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Road to the Trials

Road to the Trials

By Matt Chittim

The Road to the Trials has returned for season three and we are fired up! We will be bringing you a yearlong, behind the scenes, look at the training and racing of some of America's best runners as they prepare for the Olympic Marathon Trials on February 3, 2024. In this amazing season we will be following Nell Rojas, CJ Albertson, Sara Vaughn, Dani Moreno, Nico Montañez, Carmen Graves, Ramiro “Curly” Guillen and Jereny Rivera.
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Ep. 47 - Parker Stinson & Men’s Trials Preview

Road to the TrialsFeb 24, 2020

00:00
53:45
Ep. 21 - Sara Vaughn: Boston Marathon Recap

Ep. 21 - Sara Vaughn: Boston Marathon Recap

Unfortunately for Sara Vaughn, the 2023 Boston Marathon didn't playout anywhere close to how she imagined it going. Sara decided to step off the course around mile 15 and that is where her race ended. In this episode, Sara provides of a full analysis of what went wrong, her thought process during the race, and how she is handling the disappointment that comes with a DNF.

May 11, 202326:22
Ep. 20 - Dani Moreno: Road Marathon Debut at Boston and Narrowly Missing an OTQ

Ep. 20 - Dani Moreno: Road Marathon Debut at Boston and Narrowly Missing an OTQ

In our latest Boston Marathon recap, we hear from Dani Moreno. This race wasn't merely a chance to experience Boston, this was Dani's first road marathon and a full-fledged attempt to break 2:37 and grab an Olympic Trials qualifying time. That's a lot to handle but Dani was ready. As one of the best sub-ultra trail runners in the world, she spoke about the atmosphere at Boston and how it compares to UTMB and the world's best trail scenes. Dani takes us through the race as she set herself up for a time in the mid-2:30's and what happened when it started to slip away at mile 24 before she finished in 2:38:23.


Apr 28, 202340:27
Ep. 19 - Nell Rojas: Boston Marathon Recap

Ep. 19 - Nell Rojas: Boston Marathon Recap

At last week's Boston Marathon, Nell Rojas went up against some of the world's best after a less-than-ideal build and did her thing. Nell ran a 2:24:51, a personal best, which was good for 14th overall and 3rd American. Two weeks before Boston, Nell finished 3rd at Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (USATF Championship). In this episode we detail the training that led to these performances as well as the race tactics and details that defined them. Nell displays her trademark candor and good humor in describing all of it!

Apr 24, 202341:24
Ep. 18 - Nico Montañez: Boston Marathon Recap

Ep. 18 - Nico Montañez: Boston Marathon Recap

Nico Montañez finished the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:10:52 which was good for 13th overall and the 5th American. A fantastic finish that left Nico wanting more. In this episode he details nearly every mile of the race, the moves that were made, who he ran with, gaps in the second group, and what he thought may have limited his performance in the final miles.

Apr 21, 202327:17
Ep. 17 - CJ Albertson: Boston Marathon Recap

Ep. 17 - CJ Albertson: Boston Marathon Recap

Our first Boston Marathon recap starts with CJ Albertson. CJ ran a gutsy race that proved to far more impactful that his 12th place overall finish (4th American).

We dive into all of it while talking at length about his well-crafted IG post detailing his experience:


"2:10:33- 12th place at the Boston Marathon
On paper, a mediocre result. With analysis, a poor result- with a 62:20 1st half split, then fading hard for a 68:13 2nd half.
But this race was special. For awhile now, it’s been difficult to enjoy running or really anything in life- and I’ve had this feeling that I’m not exactly myself- like my life and personality has been filtered in grayscale. This weekend in Boston was full of vibrant color. Running 15 miles with the world’s best marathoners, far faster than I’ve ever ran before- felt right, and I felt like me. It’s hard to describe, but the genuine joy, peace, and fun I experienced during the race hit me in a way that I could only interpret as “this is who I am”.
Yesterday, I wasn’t fit enough to race a full 26.2 with the world’s best- and many would say I should’ve ran the first half slower (including me before the race). Analytically, they are correct. But I was rewarded anyway. I was reminded of who I am, the greatness I was created for (not just in running), and the joy of running and life.
We all have greatness within us. We may not have achieved it yet, haven’t mastered the habits/discipline necessary to get there, and sometimes may not even feel it’s true- but it’s still who we are. Time to live it out."

Apr 20, 202353:13
Ep. 16 - CJ Albertson: Boston Marathon Preview

Ep. 16 - CJ Albertson: Boston Marathon Preview

Our final Boston Marathon preview episode before race day is with CJ Albertson. This will be CJ's third Boston after clocking a 2:11 and a 2:10 in 2021 and 2022. In this episode CJ details his atypical 6-8 week build, his feelings on racing/race strategy, his detailed thoughts on tapering (or lack thereof) including a somewhat spicy 21 mile run on Monday, and his thoughts on using ketone esters in training and on race day.

Apr 12, 202349:38
Ep. 15 - Nico Montañez: Boston Marathon Preview

Ep. 15 - Nico Montañez: Boston Marathon Preview

Nico Montañez is back on the show to give us a full preview of the upcoming Boston Marathon. First we dive into his 2022 experience that left Nico, who was as fit as he'd ever been, navigating emergency dental surgery and running on antibiotics. Then Nico details his training over the past six weeks, how he is approaching race day strategy and tactics, and his favorite pre-race movie. Oh, and of course we talk about his all new mustache.

Apr 12, 202331:08
Ep. 14 - Dani Moreno: Boston Marathon Preview

Ep. 14 - Dani Moreno: Boston Marathon Preview

Our Boston Marathon previews continue with Dani Moreno. Dani, one of the top sub-ultra trail runners in the world, is gearing up for Boston in a way that is truly unique. Not only is a road marathon not her forte, but her home of Mammoth Lakes, CA has had historic snowfall that pushed nearly all of her running onto the treadmill. Despite the atypical build, Dani nearly nabbed an OTQ time at the Ventura Half Marathon several weeks ago.

In this episode she details her recent training, her spectacular race at Ventura, her strategy for Boston, and her race weekend logistics. Finally, Dani talks about her new podcast, Sub Hub, that you can find on your favorite podcast provider.

Apr 11, 202337:56
Ep. 13 - Sara Vaughn: Boston Marathon Preview

Ep. 13 - Sara Vaughn: Boston Marathon Preview

The Boston Marathon is around the corner and we are kicking off our preview episodes with Sara Vaughn. Sara details what types of training she prioritized in over the last two months, non-running challenges she's had to work through, her pre-race logistics and mindset, and her difficulty choosing a race day shoe (two great options that can't decide between!).

Apr 07, 202335:24
Ep. 12 - Jereny Rivera: Shorter Races and Long-Term Planning
Mar 31, 202327:47
Ep. 11 - Nico Montañez: Training Breakdown and 7th at the United Airlines NYC Half

Ep. 11 - Nico Montañez: Training Breakdown and 7th at the United Airlines NYC Half

In our second conversation with Nico Montañez, Nico shares an amazing amount about training and racing. First, Nico does a nearly 30 minute breakdown of his recent training heading into the United Airlines NYC Half and the upcoming Boston Marathon. In the second half of the podcast Nico discusses his 7th place performance, and 2nd U.S. finisher, at the stacked United Airlines NYC Half. It was a freezing day in which Nico ran well against some of the world's best. It was a clear sign that his fitness is trending well for Boston. Finally, we end with a little shoe talk and Nico shares which Asics shoes he uses for various runs and races.

Mar 24, 202301:00:36
Ep. 10 - Carmen Graves: Top 10 at USATF 15k Champs and African-American Distance Running Representation
Mar 15, 202338:04
Ep. 9 - CJ Albertson

Ep. 9 - CJ Albertson

In our last intro episode of Season 3 we meet with CJ Albertson. CJ is simultaneously one of the best marathoners in the United States and one of the most interesting. He finished 7th at the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials and has run exceptionally well at several marathons since then, including a 2:10 at Boston. CJ has also set the 50k world record twice, most recently last fall. In this episode, CJ talks about where running fits into his life, he gets up for races while working hard to develop that same mojo for training, his life as a college coach, and how he views 2023 in preparation for the 2024 trials. I really appreciate CJ's candor in this episode. He shares his feelings in a way that is unique for professional athletes in running and any other high-level sport. 

Mar 09, 202347:37
Ep. 8 - Dani Moreno
Mar 06, 202350:51
Ep. 7 - Ramiro "DJ Curly" Guillen
Mar 01, 202345:18
Ep. 6 - Carmen Graves
Feb 21, 202359:06
Ep. 5 - Jereny Rivera
Feb 17, 202343:06
Ep. 4 - Sara Vaughn
Feb 14, 202332:50
Ep. 3 - Nico Montañez
Feb 09, 202344:45
Ep. 2 - Nell Rojas

Ep. 2 - Nell Rojas

We are starting off season three of Road to the Trials with one of the best and most versatile runners in the U.S. - Nell Rojas. In this episode we talk about her 2022 marathon performances and take a deep dive into the tumultuous last two months of her life that nearly ended her 2023 Boston Marathon before it began.

Nell is a professional marathon runner for Nike. She grew up in Boulder, CO with two older brothers and her dog Starblaze. She walked on to the Northern Arizona University cross country and track and field teams and got her B.S. in Exercise Science. After college she became a professional triathlete until she decided to move out of her mom's basement and focus on her coaching career. She discovered marathons when she finished 7th at the 2018 marathon national championships in a time of 2:31. She recently finished 5th at the 2021 Boston Marathon, 10th at the 2022 Boston Marathon, and 10th at the 2022 NYC Marathon. She is the 2021 10 mile national champion. 

Nell started coaching with her dad Ric Rojas when she graduated from high school and has been coaching ever since. She and the founder of RISE Boulder and is well known for her strength training for runners.  

PR's: 

  • Marathon 2:25:57 
  • 10k: 31:52 
  • 5k: 15:37

The photo used in the podcast graphic was taken by Jesus Perez - www.instagram.com/weligsander.


Feb 06, 202341:28
Season 3 Kick-Off with Stefanie Flippin and Peter Bromka

Season 3 Kick-Off with Stefanie Flippin and Peter Bromka

Feb 03, 202301:02:21
Ep. 27 - Olivia Baker: Road to the Trials Recap

Ep. 27 - Olivia Baker: Road to the Trials Recap

Our Road to the Trials recaps continue with the extraordinary Olivia Baker.

Olivia didn't have the lead-up to the Trials that she had hoped for but was holding out hope that it would all come together in Eugene. The women's 800m was maybe the deepest event at the entire meet and it was amazing to witness each round. Unfortunately, Olivia was unable to make the final after running well in a stacked opening heat.

After the Trials Olivia stayed in racing condition and finished second at a loaded 800m race last week. This result has led to a series of decisions that Olivia must make in the coming days as she weighs her professional running future and a career in medicine. She shares her thought process about everything that has happened over the past six months and how she will make her next huge decision.

*Podcast photo credit to Chuck Utash*


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a four mile tempo in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with a watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Aug 06, 202133:42
Ep. 26 - Frank Lara: Road to Trials Recap
Aug 02, 202136:52
Ep. 25 - Abe Alvarado is Poised and Ready for the Trials
Jun 16, 202123:02
Ep. 24 - Olivia Baker: Bouncing Back and Preparing for the Trials
Jun 14, 202127:60
Ep. 23 - Keira D'Amato and a Dream Deferred
Jun 09, 202143:07
Ep. 22 - Frank Lara is in the Flow
Jun 04, 202139:21
Ep. 21 - Dana Giordano Returns to Racing

Ep. 21 - Dana Giordano Returns to Racing

After months of training Dana Giordano is now fully in race mode. Over the last couple of weeks she has competed at the Track Meet - Sound Running, NYC Qualifier - Trials of Miles, and the Adidas Boost Boston Games. Those events meant racing the 5k, 1500m, and the road mile respectively. 

In this episode, Dana provides an open and honest analysis of each race and puts each on into the larger mosaic of her season and what she learned from those experiences. 

We also do a quick preview of the Platinum PT Qualifier set for Saturday, May 29. If you want to watch the free livestream hosted by Carrie Tollefson, Mary Cain, and Chris Chavez go to this link: www.tracksmith.com/pages/2021-platinum-pt-qualifier.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a four mile tempo in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with a watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

May 26, 202133:14
Ep. 20 - Olivia Baker Gets Her OTQ
May 20, 202128:27
Ep. 19 - Tyler Day Forced to Bow Out

Ep. 19 - Tyler Day Forced to Bow Out

Tyler returns to the show to share some unfortunate news. I'll quote him from his recent Instagram post:

"It's been a struggle trying to be a professional runner. Being able to only do two races and get sidelined for most of my rookie campaign, I wanted to bounce back in a big way from my injury and actually feel like a professional runner. Sadly, my struggles are continuing and I had to make the tough decision to end my season and ending my journey to this year's Olympic Trials.

This was not an easy decision, but knowing I am early in this professional life, I want to get to the bottom of this injury and not prolong it any further. I'm bummed and frustrated that I have to deal with this injury when I was lucky enough to be healthy for my whole running career up to this point. But, this is part of my profession. Everyone has to deal with injuries at some point and so will I. Thank you for all the support."

We talk all about the process that led to this decision, what his injury prognosis/diagnosis looks like moving forward, and a variety of other random topics that always come-up when Tyler and I get to talking.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a four mile tempo in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with a watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).


May 18, 202136:18
Ep. 18 - Dana Giordano Reports from Altitude Camp
May 10, 202125:44
Ep. 17 - Keira D’Amato on Returning to 100%
May 10, 202127:08
Ep. 16 - Abe Alvarado: Drake Relays Recap

Ep. 16 - Abe Alvarado: Drake Relays Recap

Abe Alvarado is back with a full recap of his race experience at the Drake Relays. Abe competed in the USATF Road Mile Championship and the 1500m. Abe continues to improve week-after-week and these races, against some stiff competition, were no exception.

In the road mile Abe was able to stay back during Jeff Theis's strong push from the gun. Once the field entered the stadium he used a big push over the final 300 meters to finish fourth in 4:00.40, holding off a late charge from Daniel Herrera. 

In the 1500m Abe ran in the top three (minus the pacer) for almost the entire race and crossed the line just steps behind winner Clayton Murphy finishing third in a time of 3:39.70. You can watch the race here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1frRhEf_rU


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a four mile tempo in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with a watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

May 02, 202131:38
Ep. 15 - Frank Lara: Drake Relays Recap
Apr 29, 202124:19
Ep. 14 - Tyler Day
Apr 23, 202133:02
Ep. 13 - Frank Lara
Apr 22, 202132:04
Ep. 12 - Abe Alvarado
Apr 15, 202130:42
Ep. 11 - Keira D'Amato

Ep. 11 - Keira D'Amato

Keira returns to the show to discuss a wide variety of topics - from the fun, to the important, and many things in-between. We cover her recent injury that prevented her from racing in the Gate River Run (the USATF 15k Championship), her excitement over her recent focus on intense speedwork, races against a local high schooler, the Great American 5000 featuring Team Slugs vs Team Studs, plus much more.

You can learn more about the the Great American 5000 at www.sportsbackers.org/events/great-american-5000.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Apr 08, 202131:21
Ep. 10 - Texas Relays: Abe Alavarado & Olivia Baker
Mar 31, 202154:34
Ep. 9 - Dana Giordano
Mar 25, 202130:10
Ep. 8 - Tyler Day

Ep. 8 - Tyler Day

Tyler Day is back on the show to talk about the rehabilitation of his right Achilles tendon. In this episode he takes us through the steps he and his support team have taken over the past three months to get him physically and mentally prepared to return to training. This week he had his first true workout in months and, as you will hear, he is stoked at the prospect of returning to action.

You can follow Tyler's daily training log here: https://site.finalsurge.com/NAZEliteLog/TylerDay


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Mar 17, 202134:07
Ep. 7 - Abe Alvarado

Ep. 7 - Abe Alvarado

In our last intro episode of season two we feature the speedy and inciteful Abe Alvarado. Abe's start in running was later than most of his peers but he progressed quickly from there. Recruited by Diljeet Taylor, a coaching legend who currently works at BYU, Abe found his stride under her tutelage and elevated himself into a three time All-American. Abe's accomplishments also include 2020 USATF Indoor Championships 800m bronze medalist and 2019 USATF Indoor Championships 800m silver medalist. His PR's are as follows:

800m:  1:46.53
1000m:  2:18.01
1500m:  3:36.82

You can follow Abe at https://atlantatrackclubelite.org/Athlete/AthletePage?name=AbeAlvarado.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).


Mar 11, 202141:47
Ep. 6 - Olivia Baker

Ep. 6 - Olivia Baker

Olivia Baker is one of the best 400 and 800 meter runners in the country and will be battling tooth and nail for a spot on the 2021 Olympic Team. It was an honor to have her on the show to discuss her training pre-COVID and how it has looked over the past few months, balancing elite track with her desire to be a neurosurgeon, pushing through performance limits, and her upcoming spring schedule.

You can follow Olivia at www.instagram.com/obaker64.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Mar 09, 202101:17:51
Ep. 5 - Keira D'Amato & Frank Lara: Texas Qualifier Recap

Ep. 5 - Keira D'Amato & Frank Lara: Texas Qualifier Recap

Last weekend the Trials of Miles Racing put on the extraordinary Texas Qualifier meet in Austin, TX and it was a huge success. Citius Mag showcased the event through their YouTube channel and covered a truly elite collection of U.S. track talent. Both Keira D'Amato and Frank Lara participated, in the 10k and 5k respectively, and fared very well. The conditions in Austin were tough, the humidity had a huge effect - especially in the 10k, but Keira and Frank were up to the challenge. 

In this episode, they both detail there training leading into the Texas Qualifier and give a full breakdown of their races.

Photo credit for the episode graphic goes to Brenden Clarke - https://brendenclarke.com.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Mar 03, 202101:01:25
Ep. 4 - Tyler Day

Ep. 4 - Tyler Day

Tyler Day is a professional runner for HOKA Northern Arizona (NAZ) Elite. Day was planning on focusing on this year’s U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in the 10k. As a Northern Arizona University sophomore, Day finished ninth at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships at 10,000 meters. In 2018, he was ninth again–this time at 3,000 meters at the USATF Indoor Championships. A year later Day earned a spot on the U.S. team that competed in Lima, Peru at the Pan American Games where he was tenth over 5,000 meters. Last winter Day had a breakout season that included a personal best at 3,000 meters (7:45.70) as well as his American collegiate record at 5,000 meters (13:16.95)–the latter of which saw him go toe-to-toe with Olympic Silver Medalist Paul Tanui, losing by just one second.

Right now Tyler is battling an injury while trying to recover quickly with plenty of time to earn his OTQ standard then makes waves at the Trials. A process that so many runners can relate to.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Feb 25, 202138:08
Ep. 3 - Frank Lara

Ep. 3 - Frank Lara

Frank Lara is a professional runner for the Roots Running Project based in Boulder, Colorado. He also works part-time for Strava as a community management representative. The past two years have proven to be big for Frank. In 2020, he won the U.S. 15K champion then set a massive personal best of 27:44 in the 10,000m in 2021. In December Frank participated as a pacer at The Marathon Project, running the first 20 miles at sub-2:09 pace. In this episode we talk about his progression to becoming one of America's elite distance runners, coordinating his running with other elite pro's, and what his current training looks like heading into the Trials of Miles meet in Austin, TX.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Feb 24, 202143:43
Ep. 2 - Dana Giordano

Ep. 2 - Dana Giordano

Dana Giordano is a professional runner for the B.A.A. and Adidas. She's a 4:08 1500m and 15:18 5K runner who ran track and cross-country at Dartmouth College and hopes to compete at the 2021 Olympic Track & Field Trials. In April, Dana added another line to her impressive resume: host of the More Than Running podcast. Five years ago Dana finished one spot away from the qualifying from the 2016 Olympic Trials and she is eager to make it happen this year. As we discuss in this episode, Dana is excited to see which event, the 1500m or 5k, turns out be her main race heading into the summer. We also take a deep dive into her recent foot injury that caused her to cruise through New Balance Grand Prix last week.


The Road to the Trials Podcast is presented by COROS Wearables – makers of Performance GPS Watches that help athletes train to be their best. Athletes like World Record Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge and Multi-time US Champion Emma Coburn trust COROS watches to track their training from Long Runs to Track Workouts. With their innovative Track Mode, you can measure your next track workout to near perfection, whether you’ve got 400 meter repeats in Lane 1 or a 4 mile temp in lane 5, you can trust COROS to provide the stats you crave.

Show your support for the brands that support this podcast, and pick up the PACE 2 – the lightest GPS watch on the market. Enter code “Trials” at checkout on COROS.com for a free accessory with watch purchase (simply add the accessory of your choice to your cart).

Feb 23, 202145:35
Ep. 1 - Keira D'Amato

Ep. 1 - Keira D'Amato

In 2020, Keira D’Amato had arguably the best year of any American distance runner. She set PR’s at nearly every distance including an American record in the 10 mile. She then transitioned from the country’s best amateur runner/real estate broker to a Nike pro runner. An amazing transformation for any runner in their mid-30’s and an inspiration to runners all over.

Keira is now considered among a core group of talented favorites in the 10k for the Olympic Trials. Learn all about her remarkable transformation and much, much more.


Feb 18, 202138:53
Season Two Primer with Lindsey Hein and Mario Fraioli

Season Two Primer with Lindsey Hein and Mario Fraioli

The Road to the Trials have returned for season two and we are fired up! We will be bringing you a behind the scenes look at the training and racing of some of America's best track athletes as they prepare for the Olympic Track Trials in June. Specifically, we will be following Keira D'Amato, Dana Giordano, Olivia Baker, Frank Lara, Tyler Day, and Abe Alvarado.

In this episode we are joined by Lindsey Hein and Mario Fraioli, hosts of the highly rated I'll Have Another  and Morning Shakeout podcasts, and we set the stage for the lead-up to the trials. We discuss the year long gap between now and the Olympic Marathon Trials, whether we thought the Olympics would even happen, our favorite Olympic track & field memories, the events and athletes we are most excited to follow this spring, and we discuss where the six athletes we will be following this season compare to their peers in the lead-up to what will be an extremely entertaining track season.

Feb 17, 202156:47
Ep. 55 - Diljeet Taylor: BYU Women’s XC and Distance Coach
Mar 19, 202027:41