Dakotah Popehn Before The 2025 Boston Marathon: Race Day Mindset, Training Updates, Behind PUMA’s Latest Super Shoes

“I wouldn’t toe the line for any race if I didn’t think I could win. I’m a David amongst Goliaths out there, but I think I’ve always got a chance [to win].”

In 2024, Dakotah Popehn wasn't on most people's U.S. Olympic team shortlist, but that didn't stop her from running herself onto the team with a fearless third place finish at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and a gutsy run in Paris that saw her leading the Olympic marathon around halfway. Popehn turned heads and rewrote the expectations around her name.

Now she's back on the major stage – this time lining up in Boston with confidence, momentum, and a whole new set of eyes on her. She's won Grandma’s Marathon and has been to the Olympic Games, but in the five World Marathon Majors she’s raced, she's actually never cracked the top ten. Could that change in Boston?

In this episode, we talk about how she's navigated a year of breakthroughs, how she's approaching Boston as both an underdog and a contender, and what she thinks of PUMA's Fast-R 3, which is already making headlines as the latest great innovation in the super shoes era.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Dakotah Popehn | @dakotahlindwurm on Instagam 

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