

The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show
CITIUS MAG
Track and field's biggest names on the track, in the coaching ranks and within the industry sit down and open up in-depth to share brilliant insights and vivid snapshots from their professional/personal accomplishments and experiences in the sport.
Hosted by CITIUS MAG founder Chris Chavez.
The show was named one of "The Best Running Podcasts" by Runner's World.
▶ Visit https://CITIUSMAG.com
▶ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CitiusMag
▶ Instagram: https://instagram.com/citiusmag
▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CitiusMag
▶ Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag
Hosted by CITIUS MAG founder Chris Chavez.
The show was named one of "The Best Running Podcasts" by Runner's World.
▶ Visit https://CITIUSMAG.com
▶ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CitiusMag
▶ Instagram: https://instagram.com/citiusmag
▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CitiusMag
▶ Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 2, 2024 • 10min
World Indoor Championships Day 1 Recap: Christian Coleman vs. Noah Lyles Round II Lives Up To The Hype, Ryan Crouser Completes His Gold Medal Collection
CITIUS MAG's Anderson Emerole reports from Glasgow, Scotland with a recap of Day 1 of the World Indoor Championships.
– 60m world record holder Christian Coleman clocked the fastest time in the world this year with a 6.41 in the final to beat 100m and 200m world champion Noah Lyles by three hundredths to flip the results of their one-two finish from the U.S. Indoor Championships.
– Kudos to Jamaica's Ackeem Blake on getting the bronze medal in the 60m final
– Olympic and World Champion Ryan Crouser finally won his first world indoor title to finally complete his gold medal set for the shot put.
– Femke Bol looks unstoppable after the first two rounds of the women's 400m. Karsten Warholm said he's racing himself into shape ahead of the final.
– Distance race recap of some wild 800m and 1500m heats.
– Canadian Sarah Mitton won the women's shot put with a 20.22-meter throw. Chase Jackson ended up with a bronze medal after injuring herself
+ more
📰 You can read our full preview of all the sprints, distance and field event action here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/world-athletics-indoor-championships-preview-athletes-storylines-matchups-to-watch
📆 All the action continues Saturday, March 2 and wraps up Sunday, March 3rd. American fans better get used to waking up early, as the first events each day kick off at 5 am E.T., but most of the finals are relatively easy to watch as the afternoon sessions each day are between 2 pm and 5 pm E.T. A full timetable of events can be found here.
💻 The whole championships is streaming live on Peacock (subscription required), but unfortunately, the only live TV window will be Sunday, 2-5 pm E.T., on CNBC. You can find a full streaming/TV schedule here.
🔜 We'll be sharing Anderson's daily recaps and dispatches from Scotland on the CITIUS MAG Podcast feed and YouTube channel.
Keep tabs on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel as he'll be uploading tons of interviews from the mixed zone there. We'll be sharing live updates on Twitter/X; Instagram and Threads all throughout the weekend.

Feb 29, 2024 • 10min
World Indoor Championships Preview: Head-to-Head Matchups to Watch
CITIUS MAG contributor Anderson Emerole is in Glasgow to bring you tons of interviews, updates and insights from the 2024 World Indoor Championships taking place from March 1-3.
He breaks down:
Men's 60m: Noah Lyles vs. Christian Coleman
Men's 3000m: Getnet Wale vs. Selemon Barega vs. Josh Kerr vs. Yared Nuguse
Women's 3000m: Gudaf Tsegay vs. Lemlem Hailu vs. Laura Muir vs. Elle St. Pierre vs. Jessica Hull
Women's 60m: Aleia Hobbs vs. Julien Alfred
Men's 400m: Karsten Warholm's odds
Women's 400m: Can anyone stop Femke Bol?
Men's 60m hurdles: Will Grant Holloway's undefeated streak continue?
Women's 60m hurdles: Can world record holder Devynne Charlton continue her hot streak for her first global championship medal?
Men's pole vault: How high will Mondo Duplantis go?
Men's Shot Put: Can Ryan Crouser get the elusive world indoor title?
📰 You can read our full preview of all the sprints, distance and field event action here: https://citiusmag.com/articles/world-athletics-indoor-championships-preview-athletes-storylines-matchups-to-watch
📆 All the action kicks off on Friday, March 1st and wraps up Sunday, March 3rd. American fans better get used to waking up early, as the first events each day kick off at 5 am E.T., but most of the finals are relatively easy to watch as the afternoon sessions each day are between 2 pm and 5 pm E.T. A full timetable of events can be found here.
💻 The whole championships is streaming live on Peacock (subscription required), but unfortunately, the only live TV window will be Sunday, 2-5 pm E.T., on CNBC. You can find a full streaming/TV schedule here.
🔜 We'll be sharing Anderson's daily recaps and dispatches from Scotland on the CITIUS MAG Podcast feed and YouTube channel.
Keep tabs on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel as he'll be uploading tons of interviews from the mixed zone there. We'll be sharing live updates on Twitter/X; Instagram and Threads all throughout the weekend.

Feb 26, 2024 • 52min
Rory Linkletter After Running 2:08:01 At Sevilla Marathon, Hits Olympic Qualifying Mark | Race Recap + Reflection
Rory Linkletter is a Canadian marathoner for PUMA. He just ran 2:08:01 at the Seville Marathon to get under the Olympic qualifying standard. He is in a good position to get selected by Athletics Canada for Paris. Canadian record holder Cam Levins has already been selected for the team and assuming no one else runs faster than Rory in the next two months, he’ll be set to go to his first Olympics.
Rory was a standout runner at BYU and then turned professional in 2019. He spent some time with HOKA NAZ Elite before choosing to leave the team in 2022 and has been working with Ryan Hall in Flagstaff, Arizona. In this episode, you’ll hear all about why the training has worked so well. He shares a bit about Ryan’s coaching and training philosophy. Plus, I try to start some trash talk between Rory and Conner Mantz or Clayton Young – his former teammates.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Rory Linkletter | @rory_linkletter on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🎽 Bandit is a performance-running brand based in Brooklyn, New York. They also just relaunched their Membership, a program that enhances your relationship with Bandit via early access, discounts, and exclusive events/gear/content/you-name-it. Get 20% off the Membership (and any product if it's your first order) by using code Citius20.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

Feb 22, 2024 • 42min
Hillary Bor To Make Half Marathon Debut In NYC Half; Still Going For Third Olympic Team In Steeplechase
"When I ran the Cherry Blossom (10 Miler), it was very windy. And what I did in that time (46:11), I felt like I could have sustained that pace for a while. Plus the environment – the wind, the temperature was very cold… Based on the training I was doing, my coach felt like I could go under 60 (minutes). We've been planning on just getting a solid half, and then a really fast half. It's really in my mind. So hopefully. Hopefully, after the track season this year I can find a really fast (half marathon) and try to get the American record there."
Hillary Bor is a two-time U.S. Olympian in the steeplechase and the third-fastest American steeplechaser in history. He is preparing to make his half marathon debut at the United Airlines NYC Half on March 17. This is a highly-anticipated half marathon debut since Bor ran 46:11 last year to break Greg Meyer’s American record of 46:13 for 10 miles at the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler. Even with his track success, he’s taken well to the roads.
In this episode, Bor talks about his hopes for a career on the roads, why he thought Ryan Hall’s 59:43 American record could be attainable, when he’s thinking about the marathon and why his training group under coach Scott Simmons has him set up for success. He also has unfinished business on the track as he looks to make his third Olympic team this summer for Paris.
Hillary also shares some of his own story coming from Kenya from an accomplished running family, his NCAA career at Iowa State and then joining the U.S. Army before his running career took off.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Hillary Bor | @bor.hillary on Instagram
Time Stamps:
4:21: Sharing about battling injuries in 2023.
5:15 - Why he’s choosing to race at the NYC Half Marathon.
7:15 - His upcoming plans for racing on the roads and track.
8:25 - How he broke his foot while racing in Rabat.
10:12 - Details on his injury recovery.
10:59 - How his injury impacted steeplechase training.
12:16 - His transition from the track to the roads.
14:59 - Aspirations for the American half marathon record.
15:50 - What his weekly training structure looks like.
17:03 - His plans for the 2024 Olympic Trials.
18:31 - Thoughts on his steeplechase competitors.
21:39 - Thoughts on the U.S. steeplechase scene.
25:34 - Mindset on closing speed at Diamond League races.
27:30 - His family’s history with running.
34:33 - His relationship with his brother.
35:54 - Mindset on his accomplishments.
37:46 - What he’s most excited about this year.
40:10 - What running was like growing up in Kenya.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🎽 Bandit is a performance-running brand based in Brooklyn, New York. They also just relaunched their Membership, a program that enhances your relationship with Bandit via early access, discounts, and exclusive events/gear/content/you-name-it. Get 20% off the Membership (and any product if it's your first order) by using code Citius20.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

Feb 22, 2024 • 1h 2min
Allie Wilson After Winning The 2024 U.S. Indoor 800m Title Unsponsored, Headed To World Indoors
“I feel like that's why I got so emotional after that race – because this was the first time where I performed to my standards when it mattered. And that's such a big relief off my shoulders now, especially going into the Olympic year. It always felt a little phony for me to be like, ‘I'm going to make this team,’ or ‘I'm going to do this,’ because it hadn't happened yet. And now it has. And now I know that I can do it when it matters most.”
Allie Wilson just won the U.S. Indoor Championships 800m title in Albuquerque, New Mexico for her first career national crown. With the victory, she also qualified for the World Indoor Championships taking place in Glasgow, Scotland next month. This will be her first time on a U.S. national team for a global championship.
For Allie, the victory comes after a series of shortcomings at national championships. She was sixth at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. She was fourth at the 2022 U.S. Championships. Last year was a rollercoaster year where she only reached the semifinals and was also dealing with the fact that her coaches Andrew and Amy Begley would be parting ways with the Atlanta Track Club. She decided to take a risk and leave the team and her sponsorship with Adidas to follow her coaches to Indiana, where she is now living and training. This weekend gave her confidence in her decision-making.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Allie Wilson | @allie_oop9 on Instagram
Time stamps:
4:14 - Thoughts after qualifying for her first U.S. team.
5:04 - When she realized that changes would be happening with the Atlanta Track Club (ATC).
6:44 - Why she decided to stick with her coaches after leaving ATC.
13:43 - Her running career trajectory over the past few years.
17:20 - The race where she made the biggest jump in her running career.
19:25 - Her emotions after winning the 800m at Indoor USAs + what the race means to her.
23:12 - How she gets the most out of herself in races.
25:18 - Getting tripped up in the 800m at Indoor USAs.
26:05 - How she responded to getting tripped up.
28:07 - Breaking down the race.
30:07 - Celebrating after the race.
32:06 - How she overcame doubts leading into the race.
37:53 - Why she switched up her hairstyle for Indoor USAs.
39:51 - How she’s been able to support herself as an unsponsored athlete.
45:10 - Her relationship with the family she nannies for.
49:10 - What she eats on race day.
51:35 - Her experience being featured on Road to Tracktown.
53:44 - The most nervous she’s been before a race.
55:06 - Her favorite race of all-time.
58:20 - The best piece of advice she’s been given by a coach.
59:37 - Her plans for what’s next.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🎽 Bandit is a performance-running brand based in Brooklyn, New York. They also just relaunched their Membership, a program that enhances your relationship with Bandit via early access, discounts, and exclusive events/gear/content/you-name-it. Get 20% off the Membership (and any product if it's your first order) by using code Citius20.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

Feb 21, 2024 • 23min
U.S. Indoor Championship Recap; The Problems & Solutions With USATF.TV + World Athletics' Revolutionary Change To The Long Jump | The Lap Count
This is The Lap Count newsletter by Kyle Merber, as read by Chris Chavez.
Join more than 16,000 people who stay up-to-date with all the thrilling action and biggest stories in the world of track & field – delivered right to your inbox every Wednesday morning. Subscribe at http://thelapcount.com/
In this week's newsletter:
– US Indoor Championships: Let the record show 🇺🇸
– MEMBERS ONLY: How to easily increase viewership 📺
– WERELD RECORD: FEMKE BOL 🇳🇱
– Is Tebogo the biggest threat to Lyles? 🇧🇼
– A Modest Proposal: Jump From Anywhere ✅
+ more rapid-fire highlights from the past week
You can read this week's newsletter here ➡️ https://www.thelapcount.com/p/no-fouls
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟 NEW BALANCE – The 2024 New Balance Nationals Indoor will return to Boston from March 7 – March 10. The best athletes in high school track & field will compete at the TRACK at New Balance and the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center. Learn more here: https://nbnationalsin.com/

Feb 16, 2024 • 42min
Zach Panning Still Proud Of His Effort After Finishing Sixth At The 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials (2:10:50) + What's Next | Race Recap + Reflection
"I was in Atlanta (for the 2020 Olympic Trials) watching on the sidewalks. Here, I was a player in the race. And now it's just focusing on 2028 and just continuing to get better each and every day. That's been my focus since I started running – just being faster today than I was yesterday and just checking off all those boxes to do that. Focusing on the process makes the outcome not easy to get over, but it makes it more bearable knowing how far you've come and how far you still have to go."
My guest for today’s episode is Zach Panning – a marathoner for the Hansons Brooks Distance Project. He just finished sixth at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando but that doesn’t tell the full story. He went for it and found himself at the front of the race by Mile 5 and led for about 17 miles of the whole thing. Eventually, Conner Mantz and Clayton Young pulled away and Panning was left on his own to fend off a challenge from a charging Elkanah Kibet, Leonard Korir and CJ Albertson. Those three guys managed to pass him in the final three miles.
Panning made that race. He fell short but he was still super proud of the effort in his interviews afterward. Almost two weeks since the race, we checked in to see how he was feeling and how he’s going to take that as a major learning opportunity for future marathons.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Zach Panning | @zachpanning on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
🎽 Bandit is a performance-running brand based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2022, they just had 9 athletes compete in the Marathon Trials and told those stories via their documentary-style YouTube series "Dialed": Check those out here.
They also just relaunched their Membership, a program that enhances your relationship with Bandit via early access, discounts, and exclusive events/gear/content/you-name-it. For a limited time, get 20% off the Membership (and any product if it's your first order) by using code Citius20.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

Feb 14, 2024 • 22min
Remembering Kelvin Kiptum (1999-2024); Josh Kerr Backs His Talk + More Millrose Games Highlights; Mo Katir Suspended | The Lap Count
This is The Lap Count newsletter by Kyle Merber, as read by Chris Chavez.
Join more than 16,000 people who stay up-to-date with all the thrilling action and biggest stories in the world of track & field – delivered right to your inbox every Wednesday morning. Subscribe at http://thelapcount.com/
In this week's newsletter:
– The Tragic Loss of Kelvin Kiptum 🕊
– When he can walk the walk after all the talk 🗣
– The World Record You Didn’t See Coming 🇧🇸
– The Wanamaker Mile: It counts for something! 💥
– Under Armour Had Themselves A Weekend 🌌
– Provisional Suspension for Whereabouts Failure: Mo Katir 🇪🇸
+ more rapid-fire highlights from the past week
You can read this week's newsletter here ➡️ https://www.thelapcount.com/p/3-track-field
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
👟VELOUS is the active recovery footwear brand that is designed to help you Restore, Revive and Reenergize before and after you train. They are launching two new styles to their recovery mix for Spring ‘24. The Active Slide and Active Flip collection.
These active recovery sandals are super lightweight and equipped with VELOUS three-part Tri-Motion technology. They cradle your heel with impact-absorbing foam that cushions your feet with every step, amazing arch support and forefoot flex that allows your fatigued feet and toes to stretch and relax. VELOUS is focused on helping athletes recover faster, before and after you train, so you can get after your next run at your best. Run. Recover. Repeat with VELOUS!
Enjoy a 20% discount by entering the code: CITIUSMAG20 at checkout at VelousFootwear.com

Feb 14, 2024 • 38min
The Evolution of Hobbs Kessler | How To Run A 3:48 Mile Without Going Over 7 Miles For Any Run
"For the longest time, my definition of mental toughness was being in the call room and not being scared and not being nervous. As I get older, I think mental toughness or mental resilience is being scared, being nervous, but knowing you're mentally robust and that you can handle these stressful situations. And trusting your fitness is there, trusting yourself and your instincts, that all the pieces are there and it's not going to fail. It's okay to be nervous."
It's been almost three years since Hobbs Kessler joined the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Back in 2021, he was a high school phenom out of Michigan before turning pro ahead of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. Now, he's the world champion and world record holder in the road mile. We caught up just two days after he ran 3:48.86 to finish second in the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games to become the second-fastest American man in history.
In this episode, he opens up about his training and adjustments he's made – including not running any run longer than seven miles, doubling every day and still sharpening his speed. Hobbs also shares how he's changed in his approach to racing and feels that he belongs among the best pros.
Time Stamps:
4:39 - Recalling his first summer as a pro.
5:15 - His confidence before becoming an established pro.
6:23 - Some of the low points he’s experienced over the past two years.
8:16 - The people that have had the greatest impact on him.
9:07 - His training and mindset leading into the 2024 indoor season.
11:33 - What training in Flagstaff looked like for him in January.
13:57 - His training philosophy + finding what training works best for him.
17:50 - Experimenting with training.
18:31 - Breaking down his training structure.
20:19 - How he’s been able to continue developing speed.
24:13 - Race tactics and strategy.
26:08 - Goals heading into the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile.
27:50 - Thoughts leading into Indoor USAs.
29:02 - Where his current fitness is at.
31:12 - Thoughts on the BU track.
32:20 - His favorite race.
33:45 - What race he would re-run if he could do it over
35:01 - Advice on managing nerves before racing.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Hobbs Kessler | @hobbs_kessler on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel

Feb 13, 2024 • 34min
Get To Know Providence's Kimberley May – Who Stunned Herself With A 4:27 Mile (No. 8 In NCAA History)
"One thing I've learned this year is I want to take things as opportunities and not be so scared. I look at things just as, ‘It's so cool that I got to be in that race,’ because when I was going into that mile, it was my first time ever being in an ‘A’ race. Instead of just freaking out, I was like, ‘This is such a cool opportunity. I get to run with these girls.’ So instead of freaking out, I’m just looking at it as I just get to try something new and see how it goes."
Providence junior Kimberley May shocked a lot of people – including herself with a 4:27.85 mile at Boston University just a few weeks ago. At the time, it was the No. 1 mark in the NCAA and No. 8 all-time. Since then, Harvard’s Maia Ramsden, Florida’s Flomena Asekol and Notre Dame’s Olivia Markezich have run faster. We have some good episodes on this feed with Maia and Olivia from last fall.
After the mile at BU, I realized there wasn’t a whole lot out there about Kimberley May so I reached out and wanted to learn more. She’s got personal bests of 2:04 for the 800m and 8:54 for 3000m. She’ll be one to watch at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships next month. Like Maia Ramsden, she’s also a New Zealand 1500m star on the rise.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Kimberley May | @kiimberleymay on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
💻 Visit CITIUSMAG.com | Our brand-new website hosts tons more podcasts, articles, videos and more. Track and field storytelling all in one place.
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel