Road to the Trials

Mason Coppi didn’t line up at the Boston Marathon expecting to win the open race or chase an Olympic Trials qualifier. In fact, he had just raced the Gorge 30K days earlier and came into Boston ready to “blow up” and simply experience the course. Instead, he found himself running at the front, closing in 4:46, and discovering a new level of durability and belief in what’s possible. In this episode, Mason shares how a winter of limited speed work due to injury turned into a breakthrough block built on aerobic strength, cycling volume, and smart restraint. He breaks down the unique crossover between trail and road racing, including how eccentric loading from mountain running can build resilience for the marathon.The conversation goes deep into training philosophy, from balancing intensity and volume to structuring back-to-back long efforts that build true fatigue resistance. Mason also gives a behind-the-scenes look at racing Boston from the front pack, navigating the Newton Hills, and embracing uncertainty with curiosity rather than fear. Looking ahead, Mason is leaning into variety, from mountain championships to 50K trail races, while keeping the Olympic Trials firmly in view. This episode is a masterclass in adaptability, curiosity-driven racing, and redefining limits in real time.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.

Matt Lenehan joins Road to the Trials after qualifying for his third Olympic Trials, most recently breaking 2:16 at CIM. What stands out most about Matt’s journey isn’t just the progression from 2:38 to sub-2:16, but how he’s approached running the entire time: with consistency, curiosity, and a commitment to keeping it fun.Matt shares how his progression has been steady rather than explosive, built on years of simply showing up. He talks about why he avoids overthinking races, often running without checking his watch, and how trusting effort over splits has helped him perform at his best.A major theme throughout the conversation is community. From early training groups in San Francisco to his long-standing connection with Peninsula Distance Club, Matt emphasizes that running with others is the most important factor in improvement. He believes that finding people faster than you, and enjoying the process together, matters more than any specific training plan.The conversation also explores Matt’s approach to racing and training philosophy. He discusses being “workout agnostic,” focusing less on the exact structure of workouts and more on effort and consistency. He also reflects on the difference between external goals like qualifying times and internal satisfaction, highlighting how the meaning of a performance can shift depending on context.Beyond the roads, Matt talks about trail racing, cycling, and creative projects, including his unique running videos inspired by skate culture. Through it all, he keeps returning to the same idea: longevity in the sport comes from finding ways to enjoy it.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error.Wahoo continues to redefine indoor training with the KICKR RUN treadmill, designed to respond dynamically to how athletes actually run. With features like automatic pace control, terrain simulation, lateral tilt, and seamless connectivity to platforms like Zwift and Strava, it delivers a more realistic and engaging training experience. Trusted by world-class runners and triathletes alike, Wahoo builds tools that keep athletes training smarter, not just harder.

Kristoffer Mugrage joins Road to the Trials to talk about his journey through multiple Olympic Trials cycles and what it takes to build a career in the marathon over the long term. Kris first came close to the Trials standard at CIM in 2019, missing by just seconds, and has steadily improved since then through years of high-mileage training and consistent racing.Kris shares how his confidence as a marathoner grew through races like his win at the Columbus Marathon and his breakthrough performances at CIM. He reflects on finally making the Olympic Trials in 2024, the lessons learned from racing in the challenging Orlando conditions, and the balance between chasing fast times and competing for wins.The conversation also dives into Kris’s training philosophy, including years of gradually building toward extremely high mileage and why patience is essential for endurance development. Kris talks about learning to embrace the marathon process, experimenting with training cycles, and what gives him confidence that faster performances are still ahead.After recently running a personal best of 2:14:59 at the Marathon Project to secure the Olympic Trials standard, Kris is focused on continuing to compete at a high level, with Boston Marathon up next and his eyes set on bringing his best performance to the 2028 Olympic Trials.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.The Marathon Project returns December 11–13, 2026 in Chandler, Arizona, offering one of the fastest, most athlete-focused marathon experiences in the country. The event features a Gold Wave amateur race on Saturday and the professional race on Sunday, giving runners the chance to race fast and then watch some of the best athletes in the sport compete the next day. The course is flat and criteria-style with pacers every five minutes from 2:20 to 3:30, bottle service, bag drop, and a top-tier race experience designed for performance. The Gold Wave is open to runners who have run under 3:30 since 2022, and last year 81% of finishers hit their Boston Qualifier. Registration is currently $400 but increases to $500 on April 1. Visit themarathonproject.com and use code roadtothetrials (all lowercase, no spaces) to save $25 on your entry.

Zach Kreft joins Road to the Trials after a remarkable 2025 season that included five marathons and a major breakthrough at the California International Marathon. After narrowly missing the Olympic Trials standard at the Chicago Marathon with a 2:16:30, Zach returned later in the year and delivered a huge performance at CIM, running 2:13:05 to secure his place at the Olympic Trials.Zach shares what it was like to stack multiple marathons in one season and how each race helped build toward his breakthrough. Despite working a full-time job in the technology industry, he’s found a training approach that balances serious racing goals with a sustainable workload.The conversation dives into how Zach structures his training, why his schedule looks different from many elite marathoners, and how confidence from earlier races helped set up his big day at CIM. His story is a great example of patience, consistency, and making the most of each opportunity to race.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.The Marathon Project returns December 11–13, 2026 in Chandler, Arizona, offering one of the fastest, most athlete-focused marathon experiences in the country. The event features a Gold Wave amateur race on Saturday and the professional race on Sunday, giving runners the chance to race fast and then watch some of the best athletes in the sport compete the next day. The course is flat and criteria-style with pacers every five minutes from 2:20 to 3:30, bottle service, bag drop, and a top-tier race experience designed for performance. The Gold Wave is open to runners who have run under 3:30 since 2022, and last year 81% of finishers hit their Boston Qualifier. Registration is currently $400 but increases to $500 on April 1. Visit themarathonproject.com and use code roadtothetrials (all lowercase, no spaces) to save $25 on your entry.

Ethan Shuley joins Road to the Trials after running 2:07:14, the seventh fastest marathon in American history. At just 27 years old and only a few years into serious marathoning, his rise has been fast, from 2:18 to 2:11 to 2:07 in a short window. But as Ethan explains, the breakthrough didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of trial, error, and steadily applying simple principles at a very high level.Peter and Ethan dig into what actually changed: training progression, volume, patience, and learning how to execute the fundamentals consistently. They talk through the difference between knowing what works and fully committing to it.Ethan also shares how living and working in Japan shaped his approach to the marathon, what he’s absorbed from Japanese racing culture, and how that contrasts with the American system. With roots at BYU and connections to elite training groups in both countries, he offers a unique perspective on what it takes to move from “promising” to historically fast.This is a deep, marathon-heavy conversation about how big jumps actually happen and what it looks like when an athlete fully buys in.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.Wahoo continues to redefine indoor training with the KICKR RUN treadmill, designed to respond dynamically to how athletes actually run. With features like automatic pace control, terrain simulation, lateral tilt, and seamless connectivity to platforms like Zwift and Strava, it delivers a more realistic and engaging training experience. Trusted by world-class runners and triathletes alike, Wahoo builds tools that keep athletes training smarter, not just harder. Use code "Trials28" for a free heart rate strap at wahoofitness.com.

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka sit down with one of the most accomplished American distance runners of her generation: Emily Sisson.Emily is the American record holder in the marathon with her 2:18:29 performance at the Chicago Marathon, a five-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and a two-time Olympian in both the 10,000m and the marathon. She reflects on the defining moments of her career — from the unforgettable “heat dome” 10,000m at the 2021 Trials to navigating the pressure of being the presumed favorite at the 2024 Marathon Trials.Emily opens up about racing by feel, trusting instinct over splits, and how her Chicago American Record came together — including the now-famous detail that her watch died mid-race. She shares how championship-style racing feels like a game compared to time-chasing, and why some of her proudest moments have come when she let go of the clock entirely.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.Wahoo continues to redefine indoor training with the KICKR RUN treadmill, designed to respond dynamically to how athletes actually run. With features like automatic pace control, terrain simulation, lateral tilt, and seamless connectivity to platforms like Zwift and Strava, it delivers a more realistic and engaging training experience. Trusted by world-class runners and triathletes alike, Wahoo builds tools that keep athletes training smarter, not just harder. Use code "Trials28" for a free heart rate strap at wahoofitness.com.

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka and Lindsey Hein sit down with Melissa Berry, fresh off an incredible marathon debut at the California International Marathon, where she ran 2:35:57 to qualify for the Olympic Trials.Melissa grew up in Eugene, Oregon and ran collegiately at the University of Oregon, navigating the ups and downs of a six-year college career that spanned the COVID era. After graduation, she relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona — one of the country’s premier distance running hubs — and found herself rediscovering her competitive edge.Her marathon journey accelerated when she was selected for the Tracksmith Stamata program, a team built around supporting women chasing the Olympic Trials standard. Melissa shares what it was like to attend training camp in Vermont, build community with a diverse group of women ages 24 to 44, and lean into the team-first mindset that defines the program.A pivotal moment in her build came when she began consulting with Steph Bruce in the final month before CIM. Steph’s encouragement — and her belief that the OTQ was within reach — gave Melissa the confidence to commit fully to the goal. On race day, after tracking down the OTQ pack eight miles into the race, Melissa stayed patient, trusted her training, and raced the final 10K to secure her qualifier in her very first marathon.The conversation explores imposter syndrome, the power of community, the transition from college running to the marathon, and the moment belief turns into reality. Melissa’s story is one of patience, humility, and the courage to say the goal out loud — and then go chase it.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Matt Chittim sits down with Hannah Chau, a newly minted Olympic Trials qualifier whose story blends big racing goals with an equally demanding path in medicine.Hannah reflects on her first attempt at qualifying for 2024 while still at UC Irvine, when she narrowly missed the standard at CIM in a debut marathon that was both chaotic and unforgettable. She shares what she learned from that near miss, why she kept coming back, and how those earlier attempts helped her stay calm and execute when it mattered most.Now in medical school at Creighton’s Phoenix campus, Hannah talks candidly about balancing a packed academic schedule with high-mileage training. She gets specific about how she made it work: early mornings, doubles, fitting strength work into the margins, and building a system that keeps running as an outlet without letting school slip. The conversation also touches on COVID’s impact on her college years and how that period shaped her perspective on mental health and long-term growth.A major thread throughout the episode is family. Hannah’s mom has been a marathoner for years and running became a shared experience that strengthened their relationship. Hannah also opens up about the dynamic with her dad, expectations around academics, and how that support evolved over time.This is a conversation about persistence, patience, and doing two hard things at once, with a finish-line payoff that’s been years in the making.Thank you to our sponsor:Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error.