753. Betsy Saina, 2:19 Marathoner & 2024 USATF 25K Champion

Ali on the Run Show

"Sometimes a short build up can do a miracle. So I’m hoping for the miracle in Chicago!"

In a stacked field of elite runners, Betsy Saina is absolutely one to watch at this weekend's Chicago Marathon. Betsy is a 2:19 marathoner — a time that makes her the third-fastest American woman marathoner (behind Emily Sisson and Keira D'Amato). She's a 2016 Olympian who competed in the 10,000m, and she's the 2024 USATF 25K Champion and women-only American record holder in that distance. She's a three-time NCAA champion who ran at Iowa State University, and she currently lives and trains primarily in Kenya. In this conversation, Betsy — who is a mom to three-year-old Kalya — talks about how she's feeling heading into the Chicago Marathon. She talks about the fall earlier this year that derailed her training and set her back several weeks, and about how she's come back from a DNF at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. Plus, whether or not she's planning to go for an American Record in Chicago, what it's like training alongside Joyciline Kepkosgei, and more.

Running Chicago? Here's everything you need to know.

FOLLOW BETSY @sainabetsy

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What you’ll get on this episode:

• How Betsy was feeling a few weeks before the Chicago Marathon, and what motherhood looks like lately (2:40)
• What Betsy’s Chicago Marathon training has looked like, and all about the fall that derailed the first few weeks (6:25)
• Is Betsy targeting the American record in Chicago? (10:50)
• How Betsy feels about the taper (19:15)
• On racing alongside training partner Joyciline Jepkosgei, and what Betsy thinks she can run in Chicago (21:30)
• Betsy looks back on the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon, and how she reflects on that day (26:20)
• Why Betsy is running this year’s Chicago Marathon, after being shut out of the professional field in 2023 (30:15)
• When and why Betsy started running (32:00)
• Betsy, one week later (38:30)
• What will make Chicago a success? (43:30)
• Betsy’s advice for first-time marathoners, and for marathoners chasing big dreams (45:40)

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