Episode 660: Sinclaire Johnson Sets American Record With 4:21 Road Mile Win at the Merrie Mile

Today on the show, Sinclaire Johnson is back, and she just had herself a day at the Merrie Mile in Honolulu. She won the race, ran a 4:21 road mile, and set a new American record. This is not new territory for her either. She has set American records before, made the World Champs team this past year, and after a few tough years battling major bone injuries, she’s finally feeling strong, healthy, and ready to keep building. We talk about racing a road mile without clocks or splits, being coached by her fiance Craig, what she learned from finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials in 3:56, how cross training has helped keep her healthy, and what she is targeting in 2026 with a full indoor season and an outdoor year that looks a little different.

What we talked about:

• Sinclaire’s Merrie Mile win in Honolulu and the 4:21 American record

• Racing with no clocks, no splits, and a pacer plan that changed in real time

• Why this fall felt different and why she feels stronger than ever right now

• Being coached by her fiance Craig and what changed in her training and communication

• The mental side of returning from repeated bone injuries and reframing fear

• Feeling unheard in past training groups and why athlete coach communication matters

• Advice for young pros choosing a coach, team, and a life outside running

• Olympic Trials 2024, running 3:56 for fourth, and what she learned from it

• World Champs season takeaways and learning to adjust without blame

• Cross training as a core strategy and how she structures volume off her legs

• Indoor season plans and what she is excited to chase next

• How world rankings work and what the new “Ultimate Championships” format looks like

• Favorite event order: track 1500, road mile, track mile

• Life outside running: bread baking, what she is reading, and what she is watching

• Last message: being your biggest advocate and trusting your intuition

Media mentioned

• Book: The Remarkable Life of Irawati Karve

• Show: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

• Music artist group: RÜFÜS DU SOL

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