The Drop

We sat down with Charlotte and Ben from the Adidas team while in Boston for marathon weekend to chat all about the new Boston 13. We had a few audio issues but we hope you enjoy this fun chat!

A few days out from Boston and one week out from London, so of course the taper crazies are coming on strong, as well as a well-timed viral infection. Meg lays low while Thomas and Robbe take the reins in recounting a trip abroad, the comeback of the receding hairline (thanks White Lotus), the joys of driving a manual car, and more. We also cover the Puma Fast-R 3, the first shoe since the Nike Vaporfly to show independent lab studies of 3% performance gains when compared against competitors. Wild times.

Come see us at the New Balance Relay in Boston, hang out, grab a sweet custom t-shirt. Details here, it's free and no RSVP necessary: https://believeintherun.com/event/team-marathon-relay-at-the-track-at-new-balance/

Don't miss the always epic Asics Boston shakeout run on Sunday morning in Boston! First 500 to show up will get a custom corduroy cap. Details here, no RSVP necessary: https://believeintherun.com/event/asics-boston-marathon-shakeout-run-2025/

WAHOO FITNESS

Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals. Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18

SWIFTWICK

The best running socks in the game, Swiftwick just launched their new spring collection this week, and Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

MICHAEL BONSBY HVAC

We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

We sit down with Dr. Desmond Wilson, Eternal's Chief Medical Officer. He's a doctor, avid trail runner and talks to us about aging as an athlete. Eternal is new healthcare service tailored to performance for athletes, which just launched in San Francisco and New York. Eternal provides a proactive, science-backed approach to help athletes better understand their changing bodies, optimize peak performance, and continue excelling as they age.

The boys are back in town, except now Robbe has ventured off to Spain. But that's okay, as Karl joins Thomas and Meg in front of the camera this week to recap their adventure in Kenya with Kiprun to unveil their new race shoe, the KD900X LAB - a 5K/10K racer which seems pretty promising. Plus, Meg recaps her time in D.C. for the start of the Asics Move Her Mind Event Series as well as racing the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. This episode is a pretty long one, so hopefully you're running enough miles out there to cover the entire thing.

WAHOO FITNESS

Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals.

Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18

SWIFTWICK

The best running socks in the game, Swiftwick just launched their new spring collection this week, and Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

MICHAEL BONSBY HVAC

We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

We got Erin Azar back on the show, even though she’s officially too cool for us. This time, she’s talking casual convos with NFL players, her marathon training for London (using the Galloway method), and her very chill philosophy on doing less. Erin is down-to-earth and effortlessly funny and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Thomas and Karl are off galavanting in Kenya, so we recorded this on a Friday, which is always questionable. We cover the usual nonsense, talk about the Nike Vaporfly, and petition some brand, somewhere, to take us up on our offer to have a real life unicorn in Boston. Robbe also gives us his review of the King of Moab, a trail running documentary that– spoiler alert– is pretty great. There’s also a lot of shoe talk at the end, so go listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

SAYSKYExperience the premium quality and unique design of the SAYSKY collection. Check it out now at saysky.com and use code DROP15 to save. WAHOO FITNESS Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals. Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18 LMNTIt’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropMICHAEL BONSBY HVAC We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

Thomas spoke with Kyle Awtry, founder of Sauri Running—a niche running brand based out of LA. 

If you've ever looked a Canadian goose in the eye, well, you know you've seen pure evil. Today on the podcast, we talk about encounters with geese, jury duty in Baltimore, shark cages, and Karl's latest emo hit titled "Heartbreak Hill." We also talk about a few other shoes, including more experiences in the Tracksmith Eliot Racer and the Veja Condor 3 Advanced.

Support our sponsors!

SAYSKY X PUMA

Experience the premium quality and unique design of the PUMA x SAYSKY collection. Check it out now at saysky.com and use code DROP15 to save.

WAHOO FITNESS

Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals. Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18

SWIFTWICK

The best running socks in the game, Swiftwick just launched their new spring collection this week, and Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

MICHAEL BONSBY HVAC

We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

INDEX

3:05 - Favorite Seasons / Second Summer

5:28 - TV talk

13:00 - Boston Marathon course / Getting your heart actually broken at Heartbreak Hill

20:51 - Dolphins and sharks

27:00 - Evil Geese

31:20 - Robbe's Jury Duty experience

38:37 - Nepo Babies

42:15 - The Speed Project / Barkley Marathon / HAT 50K

1:07:06 - Weightlifting talk

1:09:00 - Shoe talk

1:16:00 - Tracksmith Signs Steph Bruce / Puma "Got High" ad

1:22:34 - Veja Condor 3 Advanced

One of the most fascinating athletes in the marathon scene right now, CJ Albertson is doing it his way and succeeding at every step of the way. From racking up ultra high mileage weeks to dropping it down to almost nothing in between cycles, to juggling running and a full-time job as a professor, coach and dad, all while managing to come out with top-10 finishes at the Olympic Trials, NYC Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and CIM. And that was just in 2024. This was such a great look inside the training and accomplishments of one of the best American marathoners right now.

Follow CJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjalbertson/

Check out our Brooks running reviews: https://believeintherun.com/shoe-reviews/type/road/?shoe_brand=971

Spring means one thing– the reemergence of snot slugs on the faces of marathoners. Just like this podcast, running ain't pretty, but we're good about putting lipstick on a pig, so we try to do it here by throwing in some talk about the LA Marathon and NYC Half Marathon. Also, let's say it for the record: don't take NSAIDs before or during a race. But DO take Zbiotics* afterwards.

*Does not consitute as medical advice, consult your doctor before and after listening to The Drop or celebrating St. Paddy's with Karl

Support our sponsors!

SAYSKY X PUMA

Experience the premium quality and unique design of the PUMA x SAYSKY collection. Check it out now at saysky.com and use code DROP15 to save.

WAHOO FITNESS

We’ve got a new series on YouTube that follows Thomas’ training to London using the Wahoo Kickr Run Treadmill. Follow along every Frida, and watch episode 2 ⁠here⁠. You can learn more about the runner-focused treadmill (including seamless elevation and pace changes) and purchase one ⁠here⁠.

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

INDEX

00:00 - Intro

5:08 - Streaking, Movie Talk, Looney Tunes

15:23 - NYC Half Marathon

20:48 - LA Marathon 2025

28:03 - ZBiotics

31:42 - Advil + Influencer Campaign

45:10 - Training Talk

1:08:47 - Gym Talk

1:12:28 - Shoe Talk (Diadora Atomo Star)