Hosts Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka welcome Nick Hauger—pro marathoner, coach, and newly minted 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier—fresh off his 2:11:48 at the Berlin Marathon, good for 15th overall. Hauger explains why the result is both “objectively his best marathon” and a touch bittersweet: he trained with a clear eye on 2:09, adjusted on race morning for heat and humidity, and still executed with discipline. He unpacks the day, the calm-yet-electric Berlin atmosphere, and how course knowledge (he paced wife Calli Thackery there in 2024) and heat prep in St. Moritz helped him keep pushing.

He also dives into his performance pillars, his coaching mindset, and more!

This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.