Is It Just Us?

The 2026 New York City Marathon is almost here, and naturally, we're making our predictions at the absolute last minute. Because what's a major marathon without a little chaos, speculation, and some questionable confidence in our picks?

This week on Is It Just Us?, Remin and Ashley break down the stacked men's and women's elite fields for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, share their podium predictions, and debate which American runners could steal the spotlight on race day.

We're talking Benson Kipruto, Hellen Obiri, Conner Mantz, Zouhair Talbi, Jess McClain, Weini Kelati, and plenty of other contenders. Who takes the win? Can an American land on the podium? Will the marathon debutantes deliver? And just how much will those NYC hills shake things up?

Plus, we get into the latest doping controversy, the realities of professional marathon prize money, supershoe dominance, and the running influencers who continue to roast our kernels.

And because we can never stay completely on topic, there's some Halloween chaos, a little runDisney baguette appreciation, and plenty of our usual unfiltered commentary.

Our predictions are officially on the record. Now let's see just how wrong (or right) we are.

Whether you're running through the five boroughs, cheering from the sidelines, or watching the elite race from your couch, this one's for you.

🎧 Tune in for our 2026 NYC Marathon preview, predictions, and all the hot takes before race day!

What happens when an elite marathoner with Olympic dreams joins two women who love a good running hot take? Absolutely no topic is off-limits.

This week on Is It Just Us?, Remin and Ashley are joined by elite runner, Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, and queen of running memes Gabby Hentemann (@gabbyhentemann) for an unfiltered conversation about the realities of competitive running and the sometimes ridiculous world of endurance sports.

From stepping away from collegiate running to rediscovering her competitive fire and qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials, Gabby shares her unconventional journey back to the sport. She also opens up about her experience seeking treatment for an eating disorder, finding a healthier relationship with running, and why longevity and happiness matter more than chasing immediate results.

And because this wouldn't be Is It Just Us? without a few hot takes, we're getting into the weeds of running influencer culture, the truth behind professional sponsorship contracts, privilege in endurance sports, HYROX chaos, and why the phrase "we all have the same 24 hours" needs to disappear.

We cover the serious stuff, laugh at the absurdity, and remind ourselves that you can chase big athletic dreams without making yourself miserable in the process.

Follow Gabby: @gabbyhentemann

Whether you're chasing an Olympic Trials qualifier, your first marathon finish line, or just trying to survive another week of running content on Instagram, this one's for you.

The 2026 Chicago Marathon delivered big performances, bold race strategies, brutal conditions, and a whole lot to unpack. Naturally, Ashley and Remin have thoughts.

We're breaking down the elite men's and women's races, from Clayton Young's ridiculously consistent pacing and Galen Rupp's record-breaking masters performance to Emma Grace Hurley's incredible marathon debut. Plus, we're talking about the runners who took big risks, the ones who paid for them, and what these performances could mean for the road to the 2028 Olympic Trials.

But first, can we talk about that broadcast? Because for a World Marathon Major, we have some questions. NBC, consider this our unsolicited consultation.

We also get into super shoes, treadmill training, fueling strategies, the impact of heat and humidity, and why one disappointing race doesn't erase months of hard work.

It's race-day analysis meets running-world gossip, with plenty of opinions nobody asked for.

Big races. Bigger opinions. Is It Just Us?

#ChicagoMarathon #ChicagoMarathon2026 #MarathonRunning #DistanceRunning #RunningPodcast #IsItJustUs #TrackAndField

If you’ve spent any time on running TikTok, there’s a good chance Justin Kaufmann, aka Morning Kaufy, has landed on your FYP with a take that made you stop scrolling.

This week, Justin joins Remin and Ashley for nearly two hours of running hot takes, training talk, social media chaos and a surprisingly personal conversation about the road that brought him here.

We get into Zone 2 training, heart-rate obsession, high-mileage running, AI training apps, injury culture, under-fueling, bloodwork, recovery, strength training and why Justin believes there’s a lot more to coaching an athlete than handing them a running plan. We also dig into the increasingly blurry line between endurance sport and entertainment: influencer culture, performative suffering, supplements, peptides, transparency and what happens when “working hard” becomes content.

But underneath the hot takes is a much bigger story.

Justin opens up about growing up overweight, losing 100 pounds, moving through bodybuilding and Ironman, building a career in marketing, struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, surviving two overdoses and eventually turning to ultrarunning as part of his path to sobriety. Running didn’t start as his identity, but it ultimately became something that helped him rebuild one.

We talk about:

• Why Justin doesn’t coach primarily by heart rate
• The Zone 2 debate and why training stimulus matters
• AI training plans vs. an actual human coach
• Why volume matters, but recovery, food and sleep matter more
• The difference between pushing through discomfort and training through an injury
• Why under-fueling is such a problem in endurance sports
• Bloodwork, nutrition and Justin’s approach to coaching athletes as individuals
• The monetization of the “pain cave”
• Social media, endurance influencers and authenticity
• PEDs, peptides and transparency in the fitness industry
• Addiction, sobriety and the role ultrarunning played in Justin’s recovery
• Why sometimes the smartest training decision is simply to skip the workout
• And, naturally, several completely unfiltered tangents along the way

Justin describes himself as direct, and he definitely delivers. Whether you agree with every take or find yourself yelling at your phone, this is exactly the kind of conversation Is It Just Us? exists for.

Find Justin / Morning Kaufy:

Coaching: https://www.team-keep.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morninkaufy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningkaufy

Content note: This episode includes candid discussion of substance use, addiction and overdose.

This week on Is It Just Us?, Remin and Ashley are joined by freelance journalist, runner, and certified running coach Emilia Benton for a conversation that goes everywhere a good long-run chat should.

Emilia takes us from her early days dreaming of working in magazines (including internships at Glamour and CosmoGirl!) to building a career covering health, fitness, and running for publications like Runner’s World. We talk about how journalism has changed in the age of influencers, why there’s still a place for long-form storytelling, and what it’s actually like working inside the running industry while also being part of the community.

Then, obviously, we talk running.

Emilia shares the very chaotic strategy behind her first New York City Marathon, the long road to her Boston qualifier, how working with Nell Rojas changed her approach to training, and why she believes she still has faster marathons ahead of her.

Plus: New York vs. Chicago vs. Boston, Denver vs. Houston running culture, “runflation,” why trail running might just be glorified hiking, running marathons without headphones, the rise of the runfluencer, paywalls, super shoes, injuries, pacing, and whether Remin may have actually been a hamster in a past life.

Basically: running, media, friendship, questionable opinions, and exactly the kind of tangents you’d expect from us.

Is it just us? Probably not.

The yap is especially unhinged this week. We’re checking in live on the Last Soul Ultra and its chaotic “Hog Cave,” unpacking the latest ultra-running drama, celebrating Jakob’s return to racing, and asking some serious questions about yet another doping scandal shaking up U.S. track. Plus, we preview Falmouth, talk about why Garmin is personally victimizing us, and catch up on our own training as Remin goes full-time pentathlete and Ashley learns the very annoying art of not doing too much, too soon.

Basically: bears, blood doping, backyard ultras, white squirrels, and a lot of running. Just your average episode of Is It Just Us?

We’re back, and apparently we had a lot to catch up on.

Ashley and Remin kick off Season 2 by breaking down Josh Kerr’s historic mile world record, the rivalry-fueled future of men’s middle-distance running, and why one second means so much more in track and field. They also catch up on Grandma’s Marathon, Love Island’s unexpected track connections, Ashley’s European honeymoon and return to running, and the very real consequences of underfueling.

Then Remin takes us inside her first USA Pentathlon training camp and national championship, complete with fencing, swimming, obstacle-course chaos, laser shooting, a three-and-a-half-hour rain delay, and a competition day that lasted until 1 a.m. Plus, an at-home blood test nearly ends in a fainting spell, gastrointestinal distress, and some questionable comparisons to heroin.

New season. Same tangents. Absolutely no media training.

This week on Is It Just Us, Ashley Riccio and Remin Ozbay dive into the controversial world of performance enhancement in sports. From targeted ads pushing peptides and supplements, to influencer athletes navigating the fine line between recovery and advantage, we unpack the drama, ethics, and marketing ploys behind the “Enhanced Games” and beyond. Join us as we explore media literacy, responsible athletic performance, and how to chase your dreams without cutting corners. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a seasoned pro, or just here for the tea, this episode asks the question: When does enhancement cross the line?

In this episode, Ashley and Remin cover the full spectrum of endurance sport highs and lows. They recap the thrilling London Marathon, breaking down the world record-breaking performances and standout moments from both men’s and women’s races. Then, they dive into the insane Cocodona 250, a 250+ mile ultra across Arizona, highlighting top finishers, grueling conditions, and the critical role of a strong crew. Ashley also shares her personal journey navigating a stress fracture and how to safely push through training and racing challenges. Packed with inspiring stories, endurance insights, and the empowering mantra “Why can’t it be me?”, this episode celebrates resilience, self-belief, and the joys (& struggles) of the running world.

In this episode of Track Talk Kiki, Ashley and Remin dive into the highs and lows of the 2026 Boston Marathon. From top performances to heartbreaks, they break down the men’s and women’s races, including the dramatic 2026 course record by John Korir and Sharon Lokedi's graceful defense of her title. They also discuss some controversial moments, including an influencer who ran the marathon with a fractured pelvis—raising important questions about health, recovery, and the pressure to compete. Tune in for insights, hot takes, and a healthy dose of caution for aspiring athletes.