TORCH TALK DAY 1: JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI FINALLY GETS HIS 10,000M GOLD, GRANT FISHER TAKES BRONZE! TEAM USA BREAKS THE MIXED 4X400M WORLD RECORD + FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE REPECHAGE ROUNDS | LIVE FROM PARIS

“Even though I wasn't winning every race against the top guys, I still had the confidence that I could win every race if I put it together. I know that if I run my race and run the best that I can, I can win against anybody. I still believe that to this day.” Our guest for today's episode is Daniel Roberts, the Olympic silver medalist in the 110m hurdles. Over the last two years, Daniel has proven that he belongs on the global podium, grabbing bronze at the 2023 World Championships and backing it up with a hard-fought runner-up finish in Paris this past summer. He's also a three-time U.S. champion and one of just a handful of Americans to dip under the 13 second mark with a personal best of 12.96 from this year's Olympic Trials. Now he's setting his sights on the 2025 indoor season and returning to the historic Millrose Games in New York City where he'll contest the 60m hurdles.  Daniel knows a thing or two about this meet. He's a former champion from 2020 and has twice been the runner-up including earlier this year – but as he recently switched back to a seven-step approach, which he explains, he's feeling sharp and ready to make another statement on one of track and field's most iconic stages. My guest host for this one is Anderson Emerole, who chats with Daniel Roberts about his journey to becoming a global medalist, the adjustments he's made to stay at the top, and what makes Millrose and New York City so special for him. Host: Anderson Emerole | ⁠@atkoeme on Instagram  Guest: Daniel Roberts | @riseofdrob on Instagram Time stamps: 3:29 - Reflections from the Paris Olympics 6:07 - The race that sticks out to him most from this season 10:12 - How he took on the mindset of an Olympic medalist  11:10 - How the Tokyo Olympics compared to Paris 17:32 - Breaking down what happens during his races  20:00 - How he chooses how often to race  22:32 - Why indoor season is important to him  23:39 - Why he’s excited to race at Millrose Games  27:05 - How he’s navigated challenges throughout his career  30:52 - Thoughts on Grand Slam Track 34:40 - How his training prepares him for races 37:20 - His mindset heading into 2025 39:22 - On starting to share his story more 43:25 - What he’s looking forward to most next season  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com

17 Joulu 202445min

“What we're doing is working. Let's continue, let's be consistent, and let's not go overboard. How we got to running 7:30 is how we're going to try to win a national championship in three months. There's no reason to change anything. It's just keep on staying steady.” My guest for today's episode is Ethan Strand, a senior at UNC. Just last weekend, Ethan ran a stunning 7:30.15 in the 3000m at the Sharon Colyear-Danville season opener at Boston University – not only smashing the NCAA record but also vaulting him to No. 4 on the all-time U.S. list. Ethan now sits alongside legends like Grant Fisher, Yared Nuguse, and Bernard Lagat. His journey from being a 201st place finisher at his first NCAA Cross Country Championship to an Olympic Trials finalist in the 1500m and NCAA top-eight finisher just a few weeks ago in Madison, and now the fastest collegiate 3000m runner in history, is fascinating to unpack in today's episode. We dive into his race in Boston, his dynamic training partnership with Parker Wolfe, and what's next for him as he gears up for an exciting 2025 season. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Ethan Strand | @ethan_strand Time stamps: 3:39 - Reflections from setting the collegiate 3000m record 4:53 - Thoughts on competing over chasing times 5:40 - Training with teammate Parker Wolfe 7:08 - His relationship with Coach Chris Miltenberg 10:59 - Rebounding from outdoor season 12:40 - Learning from Coach Milt’s former athletes, like Grant Fisher 15:57 - Growing up in a running family 17:10 - How he got his start in running  20:43 - His training structure dating back to high school 21:37 - His mileage progression  26:00 - Breaking down his 3000m collegiate record 32:00 - Being among the big names of American distance running 35:56 - What’s next for indoor season 37:31 - Looking ahead to goals for next summer 39:01 - UNC’s team culture SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com

13 Joulu 202443min

“Ultimately, for that Orlando race, that was more about getting my feet wet a little bit and seeing how the distance felt. Now that I know how it feels, I know that I can push harder.” My guest for today's episode is Amanda Vestri. She's a professional runner for Brooks who trains with Zap Endurance. She's a rising star on the U.S. distance running scene who just made a stunning half marathon debut at the Orlando Half this past weekend with a blazing 1:18:12 performance that puts her at No. 13 on the U.S. all-time women's half marathon list and sets the stage for what could be an incredible road racing career ahead for her. Amanda's path to this milestone hasn't been smooth after an injury disrupted her training just weeks before her debut. She pivoted her plans and showed remarkable adaptability and determination to test herself in Orlando. The positives for 2024 outweigh the negatives. She ran a 31:10 personal best for 10K on the track. She was the top American at the NYRR Mini 10K. Over the summer, she signed a pro contract and then took fifth at the US Olympic trials 10,000m final on the track. In this episode, we discuss her breakthrough 2024 season and unpack some of her aspirations for Houston and beyond. We also look back at what spurred her passion to someday become a professional runner and then follow her long term vision of making the U.S. Olympic Marathon team for Los Angeles in 2028.  Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Amanda Vestri | @a_vestri Time stamps: 4:20 - Reflections on her 2024 season 7:21 - How her training has evolved throughout the year 9:58 - Details on her training group (Zap Endurance) 14:33 - Plans on chasing standards + U.S. teams 17:44 - Thoughts on racing the 10K 19:52 - Her transition to the roads 24:46 - Her path to elite running  27:32 - Reflections on her college career at Iowa State + Syracuse 34:33 - How she handled getting COVID leading into the Olympic Trials 36:51 - Signing with Brooks during the Trials 40:24 - Breaking down the Olympic Trials 10,000m 45:29 - Half marathon being an underrated distance 51:13 - Details on some of her workouts + long runs  54:36 - Breaking down the race 56:33 - Goals for the Houston Half 59:34 - Fueling during the race  1:02:21 - Thoughts on moving up to the marathon  1:06:51 - Goals looking ahead to 2025 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time, runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

11 Joulu 20241h 9min

"I had done great things in the sport before, but I had never won a medal. That was something that had tormented me and eluded me for so long. And I finally got two of them. So it feels great. It feels even better when you feel so much ownership over them. I know that it was my decision-making and risk-taking that led to those outcomes." My guest for today's episode is U.S. Olympian and two-time bronze medalist Grant Fisher. Grant had a career-defining year in 2024, standing on the podium twice at the Paris Olympics in the 5000m and 10,000m. But true to his form, he's not content to rest on those accomplishments. He's gearing up for a new challenge in 2025 by signing on for the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track. In this interview, he shares his thoughts on how the Grand Slam model can elevate track visibility, attract new fans, and give athletes like him more opportunities to test themselves against the best in the world. He's in a racer group that will contest a 3K and 5K against the likes of Luis Grijalva, Ronald Kwemoi and one more racer that is expected to be announced soon.  We dive into Grant's reflections on his breakout 2024 season, the lessons he's carrying into 2025, and how he's preparing for a shot at both glory and Grand Slam Track and some more hardware at the world Championships in Tokyo. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Grant Fisher | @grantfisher_ on Instagram Time stamps: 4:08 - Where he’s at with training and racing coming off the Olympics. 5:15 - Reflections on his 2024 season. 6:42 - How he built his confidence heading into the Olympics. 7:47 - Goals for the 2025 season. 8:48 - Why he decided to sign with GST.  15:24 - Why he might have an edge over other GST racers. 17:12 - Thoughts on racing the 3K/5K double in Jamaica. 21:05 - Why fans should care about watching GST. 23:19 - Thoughts on his GST competitors, who else he wants to join. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results.⁠ Learn more at WahooFitness.com⁠ OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

11 Joulu 202426min

“It’s time to move on to bigger adventures.” Graham Blanks, the Harvard standout and two-time NCAA cross country champion joins The CITIUS MAG Podcast with the news about his decision to turn professional with New Balance. Just two days ago, Graham ran 12:59.89 for 5000 meters indoors, becoming only the second collegian in history to break 13 minutes indoors—a fitting way to cap off one of the most decorated collegiate careers in recent memory. In this interview, we’ll reflect on Graham’s Harvard career to the global stage as a U.S. Olympian in the 5000m and his incredible cross country dominance over the past two years. We’ll also discuss his decision to return for one final collegiate cross country season, his plans to stay in Boston with coach Alex Gibby, and how he is thinking about balancing life as a new pro with finishing his degrees in economics and philosophy. Get the full scoop in our exclusive interview. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Graham Blanks | @graham_voted_for_pedro on Instagram SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

9 Joulu 20241h 2min

Biya Simbassa took many American track and field fans by surprise on Sunday morning when they awoke to results from the Valencia Marathon and saw that the 31-year-old notched a personal best by nearly four minutes to run 2:06:53. The performance was good for 17th place in the race but moved him to No. 4 on the U.S. all-time list. Only Khalid Khannouchi (2:05:38), Galen Rupp (2:06:07) and Ryan Hall (2:06:17) have run faster. Back in 2022, we paid a visit to Flagstaff, Ariz. for a video featuring Simbassa and also recorded a podcast episode detailing his career path from being born in Ethiopia, moving to the United States in 2007 and then going through the school system. He started running in high school in Minnesota and then continued his development at Iowa Central Community College before transferring to Oklahoma.  After graduating, he was coached by Scott Simmons in Colorado Springs before signing a pro contract with Under Armour to be part of the Dark Sky Distance Project with coach Stephen Haas. In 2023, Simbassa started working with Hall as his coach. The partnership lasted until this summer before Hall decided to step back from coaching. Simbassa worked with Ian Carter (a McKirdy Trained coach, who also was coached by Hall) for the Valencia Marathon build-up. CITIUS MAG spoke with Simbassa on Thursday afternoon to get details on how the performance came about. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Biya Simbassa | @simba_runner Time stamps: 3:19 - Reflections coming off the Valencia Marathon  5:12 - Processing the Olympic Marathon Trials  6:59 - Thoughts on whether he could’ve made the Olympic team 8:17 - When he knew the marathon was his event 11:15 - Feelings after not making Olympic team 13:00 - Why he races so often 17:14 - Thoughts on Ryan Hall stepping away as his coach 18:27 - Ian Carter becoming his new coach 19:42 - Why he landed on racing Valencia 20:39 - Goals and expectations heading into Valencia 23:55 - How he stayed composed after the halfway split  27:12 - Valencia course + atmosphere 30:13 - Shoe choice for the race 32:00 - Fueling throughout the race  33:44 - Plans for what’s next  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

5 Joulu 202436min

“I know that I have to come in even stronger, even faster, even better. I'm looking to break the world record indoors this season and win the world indoor title. That’s not going to come with me still living in being an Olympic champion from August. We've got to do it again.” My guest for today's episode is Masai Russell, the Olympic champion in the 100m hurdles and one of track's brightest new stars. Masai's gold medal performance in Paris wasn't just a victory; it was a statement after a season filled with ups and downs and doubts. She channeled sheer will and resilience to seize the biggest title of her career crossing the finish line in a jaw-dropping photo finish that left fans around the world celebrating her triumph. In this episode, Masai reflects on her remarkable 2024 season, the challenges she overcame to reach the top, and how she's already back to work with even bigger plans for 2025. There's also some great mindset talk in this conversation.  Plus, she's here to announce one of her first races of 2025 will be the 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games. This upcoming February, you can get your tickets on the Armory's website. She'll bring the same fearless energy that made her an Olympic champion. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Masai Russell | @masai_russell on Instagram Time stamps: 3:20 - How life has been since becoming the 100m hurdles Olympic champion 4:17 - Opportunities since winning the Olympics 6:28 - Plans for racing indoor season  8:06 - Millrose annoucement: 60m hurdles 12:03 - How she progresses training to peak at the right meets 16:07 - What makes her stand out against her competitors  21:03 - The night and day leading into the Olympic final  26:47 - When the reality of becoming the Olympic champion sunk in  29:23 - How her experience at Bullis High School shaped her mindset  35:53 - Looking ahead to future races  41:18 - More reflections on winning the Olympics 44:05 - What it’s going to take to top 2024 in 2025 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

4 Joulu 202448min

“A lot of the time it comes down to whether I’d rather set a world record in February or win the World Championships and defend my title in September. There's a lot that goes into it, but I think I'm fast enough to go after a world record in a few events.” My guest for today's episode is none other than Cole Hocker, the 23-year-old American middle distance star who shocked the world at the Paris Olympics by winning gold in the men's 1500m. While the pre-race buzz centered on Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr, it was Cole who flew under the radar and stormed to victory in an Olympic record of 3:27.65. If you go back into our podcast archives, you can find an episode that we did with Cole in Paris just 48 hours after his victory. It was really cool to have that moment etched in time and to hear how fresh his thoughts and feelings were. We touch on life since Paris in this conversation. From his breakout performance in Tokyo to the Olympic triumph in Paris, Cole has established himself as one of the best middle distance runners in the world. We reflect on his incredible 2024 season and learn how he's gearing up for another big year with the World Championships in Tokyo on the horizon. Plus his participation in Grand Slam track's inaugural season. Cole is also here to announce that one of his first races in 2025 will be the 3000m at the iconic Millrose Games this February in New York City. You can get your tickets at the Armory's website. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Cole Hocker | @colehocker on Instagram Time stamps: 4:02 - Highlights since becoming the 1500m Olympic champion 6:25 - Plans looking ahead to 2025 8:05 - What recovery looked like for him post-Olympics 9:00 - Racing the 3000m at Millrose Games announcement 10:33- How he’s getting ready to move up to the 3K 11:50 - Why he’s racing the 3K instead of the mile at Millrose  17:13 - Going after the 3K world record  18:31 - Looking ahead to race plans for the 2025 season  22:42 - Ways he’s hoping to continue improving  25:44 - Deciding to sign with Grand Slam Track 28:35 - When he’ll start race-specific training  29:24 - His upcoming 600m race with Fred Kerley SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS WAHOO: KICKR RUN - a new revolutionary treadmill offering the freedom and form of outdoor running at home, from Wahoo Fitness. Run hands-free and focus solely on the joy of running with the innovative RunFree Mode - which adjusts to your stride and pace automatically. For the first time runners can now fully benefit from indoor training apps such as Zwift Run and the Wahoo app for an immersive training experience that delivers unmatched realism and results. Learn more at WahooFitness.com OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 25% off your orders by using code CITIUS25 at drinkolipop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

4 Joulu 202431min