The 2025 Millrose Games was one for the record books, literally, as three World Records were set, including Yared Nuguse’s 3:46 in the marquee Wanamaker Mile (a record made to be broken, given Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s subsequent 3:45). In Episode 114 Siobhan and Brenn break down the action, and Cloud259’s ace photographer Andy Kiss joins the booth to discuss the ins and outs of shooting the meet.

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.

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 Worob, who is running for political office.

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 crisis. We channel Price is Right and guess Shalane Flanagan’s NYC Marathon time.

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 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 years after her first visit in Episode 8.

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 Howard 800m meet in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

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.

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 back Nate Jenkins, who outlines the Lydiard base phase of training. 

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 everyone’s favorite web-slinger. Lately he’s cranking out training runs of up to 40 miles. Brenn and Gregg discuss virtual marathons, which are inspiring and uplifting in unexpected ways. Brenn also shares some thoughts on a tragic death that has roiled his home city of Rochester.

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 place finish at the Olympic Trials marathon. Bosco Hogan and Ruth McGill contribute a catchy tune.

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 what it was like to cover the race from a journalistic standpoint, and the growing impact of the coronavirus on marathon racing and society in general.

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 Saturday, and Brenn and Gregg chip in with a few longshots of their own.

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.

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 Brenn shares wise words from a young ballet dancer.

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 coached him to Cloud 2:58 a year ago. Happy Thanksgiving all!

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 these stories with courageous elite runners. We also discuss Lindsay’s own running in high school, college and more recently, seeking to improve on her 2:57 marathon PR. In a bit of counterpoint, Brenn and Gregg discuss their NYC marathon experiences – positive for one, awful for the other.

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.

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 inspired by classic cotton race tee-shirts.

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 and Lowell Running founder and head coach Ruben Sanca, who will be lacing up at Chicago on Sunday.

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 upcoming Chicago Marathon.

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.

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.

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 London Marathon, where the world’s best do battle, and where Gregg takes aim at another sub-3.

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 targets. Elsewhere we reveal the results of the Battle of the Podcasts, which pit our humble hosts and fleet-footed listeners against those of the Letsgetrunning show.

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.

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 link to the gofundme campaign for Kemoy Campbell: https://www.gofundme.com/f/67e5h-kemoy-campbell-support-fund.

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 and the return of Edward Cheserek to the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile.

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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!

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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 goes right, and we continue to try to figure out how to achieve it.       

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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 made the difference in his training, with nods to Nate Jenkins, Jeannette Faber, and Jared Ward, among others.

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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 his attempts to spread the love of running to office settings. Around the world we go in our chat as Gregg pushes another possible running project: Comrades. One race at a time, Gregg! Save for a few raindrops, weather is looking decent for NYCM…

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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, and his advice for marathoners looking for a PR (advice that helped Levins’ brother break three). Following the interview we share words from Gene Dykes and Reid Coolsaet, and indulge in more shoe talk ‘cuz Gregg’s sporting a brand new pair of the you-know-whats.

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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 catch up with Reid and discuss the stellar field for the upcoming race, his 2:10 marathons, Rio and Boston in the rain, Eliud Kipchoge, Cam Levins, Yuki Kawauchi, and of course, advice on setting a PR. Elsewhere in the episode Nate Jenkins offers a killer workout, and we take a quick peek at this weekend’s 26.2 in Chicago.

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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.

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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.

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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 Runner’s World Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate.

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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.

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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.

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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 relatively swift recovery between reps. We geek out on the details.

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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.

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In Episode 64 we recap the Boston Marathon, where Des Linden, Yuki Kawauchi, and thousands of fellow travelers on that harrowing journey earned their medals like in no other race. While the Boston results will resonate for years to come, it’s time for a clash of the titans in London. Gregg rolls out the odds and we make our predictions for Sunday’s 26.2.

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Photo by Erik van Leeuwen

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Photo by Akira Konno for Sankei

In Episode 62 we touch down in Tokyo, with praise for marathon winner Dickson Chumba, Japanese record setter Yuta Shitara, and newly minted 2:21 club member Amy Cragg. Then it’s off to Birmingham, England, for the World Track & Field Championships that take place March 1 through March 4. In non-current events, Gregg takes a peek at the loaded women’s field at Boston and we guess the U.S. marathon qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Wanamaker Mile stars Chris O’Hare, Josh Kerr, Colleen Quigley, and Kate Grace, along with all-time greats Nick Willis and Bernard Lagat, feature in our annual recap of the NYRR Millrose Games. James Chu joins the booth to offer the inaugural Chu-ey Awards. Late in the episode we return to 26.2, and Gregg details training with the Cambridge Harriers on his quest to crack 3.

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In Episode 60 we celebrate Shalane Flanagan‘s victory at the historic 2017 NYC Marathon and catch up with two runners who had breakthroughs of their own. Allie Kieffer was fifth overall and the second American woman to finish, running an otherworldly 2:29, while Angela Ortiz, the eighth American, became the first NBR athlete (North Brooklyn Runners) to hit the Olympic standard. After hearing from the elites, Gregg recounts his latest sub-3 attempt, and Brenn wonders whether it’s gotta be the shoes.

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Beverly Ramos at the 2015 TCS NYC Marathon, where she finished 15th in 2:41:56.

In Episode 59, Beverly Ramos discusses living and training in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria as she prepares for the 2017 TCS NYC Marathon. The two-time Olympian and Puerto Rican record holder shows no signs of slowing down as she sets her sights on the race and on helping her country. Elsewhere in the episode we take a quick look at the NYC Marathon fields, and Polly recounts her Chicago Marathon.

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Photo by John Riccardi

With the dog days of summer behind us, marathon season is kicking into high gear. Speaking of kicking, after kicking a dog on a training run, Gregg tried to deflect blame. Was he barking up the wrong tree? Dog enthusiast Polly Jones joins the booth to tell Gregg what’s what. In running matters, cloud359 and cloud259 are in play as Polly and Gregg seek PRs at the upcoming Chicago and Budapest marathons. Brenn probes their pre-race mindsets.

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Jared Ward at the 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials. Photo by Jason Suarez.

Wanna learn how to run a great marathon? Listen to Jared Ward. In Episode 57, we’re joined by the sixth fastest finisher at the 2016 Rio Olympics (2:11:30). With professorial ease, the Utah-based gent addresses our Qs on his pivotal races, the sub-2 attempt, Saucony’s answer to the Nike Zoom Fly, and the recently completed Track & Field World Championships. After the interview Gregg seeks feedback on his longrunophobia, and Brenn reacts to an accusation of laziness.

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Alison Désir, first row, lower left. Photo by Da Ping Luo.

In Episode 56 we speak with Alison Désir, founder of Harlem Run. In a wide-ranging interview, Alison describes the recent Harlem 1 Miler, the inspired Run4AllWomen journey from Harlem to Washington, D.C., plans to spread the movement nationally and internationally, and broadly speaking, anxiety, leadership, and politics. Got that? Good, because she also offers a killer tip for running a PR in the marathon. Elsewhere in the episode, Gregg eyes the upcoming track World Championships in London.

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There is Eliud Kipchoge, and then there’s the rest of us. In Episode 55 we cover Kipchoge’s 2:00:25 at Nike’s Breaking2 project. Slowing down a bit, Gregg offers a race report from the London Marathon, where he viewed the elites on his Cloud259 Breaking3 project. Late in the episode we gas about David Alm’s article for Runner’s World concerning a wardrobe malfunction, which inspires Brenn to dig out audio from the runningontilt vault and share another oopsie poopsie. Not for the faint of heart.

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Gregg and Brenn look at clouds from both sides in Episode 54: the figurative clouds of doping in the sport, and the literal clouds forecast for Sunday’s London Marathon. We collaborate on Gregg’s A to F goals for London and offer shout-outs to listeners and teammates who are primed to break three.

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Image by PhotoRun

Among the Americans to cheer at the Boston Marathon on April 17 is 2008 Olympian Blake Russell. The 41-year-old mother of two is fit and hopes to add an outstanding result to a career that includes wins at the 2003 and 2015 U.S. marathon championships. After Gregg grills Blake, Brenn grills Gregg on his preparation for the London Marathon, which takes place the following week. Elsewhere in the episode, Gregg speculated on what will happen at the Nike-sponsored attempt to break 2 hours at the marathon, and whether (or not) Jordan Hasay will beat Desi Linden at Boston.

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Guest host James Chu helps Brenn break down the Millrose Games in 79 minutes or less. In post-race interviews, we hear from Kate Grace on signing with Nike, Stephanie Garcia and Kate Van Buskirk on their thrilling 3000m duel, and Ben True on his winning kick. Ajee Wilson and Cristian Soratos reflect on extraordinary runs.

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Standing at the start of the New York City Marathon in 1976 were 10-year-old Brad Kelley, who thought splits every few miles meant ice cream, and 15-year-old high school sophomore Tony Ruiz, who a day after setting a cross-country PR at Van Cortlandt Park was looking to work in a long run with one of his buddies. What could possibly go wrong? Their stories of the race and more recent feats—wearing a Central Park Track Club singlet, Brad returned in 2016 to run a 2:50 at age 50, and Tony has become one of the club’s iconic coaches—complete our series on the kids who ran NYCM in the disco era.

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Episode 50 is all about the New York City Marathon…and breaking three hours, of course. Imagine doing that as a nine-year-old. Gregg chats with Wesley Paul, who in 1977 zipped around the five boroughs in 3:00:39 at the tender age of eight, then went sub-3 the next year. Paul offers a childhood peek at the race and wise advice both for young runners generally and for adults looking to run their best at 26.2. Brenn will take Cloud259’s next crack at sub-3 at the NYCM on Sunday, and he bubbles over with pre-race denial about just how awful those last six miles will be.

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In his first marathon since a sacral stress fracture postponed his quest for Cloud 2:59, Gregg braved the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. He offers a race report under intense grilling from his co-host. We highlight the top performances at that race, discuss the mysteries of ideal pacing, give a few shout-outs to listeners, and take a look at the elites who will be running the New York City Marathon on November 6. And Gregg mentions the T-word.

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Jenny Simpson and Brenda Martinez, here pictured at the 2015 5th Avenue Mile, won spots on the Olympic team in a dramatic 1500m race. 

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Esther Atkins at the 2015 World Marathon Championships. Photo courtesy Esther Atkins.

In Episode 47, we cover the recently completed Boston Marathon and upcoming London Marathon. Our guest, 2014 U.S. Marathon Champ Esther Atkins (nee Erb), discusses how to accomplish even pacing over 26.2. In a wide-ranging interview, she also covers the business side of the sport, the “Erbbot,” and her plans for the future (hint: Tokyo Olympic Games, 2020). We revisit the issue of the harassment of women’s runners, and provide shout-outs to listeners whose impressive performances all ended with a “9”.

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Ian Burrell and his daughter. Photo courtesy Ian Burrell.

In Episode 46, we let our guests do (most of) the talking. Ian Burrell describes to Gregg his approach to the April 18 Boston Marathon, his recent sponsorship changes, running with Tourette’s syndrome, and the daily routine of an elite distance runner who’s also a family man and a partner in a law firm. In our second interview Polly Jones speaks out about the troubling and pervasive issue of the harassment of women runners.

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In Episode 45 James Chu joins Brenn in the broadcast booth and geeks out on the Millrose Games. In post-race interviews, Garrett Heath addresses gamesmanship in the Wanamaker Mile pacing, Ryan Hill reveals how last year’s narrow loss propelled this year’s thrilling win, and Abbey D’Agostino shares her reading list. Duane Solomon and Molly Huddle also make cameos.

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Nick Arciniaga at the 2015 NYC Marathon. Photo by Andy Kiss.

In Episode 43 we discuss all things intergalactic with Star Wars freak Nick Arciniaga, who hopes to qualify for the Olympics at the marathon trials in L.A. on February 13. Nick gets us up to speed on his training and racing, tells us which Star Wars character would make the best marathon runner, and has the final word on who shot first at the Mos Eisley cantina. In other gravity defying matters, Gregg ponders whether to Alter-G or not to Alter-G.

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Mary Keitany plots her move en route to victory in 2:24:25. Photo by Andy Kiss.

Brenn describes his close, but no cigar marathon (3:01:04) at NYC, with a nod to prior guests Uli Fluhme and Angela Ortiz, while Gregg highlights stellar performances by our listeners. Brenn and Gregg look optimistically to next year’s races, making a call for stronger butts and hips.

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The Chicago Marathon is this Sunday Oct. 11, and for our interview guest Angela Ortiz and other hopeful runners, hitting an Olympic Trials qualifying time (2:43:00 for women, 2:18:00 for men) is the goal. Angela, who is coached by Mark Hadley and who runs with the North Brooklyn Runners, describes the training that has helped her slice nearly an hour off her debut marathon time to a PR of 2:49. Elsewhere in the episode we compare Eliud Kipchoge to Mo Farah, discuss the latest on Sara and Ryan Hall, and describe our injury/rehab (Gregg) and NYC marathon prep (Brenn).

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Meb holds the tape for the victorious Nick Willis

The 5th Avenue Mile is a spirited encore at the end of a long season for elite mid-distance runners. In Episode 40 we’ve got post-race interview clips from the Big Apple with Nick Willis, Chris O’Hare, and Jenny Simpson. Elsewhere in the show Brenn and Gregg toss Paula Radcliffe, Usain Bolt, Cam Levins, and Malcolm Gladwell into the ongoing dope talk. Do doping suspicions affect who you root for? And who is America’s best distance runner? We offer our two cents (pence for those on Gregg’s side of the pond).

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In Episode 39 Gregg chats with Runner’s World columnist Peter Gambaccini, who in a recent article pieced together the US men’s and women’s marathon teams for the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Beijing. We scratch our heads about why USATF withheld that information, particularly in light of the Pan Am Games selection fiasco. On the bright side, great match-ups are afoot on the track, and Brenn shares effective training habits from Alan Ruben and James Chu.

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Photo credit: Pete Madia

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Gregg and Brenn highlight the ups and downs from Boston, focusing on Meb, Desi, and the guest from our last podcast, Nate Jenkins. In a departure from the usual upbeat banter about running with an elite guest, Gregg and Brenn take turns on the analyst’s couch to find answers for lagging health and motivation. Before all hope is lost, we hint at where to place your bets for the London Marathon.

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Photo courtesy Nate Jenkins

If ever there was an inspiring comeback story, we’ve got one in Nate Jenkins, who hopes to make a long-awaited return to the marathon in Boston on April 20. Years after finishing 7th at the Olympic Trials in 2007 and losing coordination in one of his legs, Nate discusses his long recovery, his current training, and his hopes for Hopkinton. After the chat with Nate, Gregg and Brenn recap the indoor track season and delve into political issues in the sport. Gregg gives a race report of his Dubai Marathon, where camaraderie trumped competition.

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Kim Conley winning the 3,000m at the Millrose Games, 2014

Kim Conley’s decisive win at the US Half Marathon Championships in Houston served notice that the perpetually improving elite is as dangerous on the roads as she is on the track. In Episode 34, we ask Kim to detail her go-to workout and her thrilling, Houdini-like finishes at the 2012 Olympic Trials and at the 2014 USATF Championships. Elsewhere in the podcast Gregg preps for the Dubai Marathon, names the top distance running events for each month of the year, and defends Internet streaming of races.

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Teen marathon sensation Alana Hadley and her father Mark Hadley join us in episode 33. Alana, who recently won the Indianapolis Marathon in 2:38:34, shares her plans for marathon running between now and the Olympic Trials in 2016. The father/daughter combo field questions on turning pro, potential sponsorships and training groups, and the approach that has brought Alana marathon success at such a young age. After the interview Gregg updates his training for Dubai, and we delve into less cheery subjects of drugs in the sport and the Stephanie Hightower/Bob Hersh vote reversal at the USATF annual meeting.

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It isn’t often that a marathon is won by a grandmaster, but that’s just what happened when Lawrence Warriner descended from Toronto to break the tape at Brooklyn. In our interview, Warriner, 51, describes the race and shares a training regimen that has kept him ahead of the whippersnappers. Elsewhere, we praise another master, Daniel Gercke, on his Philadelphia Marathon, relay Al Michaels’ take on the Zola Budd/Mary Decker tangle from his new book “You Can’t Make This Up,” and jump on the “Queens in the next Brooklyn” bandwagon to resolve the competition among race organizers for access to the streets of New York.

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Photo courtesy tatyanamcfadden.com

In Episode 30, we preview the New York City marathon with a focus on Tatyana McFadden, the indomitable wheelchair athlete who is seeking a Grand Slam of four major marathon wins for the second consecutive year. Tatyana discusses her road from a Russian orphanage to the pinnacle of track, marathoning, and cross-country skiing. We preview the rest of the elite NYC marathon fields, relay advice from local runners who smashed the three hour barrier at Chicago, and get set for Brenn’s next attempt at 26.2 miles. Finally, Gregg climbs on the soapbox to skewer Russia’s international adoption ban.

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Tyler Pennel, fresh off his U.S. Championships conquest at the Twin Cities Marathon, joins us in Episode 29 to detail his race and fill us in on where he’s going and where he’s been. Can you guess what the ZAP Fitness athlete ran in the half marathon as a sophomore in high school? We take a look at this weekend’s Chicago Marathon, Gregg spans the globe to find the perfect location for his next attempt at cracking 3 hours, and our Soapbox debate about the location of the U.S. Marathon Champs results in a first-round knockout.

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In Episode 28, we digest the daylong street festival of running that is New York City’s 5th Avenue Mile. We’ve got post-race interviews with the pro race winners Jenny Simpson and Jordan McNamara, as well as Brenda Martinez and Irishman Paul Robinson. We also chat with Central Park Track Club masters runner Daniel Gercke, who shares keys to his remarkable improvement after a late start in the sport. Elsewhere in the show, Brenn recounts his double mile, and the recently relocated Gregg offers his first impressions of running in the U.K.

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In Episode 27 we chat with Becky Wade, a bright young star with a global perspective on the sport. Before her debut victory in 2:30:41 at the California International Marathon in December, Becky spent a year on a Watson Fellowship surveying running cultures abroad. Wade is now squarely on the map among elite U.S. distance runners as she prepares with the ASICS Mammoth Track Club for the Chicago Marathon this fall. Elsewhere in the episode, we discuss racing at the NYRR Team Championships in New York, and Gregg sets his sights on the U.K.

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With his American record–tying run in the 25K and wins at Cherry Blossom and Peachtree, Christo Landry has vaulted to the top of the USARC leaderboard. In Episode 26, we ask Christo about his recent emergence, his training, and this fall’s Chicago Marathon, where he hopes to demolish his 2:14:44 PR.

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2:13 marathoner Craig Leon has notched three consecutive top-15 finishes at World Marathon Majors and this fall will run the Chicago Marathon, where he set his PR last year. Steady improvement is the name of his game, and in Episode 25, Craig shares some of his secrets – including the identity of one speedy pancake. Elsewhere in the episode, we survey this week’s USA Outdoor Championships and the recent Diamond League meet in New York, and Gregg uses a comment about the World Cup to lay out a better future for running.

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Buzunesh Deba, coming off her scintillating, 2:19:59 runner-up performance at the Boston Marathon, is our featured guest on Episode 24. Buzu, who hails from Ethiopia, describes training and racing in her hometown of New York City and offers tips for running a fast 26.2. Turning to the track, we discuss the five-star menu of races at this weekend’s Prefontaine Classic and the plucky Oiselle Instagram photo that drew the ire of the USATF wardrobe cops.

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Running 2:44:50 at the Pittsburgh Marathon, Jane Vongvorachoti of the Central Park Track Club smashed her PR by 15 minutes and nearly qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and for Thailand’s Olympic team. In our latest podcast Jane charts her path to Rio with the confidence and determination that have fueled her rapid improvement. Elsewhere in the episode we discuss our poll results for Rio, marvel at Nigel Amos, and praise videos on Flotrack Pro. On the soapbox, guest Polly Jones boos the in-race delays at the Vancouver Marathon.

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It’s taper time for Boston marathoners, and Tyler McCandless makes a quick return to cloud259 with advice on how to spend the last week before a race. Elsewhere in episode 22, we ponder how Ryan Hall and Shalane Flanagan will run at Boston, recap the crowning of Wilson Kipsang at the London Marathon, and tell the tale of a toad that stole the hearts of Manchester, England.

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Ben True is set to make his 2014 racing debut on March 15 at the Gate River Run, and in Episode 21 he discusses the upcoming season, the possibility of running a marathon, and how to run a fast 5,000m. We pepper him on a few USATF controversies and one of last year’s more memorable races. Elsewhere in the episode, Brenn reads a telling passage from Alberto Salazar’s book 14 Minutes and compares AlSal to Steve Jobs, Gregg moans about the weather, and we take aim at our British rivals as the Manchester Marathon approaches.

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With a 2:25 personal best, Lisa Stublic has quietly become one of the fastest ever U.S.-born marathoners. In Episode 20, we hear the story of the Columbia grad’s move to Croatia, her breakthrough performances, her scientific approach to training, and her plans for 2014. Elsewhere in the episode, Gregg reads from a book of essays on running at night, and Brenn pines for Rupp versus Willis at their best.

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It’s dueling podcasts as in Episode 19, we welcome Martin Yelling and Tom Williams from the excellent British show Marathon Talk. Yelling and Williams discuss marathoning on the other side of the pond, describe the genesis of Marathon Talk, and share personal anecdotes of breaking three and competing at the top end. It will be us against them in the Race for the Golden Toad at the Manchester Marathon on April 6. Elsewhere in the episode, Brenn frets about falling further into the abyss of social media with his initiation into the worlds of Garmin and Strava.

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There’s been a resurgence in the elite ranks of Canadian marathoning. Lanni Marchant set a new national women’s record at the Toronto Marathon this year, and in episode 18 Reid Coolsaet, one of the Canadian men stalking Jerome Drayton’s 2:10:08 national mark set at Fukuoka in 1975, discusses his near miss at this year’s Fukuoka race. Elsewhere in the show we reveal a spring marathon challenge to the gents at marathontalk across the pond, and Gregg picks his favorite of our soapbox rants from 2013.

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It’s refreshing to see an elite U.S. distance runner take a decidedly different approach when it comes to training and racing. In episode 17 we meet Tyler McCandless, who forgoes long tempo runs, races a ton, trains by feel, and doesn’t sweat blowing up in workouts now and then. Also in the episode, we look at what has been a down year for elite U.S. marathoners, Gregg discusses the book “Anatomy for Runners,” and Brenn gets on the soapbox to preach temperance as Nick Symmonds chases the world record in the Beer Mile.

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Gregg details his race at the Bucks County Marathon in our third episode interlude. After a stomach bug derailed his race at Hartford on Oct. 12, Gregg salvaged his training for another shot at 26.2. Hear how it turned out, and stay tuned for our next unscheduled full episode featuring an elite athlete interview, coming soon.

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We got this airplane to fly. Aided by the advice of professional and elite amateurs, Brenn sliced through the three hour barrier with a 2:56:40 at the New York City Marathon. In this podcast interlude Brenn describes the race and Gregg gives us a sneak peak at his next long effort.

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The Big Apple is buzzing over the return of the marathon, and in Episode 16 we get multiple perspectives on the race. Sam Grotewold, who manages the pro field for New York Road Runners, gives us his inside info on the elites and a few sleeper picks. He even tells us who’ll be on “Mary’s Truck” mulling a marathon debut in the years ahead. Local legend Alan Ruben of the Central Park Track Club talks about his amazing string of 25 straight NYC marathons, the last 23 of which were under 3 hours, and offers tips for the course he knows so well. Later on, Brenn discusses Tony Reavis’ blog entry on keeping up with the Kenyans, and Gregg gets on the Soapbox to say enough to all the advice for Ryan Hall.

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It’s fickle, this 26.2. Gregg describes his race at Hartford last weekend, his 32nd marathon and his first with a hard target of 2:59. Brenn then outlines his New York City Marathon prep with two weeks to go before the Cloud’s second shot at sub-3.

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When you are feeling great during a marathon, at what point do you leave your goal pace behind and go for broke? In episode 15, rising marathon star Ryan Vail gives us his in-race strategy as he prepares for the NYC Marathon. Elsewhere in the episode, Gregg shares advice from Jaymee Marty’s blog as he laces up for Saturday’s Hartford Marathon, which will mark Cloud259’s first crack at the three hour barrier. Brenn gets on the soapbox and comments on the anticipation surrounding Ryan Hall’s return to the long race.

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Jason Hartmann, with consecutive fourth place finishes at Boston, is the top American in the World Marathon Majors 2012-13 leaderboard. In episode 14 we interview the modest gent about his career, this fall’s NYC Marathon, his coaching of high school phenom Elise Cranny, and Competitor Group’s decision to eliminate its elite athlete program. We also find out what shoes Hartmann (who is without a shoe sponsor) prefers to train and race in. Elsewhere in the episode, we offer praise and criticism, respectively, for David Epstein’s “The Sports Gene” and Malcolm Gladwell’s New Yorker article on genes and drugs. We climb on the soapbox to add our two cents to the Competitor Group discussion.

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Moscow, here we go! Jeffrey Eggleston, who will be running for the U.S. at the marathon World Championships on August 17, joins us in lucky Episode 13. We dig into Jeffrey’s preparation and goals for Moscow and the 2011 Pittsburgh marathon in which he ran as a pacer for 18 miles and then proceeded to win the race. In the library Brenn visits the photo archives and unearths old snaps of Eggleston and Lopez Lomong, and Gregg climbs the soapbox to flush the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philly Half’s $45 Premium upgrade down the toilet.

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Dot McMahan will be running the marathon at the IAAF Championships in Moscow, and in Episode 12 we learn how the newly minted U.S. 25K champ has continued to sharpen her times through two Olympic Trials and one baby girl. We also get a report from Glen Redpath hot of the heels of his inspiring 12th place and sub-30 hour finish at Badwater (interview transcript). In the library, we highlight articles spawned by Andrew Begley’s survey on elite runners’ (lack of) earnings, and on the soapbox Brenn is moved by an article from Jesse Squire’s tracksuperfan.com site to ramble about drugs, journalism, and public relations.

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As if the Badwater 135 mile ultra wasn’t sufficiently hellish, the mercury for this year’s race may hit the 120s. In episode 11, elite ultrarunner Glen Redpath discusses his preparation for the race (interview transcript), which begins next Monday. Elsewhere in the episode we highlight the odd confluence between the last laps of the 5,000m and 800m races, Gregg takes a Hansons training book out of the library, and Brenn adapts Alan Culpepper’s advice on run/life balance to figure out how to train for a marathon while on vacation.

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Jeannette Faber, owner of 13 consecutive marathon PRs, will be representing the U.S. at the World Championships in Moscow this summer. Faber, our interview guest in Episode 10, describes her progression from a 3:28 marathoner to a member of the US national team. We discuss Jeannette’s races, her training, and her work/run balance, and she offers us a gem of a tip for breaking three hours in the marathon (or for achieving any specific marathon goal). Elsewhere in the episode, we critique the recently completed U.S. Track Championships. Brenn breaks down performances by sponsor, with an eye to Nike’s gender-skewed dominance. We visit the library to unwind an SI article on Leo Manzano that is based on a faulty premise, and Gregg gets on the soapbox to offer an alternative to the arcane system of standards used to select the runners that will represent us at Worlds.

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In episode 9, we interview our fastest subject yet: 2:09 marathon man Alan Culpepper. Culpepper offers a 360 degree view of the sport from the perspective of elite runner turned race organizer and coach. Alan recounts his 2007 cross-country nationals win at Boulder, offers pithy training tips, and aids us in our quest to shed light on the business of track and field and road racing. Elsewhere in the episode, Gregg discusses the sub 2:10 Americans and finds in the mailbox an inspiring letter from a listener with a success story. Brenn takes out Matt Fitzgerald’s “The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition” from the library and gets on the soapbox to discuss the Nike Oregon Project silver and black singlets. And as we kick off our own marathon training cycle, we offer listeners a quicker workout alternative to the Yasso 800s – the Cloud259 1000.

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It is said that birds of a feather flock together, and so it was in podcast episode 8.  Oiselle runners Lauren Fleshman and Kate Grace are joined by the company’s founder and CEO Sally Bergesen in a wide ranging interview that covers Fleshman’s best races, Grace’s taking flight on the track and roads, and Bergesen’s attempt to turn the running industry on its head. Elsewhere in the episode Brenn does an inventory of shoe contracts and reads viewer feedback from the mailbox, while Gregg takes Bill Rogers’ “Marathon Man” off the shelf of the library and climbs on the soapbox to rant about new baggage policies at races.

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Photo by Dustin Whitlow

In episode 7 we have the good fortune to catch up with Patrick Rizzo, the top American finisher (12th overall, in 2:16:10) at the London Marathon. Patrick describes the tense pre-race atmosphere on the heels of the Boston tragedy, hiccups he faced during the race, and running as a pacer in London last year. Rizzo shows a true distance runner’s grit in his attitudes about facing top competition and making a living by running. Elsewhere in the episode, we offer lessons from the spring marathons, Gregg shares exemplary post-Boston writing, and Brenn critiques coverage that fell short. That means you, New York Post.

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The Boston Marathon is just a week away, and in podcast episode six we converse with Nick Arciniaga, who was the top American finisher at Boston in 2008 and who has run three marathons with a 2:11 handle. Nick shares highlights and lowlights of his 26.2 mile ventures, and suggests a workout that is sure to make us suffer as we strive to break three. Gregg takes us to the library’s magazine rack to dust off a Sports Illustrated article, and with unfond recollections of last year, we climb atop the soapbox with a peek at the weather forecast for Patriot’s Day.

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In podcast episode 5, we welcome our first Olympian to the Cloud: Amy Begley. Amy discusses challenges track and field athletes face making a living and possible improvements to the business side of the sport. She then takes us to Hayward Field and movingly relives the epic 10,000m race that made her an Olympian. Gregg brings us to the library reading room for “Once a Runner,” and Brenn gets on the soapbox with a simple solution to the conundrum of getting cross-country into the Olympics.

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In our fourth podcast, we check out splits from world record races, and contrast that to how most of us pace marathons. Note to runners: there is much room for improvement! Local elite runner and coach James Chu of the North Brooklyn Runners offers tips to help Brenn and Gregg realize their dreams of a sub 3-hour marathon. Brenn checks out Lopez Lomong’s “Running for my Life,” and Gregg gets on the soapbox and gives the Runner’s World mock-March Madness bracket an earful for picking Scott Jurek over Paula Radcliffe in the second round.

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In podcast episode 3 we interview Ulrich Fluhme about PEDs in running. Uli, who ran a 2:33:33 NYC Marathon for the Central Park Track Club in 2009, shares provocative views about drug use in the sport and forward-thinking ideas for cleaning it up. Elsewhere in the episode we trace the performance statistics that have raised suspicion of drug use, Brenn checks out Roger Robinson’s “Running in Literature” from the library, and Gregg asks the Swedes to come up with new graded categories for runners with certain challenges.

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While the U.S. has experienced a sustained running boom, mainstream media coverage and viewership of the sport has been a bust. In podcast episode 2, Gregg unearths startling data on how poorly the mainstream media covers distance running. We also highlight the Millrose Games, take Chris Lear’s “Running with the Buffaloes” out of the library, and critique the tweets of elites.

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Are we in the second running boom? Third? No, Brenn takes a look at the numbers and argues it’s all just one big impressive sustained boom. Gregg gives his thoughts on a sudsy run with inflatable obstacles, and we offer training methods for when you are really out of shape.

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