Preparing Mentally for a 3:50 Attempt

“You almost need to just have this fearlessness towards it. You can absolutely look at what each of the athletes have done and put them up on a pedestal, but you almost have to be like, ‘They’ve done that, but I’m going to try and do this today.’”

My guest for today’s episode is Jessica Hull, who just earned her second straight global medal with a bronze in the 1500m at the World Championships in Tokyo. Hull went toe-to-toe with the greatest of all time, Faith Kipyegon, hanging on until the final 200 meters before battling all the way to the line to secure her spot on the podium.

Last year was obviously a dream season for Jess — an Olympic silver medal, a 2000m world record, a 3:50 personal best. This year, she didn’t always hit the same highs, but she raced with consistency, courage, and adaptability, proving she’s a contender in every scenario. In Tokyo, she left it all out there, fending off a charging Nelly Chepchirchir to hang on for bronze in 3:55.16. A repeat of the disastrous tie-up that happened in the Diamond League final was avoided.

In this episode, we talk about how she leveled up to get to this point, we talk about the bond shared between all of the 1500m women and the reverence and respect for Faith Kipygeon, her exploration of the 800m which saw her break the Australian record in 1:57.15 in the semifinals and then reaching the final, where she ran another 1:57.

Plus, you’ll learn where some of her early thoughts are on her plans for 2026.

____________

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠

Guest: Jessica Hull | @jessicaahull on Instagram

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

____________

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

HOKA: We’re takin’ over Happy Camper Chicago (Old Town) with HOKA during the Chicago Marathon festivities. On Sunday morning, we’ll be posted up as part of the HOKA cheer zone to host our alternate broadcast watchalong, where Eric Jenkins, Karen Lesiewicz, Paul Hof Mahoney and other guests will be providing their own commentary, reactions, insights and analysis live as the elite races unfold. Don’t miss the HOKA Hub at the expo for a chance to demo the all-new Rocket X 3 and the up-tempo Mach X 3. RSVP to all of these events via the HOKA Eventbrite page at the link here.

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.

OLIPOP: Straight out of Bikini Bottom, Olipop’s limited edition SpongeBob cans have arrived. Pineapple Paradise features a burst of juicy pineapples and a splash of mandarin. It's on shelves now at Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Circle K, Amazon, and select stores nationwide. ⁠You can check out all of their flavors and get 25% off your orders at DrinkOlipop.com using code CITIUS25 at checkout.⁠