Weini Kelati After Lowering Her Own American Half Marathon Record In 1:06:09 At The Houston Half | Race Recap + Reflections

“They said the race is going to start at 16K – I have to stay patient for that to finish the race strong. That was true. I felt at 16K, ‘Okay, now I am racing.’ This year, just knowing how it feels, was very helpful. I trusted my training and how well I’ve been doing in workouts. It was like, ‘Let's go out there and finish this race.’”

My guest for today's episode is Weini Kelati, who's becoming synonymous with record breaking performances on the roads. Just last weekend at the 2025 Houston Half Marathon, Weini shattered her own American record, running 1:06:09 to take 16 seconds off the mark she set at the same race last year, battling cold temperatures, gusting winds, and a loaded international field. She delivered a gutsy performance, finishing second overall behind Ethiopia's Senayet Getachew.

In this episode, we dive into Weini’s journey over the past few months from setting personal bests on the track to her debut at the Paris Olympics. We hear about her mindset going into Houston, the tough moments she overcame during the race, and why she's curious about pushing herself to even faster times. Plus, we discuss how this record fits into her broader goals for 2025 and beyond. Yes, we also talk about her potential in the marathon. Weini continues to cement herself as one of the best distance runners in the country.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram 

Guest: Weini Kelati | @weini_kelati on Instagram

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