Citius Mag Podcast

“The biggest takeaway after writing the book was: I really believed in myself this whole time. For a long time, I thought of Ryan as a hero of my story. But I realized I’m actually the hero of my own story. I hope everyone feels that way.”My guest for today’s episode is Sara Hall — a 2:20 marathoner, the former American record holder in the half marathon, and the runner-up at the 2020 London Marathon, which remains the best performance by an American woman in that race since Deena Kastor’s win in 2006. She has been competing at the highest level of the sport for more than two decades, and somehow, at 43, she is running more marathons than ever.Sara just ran the Boston Marathon in 2:31:55 — her fifth marathon in six months — and one day after crossing that finish line, her debut memoir hit shelves. It’s called For the Love of the Grind, published by St. Martin’s Press. If you’re expecting a highlight reel of an athlete’s greatest moments, you’re going to be surprised. Sara goes into the doubt, the disordered e

Chris Chavez is back from Boston and joins Preet Majithia to break down one of the most historic days in Boston Marathon history with near-perfect racing conditions, a course record, five men under 2:04, and a dominant back-to-back title defense. But first, the guys knock out a loaded week of track results before getting to the marathon.On the sprint side: Noah Lyles opens in 19.91, Elaine Thompson-Herah returns to the 100 with a 10.92 in her first race at the distance in nearly two years, Michael Norman makes his comeback, and Gabby Thomas heads to Ethiopia chasing sub-11 in a headwind.In the NCAA, Simeon Birnbaum breaks the collegiate 1500m record at Hayward Field with a 3:31, and Jane Hedengren breaks the outdoor 5000m record at Bryan Clay with a 14:50.World Athletics rejected 11 applications for transfers of allegiance, including Roje Stona, Jaydon Hibbert, Brigid Kosgei, and Favour Ofili, all linked to Turkey’s pay-for-play recruitment scheme.On the Boston Marathon: John Korir runs 2:01:52 for a course r

"The fact that I let myself just enjoy that last year — I think that was my biggest takeaway. It's one of the most lucid, last 200-meter memories of a race that I've ever had."My guests for today's episode are Jess McClain and Kenny Krotzer, recorded live at the Brooks Hyperion House in Boston ahead of the 2026 Boston Marathon. Jess was the top American at Boston last year and is back to chase a podium finish in a field she believes Americans can land on. Kenny is a senior innovation footwear developer at Brooks with over a decade at the company and five years focused entirely on racing product — and, as it turns out, a Stanford classmate of Jess's.The centerpiece of the conversation is the Brooks Hyperion Elite 6 and Kenny pulls back the curtain on what's driving the current super shoe arms race. He talks about the relentless pace of foam development, what's changed across the last three iterations of the Hyperion Elite, and what Brooks has on the drawing board for 2027, 202

Chris and Preet Majithia break down the biggest stories from the first full weekend of the 2026 outdoor season and then preview the 2026 Boston Marathon.Discussed in this episode:– Gout Gout runs 19.67 in the 200m — is it legit?– The wind theory explained– Cam Myers goes sub-3:30 to announce himself as a global 1500m force– Jess Hull’s controversial 1500m disqualification and defiant 5000m win– Crippa and Demise close historic splits at the Paris Marathon– Paris Marathon bans single-use cups and bottles — good idea or race disruptor?– Jakob Ingebrigtsen to miss the early Diamond League season– Kip Keino Classic preview: Wanyonyi moves up to the 1500m– World Athletics announces standalone World Marathon Championships in 2030– Boston Marathon preview: Lokedi, Korir, and the Americans to watch____________Mentioned in this episode:⁠Brooks Hyperion House: Boston Marathon - Schedule of events⁠____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠

“The fact that I’m getting to the starting line totally healthy is the biggest win in my eyes. As I said before for New York, I was not healthy going into that race. I had been dealing with so many things that were physically hurting me in runs and workouts. So the fact that I'm still enjoying training up to this point has been a huge win. If I can compete for a top three American finish in this field, I'll be very happy with that.”My guest for today’s episode is Amanda Vestri. This is a really exciting moment in her career because we’re catching her right at the beginning of a very promising transition to the marathon. We previously had her on the podcast after she was taking to the half marathon so we have a good amount to catch up on.Last fall, she made her debut at the New York City Marathon and ran 2:25 for ninth place. It was a performance that, on paper, was impressive. But when you understand the full context, it becomes even more so. She tells us that she went into that race undercooked, deal

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia break down one of the first weekends of the early 2026 outdoor season.Discussed in this episode:– Intro: Magic Boost at the Florida Relays– Sha’Carri Richardson wins the Stawell Gift and goes viral– The “fastest woman alive” discourse explained– Collen Kebinatshipi runs 9.89 in the 100m twice– Max Thomas runs 9.90 at the Florida Relays– Kishane Thompson’s world 150m best in Miramar– Jane Hedengren breaks the collegiate 10,000m record in her debut– Parker Valby vs. Jane Hedengren: the comparison debate– Agnes Ngetich’s 28:58 and the gap at the top of the women’s 10K– Jimmy Gressier smashes the European 5km record in Lille– Nadia Battocletti misses the European 10km record by one second– Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield’s wedding____________Mentioned in this episode:Brooks Hyperion House: Boston Marathon - Schedule of events____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

“I’m just a regular guy who has put years and years of work in and it finally paid off… If you keep working at it, the sky is the limit. I only ran 30:50 for the 10K in college and now I’m running 2:09 for the marathon. If you like people who put their nose to the grindstone and don’t quit on their dreams, then I’m probably the guy to root for.”My guest for today’s episode is Turner Wiley. If you’re looking for one of the most relatable stories in American marathoning right now, he might be it. Turner didn’t come through the sport the traditional way. No NCAA titles, no national team buzz. He was a Division II runner at Seattle Pacific who never qualified for nationals. He was the kind of athlete most people assume fades out of the sport after college. But he didn’t. He kept showing up, kept building, and kept believing that the marathon might eventually unlock something bigger.Fast forward a few years and he’s now a 2:09 marathoner, the runner-up at last December’s Marathon Project, and a Brooks sponsored at

"I missed out on keeping my top ten at a World Major streak when I ran New York. That was my biggest regret: walking away having lost the streak. I want to get back into that rythmn of being in the top ten. I'd love to find myself with 5K or 8K to go feeling like I'm still competing for one of the top spots." My guest for today’s episode is Susanna Sullivan. She's one of the most consistent marathoners in the United States and someone who’s coming into Boston with good momentum from 2025.Her last year was anchored by a fourth-place finish in Tokyo, which was a breakthrough on the world stage. She executed, competed, but didn’t fully believe she was in the race for a medal until later on.Now she heads into Boston with what she describes as her first truly intentional build for this course. She’s focused on hills, especially the downhills, and tailored specifically to the demands of racing Boston. Add in a 1:08 half marathon PR earlier this year, and it’s clear the fitness is there.In this

“I want everyone I coach to run super fast, but when I really think about their races, I’m thinking more about what I want them to experience when they’re racing. I feel like that’s still got to be the same for me too. When I have those experiences that are good and I know what running can be, the times and places take care of themselves.”CJ Albertson is back on the show. Regular listeners know that he’s always one of the most fascinating, unconventional, and honest voices in American marathoning.We last had him on the podcast in 2024. He’s a 2:08 marathoner, a World Championships team member last year, always captivated us because he does things his own way – whether that’s leading major marathons from the gun, stacking up race after race, or embracing a style of training that looks somewhat different from almost anyone else at his level.Right now, what’s most interesting about him is trying to understand what’s happening under the surface.Because coming into this Boston Marathon build, CJ has been dealing w

A relatively quiet weekend in track, though there’s still plenty to dig into with Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, and Preet Majithia.In this week’s episode:- Preet’s pandemic-era haircut savings- McKirdy MicrOTQ recap: Kyle paced Thomas Knobbs to a 2:09.24 — the fourth-fastest Canadian of all time — then helped the women’s qualifying group- The race start had a fascinating start: single-file starts, chip timing- 14 men and 11 women earn Olympic Trials qualifying standards- Sound Running 10K- The 2027 Beijing 10K standard: Why World Athletics still hasn’t announced it?- Maurie Plant Meet: Lachlan Kennedy beats Gout Gout again- Claudia Hollingsworth beats world indoor champ Georgia Hunter Bell in the women’s 1500 — Is this the year she announces herself?- Cameron Myers runs 3:30 and wins by a lot — why wasn’t he at World Indoors?- Embrace debate: of Hollingsworth, Gout Gout, and Myers: Who has the best shot at Olympic gold in Brisbane?- The Pure Athletics vs. Star Athletics tension is real and it’s good for the spor

“This sport is built around big moments and I believe we can create one of those in July. This is one of the hardest world records in track and field and I’m not scared to say that I’m going after it. I can’t guarantee that I’m going to get it, but I’m going to do every single thing in my power. I have a great team of people around me and an amazing coaching staff that I think we’re going to get damn close if we don’t get it.”My guest for today's episode is Josh Kerr: world champion, Olympic medalist, two-time world indoor gold medalist at 3000m. He’s now announcing the news that on July 18th at the London Diamond League, he’ll be taking aim at one of the sport's most iconic marks: Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:43.13 mile world record, which has stood since 1999.He and Brooks are calling the shot publicly with Project 222, with the goal of running the mile in 222 seconds. If you know Josh Kerr, that shouldn't surprise you. He's never been shy about big ambitions, he's coming off another global ti

Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber, and Preet Majithia reunite to break down the biggest storylines from the World Indoor Championships in Poland. Preet joins fresh off the ground (and freshly sick) after going solo on three daily pods from the venue.In this week’s episode:- Intro: Preet’s field report from Poland (gingerbread review included)- The Atlanta saga resolved: World Athletics approves a 7-woman U.S. team for World Road Running Championships- London Marathon’s plan to go to 100,000 finishers — bold move or marathon chaos?- Biggest winner: Keely Hodgkinson’s Super Sunday — 800m gold + historic 4x400 split- Is Keely the face of track and field right now?- Audrey Werro: the most underrated performance of the weekend- Zaynab Dosso & Georgia Hunter-Bell: two more big winners on the women’s side- Men’s 800m: Cooper Lutkenhaus goes undefeated and earns the world’s attention- Men’s 3K: Josh Kerr out-maneuvers Cole Hocker, celebrates accordingly- The Cole Hocker tactics debate- Men’s 1500m: Mariano Garcia pulls o

Preet Majithia dives into the final day of action at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.Some of the biggest moments from day 3 include:- 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus won his first World medal like a true pro, covering every move just right in the final of the World Indoor 800m to hold the lead and claim gold in 1:44.24. He became the youngest World Indoor champion in history.- Keely Hodgkinson continued her unstoppable run through the competition to kick off 2026 with her first World Indoor title in the 800m, blasting a wire-to-wire 1:55.30 to blow away the field and set a championship record.- Mariano García flexed his range and his lethal finishing speed to hold off World outdoor champ Isaac Nader and claim the victory in 3:39.63.- Georgia Hunter Bell didn’t let a hot early pace faze her, as she turned her rival into a de facto rabbit and smoothly reeled her in to claim World Indoor 1500m gold in a speedy 3:58.53.- Devynne Charlton showed she’s truly the master of the 60m hurdles, winn

Preet Majithia breaks down the biggest moments and surprises from day two at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.A couple of today's highlights include:- After getting beaten by Cole Hocker in his first race of the season at the Millrose Games two mile, Josh Kerr has the last laugh by outkicking Hocker and the field to win his third global title and second in the 3000m, running 7:35.56 ahead of Hocker’s 7:35.70.- Nadia Battocletti finally got her golden moment in the 3000m, as the Italian used a 28.54 final lap to outkick Jessica Hull with Battocletti claiming her fourth global medal in 8:57.64.- Khaleb McRae led for about 390 meters of the 400m final, but it wasn’t quite enough to hold off the late charge of Christopher Morales Williams, who closed best to win in a championship-record of 44.76.- Lurdes Gloria Manuel had only won one 400m so far in 2026 heading into this weekend, but she clocked three straight indoor PBs in the three rounds of racing and won her first global title in 5

Preet Majithia unpacks the first day of action at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships live from Poland, where we saw fireworks in the men’s 60m, a tactical affair in both the men’s and women’s 1500m, and an exciting first round of the 800m early this morning.Some of today’s highlights include: - Jordan Anthony’s Team USA debut is a smashing success, as the 21-year-old defeats a stacked field to win the 60m final in a world-leading 6.41, also equal to #4 all-time.- Eloisa Coiro leads all qualifiers to tomorrow’s semi-final in the women’s 800m with 1:59.87. World record holder Keely Hodgkinson auto qualifies easily with a 2:00.32.- On the men’s side, Eliott Crestan leads all qualifiers to tomorrow’s 800m semi-final with 1:45.51.- Americans Gracie Morris and Nikki Hiltz both qualify to the 1500m final, running 4:12.57 and 4:16.32 respectively.- As for the men, Mariano García leads all qualifiers to the final with 3:38.19 and American Nathan Green auto qualifies with 3:40.97.+ More____________Host: Pree

“No one's going to hustle or care as much as you do, and no one's going to understand you as well as you do. Being able to present the best picture in front of a brand and understand what they value has been really rewarding."My guest for today's episode is a good friend of CITIUS MAG and one of the most thoughtful, transparent, and compelling figures in American marathoning. I'm talking about Clayton Young. He joins us with some major news ahead of the spring marathon season. After seven years with ASICS, Clayton is officially entering a new chapter as a Brooks athlete heading into the 2026 Boston Marathon.This wasn't some quick, easy switch; this was months of conversations, lab testing, contract negotiations, and one of the biggest decisions of his professional career. He did it all while representing himself while coming back from a serious ankle injury and trying to get ready for Boston on a compressed build.If you've listened to his previous appearances on this show, you know that Clayton is absolutely

⁠The World Athletics Indoor Championships descend on Toruń, Poland this weekend. Here’s your event-by-event preview via Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia.- Men’s 60m: Defending champion Jeremiah Azu faces the deepest field in recent memory, led by American Jordan Anthony (world list leader, 6.43) and Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (6.46).- Women’s 60m: Julien Alfred vs. Zaynab Dosso, both at 6.99 and both in career form. Alfred seeks history as a two-time world indoor champion; Dosso has silver and bronze but never gold.- Men’s 60m hurdles: A three-way tie at 7.37 between Poland’s unbeaten home favorite Jakub Szymański and Americans Dylan Beard and Trey Cunningham, with three-time defending champion Grant Holloway absent for the first time in years.- Women’s 60m hurdles: Devynne Charlton can become the first woman to win three consecutive world indoor titles in the event, having won in Glasgow and Nanjing. Swiss world champion Ditaji Kambundji has been just 0.01 behind her twice this season.- Men’s 400m: Two of the

Chris Chavez and Kyle Merber unpack all of the action from this weekend.We’re talking about a nineteen-year-old freshman from BYU who just walked into the NCAA Indoor Championships and dismantled the field in not one but two distance events. A triple crown is complete for Habtom Samuel. A DQ controversy that had coaches filing protests and athletes biting their tongues. Sprint performances so fast they’re rewriting the record books — again. And a 28-year-old Ethiopian woman who showed up to her first-ever marathon and basically said, ‘yeah, this is fine, I’ll take second all-time.’ Oh, and New York City threw the biggest half marathon in American history, and we somehow need to talk about Grant Fisher’s debut...which, depending on who you ask, was either a totally reasonable first step or terrible.In this week’s episode:– Intro & headlines– Habtom Samuel’s triple crown is complete: men’s 5,000m– DQ controversy: men’s 3,000m– Jane Hedengren makes history: 3K & 5K double– Carter Cutting seizes the momen

This week, Chris Chavez, Mac Fleet, and Kyle Merber break down the biggest highlights from the LA Marathon, Jacob Kiplimo’s new half marathon world record, Fred Kerley’s suspension, the most anticipated events at the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend, and lots more.Discussed in today’s episode: - Nathan Martin closed out a heroic final sprint and big negative split to win the LA Marathon in 2:11:18, just 0.18 seconds ahead of runner-up Michael Kamau. He split 66:18-65:00 to reel in Kamau. - Jacob Kiplimo returned to the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon (the same course where he first made history in 2021) and broke the half marathon world record again with a 57:20 victory. He took 10 seconds off the previous record held by Yomif Kejelcha (57:30).- The AIU announced 2x Olympic medalist and 2022 World champion Fred Kerley received a two-year ban for whereabouts failures, sidelining him through August 2027. Results from Dec. 6, 2024 – Aug. 12, 2025 have been disqualified.- The most anticipated distance events at th

“I’ve gone into this year with less pressure on myself and have not been afraid to put myself in a vulnerable situation. I’m not afraid to lose anymore and I’m not scared to put myself in a situation to lose. I don’t mind getting to the front of the race and pushing it or trying to control it so that it suits my needs a bit better than other people’s. That’s been the biggest change this year.”My guest for today's episode is Gracie Morris. If you watch the final 100 meters of the USATF Indoor Championships 1500m final, you know exactly why she's here. With 100 meters to go, Gracie was sitting in 4th place. A World Indoor team spot looked just out of reach, but when that inside rail opened up on the final turn, she didn't hesitate.She surged through on the inside, closed in 14.3 seconds for her final 100 meters, and crossed the finish line in 4:11 to claim second place and her first World Championships berth on the track. Nikki Hiltz won yet another U.S. title, so that's your team for this month