As Relay's first-ever Team USA competitor, we couldn't resist the chance to dive deep with Erika into the whole experience, including the heat, humidity, ice hats, and pacing strategies. Sunglasses, after parties, and all things Tokyo.

Running in the heat is TOUGH! But this was a fun one.

If we missed anything leave a question in the comments and we'll ask Erika!

This week on group chat, we have Tommie, Kofuzi, Peter, Erika, and Marcus.

Episode Rundown:

• The extreme Tokyo heat and humidity and how it affected athletes and fans

• Marathon experiences, aid station violations, and Susanna Sullivan’s race

• Standout events: men’s and women’s steeplechase, women’s 800m, men’s 1500m, men’s 400 hurdles

• Mondo Duplantis and the pole vault world record moments

• Team USA relay handoff issues and practice debates

• Controversial DQs, rules enforcement, and racing tactics

• Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, and Enhance Games controversies

• Prize money delays and the frustrations for pro athletes

• Looking ahead to marathon season: Berlin, Chicago, New York

On this week's group chat, Matt Chittim, Peter Bromka, and Lindsey Hein break down all that has happened at the Tokyo World Championships so far!

Today on group chat, we have Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka. Episode Rundown:

• Erika Kemp in Tokyo — Lindsey and Peter hyping up Erika’s marathon and her confidence, calling her a “crusher” and “pleasant surprise” on the show.

• Brooks’ identity shift — the back-and-forth about Brooks trying to go from “run happy” to “we’re serious now,” with the high school movie training montage analogy.

• Emily Infeld kick talk — Lindsey saying “she’s gonna outkick you” and Peter joking about Beatrice Chebet not letting her hang around.

• ’90s 10K nostalgia — Peter’s rant about missing the days when athletes would “crash out from 3K out” and his VHS/YouTube Haile Gebrselassie & Paul Tergat clip reference.

• Parenting + 5K race story — Lindsey’s kids racing each other, her tough-love cheerleading (“I don’t have water, keep going!”), and Glenn’s mind games between brothers.

In this lively conversation, Lindsey Hein, Erika Kemp, Tommie Runz, and Peter Bromka discuss various topics ranging from recent running events to internet culture and memes. They share hot takes on food preferences, analyze Faith Kipyegon's performance from the Diamond League, the importance of points in track and field, and the dynamics of community track events.

The conversation wraps up with reflections on the challenges of 5K and 10K races and personal anecdotes about their experiences in running, the pressures of performance in the age of social media, and the impact of social media on athletes' performance and mental health.

In this conversation, Lindsey, Tommie, Matt, and Peter are joined by Sandy Roberts and Pat Price, founders of the Sir Walter Miler. They dive deep into the history and evolution of the Sir Walter Miler event.

Topics discussed:

• Introduction to the Sir Walter Miler event

• The community engagement aspect

• Evolution of the event over the years

• The role of top athletes and sponsorship

• Infield access for fans and athlete engagement

• The “dreamer” component of the race

• Challenges in event organization and logistics

• The importance of teamwork and volunteers

• The process of selecting athletes and building the field

• Future plans and succession for the event

This week on group chat, we have Kofuzi, Lindsey Hein, Stef Flippin, and Peter Bromka talking all things USAs!

This week on group chat, we have Erika Kemp, Peter Bromka, and Matt Chittim talking all things USAs!

Today on group chat, we have Tommie Runz, Erika Kemp, Lindsey Hein, Peter Bromka, and Matt Chittim.

Top Topics Covered:

Today on group chat, we have Lindsey Hein and Peter Bromka.

Episode Rundown:

• Track and Field Summer Highlights: From Bailey Hertenstein's world standard in the 5K to Diamond League drama and Noah Lyles vs. Letsile Tebogo.

• Hardrock 100 and Trail Running Talk: Why 50-year-old Ludo dominated, Katie Schide's calm dominance, and the challenge of long ultras.

• Swimming Confessions: Lindsey and Peter share their struggles with swimming form, awkward pool encounters, and comparing swim meets to track.

• Inside Podcasting: Reflections on becoming better interviewers, letting guests sit in silence, and podcasting pet peeves.

• Summer Parenting Chaos: Camps, swim meets, trying to avoid too much structure, and nostalgic summer boredom with four kids at home.

Today on group chat, we have Peter Bromka and Erika Kemp.

Episode Rundown:

• 50th anniversary atmosphere and in-person experience at Pre Classic

• Standout performances across events, including Gudaf Tsegay’s and Faith Kipyegon’s world records

• Sage Hurta-Klecker’s standout pacing job and pacing strategy overall

• Long jump drama and showmanship from Tara Davis-Woodhall

• Tactical racing missteps, including Yard Nuguse drifting in the final stretch

• Physicality and unpredictability of the 800m

• Prize money delays and Grand Slam Track League controversy

• Sha’Carri Richardson’s return and injury timelines

• Erika’s marathon build and “get fit to get fit” approach

• Athlete personalities, celebrations, and the importance of storytelling in track and field

Today on group chat, we have Erika Kemp, Peter Bromka, Tommie Runz, Kofuzi, and Marcus Brown.

Episode Rundown:

• Running in the Heat and the “Park” Workout Debacle

• The Ethics of Running in Cemeteries

• Peachtree Road Race Preview

• Faith Kipyegon and Breaking 4

• Event Legitimacy vs. Storytelling

• How Track Can Be More Fun (Without Losing Respect)

• Should Kipchoge Keep Racing?

• Western States Shoutout + Tommie’s Ultra Aspirations

• How to Start Running (Literally Just Take Off?)

Western States 100 is always one of the highlights of the running calendar and the 2025 edition was no different! There was more pre-race hype than we've ever had before and the race absolutely delivered.

In this episode, Stefanie Flippin, Peter Bromka, and Matt Chittim break the men's and women's races, talk about lasting impressions from the race, and what they learned this year that could inform future races.

Petear Bromka and Matt Chittim preview the Western States Endurance Run in a year that is so full of storylines that they didn't come close to mentioning them all in an hour long episode!

With that said, they cover the Return of the King (Killian), the hunt for course records (and the attrition that could result), and a look at the potential Top 10 for the men's and women's races.

You can watch Western States starting Saturday morning on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WesternStates

Today on group chat, we have Erika Kemp, Peter Bromka, Lindsey Hein, and Kofuzi.

Topics Covered:

• How elite runners train and race in extreme heat

• Behind the scenes at Brooks HQ

• Kofuzi accidentally holding Des Linden’s prototype race shoe

• What running gear says about your race-day confidence

• Thoughts on breaking the women’s mile world record (Breaking 4)

• Matching personalities with running shoe brands

• Pros reacting to performance tech like Omius headbands and 3D race kits

• Race-day mantras—from serious to hilarious

In this episode of Relay, host Lindsey Hein introduces the newest member of the Relay team: Erika Kemp. Erika is an accomplished professional distance runner for Brooks, a 2:22 marathoner, and a two-time U.S. champion. She made headlines in her debut marathon at Boston in 2023, running the fastest time ever recorded by an American-born Black woman.

Since then, she’s dropped over ten minutes off her PR, running 2:22 at the 2025 Houston Marathon, and most recently earned a spot on Team USA for the World Championships in the marathon. Erika will line up this September alongside Brooks teammates Susanna Sullivan and Jess Tonn, who is replacing Betsy Saina following her pregnancy announcement.

In this conversation, Lindsey and Erika catch listeners up on Erika’s recent career milestones, her current training in Rhode Island under coach Kurt Benninger, and what’s ahead. Erika also shares her passion for representation in the sport and her commitment to mentoring young runners.

We're thrilled to have Erika joining the Relay podcast as a regular co-host. She’ll be part of the Monday crew, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday. This conversation is your chance to get to know her a little better and hear her perspective heading into an exciting summer.

A quick note: the audio quality in this one isn’t perfect due to a technical issue during recording. There’s a bit of crackle in Lindsey’s mic, but the conversation is still worth the listen.

Enjoy this introduction to Erika Kemp—Relay’s newest voice on the mic.

Today on group chat, we have Peter Bromka and Matt Chittim.

Episode Rundown:

All of the subscriptions that you need to be a track fan

The recent news on Grand Slam track

Boston Marathon’s consideration of downhill courses

Changes to the Boston Marathon registering process

Oslo Diamond League 

Nico Young’s breakout 5k win

The Women’s 400m race in Oslo

Portland Track Festival

This week on group chat, we have Erika Kemp, Lindsey Hein, Stef Flippin, and Peter Bromka.

Episode Rundown:

Some love for Ali Feller

Erika’s mini 10k race and World Championship team selection

We Out Here Trail Fest

The Zooming Demons

NCAA athletes now being paid and what that may mean for track and field

Catching up on the Diamond League performances

Jane Hedengren's recent results and a chat about high school phenoms