4.4. The Trail Mix Episode

What's up, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara, presented by Burexerunning. What's going on, Kara Goucher? How are you doing? I'm doing great. As you know, because you are there live with me, we are recording an hour late because I'm having some technical difficulties today. Yeah, last week we had these buttery, smooth audio tones. Beautiful. They're fine now, but they're not what they could be. They're not as good as they could be. Yeah, no, my microphone's not working. It's hating me lately. So I don't know. I think you guys have convinced me to try to get a new chord and see what happens when I do that. Hopefully, we'll be buttery, smooth next week. We got to do some troubleshooting. Troubleshooting the system, I think. Well, mine was broken for a long time too. The box would work and all the things would light up and you guys were like, no. So I bought the second most expensive piece first, which is the box. It didn't do anything. Then I was like, oh, I should probably start with a $9 chord. And that's what picks it. That's what it was. That was it. But if you're on the YouTube, you'll notice Kara Goucher sporting different headphones today that are capturing your audio. That's right. I'm spotting my purple iPhone. Are they purple throughout? Is it the purple pod and then headband? The top is white, but the rest is pink. Sorry, purple. Okay, my brother-in-law bought me the white one. My sister and my brother-in-law got me the white ones for my birthday last year and love them. They're great. But after six months, I was like, my ears are apparently disgusting all the time. So I bought two ones, but everything else is sweet. Is it because you wanted to clean this? Yeah. Yeah. So I just got these and they're already dirty on the inside, which makes me feel really sad. No, I know. I was like, I'm like, ashamed. I'm sure I'm scrubbing. Yeah. So I replaced it with a dark blue. So I was wondering if this was like a matched up thing, but they're actually just sold as purple. Beautiful. Okay. Good stuff. The important stuff. Hard hitting questions here. Yeah, okay. What did you get up to this weekend? Anything exciting? This weekend. I did have one of my good friends and her husband and their two kids came over for dinner Saturday night, which was really nice. And then yesterday, my sister-in-law and her husband were shopping at Pearl Street, so we went down to have coffee with them. It's a three-day weekend, so everyone feels a little bit more chill. Yeah. Even though it's just a little different. Yeah, even though tomorrow chaos ensues again and life goes back to normal, but yeah, I don't know. It's kind of a nice weekend. It's kind of a chill weekend. How about you? Same. I feel like trying to think of what we did. We had Ryan's dad, his birthday is today. Happy birthday, Len, Lyndon, listener and friend of the pod. We'll see if he gets to this episode, but they came over and Ryan cooked up dinner, had, they love a good glass of wine, and watched football. So that was fun. And then on Sunday, it's kind of funny because I feel like we have these lazy days. Oh my gosh, lazy day. So I'm going to go do my long run. Ryan's going to do his long run, and then we're going to have a lazy day. But that means like doing your 15 or 16-wiler and then you're going to use those. So it kind of counterbalances it, but it was just a lazy day with a long run. That's nice. Yeah, it was fun. And we've been getting some wicked weather. So. Have you? Yeah, we got some snow. Fair amount of snow last night. We were going to drive down state today, and we got winter weather advisory. It was like, don't drive the next couple. I think it ends tomorrow morning. So we'll drive tomorrow at some point, but yeah, just whipping wind like you can't see like a foot in front of you, just like a white out. Yeah, that's not good. Yeah, not great outside, but cozy inside. cozy. You would be proud of me. I had to watch football on Saturday because I had to our friends came over 10 seconds left in the game. And then of course it was a tie. So then I went to overtime. I made the mistake of saying, so will they keep playing? And everyone looked at me like I was a complete idiot. Playoffs season. They're like, Kara, it's the playoffs. Yes, they're going to keep playing. To the death. Yeah. And then everyone was really happy because they won, but then everyone was really sad while we were eating dinner because we found out that the quarterback is injured now for the season now. So it was like a very big roller coaster. I wasn't really on the ride. I'm not really invested in it, but everyone was like super tense and then super elated and then super sad. Yeah. Yeah, that was the highs of the highs and the lows of the lows. Super sad to end the game that way. Like the last play before the field goal and bow next breaks his ankle. I wonder if it had been like on the fringe or it was literally just like the way he landed. I didn't do a lot of follow up research. But yeah, like a little tiny taste of it. And I feel like we were watching my teams are out of it. And so I watch uninvested and then I kind of like pick a side as I'm watching the game. Like I'm actually like, I find myself rooting for someone and they always fucking lose. So all my teams that I they're not my teams lost anyways. The Patriots one. I was exciting. So that was kind of like a little victory. But yeah, I'm like, I don't know why I care. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. And then I'm like upset by the end of it. But I think it's because I naturally root for the underdog who's probably going to lose. And I please cheer, cheer me up, like make this happen. A miracle, a nice type of shit. And it rarely happens. So I'm always disappointed, which is silly. I need to get over it. Anyhow, I mean, I think it's great. Yeah, it's a good outlet. Will you watch will you watch the Broncos versus Patriots? Um, they play next weekend. Yes. Do you know what day they play Sunday? Probably. I don't I don't know the schedule. I imagine they're just on Sundays right now. Yeah, I'm sure that it will be on in my home. Yes, I'll just like, you know, like if the boys are watching it, like Adam will definitely be watching it. So new balance is Saturday night. And then I'm on like a, like a red eye coming back. I get back home at like 1 30am or something ridiculous like that. So like a lot of time I'll just hang out with them. But I'm also like reading or playing a game on my phone or yeah, I just like don't want to get heartbroken over it. I like I want Broncos. I earlier this season, Cole was like, dad, the Broncos are good to see like they could make it. And he was like, no, no, no, no, like talking them down because you didn't want to be disappointed. And now it's too late. Like they're both totally invested. So it'll be on and I will like watch. But I really like I hold a wall because I can only care about so much. That's a good way to approach it. And I think it's like worth remembering that at the end of the year, it's only one team that wins the last game. So there's a lot of heartbreak along the way. It's not just you. It's not just you. Yeah. I don't know. Well, they were all like so upset we were eating delicious steak tacos that Adam grilled when our friend son got the text that the quarterback was out and our mood went from like to just everyone was like so upset. They're like, well, it's over now. And I was like, whoa, we didn't even know we're playing yet guys. Yeah, that'll be it'll be a good game. I think it was Nick foals had a nice tweet, a little nod of support to the Broncos where backup quarterbacks have been known to do magical things against the Patriots. So you never know. Never know. Well, I was like this, this could be someone else's time to shine. And but they were all they were basically like, you don't know you're talking about and I didn't have a good comeback because I don't like realistically happen, but it'll be a fun story. It's kind of like reading for Phillip Rivers. You're like, this is going to be so great. Like, gonna be a documentary or movie one day. And you know, what's going to happen like the schedule is way too strong and he's kind of out of shape, but it's still fun to hope. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Nice. So yeah. Good stuff. What else? How's the training going? Oh, actually, let's just talk about that. Let's talk about Des Lyndon and your big trail debut. Yeah, he has announced last week. So like a few questions. Okay. What made you ready to announce it? And then why Black Canyon? Yeah. Well, I partnered up with goo nutrition, which has great product. They're really big in the trail world. I know Magda well, and they're going to be doing a lot of my nutrition for MDS. So not just like stuff they sell on the site, but like very specific stuff that we're going to do a little testing in their lab and they're going to package all the food up for MDS. So it's pretty cool resource to have. Also, they've done it before for Magda. So it's not like they're just testing it out on me. They're like, no, no, we know what to do. We've got a process for it. So that'll be really cool. And so it was their kind of announcement that we're partnering up together. And then I believe in there, they mentioned that my first trail race would be Black Canyon 50 K. Another perk of being with goo is that I get a lot of like bibs from them. They're like, oh, we get entries to the races we sponsor. So let us know if you want to eat. And I was going to be in Arizona visiting my sister and brother-in-law. They do vacation out in Sedona for a little stretch in the winter. And I was like, oh, I will need to do a long run. And this races out there. And the 100 K looks amazing. So if I can get a bib, I'll jump in and do the 50 K. I didn't think it needed any type of announcement. It was just like, I happened to be there and there happens to be a race. I'm going to do it. But yeah, it's a huge race. And so I think when that was in the press release for the nutrition sponsorship, it was like, oh, like that for some reason caught people's attention. The bigger thing for the year is going to be MDS, which I'm excited for. And that's in April? That's in April. April 13th. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. But so what are your hopes for a Black Canyon? You've run the 50 K before you're the world record holder on the roads in the 50 K. So you know, you can go in the distance. Like, what about this race is appealing to you? What are your goals for it? What are you excited about? Yeah, I mean, location is appealing because I will be in the same place as this race. And same day finish, you want to, you know, finish that same day, keeping the rubber on the road, staying upright, you know, that's going to be important. Yeah, I don't really have any specific goals for it. It's really just going out and getting in 30 plus miles. And yeah, I will say my training is really targeted for big April. So I'll do MDS. I'm going to come back and run Boston with Ryan. And then we're going to turn around and do something in London. So I'll have a big stretch there. So I'm just starting out. I did 15 miles as my long run on Sunday. I will do maybe 18 this coming this weekend coming up and then maybe be able to get into 20 to 22 miler. And then it's going to be time for Black Canyon. So the distance is still daunting because I'm just not in great shape. But yeah, I'm excited to just like mix it up with the community out there. And the 100K is look epic. So I'm excited to watch those or at least you guys start at the same time, the 50 and the 100. So 100K is the day before. So a lot of people will crew and then come back and run the 50K. And we're doing a team for MDS which Magna's on. And then our friend Dave is on as well. And he's going to be out probably shooting the 100K, but then running the 50K as well. So we get some team time. We're looking for a good team, a good team name. And Dave was having a martini last night. And I said, Hey, while you're lubricated, while the mines lubricated, because of the team names, that was a pretty good list. But I think the front runner is Sand Nudes. That was a pretty funny one. But we're open to suggestions. That's just it for right now. But yeah, if people want to throw comments down of what they think the team name should be, would love to hear them. If you're using the martinis for the creativity, let us know that as well. Okay, that's funny. Sand Nudes. Do you have a good one? I'm gonna have to think. What about like Sand Dunes, please? Does that close enough to like Sand Nudes, please? Sand Dunes, please? No, it's too far off. You get the idea. How is your training different as you're leading into these ultra distances compared to when you're focusing on the marathon? Like last year, you were super giled. You were very focused on Boston, on making it count your last competitive marathon that you went all in on. How is it different this year? I mean, even just mentality, I'm like, this is just more fun, which is good. And pace wise, it's not as focused on like, I have to hit this number. I think right now, it's just so early. The weather's so crappy. I'm on the treadmill with the heater on that it's just like get time on feet in, which I think will be important. We talked about that, though like slow down and run for seven hours or whatever you suggested that was crazy. So that'll be something that I have to do. But yeah, I think right now it's like one getting in shape, and then two bringing the variables of MDS. So like run on soft surfaces, sand with heat, and then also with weight. So I'll probably have a pack that I'm running with a lot. And then I need to do some gym work. We talked about that too. Hit the gym. Get huge. We're going to be together next week, maybe we should go to the gym together. Yeah, you can spot me. Are those three pound dumbbells? Just do the bar. Oh, the dumbbells. Cool. Okay. Well, I mean, I think that this has kind of been coming, right? Like you had hoped to run an ultra in the fall and it just didn't work out. So now you're kind of like getting into it. Are you hoping this is like the beginning of maybe a new, just like a different career? Different surfaces, different distances? Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think it, I do, I think I'm allowed to have fun. Like there was obviously someone who immediately, you know, has to critique the decision like, why would you MDS? That's a stupid race. It's nothing. Why aren't you running Black Canyon, 100K, whatever. Like I reserve the right to have some fun. I don't feel like I need to prove anything to anyone at this point in my career. So like if you had some sort of schedule planned out for me that you thought I needed to do to prove to you and whoever that I'm legit in this space, I regret to inform you, I'm unaware of that plan and two, I don't really care. I'm going to do what I want. But that being said, there are like, I like, there's a reason to pick Black Canyon 50K for fun. Even if I'm doing it for fun, like there is a really big 100K there that maybe I'm learning half of it this year. And then maybe next year I go back and do the whole thing. Or maybe I realize I can hate it and I'm not going to do that race. So there's strategic decisions involved. And I do have some goals for the rest of this year. But right now MDS is like, it's just been a bucket list race that I've always wanted to do. It's so different. I think it allows me to like not worry about the Boston Marathon this year, like I'm not trying to run a time there. I'm not trying to run a fast marathon. I'm not trying to get prepared for that. I'm trying to get prepared for this very specific thing. And that's going to cost me Marathon Fitness, which is not my concern anymore. This is, and I think that that's like a good place to start because it just makes me focus in a different direction, if that makes sense. It sounds a little freeing too. Yeah, because you're just like, this is nothing to do with that. Right. Yeah. And you can't, unless you're Saphon Hassan, you can't be preparing for this other thing that you're interested that you really want to do while also being like, but I have to show up at Boston. I have to be ready to go. I have, you know what I mean? Right. So it's kind of freeing. You're like, Hey, I'm going to all in on this other thing. I'm going to try it. I'm going to have fun with some friends, but I'll still be at Boston, but it's at a different capacity. And also like, I feel like you could say, and not just from my own experience, you could say, I'm coming to Boston, I'm running with Ryan, I'm just having fun. But in the back of their minds, people are like, Oh, yeah, I don't know, she'll come because people will still say stuff like that to me. They'll be like, Oh, well, what are you really trying to run? Yeah. And I'm like, Yeah, no, no, I'm not, you know, I'm really just out here to have some fun and to get to connect with communities. So I think it's good too, because it gives you some freedom from those people of like, no guys, I'm running across the Sahara desert. Right. I'm really not in marathon shape right now. Yeah. I mean, I think we'll see how the training goes, but I would like, Ryan's going to want to run well. I think the goal for me will be under 237. So yeah, I mean, that's still really good. Don't get me wrong. But it's different than when you're trying to run. Yeah. Yeah. Right. It's 10. Like, I would like, if I'm 10 minutes slower than last year, I'd be thrilled. Yeah. 11 minutes, I'll be pissed. So there you have it. There's the goal. Okay. And wait, tell me what that turnaround is. So your race is April 13th or the 16th? 13th. You say 13th. And then I think I might say, like, whatever the timeframe is, like goof around in Morocco, get fed. Because I think you're just like depleted. And then maybe have a day at home or fly directly to Boston. To Boston. Yeah. Okay. And then do that. And then we'll have to do, we'll have to do, we'll get to do London. Yes. Which I'm also going to run London. Yeah. I'm, I'm pacing CB. Oh, you are. I didn't know that. We talked about that. Okay. Nice. Okay. We did. Yeah. It was, yeah, we've talked about this, but that's, yeah, like that's the goal. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. I told her official official. Yeah. Yeah. I secured a bib. Okay. I'm in. And that if I ever am interested in like the whole 12 stars or whatever that now, I'm on my way. He know, I don't know. I don't know what they're doing. But I'm in it. I'm not now I'm in it. What are they at? So I know someone who's getting their six star this year. Because I was Chicago, London, Boston, New York. The way you did that just blew my brain. It was like so wrong. Tokyo, Boston, London, London, Berlin, Chicago, Chicago, New York. Okay. Yeah. I don't know. I was all over the time. Wow. Did you go by math? Was that alphabetical order? Like what happened? I have no idea what it is. Okay. But now there's a bunch more. So it's interesting. Like, are they going to have bigger metals? Is the six star still like is it still a thing? Or do you get to pick the six? I think this is what I think. If I were in charge, I don't think you start saying like seven stars, nine star, whatever. I think you keep six stars. But this allows more people to have the opportunity to actually get six stars, right? Like I couldn't get into Boston, but you did get into Tokyo. And that's really cool too. And six is really like what the core of this thing was. I'm sure people will still be like, well, I've run 12. And so you're a stupid, fuck you. And whatever they can think what they want. But I would like if they just kept six as the core personally, right? They'll have to change the metal. I think if you have a bigger metal, you should add on pins or like charm. I mean, inevitably, people will, right? Inevitably, people will have their own thing. And it's like no shade to you. But also I do think like to get like a 12 star of metal or whatever, there's like a certain amount of like, you got to have the money to do that. You got to have the ability to travel to all these places. Like it just becomes harder and harder for people to achieve that. I think the six stars are really, really big deal. And I agree with you. Like maybe they change the metal. Because I think the current metal has all the six original majors on it. And it's just like, well, I don't know. I mean, people are going to hate no matter what I say here. Yeah. Lessons. Kind of like football. I don't care enough to like really tell them this. Fair enough. I know people should be happy to make your own goals. But if you let's just, you know, like I know people that got their six are upset that now there's more marathons. I'm like, it doesn't diminish what you did. Right. That's the biggest thing. You like set this goal to run these six marathons and you did it doesn't just because Sydney is now added like doesn't diminish everything that you did to work towards the goal to get your like, you know what I mean? Did your metal turn like, oh, no, it's not when they added it. It's disintegrated. It's okay. Yeah. Yeah. I can stick with you. Yeah. That's funny. Anyway. Okay. Yeah. So that's the lineup. I have a few other races that we can talk about afterwards. I have to talk about one of them. We're going to die. But we'll talk about it. And then we can talk about it maybe if the results hit the internet. Oh, okay. Is it coming up soon? I have two more and they're like, okay, couple weeks apart. But yeah, one step at a time. One step at a time. 50k. 50k on deck. I love it. 50k. Cool. Well, that's exciting. It's fun to like, so you're excited about something and to be able to like explore a totally different part of the sport is pretty cool. Yeah. I am so excited for MDS because it's going to be crazy. You're just going to suffer for a week. So with that, you're on a team. Do you guys have to be together all the time? What are the rules with that? No, they just take a cumulative time, I believe. So I'm not sure how we'll fare. I think we all have really different goals, which is great. But I think it's been really fun. We're on a group chat and someone will be like, oh, I just did a 20-miler with a 10-pound pack. I'm like, I just ate lunch. But then it motivates you to go do the run or whatever. You're like, holy shit, that's awesome. This is really cool. And then we're kicking around gear ideas and nutrition and all that stuff. And when you're out there in the desert sleeping in a tent, it'll be nice to have friends. It will be nice. What are the stages like there? I mean, we can get into this as we get closer, but the distances of the stages, do you know? It's usually, it's different every year. And I think it's 250K overall. And then it's divided up pretty differently based on just where you are and what they kind of make as the course for the year. But this is the 40th edition of the event. And thus, they wanted to make one of the stages. They have a long day and they wanted to make one of those the longest they've ever made a stage. So it's 100K. Yeah. So yeah, 100K will be the long stage this year. So that'll be my first 100K because I don't plan on doing that in training. So in the middle of- Oh, that's incredible. Yeah, like a couple, like a marathon a day basically, is kind of on average. Then I'll do 100K and then I'll go back to doing a marathon a day. Super fun. Can't wait. That's amazing. That's this like much smaller scale, but Adam did trans Rockies one year and he ran his first marathon during trans Rockies. Nice. Yeah. Did he get the bug? Was he like, Oh, I'd like to run a marathon. No, he was like, I wanted, I wanted, that was fun. I would do more stage like, stages like that. Like it was actually really funny because he didn't train for it all at all and he did it with his friend or a team. And his, his friend trained and Adam like didn't. And the first two days he like suffered greatly. But then the next two days it was like he started to get really fit. Right. You got changed. And he said, yeah, yeah, like, like his teammate was like, what the hell? Like he was like pushing so hard and like getting so far ahead and they had to be within a certain amount of time together and stuff. But then it all came crashing down on the fifth day. Day five. It was like the fact that he wasn't prepared like caught up with him and it was a suffer fest that last day. And then he, he went back the next year and he did the short version, which was just the first three days, I think. So he just was like, you can't imagine the scenery that I just saw, you know, like. What he did again or is he done? Is that it? I think he would do it again if his body would allow him to. Can we get him out there? You know, that was, he didn't run for years and years and years and years and years and years and years and he just started running again in July of 25. So I think he's like a ways away from me and we'll do that. But he really liked it. Yeah. I'll plant the seed and we'll see what happens. You probably don't want him on your team. No, that'll be fun. That's super cool. I'm excited for you. That's awesome. Yeah, it'll be a good time. And then we'll get to hang out in Boston and London. We'll be doing live shows. You're doing 5Ks. You're doing the BAA 5K this year? Yeah. Maybe? I'll probably. Okay. I'll probably do it. Yeah. I definitely might be the one in London. I'll probably do the one in Boston. I just got the thing, the form to sign up and I didn't. So I'm probably going to have to weasel my way. Yeah. People up high to get myself in, but yeah. You did just get a big kit of Brooke's stuff. Did you get any? I got the elite kit. So I was like, okay, well, the funny thing is that I got a pair of buns, which I'll never wear again. And a pair of split shirts, which I think I talked to you about this in private. Listen, if you love your split shirts, I know they are hugely popular. You got to get to talk about these. People love them and I love that for them. I have never liked split shirts. I'm like, make up your mind. Are you wearing shorts? Are you wearing buns? Like, which are you going with? So I'm going to have to come up with my own bottoms is my whole point here. Because I got some split shirts and I got some briefs, neither which are carried out to approved. Yeah. But I'm super excited about my crop and or my singlet. So yeah. What color are the split shirts? They're like like like powder blue, right? Yeah. Okay. And they didn't give you like boy shorts. That has to be an option. They gave me boy shorts, but also I'm a I feel they're very short. I did try those on. Okay. But Brooks has this new line coming out. Interestingly, not called Brooks elite. It's out. And I got a pair of those shirts as well. And those shirts are just like a half inch longer. And I'm like, I could grab these. Yeah, I don't know what it is. It's like probably my age, but I'm like, I have aged out of the shorty, shorty, shorty, shorty shorts. But the Brooks elite I probably shouldn't be wearing. But I'm like, I could see myself wearing so maybe I'll just wear those. Yeah, I think Brooks dropped a bunch of new stuff recently. It's good. It is good. I'm going to tell you if you have, if you like short shorts, if you like really simple bras, if you have a high school age daughter, or if you like short shorts and like really simple bras, check out the elite line or yeah, Brooks elite, right? Good patterns. It's super cute. Like colorway design. Good color palette. Very simple, but like cute. And if you, I'm telling you if you have a high school kid, this is what they're all wearing. And then just there's also some like cool new shorts out and new tights out, some new bras out. So check it out. Like it's the line is coming along really well. I think this first drop of the spring is really good. And I think fall is going to be even better. But Brooks apparel and last year just took a giant leap forward. It's kind of exciting for me because I'm an apparel snob. So I'm really excited about it. Yeah, you got to get back in on some of the split shorts. There's a couple pair in there that they're not like I think professional split shorts like race day ones like that split goes all the way up to the waistband. Yes. And that's not okay. I'm not a listen, I know they're wildly popular. No, no, but I'm saying that the training ones. Okay, way more tightened down like it's a split, but it's like there's it's got a like a dart mid what you know what I mean? It's there's not yeah, as flappy. All right, I'm going to trust you. I'm going to check it out. But I have never been in to split shorts. Like I remember in college, I did not want to wear briefs. So what more ordered shorts for us for the national championship so that I could feel comfortable, which I so appreciate that they came and they're split shorts. And I was like, well, you were the briefs. Didn't shoot. No, I wore the shorts because he went out of his way so much to get shorts that I would feel comfortable. But I've just never liked them. And you know what, like this is what we were talking about the other day. That's why there's all sorts of styles of stuff, right? Like I know that split shorts are super, super popular. I see all the girls running them. I see the entire girls that live up in Utah, they love their split shorts. And I love that for you. I just never liked them. Not for you. Not for me. That's totally, totally fine. Totally fair. I do think you should give out. I'm going to select a pair that I think that you tell me that they need to try and then you should just try it because I know you have plenty of credit and go and see what you think you ate them. That's totally fine. But I think that they're a nice improvement and they're not the racing short you're thinking of. Okay. Okay. I trust you. Do you tell me which style? That's huge. That's huge. I'll try. I'll re-bring back on the pod. All right. Perfect. Okay. I don't know. Do you want to get into some running news? I feel like that was kind of running news. It was, but let's keep going. So there was, there was some, speaking of marathon news. Yeah. Let's start there. There's two cities that have bid toast the Olympic trials in 2028. Right? Correct. And I think this is a victory because I think after the last time, there was a lot of fear that no one was going to bid. Right. And there are two cities. So that's exciting. They are only two cities, but still there are two cities. That's Phoenix and St. Louis. And we've gotten some information, which is that it has to be held, I believe, between 12 and 3 p.m. Eastern time, probably for television window. And it has to be held March, is it 25th or 26th? I think so. It's late. I know that. Yeah. It's on a weekend. I could just open my calendar. Oh, no, that's, that's 2026 calendar. It doesn't matter. Anyway, that last weekend in March. And so now it comes down to USATF committee going and looking at these sites, I guess, right? And these cities pitching their bids and what they look like. What are your first reactions? I think it's great that there are people bidding. I think that's super important. I can't remember precisely why that was so such a hot topic. The last trials, I mean, I guess there wasn't that much interest. Because it was like awarded to one city and then it went to another. Yeah. It was like everyone voted for one city, but then it went to Orlando, but Orlando did a great job. Right. Yeah. And then I think the standard thing was also part of it where it was like, well, this might not even select our team. How do we feel about hosting this event? If at the end of it, you can't even say this is our team, which it's just not known yet. So maybe that's part of why we're doing this so early. But yeah, I think that's a great spot to be. I think both cities could do a great job. I think St. Louis, I feel like has a huge commission for sports events, getting professional events out there and showcasing their city. And Phoenix, close to my heart, obviously, I trained there in the winter quite a bit, went to school out there. It's a great place for running. Weather that time of year could be super unpredictable. So I mean, I can't imagine St. Louis will be any better in terms of predictability for weather. But yeah, I'm excited to see what they roll out, what courses potentially could look like, what prize money would look like. But I think one thing we've seen throughout the years is that when someone gets awarded this bid and they get this event and they get to host the trials, they just go all in. It seems like it's such an honor and it showcases the city and they want to support running, they want to lift it up. And I think both of these will accommodate that prime time television spot really, really well, which I think is super important. And it's nice that that is still an opportunity to use that slot for our sport. Yeah, I think that, I think that's great. I think the television slot is really important that maybe we don't all think about, but if we want to bring new fans into the sport, we can have it on at 6am because new fans aren't going to watch it. So we want to have it in this like primal spot, right? I think, I think both cities will do a great job. I was running with someone who was making an argument for one city over another based on what he thought would be a flatter course. I didn't love that. I mean, this is okay, so this is a question I have for you. Do you think that the Olympic trials course should be flat and should be just strictly based on who is the fastest? No, I don't think that at all. I think if you're doing that, we might as well just select from a list, like let people go to Berlin, Tokyo, London, wherever and run their fast time instead of hosting a whole event in like if that's what you want to see. I mean, I think no matter what, it's the summer games and that comes with a little bit of adversity of the weather. I think you can look at the course of what the games will be. We don't have the full thing yet. We just talked about that. They know where it's starting and finishing, but we don't know what the profile will look like. But you have to have some adversity. How are you going to manage a hot summer marathon, which maybe you can't do in March, but can you put some challenges in there and see how people respond to challenges? I think that should be part of it personally, but I don't make the rules and I'm sure plenty of people disagree with that. I agree with you. I agree with you. It's like we don't take the top three times on the track. They have to go run a race without rabbits. They have to figure out how to compete when there isn't a rabbit, right? And they have to figure out how to actually compete and read the race and make the moves at the right time to finish in the top three to go to the Olympics. Just like at the Olympics, there is no pacemaker and you have to read the room and you have to like decide what move is real, what move is not. And so I feel like that just is also how the marathon should be. I don't think it should be like, let's just have it be the lightning fastest, you know, trials we've ever seen. I think it should be hard to make an Olympic team. You should have to think because at the Olympics, I don't care if the course is flat or if LA makes it really hilly, you're going to have to like read your competition and you're going to have to like compete in the moments, championship style racing. So I want the trials to reflect that and I know it's impossible. It is kind of weird that they're not just doing the trials in LA. I mean, did you ever have that thought? Very strange because I mean, that was another thing too. Like Houston, this has happened twice now, I guess, because Houston, I think won the bid and then they were like, no, we won it in LA. They could potentially host the games. It was a moment to showcase the city. You're like, well, you've got all the plans infrastructure course, you could just carbon copy that again or get the course of the actual, I mean, whatever it's been done. And I feel like that was why that move was kind of pushed initially. And then again, we saw it with like it was awarded to Chattanooga and then it was taken away and given to Orlando. Like, yeah, I can see why people don't bid. So I'm glad there are two. Right. I mean, like this is not to disrespect Phoenix or St. Louis at all, but it just feels like you know, the Olympics is going to be in the United States. Like let's put our athletes on that course so they have an advantage. They learn it. So they race it. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. And then the top three people now they know it, right? And they can like fine tune that course. And so that to me just feels weird that that wasn't like a thing. But I'm excited that there's two. I do think that they always, whoever gets it does an amazing job, rises up like so much concern about Orlando and the weather and this and that. And it was awesome. They did a great job. And Houston did an amazing job when I ran it. LA did a fine job. It's a little chaotic, but it was mostly good. So I think whoever does it will do a great job. I just don't like it when people are like, well, it should go to this community because they can put together the fastest course. I'm like, I don't like that. Right. No, I totally agree. I think there needs to be some challenges. Did you, what do you think about when it used to be split versus pushing them together? Do you have any strong opinions on that? Do you like the new format where it's everything on one day? So I never ran the trials when it wasn't all on one day. Because I only ran the, I mean, I ran in three track trials and two marathon trials. So the two trials I did were Houston and LA. And I think Houston was the first time they brought everyone together, if I'm remembering correctly. So I don't know what it was like before. The one thing I liked about before was it felt like the women really got their highlight and the men really got their highlight. And it was, I mean, I remember in 07 watching the Olympic trials at New York. And I remember being so jealous because that's when I was still a track athlete. And I was so jealous that these guys were like already, they already made the Olympic team and it's November, you know, and I wasn't going to get to make it until the end of June. And I was like, oh, I'm so jealous of them. And then I think the women ran, well, you ran that one in Boston that year. So it felt like there was more attention throughout the year on marathoning, maybe. But I do think that the excitement of trials weekend is really special. But you've experienced both. What do you think? Yeah, I go back and forth on it. I think it's great to have everyone on one day. People don't have to decide like, I can only afford to go to once. I'm going to go to the women's or like, I have to pick. I think with media, same thing, like we can only send our, you know, reporters to one of these. So who are we going to pick? But I do think if the stories are good enough, if the races are good enough and you have them separate, it is two opportunities to really amplify the sport. I think a lot of times these trials races are more exciting and bigger for American running than the games because the games get in with all of these other things going on. Like, these are the show. Like if you could hit it twice, that would be amazing. And then you take your team that made it first, bring them in and profile them at the other event. And, you know, you just have these opportunities to really show off our athletes and the events. But that requires more people bidding. And then the other thing too is like parodying the courses. What are the crowds like if it seems like one's not getting the pull of the other? How does that change things? So it brings a lot more elements and variables, but I liked it personally. Yeah. Yeah. I think there's an argument to move it back that way, although I don't think it'll happen just because of the financial cost, but it really highlighted each, like I feel like the people who made the team got more of their like due time. And it was just more exciting because we had two opportunities to follow these races and cheer these athletes on. And you know what I mean? Like we got two hits, two dopamine hits instead of just one. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's interesting. I agree. It probably won't ever happen again. But then you see things where like Chattanooga loses it and it's moved to Orlando. And it's like, there's obviously two really great bids. Like is there a way, is there a need for two? I don't know. But yeah, good things over the past, I guess. Yeah. Well, that'll be exciting. Will you run the trials, do you think, for fun? You want an announcement now? Yeah. I mean, I do have a qualifier because I made the team in 16 when they announced the qualification. Yeah. I got a qualifier. So that's something I could do. I'll probably do it. I can't let Dot get ahead of me. So Dot will be, we didn't even talk about that last week, but Dot made her sixth Olympic marathon trials, which is like crazy. That's crazy. I mean, 49 over two decades, right? Of just being able to knock out that time as in the standard has just gotten tough for every single year. It's incredible. So she will be going on number six. So what was her first one? Was it 04? 2008, we ran it together. Oh, 2008. Oh, so you're going for 6-2? This will be 6 for you as well? Yes, ma'am. Way to reign on Dot's parade. It's a bitter competition. So the real question is who will get to do 7? I've got the age advantage, but I do feel like she is just a stubborn little lady. I mean, she's so impressive to me. Like, both of you guys. I mean, I only ran in two marathon trials, but it's like, yeah, crazy. It's a long time. Yeah. Yeah. So good chance I'll be at that, but we'll see. Never know. Never know what will happen. Dot will definitely be there. It'll be fun. She'll be there. Yeah. 100%. Do you want to talk about some races coming up a little sooner? Yeah. Well, so I need to get back on the track train because the New Balance Indoor Games are this coming Saturday in Boston. When do you travel? And I go Friday. The next week. Well, I mean, your travel is always crazy, but like I leave Friday, the meet Saturday, then Monday I head to Seattle to hang out with you, then Friday I head to New York for Milrose the following Friday. So you get to go home next week for a hot day though, right? For a laundry. Yeah. And then I'm taking Colt to Milrose. So I get to go home after Seattle and, you know, pack up and grab Colt. So that'll be really fun. Nice. Well, he races at Milrose? He's just hanging out. He's just hanging out like this. I took him the last two years and he just loves it. And then he kind of was like, well, I'm going to Milrose, right? That's our thing, right? So I was like, okay, yeah, that's our thing. So that'll be fun. The first year he went, he sat in the stands a little bit, but then he had a press pass and he was doing a school project on Josh Kerr. And that was the year that Josh Kerr set the world record in the two mile skid year. So Louis like pushed him in and helped him like he got to interview Josh and was really, really cool for his school project. And then last year he had a press pass, but he brought his camera and he just took pictures and all these photographers were like helping him out. It was amazing. So he's hoping to do that again this year. Take pictures. So yeah, yeah. What races are you excited for? I know we looked really briefly at the schedule and there's some wild distances, some goofy things going on. Do you want to talk about a little bit? Yeah, let's talk about a little bit. I have to tell you, so this weekend is New Balance, which I think is a lot of people's like first race of the season, right? A lot of like, but people are sharp because they're hoping to run fast. But so we have, I mean, we have a men's 2000, which is different. And we have a men's 600 and 800 at the same meat, which is different. Can you feel the vomiting? I think that there's the 600 at the New Balance meat for people wanting to like sharpen up for maybe the Milrose meat. But then they need an 800. I think Josh Hoey is hoping for a big run in the 800 at New Balance. So it just feels a little bit silly to have Bryce Hopple and Donovan Brazier in the 600 and Josh Hoey in the 800. And it's like, we want to see them race. That's what we want to see. We want to see those three guys go ahead the head, you know? Yeah. That was like one of my first race calls. And it was Bryce Hopple in 1000 meters in Donovan Brazier in an 800. And it absolutely tore my heart apart. It was like, you can't talk about records, which is fine. But you're like, you have to talk about this in a way that people understand how ludicrous this is, because everyone wants to see this 800 match up. So unless he's running for a record, I don't really care. Like, why are you even showing this, right? Right. But yeah, I don't know, it's still an interesting 1000 meters, I guess. Yeah, but I do think it's a time of year where like the athlete perspective, you don't want those big matchups yet because you don't want to, it's early in your season, you don't want to necessarily be exposed. Also, a lot of these meat directors are also agents. So they're kind of guarding their athlete. Like, we don't want that match up either. And then you get these kooky off distances, like the 2000 or the 1000, and you're like, well, you could get a world's best or an American's best, and I can have that bonus in the 1000. And also maybe the fitter guy in the 800. And then I'll get 15% on both of those. So I feel like there's a lot of dynamics about those races that we don't necessarily get to talk about or understand. What's your perspective on those? Good, bad, a mess. Who cares? I agree with you that I think a lot of it is people avoiding racing each other for different reasons, whether it's they're just not ready yet, or there are agents, like you said, they have athletes in both. I don't mind it, I guess, at this meat because it's the first meeting of the year. In general, I don't love it because that's not what we want to see. We want to see Don and Braser and Bryce Hopple and Josh Hoey race each other. We want to see a rematch of the US trials with Cooper, left in house, and they're like, that's what we want to see. And they're in these different races. There's also a men's 3000 and a men's 2000 at this meat. And sometimes I'm looking at this men's 2000 list because sometimes you just have too many people on an indoor track, so you have to have a second heat. But in this men's 2000, there's one, two, three, four, five, there's eight men. I don't think that that's too big. I feel like you could still add another four people. Even it's a great field, Grant Fisher, Sam Gilman, Luke Hauser, Hobbs Kessler, Foster Malick. Okay, and then a few people, I don't know, Jake Whiteman's in there too, but a great field. And then I look at the men's 3000 meter field. And it's also really good. It's Andrew Korsig and Pat Suchpri at your grand blanks. Casey Nevillevard, Cameron Meyer, that kid from Australia who's like so fast. So it's like, I want to see those guys race together. You know, and so that's where it's like, I get, and again, there's eight men in this field. So I get, maybe you don't want to put 16 men together, but I'm also like, maybe we could have two heats or let's 12 higher quality. Yeah. Make it higher quality, make it 12. Yeah, it's just, I mean, these are both going to be great races being able to be even greater. Yeah, I know. Both of these are going to be great. Yeah. I mean, 2000, 2000, 3000. That's frustrating. I've seen it as bad as a two mile 3000. And that just breaks my heart. That's really bad. What are we doing? Yeah. So I don't know. I guess maybe there's a little more space for justification, a little more distance for justification. Yeah, maybe. Let's see this. The woman's 3000, I think is going to be really pretty good. Has Jessica Hall and Emily Mackay, kind of noodle, L.A. St. Pierre, which will be interesting. Margot Appleton. So that's going to be a good one. And then there's a woman's 1500. Okay. So not a woman's 2000. That's pretty good too. Not a woman's 2000. I do feel like the 1500 and the 3000 makes sense. That makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. Like those are two totally different events. Probably not going to run the world record though. No. What's the 2000, what's it as a race, when you're calling this race, what's the 2000 meter world record, world's best? I don't know. I'll know it by Saturday, but I don't know what it is right now. I mean, look, last year we saw Grant Fisher run a 3000 meter world record at Millrose, and then a week later run a 5000 meter world record on his own. Yeah. Like at Millrose, he was racing Cole Hawker. A week later is just by himself. So of course, all this stuff is possible. I do feel like of all the meets of the year, this is the one that it makes sense to kind of do this, because everyone's kind of like coming together and just getting their feet wet. Right. But yeah, I mean, it's also like, I'm not even, I don't want to race on distance and be compared or have any sort of mark set for me. Like I'm not going to the, I'm not going to the meet unless you have something that is, you know, just a weighted race and not be like measured up against anything else. The one that is killing me a little bit is the 600 slash 800, because there's only four guys in the 600 and there's five guys in the 800. That's brutal. I'm like, come on guys. But everyone, you know, like I think, I think maybe Josh always running the mile at Millrose, maybe, and then Don and Mabrys and Mabrys Hopple are going to move up to the 800 at Millrose, so they don't want to fight the 100 yet. Yeah. Yeah. So I understand, like if this is what, if these, all these events are there and they're like, this event makes the most sense for me for the progression of my season, I get all of that. Sure. It's just as a fan, sometimes it's like, come on, we're all there. Right. It's great. We really want and we know it's being kept from us. I mean, I guess if you don't, like if you're doing it for the NBC audience who maybe doesn't have any clue, they just happen to have the TV on and, oh, like track and fields on, like how do you sell the 2000? Right. Well, I'm going to be selling it then. How do you sell the 600? So, Mia, why should I care about the 600? I'm going to be selling it that every race has a star, right? Like, none of these races are B races. Every single race has an absolute star in it and they're all important. I'm not going to say on there, although I'm saying it here, where I have a huge platform, I'm going to say like, what I really want to see is Son of Embrasure and Josh Hoey and Bryce Hopple race each other because we like it. They're really good and it's exciting. I'm going to be like, these guys are racing this and their first race there and Josh Hoey. There's some whispers he made, if you're going to know after a world record, you know, and the, you know, the 3000, 2000, it's, it's like, there's both such great fields. I mean, Cam Myers is like so exciting right now. He's in the 3000. What is he going to do? He just like, Brianna, I think the fastest indoor mile ever in January at Washington last week and the Grand Blinks is coming back from World Cross. So that's going to be great. And then we have Hobbs Kessler and Grant Fisher in the 2000. So I will sell it. And then, okay, I have another, I have a follow up question. Do you, is this like, this is the meat? This is the only way to tell the story is like, we're just focused on now? Or do you take these moments and go the 2000 and the 3000, these guys are coming out from different sides in next week at Millrose, they're going to clash. So maybe this person thinks that this is a better tune up for that. Like, you know what I mean? Like they're working on things for actually, do you carry the story along? Do you know what I'm saying? We do, we do, but we have to be careful that we don't talk down the meat that we're at, right? Like this new balance meat is awesome. And there's such good athletes here. And so even though some of them are using it to prepare for the next week, we're going to tell the story because also we're just telling this big broad story leading into LA. We want people to get to know these people. We want them to be invested, so that they care, so that they watch the trials that they're invested over the next three years. But yeah, I think there's a thread to be told. And I think as a distance perspective, indoors is always interesting because it's rare that anyone's running their true event. Most people are either going up in distance or coming down, right? They're working on their strength or they're working on their speed. And so that's just like a story that we kind of are always telling because indoors is just interesting for distance athletes, right? Yeah. Yeah. So and then, but there's a point like they're, if they're 800 guys and they're running the 1500s because they're working on their strengths that they have that final, you know, that third 200 and the 800, this is what they're working on right now by running the mile. And likewise, if they're, you know, if they're 1500 meter guys and they're running the 800, they're working on their speed so that when they get through two laps of the 1500, it doesn't feel so hard. It feels still really fresh and light and poppy. So like we're always kind of trying to tell that story. I think the first meet of the year is always the hardest because it's just a starting point for everybody. Yeah. So you're not like, we're going to see crazy fireworks today, you know, like we're trying to make it exciting, but also within the context of like, this is the start of a very, very long year. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you're going to do new balance, Seattle, Milrose, quick trip home. You're going to have to really focus on recovery and sleeping there. What are you doing to get good sleep? Are you bringing the lagoon travel pillow? I think I am. Yeah. I have to sleep on these trips. So I didn't have a travel pillow before I have one now. I think I'm going to have to bring it and then I'll be able to brag about it if it works. Have you practiced putting it in the stuff sack and taking it out? No. Don't miss that flight. I feel like it was pretty good. I feel like I just shoved it in. Did you get it in? Okay. This is like, this is a cut that you cannot edit. I just left a long pause there. So there's separation in this answer. I do believe that I can get the pillow in the stuff sack in a right amount of time. I think that you get this like sleeping bag stuff and you see it and you're like, that will never pack back down. As soon as you take it out, you're like, that's the last time I'm taking it out. This could be a good prep for MDS for me. I can practice packing up my sleeping bag quickly with the pillow. Yeah. Yeah. Recovery is going to be key. I'm doing a long haul trip to, I'm going to Detroit, to Arizona, to Seattle, to Detroit, to Miami. What are you doing to Miami? There's a Formula E event. So I'll be working with TCS and hanging out and doing a group run and then watch some racing. It should be exciting. That's cool. Yeah. So racing cars and on the track in Milrose. We'll be watching all of it. Yeah. I'm excited. I'm not really ready for all the travel, but I'm ready for like work life and being excited about stuff. And I'm ready to come out of the depths of winter, which I do love where I'm like, what day is it? When's the last time I ate a vegetable? I kind of love that time here. But I'm ready to like have a purpose, have a schedule, use my brain a little bit. And yeah, you know, it's just exciting. I think we're watching World Cross and then Houston, it was like, okay, yeah, no, I'm ready to, I'm ready to see people racing. Yeah. Well, if you're ready to get a lagoon pillow, this segment was brought to you by Lagoon. Head over to Lagoon's website. We'll put a link in the show notes, use code, nobody asked us and get 15% off. I know you'll see the prices and you'll go like, oh my gosh, that's that much for a pillow. Recovery sleep is so important. I think it's easily available. Well, think about how much your parents pay for a pair of like racing shoes that you'll only wear a few times, but like a pillow, you sleep on it every night or supplement massage, all that stuff. Like this is you buy your pillow and then you have it and you use it every day. And it makes all the difference. I for sure I'm going to bring my travel pillow. There's nothing sadder than when I'm so tired on a work trip and I go and you like flat pillows. So your chinchilla. But when I go in my, I stack up like three pillows and I put my head on it. It goes, you still sink through. I'm so sad. I'm like, oh, I'm not going to sleep while my neck's going to hurt. So like sleep is so important. Yeah, for sure. Love that. All right. Well, this is good stuff. Let's round it out with the top five. How do you feel about that? I'm so unprepared. Top five. I'm not, I'm yeah, I've got nothing really. Nothing good is happening. That's not sure. Nothing good. Let's see. Oh, I will say Coltsback running again. So that's kind of fun. Okay. It was like, whoosh, all of a sudden just back in because everybody was running and training and he hadn't been. So it was like just back at it. So that's been fun. And he is going to run a track meet in March. And so that's exciting. So he's like, I have to get in shape. And I'm like, guess you do. I feel that. All right. I will go with recent trail news. Molly Seidl's 50K Bandera win. That was cool. She said the record won overall. And I think it shows that it's exciting for what she's going to do at Black Canyon. And a lot of people were in the comments like, talk about it, talk about it, talk about it. So there we are. I think it's exciting and worth watching. I'm going to defend us just for a moment, say that we did discuss it. And then we thought it would probably be a bigger story when she runs 100K. And we knew we would be talking about it then. So we're, we're, we are Molly Seidl's stand. We know she did amazing. We're excited to see what's coming. And we're excited to see that, to see that all come together. So we weren't trying to like ignore her. We were distracted. We always say we're going to do a short show and then it ends up being way longer. Sometimes it gets away from us. We apologize. Totally. Okay. I'm going to go with Dot again, just qualifying for her six trials with you. I meant to say her last week and then I shouted out Minneapolis instead, which by the way, Minneapolis, my heart's still with you. I love you guys. Hang in there. But Dot, I love her and she should have gotten her flowers last week. So I just think you and her six Olympic marathon trials, it really is incredible. It really is. And like, it's just super cool watching her too. Like she has a daughter that's just a little bit older than Colt and watching her chase her goals. And what I think is so cool is them both still, like at the same time, you know, like by the time Colt started running, I was like done and out. And it's really cool for me to watch how she manages that while she is still competing at a super high level, but also supporting her daughter, Al. So I mean, really, this is the tip of the hat to both of you. Six trials is really, really impressive. I think what's so fun is just how competitive she is because she is competing and supporting her daughter, Al, but she wants to beat her for as long as she's like, man, she really pushed me this time. Like, let her win one. Come on. She's like, she'll have her time, but right now it's my time. I love that. It's awesome. It's cool. All right, let's see. I don't know. Nothing. How about playoff football? It's exciting time. The games are all super important. We see people just with everything online. Honestly, one of the craziest things is you see how much it means to these guys. Like I watched a couple grown men cry in the locker room after their game and I don't know, just mean so much. And anytime you're watching sports where you see people putting their heart into it, I think it's pretty cool. So watch those playoff games and don't get too invested, but you know, enjoy them. Okay, that's good. I'm going to watch this next one, but I won't, I'm not going to be too invested. For my last one, this home. Oh, I'm just excited that Intertrak is starting, I'll say. My niece ran at University of Washington this past weekend and ran a personal best in 3000, which is super exciting. Made it go Sophie's School Meester. And just that new balance is coming up this weekend and then Milrose following that two great meets that are always sold out and so loud and so fun for the athletes to do, but also so fun to televised them and tell the stories and get just kind of getting the year kicked off. And as we were just talking about earlier, long form storytelling leading into LA 28 is going to be really fun and a special opportunity for everyone in the U S with, you know, it being at home. So yay to Intertrak starting. It's going to be fun. It's back. Let's go. Jeng is back. He's barely gone, but it's back. Awesome. Well, we'll chat again very soon. Thanks for the conversation.