Matt Chittim joins us for this week's group chat! We are so excited to have him back and joining Peter and Lindsey for this week's conversation!

Episode Rundown:

Lindsey’s honest FOMO, imposter syndrome, and figuring out where Boston fits in her life

Peter’s 16-mile “spectator run” through the course, complete with a B2 flyover moment

The explosion of Boston weekend culture beyond the expo, from pop-ups to live shows

Running fashion confusion, generational style shifts, and feeling wildly out of the loop

The Newbury Street pop-up scene and accidentally meeting Scott Jurek

Shakeouts, community energy, and just wanting to be around “running stuff” all weekend

The sheer scale of Boston now, from 1,000+ person shakeouts to nonstop course traffic

“Generational” weather and how it changed everything from pacing to confidence

Women’s racing depth and the sense that sub-2:20 is about to become the new standard

Breakout performances and massive PR jumps in the American field

Sharon Lokedi’s patient, surgical race strategy and late-race domination

John Korir’s negative split masterclass and closing speed

The density of the field getting faster, deeper, and more competitive at every level

Stories that matter just as much as the pros, including a 50-year-old PR and redefining success

On this week's group chat, Lindsey and Peter are joined by Laura Thweatt and Gabby Hentemann to talk all things Boston Marathon ahead of Monday's race.

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Top Topics:

• The Speed Project explained (LA to Vegas, teams + solo efforts)
• Inside the culture and “who belongs” in alternative running spaces
• Elite teams vs. adventure athletes and what it takes to win
• Logistics, pacing, and strategy (including 79-second quarters late in the race)
• Getting lost, off-course routes, and unconventional race navigation
• Mental pressure within teams and not wanting to let teammates down
• Erika’s Boston buildup and pro athlete perspective heading into race week

Episode Rundown:

• Tommie’s brutal 100K race recap (13,000 ft of climbing)
• Trail running realities: climbs, descents, and survival mode
• Fueling strategies: gels, Coke, and potatoes
• Aid station dynamics and race strategy
• Post-race recovery and what 100K does to your body
• Animal encounters on runs… especially squirrels

Thank you to our sponsor Noogs!

NOOGS are sour energy chews made for endurance athletes who want fuel that actually tastes good during training and racing. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and made with natural colors and flavors. If you want to try them, head to ⁠noogsnutrition.com⁠ and use code RELAY15 for 15% off at checkout.

Topics discussed:

- Erika Kemp wins New Bedford Half and uses it as a Boston build workout

- New York Half performances and how fast the men’s field has become

- NCAA indoor track drama, DQ controversy, and rising personalities in the sport

- Doping conversations, testing challenges, and clean sport concerns

- Barcelona Marathon 2:10 performance and confusion around record legitimacy

Episode rundown:

- USATF half marathon championship aftermath and updates
- LA Marathon chaos, the mile 18 medal debate, and surprising performances
- New York City Marathon lottery frustration and the internet pile-on
- Fred Kerley’s ban, whereabouts failures, and the Enhanced Games conversation
- Books, podcasts, and pop culture detours

-US Half Marathon Championships leaders going off course and the fallout for podium, prize money, and team selection
-Course marking, lead vehicles, and why “athletes should know the course” is a bad take
-USATF response, rulebook rigidity, and what a fair resolution could look like
-Indoor championships highlights including Nikki Hiltz, Cole Hocker, Noah Lyles, and Cooper Lutkenhaus
-Enhanced Games conversation plus doping, whereabouts failures, and how fans feel about watching

Thank you to our sponsor Noogs!

NOOGS are sour energy chews made for endurance athletes who want fuel that actually tastes good during training and racing. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and made with natural colors and flavors. If you want to try them, head to noogsnutrition.com and use code RELAY15 for 15% off at checkout.

• Hyrox crossover and runners entering the hybrid athlete world

• Track talk and records: Keely Hodgkinson, “sketchy” marks, and the women’s 800

• The women’s 100-mile world record and what 12+ hours of running does to your brain

• Eating disorder messaging, recovery, and the pressure cooker of marathon culture (taper week, body image, GLP-1 conversations)

• Indoor season heating up: Cole Hocker’s American record, BU vs JDL, and banked vs flat tracks

• Elite track culture vs road culture: pace lights, meet atmospheres, and where pros choose to race

• Trail running momentum: Black Canyon, golden tickets, and Molly Seidel’s transition

• Half marathon and championship conversations: US Half Champs, World Half Champs, and timing builds for Boston

• The content era of running: blue jeans marathons, influencer racing, and performance vs storytelling