United States
"It means a lot to me. Especially to all my teammates and my leadership in the Army. If you make the Olympics while you are in the Army, it's a huge accomplishment. Making these Olympics is not only for me. It's about people serving in the Army. All those people in the Army.
Also, it's about my teammates. When I make the team I know my teammates will also want to make the team because I am one of the leaders in our platoon. If you see the leader making the team, you want to make it too...It's not about me. It's about representing other people who are looking up to me. I'm so happy. I'm grateful. I can't wait to represent Team USA and represent the Army too."
Finally! After four months of stress and uncertainty, Leonard Korir is heading to the Olympics. Just last week, World Athletics added one universality place and four rankings places to the Olympic marathon field on Tuesday. With that, Korir gets the United States’ final spot – thanks to CJ Albertson’s ranking unlocking it – and he will be racing on Aug. 10th.
Korir was third at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, which was awesome because he had just missed the U.S. Olympic marathon team for Tokyo by just three seconds. This will be his second Olympic team after representing the United States in the 10,000m in Rio de Janeiro back in 2016.
Following the Trials, Korir went to Rotterdam in April in hopes of getting under the Olympic standard but faded in the second half of the race to a 2:12:47 finish. We discuss that race, his preparations for Paris and why this means a lot not just to him but also to his fellow members of the U.S. Army.
We waited until it was official to get Lenny on the podcast. Now we’ve completed the set. We have podcasts with all six of the U.S. Olympians for Paris + the two alternates (Jess McClain and Elkanah Kibet, who have amazing stories) – you can go back and listen to those race recaps and reflections.
Time Stamps:
5:44 - How he’s feeling after officially qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team.
7:56 - How he and his coach structured his training after the Olympic Marathon Trials.
10:07 - Reflecting on his race at the Marathon Trials.
14:12 - What qualifying for his second Olympic team means to him.
15:44 - How he fits in his training while serving in the army.
17:21 - How training has been going leading into the Olympics.
19:40 - His running career trajectory.
23:06 - Thoughts on the Olympic Marathon course.
28:28 - His goals and mindset for the Olympic Marathon.
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“This is a different moment in my career compared to any other one in the past because I’ve suffered a major disappointment. It’s up for debate if I should’ve taken a break after the Trials and reset but, man, I didn’t feel like I could stop. All of this training is in me and this motivation to show the world the hard work I’ve put in. I didn’t take this journey lightly. I really care about making this transformation from middle distances to the longer stuff. I just really wanted to keep going.”
20 minutes of catching up with Olympic medalist and world champion Jenny Simpson before she takes on the NYC Half on Sunday. It is her first race since unfortunately dropping out of her marathon debut at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando last month.
We chat a bit about her lessons from that race, whether she would’ve done anything differently and how she’s taking that into her next few races. Moments before we did this interview, the BAA announced Jenny has been added to the Boston Marathon field for April 15 – along with Sara Hall, Caroline Rotich, Elkanah Kibet and Sam Chelanga. So we discuss her plans for that race and a wider shot of how she views this chapter of her legendary career.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Jenny Simpson | @trackjenny on Instagram
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"I was in Atlanta (for the 2020 Olympic Trials) watching on the sidewalks. Here, I was a player in the race. And now it's just focusing on 2028 and just continuing to get better each and every day. That's been my focus since I started running – just being faster today than I was yesterday and just checking off all those boxes to do that. Focusing on the process makes the outcome not easy to get over, but it makes it more bearable knowing how far you've come and how far you still have to go."
My guest for today’s episode is Zach Panning – a marathoner for the Hansons Brooks Distance Project. He just finished sixth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando but that doesn’t tell the full story. He went for it and found himself at the front of the race by Mile 5 and led for about 17 miles of the whole thing. Eventually, Conner Mantz and Clayton Young pulled away and Panning was left on his own to fend off a challenge from a charging Elkanah Kibet, Leonard Korir and CJ Albertson. Those three guys managed to pass him in the final three miles.
Panning made that race. He fell short but he was still super proud of the effort in his interviews afterward. Almost two weeks since the race, we checked in to see how he was feeling and how he’s going to take that as a major learning opportunity for future marathons.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Zach Panning | @zachpanning on Instagram
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🎽 Bandit is a performance-running brand based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2022, they just had 9 athletes compete in the Marathon Trials and told those stories via their documentary-style YouTube series "Dialed": Check those out here.
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"My running talent has taken me to so many places. I've come to this country, I became a citizen, and that's an opportunity that a lot of people don't have. And I got it, and I'm very thankful for that. That’s why I feel it would be a great honor for me to make the Olympics. That's why I keep pursuing that dream. And I know it's going to be valid one time."
My guest for today’s episode is Elkanah Kibet. The 40-year-old was in third place by 15 seconds going into the final mile of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials but a charging Leonard Korir managed to catch him for the final spot that will likely go to the Paris Olympics. Kibet finished fourth in 2:10:02 – which set a new U.S. masters marathon record. He was so gratuitous after the race and handled the fourth place finish with so much humility. It was remarkable.
Kibet has improved as a marathoner in his late 30s and isn’t ready to call an end to his Olympic dreams. He’ll be 44 at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and he’s already planning the road there.
When he’s not running in the early or late hours of the day, he is a husband and a father of three. He also works a full-time job in the U.S. Army as a financial comptroller in Fort Carson, Colorado. He has a tremendous pride for this country. He shares his story of coming from Kenya and all of the opportunities that America has given him, which is why he doesn’t hesitate to represent the red, white and blue at a World Championships and has done so four times in his career.
We know the guys who make the Olympic team. Let’s not forget the hard work of those who come close.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Elkanah Kibet | @airbornrunner on Instagram
Time Stamps:
04:45: His thoughts on placing fourth at the Trials.
06:33: What was going through his mind as third-place finisher Leonard Korir went by him during the race.
07:55: Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics, where he will be 44 years old.
08:59: Breaks down his race and how he was able to move up throughout the race.
12:32: Shares about moving to the U.S. on a scholarship, joining the army after finishing college, and how he was able to continue training while working full-time.
16:50: What running for the U.S. means to him.
17:36: His desire to bring a medal home to the U.S. next year.
19:30: How shoe technology has helped him stay consistent.
21:14: How he manages his training load around working full-time.
23:41: How splits runs into singles/doubles + his focus on recovery.
25:04: His relationship with his coach.
28:09: How he balances training while working for the army + getting deployed.
32:25: How long he plans on continuing to run competitively for.
36:59: What's next for him.
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Mick Iacofano (2:09 Marathon PB) breaks down the 2022 Boston Marathon race and talks about his decision to go for the podium in the lead pack (alongside Americans CJ Albertson and Elkanah Kibet) versus settling back with the rest of the Americans. We talk about Mick rocking space buns, mind games during a marathon, running D1 at Kentucky, his rise to being one of the top American marathoners with a 2:09 PB, his tattoos, his training setup in Boise (soon moving to Boulder), and a whole lot more. Watch the video version on Spotify or YouTube: https://youtu.be/nEaTxiMKcDk
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Welcome to Episode #333 of the 303 Endurance Podcast. You are listening to your weekly connection to coaches, experts, and pro athletes to help you reach your endurance goals. We're your hosts coach Rich Soares and 303 Chief Bill Plock. Thanks for joining us for another week of endurance interviews and discussion.
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In Today's Show
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Endurance News:
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced more than 140 athletes will compete at the 126th Boston Marathon as part of the John Hancock Professional Athlete Team. Olympians, Paralympians, and global marathon winners will race from Hopkinton to Boston on April 18 and will be the first race held on the traditional Patriots’ Day date since 2019.
The Boston Marathon made history last year by becoming the first Abbott World Marathon Major event to offer equal $50,000 course record bonuses across open and wheelchair divisions, and the first event to provide a designated prize purse for athletes with upper limb, lower limb, and visual impairments. For the 37th year, prize money awards will be provided by principal sponsor John Hancock.
The full international field, including the Para Athletics Divisions field top contenders, can be found below.
Who Wore What? These Were the Top Shoes at the 2022 Boston Marathon
Ever since the first carbon-plated super shoes hit the roads, they’ve dominated the pro running conversation. With any speedy performance, we want to know: What latest shoe technology were they wearing?
That was certainly the case for Monday’s thrilling Boston Marathon where Peres Jepchirchir and Ababel Yeshaneh fought until the very last mile for their glory moment. In the end, it was Jepchirchir who out-kicked Yeshaneh 2:21.01 to 2:21.05.
In the context of super shoes, though, it may as well have been a head-to-head battle between Adidas and Nike, two Goliaths in the space. And though Nike had more racers finish in the top 15 wearing its shoes, the eventual 2022 Boston Marathon champion was wearing a pair of Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2’s.
Curious what the other ultra-fast women were racing in on Marathon Monday? We tracked down the 6 shoes that were worn by the top 15 women.
RELATED: American Original: Why Nell Rojas Broke Her Adidas Contract Right Before Placing 10th at Boston
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 2 | $220
adidas-adizero-adios
Who wore it?
Along with 2022 Boston Marathon champion, Peres Jepchirchir, fellow Kenyans Viola Cheptoo (6th place) and Joyciline Jepkosgei (7th place), and ninth place Charlotte Purdue sported the German shoe.
Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 | $250
nike-zoomx-vaporfly-2
Who wore it?
Who didn’t wear the fabled Nike super shoes? First and second runners up, Ababel Yeshaneh and Mary Wacera Ngugi sported Nikes along the Boston Marathon course, followed by fourth and fifth place runners Edna Kiplagat and Monicah Ngige. Degitu Azimeraw (8th place), Nell Rojas (10th place, first American finisher), and Bria Wetsch (15th place) round out the list of top 15 Boston finishers that raced in Nikes on Monday.
Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
saucony-endorphin-pro-3
Who wore it?
Malindi Elmore, the 11th place finisher, was the only top 15 competitor to sport this new style from Saucony.
HOKA Rocket X 2
close up of Stephanie Bruce's unreleased HOKA Rocket X 2 shoes from the Boston Marathon
126th Boston Marathon April 18, 2022 (Photo: Kevin Morris)
Who wore it?
Second American finisher Stephanie Bruce rocked these brand-new (not available until next year) shoes from her long-time sponsor. She came in 12th overall in 2:28:02.
RELATED: The Best Women’s Racing Shoes Available This Year
Brooks Hyperion Elite 3 | $250
brooks-hyperion-elite-3
Who wore it?
Desiree Linden finished her ninth run at the Boston Marathon in 2:28.47 in this new edition of Brooks carbon-plated super shoe.
Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite
puma-fast-r
Who wore it?
Minnesota-based Dakotah Lindwurm came in 14th in 2:30:42 wearing the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite, a shoe that is not yet available in America.
2022 Boston Marathon results
Women
DNF. Molly Seidel (USA)
Men
4; Gabriel Geay (TAN) — 2:07:53
DNF. Lelisa Desisa (ETH)
DNF. Birhanu Legese (ETH)
DNF. Sisay Lemma (ETH)
What's New in the 303:
Video of the Week:
5k Bike Race l Sarah Crowley & Emma Pallant-Browne 🔥
Closing:
Thanks again for listening in this week. Please be sure to follow us @303endurance and of course go to iTunes and give us a rating and a comment. We'd really appreciate it!
Stay tuned, train informed, and enjoy the endurance journey!
We're bringing you the CliffsNotes/SparkNotes recap of the 2022 Boston Marathon. Ain't nobody got time to watch and read coverage on an entire marathon. All you need is this degenerate summary to be ready for the test. Cs get degrees. We hit on the coverage and talk about people who run fast, such as Chebet, Cherono, CJ Albertson, Scott Fauble, Elkanah Kibet, Mick Iacofano, Molly Seidel, Des Linden, Peres Jepchirchir, and a whole lot more.
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