Citius Mag Podcast

“I remember during the race just never looking back. I was like, ‘It doesn't matter. What I need to be focused on is what's in front of me. I remember in the last 50 meters I turned back to check and make sure like, ‘Wait, is this right?’... To come away with the win – that was just never on my radar.”Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Taylor Roe, the newly crowned USATF Half Marathon Champion and one of the most exciting young talents in American distance running. Just a week ago, Taylor took on frigid temps, biting winds, and a stacked field in Atlanta—and walked away with her first national title, a massive personal best of 1:07:22, and a spot on Team USA for the World Road Running Championships in September.Her victory was anything but easy. She chased down national record holder Weini Kelati, battled back and forth with Emma Grace Hurley, and ultimately showed the strength and confidence that has defined her rise from NCAA champion at Oklahoma State to a force on the roads with Puma Elite.In t

“It was just trusting my fitness. It was only my second half marathon coming in… It was a new experience, but it felt familiar to me given all the training that we've done. I felt like I was very prepared to handle what was thrown at me and the unique challenges you get in the half marathon. So coming into Atlanta, I had a lot of confidence.”My guest for today’s episode is Alex Maier – a rising star in American distance running who just made a statement at the USATF Half Marathon Championships. In near-freezing conditions and a brutally fast race, Alex surged ahead late to claim his first national title, running 1:00:48 and securing a spot on Team USA for the World Road Running Championships, which we just learned today will not be held in San Diego in September. No reason was given by World Athletics but a new host city is expected to be announced soon.Alex is a former All-American at Oklahoma State and is no stranger to tough courses and big races. But his transition to the roads with Puma Elite has tak

The 2025 U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta delivered fireworks, with PUMA Elite’s Alex Maier and Taylor Roe claiming national titles and locking in their spots for the World Road Running Championships. Roe’s late-race surge past Weini Kelati underscored Oklahoma State’s pipeline of elite talent. Meanwhile, indoor track is officially in chaos mode. Heather MacLean ran 4:17.01 for the mile, which also unknowingly broke the U.S. indoor 1500m record. Nico Young continued his meteoric rise, clocking 12:51.56 for 5000m—second-fastest by an American ever. Yared Nuguse chased the mile world record but settled for 3:47.22. Also at BU – Graham Blanks broke 7:30 in the 3K and Aidan McCarthy ran a historic 1:45.19 in the 800m. With NCAA Indoors, World Indoors, and outdoor season approaching fast, the distance scene is more competitive than ever. Tune in as we break it all done.Bonus: Harry Styles ran 3:24 for the Tokyo Marathon.

Seventy years after Roger Bannister became the first man to run a sub-four-minute mile, researchers say a woman could soon do the same. A new study suggests that Faith Kipyegon—the fastest female miler in history—could break the four-minute barrier under ideal conditions, using strategic pacing and aerodynamic drafting.Today, we look at the science, the strategy and the debate over one of the great frontiers in track and field. My guest is Olympian and now Dr. Shalaya Kipp. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSKETONE-IQ: Level up your training with Ketone-IQ – a clean shot of energy with no sugar or caffeine. Or try the new Ketone-IQ + Caffeine, combining 5g of ketones with 100mg of green tea caffeine for a smooth, sustained boost. It’s used by pro runners like Des Linden and Sara Hall. Proven to enhance endurance, focus, and recovery, ketones are 28% more efficient than glucose. No crashes, no bonking—just next-level performance. Take the shot. Feel the difference. Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a f

“I want them to be able to come across the river as you cross into Harvard Athletics and be able to let their hair down and relax. I want it to be the best part of the day with their teammates that they really enjoy. What I usually say is, ‘We're going to take what we're doing seriously, but we're not going to take ourselves seriously.’”My guest for today's episode is Alex Gibby, one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in collegiate distance running right now. He's in his 8th season as the Associate Head Coach of Harvard Track and Field and Cross Country. He's built a program that competes at the highest level on both the track and in cross country. In the past year alone, his athletes won four NCAA titles, made history in cross country, and set a bunch of Ivy League records. He also put two athletes on their respective Olympic teams.Gibby's influence extends far beyond Harvard. Throughout his coaching career, he's guided teams to the NCAA Cross Country Championships consistently, developed multipl

“Some of what this journey has been about is just the relentless pursuit of excellence through this gift. I really have made that my mission this year and I hope I can do that for people.”My guest for today's episode is Josh Hoey – one of the most compelling comeback stories in American distance running right now. At just 18 years old, Josh made headlines by turning pro straight out of high school, signing with Adidas after setting the national high school indoor 800m record. But instead of a smooth trajectory to stardom, the years that followed were filled with coaching changes, setbacks, and hard lessons about what it truly takes to succeed at the highest level.Now at 25 years old, Josh is having the season of his life. In just the past month, he broke the American indoor 800m record twice, first at the Millrose Games and then again at the U.S. Indoor Championships this past weekend, where he ran 1:43.24. It's a world leading time and the second-fastest indoor 800m time in history. The win also secured him

On today’s show, we have a lot to talk about. Josh Hoey just ran 1:43.24 for 800 meters—indoors. That’s the second-fastest time ever run indoors, behind only Wilson Kipketer. We’ll break down what this means for the American 800m scene, how he’s addressed skepticism that inevitably comes with a performance like this and whether Hoey is suddenly a legitimate outdoor medal contender.Hobbs Kessler doubled at USAs, taking both the 3000m and 1500m titles like it was just another weekend at the track. We’ll talk about what impressed us the most about Kessler's double, how the men’s middle distances are shaping up for 2025 and why it was OK for Cooper Teare and Cole Hocker to skip out.And then there’s the "rivalry" that was quickly dispelled by the athletes – Nikki Hiltz vs. Shelby Houlihan. Just a few years ago, Houlihan was untouchable. Then came the four-year ban, and now, she’s back—and already battling for the top spot. In the 3000m, Houlihan got to the front, squeezed the pace, and dared anyone t

“But also in the back of my mind, and with talking to Craig [Nowak], was that I would have so much regret if I stopped now. I feel like I have not reached my potential and that’s the biggest thing that I want to do: be able to see how fast I can go and how far I can go.”My guest for today's episode is Sinclaire Johnson. She's the 2023 U.S. 1500m champion, a two-time world championship finalist, and the sixth-fastest American woman in history at 1500m. Sinclaire has proven time and time again that she belongs among the best–not just in the United States, but also in the world.But the road hasn't always been easy. 2024 was a year of highs and lows for her: a two-second personal best and a stunning 3:56 at the Olympic Trials final, but also a 4th place finish that left her just outside of the team for Paris. Adding in her two injuries that disrupted both her Trials buildup and her postseason, it's been a year of recalibrating. It's also been a year of reassessing and figuring out what comes next.In this episode,

On today’s show: Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo just rewrote the history books, obliterating the world half marathon record by an eye-popping 48 seconds in Barcelona. Meanwhile, Grant Fisher decided one world record wasn’t enough, so he went ahead and took down two in a week—because why not? Also: Jakob Ingebrigtsen is breaking world records, dropping Instagram captions, and casually reminding everyone that he’s still that guy.Jakob Ingebrigtsen Strikes Back: Reclaims Indoor Mile World Record in Lievin — Just five days after Yared Nuguse set the world indoor mile record, Jakob Ingebrigtsen obliterated it with a 3:45.14 performance in Lievin, France, reclaiming his throne as the fastest miler in history. Along the way, he also shattered his own 1500m world record, becoming the first man to break 3:30 indoors (3:29.63).Grant Fisher’s Historic Week: Two World Records in Seven Days — Grant Fisher has rewritten the history books, breaking two world records in just one week—the 3,000m at Millrose (7:22.91) and the 5,000m i

This one goes out to all our loyal listeners who have been with me since the start of CITIUS MAG and know that I've been after this goal for a very long time. On Feb. 15th, I lined up for the mile at Trials of Miles' The Circuit at The Armory in New York City. After three solid months of training under coach Mark Coogan, we decided it would be a good test to see where my fitness was at. 4:57.88 was a little bit of a surprise but so fulfilling.Decided to jump on the mic with my wife to recap the night at the track.Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSKETONE-IQ: Level up your training with Ketone-IQ – a clean shot of energy with no sugar or caffeine. Or try the new Ketone-IQ + Caffeine, combining 5g of ketones with 100mg of green tea caffeine for a smooth, sustained boost. It’s used by pro runners like Des Linden and Sara Hall. Proven to enhance endurance, focus, and recovery, ketones are 28% more efficient than glucose. No crashes, no bonking—just next-level performanc

“People asked me if I was shocked crossing the line. To be honest, I didn't feel like the shock set in yet when I crossed the line because I thought I could run 3:48 or 3:49. I was really excited, but I don't feel like I was as shocked as other people. It was afterwards when someone told me I was number eight on the world all-time list. That's when I was like, ‘Wow.’”My guest for today's episode isGary Martin, a fan favorite here at CITIUS MAG since his high school days. Now he's a junior at the University of Virginia. Gary just delivered one of the fastest miles in NCAA history at the prestigious Millrose Games, running an incredible 3:48.82 – a performance that shattered his own school record and puts him at No. 2 on the all-time collegiate list and No. 8 on the world all-time indoor list.What makes this even more impressive is that he was the only collegiate runner in such a stacked field of pros and ran a very well-executed race surging through the field from being last at halfway to f

“Once I made the Olympic team, it was kind of like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I finally accomplished that goal. This is weird to say, but I feel like there was a lot less pressure on me for the Olympics than any NCAA race. At NCAA races, I was expected to win. But at the Olympics, they're like, ‘She's here!’”My guest for today's episode isParker Valby. This is her third time on the show. Over the past year, she rewrote the NCAA record books, becoming the first woman in history to win 5 individual NCAA titles in a single academic year. It earned her the prestigious Bowerman Award. Her undefeated season included a record-breaking performance at every championship level from cross country to indoor to outdoor.She shattered the collegiate 10,000m record by 28 seconds, ran a historic 14:52 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and capped it all off with a runner-up finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials to qualify for her first Olympic team. Then she took 11th at the Paris Olympics. Now she's ta

The 2025 Millrose Games delivered historic performances, with Grant Fisher setting a 3000m world record (7:22.91) and Yared Nuguse breaking the Wanamaker Mile world record (3:46.63) in a night that rewrote the record books.Breaking it down:

The 117th Millrose Games are set for Saturday afternoon. When the professional races get underway at The Armory at 4 p.m., hold onto your hats for two straight hours of scintillating action.Last year saw two world records and three American records fall. With even stronger fields in 2025, Millrose could outdo itself.You can follow along with live results and watch on NBC Sports or Peacock (subscription required), and we’ll have live updates on all the CITIUS MAG social channels.FULL PREVIEW HERE: https://citiusmag.com/articles/millrose-games-preview-2025-athletes-storylinesStorylines discussed:

Introducing our newest podcast sponsor – Level up your training with Ketone-IQ – a clean shot of energy with no sugar or caffeine. Or try the new Ketone-IQ + Caffeine, combining 5g of ketones with 100mg of green tea caffeine for a smooth, sustained boost. It’s used by pro runners like Des Linden and Sara Hall. Proven to enhance endurance, focus, and recovery, ketones are 28% more efficient than glucose. No crashes, no bonking—just next-level performance. Take the shot. Feel the difference. Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six pack of Ketone-IQ with KETONE.com/CITIUS “Seeing them not just at their highs but also at their lows and how they fought to climb back up has taught me a lot about resilience and being relentless. I've become a better coach because I have the opportunity to work with these pro women and I'm excited to continue to get better, learn from them, and make sure that they're at the center of everything that I do. My guest for today's episode is Dil

I’m writing a book! I’m embarking on a new journey—this time, with words instead of miles. I'm thrilled to share that I’ve signed on with Dutton and Plume at Penguin Random House to write my first book: THE MARATHON BOOK (working title). This is my love letter to the marathon—a deep dive into its greatest moments, the legends who redefined what’s possible, and the lessons we can all learn along the way (including my own pursuit of breaking 3 hours). Think history, debates, interviews with some of the best to ever do it, and a whole lot of storytelling that captures what makes this race so special. From Pheidippides to the wildest performances at the Olympics, Boston, New York and other marquee races—I can’t wait to dig into it all. Whether you’re training for your first marathon, chasing a PR, or just love a good sports story, I can’t wait to share this with you.  Follow @themarathonbook on Instagram to keep up with my process and updates. So much more to come, but for now—I’m just at the starting line. Let’s

“I had to really sit down and look at the journey, how far I’ve come, what I was able to accomplish in such a short time in my opinion, and just everything that I went through. It doesn’t haunt me. Like I said, I'm a graceful loser. But I'm training and I'm doing the work to make sure that if I'm ever in that position again – we'll see!” My guest for today's episode is Shafiqua Maloney, a name that maybe most track and field fans don't know, but should. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she made history as the first athlete from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to reach an Olympic final and finish fourth in the women's 800m, but her journey to that starting line was anything but easy. In the past few years, Shafiqua has faced struggles that most athletes never talk about – months of homelessness, the constant battle of pursuing an elite career without a sponsor or financial stability. Yet through it all, she never gave up. With the unwavering support of her mother, her coach, and her

“They said the race is going to start at 16K – I have to stay patient for that to finish the race strong. That was true. I felt at 16K, ‘Okay, now I am racing.’ This year, just knowing how it feels, was very helpful. I trusted my training and how well I’ve been doing in workouts. It was like, ‘Let's go out there and finish this race.’” My guest for today's episode is Weini Kelati, who's becoming synonymous with record breaking performances on the roads. Just last weekend at the 2025 Houston Half Marathon, Weini shattered her own American record, running 1:06:09 to take 16 seconds off the mark she set at the same race last year, battling cold temperatures, gusting winds, and a loaded international field. She delivered a gutsy performance, finishing second overall behind Ethiopia's Senayet Getachew. In this episode, we dive into Weini’s journey over the past few months from setting personal bests on the track to her debut at the Paris Olympics. We hear about her mindset going into Houston, the t

“I still have a lot of potential that I see in myself and I have a lot I want to do. I still really care about this. I don't want to fade into the distance. I really want to leave a mark still. I feel like there's still stones left unturned.” My guest for today's episode is Emily Infeld, who has been a mainstay on the U.S. women's distance running scene on the track for the past decade. She is a world championship medalist in the 10,000m, a 2016 U.S. Olympian, and now a Brooks sponsored athlete getting ready to navigate an exciting new chapter.  After a challenging 2024 season filled with injury and transition, Emily is poised for a comeback that blends her love of track racing with aspirations for longer distances on the roads. In this episode, we talk about her decision to join Brooks, her reflections on the past 12 years being part of the Nike Bowerman Track Club, Team Boss, being coached by John Green, and why she's chasing one more big track season. She also opens up about the highs a

“Immediately after dropping out of the Trials, Kurt [Benninger] was very quick to be like, ‘You will see the benefits of this. It's not today, but this is not for nothing.’ It's nice to come full circle 11 months later and get that payoff.” My guest for today’s episode is Erika Kemp, fresh off a remarkable performance at the 2025 Houston Marathon, where she shattered her personal best by 11 minutes to finish second in 2:22:56. This race wasn’t just a breakthrough; it was a statement. Erika now ranks 12th on the all-time U.S. marathon list and has cemented her place as one of the top American distance runners. We dive into how Erika turned setbacks, like her tough day at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, into fuel for her Houston success. She shares what it’s been like working with coach Kurt Benninger, her approach to marathon training, and how she’s taking confidence from a performance like this for her career moving forward, whether it’s chasing another World Marathon Major or earning a spot on the U.S.