The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show

"It's the dream to become one of the greatest athletes in the world. You don't just have to show it once. You have to keep on with consistency...When you look at 2019, the number of incredible athletes was average but now this year, we have so many really good guys that if you really want to be the best and win the gold medal, then everything has to go well with you. You have to be in the right shape, the right mood and the right mindset."

My guest for this episode is Joshua Cheptegei -  the world record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters + the Olympic champion at 5000m and World champion at 10,000m. He just made his mark on the streets of New York City with a runner-up performance at the NYC Half. Thanks to everyone who tuned in and caught me on the broadcast for WABC, ESPN and New York Road Runners.

In this episode, we dive deep into Cheptegei's rise into the sport and how it’s uplifted other Ugandan athletes. We discuss his motivation, drive, and determination to continuously push his limits and set new records in the sport. Cheptegei shares with us his hopes and plans for the upcoming 2023 outdoor track season, as well as his eventual move up to the marathon. 

Sit back as we explore the mind of one of the greatest runners in the world right now.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

VDOT Adaptive Trainer: VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels—right from any mobile device. VDOT is offering 20% off their Adaptive Trainer using the code citius at checkout. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit vdoto2.com.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

On this week’s show, we’re processing all of the big things that went down at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships – including 10 collegiate records set. The CITIUS MAG team was at New Balance Nationals and got a front-row seat to meeting the rising stars of tomorrow…some of which ran record-setting times that would be competitive at the NCAA and pro levels. We pay tribute to 1968 Olympic champion Dick Fosbury, who passed away at 76 years old. And yes, we’ll briefly address Tyreek Hill running the 60m at the USATF Masters Championships.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

VDOT Adaptive Trainer: VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels—right from any mobile device. VDOT is offering 20% off their Adaptive Trainer using the code citius at checkout. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit vdoto2.com.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

"You don't just take fourth at the World Championships randomly. I think I can be one of the best in the world if we continue to improve here. That's what the goal has basically become. It was a dream. Now it's a goal."

Cam Levins just smashed the Canadian record in the marathon for the second year in a row, clocking in at an astounding 2:05:36 at the Tokyo Marathon. And get this - that time also breaks the North American record that has stood since 2002. But it's not just the numbers that are impressive. Cam's journey to get here is equally inspiring.

At 33 years old, Cam is still pushing himself to new limits, now under the guidance of Jim Finlayson. We explore that relationship and how they connected.

We also talk about his training regimen going back to triples and double-threshold training. We dive into his mindset, self-belief and what drives him to keep pushing himself to be the best he can be.

Also, if Cam can get into that 2:05 range, what’s it gonna take to get an American at that level? Plus, Cam shares what race he’s got coming up next.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

VDOT Adaptive Trainer: VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels—right from any mobile device. VDOT is offering 20% off their Adaptive Trainer using the code citius at checkout. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit vdoto2.com.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber chat with world record holder, Olympic champion and world champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the 2023 New Balance Nationals Indoors. We discuss her early roots in the sport, the evolution of the 400m hurdles, 2023 training, her thoughts on a return to the long jump and more.

We’re excited to partner with New Balance to be a part of this weekend’s festivities as the meet is held at The TRACK at New Balance for the first time. 

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

VDOT Adaptive Trainer: VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels—right from any mobile device. VDOT is offering 20% off their Adaptive Trainer using the code citius at checkout. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit vdoto2.com.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

We kicked off our coverage at the 2023 New Balance Nationals by hanging out with 100m World Championship bronze medalist Trayvon Bromell and U.S. Indoor 1500m champion + fellow U.S. Olympian Heather McLean to reflect on their own high school careers. We also touched on their mindset practices before major competitions, track and field fashion, luxury watch sponsors, high school rivals and much more. We close it out by breaking down some of the most exciting high school athletes to watch and their events.

You can watch this conversation on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel >> https://www.youtube.com/live/ntXr7lgwHcI?feature=share

We’re excited to partner with New Balance to be a part of this weekend’s festivities as the meet is held at The TRACK at New Balance for the first time. More than 5,000 of the nation’s best high school athletes will also be making the trip to Boston.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

VDOT Adaptive Trainer: VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels—right from any mobile device. VDOT is offering 20% off their Adaptive Trainer using the code citius at checkout. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit vdoto2.com.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

The 2023 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships return to the Albuquerque Convention Center for the first time since teams arrived in New Mexico in March 2020 before the meet was canceled due to the coronavirus. The meet will be held on March 10-11. Live coverage of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be available with a subscription to ESPN+. 

In this episode of the podcast, Katelyn Hutchison and Isaac Wood join Chris Chavez to break down all of the sprint and distance races being held. There is no shortage of star power at this meet with Katelyn Tuohy, Talitha Diggs, Elija Godwin, Julien Alfred, Anass Essayi, Jasmine Moore and others set to compete. 

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

VDOT Adaptive Trainer: VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels—right from any mobile device. VDOT is offering 20% off their Adaptive Trainer using the code citius at checkout. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit vdoto2.com.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

"At the end of those two months, I interviewed (two Ethiopian female runners) each of them for an hour and a half and hired a translator. What came out of those interviews was that this was a richly complicated and complex world that I knew very little about and I had barely scratched the surface. They were talking about the relationships with their family members because I had assumed – as a lot of people do – Ethiopia has this rich history of running, therefore, it must be such a prideful thing. It actually turned out that they all said that all their family members disapproved of what they were doing. There were all these things that came up that surprised me. As I later came to learn in anthropology in grad school, you should always follow and ask questions about the things that surprise you because those are the most interesting things."

Hannah Borenstein is a good friend of mine who I've had the pleasure of getting to know as a member of The Magic Boost program that I help direct. She is an anthropologist and fellow at the University of Chicago. She's currently working on a book project focusing on women distance runners in Ethiopia. Beyond her academic work, she's also a freelance writer covering race, sports, gender, politics and labor across a variety of publications. She most recently published a story for World Athletics on Sinta Vissa, the Italian middle distance runner who was born in Ethiopia and now runs for the On Athletics Club. I've wanted to get her on the show for a while because she's passionate about telling the stories of Ethiopian athletes and has been a major resource for me in helping me understand some of the contexts around the athletes, their lives and when politics can intersect with it all.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

VDOT Adaptive Trainer: VDOT offers access to the highest quality, Olympic-style training for runners of all levels—right from any mobile device. VDOT is offering 20% off their Adaptive Trainer using the code citius at checkout. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit vdoto2.com.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

On this week’s show, Chris Chavez and Mac Fleet recap all the latest news in the track and field world. The World Indoor Tour came to an end in Birmingham with some record-setting performances, Mondo Duplantis broke his own world record for a sixth time, Talitha Diggs didn’t just settle for an NCAA record but ran the fastest-ever 400m race indoors by an American plus a few solid races took place in Boston.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

My guest for this episode is Ken Rideout, one of the world's fastest marathoners over the age of 50. Ken's impressive physique and relentless mindset make him stand out in the marathon world. His story is one of battling tough circumstances and overcoming addiction to become a top master athlete.  He was just featured in the Wall Street Journal last week and was a hit guest on the Rich Roll Podcast last year.

Growing up in a troubled home in a tough suburb of Boston, Ken watched his stepfather and brother go to prison. As a teen, he worked as a prison guard and vowed he wouldn't end up behind bars. However, he struggled with imposter syndrome in his finance career and turned to opioids for a time. Eventually, he turned to running as a way to cope and has become hooked on the sport.

Ken's training routine is unorthodox – you can easily see for yourself on his Strava page. His dedication to his craft has paid off, as he has won the 50-and-over division at two of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors and hopes to continue his success at the Tokyo Marathon this weekend.

Join us as we delve deeper into Ken's journey, his training routine and his mindset that has made him a champion in the marathon world.

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

On this week’s show, we touch on the weekend of racing at the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships, World Cross Country Championships. We also saw a pair of world records fall with Ryan Crouser and Femke Bol. We also discuss 100m world champion Fred Kerley leaving Nike and signing with Asics.

U.S. Indoor Championships + World Cross Country Championships

Who were the biggest winners and performers at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Australia and USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque? We break it all down for you.

Ryan Crouser World Record

Olympic champion Ryan Crouser launched the farthest shot put throw in history. He tossed it  23.38 meters (76 feet, 8 1/2 inches) at a high school meet in Idaho. Crouser threw farther than his indoor world record from 2021 (22.82) and his outdoor world record from 2021 (23.37).

Femke Bol Indoor 400m World Record 

The longest-standing track world record fell. Femke Bol broke a 41-year-old world record when she went 49.26 at the Dutch Indoor Championships. The previous record was helf by Czech Jarmila Kratochvilova‘s world record of 49.59 from March 1982. What's this mean for Sydney McLaughlin vs. Femke Bol?

Fred Kerley Signs With Asics

World champion and Olympic medallist Fred Kerley announced that he has signed with Asics. What are our impressions of the deal and Asics' foray into the sprints?

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

NEW BALANCE: You push yourself to go the distance – get the gear that helps you get the job done. Our FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 men’s running shoes are built for marathon runners who never let up. Get your pair at NewBalance.com starting Feb. 1.

VELOUS FOOTWEAR:  VELOUS is an active recovery footwear brand designed to help you restore, revive & Reenergize before and after you train. Two years in development, this team has created the world's most comfortable, supportive and lightweight active recovery shoe in the world. Get 20% off using code CitiusMag20.

GOODR: Say goodbye to activewear sunglasses that don't stay in place, and upgrade to Goodr's 100% polarized, stylish and affordable $25 active sunglasses. Visit goodr.com/CITIUS for FREE SHIPPING and to check out all their styles.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG

🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel