LetsRun.com's Track Talk: The Home of Running and Track and Field

🏃 Orosport USA Cooling vests, headbands, and wristbands to help you train and race through the heat. Save 10% with code LETSRUN https://www.orosportsusa.com/letsrun Aletheia the wearable running-form sensor that gives athletes and coaches instant feedback and drills. Free 30-day trial with code LETSRUN10 https://www.aletheia.run/start-my-free-trial EPISODE SUMMARY Weltklasse deilvered. Two world records (Alison Dos Santos in the 400 hurdles, Masai Russell in the 100 hurdles) and American victories from Parker Wolfe and Cole Hocker heading into Diamond League Final and the World Ultimate Championships. Will Jakob Ingebrigtsen double in the 1500 and 5000 in Budapest? What about Josh Kerr's selective-but-high-stakes race schedule, and Parker Valby ending her season as the US leader with a 14:39. Plus, Sydney Marathon results and a stunning run from a 46-year-old and Athlos abruptly canceling its New York meet. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribehttps://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Renato Canova's post on Femke Bol's training Week That Was: Littergate at UTMB, Athlos Gets Cancelled, Cam Myers Won't Stop Racing, a 46-Year-Old Runs Wild in Sydney Nick Willis posting about what athletes do in retirement TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Show Preview & Weekend Recap 02:05 Weather Talk, Cross Country & Sponsor Reads 06:59 Zurich Diamond League Recap 12:09 Jakob Ingebrigtsen's Doubling Dilemma 14:05 Is Josh Kerr Racing Enough? 19:10 Jakob's Appreciation Post & DL Final Qualifying 25:11 Ranking America's Top 5,000m Men 27:31 Parker Valby's Season Ends 30:26 Parker Valby's Injury-Shortened Season 33:34 Diamond League Entry Standards & Valby's Case 39:18 Assessing Parker Valby's 2026 Season 42:47 Femke Bol's Surprising Training Paces 44:35 Femke Bol's Training and Canova's Comments 48:57 Diamond League Final Snubs & the 2028 Calendar 51:50 Sydney Marathon: East Africans Lose Ground 56:49 World Marathon Majors Expansion Debate 60:10 Marathon What-Ifs & Hagos Gebrhiwet's Return 62:46 The 46-Year-Old Marathon Sensation 66:26 Athlos Cancels Its Second 2026 Meet 69:54 Comparing Athlos to Grand Slam Track's Finances 75:19 What's the Long-Term Vision for Athlos? 80:07 Ticket Sales, Attendance & Track's Fan Problem 83:11 Baltimore Orioles Shoutout & Postgame Banter 86:11 The MLB Wild Card Race Heats Up 87:58 Show Wrap-Up & What's Next CONTACT Contact us: Email: [email protected] Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running. The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.

🏃 The perfect product to improve your running form Aletheia Run is a wearable running sensor that analyzes your form and gives personalized correction drills. Use code LETSRUN10 for a free 30-day trial and 10% off your first year: https://www.aletheia.run/start-my-free-trial EPISODE SUMMARY On the 10-year anniversary of Matthew Centrowitz's iconic Olympic 1500-meter gold in Rio, the 2016 champion joins Jonathan Gault and Weldon Johnson to reflect on the race that changed American distance running. Centro reveals why the final was so slow, breaks down the decisive inside move that won him gold, and explains why winning left him struggling for motivation. The trio dives into Cole Hocker's unorthodox tactics, Josh Kerr's 3:42 mile, the unprecedented parity in the men's 1500, and Centro's new life—including a Chicago Marathon side bet with Evan Jager and Kyle Merber. The episode closes with an epic trivia showdown. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS Matthew Centrowitz's 2016 Olympic 1500m Final TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Rio Olympic 1500m Audio from NBC 01:05 Aletheia.Run Sponsor 02:09 Start of Podcast: The 10-Year Anniversary of Rio Gold 03:38 Blessing and a Curse: Life After Winning 09:02 How Mainstream Was the Olympic Gold? 14:28 Contracts and Fame in Track and Field 19:02 Breaking Down the Rio 1500 Final 21:53 The Patent Move and a 450-Meter Kick 25:45 Why the Race Was So Slow 27:07 Behind the Scenes: The Brazil Soccer Delay 30:37 Unprecedented Parity in the Men's 1500 34:28 Will Fast Championship Racing Continue? 39:01 Josh Kerr's 3:42 and the Depth of the Event 42:45 Cole Hocker's Tactics Analyzed 49:43 Centro's Relationship with Hocker 53:48 Ben Thomas's Unorthodox Training System 56:57 Life After Running: What Centro Is Doing Now 57:52 Chicago Marathon Side Bet with Jager and Merber 64:57 Trivia Warm-Up: Centro's Career 64:57 Centro's Dad and the 1976 Olympic Trials 68:10 From NCAA Races to Daegu Bronze 76:02 The Heartbreaking 2012 Olympic Fourth Place 77:25 General Track and Field Trivia 78:06 Women's 1500 Debut and Distance Firsts 82:11 Sub-Eight Steeple and Mo Farah's Losses 85:46 Centro vs. Galen Rupp at Pac-10s 88:13 Racing Kerr, Jakob, and the Motorcycle Story 94:01 Kip Keino's Olympic Legacy 94:58 1500 Meter Legends Lightning Round 99:06 Mile and 1500 Barrier Breakers 100:56 Final Question: First Sub-3:30 1500m CONTACT Email: [email protected] Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running. The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.

Did you miss the first edition of our Training Talk video series? You are in luck as the Supporters Club embargo has ended! In this exclusive 1-on-1 interview, LetsRun.com co-founder Robert Johnson sits down with Dr. Marius Bakken—13:06 5000m runner, two-time Norwegian Olympian, medical doctor, and the true mastermind behind the double threshold "Norwegian Method" training system used by Jakob Ingebrigtsen and elites worldwide. Bakken breaks down the physiological logic behind double threshold, why the muscular system (not the heart or lungs) is the true limiting factor for distance runners, how to properly use lactate meters, super shoe technology, and why easy days MUST stay easy. If you liked interview, then you need to read the article we wrote as he answered some additional questions via email after we recorded. 📖 READ THE FULL ARTICLE & EMAIL Q\&A: 👉 https://www.letsrun.com/?p=327012 📚 GET MARIUS BAKKEN'S NEW BOOK ("The Norwegian Method Applied"): 👉 https://lasso.to/3choBS6Q1Y Time Stamps 0:00 - Introduction & The Launch of LetsRun Training Talk Live 2:16 - Sitting in the Call Room: The Quest to Catch African Distance Runners 5:10 - How Marius Bakken’s Winter Base Model Inspired the Ingebrigtsens 7:29 - Bridging Joe Newton’s Mileage with Peter Coe’s Interval Precision 9:21 - Discovering How Kenyans Naturally Train at Threshold Effort 10:42 - The Science & Logic Behind Double Threshold Workouts 12:31 - Re-Framing Double Threshold: "One Long Session with a Long Break" 14:06 - The TRUE Limiter in Distance Running: Muscular System vs. Heart/Lungs 15:26 - Why Easy Days MUST Stay Easy to Protect Muscle Elasticity 16:20 - The Sample Training Week: Balancing Threshold Days and the "X Factor" Workout 17:51 - How Less is More: Maximizing Training Load at the Lowest Muscular Cost 20:14 - Recovery Windows: Controlling the Muscular Adaptation Phase 21:33 - How Beginners & Recreational Runners Can Safely Build Volume 23:59 - What to Do If You Miss a Threshold Workout in Your Schedule 24:32 - Bridging the Gap: Why Western Distance Runners Have Caught Up 26:34 - Marius Bakken's Historic 2002 LetsRun Forum Thread ("Kenya vs. USA") 28:40 - Controversial Altitude Training Experiments in Kenya & Bolivia 30:57 - Did Kenyans Intuitively Train Sub-Threshold Better Than Westerners? 33:37 - Why Marius Chooses Medical Practice Over Full-Time Coaching 34:17 - Will Continuous Lactate Monitors Make Distance Running "Too Perfect"? 36:09 - High School Days at York High School & Transitioning to High Volume 37:24 - The Craziest Training Experiments: 5,000m Altitude & Ketosis Weeks 39:28 - Why Cross-Training (Cycling/Swimming) Doesn't Replace Specific Running Movement 43:55 - Adapting Double Threshold & Intensity Control for High School Athletes 45:24 - Why Every Serious Runner Should Try a Lactate Monitor ($300 Shoe vs $300 Meter) 48:59 - Marius Bakken’s Current Fitness & Weekly Training Routine at Age 48 50:45 - The Future of Continuous Lactate & Gate Monitors 51:34 - Is Double Threshold Ideal for the Western Coaching Mindset? 54:54 - Why a Gap Still Exists Between Westerners & Africans in the Marathon and Cross Country 56:30 - Super Shoes: Injury Reduction, Ankle Stiffness, & Track Depth 59:31 - Could Bob Kennedy or Seb Coe Have Run Faster on the Norwegian Method? 1:01:37 - Zatopek’s Early Double-Session Repeats vs Modern Double Threshold 1:02:30 - Muscle Biopsies & Determining Athlete Event Specialization 1:03:25 - Can Jakob Ingebrigtsen Come Back Stronger From His Injuries? 1:04:54 - Working With Karsten Warholm’s Coach, Leif Olav Alnes 1:07:24 - Did Bakken See Any Doping While Training in Kenya (2000–2002)? 1:08:22 - Closing Thoughts & Upcoming Guest Coaching Appearance Contact us: Email [email protected] or call/text 1-844-LETSRUN podcast voicemail/text line. Want a 2nd podcast every week? And savings on running shoes? Join the LetsRun.com Supporters Club today for exclusive content, a bonus weekly podcast, shoe savings, and more. Cancel anytime .https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe Check out the LetsRun.com store. https://shop.letsrun.com/ We've got the softest running shirts in the business. Thanks for listening. Please rate us on your podcast app and spread the word to friend.

🏃 Presented by Orosport USA Cooling vests, headbands, and wrist wraps to help you train through the heat — use code LETSRUN for 10% off. orosportsusa.com/letsrun 👟 LetsRun Shoe Deals — Nike Vomero 18 $93, Pegasus $87 (40% off), Vaporfly 4 $143 (47% off) Josh Kerr's Commonwealth Games mile annihilation reignites the debate over where he ranks among history's greatest milers, with Rojo's "beat every great miler ever" thought experiment digging up crazy closing splits from Noureddine Morceli and Jim Ryun. Coach Danny Mackey weighs whether Kerr should chase a 1500m world record or protect his health for the World Ultimate Championships. Elsewhere, Abdihamid Nur and Alicia Monson's decision to skip USAs for a faster race in Belgium sparks a debate over what national titles are actually worth. And on the college side, Kenyan half-marathoner Dennis Kipkogei's commitment to Texas gets a debate going on the NCAA ranks. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS If All The Top Milers in the World Lined Up, Would Kerr Win? The Pareto Frontier: Jonathan Pritchard's closing-speed data deep dive Did Texas Just Sign the Favorite for the 2026 NCAA XC Title? Changing allegiances from Jakob to Kerr (forum thread) Colorado Buffaloes loading up on Africans for 2026 XC (forum thread) Shoe deals Need a VPN? — https://www.letsrun.com/vpn Free LetsRun shirt — https://shop.letsrun.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor Intro & Episode Preview 02:45 Off-Air Banter: VPNs, Weather & Cooling Gear 08:52 Josh Kerr's Commonwealth Games Mile Domination 12:57 Kerr's World Ultimate Championships Outlook 18:45 Could Kerr Beat Every Miler in History? 23:10 Comparing Eras: Ryun's Kick vs. the Doping-Era 90s 26:53 Danny Mackey's Decision on a 1500m World Record Bid 34:00 Other Commonwealth Games Standouts 36:22 Africa's Distance Running Decline & the Kipsang Mystery 40:50 Jakob Ingebrigtsen's Fitness, Qualifying Rules & Fan Rivalries 48:30 Skipping USAs: The Nur & Monson Debate Begins 53:49 USATF Points System Under Fire 58:12 Off-Topic Tangent: Wejo's College Racing History 1:02:38 USATF Foundation Grants & Accountability 1:06:58 Dennis Kipkogei Headlines Texas' Loaded Recruiting Class 1:10:28 Full-Ride Scholarships & the NCAA Funding Arms Race 1:16:41 Conference Realignment, Age Caps & Remote Coaching Fantasies 1:21:53 Colorado's Kenyan Recruiting Rumor & International Talent Debate 1:26:35 World Juniors Preview & Closing Thoughts CONTACT Contact us: Email: [email protected] Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running. The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Wejo, a 2-time Team USA member, and Rojo, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.

🏃 Presented by Aletheia Run Aletheia Run is a sensor and app that captures a force portrait of your running mechanics, giving you feedback and drills to run more efficiently and avoid injury. Get a free 30-day trial and 10% off with code LETSRUN10 — linkhere https://www.aletheia.run/start-my-free-trial EPISODE SUMMARY Josh Kerr shattered Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old mile world record in London, running 3:42.66, while training partner Brandon Miller stunned the field with a career-best 1:42.19 in the 800m. Wejo, Rjo and Jonathan debate whether Kerr's mark is more believable than the EPO-era record it replaced, whether he should chase the 1,500m world record this year, and how his rivalry with Jakob Ingebrigtsen now stacks up. Coach Danny Mackey joinsus at 73:31 to recount race day, the chaotic pacing situation, and what comes next for both athletes. Elsewhere: the NCAA scraps altitude and flat-track conversions in a move the hosts call one of the dumbest rule changes in years, Niels Laros ends his season with an Achilles injury, and USATF Outdoors kicks off in New York with several top milers sitting out. 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe LINKS **** Aletheia Run Sensor & App Use code LETSRUN10 Brandon Miller junior phenom video After breaking mile world record, can Josh Kerr become the first man to run 3:25 for 1500m? **** Free USAs tickets giveaway TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sponsor Intro 00:29 This Week in Track: Kerr's Record and More News 06:46 Fake Josh Kerr 08:28 Reflecting on the Mile World Record 13:59 The Drug Era and Believing in Records 17:56 What's Next for Josh Kerr 21:46 Chasing a 1,500m World Record 27:54 Debating Kerr's Recovery and Peak Fitness34:05 Injuries Rock the Miling Ranks 42:14 Should Niels Laros Get Achilles Surgery? 45:34 Kerr vs Ingebrigtsen: The Head-to-Head Record 47:03 Brandon Miller's Historic 800m Win 50:57 Miller's Turbo Kick Explained 56:51 USA Outdoor Championships Preview 1:03:50 Who's Skipping USAs and Why 1:08:53 NCAA Scraps Altitude Conversions 1:13:31 Guest Danny Mackey: Race Day Morning in London 1:19:36 Watching the World Record Unfold 1:25:36 The Workouts Behind the Record 1:31:24 Training for a Championship vs a Record 1:34:10 The Case for a 1,500m World Record Attempt 1:37:39 Commonwealth Games and Brandon Miller's Rise 1:42:40 Reworking Miller's Training and Kick 1:47:40 Whose Idea Was the World Record Attempt? 1:52:52 A Perfect Night in London 1:55:32 Sponsor Outro Aletheia Run Sensor & App Use code LETSRUN10 Contact Us Email: [email protected] Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running. The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on