Betsy Saina

"We’ll see what happens. We’ll all find out on Sunday.”

A brief chat with Keira D'Amato, Emma Bates and Sara Hall before the 2024 Chicago Marathon.

Unfortunately did not have the time to catch Betsy Saina.

From our race preview on CITIUSMAG.com: The American showdown may become a chase for Emily Sisson’s American record, as three of the five fastest women in U.S. history will be on the start line alongside 2021 Chicago runner-up Emma Bates, Chavez’s pick to take down the record. Keira D’Amato, who held this record for just under nine months in 2022, will be racing 26.2 miles for the first time since moving to Utah to train with coach Ed Eyestone. We won’t know until Sunday exactly what her and Eyestone’s race plan looks like, but don’t be surprised if she’s in the mix for the top American crown.

2024 U.S. leader Betsy Saina, whose fifth-place finish in Tokyo in 2:19:17 was a huge leap forward, figures to be a prominent player as well. 2016 Olympic 1500m champion Matthew Centrowitz is set to be pacing this pack as they go after 2:18:29, so that will be something to keep an eye on even if the leaders are well ahead.

Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia preview the top athletes to watch for at the 2024 edition of the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 13th. We break down the men’s and women’s elite fields, the top Americans to keep an eye on, and why the women’s American marathon record may be under threat. 

Hosts:

Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Preet Majithia | @prm_32 on X

Time Stamps:

0:56 - Recap of the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

4:32 - Biggest marathon successes throughout the fall of 2023.  

7:06 - Women’s elite field preview.

15:02 - Elite American women preview.

23:16 - Context on pre-race interviews with elite marathoners.

25:50 - Matthew Centrowitz pacing the women’s American record. 

29:14 - Men’s elite field preview.

35:35 - Elite American men preview.

38:53 - Parting thoughts on the Chicago Marathon.

Mentioned in this episode…

Listen: Betsy Saina’s episode on the CITIUS MAG Podcast after she ran 2:19:17 at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.

Read: Keira D’Amato and Matthew Centrowtiz training together to prepare for D’Amato’s American record attempt in Chicago.

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A month after dropping out of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials after about 21 miles, Betsy Saina made the decision to enter the 2024 Tokyo Marathon and it paid off massively.

Saina put together a very short two-week build-up and ended up finishing fifth in 2:19:17. It was a PR by more than two minutes and moved her to No. 3 on the U.S. all-time women's marathoning list behind Emily Sisson and Keira D'Amato.

In this episode, we talk about how she made the decision to race Tokyo, how she structured the training for it and why she believes her coach saying that she's got the fitness to run 2:17 someday soon. Plus, why she's got her sights set on representing the United States at the 2026 World Championships in Tokyo.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Betsy Saina | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sainabetsy on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Time Stamps:

04:03 How she’s feeling coming off her 2:19 performance at the Tokyo Marathon.
06:13 Her training heading into Tokyo + more on her race at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
09:12 When things went wrong for her in the U.S. Trials.
11:13 Why she decided to race another marathon so quickly after the Trials.
16:56 Her training between the Trials and Tokyo.
22:18 Breaking down the last half of her race in Tokyo.
27:48 Chasing after the American marathon record in Tokyo.
29:54 Celebrating after the race + her post-race reflections.
34:38 How her training has changed since becoming a mother.
42:26 Her plans for future racing.

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"The U.S. has become my home because it's been over ten years since I moved there. That makes me feel really emotional. My heart is full. I'm so grateful to be able to represent the U.S., after all I've gained in living there: to my two sisters living there, my son being born in the U.S. – it's a family thing for me. So I'm running for the whole family now."

With all the excitement leading into the Olympic Marathon Trials on February 3rd, it seems like a good time to reacquaint listeners with some of the top contenders. This week, Kyle Merber spoke with Betsy Saina, the former three-time NCAA champion from Iowa State and fifth place finisher in the 2016 Olympic 10,000m. In April 2021, Saina shifted her allegiance and is now eligible to represent the United States. Following her 2:21:40 finish at the Tokyo Marathon and a win at the Sydney Marathon on a hot day in September, where she ran 2:26:47, there is certainly a possibility of her being in Paris on the horizon.

Host: Kyle Merber | ⁠⁠@kylemerber on Instagram

Guest: Betsy Saina | @sainabetsy on Instagram

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Carrie welcomes Olympian Betsy Saina back to the show! They discuss her becoming a mother, winning her first US title at the USATF 25K, becoming a US citizen, training in Kenya with Joyciline Jepkosgei, her non-profit Cross World Africa, and so much more!

“Women with kids keep getting better. You become strong. It’s the opposite of what some people might think. Because sometimes people would be like, ‘if you go on maternity leave, you might be done.’ It’s becoming the opposite. If you look at Keira (D’Amato) or Aliphine (Tuliamuk), you can bounce back and do better than what you used to. Even in my 20s, I wasn’t feeling the way I feel right now, especially in the road racing.”

My guest for this episode is Betsy Saina who has re-emerged as a star in 2023 after giving birth to her son, running 2:21 at the Tokyo Marathon and just won the USATF 25K Championships this past weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That marathon performance in Tokyo was It was her first marathon since giving birth to her son and her first marathon since becoming an American citizen. She's certainly someone in the conversation for one of the three spots on the line at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials that will determine the team for the Summer Games in Paris. In our conversation, we'll touch on her road map to try and qualify for her second Games, her postpartum running experience including the challenges and triumphs in training. Betsy is an inspiration for new mothers striving to reclaim their running prowess.

Host: Chris Chavez | @Chris_J_Chavez on Instagram

Guest: Betsy Saina | @sainabetsy on Instagram

SUPPORT THE SPONSORS

OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is actually good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)

On Track Nights: Track Fest The first On Track Nights event of the year features the best of Los Angeles' music scene and some of the world's best athletes too – starting things with a bang on and off the track. Be there at Mt. SAC on May 6, 2023. More info here: https://www.on-running.com/en-us/explore/events/on-track-nights-los-angeles

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Carrie interviews one of the world's best marathoners right now: Betsy Saina! They discuss how failing to finish in her first two marathons led her to success in her next two (including a big win at the 2018 Paris Marathon), as well as how she plans to attain her goal of becoming Kenya's next great marathoner.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.