Road to the Trials

Courtney Alama joins Peter and Lindsey to share her journey from running a 3:02 marathon to qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Trials at CIM. She reflects on overcoming an Achilles injury just weeks before her breakthrough race, the importance of finding joy in running, and the unexpected opportunity to race in the elite field at Boston after her original marathon was canceled. Courtney also shares how she's balancing competitive training with her role in the growing Cooldown run club community and why she's setting her sights on even faster times.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Caroline Hill of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project joins Road to the Trials after earning a third-place finish at the Twin Cities Marathon in just her second marathon.Caroline shares how a heartbreaking end to her collegiate career at Wake Forest led her to professional running, why she knew the marathon was her future, and how the Hansons' high-mileage training approach has helped her thrive. She also discusses the shift from chasing a time to racing for a podium spot, the importance of teammates, and what's next on her road to the 2028 Olympic Trials.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Andrew Kaye knew the marathon was where he belonged. After six years of Division II running at Colorado School of Mines, he realized the shorter distances weren't bringing out his best. So he turned his attention to the roads, started coaching himself, and eventually made his marathon debut at Twin Cities, running an impressive 2:12 and finishing second overall.In this episode of Road to the Trials, Andrew joins Peter to break down his unconventional path to marathon success, from delaying his debut when training and life weren't lining up to building a training program around double workout days, treadmill sessions, and 25-mile long runs.They discuss how Andrew connected with some of the country's top marathoners, including Hillary Bor, what he's learned from training alongside elite athletes, and why he believes finding what works for your body matters more than following someone else's training plan.Andrew also shares his race strategy at Twin Cities, including why he refused to check his watch until mile 23, how he's balancing a new full-time job with elite-level training, and why he believes there's still plenty of room to improve as he prepares for the Houston Marathon.With his sights set on 2028, Andrew is proving that sometimes finding your distance is all it takes to unlock an entirely new level of running.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Ari Fisher isn't following a traditional path to the Olympic Trials. At 37 years old, she's running faster than ever, incorporating Orangetheory classes into her marathon training, and just ran 2:34:15 at the Twin Cities Marathon to earn her first Olympic Trials qualifying time.Ari joins Lindsey and Peter to talk about her incredible marathon progression, from a 2:50 debut in Eugene to a 2:40 at Boston and now a fourth-place finish at Twin Cities. She shares how Orangetheory has become part of her training, why she stepped away from a 12-year career in the medical field to pursue running more seriously, and what she's learned about building mileage, strength, and confidence.The conversation also explores Ari's return to competitive running after years of injuries and burnout, navigating the loss of both parents, and why she believes her best performances are still ahead of her.With the Olympic Trials officially on her calendar, Ari is just getting started.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrialsPaxton Smith is headed to his second Olympic Marathon Trials after running 2:15:51 at the McKirdy Micro OTQ. But his journey back to the Trials has looked very different from his first qualification.After running at the University of Colorado, Paxton moved to Miami through Teach for America, balancing early morning training in brutal heat and humidity with a demanding teaching career. Now, he's coaching alongside Olympian Luis Orta, helping lead a running community that brings more than 200 athletes to the track at 5:30 a.m.Paxton joins the show to talk about finding his way through disappointing marathons, how coaching everyday runners has transformed his own relationship with the sport, and what he's learned about fueling, training, and chasing faster times. He also shares why qualifying for his second Trials was so emotional and how he's approaching the next chapter of his running career.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Benjamin Bayless ran 2:15:35 in his marathon debut at CIM, securing his 2028 Olympic Trials qualifier on his first attempt. A former collegiate runner at Miami University and Ole Miss, Benjamin made the jump to the marathon immediately after graduation and quickly proved he belonged at the elite level.He joins Peter to break down his unconventional path to the marathon, including a 64-minute half marathon in Copenhagen, the training philosophy that helped him build confidence without excessive mileage, and the fueling mistakes that nearly derailed his CIM debut. They get into critical velocity training, racing tactics, super shoes, and what Benjamin learned from struggling through the final miles of his first marathon.Benjamin also shares how his obsession with running science turned into a coaching career, his frustration with misinformation in the running world, and why he's interested in exploring ultramarathons. With his Olympic Trials qualifier already secured, he's setting his sights on a sub-63-minute half marathon, a potential 2:10 marathon, and a top-20 finish at the 2028 Trials.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Jackie Gaughan is a 2:24 marathoner, Saucony-sponsored athlete, and full-time finance professional who just secured another Olympic Trials qualifier at the Berlin Marathon.After a stretch of disappointing races and training that left her feeling burned out, Jackie reconsidered what it meant to train like a professional runner. She shares why doing less, prioritizing recovery, and adapting workouts around her demanding career helped her rediscover consistency and confidence.Peter and Lindsey also talk with Jackie about her remarkable comeback at CIM following a difficult Chicago Marathon, the resilience she developed through setbacks, her experience at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and how she approaches coaching herself. Plus, Jackie reflects on her unconventional path from Notre Dame to elite marathoning and what she's hoping to accomplish heading into the 2028 Olympic Trials in St. Louis.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrialsAlex Price joins Peter and Lindsey after running 2:15:24 at the California International Marathon to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Trials. A former Division III runner, Alex spent years chasing the qualifying standard while balancing a full-time job, family life, and training almost entirely on his own.Alex shares how he dropped more than five minutes from his marathon PR, why consistency and quality workouts mattered more than increasing mileage, and what it was like to find himself running alongside Olympians at CIM. He also talks about his unconventional approach to training, fueling with just a handful of gels, skipping personal bottles in favor of water cups, and learning to trust what works for him.They also discuss the supportive running community in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, becoming a father of two, the role his wife has played in his success, and why his mantra, "Keep Moving Forward," applies to much more than running.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.comSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrialsDiane Neubauer is a mom of two, an Air Force wife, a running coach, and an Olympic Trials qualifier who has made some remarkable breakthroughs in the marathon over the past few years.After running collegiately at Cabrini University, Diane stepped away from competitive running before returning to the sport with a new level of commitment. She went from a 3:07 marathon to 2:45, then ran 2:36:48 at CIM to secure her spot at the 2028 Olympic Trials, just 12 seconds under the qualifying standard.Diane joins Lindsey to share how her relationship with running has evolved, what contributed to her massive improvements, and how she's balanced training with motherhood and military family life. They also talk about the friendships she's built through running, the role her community has played in her success, and her recent 10th-place finish at the USATF 20K Championships.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Patrick Cullen is heading into the Chicago Marathon this weekend with a big goal: run 2:06 and establish himself as one of the next names to watch in American distance running.At just 24 years old, Patrick has already qualified for the 2028 Olympic Trials after running 2:13:18 in his marathon debut in Ottawa and 2:12:15 just six weeks later at the Gold Coast Marathon. Now, with a marathon-specific training block behind him, he's ready to take a major leap forward.Patrick joins Peter during race week to talk about his unconventional path from Northeastern to BYU, why he moved to the marathon so early in his career, and the confidence behind his Chicago goal. They get into his 140–150-mile training weeks, his heavy reliance on the treadmill, the fueling changes he believes will make a difference on Sunday, and why he sees the marathon as the ultimate test of endurance.With his sights set on Chicago and the 2028 Olympic Trials, Patrick is betting on himself in a big way.Support our Sponsors:Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com