Podcasts · Sports

Road to the Trials

Peter Bromka, Lindsey Hein, and Matt Chittim

224 episodes

Co-hosts Matt Chittim, Lindsey Hein, and Peter Bromka interview every 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier along with a wide-ranging group of industry professionals in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials in St. Louis on March 25th, 2028.

Episodes page 1 of 5

  1. Paxton Smith: From Miami Schoolteacher to Coaching 200 Runners and a Second Olympic Trials Qualification

    · 59 min

    Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials Paxton 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…

  2. Benjamin Bayless: A 2:15 Marathon Debut, Race-Day Mistakes, and Chasing 2:10

    · 1 h 03 min

    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…

  3. Jackie Gaughan: Self-Coaching, 80/20 Training, and Learning to Race Again

    · 54 min

    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…

  4. Alex Price: Self-Coached to the Olympic Trials, One Water Cup at a Time

    · 53 min

    Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials Alex 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…

  5. Diane Neubauer: 12 Seconds to Spare at CIM

    · 1 h 03 min

    Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials Diane 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…

  6. Patrick Cullen is Chasing a 2:06 at the Chicago Marathon

    · 48 min

    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…

  7. Ainsley Pressl: She Didn’t Think She Was Ready to OTQ

    · 1 h 06 min

    Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials Ainsley Pressl showed up to the McKirdy Marathon calling it a “soft attempt.” She wasn’t convinced she was ready to run the OTQ standard. Her plan was…

  8. Anne-Marie Blaney: Racing to Win at Twin Cities

    · 48 min

    Anne-Marie Blaney has built her marathon career one steady step at a time. After finishing 16th at the 2024 Olympic Trials and running 2:29, the Hansons-Brooks athlete is already qualified for 2028 and focused on…

  9. Mitch Ammons: A 2:14 Breakthrough, Addiction, and Life Without Running

    · 1 h 09 min

    Mitch Ammons joins Lindsey and Peter to talk about his 2:14 breakthrough at CIM that secured his spot at the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials, and the challenging months that followed. Mitch shares why higher mileage…

  10. Stephen Jones Is Having Way Too Much Fun Running 2:11

    · 1 h 00 min

    Stephen Jones joins Lindsey and Peter after a breakout 2:11 performance at the Marathon Project secured his Olympic Trials qualifier and opened the door to an opportunity he’s dreamed about: racing the professional…

  11. Paige Wood: Taking the Pressure Off the Clock and Betting on Consistency

    · 48 min

    Paige Wood joins Lindsey and Peter to talk about the long road back to her best after becoming a mom and what she’s learning as she builds toward her first Olympic Marathon Trials. Paige breaks down her run at Boston,…

  12. Anna Benedettini: Three Marathon Starts, Two OTQs

    · 53 min

    Anna Benedettini is already headed back to the Olympic Trials. She ran 2:33:13 for third at Indy Monumental last fall, earning her second OTQ in just her third marathon start and taking nearly two minutes off the time…

  13. Kodi Kleven on Leading Boston and Breaking 2:25

    · 41 min

    Kodi Kleven had one of the biggest breakthroughs of the spring, running 2:24:48 at Boston after finding herself at the front of the race early on. She joins Peter to talk about what it felt like to lead the Boston…

  14. Brooke Wildermuth Went From 4:11 to 2:35

    · 41 min

    Brooke Wildermuth’s first marathon was a 4:11. She was fresh out of college, working in consulting, traveling Monday through Thursday, and running mostly because she loved it. Fast forward a few years and Brooke is a…

  15. Colin Bennie: Two Top-10 Olympic Trials Finishes and More in the Tank

    · 1 h 02 min

    Colin Bennie has already proven he can show up when it matters, finishing ninth at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and tenth in 2024. Now officially qualified for 2028, he joins Lindsey and Peter to talk about…

  16. Hillary Bor: From Olympic Steeplechaser to 2:08 Marathoner

    · 48 min

    Hillary Bor built his career as one of America’s top steeplechasers, becoming a two-time Olympian before making the move to the marathon. Now, after running 2:08 in Rotterdam, he has his sights set on going sub-2:06…

  17. Road to the Trials: The Road Ahead

    · 9:08

    Hi all! We wanted to pop on with a quick update from the Road to the Trials team, revisit a few of our past episodes, and share a little of what’s ahead. We’re taking a down week, but there’s a lot coming this fall.…

  18. Sarah Czuprynski Went From a 4:04 Marathon to an OTQ

    · 40 min

    Sarah Czuprynski will be the first to tell you that the marathon has never come naturally to her. In fact, she’ll also tell you she hates it. Her first marathon took more than four hours. She eventually qualified for…

  19. Breanna Sieracki: Baby #3, Another Olympic Trials, and the Belief That Sub-2:30 Is Coming

    · 1 h 06 min

    Breanna Sieracki joins Lindsey and Peter on Road to the Trials after qualifying for her second Olympic Marathon Trials and with baby number three on the way. Breanna’s path to the marathon is such a good one. She came…

  20. Carrie Ellwood’s Rise From First Grade Teacher to 2:22 Marathoner

    · 51 min

    Carrie Ellwood is having the kind of year that can change a running career. She finished 10th overall and fourth American at the Boston Marathon in 2:22, signed her first professional contract with ASICS shortly after,…

  21. Patreon preview...

    · 15 min

    Hey running geeks, we're getting going on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials Please join us over there for special deep dives, Q&As, and other special content we've got cooking up. In this preview we…

  22. Murphy Smith Ran 2:08 in Just His Second Marathon

    · 1 h 02 min

    Just one year removed from competing at the NCAA Championships, Murphy Smith has already established himself as one of the brightest young marathoners in the United States. After debuting with a 2:11 at the California…

  23. Inside Robert Miranda's Breakthrough 2:09 Marathon

    · 1 h 02 min

    Robert Miranda's marathon breakthrough didn't happen overnight. After narrowly missing his goals in Chicago, withdrawing from the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials, and learning some hard lessons through self-coaching, he…

  24. From Walk-On to Boston PR: Charlie Sweeney's Road to the Trials

    · 1 h 09 min

    Charlie Sweeney joins us after a personal best at the Boston Marathon to talk about the next chapter of his marathon career and why he believes he's just getting started. The former Division II walk-on turned CU…

  25. How Rachel Schilkowsky Finally Solved the Marathon

    · 58 min

    Rachel Schilkowsky joins us after earning her spot at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a breakthrough 2:35:51 and second-place finish at the Vermont City Marathon. A five-time NCAA Division I All-American at…

  26. Lily Anderson: From Teaching in Brooklyn Classrooms to Brooklyn Track Club & an OTQ

    · 59 min

    Lily Anderson joins us fresh off another strong marathon that secured her spot at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Lily shares how she went from teaching in New York City public schools through Teach For America…

  27. Andrew Colley Knows His Best Marathon Is Still Ahead

    · 1 h 11 min

    Andrew Colley has represented Team USA three times, won the USATF 25K Championships, and qualified for four U.S. Olympic Team Trials across the marathon, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. Yet despite running 2:09 for…

  28. Alex Burks: Three Breakthroughs at the Same Course, a 2:15 OTQ, and Why Running Is Still Fun

    · 1 h 03 min

    Alex Burks has a unique relationship with Rockland Lake. It's where he ran his first breakout half marathon, his first major marathon breakthrough, and this spring, where he punched his ticket to the 2028 Olympic…

  29. Esteban Trujillo: A Decade Away from Running, Then a 2:14 Marathon at Age 40

    · 1 h 03 min

    After walking away from running for nearly a decade, Esteban Trujillo never expected he'd one day be racing 2:14 marathons. But at age 40, he's become one of the fastest masters marathoners in the world, finishing…

  30. Erin McDonald: Rediscovering Running and a 2:32 Marathon Breakthrough

    · 49 min

    After stepping away from competitive running for nearly four years, Erin McDonald wasn't sure she'd ever return to the sport at a high level. Now, she's a 2:32 marathoner, a 4:31 miler, and an Olympic Marathon Trials…

  31. Ryan Smith: The Finish Line Reaction Everyone Was Talking About

    · 1 h 00 min

    Ryan Smith only planned to gain experience in his marathon debut. Instead, he ran 2:15:34 at the Vermont City Marathon, won the race, and punched his ticket to the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. But as Ryan…

  32. Megan Connolly: The WWE Broadcaster Who Qualified for the Olympic Trials

    · 1 h 01 min

    This episode is sponsored by Kava Haven, Goodr, and Precision Fuel & Hydration. Megan Connolly's path to the Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier was anything but straightforward. A former Division I runner turned…

  33. Madey Dickson: From the Mile to a 2:28 Marathon and Learning to Take Risks

    · 45 min

    Madey Dickson never planned to become a marathoner. A standout miler at Brigham Young University, she first tried the marathon almost on a whim before discovering she might be better at 26.2 than she ever expected.…

  34. Annie Frisbie: A 2:22 Breakthrough and Another Boston Masterclass

    · 55 min

    Fresh off a career-best 2:22 at the 2026 Boston Marathon, Annie Frisbie joins Road to the Trials to reflect on one of the biggest performances of her career. Annie finished eighth overall and was the second American…

  35. Erik Linden: Trusting the Process, Reinventing the Journey, and Running 2:12

    · 54 min

    This episode is supported by Kava Haven, Wahoo, and Precision Fuel & Hydration. Erik Linden returns to the Olympic Trials stage after running a breakthrough 2:12 at the McKirdy Micro Marathon, continuing a marathon…

  36. Sarah Reiter: Three Olympic Trials, Staying Joyful, and Chasing Sub-2:30

    · 1 h 03 min

    This episode is supported by Kava Haven, Goodr, Precision Fuel and Hydration, and Wahoo. After qualifying for her third Olympic Trials with a 2:32 at CIM, Sarah Reiter joins the podcast to reflect on her marathon…

  37. Jax Siddall’s Marathon Debut Win: From 6th Grade Teacher to Eugene Marathon Win

    · 46 min

    Jax Siddall joins Peter Bromka after a breakthrough performance at the Eugene Marathon, where he won his marathon debut and secured an Olympic Trials qualifier. A sixth-grade teacher in Colorado, Jax shares the path…

  38. Joey Whelan: 35 Marathons, 6 Course Records, and Still Finding Another Gear

    · 40 min

    Joey Whelan returns to the podcast after one of the busiest stretches of racing imaginable. Since his breakout performance at CIM, he's added wins and course records in Austin and Buffalo, raced internationally in…

  39. Elena Hayday: From 2:30 to 2:24 at Boston and Chasing Something Bigger

    · 56 min

    Elena Hayday joins the podcast after a massive breakthrough at the 2026 Boston Marathon, where she ran 2:24 and officially entered a new level of American marathoning. But as she shares in this conversation, the…

  40. Amanda Martin on Winning Eugene and Learning How to Trust the Marathon

    · 1 h 02 min

    Amanda Martin joins Road to the Trials after a massive breakthrough at the 2026 Eugene Marathon, where she ran 2:34 and won the race after years of chasing the Olympic Trials standard through injuries, setbacks,…

  41. Luke Maher: Inside Puma Project 3 and the Rise of the Sub-Elite Marathoner

    · 46 min

    Luke Maher joins Road to the Trials to pull back the curtain on Puma Running’s Project 3 initiative and how it’s helping fuel one of the most exciting eras in amateur marathoning. From early access to prototype super…

  42. Aidan Reed: Chasing the Marathon While Falling in Love With the Half

    · 56 min

    This episode is supported by Kava Haven and Precision Fuel and Hydration. Aidan Reed has quietly become one of the most versatile runners in the American road scene, finding success everywhere from the 10-mile to the…

  43. Andie Cozzarelli: A 14-Year Journey Back to the Olympic Trials

    · 1 h 14 min

    Andie Cozzarelli’s path back to the Olympic Trials qualifier spans nearly 14 years, from qualifying for her first Trials in 2012 through years of injuries, RED-S, surgeries, setbacks, and rebuilding her relationship…

  44. Sean Grossman: Chasing the OTQ for 2,303 Days

    · 56 min

    Sean Grossman’s road to the Olympic Trials qualifier was anything but straightforward. After years of near misses, injuries, tough marathon lessons, and balancing elite training with a full-time career in construction…

  45. Conner Peloquin: From Walking Away From the Sport to 2:15 and Back to the Trials

    · 1 h 02 min

    Conner Peloquin’s path back to the Olympic Trials wasn’t linear. After qualifying in 2019 and DNFing at the 2020 Trials, he stepped away from the sport, battled injuries, and eventually believed a 2:16 standard was out…

  46. Hannah Rowe: Back to the Trials After Six Years and a Trail Detour

    · 57 min

    Hannah Rowe’s return to the Olympic Trials stage is anything but straightforward. After qualifying for the 2020 Trials, she spent years chasing a faster standard that once felt out of reach, navigating injuries,…

  47. Mason Coppi: From Accomplished Trail Specialist to OTQ Surprise

    · 59 min

    Mason Coppi didn’t line up at the Boston Marathon expecting to win the open race or chase an Olympic Trials qualifier. In fact, he had just raced the Gorge 30K days earlier and came into Boston ready to “blow up” and…

  48. Caitlin Phillips: 4th Olympic Trials Qualifier, Longevity in the Marathon, and Returning to Racing as a Mother

    · 48 min

    Caitlin Phillips’ journey to her fourth Olympic Trials qualifier is not defined by a single breakthrough, but by years of consistency, setbacks, and a deep-rooted love for the sport. In this conversation, Caitlin…

  49. Brooke Starn: From Med School Miles to a 2:35 Olympic Trials Qualifier

    · 1 h 01 min

    Brooke Starn is proving that high-level marathoning and a career in medicine can coexist, even if it takes creativity, flexibility, and a lot of early mornings. A former standout at Harvard and UC Davis, Brooke’s path…

  50. Annabel Stafford’s OTQ in her Debut Marathon

    · 48 min

    Annabel Stafford didn’t just run her first marathon, she qualified for the Olympic Trials in it. After a short and unconventional build that included time off from running due to injury, Annabel took a leap of faith…

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