Chicago: Mauri Mania vs Young's result, Rupp 2:06 at 40, adidas, USAs runners not cutting it in NCAAs
LetsRun.com's Track Talk: The Home of Running and Track and FieldShow Notes
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EPISODE SUMMARY
The 2026 Chicago Marathon delivered blockbuster storylines. Vinny Mauri was on American record pace in just his second marathon, nearly 2:03 pace before hamstring cramps slowed him to 2:06:45 and 10th place. Clayton Young, running on a torn hamstring, finished as top American in 2:05:23 β the second-fastest US time ever. Amos Kipruto won the men's race in 2:01 as Jacob Kiplimo faltered, and Hawi Feysa repeated as women's champion in 2:13:33. Galen Rupp ran 2:06:55 at age 40, while Adidas's new super shoe dominated once again, sweeping all six major marathon titles this fall. The crew also breaks down the Nuttycombe Invitational and the escalating debate over foreign runners dominating NCAA cross country.
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LINKS
Robert Johnson's Week That Was: Chicago Marathon Winners and Losers
Jonathan Gault's Chicago Marathon Men's Race Recap
25 Years Ago, I "Paced" Catherine Ndereba to a World Record in Chicago - Until She Broke Me - LetsRun.com
Mario Garcia Romo Leaves OAC (LetsRun Forum)
Congratulations NCAA Coaches, You Killed the Sport (LetsRun Forum)
I'd Rather Have Vinny's Race Than Clayton's (LetsRun Forum)
Patrick McEnroe Tweet on Foreign Players in NCAA Tennis
BetterRunningShoes.com
VKTRY Carbon Fiber Insoles β 90-Day Risk-Free Trial
LetsRun.com Forum
LetsRun.com Forum: College Running
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Chicago Marathon Recap & Intro
02:22 Vinny Mauri's Bold Run & Training Method
09:44 America's Best Marathoner: Mauri, Hicks or Young?
16:33 Adidas Super Shoes & Amos Kipruto
21:33 Gemedu Dedefo's Dominant Training Group
24:03 Hawi Feysa Wins Chicago Again
27:53 Mauri's 15K Gamble & Pacing Debate
34:44 Robert's Ndereba Pacing Story
40:51 Mauri's Fearlessness & The US Marathon Gap
46:32 Can Americans Compete in Fast Marathons?
50:02 Galen Rupp Runs 2:06 at Age 40
52:14 Rupp's Olympic Trials Outlook
54:44 CJ Albertson & Shoe Technology
59:35 Adidas vs Nike: The Shoe War
65:40 Emma Grace Hurley & Broadcast Criticism
71:23 Fixing Marathon Broadcasts
78:13 Nuttycombe Invitational & NCAA Foreign Runners
82:53 The Foreign Runner Debate
88:24 NIL, Pro Contracts & Eligibility Rules
93:49 Transfers, Age Limits & Education
96:57 Mario Garcia Romo's Journey Home
101:37 Defending Dathan Ritzenhein
105:58 Patrick Cullen's Chicago Attempt & Wrap-Up
111:35 Let's Run Blazers & Sign-Off
CONTACT
Email: [email protected] Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786)
ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST
Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running.
The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.
Email: [email protected] Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786)
More from LetsRun.com's Track Talk: The Home of Running and Track and Field
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The 2026 Chicago Marathon is stacked with storylines. On the men's side, Vinny Mauri, a former shoe store employee who ran 2:05 alone at Toledo, has gone viral for jaw-dropping treadmill workouts at Planet Fitness, fueling American record hopes. Rojo sparks heated debate by arguing the US has zero legitimate marathon title contenders despite record depth. The women's field is historically loaded with 12 sub-2:20 runners, led by former world record holder Brigid Kosgei and two-time Boston winner Sharon Lokedi, who's running her first flat marathon. The crew also breaks down Jacob Kiplimo's chances, weather concerns that could derail fast times, and whether super shoes benefit women more than men.
Tigst Assefa was on world record pace at the Berlin Marathon before an Achilles injury derailed her final two kilometers. She still limped home in 2:11:04, the third-fastest women's marathon ever, and underwent surgery within hours.
Emma Grace Hurley joins the podcast after the race of her life: a 66:23 half marathon PB at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, good for fifth place and a historic team silver medal for the US women. She breaks down her race strategy, the chaotic Atlanta trials where she was led off course in the final mile, and why she chose the half marathon over the 5K.
Andreas Almgren became the first non-African man in 30 years to win the World Half Marathon Championships, running 58:06 in Copenhagen and reigniting debate over whether he can contend at the New York City Marathon. The US women earned team silver with three runners in the top 10, Emma Grace Hurley, Weini Kelati, and Jess McClain all delivering stellar performances, while the US men took bronze.