He did it! Tommie Runz officially crossed the finish line at the legendary Western States 100 Endurance Run. In this episode, we get the exclusive, mile-by-mile recap of his grueling journey from Olympic Valley to Auburn, the mental battles that kept him from quitting, and why representation on the trail matters more than ever.

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE

The PR Project crew is buzzing with excitement this week as we celebrate Tommie’s epic finish at the Western States 100! We dive straight into the ultimate ultra-marathon recap, tracking Tommie's journey from his pre-race preparation to the emotional final miles on the track at Auburn. Tommie opens up about the lowest moments of the race, what truly kept him from quitting, and the massive impact of his support crew and aid stations along the way.

Beyond the race itself, we have a powerful conversation about releasing expectations, the importance of seeing Black skin on the trail, and the growing impact of climate change on the running industry. Plus, we talk about the FOMO of missing out on fun races while in a heavy training block, and Run Culture Court is officially in session: Are "copycat" run clubs ruining the community? And the ultimate debate... Men in half tights: Fair or Foul?

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

02:29 - Tracking Tommie's 100

04:45 - Tommie's Support Shoutout

08:17 - Pre-Race Preparation

09:12 - Early Moments at WSER100

16:24 - Middle Moments of the Race

20:15 - How Aide Stations Save Ultra Races

23:40 - Final Miles of the Race

28:30 - Releasing Expectations and Finishing Proud

32:24 - What Kept Tommie From Quitting

36:32 - The Importance Of Representation On the Trail

39:11 - Climate Change's Impact On The Running Industry

42:33 - FOMO of Missing Fun Races

45:50 - Run Culture Court: Copycat Run Clubs

52:28 - Men In Half Tights; Fair or Foul?

CONNECT WITH THE CREW

Instagram: / the.pr.project

Tommie: / tommierunz

Aaron: / aaronxworldwide

Gary: / garyisarunner

#WesternStates100 #WSER #TommieRunz #Ultramarathon #TrailRunning #ThePRProject #RunningPodcast #100Miler

The Half Marathon Episode: Favorite Races, First-Time Tips & Tommie’s Western States Outlook

Video Description

Happy Episode 131! To celebrate hitting the 13.1 milestone, we are dedicating this episode to the half marathon. We break down our very first half marathon experiences, what makes this distance so special, and our all-time favorite half marathon courses. Plus, Tommie gives his final outlook just 7 days away from the Western States 100!

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2rNI60z...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Welcome to "The Half Marathon Episode" of the PR Project! Since it's our 131st episode, we had to show some love to the 13.1-mile distance. The crew goes down memory lane to share our first half marathon experiences, debate what makes it the ultimate race distance, and drop our personal list of the best half marathons to put on your bucket list. We also get tactical with a definitive list of Do’s and Don’ts for first-time half marathon runners to make sure your first race is a massive success.

With the final countdown officially on, Tommie shares his headspace, strategy, and final outlook as he stands just one week away from toeing the line at the legendary Western States Endurance Run. To wrap things up, Run Culture Court handles session on spectators who lie about how much of the race is left ("You're almost there!"), when we actually start paying attention to crowd signs, and a highly important debate on carryout napkin etiquette.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

03:50 - First Half Marathon Experience

23:38 - What Makes The Half Marathon So Special

25:00 - Our Favorite Half Marathons

34:46 - First Time Half Marathon Do's and Don'ts

44:07 - Tommie's Outlook On Western States

50:36 - Run Culture Court: Spectators Telling You "You're Almost There!"

57:04 - When Do You Start Reading Signs In A Race?

59:12 - How Many Napkins Do You Take With Carryout?

CONNECT WITH THE CREW

Instagram:   / the.pr.project

Tommie:   / tommie_runz

Aaron:   / aaronxworldwide

Gary:   / garyisarunner

#HalfMarathon #WesternStates100 #MarathonTraining #WSER #ThePRProject #RunningPodcast #HalfMarathonTraining #13point1

Will Yomif Kejelcha officially break the 2-hour marathon barrier in Valencia? In this episode, we break down the massive news of St. Louis hosting the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, the controversy around Nike After Dark, and Tommie's grueling Western States training camp.

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pr-project-podcast/id1744936895

Spotify:   

https://open.spotify.com/show/2rNI60zlORbkS9ghe5uw1n?si=49hNGQPYRi2uMb_WqTer6g

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@prproject?si=mO9JKOHgnRdxhLcv

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

The PR Project crew gets on the mic to talk about a huge week of running news and culture! We kick things off with the exciting announcement that St. Louis will host the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Marathon Trials, bringing the "Super Bowl of Marathons" back to the Midwest. We also discuss the rumors that Yomif Kejelcha has been hired by Valencia to break the 2-hour marathon barrier, and we dive into the wild sellout of the Nike After Dark race.

On the personal side, Tommie takes us through all the highs and lows of his Western States training camp experience, and we give a quick update on our own training blocks. Plus, we debate Knicks ticket prices, vibe checks on group runs, and the freeing feeling of "no watch" racing. In Run Culture Court, we tackle the unwritten rules of posting old race photos and the age-old debate: Strava time vs. Chip time. We wrap it all up with our Shoe of the Month!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:15 - Summer's Here

06:19 - Yomif Kejelcha Hired by Valencia To Break 2 Hours

08:25 - St. Louis To Host US Team Marathon Trials

12:50 - Nike After Dark Sells Out, Men In The Race?

18:51 - Knicks Ticket Prices and NBA Finals Update

24:56 - Current Training Updates

26:11 - Tommie's Western States Training Camp Experience

35:21 - Vibe Checks On Group Runs

42:28 - No Watch Racing

45:32 - Run Culture Court: Posting Old Race Photos

52:21 - Run Culture Court: Strava Time vs. Chip Time

54:59 - Shoe of the Month

CONNECT WITH THE CREW

Instagram:   / the.pr.project

Tommie:   / tommie_runz

Aaron:   / aaronxworldwide

Gary:   / garyisarunner

#OlympicTrials #YomifKejelcha #WesternStates100 #MarathonTraining #ThePRProject #RunningPodcast #TrailRunning #Sub2HourMarathon

Are carbon-plated super shoes only for elite marathoners, or do they actually benefit mid and back-of-the-pack runners? In episode 129, we tackle the great super shoe debate, dive into the mind-boggling Cocodona 250, and discuss the dark side of toxic grind culture on social media.

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2rNI60z...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

The PR Project crew is back to explore the physical and cultural limits of the running world. We kick things off with Tommie’s latest Western States training updates before spiraling into a deep dive on the true limits of human athletic performance.

Gary makes a surprise mid-show entrance just in time for us to break down the grueling Cocodona 250 and have a fascinating discussion about how the gender gap changes in ultra-endurance races. We also keep it relatable with some parenting talk, answer your YouTube comments, and hold sessions in Run Culture Court. Finally, we get real about how "toxic grind culture" is impacting the running community on social media and whether it's doing more harm than good.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction

02:13 - Weather in Michigan

04:28 - Tommie’s Western States Training Updates

08:11 - Limits of Human Performance in Athletics?

18:50 - Special Guest Gary Arrives

19:40 - Cocodona 250 & Gender in Ultra Endurance Races

28:01 - Babies Being 2 Years Old vs. 24 Months

31:54 - Tommie Instilling Virtues As A Parent

33:58 - Responding To YouTube Comments

37:19 - Are Super Shoes Important For Slower Pace Runners?

45:09 - Run Culture Court

47:08 - Toxic Grind Culture and Its Impact on Social Media

CONNECT WITH THE CREW

Instagram:   / the.pr.project

Tommie:   / tommie_runz

Aaron:   / aaronxworldwide

Gary:   / garyisarunner

#SuperShoes #Cocodona250 #WesternStates100 #Ultramarathon #ThePRProject #RunningPodcast #TrailRunning

Has the impossible finally happened? In this episode, we break down Sabastian Sawe's historic, mind-bending sub-two-hour marathon world record in London, recap an epic Boston Marathon weekend, and celebrate Aaron’s incredible sub-3 marathon breakthrough.

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2rNI60z...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

The PR Project crew gets on the mic for one of the most monumental weeks in running history. We are still picking our jaws up off the floor after Sabastian Sawe shattered the two-hour barrier with an official 1:59:30 at the London Marathon. We unpack his fueling strategy, his adidas Evo Pro 3 shoes, and Tigst Assefa setting a new women-only world record!

Plus, we recap the Boston Marathon, including Sharon Lokedi's back-to-back victories and John Korir's blazing course record. On a personal note, we dive deep into Aaron’s sub-3 marathon breakthrough and why telling the whole, authentic story of your training block is so important. Finally, we debate how young is too young for long-distance races, put white running shoes on trial in Run Culture Court, and get Tommie’s bold prediction for the Detroit Pistons!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro, Gary Update

04:16 - Boston Marathon Weekend

07:48 - Eugene Marathon Weekend

08:56 - Aaron’s Sub-3 Marathon Breakthrough

20:45 - The Benefits of Telling the Whole Story

25:31 - Tommie Predicts Pistons in 7!

27:05 - Run Community Announcements / Shoutout

31:13 - Sawe World Record, Korir’s Boston Course Record, Mauri’s American Debut Record

40:58 - Sharon Lokedi’s Win in Boston & Tigst Assefa Record in London

44:56 - Sawe’s Fueling Strategy + adidas Evo Pro 3

50:03 - Peter Bromka v. Flap Jack

50:26 - How Young is Too Young For Long Distance Races?

53:42 - Run Culture Court: White Shoes Are On Trial

59:07 - PR Shoutouts

CONNECT WITH THE CREW

Instagram:   / the.pr.project

Tommie:   / tommie_runz

Aaron:   / aaronxworldwide

Gary:   / garyisarunner

#SabastianSawe #BostonMarathon #LondonMarathon #Sub2HourMarathon #MarathonTraining #ThePRProject #RunningPodcast #Sub3Marathon

Did Matt Choi deserve to be disqualified at Texas 70.3? In this episode, we break down the latest race controversy, dive into the wild and grueling world of The Speed Project, and talk about the realities of tackling race day logistics on your own.

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple....

Spotify: https://open.spotify.c....

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

The PR Project crew is back to talk shop about the latest drama and adventures in the world of running. We get right into the controversy surrounding fitness influencer Matt Choi being DQ'd at the Ironman 70.3 in Texas, debating the rules, course etiquette, and the impact on the sport.

Then, Tommie shares his unforgettable stories from The Speed Project, the unsanctioned, ultra-grueling relay race from LA to Las Vegas that blurs the lines between road racing and trail running. Whether you are training for a major marathon or hitting local routes, we also break down the nitty-gritty of planning race logistics and what it takes mentally to run a race completely solo. Plus, we discuss the Nike Structure Plus, how to stay authentic with your content, what to do when you are trapped by a "hardcore yapper," and we wrap it all up with our highly anticipated Shoe of the Month!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

00:41 - How Many Friends Do You Actually Have?

04:36 - Nike Structure Plus and Making Content True to You

08:59 - Tommie Talks The Speed Project

22:50 - How Do You Plan Race Logistics?

32:00 - Running A Race By Yourself

36:13 - Matt Choi DQ’d at Texas 70.3

50:40 - Trapped By A Hardcore Yapper

55:02 - Shoe Of The Month

00:00 - Introduction

01:45 - Tommie's Big Alta 100k Recap

07:58 - Diversity In Trail Running

13:48 - Does The Beauty of the Trail Fade as the Race Gets Tough?

17:52 - What Field Events Would You Do Good/Bad In?

24:40 - What Would You Hallucinate About When Exhausted?

30:01 - What Foods Do You Crave When Training Hardest?

34:03 - USATF Allows Additional USA Women To Compete at World Half Marathon Championships

37:25 - London Marathon Explores Expansion to 2-Day Event

41:56 - Emma Bates vs. UCAN, Dropped Sponsorship for Being Pregnant?

00:00 - Intro

01:13 - Sidebar About Infomercials

03:53 - Harnessing Collective Race Energy

09:44 - LA Marathon Weekend Recap

18:45 - Nathan Martin's Shocking Comeback Win

26:10 - How Do You Chose Running Routes When Out Of Town?

34:04 - Charity Involvement In Marathon Weekends

39:45 - LA Marathon Providing Medals to Runners That DNF at Mile 18

48:28 - Is Running The Ultimate Convo Hack?

54:00 - Are We In A Golden Era of Running Shoes?

Join Tommie Runz, Aaron, and Gary as they explore the nuances of running culture, industry beefs, race strategies, and the impact of technology in races. This lively episode covers everything from animal encounters to race day tactics, offering insights for runners and enthusiasts alike.

Welcome to the relaunch of the relaunch!

We talked about treadmills, Valencia Marathon, stealing content, running meets politics and more!