Road to the Trials

Latest Episodes:

Emily Sisson: 2:18:29 American Record, Five Olympic Trials, and the Pressure of Being the Favorite Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka sit down with one of the most accomplished American distance runners of her generation: Emily Sisson.

Emily is the American record holder in the marathon with her 2:18:29 performance at the Chicago Marathon, a five-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and a two-time Olympian in both the 10,000m and the marathon. She reflects on the defining moments of her career — from the unforgettable “heat dome” 10,000m at the 2021 Trials to navigating the pressure of being the presumed favorite at the 2024 Marathon Trials.

Emily opens up about racing by feel, trusting instinct over splits, and how her Chicago American Record came together — including the now-famous detail that her watch died mid-race. She shares how championship-style racing feels like a game compared to time-chasing, and why some of her proudest moments have come when she let go of the clock entirely.

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Piper Atnip: From Tragedy to the Trials Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Matt Chittim and Peter Bromka sit down with Piper Atnip for one of the most powerful conversations of the season.

Piper’s journey to the Olympic Trials is anything but ordinary. From profound personal tragedy to earning her spot on the start line, her story is one of resilience, perspective, and quiet strength. With clarity, humility, and emotional honesty, Piper shares how grief reshaped her relationship with running, competition, and herself.

The conversation explores the mental and emotional shifts that allowed her not only to return to racing, but to thrive. Piper reflects on learning to hold ambition lightly, on separating identity from performance, and on how the marathon became a space for healing rather than pressure.

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Melissa Berry: OTQ in Her 26.2 Debut with Tracksmith Stamata Feb 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka and Lindsey Hein sit down with Melissa Berry, fresh off an incredible marathon debut at the California International Marathon, where she ran 2:35:57 to qualify for the Olympic Trials.

Melissa grew up in Eugene, Oregon and ran collegiately at the University of Oregon, navigating the ups and downs of a six-year college career that spanned the COVID era. After graduation, she relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona — one of the country’s premier distance running hubs — and found herself rediscovering her competitive edge.

Her marathon journey accelerated when she was selected for the Tracksmith Stamata program, a team built around supporting women chasing the Olympic Trials standard. Melissa shares what it was like to attend training camp in Vermont, build community with a diverse group of women ages 24 to 44, and lean into the team-first mindset that defines the program.

A pivotal moment in her build came when she began consulting with Steph Bruce in the final month before CIM. Steph’s encouragement — and her belief that the OTQ was within reach — gave Melissa the confidence to commit fully to the goal. On race day, after tracking down the OTQ pack eight miles into the race, Melissa stayed patient, trusted her training, and raced the final 10K to secure her qualifier in her very first marathon.

The conversation explores imposter syndrome, the power of community, the transition from college running to the marathon, and the moment belief turns into reality. Melissa’s story is one of patience, humility, and the courage to say the goal out loud — and then go chase it.

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Reed Fischer: Racing the World Stage and Preparing for Fatherhood Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka and Matt Chittim sit down with Reed Fischer to talk about competing on the world stage, staying consistent at the top of U.S. marathoning, and what comes next on the road to 2028.

Reed reflects on his experience racing at the World Athletics Championships, breaking down how the race unfolded, what he learned from competing against the best in the world, and how championship racing differs from time-focused marathons. The conversation digs into his steady progression through the sport, the durability that has defined his career, and why consistency may be his greatest strength.

Beyond racing, Reed opens up about life off the course. With he and his wife preparing to welcome their first child, he talks about entering a new chapter while still competing at an elite level, and how perspective shifts when life expands beyond the starting line.

This episode is equal parts race analysis, career reflection, and forward-looking optimism from one of the most consistent American marathoners of the past decade.

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Hannah Chau: From an 18-Second Miss to Olympic Trials Qualifier Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Matt Chittim sits down with Hannah Chau, a newly minted Olympic Trials qualifier whose story blends big racing goals with an equally demanding path in medicine.

Hannah reflects on her first attempt at qualifying for 2024 while still at UC Irvine, when she narrowly missed the standard at CIM in a debut marathon that was both chaotic and unforgettable. She shares what she learned from that near miss, why she kept coming back, and how those earlier attempts helped her stay calm and execute when it mattered most.

Now in medical school at Creighton’s Phoenix campus, Hannah talks candidly about balancing a packed academic schedule with high-mileage training. She gets specific about how she made it work: early mornings, doubles, fitting strength work into the margins, and building a system that keeps running as an outlet without letting school slip. The conversation also touches on COVID’s impact on her college years and how that period shaped her perspective on mental health and long-term growth.

A major thread throughout the episode is family. Hannah’s mom has been a marathoner for years and running became a shared experience that strengthened their relationship. Hannah also opens up about the dynamic with her dad, expectations around academics, and how that support evolved over time.

This is a conversation about persistence, patience, and doing two hard things at once, with a finish-line payoff that’s been years in the making.

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Mimi Smith: Patience, Progress, and a 2:30 Breakthrough at Houston Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka is joined by Mimi Smith, fresh off a sixth-place finish at the Houston Marathon.

Mimi’s path to this breakthrough has been anything but overnight. She grew up in Chicago, ran collegiately at Wake Forest University, and made her Olympic Trials debut at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, where she finished 65th in just her third marathon.

After spending multiple seasons racing consistently in the mid-2:30s, Mimi took a major step forward in Houston, running 2:30:14 and proving what she firmly believes: if you keep racing, the times eventually come. She talks about trusting long-term development, staying patient through plateaus, and learning how to race with confidence rather than chasing a specific outcome.

Looking ahead, Mimi shares her big-picture goals for the next Olympic cycle, how she’s thinking about progress over the next two years, and why embracing the process has been key to her growth as a marathoner. This conversation is a reminder that steady commitment, resilience, and racing instincts still matter in a results-driven sport.

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Training on Tired Legs: Ethan Gregg & Awet Beraki on the Hansons Method Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Peter Bromka sits down with Hansons-Brooks Project teammates Ethan Gregg and Awet Beraki, two rising marathoners who recently made their debuts in Houston and secured Olympic Trials qualifying times.

Ethan and Awet share what it’s like joining one of the most storied marathon programs in the country, Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, where high mileage, long-term development, and team culture are non-negotiable. They walk through their decision to debut the marathon at Houston, why a “low-key” race mattered for development, and how running side-by-side through 19 miles shaped their race day experience.

The conversation also dives into their very different paths to the same starting line. Ethan reflects on his progression from Division III standout to professional marathoner, while Awet shares his extraordinary journey from Eritrea, through years of displacement and human trafficking, to Colorado Springs, collegiate success, and ultimately a national title at the Division II level.

Together, they talk about the Hansons training philosophy, learning to race patiently, building durability through volume, and why the real focus is not just qualifying, but showing up healthy and ready to compete together at the 2028 Olympic Trials.

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Katie Watson Qualifies Again in Houston Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Road to the Trials, Matt Chittim sits down with Katie Watson, a two-time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier whose path to the start line is defined as much by service as it is by performance. Katie balances elite-level marathon training with demanding work supporting children who have experienced trauma, a responsibility that shapes how she approaches running, recovery, and resilience. Fresh off another strong showing at the Houston Marathon, Katie reflects on longevity in the sport, staying grounded through pressure, and what it takes to keep showing up year after year at a high level.

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Peter Bromka with Zach Bitter on Storytelling, the Marathon, and the Road to the Olympic Trials Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Today on Road to the Trials, we’re sharing a special conversation originally recorded on the Human Performance Outliers podcast with host Zach Bitter.

In this wide-ranging discussion, Peter Bromka reflects on his own Olympic Trials journey, the fine margins of marathon performance, and why storytelling has become such a powerful force in modern running. The conversation explores what it really takes to chase elite goals, how hard work, genetics, and sustainability intersect, and why the marathon remains one of the most demanding and fascinating events in sport.

Peter also dives into the vision behind Road to the Trials, the rise of influencers in endurance sports, and the tension between performance, content, and authenticity in today’s running culture. It’s a thoughtful, honest look at ambition, limits, and what it means to pursue excellence without losing perspective.

This episode originally aired on Human Performance Outliers. We’re grateful to Zach for the conversation and encourage you to check out his show for more deep dives into endurance performance.

The Business of Road to the Trials (And What’s Next) Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Five months into Season 4, Peter, Matt, and Lindsey sit down for a behind-the-scenes check-in on what’s working, what’s surprised them, and what’s coming next. They talk about how the show came together, why CIM became the season’s biggest inflection point, and how the team is balancing an ever-growing wave of qualifiers with the goal of featuring every athlete who makes the standard. They also share how sponsorships have helped them keep the show running, what they’re learning about audience growth, and why the community response has made this project worth the effort.

A huge thank you to our new sponsors:

Precision Fuel and Hydration is joining the show as our exclusive fueling and nutrition partner for the next six months. We’re excited to work with a brand that’s deeply trusted in endurance sports, and we’re looking forward to going deeper on practical, personalized fueling and hydration strategies for both training and racing.

Wahoo is coming on as a new sponsor as well, and it feels like a big vote of confidence. Their treadmills and training ecosystem are used by athletes at every level, and we’re pumped to partner with a company that’s genuinely embedded in the running world and building products that help people train consistently year-round.

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