Road to the Trials

Peter Bromka, Lindsey Hein, and Matt Chittim
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Co-hosts Matt Chittim, Lindsey Hein, and Peter Bromka interview every 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier along with a wide-ranging group of industry professionals in preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

  1. VOR 1 TAG

    Ethan Shuley Races into American History with a 2:07 in Osaka

    Ethan Shuley joins Road to the Trials after running 2:07:14, the seventh fastest marathon in American history. At just 27 years old and only a few years into serious marathoning, his rise has been fast, from 2:18 to 2:11 to 2:07 in a short window. But as Ethan explains, the breakthrough didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of trial, error, and steadily applying simple principles at a very high level. Peter and Ethan dig into what actually changed: training progression, volume, patience, and learning how to execute the fundamentals consistently. They talk through the difference between knowing what works and fully committing to it. Ethan also shares how living and working in Japan shaped his approach to the marathon, what he’s absorbed from Japanese racing culture, and how that contrasts with the American system. With roots at BYU and connections to elite training groups in both countries, he offers a unique perspective on what it takes to move from “promising” to historically fast. This is a deep, marathon-heavy conversation about how big jumps actually happen and what it looks like when an athlete fully buys in. Thank you to our sponsors: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com. Wahoo continues to redefine indoor training with the KICKR RUN treadmill, designed to respond dynamically to how athletes actually run. With features like automatic pace control, terrain simulation, lateral tilt, and seamless connectivity to platforms like Zwift and Strava, it delivers a more realistic and engaging training experience. Trusted by world-class runners and triathletes alike, Wahoo builds tools that keep athletes training smarter, not just harder. Use code "Trials28" for a free heart rate strap at wahoofitness.com.

    47 Min.

  2. VOR 3 TAGEN

    Road to the Trials Recap: Fascinating Episodes During The First Six Months

    Lindsey Hein, Peter Bromka, and Matt Chittim are all together for this episode for a behind-the-scenes “group chat” episode of Road to the Trials. Between some friendly banter they swap highlights from recent interviews, call out a few standout guests, and share why certain episodes feel like essential listens. The bigger takeaway is how wide the range of “successful paths” really is. Different backgrounds, training styles, and life situations, yet athletes are still finding ways to hit the Trials qualifier. They also touch on the pressure content can add to the training cycle and why this show works best when it keeps the focus on real people, not just times on a list. Thank you to our sponsors: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com. Wahoo continues to redefine indoor training with the KICKR RUN treadmill, designed to respond dynamically to how athletes actually run. With features like automatic pace control, terrain simulation, lateral tilt, and seamless connectivity to platforms like Zwift and Strava, it delivers a more realistic and engaging training experience. Trusted by world-class runners and triathletes alike, Wahoo builds tools that keep athletes training smarter, not just harder. Use code "Trials28" for a free heart rate strap at wahoofitness.com.

    50 Min.

  3. VOR 4 TAGEN

    Emily Sisson: 2:18:29 American Record, Five Olympic Trials, and the Pressure of Being the Favorite

    In this episode of Road to the Trials, Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka sit down with one of the most accomplished American distance runners of her generation: Emily Sisson. Emily is the American record holder in the marathon with her 2:18:29 performance at the Chicago Marathon, a five-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and a two-time Olympian in both the 10,000m and the marathon. She reflects on the defining moments of her career — from the unforgettable “heat dome” 10,000m at the 2021 Trials to navigating the pressure of being the presumed favorite at the 2024 Marathon Trials. Emily opens up about racing by feel, trusting instinct over splits, and how her Chicago American Record came together — including the now-famous detail that her watch died mid-race. She shares how championship-style racing feels like a game compared to time-chasing, and why some of her proudest moments have come when she let go of the clock entirely. Thank you to our sponsors: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com. Wahoo continues to redefine indoor training with the KICKR RUN treadmill, designed to respond dynamically to how athletes actually run. With features like automatic pace control, terrain simulation, lateral tilt, and seamless connectivity to platforms like Zwift and Strava, it delivers a more realistic and engaging training experience. Trusted by world-class runners and triathletes alike, Wahoo builds tools that keep athletes training smarter, not just harder. Use code "Trials28" for a free heart rate strap at wahoofitness.com.

    1 Std. 1 Min.

  4. 23. FEB.

    Piper Atnip: From Tragedy to the Trials

    In this episode of Road to the Trials, Matt Chittim and Peter Bromka sit down with Piper Atnip for one of the most powerful conversations of the season. Piper’s journey to the Olympic Trials is anything but ordinary. From profound personal tragedy to earning her spot on the start line, her story is one of resilience, perspective, and quiet strength. With clarity, humility, and emotional honesty, Piper shares how grief reshaped her relationship with running, competition, and herself. The conversation explores the mental and emotional shifts that allowed her not only to return to racing, but to thrive. Piper reflects on learning to hold ambition lightly, on separating identity from performance, and on how the marathon became a space for healing rather than pressure. Thank you to our sponsors: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.

    41 Min.

  5. 21. FEB.

    Melissa Berry: OTQ in Her 26.2 Debut with Tracksmith Stamata

    In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka and Lindsey Hein sit down with Melissa Berry, fresh off an incredible marathon debut at the California International Marathon, where she ran 2:35:57 to qualify for the Olympic Trials. Melissa grew up in Eugene, Oregon and ran collegiately at the University of Oregon, navigating the ups and downs of a six-year college career that spanned the COVID era. After graduation, she relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona — one of the country’s premier distance running hubs — and found herself rediscovering her competitive edge. Her marathon journey accelerated when she was selected for the Tracksmith Stamata program, a team built around supporting women chasing the Olympic Trials standard. Melissa shares what it was like to attend training camp in Vermont, build community with a diverse group of women ages 24 to 44, and lean into the team-first mindset that defines the program. A pivotal moment in her build came when she began consulting with Steph Bruce in the final month before CIM. Steph’s encouragement — and her belief that the OTQ was within reach — gave Melissa the confidence to commit fully to the goal. On race day, after tracking down the OTQ pack eight miles into the race, Melissa stayed patient, trusted her training, and raced the final 10K to secure her qualifier in her very first marathon. The conversation explores imposter syndrome, the power of community, the transition from college running to the marathon, and the moment belief turns into reality. Melissa’s story is one of patience, humility, and the courage to say the goal out loud — and then go chase it. Thank you to our sponsors: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com.

    52 Min.

  6. 19. FEB.

    Reed Fischer: Racing the World Stage and Preparing for Fatherhood

    In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka and Matt Chittim sit down with Reed Fischer to talk about competing on the world stage, staying consistent at the top of U.S. marathoning, and what comes next on the road to 2028. Reed reflects on his experience racing at the World Athletics Championships, breaking down how the race unfolded, what he learned from competing against the best in the world, and how championship racing differs from time-focused marathons. The conversation digs into his steady progression through the sport, the durability that has defined his career, and why consistency may be his greatest strength. Beyond racing, Reed opens up about life off the course. With he and his wife preparing to welcome their first child, he talks about entering a new chapter while still competing at an elite level, and how perspective shifts when life expands beyond the starting line. This episode is equal parts race analysis, career reflection, and forward-looking optimism from one of the most consistent American marathoners of the past decade. Thank you to our sponsors: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error. Use code "Trials26" for 15% off at precisionhydration.com. Wahoo continues to redefine indoor training with the KICKR RUN treadmill, designed to respond dynamically to how athletes actually run. With features like automatic pace control, terrain simulation, lateral tilt, and seamless connectivity to platforms like Zwift and Strava, it delivers a more realistic and engaging training experience. Trusted by world-class runners and triathletes alike, Wahoo builds tools that keep athletes training smarter, not just harder. Use code "Trials28" for a free heart rate strap at wahoofitness.com.

    1 Std.

  7. 16. FEB.

    Hannah Chau: From an 18-Second Miss to Olympic Trials Qualifier

    In this episode of Road to the Trials, Matt Chittim sits down with Hannah Chau, a newly minted Olympic Trials qualifier whose story blends big racing goals with an equally demanding path in medicine. Hannah reflects on her first attempt at qualifying for 2024 while still at UC Irvine, when she narrowly missed the standard at CIM in a debut marathon that was both chaotic and unforgettable. She shares what she learned from that near miss, why she kept coming back, and how those earlier attempts helped her stay calm and execute when it mattered most. Now in medical school at Creighton’s Phoenix campus, Hannah talks candidly about balancing a packed academic schedule with high-mileage training. She gets specific about how she made it work: early mornings, doubles, fitting strength work into the margins, and building a system that keeps running as an outlet without letting school slip. The conversation also touches on COVID’s impact on her college years and how that period shaped her perspective on mental health and long-term growth. A major thread throughout the episode is family. Hannah’s mom has been a marathoner for years and running became a shared experience that strengthened their relationship. Hannah also opens up about the dynamic with her dad, expectations around academics, and how that support evolved over time. This is a conversation about persistence, patience, and doing two hard things at once, with a finish-line payoff that’s been years in the making. Thank you to our sponsor: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error.

    41 Min.

  8. 14. FEB.

    Mimi Smith: Patience, Progress, and a 2:30 Breakthrough at Houston

    In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka is joined by Mimi Smith, fresh off a sixth-place finish at the Houston Marathon. Mimi’s path to this breakthrough has been anything but overnight. She grew up in Chicago, ran collegiately at Wake Forest University, and made her Olympic Trials debut at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where she finished 65th in just her third marathon. After spending multiple seasons racing consistently in the mid-2:30s, Mimi took a major step forward in Houston, running 2:30:14 and proving what she firmly believes: if you keep racing, the times eventually come. She talks about trusting long-term development, staying patient through plateaus, and learning how to race with confidence rather than chasing a specific outcome. Looking ahead, Mimi shares her big-picture goals for the next Olympic cycle, how she’s thinking about progress over the next two years, and why embracing the process has been key to her growth as a marathoner. This conversation is a reminder that steady commitment, resilience, and racing instincts still matter in a results-driven sport. Thank you to our sponsor: Precision Fuel and Hydration helps athletes take the guesswork out of fueling by breaking performance down into its essential components: carbohydrates, fluids, and sodium. Their science-backed approach allows runners to dial in each variable independently, making it easier to troubleshoot training issues and race-day execution. With extensive educational resources and practical tools, Precision supports athletes who want to fuel with intention rather than trial and error.

    47 Min.
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Co-hosts Matt Chittim, Lindsey Hein, and Peter Bromka interview every 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier along with a wide-ranging group of industry professionals in preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

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  • Erstellt von
    Peter Bromka, Lindsey Hein, and Matt Chittim
  • Jahre aktiv
    2019 - 2026
  • Folgen
    160
  • Bewertung
    Anstößig
  • Copyright
    © Peter Bromka, Lindsey Hein, and Matt Chittim
  • Sendungswebsite
    Road to the Trials

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