Road to the Trials

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Paxton Smith is headed to his second Olympic Marathon Trials after running 2:15:51 at the McKirdy Micro OTQ. But his journey back to the Trials has looked very different from his first qualification.

After running at the University of Colorado, Paxton moved to Miami through Teach for America, balancing early morning training in brutal heat and humidity with a demanding teaching career. Now, he's coaching alongside Olympian Luis Orta, helping lead a running community that brings more than 200 athletes to the track at 5:30 a.m.

Paxton joins the show to talk about finding his way through disappointing marathons, how coaching everyday runners has transformed his own relationship with the sport, and what he's learned about fueling, training, and chasing faster times. He also shares why qualifying for his second Trials was so emotional and how he's approaching the next chapter of his running career.

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Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Benjamin Bayless ran 2:15:35 in his marathon debut at CIM, securing his 2028 Olympic Trials qualifier on his first attempt. A former collegiate runner at Miami University and Ole Miss, Benjamin made the jump to the marathon immediately after graduation and quickly proved he belonged at the elite level.

He joins Peter to break down his unconventional path to the marathon, including a 64-minute half marathon in Copenhagen, the training philosophy that helped him build confidence without excessive mileage, and the fueling mistakes that nearly derailed his CIM debut. They get into critical velocity training, racing tactics, super shoes, and what Benjamin learned from struggling through the final miles of his first marathon.

Benjamin also shares how his obsession with running science turned into a coaching career, his frustration with misinformation in the running world, and why he's interested in exploring ultramarathons. With his Olympic Trials qualifier already secured, he's setting his sights on a sub-63-minute half marathon, a potential 2:10 marathon, and a top-20 finish at the 2028 Trials.

Support our Sponsors:

Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Jackie Gaughan is a 2:24 marathoner, Saucony-sponsored athlete, and full-time finance professional who just secured another Olympic Trials qualifier at the Berlin Marathon.

After a stretch of disappointing races and training that left her feeling burned out, Jackie reconsidered what it meant to train like a professional runner. She shares why doing less, prioritizing recovery, and adapting workouts around her demanding career helped her rediscover consistency and confidence.

Peter and Lindsey also talk with Jackie about her remarkable comeback at CIM following a difficult Chicago Marathon, the resilience she developed through setbacks, her experience at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and how she approaches coaching herself. Plus, Jackie reflects on her unconventional path from Notre Dame to elite marathoning and what she's hoping to accomplish heading into the 2028 Olympic Trials in St. Louis.

Support our Sponsors:

Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Alex Price joins Peter and Lindsey after running 2:15:24 at the California International Marathon to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Trials. A former Division III runner, Alex spent years chasing the qualifying standard while balancing a full-time job, family life, and training almost entirely on his own.

Alex shares how he dropped more than five minutes from his marathon PR, why consistency and quality workouts mattered more than increasing mileage, and what it was like to find himself running alongside Olympians at CIM. He also talks about his unconventional approach to training, fueling with just a handful of gels, skipping personal bottles in favor of water cups, and learning to trust what works for him.

They also discuss the supportive running community in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, becoming a father of two, the role his wife has played in his success, and why his mantra, "Keep Moving Forward," applies to much more than running.

Support our Sponsors:

Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Diane Neubauer is a mom of two, an Air Force wife, a running coach, and an Olympic Trials qualifier who has made some remarkable breakthroughs in the marathon over the past few years.

After running collegiately at Cabrini University, Diane stepped away from competitive running before returning to the sport with a new level of commitment. She went from a 3:07 marathon to 2:45, then ran 2:36:48 at CIM to secure her spot at the 2028 Olympic Trials, just 12 seconds under the qualifying standard.

Diane joins Lindsey to share how her relationship with running has evolved, what contributed to her massive improvements, and how she's balanced training with motherhood and military family life. They also talk about the friendships she's built through running, the role her community has played in her success, and her recent 10th-place finish at the USATF 20K Championships.

Support our Sponsors:

Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Patrick Cullen is heading into the Chicago Marathon this weekend with a big goal: run 2:06 and establish himself as one of the next names to watch in American distance running.

At just 24 years old, Patrick has already qualified for the 2028 Olympic Trials after running 2:13:18 in his marathon debut in Ottawa and 2:12:15 just six weeks later at the Gold Coast Marathon. Now, with a marathon-specific training block behind him, he's ready to take a major leap forward.

Patrick joins Peter during race week to talk about his unconventional path from Northeastern to BYU, why he moved to the marathon so early in his career, and the confidence behind his Chicago goal. They get into his 140–150-mile training weeks, his heavy reliance on the treadmill, the fueling changes he believes will make a difference on Sunday, and why he sees the marathon as the ultimate test of endurance.

With his sights set on Chicago and the 2028 Olympic Trials, Patrick is betting on himself in a big way.

Support our Sponsors:

Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Ainsley Pressl showed up to the McKirdy Marathon calling it a “soft attempt.” She wasn’t convinced she was ready to run the OTQ standard. Her plan was simply to get in the pace group, hang on as long as she could, and learn from the experience.Instead, she ran 2:36:12 and punched her ticket to the 2028 Olympic Trials.Ainsley joins Peter to talk about the race she never expected to be *the* race, the negative self-talk that followed her deep into the marathon, and the moment she finally realized she was going to make it. She shares her progression from 3:06 in her first marathon to 2:59 at Boston, 2:48 at Chicago, 2:40 at Indy and eventually her OTQ.They also talk about why she never felt like she needed to completely reinvent herself to get faster, learning through plenty of mistakes, improving her fueling, balancing running with a full-time career and a life outside the sport, and why removing the fear of failure has made it easier to take big swings.Plus, Ainsley looks ahead to CIM, her first opportunities in pro fields, and what she imagines when she thinks about lining up in St. Louis in 2028.

Support our Sponsors:

Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Kila makes custom performance insoles using super shoe foams, designed specifically for your feet. Just download the Kila app, scan your feet in less than five minutes, and your custom insoles are built and shipped to you. They’re comfortable, responsive, and bring super shoe technology to a personalized insole. Get $50 off your first order at kilarun.com with code ROADTOTHETRIALS.

Anne-Marie Blaney has built her marathon career one steady step at a time. After finishing 16th at the 2024 Olympic Trials and running 2:29, the Hansons-Brooks athlete is already qualified for 2028 and focused on continuing to evolve as a marathoner.

Anne-Marie joins Lindsey and Peter to talk about nearly nine years with Hansons-Brooks, why patience and consistency have been so important to her progression, and what she learned from racing the 2024 Trials in Orlando. She also shares how moving to Charlotte has changed her training, what she’s learned from running more on her own, and why she chose Twin Cities for her next marathon.

They talk about the difference between racing for time and racing to compete, her goal of working with teammate Caroline at Twin Cities, representing Team USA at World Cross, and the teammates and runners who continue to inspire her.

Plus, Anne-Marie shares her unexpected hobby outside of running: beekeeping.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support our Sponsors:

Kila makes custom performance insoles using super shoe foams, designed specifically for your feet. Just download the Kila app, scan your feet in less than five minutes, and your custom insoles are built and shipped to you. They’re comfortable, responsive, and bring super shoe technology to a personalized insole. Get $50 off your first order at kilarun.com with code ROADTOTHETRIALS.

Mitch Ammons joins Lindsey and Peter to talk about his 2:14 breakthrough at CIM that secured his spot at the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials, and the challenging months that followed.

Mitch shares why higher mileage changed his running, what went right during his CIM build, and how he managed to race on a badly injured ankle. He also opens up about ankle surgery, navigating prescription pain medication after 11 years of sobriety, and the major impact that being unable to run had on his mental health.

Plus, Mitch talks about the parallels between addiction and his drive as a runner, his recovery from surgery, and what comes next as he works his way back.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support our Sponsors:

Kila makes custom performance insoles using super shoe foams, designed specifically for your feet. Just download the Kila app, scan your feet in less than five minutes, and your custom insoles are built and shipped to you. They’re comfortable, responsive, and bring super shoe technology to a personalized insole. Get $50 off your first order at kilarun.com with code ROADTOTHETRIALS.

Stephen Jones joins Lindsey and Peter after a breakout 2:11 performance at the Marathon Project secured his Olympic Trials qualifier and opened the door to an opportunity he’s dreamed about: racing the professional field at the New York City Marathon.

Stephen talks about why he still prioritizes fun over chasing splits, how he balances 100-mile weeks with a full-time job in Boulder, and why he believes there’s more in the tank after his 2:11 breakthrough. He also shares how The Track Club helped bring him back to competitive running after burnout, the story behind his unforgettable finish at Bolder Boulder, and what support from Bandit has meant as an unsponsored athlete getting closer to the professional level.

They also get into his long-distance relationship with fellow Trials qualifier and medical student Maddie Alm, his approach to New York’s notoriously difficult course, “delusional confidence,” and why he’s trying not to look too far ahead to March 2028.

Stephen’s biggest reminder heading into New York? Don’t forget to smile.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Support our Sponsors:Kila makes custom performance insoles using super shoe foams, designed specifically for your feet. Just download the Kila app, scan your feet in less than five minutes, and your custom insoles are built and shipped to you. They’re comfortable, responsive, and bring super shoe technology to a personalized insole. Get $50 off your first order at kilarun.com with code ROADTOTHETRIALS.