1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:05,000 This episode of City Smack Podcast is presented by USA 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:07,720 Track and Field. All right, if you love speed, 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,360 power, and championship moments, lock in right now. 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,800 The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,560 Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th. 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,920 Through March. 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,480 Staten Island. This is where legends don't just 8 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,760 race, they punch their ticket. To the world stage. 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,960 The pressure's reel the. Margins are razor. 10 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,439 Thin and every athlete is fighting for one thing. 11 00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:37,120 A spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. 12 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:39,240 The star power? Unreal. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,360 You'll see the likes of Olympic champion Noah Lyles, Olympic 14 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,960 champion Cole Hawker, Olympic medalist Jasmine. 15 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,600 Moore world record holder. Hobbes, Kessler, World champion 16 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,320 Ellie, Saint Pierre, US record holder Sinclair Johnson. 17 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,600 I can go on and on and on. This meet sells out every single 18 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:57,920 year because when the fastest and the strongest athletes on 19 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,600 the planet show up. There's nowhere to hide. 20 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,160 No bad seats, no second chances. So don't wait. 21 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,080 Grab your tickets now at usatf.org/tickets. 22 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,720 And. Experience track and field at 23 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:16,040 its absolute loudest. What's up everyone? 24 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,200 You are listening to the CDs Mag podcast. 25 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,840 I'm your host Chris Chavez, and every week we go beyond the 26 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,520 results to bring you conversations with the biggest 27 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,920 names on the track, the roads, and behind the scenes. 28 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,200 From world class athletes and coaches to innovators shaping 29 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,360 the sport. If it's happening on the track, 30 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,280 we're covering it with real insights that sharpen minds, 31 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,800 deep dives into the moments that define careers and the kind of 32 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:38,960 access. To the pros. 33 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,040 You won't get anywhere else, so let's get into it. 34 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,400 Because we love track and. Field. 35 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,160 Before we get into today's episode, I just wanted to say 36 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:50,680 thank you. This show exists. 37 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,240 Because you listen. You. 38 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,200 Share it, you support it. So truly, we appreciate you 39 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,760 being here if you enjoy this podcast leaving a five star 40 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:00,720 view. On Apple podcast makes a huge 41 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,000 difference. It helps more people discover 42 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:04,440 the show. And keeps this whole thing. 43 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,960 Moving forward, we also love shouting out our listeners. 44 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,600 When they leave reviews, and since I've gotten to go into the 45 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,480 archives and dig up some reviews from other countries, we've got 46 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,440 this one from Maddie P runs. That is titled Good for the 47 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,880 Sport, Chris and. The City of Matt gang crush 48 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,120 everything that they do. Just wanted to pop in and let 49 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,240 you know how thankful us running nerds are for your podcast, live 50 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,200 shows, etcetera. Who doesn't love track and 51 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,840 field? To everyone listening, thank you 52 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,080 and if you feel the same way. As Maddie does, taking a minute 53 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:37,680 to leave. A five star review on Apple 54 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:38,960 Podcast. Is the best way to. 55 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,920 Support the show, we read every single one and they genuinely 56 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:49,240 mean a lot to us. My guest for today's episode is 57 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,160 Margot Appleton as Team New Balance Week on the Sidious Mag 58 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,360 Podcast continues to celebrate five years of New Balance 59 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,640 partnering with Sidious Mag on everything from the high school 60 00:02:59,640 --> 00:03:01,200 ranks all. The way through the 61 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,760 professional. Front We brought you interviews 62 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:05,720 with Rocheen Willis, the American record holder in the 63 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:10,160 800 meters indoors and the reigning US 800 meter champion, 64 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:11,960 on her decision to turn pro just. 65 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:13,720 A couple days ago. Then we introduce. 66 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,040 You to Victoria Bossong, the former Harvard star who comes at 67 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,840 the 800. For more a sprinter background. 68 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,280 And now we've got Margo, a Massachusetts native, running 69 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,520 for the home team. She has joined team New Balance 70 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,320 Boston and is being coached by Mark Coogan at. 71 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,400 UVA. She was an NCAA. 72 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,000 Finalist in the 1500 meters. Stepped up to finish fourth in 73 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,000 the 5K at the NCA Championships. And then this past. 74 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,280 Spring put together a breakout campaign that included a four O 75 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:43,600 5 for 1500, the fourth fastest in the NCAA at the time, an ACC 76 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:47,280 title in the 1500 and a runner up finish in the same event at 77 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,560 the NCA Outdoor Championships. Margo is comfortable. 78 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:52,200 Moving between distances and continues. 79 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:53,640 To sharpen herself. Against the very. 80 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,960 Best in the country. At just 23 years old. 81 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,160 It feels like she's still. Learning how good she can be. 82 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,960 She's coming off of a personal best in the 3K and the mile at 83 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:04,520 the New Balance. In your Grand Prix and the 84 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,840 Miller Rose Games, she actually finished 6th. 85 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,640 Overall. And was the second American in 86 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,440 the Wanamaker Mile. In this conversation, we talked 87 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,560 about her decision to join the Refresh Team New Balance Boston 88 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,600 squad. Will click this past outdoor 89 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,680 season. How she thinks about racing at 90 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,240 championship meets and what her goals are for 20. 26 So without 91 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,480 further ado, here is. Margo Appleton. 92 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,240 All right, Margo, welcome to the CS Mac Podcast. 93 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:43,120 First off, congratulations on turning pro, signing with New 94 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,240 Balance and joining team New Balance Boston. 95 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:46,720 What have the? First couple months. 96 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:51,280 Been on the job basically. Yeah, it's been really good. 97 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,880 It's kind of a weird transition from college where you're going 98 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,840 to classes all day and now we kind of have nothing to do all 99 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:03,200 day except for run. But yeah, I really like the 100 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,400 other girls on the team and I'm really liking Mark. 101 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,760 It wasn't like a huge shift and training. 102 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,440 It's like pretty similar to what I've been doing. 103 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,600 So it's been a pretty smooth transition, yeah, and I'm really 104 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,320 enjoying it. Yeah. 105 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:22,600 So I we'll dive into just sort of Mark versus Vin coaching 106 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,640 philosophy and all that kind of stuff in in a little bit. 107 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,000 But for starters, I guess to work backwards a little bit this 108 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,840 past weekend, 839 PB, how are we feeling about this past 109 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:34,320 weekend's performance? Yeah, I felt good about it. 110 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:39,240 I I was hoping for a little faster just based on how 111 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:43,720 training was going in Flagstaff, but it was still a big PR and I 112 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,320 was happy with it. So yeah, I'm excited for the 113 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,320 rest of the season. You guys are also just coming 114 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:52,600 off of spending like I think it was a whole month or so right at 115 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:54,960 at altitude. What were your first impressions 116 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,880 of, you know, training, you know, in thin air and and did 117 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,600 you find that you're like a super responder or did it take 118 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:02,480 a? Little getting used to. 119 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,440 The running. Felt fine for the most part. 120 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,160 It was more like just a weird like adjustment. 121 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,200 I feel like being up there just body felt a little off. 122 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,960 But yeah, I mean, camp was great. 123 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,120 Like the runs are obviously way different than what we get in 124 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,320 Boston. So it was good to switch it up 125 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,800 and get to be with Ellie and like, stay in the house with all 126 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:25,720 my teammates. Yeah. 127 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,240 So it, it was fun. I wouldn't say I'm a super 128 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,280 responder to altitude, but it was good. 129 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,720 So the interesting part, and I spoke with like all the 130 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,800 Providence girls yesterday is just sort of like they're making 131 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,000 like this whole jump into the professional ranks like 132 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,280 together. And then you're coming in, you 133 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:47,360 know, from UVA all by yourself. New Girl on the team as well. 134 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,520 But I guess like what's sort of that been like to be part of 135 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,840 like this? Refresh for team New Balance. 136 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:55,480 Where you're not the only rookie on the team. 137 00:06:55,480 --> 00:07:00,720 There's, you know, a whole slew of, I guess making their, this 138 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,000 is their first professional year. 139 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,760 So I guess like, has that part been just sort of encouraging? 140 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,960 Just like this is my first time as a pro but also I've got 141 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:14,040 company in all of this. I like kind of knew the 142 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,000 Providence girls, especially Kim and Shannon were just racing all 143 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,880 the time. And I think this past year we 144 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,120 kind of knew we were all interested in New Balance Boston 145 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,160 where they go to Providence and I'm from like Massachusetts. 146 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,600 So I think we kind of knew that and we're kind of friendly the 147 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,640 whole time and knew we were all going to come in together at one 148 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,680 point. So that's been really awesome 149 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,600 that we're kind of all on the same page. 150 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:44,760 All were somewhat friendly coming in and yeah, my old coach 151 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:49,000 was joking that I'm like the 4th fryer because I'm the only one 152 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,240 not from Providence coming in. But yeah, I feel like I fit. 153 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:53,760 Right in with. Them so it's been good. 154 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,880 So for you, I guess, like you're from like less than two hours 155 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,120 out of Boston. So, like, has part of this also 156 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,960 kind of felt like a little bit of a homecoming? 157 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,800 Yeah, definitely. I'm actually home right now. 158 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:10,160 So I kind of, it's nice. It's easier to travel home than 159 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,520 being in Virginia was, and I didn't spend like a ton of time 160 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:19,240 in Boston like growing up, so it's still kind of like a new 161 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,320 environment. But it is nice being so close to 162 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,560 home, especially in the warmer months. 163 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,920 I was coming home and going to the beach on the weekends. 164 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,800 Still so. In addition to that, I guess 165 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,679 like you also had the NIL with New Balance like while you were 166 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,440 in college. So for you, it's it's 167 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,159 fascinating, it's not as you maybe did just sort of weigh 168 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:44,240 some other offers, but it feels like you can start to set the 169 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:48,160 stones for post collegiate, you know, running while you're still 170 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:49,880 in college. What was the process like for 171 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,560 you? Yeah, I definitely did my like 172 00:08:52,560 --> 00:08:57,720 due diligence and looked at other places even like when I 173 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:02,520 was thinking back to my college recruiting process, I kind of 174 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,120 was like very one tracked in choosing UVA and it obviously. 175 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,880 Worked out but. I wanted to see other. 176 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,480 Places and I did visits kind of in the back of my mind, it was 177 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:18,160 almost impossible to pass up being in Boston, just I know 178 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:22,400 like Mark's probably the best woman's 1500 coach there is. 179 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:27,440 And I like love the idea of being in Boston and being close 180 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,000 to home. So it was it was hard not to 181 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,840 always lean towards that. And then eventually I made the 182 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,960 decision and obviously I'm really happy. 183 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,600 With it. For you, I guess like watching, 184 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:45,800 you know, the New Balance sweep of the 1500 at the 2021 trials 185 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:50,320 with Ellie, Heather, Corey. I mean, were those kind of like 186 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,440 pretty, I guess like forming moments for you as an as an 187 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,040 athlete, as a fan, I guess at that point in in your career 188 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:58,560 because you were still pretty young at the time? 189 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,320 Yeah, I don't. Really remember when I. 190 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,600 Started thinking about like running professionally. 191 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:07,320 Definitely. Kind of. 192 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:12,000 Middle of college, I was pretty sure, but I just remember 193 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,600 especially watching Heather and I don't know, she was talking 194 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,600 about Duncan or something and that was just very relatable to 195 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,240 me. And she just seemed like such a 196 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:24,640 normal person. And then obviously had this huge 197 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,320 improvement after going to UMass. 198 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,480 So I really looked up to her and Ellie, too, of course. 199 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:32,920 And Corey, yeah, that that was cool to see. 200 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:37,240 It's cool to see people like from around where you are being 201 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,680 so successful and you can relate to them on some things. 202 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,640 So yeah. You had Ellie in training camp 203 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,520 at in Flagstaff. I guess like, what were sort of 204 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,960 your first impressions of being able to jump into workouts at 205 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,320 someone who, like you, admired from afar for a while, but now 206 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,960 you get to call a teammate? Yeah, it was definitely 207 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,840 intimidating, like trying to hop into a workout with her. 208 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:03,840 I feel like Ellie never seems tired and just. 209 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:08,120 Yeah, she's so strong, but she's also such a normal person, which 210 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,440 is cool to see. And like, seeing her with the 211 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,200 kids and stuff, yeah, I, I think I gained like a lot more respect 212 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,840 for her honestly, being out and fly with her 'cause she's not 213 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,120 just a runner. She like does what she needs to 214 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:25,040 do, gets it done and then has like her own life kind of 215 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,560 outside of running. So I think that's really cool. 216 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,520 So when you were going through like the process of like 217 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,520 figuring out like where you wanted to run professionally, 218 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:38,600 you know, and Mark is an option with New Balance, I guess when 219 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:41,840 you got into sort of like assessing, you know, his 220 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:43,800 training philosophy and whether it would work for you. 221 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:47,240 I guess what were some of the, the, I guess, topics of 222 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:48,800 conversation when you were having those? 223 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:50,480 Because it, it does sort of feel like, right. 224 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:55,040 You go from Vin to Mark. Old school guys like not all 225 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:56,480 that different or pretty different. 226 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:00,440 Yeah. So later in college, Vin, kind 227 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,120 of. Oversaw my training but. 228 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:05,640 Day-to-day, I was working with Joelle Moore directly. 229 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,320 Yeah, yeah. And she was very. 230 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:13,840 Understanding of kind of how I like to approach learning and I 231 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:18,000 had a lot of say with like what I was doing kind of day-to-day 232 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,720 and like what I wanted my long term plan to be. 233 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:25,000 So with her I. Was just I really like to run 234 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,120 slow on my easy days, which is very different from the 235 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,000 Providence girls but. I was just. 236 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,640 Building up mileage like slowly throughout my career, but yeah, 237 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:40,720 I just like a lot of long easy runs and just building strength 238 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,360 and then obviously got into like more speed work as the. 239 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:49,200 Season would go on. And I kind of knew I'm a bit 240 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,400 like particular about my training in that regard where 241 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:58,880 I'm not very like into the scientific stuff, like don't 242 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,160 want to be looking at my heart rate every day necessarily. 243 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:08,080 And I could kind of tell Mark was on that same page when he is 244 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,840 like, Oh yeah, we do 60 minutes every day, 30 minute double. 245 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:16,200 And like, that's what I like to hear, just running on time, not 246 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,520 necessarily being super strict about your mileage. 247 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:23,920 And I don't know, he feels like it's more of like an art than a 248 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,600 science. I mean, obviously, you know the 249 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,760 science, He knows the science, and that plays a part. 250 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:34,400 But yeah, in that regard, it felt similar to what I had with 251 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,240 Joel and what I like really like about running and what gives me 252 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,960 confidence. I go back to just sort of like 253 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,960 we did a whole office hours like podcast episode with Mark like 2 254 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:47,480 years ago. And in it I think we did like 255 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,560 the overrated, underrated segment where we bring in like 256 00:13:49,560 --> 00:13:51,320 all these different like training theories and we get 257 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,560 his, you know, his hot takes on, on each one of them. 258 00:13:54,560 --> 00:13:57,800 And when we brought up just sort of like lactate testing and he 259 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,160 was like, I bought one of those things. 260 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,920 He's like, I don't know how to use it or I used it once it did 261 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,520 it wrong. And I was like, yeah, he's, you 262 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:08,560 know, sometimes it's sort of like it's totally OK to just 263 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:11,240 stay old school in your in your yeah style. 264 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,080 And that's Mark, so with. The transition I guess like. 265 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:16,960 At what point when did it really start? 266 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,680 I guess because obviously I think we've kind of joked about 267 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,920 this being like the worst kept secret, especially when Mark is 268 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,280 just posting everyone on his Instagram. 269 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,400 But I guess like when did really you start to, you know, start to 270 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:31,760 get workouts and stuff from work? 271 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:37,080 In the summer, I was. Kind of like transitioning. 272 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:41,800 Joel was still like coaching me and sending me my workouts, but 273 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:48,080 I was going a little crazy being home alone and not having people 274 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,880 to train with and just going to like my high school or not my 275 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,360 high school, but a high school track and trying to do workouts 276 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,360 by myself. So I like reached out to Mark 277 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:01,680 and coordinated with him. So I was driving like 2 hours in 278 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:06,280 rush hour to come work out at the Harvard track, but I just 279 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:11,160 needed to have people around and he gave me like a couple 280 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,800 workouts so I could like coordinate with Kate leading 281 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:19,000 into USA's. And then yeah, I had my break, a 282 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,400 nice two week break, which I haven't had in forever. 283 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,400 So that was good. And then started up with March 284 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,520 training in like September probably. 285 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,880 I feel like when you know there's a 1500 meter specialist, 286 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,520 like you can either come from 815 background or there's more 287 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:42,800 like the 153K5K side of things. And you definitely lean just I 288 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,360 guess more toward like the longer stuff. 289 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,120 And when I was looking over just sort of like your NCA results, 290 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,320 like you bopped around I think between the mile and the 5K and 291 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:56,120 the three KA bunch, I mean the mile in 1500 being obviously 292 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,480 like your your bread and butter. But how did you go about, I 293 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,600 guess like and when did you realize like you had this range 294 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,840 across the longer distances? Yeah, well, actually coming into 295 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,560 college, I I ran the. 5K in high school which I guess isn't that 296 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:16,560 common and had like more success in the 5K in cross country than 297 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:20,360 I did in the mile. I have like a fast 1500 PR but 298 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:24,400 it was hand timed so it didn't count I guess. 299 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:29,800 And Vin kind of thought I was going to be more 5K10K runner 300 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,840 and was maybe like priming me towards that but. 301 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,840 Because cross country you even had like a bunch of success. 302 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:41,400 Yeah, I I never, I didn't do great. 303 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:48,080 I like the NCAA's until my senior year, but yeah, no, I, I 304 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,040 was like our top cross country runner my freshman year. 305 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:55,080 And so I think Ben was thinking I would at least be 5K and maybe 306 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:59,720 go up to 10K. But then I just ran fast on our 307 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:05,079 DMR my freshman year and that kind of just, I became a miler, 308 00:17:05,079 --> 00:17:08,480 I guess. And I found it a lot more fun 309 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,480 than the 5K. But I have always felt like I 310 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:17,079 tend towards like doing better and longer workouts. 311 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:20,599 And I don't know, I've never thought of myself as being super 312 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:24,520 speedy. So I, I kind of knew like I'm 313 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,720 always just like waiting until I become a 5K runner. 314 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,800 But for now I'm staying at the 15. 315 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:34,640 But yeah, my junior year I I ran well in the 5K and I was kind of 316 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,840 thinking, oh, maybe I can do it at NCAA's and stick on Parker 317 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,680 and have a kick. But obviously the fitness wasn't 318 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:43,440 there. And I think that's why I'm 319 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:48,560 enjoying the 15 more right now 'cause you get to be up there 320 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,840 more in races than the 5K. It was kind of straining out at 321 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:56,400 NCAA's. But yeah, I, I am hoping I can 322 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,920 and like, I think I am like getting a lot of fitness doing 323 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:02,760 mileage with Mark. So hopefully I can have that 324 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,280 success in the 5K and actually use my kick at the end of the 325 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:12,160 race in the 5K. This episode of the Sidious Mag 326 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:16,360 Podcast is presented by Ollie Pop Polly Throws taking over for 327 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:20,640 this special ad rate, so try January may be over, but one of 328 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,920 the best things to come out of it was Lollipop's brand new 329 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:28,120 Shirley Temple flavor. Funny story, I was still under 330 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,960 21 when I started working with Sidious, and when I was on the 331 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,840 road with the team last year, I'd hit that awkward moment at 332 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,000 dinner when everyone's ordering drinks and I still had a few 333 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,840 months to wait. That was until Chris suggested I 334 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:45,120 try a Shirley Temple, and golly, I was hooked. 335 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,640 Just ask the hotel staff in Fort Lauderdale. 336 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,920 The bright pink color, the syrupy sweetness, the fizzy 337 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,280 lemon lime finish. It absolutely shook me. 338 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,840 Now, obviously, that led to a few laughs every time I ordered 339 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:00,520 Shirley Temple at a bar or restaurant. 340 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,800 But even now that I'm 21, I definitely haven't outgrown the 341 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,760 craving. And that's where Ollie Pop steps 342 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:08,760 in. Ollipop Shirley Temple is a 343 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,840 modern, grown up take on the classic, made with a bright 344 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,760 blend of tart cherry, white grape, lemon and lime, plus 345 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,120 Ollipop's signature prebiotic formula. 346 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,520 It's sweet without being overpowering, refreshing without 347 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,760 being boring, and way more interesting than the sugary 348 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,680 original. 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Ollipop Poly throws approved. 357 00:19:57,360 --> 00:20:00,040 I'm looking at even just sort of like the your showings at the 358 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,480 NCA Championships and it was like fourth in the mile in 2023, 359 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:09,600 fifth in the mile in 2024 in the 15. 103rd in the. 15/20/23 360 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,440 fourth in the 5K in 2024 with the and then obviously like 361 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:18,200 second in the 1500 in 2025. Coming so close to to winning 362 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:20,960 like and showing this consistency each time out like I 363 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:22,760 guess. What were the biggest takeaways 364 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:25,320 you had from the NCA Championship experiences? 365 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:31,000 Yeah, I I think I liked the fact that I was very consistent at 366 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,600 championship races and it. Started with like a surprise 367 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:39,160 finish at NCAA's my sophomore year and then from there I just 368 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,920 did well in championship races for the most part. 369 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,880 But it definitely did frustrate me a little. 370 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:50,680 Bit that I never like won after coming close all those times and 371 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:55,520 I think that's something I want to work on like being a pro just 372 00:20:55,680 --> 00:21:01,640 maybe racing a little a lot more for like the win than to get 2nd 373 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:06,920 through 5th and I don't know, maybe change up tactics somehow 374 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:11,120 and obviously get more fitness. But yeah, I I like that I was 375 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:15,360 consistent, but you obviously want to be the one that wins 376 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:18,200 every now and then, so. But I also feel like you 377 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,840 sometimes that's a good thing. It's sort of like you'll, you'll 378 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,560 have that chip on your shoulder for the rest of your your life. 379 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,440 You'll be like, I never won an NCA title. 380 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,320 But look, here, I'm going to go out and try and make this team 381 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,640 or make that team. Yeah, exactly. 382 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:35,200 I feel like everyone always wants to be the underdog, and 383 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,200 sometimes people that aren't the underdogs even say they're the 384 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,640 underdog, but. It is nice. 385 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:44,080 Not necessarily. Having all that expectation or 386 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,840 attention on you and you kind of just keep slowly building and 387 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,760 eventually you're the one that's there at the big championships. 388 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,800 Ellie may be the exception because like she did, I guess 389 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:59,160 win the NCA title like indoors, but I also kind of feel like 390 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,280 that's always been part of like the team New Balance Boston, 391 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,240 like identity as well as like the development side of things. 392 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,520 There's like when he's been able to take someone like Heather 393 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,840 and, you know, who was probably overlooked coming out of college 394 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:15,760 but then makes an Olympic team. And there's multiple, I think, 395 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:18,960 cases throughout Mark's sort of resume where that's kind of been 396 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:20,240 the thing. Was that also just kind of 397 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,120 another appealing side to joining Mark's group? 398 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:27,360 Yeah, definitely. I there's a lot of good pro 399 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:31,720 coaches out there, but Mark's definitely the one who seems to 400 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:37,080 take people to new levels. And I'm maybe not necessarily 401 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,280 expecting that amount of improvement that Emily and 402 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,880 Heather had 'cause I think college running is kind of in a 403 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,480 different spot than where it was then. 404 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:47,920 But. Just. 405 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,800 Seeing that improvement, he's obviously very good at taking 406 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:55,840 people who are like consistent and maybe have a little bit of 407 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,600 untapped potential and taking them to the next level. 408 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:03,720 So hopefully that works with me. Was that something that you 409 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,400 noticed like as you were progressing through college was 410 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,640 sort of like this level up because you just brought it up 411 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,480 and just sort of like, yeah, I mean, like if you're really good 412 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,560 in the NCAA, if you're top five and like that's enough of a 413 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,640 sign, that's like you'd be a really solid professional. 414 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:21,000 Like it's gotten to that point. And was it always the case even 415 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:22,680 when you got there as a freshman? 416 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:24,760 Or was it something that by the end of your senior year, you 417 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,560 started to notice was like, Oh yeah, like at some point things 418 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:31,840 change during my junior senior year that like, really was 419 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:33,840 noticeable. It's like, whoa, like college 420 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,240 kids were really good right now. Yeah. 421 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:42,360 I think what really surprised. Me was I was competing at. 422 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,720 NCAA Championships. As a sophomore and like, oh, I'm 423 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:49,880 the youngest one in the field. And then you get to senior year 424 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,840 and you're like, wait, I still am kind of one of the youngest 425 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:57,640 ones in the field. But yeah, it it's definitely 426 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:59,840 improved. And there's like a lot more 427 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:04,920 international talent. And I think people like focus so 428 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:10,960 much on like the Kenyans and the like 5K10K, but you look at the 429 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,360 mile and there's still a ton of international people and that 430 00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:17,920 obviously just makes all of us better. 431 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,520 And yeah, I I feel. Like I noticed the times. 432 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:27,480 Like dropping and just the times to make indoor nationals are a 433 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:31,640 clear indication of like how much it's improved. 434 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,200 And just. I feel like my sophomore year, 435 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:38,000 if you ran 410, you were kind of a shoo in to make the NCAA 436 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:40,440 final. And this past year, it seemed 437 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,000 like if you ran 410, you had an outside shot to make a final, 438 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,440 which it's just so different. But yeah, I do. 439 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:52,320 I do think it's cool that the NCAA has become more on par with 440 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,480 like, pro running, especially for the woman, because you 441 00:24:55,480 --> 00:25:00,960 notice more of a gap between like, the women's NCAA and the 442 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,920 pros. And that gap is finally closing, 443 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,240 which, yeah, I I think it's a good thing. 444 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,120 So I mean, it's so interesting you did bring up sort of like 445 00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:10,960 everyone's so quick to point out, it's like, Oh yeah, I mean, 446 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,280 like look at cross country and how many Kenyans there are. 447 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,400 But in the 1500s, I'm looking at the NCA results. 448 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:19,080 I mean Sophie won from Ireland based now I guess like in in 449 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,680 Australia, Shalan is in there, I guess she's from Turkey and 450 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:23,320 she's. Like. 451 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,360 The oldest of the field, a 90s baby, as I'm like realizing like 452 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:29,120 with the with the birthdays is next to it. 453 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,840 But then in addition to that, what did you, I guess like take 454 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:36,960 away from NCA, the NCA championships that then kind of 455 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:42,240 was a little bit of like a clean reset like for USA's, because 456 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:46,520 when you take out some of these names from the results like 457 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:50,400 you're like, OK, this is gonna be a different, but then still a 458 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,720 high level like competition that you're facing at Usas. 459 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,800 Yeah. It was kind of nice, like just, 460 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,800 OK, it's a whole new field and you get so used to racing all 461 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:05,600 those same people in NCAA's year after year, and now I'm just 462 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:08,000 focusing on completely different people. 463 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:11,760 And yeah, I I, that was cool for usas. 464 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:16,600 I mean, I obviously wanted to be up there a little. 465 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:21,440 More at USAS and I was happy to make the final, but it's also. 466 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:25,000 Nice to have a reset of like, I'm looking at these people and 467 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:29,840 I have something to work up to now versus being at the top of 468 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,760 the NCAA and just hoping you get it right on the day. 469 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:37,520 I have more like, OK, I need to improve by like 10 seconds if I 470 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:41,840 want to be up there at USAS, which that kind of excites me 471 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,400 and it's a little scary, but yeah, I think it's mostly 472 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,440 exciting. All right, so put me in your 473 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:52,240 shoes and and take me back to Eugene last year for US as and 474 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,280 like that first round, like I'm looking at your heat and it was 475 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:59,880 like Emily, Heather, you, Danny, Rachel MacArthur, like you, you 476 00:26:59,880 --> 00:27:03,200 didn't have an easy heat draw like to to begin with. 477 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:06,000 You're the you're a college kid, I guess. 478 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,280 Like at that point, were you already wearing your New Balance 479 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:11,120 uniform in that first round or? Yeah, I was. 480 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,640 You were OK. So I mean like first time 481 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:18,120 rocking that like on that on this big of a stage, like what 482 00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:21,560 were their nerves and just sort of like what were your feelings 483 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:23,760 in that race? I think everybody wants me to 484 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:30,920 shut up about this race, but I had run 423 in the 1500, not the 485 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:36,360 mile like a few weeks before. So I was kind of just like, Oh 486 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:39,200 no, like what happened here, but. 487 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:41,360 Oh yeah, Wow. Look, I just totally, like, 488 00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:43,360 glossed over that. Yeah, no, that's right. 489 00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:45,720 That sound running. I probably shouldn't be burning 490 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:50,520 that up, but that kind of was just like, OK, I know what worst 491 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:55,440 case scenario is and I experienced it and I know I'm 492 00:27:55,440 --> 00:28:00,080 not in that fitness, but it kind of just felt like I had nothing 493 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,600 to lose at that point because I hoped anything I did at US AS 494 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,680 would be better than what I had done there. 495 00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:11,480 And I knew I was fit, like I had a, a good college season. 496 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:16,720 So it, it, I knew that hadn't gone away, but I, I kind of, I 497 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,320 was being a little bit negative before the race and I was just 498 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:25,640 like, oh man, I'm just joking. But I, I don't know, I kind of 499 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,480 went into it being like, well, this is a championship style 500 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,400 race and that's what I really enjoy. 501 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:35,040 Like I like racing for spots and I am usually pretty good about 502 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:38,880 making finals. So I've I felt like kind of in 503 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:44,480 my element, like I, I knew what to do and yeah, I the race. 504 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:46,400 Like I was almost just the whole. 505 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,920 Time waiting for it to. Start going. 506 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:49,840 Bad. And then I was. 507 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:55,320 Like, oh, wait, it's going well. And I had a good kick and I was 508 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,720 happy. I I got like a small PR. 509 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:02,120 So yeah, it, it was cool. Like coming down the homestretch 510 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:06,120 and being with like, Heather and Emily and those people because 511 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:09,640 you're not like, I'd, I'd never been like, kicking next to them 512 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,320 before, just like only ever watched them race. 513 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,680 So yeah, that that was exciting to make that final. 514 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,800 All right. So you ran APR before the final 515 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:25,200 and then given how this event has gone like in the years 516 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:27,880 leading up to it, where or the last couple years, right where 517 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,400 it's like this is going to be with guaranteed sub four race 518 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:33,560 and then it's like 355 up in the front. 519 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:37,080 You know, in in in one case. And you look at the names again. 520 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,720 Now this time it's sort of like the 1% is here where it's Nikki 521 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:45,880 Sinclair, Heather, Emily, Danny like and you're just like, I 522 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:48,760 just ran my best race. How did you approach the final? 523 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:54,480 Part of me was like, maybe there's a shot like if I have a 524 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,000 really good race. And then I was also kind of 525 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:01,080 like, well, top 6 is a realistic goal. 526 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:05,280 I, I was hoping to get APR out of it because in my head it was 527 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:08,480 going to be fast. But then, yeah, obviously it 528 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,240 went tactical and I didn't necessarily have the best 529 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,800 tactics there. I was a little far back which I 530 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,960 I think it was good to experience that because it's 531 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,560 different racing. Tactically with 355 runners than 532 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:26,640 it is racing tactically with 405 runners. 533 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:31,440 But yeah, it, it was a, it was a good experience race. 534 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:38,040 I feel like for years to come. But yeah, I, I, I was nervous 535 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:42,400 going into it, but I, it also kind of felt like I just PR, I 536 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:47,200 ended on a better note than the 423-1500 and I kind of just 537 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,280 wanted to get experience out of it. 538 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:53,760 I always ask people about the call room before these races. 539 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:55,160 Like what? What were you like I guess in 540 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,960 the call room before this one? Probably like not nervous 541 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,080 enough. I don't know. 542 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:05,560 It's just like I, it was like, OK, there's like maybe a shot, 543 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:10,440 but I yeah, I was nervous. I like wanted it to at least go 544 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:13,120 somewhat well. But I definitely like the 545 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:16,280 difference between that and NCAA's kind of felt like night 546 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:20,360 and day because it just like so much more pressure and the 547 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:23,040 champion. Honestly more nervous for ACCS 548 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:25,720 than that race. But hopefully eventually I'm at 549 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:30,320 the point where maybe even this year that those races feel like 550 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:34,440 NCAA's and I know what I'm doing and like know who I need to be, 551 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:40,600 that that's the goal eventually. Your final race in AUVA uniform 552 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,240 was was it the sound race or was it the NCA championships? 553 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:47,160 It was the sound race. OK, so maybe. 554 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:48,880 All right, let's let's ignore that one and. 555 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,560 Forget I'm glad that I'm glad that wasn't my New Balance kit 556 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:53,600 debut. So. 557 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,600 All right, so when you close the chapter on sort of like your 558 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,520 time with UVA, like what it what is the race you're most proud 559 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,680 of? I think probably the Penn Relays 560 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:09,520 DMR just 'cause. It felt very. 561 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:15,120 Fitting like my first, my college race that I did really 562 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:20,640 well at was in like ADMR at ACC is my freshman year and kind of 563 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:24,400 the rest of my time at UVA. We struggled a bit in the DMR 564 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:28,240 and I always wanted to like be able to do it for my team. 565 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,920 But I never. Had like a breakout performance 566 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:34,240 like that again. And like we missed NCAA. 567 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,120 Champs indoors, which was disappointing. 568 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:42,760 And then, yeah, that DMR at Penn Relays, it was just obviously 569 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:48,920 like my split was probably equivalent to my PR faster, and 570 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,360 it was just like a really tough race. 571 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:55,840 Like I was dead at the end. But yeah, just for so many 572 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:59,680 reasons, that felt like the best race I've had. 573 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:03,960 All right, so 2026, no traditional world championship, 574 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:09,960 no Olympics off year, sort of what are you most excited to, I 575 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,960 guess like discover about yourself in your first pro year 576 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:16,320 and like get to try I guess on the track as well? 577 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:22,680 Yeah, I'm excited to run another 5K just 'cause my PR is from 578 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:26,120 junior year, but I I feel like I could take a lot of time off of 579 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,560 that. Mark wants all of us to break 4 580 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:35,520 in the 1500s, so hopefully that will happen and then yeah, even 581 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:38,520 though there's no. Like Worlds to qualify for, I'm 582 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:42,640 excited to like compete at USA's. 583 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:47,880 Hopefully, yeah, I'll do indoor, either the 3K or the 15 or maybe 584 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:50,840 both. And yeah, hopefully can compete 585 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:57,080 well there and try to get top 2 and make that indoor World Team. 586 00:33:57,080 --> 00:34:00,280 But we'll see. And then yeah, I'm looking 587 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:03,280 forward to outdoor, like just trying to run some fast times 588 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:07,680 and I I want to compete. At US as as though there's like 589 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:12,000 a championship to qualify for just cause I like I need the 590 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:16,040 practice, getting championship racing at that level and and 591 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:21,360 really seeing myself like competing with the pro US woman 592 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:24,679 and not just not seeing myself on the same like playing field 593 00:34:24,679 --> 00:34:27,360 as those people and actually trying to compete with them. 594 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:31,280 And then after that probably down later on in the. 595 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,760 In the year, probably Europe maybe. 596 00:34:34,159 --> 00:34:37,600 Is that the hope? Maybe I might try to redeem 597 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:42,840 myself at a sound run. That's the ultimate goal. 598 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,080 It's like, all right, Mark says. Break 4 this year. 599 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,760 I just want to get out to sound meet and have a good one. 600 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:51,360 Yeah. So the rest of the indoor season 601 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:56,280 schedule for you is USA is next. Melrose this weekend. 602 00:34:56,280 --> 00:35:00,200 OK, yeah, yeah, yeah. I I think I'm going to do a 5K 603 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:03,080 at the Valentine. I heard it so far. 604 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:07,520 What I've heard is that there's Doris wants to run really fast. 605 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:09,960 Yeah, I'll be right there with her. 606 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,640 But yeah, I. I'm leaning towards that. 607 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:21,680 And then, yeah, US indoors. Hopefully, hopefully I'll double 608 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,480 there. I I think there's no prelim in 609 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:27,840 the 1500s. So that, yeah, that, that seems 610 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:31,640 like a good opportunity. And then yeah, get another good 611 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:33,680 training block and we'll go back to flying. 612 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:39,880 So excited for and then yeah, hopefully just run some fast 613 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:46,040 times, break four in the 15, run a fast 5K and then USA Outdoor. 614 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:48,520 Sounds like a good plan. Well Margo, I appreciate you 615 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,320 taking the time for this and wishing you all the best of luck 616 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:53,560 this weekend at Melrose. And then all. 617 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:56,840 I guess now you've just brought more attention to the next time 618 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:58,280 you run a sound. Running. 619 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:03,680 Oh God. I think maybe it's it's instead 620 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:06,800 of, you know, like a American record graphic or anything like 621 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,400 that that Sidious puts out is just sort of Margot redeems 622 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:14,280 herself at a sound rate. Can Margot not close in an 82nd 623 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,320 lap? It was that bad. 624 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:18,040 I didn't. Realize that yeah, the 625 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:20,520 prominence girls thought I fell, so let's just go with that. 626 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:25,040 Alright, that's a wrap on today's episode. 627 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,000 Thanks for listening, for the time, the curiosity, and for 628 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,720 making this show part of your routine or your run. 629 00:36:31,240 --> 00:36:34,080 A big thanks to our producer Jasmine Fair and to everyone 630 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:37,080 behind the scenes who helps make the Sidious Mag podcast happen. 631 00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:39,560 If you enjoyed today's episode, a quick five star review on 632 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:43,440 Apple Podcast or Spotify helps people find this show and we 633 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:45,760 read every single one. You can find much more. 634 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:48,240 Track and field coverage. At sidiousmag.com and you can 635 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:50,720 follow along across all of Sidious Mag social channels. 636 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,040 We'll see you next time. Thanks again for listening.