It’s a six-month anniversary episode (!) and also a chaos-filled, cross-country-heavy, holiday-adjacent, pop-culture-spiraling installment of Off The Rails with Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer. NCAA XC wrapped 15 minutes before recording and the takes are HOT. This week's topics include: – Celebrating six months of Off The Rails (they said it couldn’t be done!)– Early Christmas vibes + Denver Botanical Garden date night adventures– Real vs. fake Christmas trees + DIY confidence from YouTube University– Thanksgiving plans, turkey trots, and Aisha’s undying love for potatoes– Hosting 30-person Thanksgivings + abandoning Boulder runners this year– Full breakdown of the NCAA XC Championships– The men cutting the course (!), hay-bale chaos, and why Aisha was screaming– Doris Lemngole vs. Jane Hedengren: a dogfight at the front– The women’s team race + the rise of powerhouse female coaches– Lori Henes, Diljeet Taylor, Shalane Flanagan and the wide spectrum of coaching styles– The men’s race: Habtom Samuel’s decisive move– The pre-race press-conference drama between Ed Eyestone and Dave Smith– Recruiting, age-gap advantages, international athletes, and the gray areas no one wants to talk about– Whether the NCAA needs age limits, rule reforms, and real testing– NCAA testing vs. USADA vs. WADA (and why NCAA testing is basically vibes)– World Cross Country implications + the absolutely STACKED U.S. Cross entry lists– The 4×2K relay, selection rules, and why high schoolers might get pulled into the mix– NXN weekend logistics, live show planning, and putting Aisha on “house arrest”– The Epstein Files Transparency Act (!): what it means and what might be revealed in 30 days– Advent-calendar-style release fantasies featuring Mariska Hargitay– Wicked press-tour weirdness, pop-culture updates, and Kevin Spacey (allegedly) being “homeless”– Aisha’s RapChat education + Eric’s former rap name (“Ricky Roxer”) revealed– Dating apps, hinge marriages, Tinder match confessions, and the horror of being roasted by a group chat– Dancing With The Stars: finale thoughts + which runners would crush on the show– Listener voicemails on alienation-of-affection laws, political chaos, fan theories, and whether Aisha works at FanDuel 📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080 to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not. 📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes. Follow your hosts on Instagram: 🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: @_ericjenkins 🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: @aishapraughtleer SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at WahooFitness.com and use code CITIUS at checkout. ---- ⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.
