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Road to the Trials: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Peter Bromka, Lindsey Hein, and Matt Chittim
Co-hosts Matt Chittim, Lindsey Hein, and Peter Bromka interview every 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier along with a wide-ranging group of industry professionals in preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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- Yesterday1h 8m
From Walk-On to Boston PR: Charlie Sweeney's Road to the Trials
Charlie Sweeney joins us after a personal best at the Boston Marathon to talk about the next chapter of his marathon career and why he believes he's just getting started. The former Division II walk-on turned CU Boulder standout reflects on his unconventional path through the sport, working with new coach David Roche, and the lessons he's learned from being coached by — and dating — Olympian Elise Cranny.Charlie shares what it's like balancing a full-time job at COROS with professional running, why he believes confidence is often the biggest separator between athletes, and how he's approaching the long road toward the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel & Hydration helps runners simplify fueling with personalized plans based on carbs, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed tools and resources make it easier to train and race with confidence. Use code Trials26 for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.
- 1 weeks ago58 min
How Rachel Schilkowsky Finally Solved the Marathon
Rachel Schilkowsky joins us after earning her spot at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a breakthrough 2:35:51 and second-place finish at the Vermont City Marathon. A five-time NCAA Division I All-American at Cornell, Rachel is a biomechanical engineer, mom of two, and self-coached athlete who has spent years chasing the marathon she knew she was capable of running.In this episode, Rachel shares how returning to racing after having two children changed her perspective, why finally dialing in her fueling strategy made all the difference, and what it was like racing alongside Kellen Taylor on the way to her Olympic Trials qualifier. We also talk about self-coaching, balancing family life with elite training, the Green Racing Project, and why she's still chasing big goals on both the roads and the track.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel & Hydration helps runners simplify fueling with personalized plans based on carbs, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed tools and resources make it easier to train and race with confidence. Use code Trials26 for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.
- 1 weeks ago59 min
Lily Anderson: From Teaching in Brooklyn Classrooms to Brooklyn Track Club & an OTQ
Lily Anderson joins us fresh off another strong marathon that secured her spot at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Lily shares how she went from teaching in New York City public schools through Teach For America to pursuing the marathon at a high level while becoming a key member of Brooklyn Track Club. She talks about finding her place in New York's thriving running community, balancing work with elite training, learning to embrace new training methods, and why the team aspect of running continues to motivate her.Lily also reflects on earning her first Olympic Trials qualifier, battling injury, bouncing back with a 2:33 marathon, and why qualifying early has changed her mindset heading into the next marathon cycle. It's a conversation about patience, consistency, community, and enjoying the process of seeing what's possible.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel & Hydration helps runners simplify fueling with personalized plans based on carbs, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed tools and resources make it easier to train and race with confidence. Use code Trials26 for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.
- 2 weeks ago1h 11m
Andrew Colley Knows His Best Marathon Is Still Ahead
Andrew Colley has represented Team USA three times, won the USATF 25K Championships, and qualified for four U.S. Olympic Team Trials across the marathon, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. Yet despite running 2:09 for the marathon and 60:47 for the half marathon, he believes his biggest breakthrough is still ahead.In this crossover episode from I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, Lindsey sits down with Andrew in person to discuss his evolution as a professional runner, his years training with ZAP Endurance under Pete Rea, and why consistency and patience have become the foundation of his success. They also talk about balancing elite racing with new fatherhood alongside his wife, fellow professional runner Tristan Colley, winning the USATF 25K Championships, and why he's confident his fastest marathon is still to come as he builds toward the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel & Hydration helps runners simplify fueling with personalized plans based on carbs, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed tools and resources make it easier to train and race with confidence. Use code Trials26 for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.
- 2 weeks ago1h 3m
Alex Burks: Three Breakthroughs at the Same Course, a 2:15 OTQ, and Why Running Is Still Fun
Alex Burks has a unique relationship with Rockland Lake. It's where he ran his first breakout half marathon, his first major marathon breakthrough, and this spring, where he punched his ticket to the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials with a 2:15:49, qualifying by just 11 seconds. In this conversation with Peter Bromka, Alex looks back on the years between those breakthrough performances, the frustrating cycle of marathon blowups, and the nutrition and mindset changes that finally helped everything come together.They also revisit Alex's standout race at the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials, where he moved from the back half of the field into the top 50 by staying patient while others faded in the Florida heat. Alex shares what he's learned about training, why he believes consistency matters more than chasing huge mileage, his fascination with trail ultras, and how he's approaching the next Olympic Trials with a healthier perspective than ever before. Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel & Hydration helps runners simplify fueling with personalized plans based on carbs, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed tools and resources make it easier to train and race with confidence. Use code Trials26 for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.Goodr sunglasses combine a no-slip, no-bounce fit with polarized lenses and fun designs that are built for running, travel, and everyday adventures. Lightweight, affordable, and made to move with you. Get $10 off your first order at goodr.com/relay.
- 3 weeks ago1h 3m
Esteban Trujillo: A Decade Away from Running, Then a 2:14 Marathon at Age 40
After walking away from running for nearly a decade, Esteban Trujillo never expected he'd one day be racing 2:14 marathons. But at age 40, he's become one of the fastest masters marathoners in the world, finishing second overall in the masters division at the 2026 Boston Marathon and running 2:14:30 at CIM to easily qualify for the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials.In this episode, Esteban shares his remarkable journey from competing at the University of Oregon alongside future Olympians to completely quitting the sport, moving to Alaska, and eventually rediscovering running through a spontaneous marathon. He discusses how patience has become his greatest training tool as a masters athlete, working with coach Brad Hudson, the lessons learned from Boston and CIM, joining Puma's Project3 program, and helping launch Front Range Elite to support the next generation of elite runners in Colorado.Thank you to our sponsors:Precision Fuel & Hydration offers a personalized approach to fueling and hydration, helping athletes dial in exactly what their body needs before, during, and after training. With a wide range of products including drink mixes, gels, chews, and electrolyte solutions, it makes it easy to build a fueling strategy that fits your routine, whether you're heading out for a long run or racing. What sets them apart is their individualized fueling plans, designed around your specific sweat rate and sodium needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. You can learn more and get 15% off your first order at precisionhydration.com using the code trials26 at checkout.
- 3 weeks ago48 min
Erin McDonald: Rediscovering Running and a 2:32 Marathon Breakthrough
After stepping away from competitive running for nearly four years, Erin McDonald wasn't sure she'd ever return to the sport at a high level. Now, she's a 2:32 marathoner, a 4:31 miler, and an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. Following a breakthrough performance at the 2025 CIM, Erin joins Road to the Trials to share how falling back in love with running transformed both her mindset and her performances.In this episode, Erin reflects on her collegiate career at Michigan State, the burnout that led her away from the sport, and the unexpected path back to elite marathoning. She talks about training with Bay Area Distance Crew, winning the Bayshore Half Marathon in a course-record 73:37, balancing competition with joy, and why this second chapter of her running career feels so much more fulfilling than the first. Erin also shares what she's learned about patience, confidence, and embracing the process as she looks ahead to the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials.Thank you to our sponsors:ZBiotics is a genetically engineered probiotic designed to support your body before drinking. Their pre-alcohol probiotic is formulated to break down the byproduct of alcohol that can lead to rough mornings, helping you feel better the next day while still enjoying a social night out. Developed by a team of PhD microbiologists, it’s designed to be taken before your first drink as part of a more intentional approach to alcohol consumption. If you’re looking to balance enjoying a night out without sacrificing how you feel the next day, you can learn more and get 15% off your first order at zbiotics.com using the code trials26 at checkout.Precision Fuel & Hydration offers a personalized approach to fueling and hydration, helping athletes dial in exactly what their body needs before, during, and after training. With a wide range of products including drink mixes, gels, chews, and electrolyte solutions, it makes it easy to build a fueling strategy that fits your routine, whether you're heading out for a long run or racing. What sets them apart is their individualized fueling plans, designed around your specific sweat rate and sodium needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. You can learn more and get 15% off your first order at precisionhydration.com using the code trials26 at checkout.
- Jun 30, 202659 min
Ryan Smith: The Finish Line Reaction Everyone Was Talking About
Ryan Smith only planned to gain experience in his marathon debut. Instead, he ran 2:15:34 at the Vermont City Marathon, won the race, and punched his ticket to the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. But as Ryan explains, the result wasn't about chasing a time. It came from years of consistent training, learning to trust his instincts, and taking a patient approach to building fitness after injury.Ryan shares why he prioritizes effort over pace in training, how cross-training became a key part of his success, what he learned from his first marathon, and why he's already thinking differently about preparing for the Olympic Trials. He also talks about balancing a full-time career in energy economics, the Boston running scene, Division III running, and the unexpected experience of going viral after his emotional finish line interview.Precision Fuel & HydrationPrecision Fuel & Hydration helps runners simplify fueling with personalized plans based on carbs, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed tools and resources make it easier to train and race with confidence. Use code Trials26 for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.
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About Road to the Trials
Co-hosts Matt Chittim, Lindsey Hein, and Peter Bromka interview every 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier along with a wide-ranging group of industry professionals in preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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