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Artwork for Road to the Trials
Olympic Trials
Chicago Marathon
Marathon Running
Twin Cities Marathon
2028 Olympic Marathon Trials
Running
Marathon Training
Berlin Marathon
Running Community
2028 Olympic Trials
2024 Olympic Trials
Hanson's Brooks
Training
Olympic Trials Qualifiers
VDOT O2
Marathon Qualifying Times
CIM
Fitness
California International Marathon
2024 Marathon Trials

Co-hosts Matt Chittim, Lindsey Hein, and Peter Bromka interview every 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier along with a wide-ranging group of industry professionals in preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes165Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsRunning

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Artwork for Road to the Trials

Latest Episodes

Emily Saul joins Road to the Trials for a thoughtful conversation about the mental side of racing and what it takes to pursue big goals without letting pressure take over. A sports psychologist based in Boston, Emily works with athletes at every leve... more

Kristoffer Mugrage joins Road to the Trials to talk about his journey through multiple Olympic Trials cycles and what it takes to build a career in the marathon over the long term. Kris first came close to the Trials standard at CIM in 2019, missing ... more

This week on Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka talks with Macy McRowe, whose marathon training looks very different from the typical elite approach.

Instead of the standard 7-day training cycle, Macy structures her training around a 14-day schedule, ... more

Zach Kreft joins Road to the Trials after a remarkable 2025 season that included five marathons and a major breakthrough at the California International Marathon. After narrowly missing the Olympic Trials standard at the Chicago Marathon with a 2:16:... more

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Recent Guests

Kristoffer Mugrage
Elite marathoner, OTQ competitor
Independent athlete
Episode: Kristoffer Mugrage: 2:14:59 at The Marathon Project and the 130-Mile-Week Road Back to Boston
Macy McRowe
Elite marathon runner featured on the episode
Independent athlete / Cleveland-based group
Episode: Macy McRowe: The 2:36 Marathon Built on Cross Training and Two Runs a Week
Zach Kreft
Professional distance runner and OTQ hopeful
Independent athlete
Episode: Zach Kreft: Five Marathons in 2025 and the Fueling and Mindset That Unlocked 2:13
Felicia Pasadyn
Olympic Trials marathon qualifier, self-coached athlete
Med student (NYU), aspiring radiologist
Episode: Felicia Pasadyn: From D1 Swimmer to a Self-Coached 2:35 at New York
Ethan Shuley
Special guest, American marathoner
Episode: Ethan Shuley Races into American History with a 2:07 in Osaka
Emily Sisson
American record holder in the Marathon; five-time Olympic Trials qualifier
Professional Runner
Episode: Emily Sisson: 2:18:29 American Record, Five Olympic Trials, and the Pressure of Being the Favorite
Piper Atnip
Elite runner and OTQ qualifier featured guest
Independent athlete
Episode: Piper Atnip: From Tragedy to the Trials
Melissa Berry
Marathon debutant and Olympic Trials qualifier
Tracksmith Stamata
Episode: Melissa Berry: OTQ in Her 26.2 Debut with Tracksmith Stamata
Reed Fischer
Professional marathoner and World Championship participant.
Episode: Reed Fischer: Racing the World Stage and Preparing for Fatherhood

Hosts

Matt Chittim
Host and co-host of Road to the Trials, focusing on profiling Olympic Trials qualifiers and discussing training and race insights.
Lindsey Hein
Co-host of Road to the Trials; engages guests with running-focused conversations and industry perspectives.
Peter Bromka
Co-host; interviewer and storyteller, explores athletes' journeys, storytelling, and the road to Trials.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 212 ratings
  • Full on running nerd and loving it!

    This is a must listen and will make watching the 2028 trials race even more exciting! Love getting to know each of the athletes on their journeys and a personal level too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StephSpeedstickSandoval
    United States5 months ago
  • Do we really need another running podcast?

    One that follows runners digging deep for the next few years to qualify for the ‘28 Olympic marathon trials. Men, women, elites, subelites, anyone and everyone.

    Absolutely we need this, love it already!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    stkiley
    United States6 months ago
  • Lots of Good Nuggets

    I have been enjoying this series so much. Every person interviewed so far, whether really famous in the running world, or simply a talented running trying to hit this big goal, has offered such thoughtful insights into running toward your goals. Kudos to the interviewers for bringing out such great stories and responses. I am absolutely addicted to this series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roberta K94
    United States6 months ago
  • Love hearing from a variety of runners

    Matt, Peter, & Lindsey do a great job speaking with experts and runners leading up to the Olympic Trials. Love their dynamic and the conversations flow so well!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    quigsmsu354
    United States6 months ago
  • Leaving us hanging?

    Did everything fall of the road? We got introduced to some stories to invest in and then…?!?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    dani Xtreme
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans praise the deep, running-focused conversations and the range of guests from elites to OTQ hopefuls.
The show is appreciated for its hosting dynamic and engaging interview style; some episodes have left listeners wanting more pacing and episode continuity.
Listeners value the behind-the-scenes feel and actionable training insights for preparing for Trials.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#28
United States/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#85
Canada/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#127
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#52
Australia/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#55
Germany/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#124
France/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Felicia Pasadyn: From D1 Swimmer to a Self-Coached 2:35 at New York
Q: Tell us about the transition from swimming to running and how you decided to start training as a runner.
Felicia explains how she moved from a long swimming career to running, starting with a gradual transition after college and leveraging her endurance and discipline from swimming to build a sustainable, self-coached running routine.
Macy McRowe: The 2:36 Marathon Built on Cross Training and Two Runs a Week
Q: What are your race-day strategies for Indy and future goals?
At Indy, she relied on pacing from Pacers and then trusted her own pacing plan to stay on target, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the Olympics and exploring further possibilities beyond Trials.
Macy McRowe: The 2:36 Marathon Built on Cross Training and Two Runs a Week
Q: What role does nutrition play in sustaining this plan?
Nutrition was a major unlock; after addressing a deficit and working with a dietician, she focused on fats and carbs to fuel the high-quality training, with protein playing a supportive but not primary role.
Macy McRowe: The 2:36 Marathon Built on Cross Training and Two Runs a Week
Q: How does your unconventional training plan work on a weekly basis?
She trains on a 14-day cycle, with four days of running spread across the period, mostly cross-training on equipment like treadmills, and a long run every other week at marathon pace, guided by her coach.
Macy McRowe: The 2:36 Marathon Built on Cross Training and Two Runs a Week
Q: What was the turning point that made you believe you could run a marathon faster than before?
A spring half marathon performance showed the time could convert into marathon potential, prompting her coach to push for a systematic, faster marathon conversion rather than incremental, traditional gains.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About Road to the Trials

What is Road to the Trials about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on profiling every 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, plus a broader look at running, training, sponsorship, and industry trends in the lead-up to Los Angeles. Episodes typically feature in-depth conversations with elite and sub-elite runners, coaches, and industry colleagues, exploring training philosophies, race tactics, recovery, motivation, sponsorship dynamics, and the evolving landscape of the sport. A notable strength is the blend of athlete-centric storytelling with practical insights for listeners aiming to improve performance, qualify for big races, or understand how the Trials ecosystem operates. The format tends to mix interview depth with scene-setting context from the hosts, delivering a narrative-rich r... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Road to the Trials?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Road to the Trials:

1. Ali on the Run Show
2. Relay
3. I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein Podcast
4. The Strength Running Podcast
5. Fast People

How many episodes of Road to the Trials are there?

Road to the Trials launched 7 years ago and published 165 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Road to the Trials?

Recent guests on Road to the Trials include:

1. Kristoffer Mugrage
2. Macy McRowe
3. Zach Kreft
4. Felicia Pasadyn
5. Ethan Shuley
6. Emily Sisson
7. Piper Atnip
8. Melissa Berry

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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