilac Grand Prix. By the way, his 1:13.77 PR happens to be the Indoor World Record. How fast will this race go? Tune in Friday from 12.50pm PST.LinksLilac Grand PrixDonavan Brazier on InstagramTim Rossi on InstagramTEMPO Journal on InstagramTEMPO Journal on FacebookTEMPO Journal on the web

The Lilac Grand Prix happens February 11 in Spokane, Washington. Tempo host Tim Rossi talks to Craig Engels, a man who needs no introduction, about his focus for this season, his goals for Lilac, and the growth of UAC and teams within the sport. Always entertaining, look for Craig in the 800 when it all goes down.More interviews with big names competing at the meet are coming soon. Get your pay-per-view tickets now!LinksLilac Grand PrixTim Rossi on InstagramTEMPO Journal on InstagramTEMPO Journal on FacebookTEMPO Journal on the web

The Lilac Grand Prix happens February 11 in Spokane, Washington. Tempo host Tim Rossi talks to Tracklandia chief intern Jeff Merrill about the inspiration for creating a world-class indoor meet, an athlete-centric approach, the grand prix’s innovative revenue sharing program, creating a custom pay-per-view platform and new horizons for the format. Most importantly, they cover how Jeff uses storytelling to create a new way to communicate his bone-deep passion for running. Stay tuned for interviews with some of the big names competing at the meet later this week. Get your pay-per-view tickets now! LinksLilac Grand Prix‘Free Track’ by Jeff MerrillTracklandiaJeff Merrill on InstagramTim Rossi on InstagramTEMPO Journal on InstagramTEMPO Journal on FacebookTEMPO Journal on the web

Brett and Jack share their experiences in the marathon, imparting valuable advice for anyone tackling this weekend’s Melbourne Marathon.From favourite parts of the course, to where they take their minds when things get tough, the guys cover off things you didn’t even realise you needed to know (but you’ll be glad you do).Many thanks to the team at Up There Athletics for hosting our very first live Running Things!LinksWatch Running Things on YouTubeBrett Robinson on InstagramJack Rayner on InstagramRiley Wolff on InstagramUp There Athletics on Instagramuptherathletics.comTempo Journal on Instagramtempojournal.com

Guest host Sean Whipp is joined by On Running athlete Ollie Hoare from Boulder, Colorado. He’s a newly minted Olympic finalist and 3:32.35 1500m runner. The 24-year-old enjoyed a spectacular collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin. Ollie’s time as a Badgers saw the Sydneysider win the 2018 NCAA 1500m title, including eight All-American finishes indoors and outdoors. Following his first fully-fledged professional season with On Athletic Club, under the keen eye of new coach Dathan Ritzenhein, we hear Ollie’s insights on his Olympic debut and racing on the Diamond League circuit.Ollie explains how he decided on joining the On Athletic Club, and how the athlete-brand relationship is evolving. Enjoying the dream start to his professional career, Ollie set a national record indoors over 1500m to kick off a globally competitive season. Walking listeners through qualifying for the Olympics during a pandemic, Ollie describes the rain-soaked, unofficial Australian Olympic 1500m trial at the Gateshead Diamond League. A debut Olympic Games is high-pressure for the best of the best, Ollie imparts a lesson or two to all runners in how the fastest middle-distance athletes cope at the biggest event in athletics. Ollie’s 2022 provides major championship opportunities at the World Indoor Championships, Commonwealth Games and World Championships – tune in to find out how Ollie plans on attacking the next year.LinksWatch Running Things on YouTubeOllie Hoare on InstagramOllie’s On Running profileOllie Hoare 1500m Indoor National RecordOllie Hoare 2018 NCAA 1500m winSean Whipp on InstagramTempo Journal on Instagramtempojournal.com

For the last episode in season two, we’re joined by the cult hero Jack Rayner. Jack is probably best known for his 2:11:06 marathon on debut in London 2019, but this week we’re talking about the Launceston Running Festival coming up this weekend. Jack is headlining a star studded field in the 10km – Jack is the defending champ here, having won in 2018 (the race wasn’t held in 2019). We also hear about how Jack has bounced back from an injury that ruined his plans for this year’s London Marathon, and learn about his plans over summer – exciting to hear he will be spending more time on the track in the first half of 2021.Finally, Jack talks a bit about his marathon plans leading into the Olympics – revealing he’ll probably only race another one before Tokyo if it looks like someone will eclipse his 2:11:06 and knock him out of an Olympic spot.Thanks for joining us this season on Running Things – the response has been amazing and we’re so glad you’ve enjoyed the guests we’ve had on each week. Look for season three in mid January!LinksWatch Running Things on YouTubeJack Rayner on InstagramPulse Running on InstagramLaunceston Running FestivalRiley Wolff on InstagramTempo Journal on Instagramtempojournal.com

This week on the show Riley speaks to Sydney based ultrarunner Michaela McDonald, ahead of this week’s ‘Coast 2 Kosci’ – a 240km ultramarathon finishing at Mt Kosciuzsko. Michaela is an experienced ultrarunner but this will be her first time tackling this event, and we get the rundown on what it’s like to train and prepare for something so monumental.We talk through nutrition plans for the race, which Michaela expects to take around 30 hours (give or take) – as well as real food, Michaela is packing 60 to 70 gels – surely enough to dint even the strongest of iron stomachs.Ultra races can seem daunting – with good reason – but Michaela shares her plan for getting through the distance, and it’s similar to any other race distance – breaking up the race into manageable chunks, worrying only about the chunk you’re in. It’s good advice for anyone, whether you’re an experienced road runner or new to the sport entirely. The Coast 2 Kosci is a very grassroots event – this year will see just 49 entrants on the start line, and it relies heavily on local community support. It’s one of the things that generally makes ultra running in Australia so good – the sense of community and camaraderie. And while the Coast 2 Kosci typically flies under the radar, this year the TEMPO team will be there to document Michaela’s race and shine a light on one of the longest races anywhere in Australia. LinksWatch Running Things on YouTubeMichaela McDonald on InstagramCoast 2 KosciRiley Wolff on InstagramTempo Journal on Instagramtempojournal.com