Off The Rails With Eric And Aisha

Aisha Praught-Leer calls in from Las Vegas on a Monday morning work trip. Eric Jenkins is in New Hampshire, fresh off a baby visit and a Wiz Khalifa concert he forgot to mention.Discussed in this episode: – Aisha in Las Vegas: On a work trip to the NACTA college sports conference. Overstimulated by the blinking lights and twinkling sounds. Not a Vegas girl. Still needs to find one thing she likes about it before Wednesday. – Eric in Providence: Visited friends Johnny and Amy Gregorek and their new baby, Francis. – Fitness check-in: Both hovering around 10-15 miles a week of running plus walking. Aisha walked in a four-mile run that was supposed to be four miles because it was 80 degrees in Boulder. Eric now runs with his phone in case the calf blows and he needs to Uber home.– Hyrox: Aisha accidentally attended a Hyrox event in New York thinking she was going to dinner. Showed up in a white midi skirt and leather sandals. Proceeded to have one of the better nights of recent memory. – Sachs Foundation: Aisha interviewed Angela Davis as the keynote speaker for the Sachs Foundation scholars event — one of the most amazing experiences of her life. – Mini 10K: Aisha's first time attending. 10,000 women, packed subway cars of women runners heading to the start, incredible energy. Agnes Ngetich dominates from the gun in 30:57, solo performance all the way. – Stockholm Diamond League Recap: Audrey Werro's 1:53.98: Third-fastest woman in 800 history. Diamond League record. Beats Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson (1:54.33 personal best and national record) / Cooper Lutkenhaus wins the men's 800 in his Diamond League debut at 17 years old / Yared Nuguse wins the men's 1500 for his second Diamond League win of the season / Mondo loses for his first defeat since July 2023 and a 44-meet winning streak snapped / Noah Lyles goes 9.88 in Rome – The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials have been awarded to St. Louis: Mixed reactions online, Aisha is enthusiastically in favor. – Voicemails: A Rail Rider from St. Louis makes the funniest promotional pitch in voicemail history; party-paced running playlists; favorite workouts and race mantras; Tour de France preview; and a running love story from Portland where a 7 AM run after a dinner party led to a wedding — happening this weekend, shoutout Liana and Rick.📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffTheRailsWithEricandAishaFollow your hosts on Instagram:🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer----⚠️ WARNING ⚠️Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

Aisha Praught-Leer and Eric Jenkins record on Memorial Day weekend with Aisha recording from Los Angeles on three hours of sleep, revived by a Hailey Bieber smoothie from Erewhon brought over by Parker Valby and Emma Coburn.Discussed in this episode:– Aisha recaps her trip to Los Angeles– Aisha talks about what it was like watching Emma Coburn make her return to the steeplechase– Aisha filmed herself going over hurdles with Emma in pre-race prep. Hurdle one: clipped. Hurdle two: the best hurdle of her entire life.– TrackFest LA recap includes: Roisin Willis with a world-leading time; Brandon Miller takes a wire-to-wire men's 800m over a field with multiple world champions, including Josh Kerr, Jake Wightman and Donovan Brazier; Vince Ciattei wins a 1500m; Parker Valby's dominant return with a 5K victory and PB; Habtom Samuel breaks his outdoor NCAA 5000m record + more– Shanghai Diamond League recap includes: Masai Russell runs an American record in the 100 meter hurdles; Alison Dos Santos beats Karsten Warholm again; Abby Caldwell wins the women's 1500 again with the fastest last 200 in the race and takes another big step in her breakthrough season– Pop culture talk: After being shown last week that all three new Drake albums were in fact on Spotify, Aisha listened to Maid of Honor– What to expect from the Enhanced Games– Athlos announces two meets including London for 2026– Voicemails: Portsmouth/New Hampshire recommendations for a mom flying out monthly to visit her daughter at boarding school; advice for a new medical school grad moving to Ohio for residency and leaving all her friends behind; the full history of Rodman Wanamaker; a caller who spent 20 miles of the Manchester Marathon babysitting a 13-year-old in a full nylon windsuit; is a burger a sandwich; would-you-rather where you get a guaranteed PR every year for 15 years but feel urgently like you need to use the bathroom on one run per week; the emotional transition out of professional sport.📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffTheRailsWithEricandAishaFollow your hosts on Instagram:🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer----⚠️ WARNING ⚠️Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

No prepared notes this week, which means full chaos.Discussed in this episode:– Eric's sub-five mile controversy: Someone DM'd Aisha the Strava elevation profile– Aisha is now up to three miles straight at 9,000 feet in Crested Butte; a barre class that cost $25, which was $8 above her personal tipping point.– Giro d'Italia access rage: HBO Max has put live sports behind an additional paywall. Aisha's cutoff is $17/month. – Hantavirus on a Dutch cruise ship: Three deaths, eight total cases, a very long incubation period, and the Canary Islands said absolutely not, you are staying at sea. Aisha spent the majority of her non-working, non-painting hours this week on hantavirus memes and UFO memes– Pentagon UFO files: Released with minimal fanfare. Eric is not buying it as anything other than a distraction from the Epstein files.– Spencer Pratt is running for mayor of LA: Won 89% of a debate poll. Reality TV people are built for these moments.– Met Gala recap: Mondo Duplantis and fiancée Desiré Inglander attended. Desiré has been described by a mutual friend of Aisha as the hottest female elf from Lord of the Rings that could ever exist in the world. – Cocodona 250: Rachel Entrekin becomes the first female winner in race history with a time of 56:09:48.– Denver airport Frontier plane incident: A person breached the tarmac fence and was sucked into a plane engine, causing it to burst into flames. – Track roundup: Simeon Birnbaum runs a dominant 1:44 800m, including working past two Oregon teammates in the final stretch. Marco Langon runs 3:32. Quincy Wilson debuts in the 300m hurdles and wins in 38.77 — nobody saw hurdles in his future. – Shanghai Diamond League preview: May 16th — six days away. The meet features five Americans in the women's steeple. The women's 1500 field is stacked: Tsige Duguma, Dorcas Ewoi, Gabija Galvydytė, Jess Hull, Emily MacKay (who apparently ran a 1:59 800 at altitude recently), Gracie Morris, Claudia Hollingsworth and more. – Aisha's Monaco/Tour de France vacation: World Athletics meeting in Monaco at the end of June, followed by the first two days of the Tour de France in Barcelona. – The Wout van Aert DM: When Aisha was training in Leuven, she noticed on Strava that Wout van Aert was doing afternoon jogs at around the same pace as her. She DMed him on Instagram to see if he wanted to run. – Sarah Hall's audiobook: Aisha is halfway through For the Love of Running on Audible. Sarah Hall narrates it herself. Beautifully written, very open about relationships, spirituality, family, and her internal world. – Voicemails: A fan notes that Mac and Chris could not have anticipated inviting Aisha and Eric onto their team and watching them dog group runs; travel recommendations for the Northeast and Boulder; a listener calls to give Centro's wife Lindsay her flowers — she's the PT for an all-women's running team in Chicago; and a dad reports that his two-year-old now says "love you, bye" as his farewell phrase, which he learned from this podcast.📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffTheRailsWithEricandAishaFollow your hosts on Instagram:🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer----⚠️ WARNING ⚠️Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

Eric checks in from Arizona fresh off a weekend immersed in the trail world at Black Canyon Ultra, while Aisha recovers from the Super Bowl and another week of indoor track fireworks. The conversation bounces from ultra culture and Winter Olympics absurdity to record-setting performances.In this episode:– Eric reports live from Arizona after spending the weekend at the Black Canyon Ultra Marathon and discovering a whole new side of the sport– The rapidly growing ultra scene, its strong community vibe + how the sport is getting faster and more professionalized– Super Bowl recap: betting losses, squares boards, and Aisha dropping money while Bad Bunny wins the day– Olympic headlines, including the now-viral medal-speech cheating confession and why it may be the worst PR move ever– Life (and logistics) inside the Olympic Village, from cardboard beds to running out of condoms– Choosing which Winter Olympic sport they’d compete in – British Championships highlights, including Keely Hodgkinson’s dominant 1:56 and continued push toward the world record– BU Valentine meet delivering yet again with Elle St. Pierre running 4:17 for the mile and 3:59.33 en route to a new American record– Marco Langon’s win and the internet’s love-him-or-hate-him reaction– Cole Hocker’s 3:45.94 American record in the mile and why it felt like a major statement race– Nikki Hiltz continuing a run of wins and the difference between racing to win versus racing for time– Cooper Lutkenhaus runs another World U20 record– The importance of atmosphere, crowd energy– Voicemails include: Brainstorming running drinking games, destination races, and the always-dangerous idea of turning endurance into a social activityThis is yet another ongoing attempt to keep this podcast somewhere between analysis and complete derailment.📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffTheRailsWithEricandAishaFollow your hosts on Instagram:🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer----⚠️ WARNING ⚠️Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer are back in person, loitering in the mezzanine of the meet hotel ahead of the Millrose Games:In this week's yap:– The Armory and Jamaican Track and Field is in The Epstein Files– A 16-year-old from New Zealand ran 3:48 for the mile, youth records losing meaning, and why winning still matters– A deep dive into sports bras, altitude lungs, ribcage expansion, and why poor fit can derail training– Hanging out with track world bigwigs, rubbing elbows, and passionate conversations about athlete support– We went to a USATF Foundation party and learned of some unexpected listeners – so we stayed out later than planned– Sha’Carri Richardson’s Florida arrest for speeding, superspeeder laws, and separating recklessness from concern– Athletes getting suspended for gambling on track and field, bans, and lack of education– Why betting on teammates is different from betting against yourself– Heated Rivalry discourse, emotional whiplash at episode three, and being fully locked in– Setting expectations for Millrose coverage and saving race talk for the post-meet show– Debating BBLs, body autonomy, matching legs, and when cosmetic work crosses the lineVoicemails include:– Alex Honnold’s grip strength and an extremely unhinged anatomical question– Reality TV corner: The Traitors, casting track athletes as traitors, and why popularity wins– Femke Bol’s upcoming 800m debut and Super Bowl Sunday decision-making– Politicians with running backgrounds and why distance runners are everywhere📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffTheRailsWithEricandAishaFollow your hosts on Instagram:🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleerSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.----⚠️ WARNING ⚠️Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

We’re officially back and launching the Off The Rails YouTube era (smash that like and subscribe button!) Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer regroup on a Sunday night after a Patriots win, sloppy football, cheeky parlays and FanDuel obligations. Discussed in this episode:– MLK Day, track season officially being back, and the mental shift into indoor racing– A hydration resolution check-in featuring coconut water, LaCroix, and live chugging on mic– The Ralph Lauren menswear show and why the algorithm is serving nothing but elite zaddies– Heated Rivalry discussion and deciding how much trash TV is too much– Doomscrolling vs. protecting your peace and selectively consuming the internet– Why X (Twitter) is uninhabitable, Instagram Reels are dangerous, and TikTok might ruin everything– Time limits that don’t work and ignoring your phone yelling at you– People We Meet on Vacation was a rom-heavy comfort watch during a midweek menti-b– Zoë Saldaña talk– Movie theater culture: popcorn vs. no popcorn, soda anxiety, and bathroom-break strategy– The fear about going to the movies alone, getting accidentally roasted by a fan and thus abandoning a beloved solo ritual– A mindfulness resolution check-in and why Eric is reading The Count of Monte Cristo very slowly– Previewing the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold and why indoor is basically the Diamond League of winter– New Balance Indoor Grand Prix hype and World Indoors in Poland (eventually)– Eric’s fake Calm app meditation career and dream of voice acting– Breaking down the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix start lists event-by-event– Cam Myers ran a 3:49 mile at UW and why Australia is terrifying in the middle distances– Donovan Brazier vs. Bryce Hopple, Josh Hoey supremacy, and world-best discourse– Trayvon Bromell in a 300, Noah Lyles bringing eyeballs, and sprinters doing whatever they want– Why New Balance and Millrose are two of the best meets in the world– Indoor track nostalgia: stench factories, hallway warmups, chaos, and feral energy+ Voicemails!📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffTheRailsWithEricandAishaFollow your hosts on Instagram:🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleerSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.----⚠️ WARNING ⚠️Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

Off The Rails is officially back for 2026, and Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer waste absolutely no time getting comfortable.The episode opens with New Year’s resolutions (or the lack thereof), including Eric’s sudden commitment to mindfulness and Aisha’s accidental discovery that Diet Pepsi might be the key to peak hydration.Also discussed in this episode:– The rise of hydration culture: Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke, Liquid IV, Spindrift, LaCroix, and the realization that soda might actually be elite– Aisha’s full hydration personal best and why skiing all day unlocked a new relationship with fluids– Growing up in the ’90s, mom culture, and why Diet Coke feels genetically encoded– Aisha accidentally skiing a black diamond, survival turns, and Strava validating the effort– Why Aisha's Strava is private, deprogramming from pace shame, and learning to enjoy running again– World Cross Country Championships are days away and the excitement is real– Beatrice Chebet is sitting out World Cross to prioritize starting a family– The difference between European and American running fan culture– Brainstorming a World Cross fantasy draft and snake-draft chaos– Voicemails include: HBO’s Heated Rivalry/gay hockey discourse; AI chatbots/ChatGPT vs everything else; Stranger Things' final season + more📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.Follow your hosts on Instagram:🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleerSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.----⚠️ WARNING ⚠️Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.