Getting Chicked

From legendary Boston Marathon jackets to race wins motivated by breakups, the Chicks cover it all in this episode. Karen and Rachel share the behind-the-scenes of their Boston training with PUMA Project3 while Megan talks about how she’s continuing to run and cross train as she nears the end of pregnancy.

The Chicks also chat about the latest world records, track rivalries they’re most excited about, and their thoughts on new running tech. Plus, Megan breaks down her go-to shoe lineup for workouts, easy runs, and racing.

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

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Karen Lesiewicz and Rachel DaDamio give us another update on Boston Marathon training while Megan Connelly enters the final stretch of pregnancy. The Chicks share their best tips for making treadmill running a bit more entertaining and share advice for beginners getting into marathon training – from taking your easy runs easy to the importance of fueling. 

Plus: Are carbon plated sandals the future of marathoning?

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz |@kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio |@rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly |@meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

–Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

–Follow on Spotify here

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Karen Lesiewicz, Rachel DaDamio, and Megan Connelly recap all the action at the Millrose Games yesterday, including Grant Fisher's 3000m world record (7:22.91), Yared Nuguse's indoor mile world record (3:46.63), and Sadie Engelhardt's U.S. high school mile record (4:27.97).

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz |@kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio |@rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly |@meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

–Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

–Follow on Spotify here

–Follow the show on Instagram here

Karen Lesiewicz and Rachel DaDamio share an update on the start of Boston Marathon training and what they're most excited about as part of joining PUMA's Project3 – a new program designed to provide 2025 Boston and London Marathon runners with an elite athlete experience, cutting-edge gear, and lucrative performance incentives.

Other topics in this episode include:

– A looming bet with Karen's brother

– The Bride Who Challenged Her Wedding Guests to a Beat the Bride 5K

Support Our Sponsor

PUMA: Learn more about PUMA's Project3 here: https://www.puma-project3.com/

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | ⁠@kare_les on Instagram⁠

– Rachel DaDamio | ⁠@rdadamio on X⁠

– Megan Connelly | ⁠@meganmorantwwe on Instagram⁠

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

– ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here⁠

– ⁠Follow on Spotify here⁠

– ⁠Follow the show on Instagram here⁠

In today’s episode, the Chicks dive into how Strava could be turned into the ultimate dating app for runners – made complete with a “Getting Chicked” badge, of course! Karen also gives some of her own updates on using dating apps. We also share our thoughts on Chipotle's Strava segment challenge where runners in Chicago have been running a 0.2-mile segment to try and win free Chipotle for a year.

Rachel hits us with her first receipts of 2025, where she compares weather conditions across some of the most popular marathons in the U.S. Megan also gives us an update on training as she enters her eighth month of pregnancy. We cap off the episode with some of our recent running-related favorites!

Time stamps:

0:48 - Rachel’s training over Christmas

6:24 - Megan's running + pregnancy updates 

11:42 - Chipotle’s Strava segment challenge

20:42 - Karen’s dating app updates  

25:17 - How to turn Strava into a dating app

31:57 - Rachel’s receipts: marathon comparison based on weather 

39:29 - How Karen, Rachel, and Megan would choose marathons based on weather 

42:37 - Marathons based on humidity 

47:38 - Marathons based on rain 

48:45 - Marathons based on heat 

54:27 - Marathons based on cold

55:35 - Marathons based on wind

1:00:23 - Chicago marathon being the most unpredictable in terms of weather 

1:03:45 - Weekly product favorites

Mentioned in this episode…

– Nike Pegasus Shield / Nike Pegasus 41 GORE-TEX (waterproof running shoes)

– Chobani High Protein Mixed Berry Vanilla

– Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer 

– Ornaments from Gone For A Run

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

– Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

– Follow on Spotify here

– Follow the show on Instagram here

The Getting Chicked New Year’s special is here! In our last episode of 2024, Karen, Rachel, and Megan reflect on their favorite moments from the past year and chat about their biggest running goals for 2025. Karen and Rachel also share their hopes for the Boston Marathon and Megan starts to think about her plans for post-partum racing. The Chicks also share some of their boldest predictions for the upcoming year, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen venturing into trail racing, Jenny Simpson writing a book, a rise in AI-based coaching, and more.

Time stamps:

2024 Reflections:

00:40 - Karen’s top moments

4:06 - Megan’s top moments

5:43 - Rachel’s top moments

12:01 - 2025 resolutions + goals

14:40 - Karen’s running goals

18:10 - Rachel’s running goals

26:10 - Marathon fueling revolution 

31:02 - Megan’s running goals

2025 Predictions (35:27):

36:28 - Clayton Young or Conner Mantz will medal at Worlds

37:22 - Women’s American marathon record will fall

43:54 - Jakob Ingebrigtsen ventures into trail racing 

44:59 - More AI-based coaching

47:02 - Gabby Thomas races a mile

48:26 - Taylor Swift runs a marathon 

50:29 - Shelby Houlihan won’t qualify for the World Champs

52:36 - Marathon OTQ lowers to 2:35 for women

55:24 - The start of a distance running reality show

56:18 - Jenny Simpson writes a book 

58:00 - Parker Valby places top 5 at the World Champs

1:01:25 - Getting Chicked goes global

1:04:22 - Rachel in the lab: Is Boston or NYC faster?

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

– Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

– Follow on Spotify here

– Follow the show on Instagram here

The Chicks are back and ready to dive into a few goals for 2025 while reflecting on some of the highs and lessons of 2024. Karen, Rachel, and Megan share their Strava “Year in Sport” highlights and chat about their approach to setting New Year’s goals. Karen opens up about using dating apps, Rachel gives an update on her pull-up progress, and Megan shares how she’s getting in strength work during pregnancy.

We also highlight some of the top moments from CIM, share tips for winter running and when to hop on the treadmill, and wrap things up with our weekly favorites.

Time stamps:

1:51 - Using Depop to buy running clothes

8:50 - Getting Chicked goals for 2025

10:05 - Karen on dating apps

14:20 - When to starting New Year’s goals

17:38 - Checking in on Rachel’s 2024 pull-up goals 

20:04 - Karen’s strength training during pregnancy 

22:25 - Strava “Year in Sport”

30:03 - Winter running safety tips

35:04 - When to run on the treadmill?

43:04 - Karen’s tip to getting your run done 

45:32 - CIM highlights 

48:56 - Why Notre Dame alumni are doing so well in the marathon 

53:14 - Rachel racing the 2025 Boston Marathon

55:10 - Weekly favorites

Mentioned in this episode…

Read: Jackie Gaughan Breaks Down Her Massive 1:14/1:10 Negative Split To Run 2:24 At CIM 

Listen: Amanda Vestri After Running 1:08:12 In Her Half Marathon Debut

What we’ve been loving:

- Orlando Track Shack + Amanda Vestri’s 1:08:12 half marathon debut

- Using Strava routes from other users

- Ali On The Run Show

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

– Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

– Follow on Spotify here

– Follow the show on Instagram here

Karen and Rachel recap their day at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championship last weekend – and what a day it was! From a 4:00 AM wake-up call to Rachel spilling her coffee and dropping her burrito, to navigating the porta-potties and sprinting around the course to catch the races, it was nonstop action. 

Rachel also breaks down how the team scores might have looked different using alternate scoring methods, like factoring in the 6th and 7th runners. Plus, we wrap up with another round of our current running favorites.

Time stamps:

1:35 - What to where for cold weather runs 

3:40 - Karen races a Turkey Trot half marathon 

6:48 - Rachel getting asked about her fitness when she visits home 

8:35 - Karen and Rachel head to Cross Country NCAAs!

10:01 - Parking pass debacle

13:18 - Would you or would you not eat the fallen burrito?

16:47 - The porta-potty situation at cross country meets

24:19 - Is Shalane Flanagan the Tom Brady of XC?

30:01 - Karen’s highlights from NCAAs

35:28 - Rachel’s Receipts: alternate ways of scoring NCAAs

45:35 - BYU’s team depth on both the men’s and women’s sides

1:00:03 - Weekly recs

Read: Alternative Scoring For The 2024 NCAA XC Championship: Adding 6th/7th Runner, Flight Scoring + More

What we’ve been loving:

- Katie Florio’s story (Ran 2:32:42 to win the Philadelphia Marathon one year post-partum)

- Hand + feet warmers for running

- Outdoor Voices’ SuperForm 3.5” Short 

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

– Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

– Follow on Spotify here

– Follow the show on Instagram here

Karen and Rachel spent the weekend at Notre Dame revisiting some of their favorite memories from their college days as students-athletes. The duo will also be heading to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wisconsin this weekend to cheer on the Fighting Irish! Megan gives us an update on how running has been going during her pregnancy and we all share a few favorite things that have been helping with our running lately.

Time stamps:

3:01 - Showering when you’re on a break from running?

4:49 - Decorating for the holidays 

12:25 - Karen and Rachel head back to Notre Dame for the weekend

19:44 - Thoughts on NCAA Regionals

28:47 - Karen and Rachel’s experiences racing on Wisconsin’s course

31:01 - What Karen and Rachel are up to during their breaks from running

34:34 - Update on Megan’s training during pregnancy 

Things we’ve been loving recently:

41:42 - Karen’s picks 

44:20 - Megan’s picks

48:56 - Rachel’s picks

50:02 - Why Rachel has been experimenting with salt tablets 

What we’ve been loving lately:

– LEVER Movement

– LMNT Electrolytes

– Fairlife Chocolate Protein Shake

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

– Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

– Follow on Spotify here

– Follow the show on Instagram here

The 2024 NYC Marathon is in the books! Karen and Rachel share all the details on their experiences at the NYC Marathon last weekend, from feelings in the starting corral, to meeting fans mid-race, to crossing the finish line. Rachel shares about her experience racing in the sub-elite field and Karen breaks down all the New York City magic throughout the weekend.  The Getting Chicked crew also share their favorite marathon stories from the weekend and weigh in on the tea with Matt Choi’s DQ. Tune in for the NYC Marathon special!

Time stamps:

0:16 - Karen and Rachel raced the NYC Marathon!

4:09 - Rachel breaks down her race 

6:59 - Rachel’s sub-elite field experience 

14:21 - Starting line thoughts + first few miles of the race

16:07 - Differences between sub-elite and elite fields at NYC

24:04 - Karen breaks down her race 

28:17 - Getting Chicked fan shoutouts

39:36 - Karen’s thoughts on running 2:52:00

44:31 - Favorite running stories from NYC: Kellyn Taylor, Sara Vaughn 

48:19 - NYC Marathon vs. Chicago Marathon

50:10 - The Matt Choi tea

56:30 - Pre-race pasta making class 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Listen: Parting Thoughts From The 2024 NYC Marathon: Abdi Nageeye And Sheila Chepkirui Win, Surprising American Finishes + Biggest Highlights

Listen: Sara Vaughn After Finishing 6th At The 2024 New York City Marathon (2:26:56, Top American) | Race Recap + Reflections

Follow: Kellyn Taylor on Instagram

YOUR HOSTS

– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

– Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here

– Follow on Spotify here

– Follow the show on Instagram here