Ruth Chepngetich

“It’s still scary. It doesn’t matter how many marathons you run, you’re going to be scared. The brain is scared of struggling for two hours, struggling for three hours. You’re going to suffer. You have to focus on one thing for two hours.”

Few athletes embody the spirit of curiosity and courage quite like Sifan Hassan. From her historic triple attempt at the Tokyo Olympics to her remarkable gold medal in the marathon and double bronze on the track in Paris, Hassan has redefined what’s possible in distance running. Today, she joins The CITIUS MAG Podcast to reflect on the extraordinary highs and grueling challenges of her career, including the mental toll of her Olympic triples and her triumphant return to the marathon at London in 2023. Hassan also shares her ambitious plans for 2025 and beyond, from chasing Ruth Chepngetich’s stunning 2:09:56 marathon world record to potentially attempting an unprecedented four major marathons in one year. What drives someone who has already achieved so much? Hassan’s answer is as compelling as her racing: it’s not about being the GOAT — it’s about pushing the limits of what she can do. Get ready for an inspiring conversation with one of the most curious, fearless, and boundary-pushing athletes of our time.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram 

Guest: Sifan Hassan | @sifanhassan on Instagram

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Last weekend Ruth Chepngetich broke the women's marathon world record with a time of 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon. She was bested the previous world record by 1:56 and beat the second place woman at Chicago by roughly 7:30. Her performance sent shockwaves around the world. Since she crossed the finish line a question has reverberated through the running world and within each of us: How do we frame this performance and Ruth's place in history. In this episode I share the questions I've asked myself this week about how I frame athletic excellence in a variety of sports, examine my contradictions and biases, and set a path moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We break down everything that happened at the 2024 Chicago Marathon -- including an insane 2:09:56 women's marathon world record from Ruth Chepngetich. Plus, we chat with top U.S. men's finisher in Chicago -- CJ Albertson -- to learn more about his race, prep for the upcoming NYC Marathon and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One year after the late Kelvin Kiptum obliterated Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record by 34 seconds, running an almost unfathomable 2:00:35, Ruth Chepngetich topped that. Her astounding time of 2:09:56 is one of the greatest running performances in history, makes her the first woman to run under 2:10 in a marathon, and lopped one minute and 57 seconds off Tigist Assefa’s old world record.

On the men’s side, Kenya’s John Korir notched his first-ever World Marathon Majors victory in 2:02:44. (What a time for the sport of marathoning we’re in right now, where a 2:02 showing is basically a footnote!)

Hosts:

Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Preet Majithia | @prm_32 on X

Time Stamps:

Ruth Chepngetich:

1:31 - Breaking down her 2:09:56 world record

9:40 - More on her running history + Chicago victory 

13:52 - Stats + analysis on her record

Skepticism surrounding Chepngetich’s world record:

19:01 - Training factors

22:27 - Potential for doping

25:48 - Chepngetich being questioned in the press conference

37:19 - Language barrier

39:35 - The press center during the marathon

American women:

41:21 - Susanna Sullivan, 7th/1st American, 2:21:57

42:57 - Lindsay Flanagan, 9th/2nd American, 2:23:31

44:33 - Keira D’Amato dropping out due to injury 

45:13 - Emma Bates, 11th/3rd American, 2:24:00

Men’s race:

47:18 - John Korir, 1st in 2:02:44

50:06 - More on the top finishers

American men:

53:25 - CJ Albertson (7th/1st American, 2:08:17) and Zach Panning (10th/2nd American, 2:09:16)

Final thoughts:

56:15 - Feedback on the broadcast

1:06:29 - CITIUS live at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Mentioned in this episode…

Read: Parting Thoughts From The 2024 Chicago Marathon: Ruth Chepngetich Destroys Women’s World Record In 2:09:56 at Chicago Marathon

Read: Tweet by Steve Magness comparing Ruth Chepngetich’s world record to equivalent performances

Watch: Interviews with some of the top stars from the Chicago Marathon

Watch: Chicago Marathon full replay

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On Sunday, October 8, the penultimate World Marathon Major of 2023 kicks off through Millennium Park and through the streets of Chicago. The site of multiple American and world records, the Chicago Marathon is often considered one of the fastest courses in the United States and always draws strong domestic and international elite fields chasing fast times. Last year, the women’s race saw an American record from Emily Sisson and the second-fastest performance of all time (at the time) from winner Ruth Chepngetich. Chicago’s men’s course record of 2:03:45 was the world record when it was set in 2013 by Dennis Kimetto and the women’s course record of 2:14:04 set by Brigid Kosgei in 2019 was the world record until a few weeks ago – this is the place to run fast. The first wave of runners goes off at 8:30 a.m. E.T. (men and women start together). Right now, the forecast looks promising, with a low of 46F and a high of 57F. It’ll be a little breezy with 10-15mph winds, but the looped Chicago course lined in many spots by high rises is relatively tolerant to wind. We could be in for some seriously special racing! CITIUS MAG's team (Chris Chavez, Kyle Merber and Declan Murray) will preview all the top storylines and athletes to watch. Show presented by Bandit Running | Bandit Running is a performance and lifestyle running apparel brand founded by members of the NYC Running Community in 2020. What started as socks and accessories has grown into a full-fledged apparel assortment. Check them out here: https://banditrunning.com/

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Sifan Hassan has defied every expectation of how an athlete is supposed to transition to the marathon. Her debut in London was full of issues, with Hassan experiencing trouble fueling and having to stop to stretch her quad. In the later miles of the race, she even narrowly missed getting hit by a motorbike trying to pick up a water bottle. Oh yeah, and she won in 2:18:33.

Then five weeks later she was back on the track racing a 10,000m and 1500m, kept her season going into August, attempted to triple in the 1500m/5000m/10,000m in Budapest, and came out with two medals, all while in the middle of her buildup for Chicago.

If, by some miracle, that effort hasn’t completely burnt her legs out from under her, she has to be considered one of the biggest – if not the biggest – threat to Ruth Chepngetich’s attempted title defense.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Sifan Hassan | @sifanhassan on Instagram

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Come shake out with us with some easy miles on Saturday morning and swing by their pop-up at 333 N Michigan Ave starting on Thursday, October 5th. The pop-up is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Full lineup and links to RSVP for their weekend of events here.

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"It’s been such a big goal for so long. I remember back in college, Ray (Treacy) said to me once, “You’re going to set the American record in the marathon someday.’ I was like, ‘Okay…’ But he said it as a fact like, ‘You’re going to do it.’ Just because someone has the potential doesn’t mean it necessarily will happen. There are so many factors and variables. But he was just like, ‘No. You will set it someday.’ It feels like part of a long journey."

My guest for this episode is the new American record holder in the women’s marathon – Emily Sisson. She just ran 2:18:29 to take 43 seconds off the previous record of 2:19:12 set by Keira D’Amato at the Houston Marathon in January. The race was won by Ruth Chepngetich in 2:14:18 – which is the second-fastest time in history. Sisson now owns two American records She set the half marathon record in 67:11 back in May. 

We go inside the making of this American record, how she trusted her coach and pacers to make it happen, the appetite to go faster and what’s being said in this group chat with U.S. marathoning greats Keira D’Amato, Deena Kastor and Joan Benoit Samuelson.

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