Molly Seidel

Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel sits down with Coach Ben to share her journey from high-school prodigy to making marathon history in Tokyo.

Molly opens up about her courageous decision to withdraw from the NYC Marathon, what it truly takes to compete at the highest level, and the lessons that have shaped her career - including the hardest one: knowing when to stop.

In this raw and honest conversation, she reflects on rebuilding after setbacks, balancing passion with pressure, and why she keeps coming back to running - despite injuries, self-doubt, and constant challenges.

When Molly became the first American woman in 17 years to medal in the Olympic marathon, it was the culmination of years battling adversity and rediscovering joy on her own terms.

What You'll Learn: 

🧠 How a growth mindset transformed her career 

💪 Good pain vs bad pain - how do you know which is which? 

🥇 Inside her Tokyo Olympic bronze medal race 

🌄 Why she's shifting to trail ultras 

❤️ Balancing ambition with self-care 

😴 The recovery secret every runner forgets

Whether you’re chasing a new personal best or rekindling your love for running, Molly’s insights from her time as an elite athlete offer a refreshing perspective you won’t want to miss.

🎧 New episodes every Friday with Olympic legends, elite runners, and expert coaching advice.

🎁 Try Runna FREE for 2 weeks with code PODCAST25: https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=PODCAST25

📺 Watch the full episode → youtube.com/@therunnapodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sara Vaughn just finished as top American in New York and 6th overall. And this was all just a few weeks after having to drop out early in Chicago. In this bonus episode, we talk about her New York Marathon, what it meant for her, the shoes she trains in, and of course, we’ll talk about her YouTube channel. 

interview date: Nov 8, 2024

0:00 intro

1:35 race shoe for New York

2:49 experience in Fast R1 and Fast R2

5:25 Puma training shoes

7:42 from Chicago to New York

9:02 why do Boulder runners love New York?

10:24 her pack in New York

11:48 was this a good result?

13:27 is it vindication or a comeback?

14:41 worst pre-race bus

15:59 Boston vs New York

17:27 off season

19:32 NIL as a parent of an athlete

21:39 Fastest Marathon YouTuber

Corrected Fastest Marathon YouTuber List

1. Molly Seidel 2:23 

2. Sara Vaughn 2:23

3. Nell Rojas 2:24

4. Phily Bowden 2:25

5. Anya Culling 2:34 

Sara Vaughn IG https://www.instagram.com/smevaughn/

Sara Vaughn Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@smevaughn

Thumbnail photo by Chase Fleming Photo https://www.chaseflemingphoto.com

Karen, Rachel and Megan reunite to talk about:

– The pros and cons of Summer racing

– What are the best-flavored gels to fuel during training?

– Karen has never done a beer mile or shotgunned a beer

– That time Molly Seidel did a beer mile at Notre Dame as a freshman

– Run clubs becoming the new dating apps

– Participants at road races are getting younger

– Coming up with quotes for high school shirts

YOUR HOSTS

• Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

• Rachel DaDamio | Not on Instagram

• Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-chicked/id1742608116⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Follow on Spotify here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/25oa4b8odONMStCxUM30nX?si=ebcc635a75154c21⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Follow the show on Instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gettingchicked

The U.S. Olympic Trials might be finished, but the laughs from Good Morning Track and Field sure aren’t. Somehow we broke down 10 days of content into three episodes to bring back the best track and field-inspired humor, hot takes, and live show shenanigans from CITIUS MAG hosts Mitch Dyer, Eric Jenkins, and Karen Lesiewicz as they discussed the most popular and dramatic storylines in TrackTown, USA.

Host: Mitch Dyer | @metchosketch on Instagram

Host: Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins on Instagram

Host: Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF PART ONE:

0:00 Introductions + the very first New Balance pledge
2:37 Centro’s ex + a Prince Puckler’s inspired ice cream debate
7:58 Eggs + Airbnbs in TrackTown, USA
10:01 What would GMTF be without breakfast discussions?
12:24 The ideation of speedsuit Jenkins
16:30 Fred Kerley’s dump truck
17:22 Doomscrolling
20:40 Club music in Eugene? + squirrel thoughts
25:50 Tunnel speed + business trips
27:45 Chat outrage and redoing the New Balance pledge
30:10 Breaking news! SKIMS campaign
31:43 Eric’s disrespect to the New Balance flag + debriefing the group run
34:14 Hot takes on the U.S. Olympic team selection process
46:13 Bracelets + content > food
49:45 A love letter to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
55:50 Molly Seidel had to flash the Olympic rings in order to get access to Hayward

Karen Lesiewicz returns from Eugene, Oregon to recap her experience with the CITIUS MAG team covering the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. Highlights included: Taking Molly Seidel to her first trip inside Hayward Field; Meeting and interviewing Parker Valby; cracking jokes with Elle St. Pierre + much more. Megan Connelly and Rachel DaDamio hit her with all the questions to get the behind-the-scenes tea from the Trials.

Rachel also shares an analytical deep dive into the qualifiers who made Team USA for Paris 2024.

Plus: Who had the best uniforms?

YOUR HOSTS

• Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

• Rachel DaDamio | Not on Instagram

• Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

FOLLOW OUR SHOW

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-chicked/id1742608116⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Follow on Spotify here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/25oa4b8odONMStCxUM30nX?si=ebcc635a75154c21⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Follow the show on Instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gettingchicked

“This wasn’t a dream, I didn't study journalism, I didn't have any aspirations of being on television, but I love the fact that this is how I get to stay involved with the sport and be a steward and some sort of conduit for, at least on the field side, the joy and awe of the spectacle of what these men and women are able to do.” 

Trey Hardee, Olympic silver medalist and 2x world champion in the decathlon, joins the show to chat about his transition into track and field broadcasting, his ideas on how to improve + grow the sport, his love for field events, and lots more. Hear more from Trey in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram

Guest: Trey Hardee | @treyhardee on Instagram

_________

CITIUS MAG LIVE From Eugene! will bring you daily interviews with athletes, coaches and notable folks in town at noon PT each day. Our guests for day three of the Olympic Trials include Emma Coburn, Molly Seidel, Keturah Orji, and Trey Hardee.

LIVE SHOWS

Good Morning Track and Field will start your day with some takes and updates from Eugene hosted by Eric Jenkins, Mitch Dyer and Karen Lesiewicz at 8:30 a.m. PT.

TRIALS TALK – our hit daily podcast series from 2021 – returns on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed + streaming live immediately post-race to unpack all of the action immediately following the meet.

LIVE MEET COVERAGE

Stay updated on live results, mixed zone interviews and more on the CITIUS MAG Instagram, X and Threads pages while the meet is underway each evening. All interviews will be uploaded to our aforementioned YouTube channel.

MORNING RUNS

CITIUS MAG and New Balance will be hosting group runs on Sunday, June 23rd at 8 a.m. ET; Tuesday, June 25th at 8 a.m. and Saturday, June 29th at 7:30 a.m. Come on by to our pop-up next to Prince Puckler’s Ice Cream shop to meet for some easy morning miles.

All paces are welcome. We’ll be giving away shirts, hats and more. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to try all of the latest and greatest from New Balance. We’ll also have Olipop, coffee, games and cold plunges to enjoy afterward.

Also, CITIUS MAG Newsletter subscribers will be getting daily emails from the Trials as David Melly rounds up all of the biggest results, stories + our best interviews, photos and original content from Eugene. If you want to hook a friend, there’s no better time than the Trials so forward them the emails or encourage them to sign up today for FREE here: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“I think silent killer is perfect for me. I put so much energy and effort into this. I’ve really been pursuing greatness, so when I get out there and don't do what I want to do, it’s clear. You can see it on my face that I'm not happy. I try to be grateful and take everything in, but at the same time I always want more and I know what I'm capable of.”

Keturah Orji, 10x U.S. champion and American record holder, joins the show after qualifying for her 3rd Olympic team in triple jump. Keturah breaks down her triple jump performance at the Trials, what she’s learned from triple jumpers who came before her, how she wants to give back to the sport after finishing her career, and more. Hear more from Keturah in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast.

Hosts: Katelyn Hutchison | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_kxnaomi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram

Guest: Keturah Orji | @ktorr1 on Instagram

_________

CITIUS MAG LIVE From Eugene! will bring you daily interviews with athletes, coaches and notable folks in town at noon PT each day. Our guests for day three of the Olympic Trials include Emma Coburn, Molly Seidel, Keturah Orji, and Trey Hardee.

LIVE SHOWS

Good Morning Track and Field will start your day with some takes and updates from Eugene hosted by Eric Jenkins, Mitch Dyer and Karen Lesiewicz at 8:30 a.m. PT.

TRIALS TALK – our hit daily podcast series from 2021 – returns on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed + streaming live immediately post-race to unpack all of the action immediately following the meet.

LIVE MEET COVERAGE

Stay updated on live results, mixed zone interviews and more on the CITIUS MAG Instagram, X and Threads pages while the meet is underway each evening. All interviews will be uploaded to our aforementioned YouTube channel.

MORNING RUNS

CITIUS MAG and New Balance will be hosting group runs on Sunday, June 23rd at 8 a.m. ET; Tuesday, June 25th at 8 a.m. and Saturday, June 29th at 7:30 a.m. Come on by to our pop-up next to Prince Puckler’s Ice Cream shop to meet for some easy morning miles.

All paces are welcome. We’ll be giving away shirts, hats and more. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to try all of the latest and greatest from New Balance. We’ll also have Olipop, coffee, games and cold plunges to enjoy afterward.

Also, CITIUS MAG Newsletter subscribers will be getting daily emails from the Trials as David Melly rounds up all of the biggest results, stories + our best interviews, photos and original content from Eugene. If you want to hook a friend, there’s no better time than the Trials so forward them the emails or encourage them to sign up today for FREE here: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“Track is such a different world. Marathoners are so hyper-focused. If I go to the Boston Marathon, I really can’t go many places, because a lot of people will recognize me. But something like track, I get to be like any other track fan out here. I’ll get noticed every once in a while, but for the most part, people are here to watch Sha’Carri.”

Molly Seidel, Olympic bronze medalist in the marathon, joins the show to share about her experience in the marathon world compared to the track and field world, how she’s working with PUMA on improving their shoe technology, her predictions for the Trials, and lots of banter, of course. Hear more from Molly Seidel in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins on Instagram + Karen Leciewicz | @kara_les on Instagram 

Guest: Molly Seidel | @bygolly.molly on Instagram

_________

CITIUS MAG LIVE From Eugene! will bring you daily interviews with athletes, coaches and notable folks in town at noon PT each day. Our guests for day three of the Olympic Trials include Emma Coburn, Molly Seidel, Keturah Orji, and Trey Hardee.

LIVE SHOWS

Good Morning Track and Field will start your day with some takes and updates from Eugene hosted by Eric Jenkins, Mitch Dyer and Karen Lesiewicz at 8:30 a.m. PT.

TRIALS TALK – our hit daily podcast series from 2021 – returns on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed + streaming live immediately post-race to unpack all of the action immediately following the meet.

LIVE MEET COVERAGE

Stay updated on live results, mixed zone interviews and more on the CITIUS MAG Instagram, X and Threads pages while the meet is underway each evening. All interviews will be uploaded to our aforementioned YouTube channel.

MORNING RUNS

CITIUS MAG and New Balance will be hosting group runs on Sunday, June 23rd at 8 a.m. ET; Tuesday, June 25th at 8 a.m. and Saturday, June 29th at 7:30 a.m. Come on by to our pop-up next to Prince Puckler’s Ice Cream shop to meet for some easy morning miles.

All paces are welcome. We’ll be giving away shirts, hats and more. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to try all of the latest and greatest from New Balance. We’ll also have Olipop, coffee, games and cold plunges to enjoy afterward.

Also, CITIUS MAG Newsletter subscribers will be getting daily emails from the Trials as David Melly rounds up all of the biggest results, stories + our best interviews, photos and original content from Eugene. If you want to hook a friend, there’s no better time than the Trials so forward them the emails or encourage them to sign up today for FREE here: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“When I've had great performances and won medals and won Olympic Trials, I'm very satisfied in that moment, but I'm always just thinking that I can get better and do better. I'm a bit of a hardass where I want to keep working… I get so much confidence and joy and pride from my work that it’s a no-brainer.”

Emma Coburn, 2x Olympic medalist and 2017 World champion, joins the show to update us on returning to training with Team Boss post-surgery, what keeps her motivated at this stage in her career, her dynamic with her husband + coach Joe Bosshard, her love for Taylor Swift, and lots more. Hear more from Emma Coburn in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins on Instagram 

Guest: Emma Coburn | @emmajcoburn on Instagram

_________

CITIUS MAG LIVE From Eugene! will bring you daily interviews with athletes, coaches and notable folks in town at noon PT each day. Our guests for day three of the Olympic Trials include Emma Coburn, Molly Seidel, Keturah Orji, and Trey Hardee.

LIVE SHOWS

Good Morning Track and Field will start your day with some takes and updates from Eugene hosted by Eric Jenkins, Mitch Dyer and Karen Lesiewicz at 8:30 a.m. PT.

TRIALS TALK – our hit daily podcast series from 2021 – returns on The CITIUS MAG Podcast feed + streaming live immediately post-race to unpack all of the action immediately following the meet.

LIVE MEET COVERAGE

Stay updated on live results, mixed zone interviews and more on the CITIUS MAG Instagram, X and Threads pages while the meet is underway each evening. All interviews will be uploaded to our aforementioned YouTube channel.

MORNING RUNS

CITIUS MAG and New Balance will be hosting group runs on Sunday, June 23rd at 8 a.m. ET; Tuesday, June 25th at 8 a.m. and Saturday, June 29th at 7:30 a.m. Come on by to our pop-up next to Prince Puckler’s Ice Cream shop to meet for some easy morning miles.

All paces are welcome. We’ll be giving away shirts, hats and more. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to try all of the latest and greatest from New Balance. We’ll also have Olipop, coffee, games and cold plunges to enjoy afterward.

Also, CITIUS MAG Newsletter subscribers will be getting daily emails from the Trials as David Melly rounds up all of the biggest results, stories + our best interviews, photos and original content from Eugene. If you want to hook a friend, there’s no better time than the Trials so forward them the emails or encourage them to sign up today for FREE here: https://citiusmag.beehiiv.com/

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

Thank you to Ketone-IQ for sponsoring this podcast episode. Score 30% off: https://ketone.com/SWEATELITE

Thank you to Precision Fuel & Hydration for sponsoring this podcast episode. Score 15% off: 
https://visit.pfandh.com/sweatelite-24 (auto-applies code to cart).

Access the Private Podcast feed by Sweat Elite all about Training: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/

Topics:

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
• 00:27 Molly Seidel's Recent Challenges and Training Insights
• 01:22 Sponsor Shoutout and Personal Endorsement
• 03:46 Molly's Strava Camp Experience
• 06:15 Current Training and Injury Update
• 09:21 Future Goals and Marathon Preparation
• 17:01 Podcasting Journey and Inspirations
• 20:24 Cross-Training and Other Interests
• 22:33 The Struggles of Pool Training
• 22:57 Favorite Training Locations Around the World
• 24:15 Experiences in Ethiopia
• 33:27 The Importance of Diet for Runners
• 35:52 Shoe Preferences and Training Gear
• 37:06 Trail Running and Its Benefits
• 38:32 Improving the Sport of Track and Field
• 41:18 Career Goals and Racing Strategies
• 44:26 Mental Preparation and Final Thoughts

Welcome Back!  

The Boulder Boys Show Ep. 9

This week we deep dive into how we're feeling before Canyons 100k and 50k, talk about Molly Seidel's entry into ultra racing, hypothesize about team based trail race, and more.

Any suggestions or topics you'd love to hear?  Let us know by commenting or dropping a voice memo in our instagram DMs.  

We enjoyed an all-expenses-paid ambulance trip before this amazing episode! The main topic was David's harrowing bike crash. The incredible paramedics said that the impact launched him 100 feet through the air. Somehow, the concussion, a broken wrist, and lacerations seem to be the worst of it. The legs are 100%! And as all runners know, wrists and brains just get in the way.

We are so happy to be alive! Life is so uncertain, and maybe the inattentive driver will be a type of spiritual teacher. Or, at the very least, they're giving us some interesting podcast content. As he was flying through the air, David may have been screaming "contennnntttt."

And this was one of our favorite episodes ever to record! We are high on life and recovery ice cream. Other topics: breaking down some takeaways from the crash, love and consciousness, science on ketones in TBI recovery, high carb fueling in the biking peloton, why biking is a great place to look for performance insights, new shoe reviews of two shoes we love, thoughts on the NCAA basketball tournament, why great shooters inspire us to practice hard, the importance of the growth of running for future generations, Zone 2 training and how to optimize muscle fiber typology, Molly Seidel doing the Canyons 50k, falling for April Fool's jokes, a major book recommendation, and hot takes.

We'll take our brains like we take our eggs: scrambled, with lots of butter. The outpouring of support has meant so much to us! We love you all! Huzzah!

Click "Claim Reward" for $80 at The Feed here: thefeed.com/swap

Support the podcast: patreon.com/swap

Try Athletic Greens: drinkAG1.com/swap

"I really, truly, in the bottom of my heart want to keep doing this. But I need to figure out what my 'why' is in a more sustainable way rather than just ‘I want to win another medal because everyone tells me I need to win another medal.’"

In 2020, Molly Seidel ran her debut marathon at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, finished second, and earned a spot on Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics. In 2021, she became an Olympic Bronze Medalist. The next few years included some highs — like running an American course record at the New York City Marathon — and a lot of lows, including injuries and mental health struggles. Last fall, Molly was on the upswing. She ran a personal best at the Chicago Marathon, which felt promising and encouraging heading into the 2024 Olympic Trials Marathon. Then: a shattered kneecap. Molly had to withdraw from the Trials, which was a devastating blow for her and for fans alike. In this unfiltered episode, Molly talks about how she's doing now, and how she's been doing over the past few months. She talks about making her "50K debut," and about why she wishes it weren't a big deal. Plus, a few fun games, drug testing talk, and Molly's message to this year's Team USA marathoners.

SPONSOR: 

• UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you’ll get on this episode:

• All about Molly’s run today – and drug testing talk (2:00)
• All about Molly’s 50K debut (8:55)
• All about Molly’s “busted kneecap”(13:30)
• Molly plays “Never Have I Ever,” PG version (16:00)
• What life on the run has been like since the Chicago Marathon (36:20)
• Molly’s message to Fiona, Emily, and Dakotah as they get ready to head to Paris for the Olympic marathon (41:30)
• What the rest of Molly’s year might look like on the run (48:35)
• Molly’s plans for Boston Marathon weekend (53:40)
• Molly plays “Mollygories” (56:00)

Follow Ali:

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