Road to the Trials

Latest Episodes:

Road to the Trials: The Road Ahead Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Hi all! We wanted to pop on with a quick update from the Road to the Trials team, revisit a few of our past episodes, and share a little of what’s ahead.

We’re taking a down week, but there’s a lot coming this fall. We have a ton of great interviews lined up with more athletes on their Road to the Trials, so buckle up. We’re just getting started!

And if you’ve been enjoying the show, consider supporting us on Patreon. Your support helps us keep telling these stories and fueling the Road to the Trials.

Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Sarah Czuprynski Went From a 4:04 Marathon to an OTQ Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Czuprynski will be the first to tell you that the marathon has never come naturally to her. In fact, she’ll also tell you she hates it.

Her first marathon took more than four hours. She eventually qualified for Boston, broke three hours for the first time at New York, dropped her PR to 2:43, and then ran 2:36 at CIM to qualify for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Most recently, she lowered her PR again to 2:35 at Grandma’s Marathon. Her progression is pretty incredible, but Sarah’s story is about so much more than the times she’s run.

Sarah takes Peter through her entire marathon journey, including the heartbreaking story behind her first marathon. Her dad, who was her biggest supporter, unexpectedly passed away just before he was supposed to fly to Los Angeles to watch her race. When Sarah finally ran the LA Marathon the following year, she carried his ashes and a cross around her neck for all 26.2 miles.

This is an inspiring episode, enjoy!

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Road to the Trials Patreon

Want even more Road to the Trials? Join Peter and Lindsey on Patreon for bonus episodes, deep dives, Trials predictions, Q&As, and plenty of marathon geekery as we count down to 2028.

Join the Road to the Trials Patreon at Patreon.com/relayandtrials.

Breanna Sieracki: Baby #3, Another Olympic Trials, and the Belief That Sub-2:30 Is Coming Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Breanna Sieracki joins Lindsey and Peter on Road to the Trials after qualifying for her second Olympic Marathon Trials and with baby number three on the way.

Breanna’s path to the marathon is such a good one. She came out of college as a steeplechaser and 5K runner who swore she would never run a marathon. Then, during her first pregnancy, she started wondering what it might look like to train for one postpartum. She debuted at CIM 10 months after having her first daughter, then came back at Grandma’s Marathon in 2023 and ran 2:33 to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Trials.

We talk about how motherhood has changed Breanna as an athlete, learning to give herself more grace in training, and what she’s learned through multiple postpartum rebuilds. She also takes us inside Minnesota Distance Elite, her relationship with Coach Lundstrom, and the individualized training that has helped her grow from a relatively low-mileage college runner into someone who thrives during 80–110 mile marathon weeks.
Breanna also opens up about her difficult day at Boston, the vulnerable post about her race that unexpectedly went viral, and how hard it was to deal with criticism and comments about her body while already processing the disappointment of the race itself. We talk about the patience required when you know the fitness and the potential are there, but life means the next opportunity may still be a ways off.

Her message at the end of this conversation says it best: you can chase multiple dreams. Your path might look different from someone else’s, but that doesn’t mean you have to choose only one.

Carrie Ellwood’s Rise From First Grade Teacher to 2:22 Marathoner Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

Carrie Ellwood is having the kind of year that can change a running career. She finished 10th overall and fourth American at the Boston Marathon in 2:22, signed her first professional contract with ASICS shortly after, and has firmly put herself in the conversation as someone to watch heading toward the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials.

Carrie spent seven years as a first grade teacher while continuing to train and compete at a high level. Two years ago, she stepped away from the classroom without a big contract waiting for her or a breakout race guaranteeing that professional running would work out. She simply knew she would regret it if she didn’t give herself the chance to see how good she could be. Now, that bet on herself is paying off.

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Patreon preview... Aug 08, 2026

Show notes

Hey running geeks, we're getting going on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials

Please join us over there for special deep dives, Q&As, and other special content we've got cooking up.

In this preview we share a clip of our 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials episode, my oh my was it fun to dive back into the now 2-year past of USA marathoning, which begins to serve as a preview for the Trials in St. Louis in under 24 months.

Thank you for your support of this project of love!

Murphy Smith Ran 2:08 in Just His Second Marathon Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Just one year removed from competing at the NCAA Championships, Murphy Smith has already established himself as one of the brightest young marathoners in the United States. After debuting with a 2:11 at the California International Marathon, Murphy returned just months later to run 2:08:58 at the Boston Marathon, earning a spot in the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and announcing himself as a serious contender for the future.

In this episode, Murphy shares why he skipped the traditional path of spending years on the track before moving up to the marathon, what he's learned training with the B.A.A. High Performance Team under Mark Carroll, and how balancing graduate school, military service, and elite running has shaped his perspective. He also opens up about overcoming injuries, navigating sleep struggles during his time at the Naval Academy, and the role his faith has played throughout his running journey.

In this episode, we cover:

Running 2:08:58 at the Boston Marathon in just his second marathon
Why he moved to the marathon immediately after college
Training alongside Galen Rupp and Robert Miranda at Boston
Life with the B.A.A. High Performance Team and coach Mark Carroll
Building from 97-mile weeks in college to 130-mile marathon training
Balancing graduate school, military service, and elite running
His upcoming Chicago Marathon goals
Serving in the U.S. Navy and preparing for nuclear power school
Learning to embrace flexibility instead of rigid training
How his Christian faith has helped him through setbacks and success
Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials and beyond

Follow Murphy:
Instagram: @murphysmith__

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Inside Robert Miranda's Breakthrough 2:09 Marathon Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Robert Miranda's marathon breakthrough didn't happen overnight. After narrowly missing his goals in Chicago, withdrawing from the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials, and learning some hard lessons through self-coaching, he returned to Boston this spring to run a lifetime best of 2:09:40 and officially join the growing list of American men under 2:10.

In this conversation, Robert shares his unique journey from Yale student and UCLA mathematics PhD to the B.A.A. High Performance Team, why he believes consistency matters more than perfect workouts, and how becoming a father has reshaped both his running and his perspective. He also reflects on the setbacks that nearly pulled him away from the sport, what he's learned about racing the marathon, and why his focus is firmly on being ready for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

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From Walk-On to Boston PR: Charlie Sweeney's Road to the Trials Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Charlie Sweeney joins us after a personal best at the Boston Marathon to talk about the next chapter of his marathon career and why he believes he's just getting started. The former Division II walk-on turned CU Boulder standout reflects on his unconventional path through the sport, working with new coach David Roche, and the lessons he's learned from being coached by — and dating — Olympian Elise Cranny.

Charlie shares what it's like balancing a full-time job at COROS with professional running, why he believes confidence is often the biggest separator between athletes, and how he's approaching the long road toward the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

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How Rachel Schilkowsky Finally Solved the Marathon Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

Rachel Schilkowsky joins us after earning her spot at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a breakthrough 2:35:51 and second-place finish at the Vermont City Marathon. A five-time NCAA Division I All-American at Cornell, Rachel is a biomechanical engineer, mom of two, and self-coached athlete who has spent years chasing the marathon she knew she was capable of running.

In this episode, Rachel shares how returning to racing after having two children changed her perspective, why finally dialing in her fueling strategy made all the difference, and what it was like racing alongside Kellen Taylor on the way to her Olympic Trials qualifier. We also talk about self-coaching, balancing family life with elite training, the Green Racing Project, and why she's still chasing big goals on both the roads and the track.

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Lily Anderson: From Teaching in Brooklyn Classrooms to Brooklyn Track Club & an OTQ Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Lily Anderson joins us fresh off another strong marathon that secured her spot at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Lily shares how she went from teaching in New York City public schools through Teach For America to pursuing the marathon at a high level while becoming a key member of Brooklyn Track Club. She talks about finding her place in New York's thriving running community, balancing work with elite training, learning to embrace new training methods, and why the team aspect of running continues to motivate her.

Lily also reflects on earning her first Olympic Trials qualifier, battling injury, bouncing back with a 2:33 marathon, and why qualifying early has changed her mindset heading into the next marathon cycle. It's a conversation about patience, consistency, community, and enjoying the process of seeing what's possible.

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