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

“For me, the most important thing is practicing winning and practicing trying to win. Because at the end of the day, PRs are awesome and running super fast is great, but people aren’t going to say, ‘Oh, well, 9:03 is the third fastest time.’ They’re going to say ‘Val won,’ right? And so for me, I just want to try to win. That’s all I care about. I don’t even care if we run slow because I just want to win.” Valerie Constien was on the show about two months ago so if you haven’t heard that episode, I think it sets thighs up perfectly for more context on her comeback from a torn ACL last year. I enjoyed hearing from the listeners that they felt more invested in Val’s comeback and were overjoyed to see her running well at the Prefontaine Classic and at the Trials knowing more about her. At the Trials, Val put together one of the best races of the entire 10 days. She won the women’s steeplechase in 9:03 – which moved her to No. 3 on the all-time list behind Courtney Frerichs and Emma Coburn. The whole race was epic and I’d encourage people to watch it on YouTube. Val qualified for her second U.S. Olympic team. She will be joined in Paris by Courtney Wayment and Marisa Howard. In this episode, we unpack that U.S. Olympic Trials final and then look ahead toward Paris, where Val is thinking that she has a shot at a medal. Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Val Constien | @valerieconstien on Instagram SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 🍊 OLIPOP – For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠Use code CITIUS25 at DrinkOlipop.com⁠⁠ 🐾 PUMA – Meet the Deviate NITRO™ Elite 3, PUMA’s lightest raceday shoe ever designed for those who want to stand out. Packed with PUMA’s innovative NITROFOAM™ Elite for superior energy return and a stiffer carbon fibre PWR Plate for maximum speed, this shoe is all about race day performance. Shop and learn more at ⁠⁠PUMA.com/Running

Whittni Morgan had a little bit of delayed gratification as she was named to the U.S. Olympic team in the 5000m about a week after the Trials. So how did it happen? Elle St. Pierre won the 5000m and finished third in the 1500m but has decided to only run the 1500m at the Paris Olympics. This elevated Parker Valby into that final spot for the 5000m after her fourth place finish in the Olympic Trials final. Valby also finished second in the 10,000m. After a few days of consideration and conversation with her coaches Will Palmer and Samantha Palmer, she decided to just run the 10,000 meters at the Paris Olympics. She qualified for that event based off her World Ranking. This meant that Whittni Morgan, who finished fifth in the 5000m final, got the final spot for Paris. In this episode, we chat about what it was like to get that call. Plus, we talk through just how incredible her comeback has been in the past seven months. She underwent patellar tendon surgery in December and did not run on the ground until early February. She ran her season’s best of 15:06 in the Olympic Trials final. Plus, we chat about what it’s been like to be on this journey with coach Diljeet Taylor for the past few years. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 🍊 OLIPOP – For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠Use code CITIUS25 at DrinkOlipop.com⁠ 🐾 PUMA – Meet the Deviate NITRO™ Elite 3, PUMA’s lightest raceday shoe ever designed for those who want to stand out. Packed with PUMA’s innovative NITROFOAM™ Elite for superior energy return and a stiffer carbon fibre PWR Plate for maximum speed, this shoe is all about race day performance. Shop and learn more at ⁠PUMA.com/Running

We are back with another edition of This Week In Track and Field after a bit of a break due to the U.S. Olympic Trials. The Diamond League returned to action and brought some spectacular results right away as we saw two world records in Faith Kipyegon breaking her own world record in the women’s 1,500m in 3:49.04 and Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh taking down a 37-year-old mark in the women’s high jump to 2.10 m (That’s 6-10 3/4). We had a crazy men’s 800m that has shaken up that distance ahead of the Paris Olympics Plus, we review the things we liked + things that could have used improvement in the making of SPRINT on Netflix. Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Host: Anderson Emerole | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@atkoeme on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 PUMA – Meet the Deviate NITRO™ Elite 3, PUMA’s lightest raceday shoe ever designed for those who want to stand out. Packed with PUMA’s innovative NITROFOAM™ Elite for superior energy return and a stiffer carbon fibre PWR Plate for maximum speed, this shoe is all about race day performance. Learn more and shop at PUMA.com/Running 🍊 OLIPOP: For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Order online today and use code CITIUS25 for 25% off your order at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

"Sprinters are just this A-type. Because they have to be. What you realize is this sport is probably won and lost in those moments right before, it’s won and lost on the line, it’s won and lost when the gun goes off. It's all about projecting your presence onto your biggest competitor. As soon as we got into it, these guys didn't hold back, whether it was Noah (Lyles) or Fred (Kerley), whether it was the rivalry between the Jamaican women, it was all there and none of them held back with it." Paul Martin is the co-founder of Box to Box Films, the production company behind the hit Netflix sports documentary series including Drive to Survive and Full Swing. Track finally got its version as SPRINT was released on Netflix on July 2nd. In this episode, we discuss the making of the series; the Netflix effect that people talk about in sports and what were some of the challenges in capturing an individual sport like track, which has tons of stars who could pop out of nowhere. Plus: Is a middle distance series on the table? Time Stamps: – 3:56 - The impact that Formula 1: Drive to Survive has had on Paul’s career. – 8:57 - How Paul and James transitioned into athletics + what made it compelling to them.  – 14:12 - What Paul loves most about today's sprinters + why he wants to share their stories.  – 19:46 - How Paul was able to get the biggest sprint stars onto the show.  – 23:00 - The timeline of how season one came together.  – 28:54 - Why Paul chose to hone in on sprints first as opposed to other areas of track and field.  – 32:27 - Elements from Drive to Survive that could help track and field break into the mainstream. – 36:01 - Ideas on how to make following along track and field more engaging. – 41:04 - The moment in SPRINT that Paul found the most emotional. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 🍊 OLIPOP – For the past year, we’ve redefined Olipop as more than just a healthy drink known for its gut microbiome with a low sugar content and a much better alternative to regular soda. You know there are more than 16 flavors, including classic root beer, cherry cola, and lemon-lime. You know it as The Runner’s Soda. Use code CITIUS25 at DrinkOlipop.com 🐾 PUMA – Meet the Deviate NITRO™ Elite 3, PUMA’s lightest raceday shoe ever designed for those who want to stand out. Packed with PUMA’s innovative NITROFOAM™ Elite for superior energy return and a stiffer carbon fibre PWR Plate for maximum speed, this shoe is all about race day performance. Shop and learn more at PUMA.com/Running

Newly minted Olympian and 5x NCAA champion Parker Valby joins us live in Eugene after her runner-up finish in the 10,000m and 4th place finish in the 5000m. Parker shares about how she almost decided not to contest the Olympic Trials 10,000m, how she’s been able to stay mentally composed with how often she’s raced this year, what it’s been like racing among the pros at the Olympic Trials, what her training has looked like the past month while in Eugene, why she goes off the grid on social media before races, and what she’s looking forward to most in Paris.  Parker also chats with us about her love for kombucha and her favorite music. Hear more from Parker and what’s ahead for her in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Karen Leciewicz | @kara_les on Instagram  Guest: Parker Valby | @parkervalby on Instagram _________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“It’s bigger than me. It’s about my purpose and what I want to show in track and field, what I want to show people who are watching, and the younger generation. It’s about that. If you get caught up in, ‘I need to prove to everyone that I belong here and deserve this,’ it’s not really about that.” 2x Olympic medalist and 2x world medalist Gabby Thomas joins us live in Eugene after defending her Olympics Trials 200m title to secure her spot on another Olympic team. Gabby walks us through the sequence of her 200m rounds, why she decided to go all-in on the 200m for the Olympic Trials, how she handles the pressures of racing, her purpose for competing, her goals for Paris, and how she hopes to inspire the next generation. Hear more from Gabby and her incredible journey in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Katelyn Hutchison | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_kxnaomi on Instagram Guest: Gabby Thomas | @gabbythomas on Instagram _________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“We see upsets all the time in this sport. Anything can happen to anybody on any given day. Those two are just on a whole other level. It’s kind of motivating to me. They’re #1 and #2 of all-time. They are the best two in the sport. They are active, they’re in their prime right now… As a guy who’s a little bit of a peg down from them, it’s super motivating. I want to beat those guys more than anything – because if I'm able to beat them, I'm beating absolute legends of the sport.”  Payton Otterdahl joins the show after qualifying for his second Olympic Games in shot put. Payton shares about how he approaches head-to-head competition with shot put legends Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs, breaks down the depth of the shot put field that he’ll face in Paris, how his shot put practices compare to his actual competitions, how he uses the offseason to his advantage, and lots more. Hear more from Payton in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Hosts: Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Guest: Payton Otterdahl | @paytonotterdahl on Instagram _________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“Especially seeing people who were young and doing track now, to kind of be like, ‘Listen. You CAN do it, even if it takes you 20 years,’ because I’ve actually been doing track officially for 20 years.” Chari Hawkins joins us live in Eugene to share about her path to becoming one of the world’s best heptathletes. She chats with us about how she’s stayed patient while working her way to the top, the bond and sense of respect that she shares with other heptathletes, how she structures her season to optimize her world ranking, advice for younger athletes, and lots more. Hear more from Chari on her powerful story in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Hosts: Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Eric Jenkins | @_ericjenkins on Instagram Guest: Chari Hawkins | @_charihawkins on Instagram _________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“If you can't bet on yourself at the end of the day, then what the hell are you doing? I know if my life depended on it, I know I can show up… I can only lose to myself and that's when I'm not executing my race plan.” 5x world champion and world record holder Grant Holloway joins us live in Eugene after booking his ticket to another Olympic Games. Grant breaks down all three of his sub-13 performances in the Olympics Trials 110m hurdles, shares about his training group, his thoughts on Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track league, how he was able to regroup after the Tokyo Olympics, how he studies his competitors, and his perspective on the state of the men’s 110m hurdles in the U.S. Hear more from Grant and what’s ahead for him in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Katelyn Hutchison | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_kxnaomi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram  Guest: Grant Holloway | @flaamingoo_ on Instagram _________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running

“I feel like there’s moments where you’re like, ‘Should I go or should I not go?’ after such a big loss. Go. That’s the best time you can go and do something after a big loss. Let’s do it, let’s try again. The most important thing you can always do is just try again… Just because you had a loss doesn't mean you can’t pick yourself up and try again.”  World Championship medalist Brittany Brown joins us live in Eugene after qualifying for her first Olympic team. She never won an NCAA title and didn’t sign a pro contract out of college, but she continued to bet on herself and it paid off big time. Brittany shares about her perseverance through setbacks to get to this point in her career, other women who inspire her, how she uses her 400m training to help her grow stronger in other events, what her training group is like, and more. Hear more from Brittany and her incredible path to the Olympics in this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Hosts: Anderson Emerole | @atkoeme on Instagram + Katelyn Hutchison | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@_kxnaomi on Instagram Guest: Brittany Brown | @_brittanyshamere on Instagram _________ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 👟 NEW BALANCE: New Balance celebrates runners of all levels and styles. They believe there’s no single ‘right’ way to run - just your way. If you run, no matter the distance, pace or frequency, you’re a runner. New Balance, Run your way. NewBalance.com/Running