Cloud259

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.

Coach Tom “Tinman” Schwartz has injected fresh blood into the competition among America’s best professional distance programs, as Drew Hunter’s national championship victory in the 2-mile was just the latest breakthrough performance on his squad. We’ve got an extensive interview with Coach Schwartz in Episode 82, and numerous interview clips from America’s distance stars at USATF nationals.

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!

https://cloud259.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/episode79.mp3

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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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