The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show

Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years by the AIU following her admission to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation regarding the presence and use of Hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic and masking agent in doping. The announcement from the AIU was made public on Thursday morning.Chepngetich broke the women's marathon world record in 2:09:56 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. She is the 2019 World Champion and three-time winner of the Chicago Marathon.The AIU shared that Chepngetich was tested 15 times out of competition and four times in competition in 2024. After she broke the world record, the AIU tested her more as she prepared to race the 2025 London Marathon. Chepngetich struggled in the two races that followed.Tune in for more of the details on Chepngetich's case. You can also read our recap article here.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠@preet_athletics on Instagram⁠⁠Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSNOMIO: Made with 80% broccoli sprout juice, 15% lemon juice, and 5% sugar, Nomio activates your body’s natural defense systems to reduce lactate, speed recovery, and enhance muscle adaptation. Take one 60 ml shot three hours before training or racing and feel lighter, stronger, and more resilient. Available at The Feed — use code CITIUS15 for 15% off | ⁠⁠https://thefeed.com/collections/nomio⁠⁠WAHOO: 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.⁠

The NCAA Cross Country season just got real — and Jane Hedengren stole the show. In her college debut, the BYU freshman dominated Pre-Nats, running 18:42.3 to shatter the Gans Creek course record by 25 seconds.In this episode, we break down Hedengren’s historic win, her incredible high school resume, and what it means for BYU’s title hopes heading into NCAAs. We also dive into everything from Grace Hartman’s Nuttycombe victory, New Mexico’s big statement on the men’s side, and the rising stars shaping the 2025 NCAA XC season.Catch all the analysis, storylines, and bold predictions from Pre-Nats, Nuttycombe, and beyond — plus what to watch for as BYU, NC State, and Oregon gear up for the championship run.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠ + Isaac Wood | @isaacew on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSNOMIO: Made with 80% broccoli sprout juice, 15% lemon juice, and 5% sugar, Nomio activates your body’s natural defense systems to reduce lactate, speed recovery, and enhance muscle adaptation. Take one 60 ml shot three hours before training or racing and feel lighter, stronger, and more resilient. Available at The Feed — use code CITIUS15 for 15% off | ⁠https://thefeed.com/collections/nomio⁠WAHOO: 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.⁠

Ben Flanagan, the Canadian distance runner and Olympian, dives into his marathon debut at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, emphasizing his focus on winning the Canadian Championship. He shares insights on transitioning from track to marathon, including how his first half-marathon shaped his strategy. Joining him is coach Jon Green, who discusses the unique challenges of marathon training, practical race logistics, and the importance of a competitive mindset. Their candid conversation reveals the balance between training volume and racing tactics for an elite runner.

Conner Mantz, an elite American marathoner and the 2025 Chicago Marathon champion, breaks down his stunning 2:04:43 American record run. He shares the emotional highs of achieving a lifelong goal and reflects on his meticulous pacing strategy, including his decision to race in a pack. Conner recounts pivotal moments during the race like a crucial bottle-sharing incident and the mental battles he faced in the final miles. He expresses gratitude for his support team and hints at future aspirations, including aiming for the 2028 Olympics.

In an exhilarating breakdown, the hosts recap the Chicago Marathon, highlighting Jacob Kiplimo's record-breaking 2:02:23 and Hawi Feysa’s 2:14:56 performance. They discuss the thrilling dynamics of the race, including the impact of a tailwind and Kiplimo's decisive mile 20 surge. With Conner Mantz setting a North American record, attention turns to the evolving American marathon landscape. Additionally, Femke Bol's upcoming transition to the 800m raises exciting possibilities for her future in athletics.

The hosts dive into what to expect at the upcoming Chicago Marathon, discussing weather forecasts and race dynamics. They highlight top contenders in both the men’s and women’s elite fields, with exciting predictions for Conner Mantz's potential record-breaking run. Insights on course details, hydration stats, and the strong influence of BYU athletes add depth. The lively conversation includes who might finish ahead and the unpredictable nature of the women’s race, making for a thrilling marathon preview!

Our guest today is Faith Kipyegon, the greatest 1500m runner the sport has ever known. In Tokyo, she won her record fourth World Championship 1500m title — seven global golds in this event including her three Olympic golds. It is a reign that now stretches over four years and twenty-two straight victories.In Tokyo, that 1500m final was also a masterclass performance. She led from the gun and never looked back and ran 3:52.15 to win by nearly three seconds, the largest margin of any of her global titles. It was Faith at her purest: precise, patient, untouchable.In this episode, we talk about how Kipyegon continues to perfect the impossible by breaking world records three years in a row and racing not for dominance but for legacy. She’s won everything there is to win, yet somehow, it feels like she’s still getting better. Faith Kipyegon has redefined what greatness on the track looks like.You can watch the full interview with Faith Kipyegon here.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: Faith Kipyegon | @faithkipyegon on InstagramProduced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSHOKA: 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 Leciewicz, Paul Hof Mahoney and other guests will be providing their own commentary, reactions, insights and analysis live as the elite races unfold. Stay tuned for some surprise giveaways that we’ll have on-site for marathon finishers. 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.⁠

Get ready for an electrifying Chicago Marathon preview! The hosts break down the fierce competition, highlighting top contenders like Kelvin Kiptum and John Karech, while identifying dark horses who could surprise everyone. Meanwhile, they dive into the excitement surrounding the upcoming ATHLOS event in NYC, discussing not just the star-studded athlete lineup, but also the celebratory nature of the meet. Plus, there’s plenty of analysis on American runners and record attempts that could shake up the marathon scene!

“Probably 20, hopefully 24 miles, I'm working with people. But then somewhere between the last 10K and the last two miles, it's going to be a race with whoever is around me. You never know how these races play out, but hopefully I'm going to see people in front of me, I'm going to catch them…and place as high as I can. That's how I see this race playing out: I'm in a pack for 18 to 20 or 24 miles and after that I'm hawking down people.”My recurring guest is back – Conner Mantz is back before he takes on one of the longest-standing marks in American distance running: Khalid Khannouchi’s 2:05:38 American record in the marathon. It’s been 23 years since anyone has touched that time and if there’s an American ready to rewrite the standard, it’s Mantz.He’s already run faster — 2:05:08 this spring in Boston — but because that course isn’t record-eligible. Chicago will be his chance to make it official.As we’ve unpacked on this show all throughout the year, it’s been a breakthrough year for him. In January, he took down Ryan Hall’s American half marathon record with a 59:17 in Houston. He ran a little faster in another non-record eligible course at the NYC Half in March. In April, he went stride for stride with 2:02 and 2:03 guys in Boston and finished fourth – just shy of the podium.This weekend, he’ll line up in Chicago as America’s top marathoner and someone who continues to take the next steps to becoming one of the best in the world. He’s got quiet confidence and we’ve grown accustomed to seeing him test his limits in workouts and these races. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to chase a record, how this build compares to others, what’s his race plan and how he’s sizing up his competitors.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠Guest: Conner Mantz | @connermantz on Instagram Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSHOKA: 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 Leciewicz, Paul Hof Mahoney and other guests will be providing their own commentary, reactions, insights and analysis live as the elite races unfold. Stay tuned for some surprise giveaways that we’ll have on-site for marathon finishers. 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.⁠

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, a world-class sprinter and the first American woman to win gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at the Tokyo World Championships, shares her incredible journey from a small-town athlete to a global sensation. She reflects on overcoming challenges, including saving her father's life with a bone marrow transplant. Melissa discusses her unique celebration dance, the pressures of being a favorite, and her ambitions for the upcoming season. She also addresses the importance of discipline in the face of social media noise.