Back to Baltimore, which means more running and more package thieves coming after the summer 2025 Saucony collection. We recap our saga of tracking down shoes, while running in some sizzling heaters for the summer, including the Brooks Hyperion Max 3, Nike Streakfly 2, and Adidas Adios Pro Evo 2. Karl also wraps up his London experience.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

LA SPORTIVA

Introducing the Prodigio Pro running shoe from La Sportiva—crafted for ultrarunners, trail addicts, or anyone chasing their next big effort. With XFlow Speed, a dual-super critical nitrogen-infused EVA and TPU midsole technology, AND an ultralight Power Wire mesh upper - it’s responsive, durable, and ready for any terrain. Go farther, go faster!

Get our full thoughts on one of the best trail shoes of 2025: https://believeintherun.com/shoe-reviews/la-sportiva-prodigio-pro-review/

Shop the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro: https://alnk.to/6mRuqAT

SWIFTWICK
The best running socks in the game, we're always running in the Flite XT and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15.

Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

LMNT
NEW FLAVOR ALERT! Just in time for summer, LMNT just dropped an all-new Lemonade Salt flavor and it may be their best one yet. We've been crushing it after every run to restore our salt and electrolyte supplies. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

INDEX

00:00 - Intro

1:55 - Shoe theft

20:08 - Old school tech talk

28:48 - Epic Water Filters

43:00 - Shoe talk

1:01:00 - Karl’s London Trip

1:09:00 - TV's and Movies, Max Discovery

1:20:00 - Protein chips and Snow Cones

Robbe chats with Henry Abbott, basketball expert and former ESPN journalist, about his new book "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance," which explores groundbreaking new approaches to athletic training, injury prevention, and enhancing performance using “ballistic” movements. The book reveals a surprising takeaway: The explosive moves and ground impacts we often avoid in everyday workouts might provide the secret to an injury-free athletic life. As you can imagine, we talk about injury, prevention, and what it looks like to reimagine how we assess injury.

Pick up "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance": https://www.amazon.com/Ballistic-Science-Injury-Free-Athletic-Performance/dp/1324050136

Subscribe to Henry's True Hoop Substack: https://www.truehoop.com/

(Sorry about Robbe's audio on this one, lost the original and had to use the backup.)

Spring marathon season comes to a close, as Thomas and Meaghan run the London Marathon and barely make it back across the Atlantic alive as you'll see in this episode. It's been a real limp to the finish, but we're back and we're ready to relax ...oh wait, Meg heads out on the Move Her Mind tour with ASICS next week and Summer GRIT registration is just around the corner (Memorial Day). Anyway, buckle up and strap on the oxygen mask, you're gonna need it.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

SWIFTWICK

We love Swiftwick socks for their longevity, comfort and performance (Meg and Thomas ran London in them, Robbe never takes them off because he's like that). The Flite XT Crew is a personal favorite, but the Maxus Zero Tab is a can't miss as well.

Try them now and get 15% off by using code BELIEVE15: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

PILLAR

Ensuring NN Running athletes continue to take podiums and claim records, PILLAR Performance gets them to start lines in the best condition possible. Recovery is crucial to managing training loads, and adequately preparing for race day. This is why PILLAR's Triple Magnesium provides a high dosage of Magnesium Bisglycinate to boost the recovery score on your wearable.

Enter code BITR on The Feed to receive 15% off your first order, and track the difference yourself: https://thefeed.com/products/pillar-performance

Thomas met Toby Tanser while on his recent trip to Kenya and immediately knew he had to have him on the podcast. Shoe4Africa originated 30 years ago from Toby's vision of harnessing the power of sports to create positive change for African children. Initially focused on collecting and distributing athletic shoes to aspiring young runners in Kenya their efforts expanded to address broader issues, including healthcare and education. Currently operating with only one paid staff member, Shoe4Africa has built East and Central Africa’s first public children’s hospital, which has treated over 1.2 million children. Beyond healthcare, they’ve established six free-to-attend schools, a Boys and Girls Club, and generated hundreds of jobs, all while distributing over 6 million meals to those in need.Learn more about Shoe4Africa: https://shoe4africa.org/Follow Shoe4Africa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoe4africa/

We've returned from the Super Bowl of running – the 129th Boston Marathon – but first, we made a couple detours to the emergency room and the Cheesecake Factory. for a dose of pain pills and fine dining, respectively. Then it was a slew of events, including an incredible opening night with Adidas, running the B.A.A. 5K, a fun and festive marathon track relay with New Balance, the always epic shakeout with Asics, then front row seats to the best World Major of them all. Thanks to everyone who came out to one or more of the events or said hello at some point during the weekend. And congrats to Crossing-The Finish Karl, Lo, Aubrey, and all the other 28,000+ finishers of the Boston Marathon. It was an amazing sight to see.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

...

A few days out from Boston and one week out from London, so of course the taper crazies are coming on strong, as well as a well-timed viral infection. Meg lays low while Thomas and Robbe take the reins in recounting a trip abroad, the comeback of the receding hairline (thanks White Lotus), the joys of driving a manual car, and more. We also cover the Puma Fast-R 3, the first shoe since the Nike Vaporfly to show independent lab studies of 3% performance gains when compared against competitors. Wild times.

Come see us at the New Balance Relay in Boston, hang out, grab a sweet custom t-shirt. Details here, it's free and no RSVP necessary: https://believeintherun.com/event/team-marathon-relay-at-the-track-at-new-balance/

Don't miss the always epic Asics Boston shakeout run on Sunday morning in Boston! First 500 to show up will get a custom corduroy cap. Details here, no RSVP necessary: https://believeintherun.com/event/asics-boston-marathon-shakeout-run-2025/

WAHOO FITNESS

Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals. Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18

SWIFTWICK

The best running socks in the game, Swiftwick just launched their new spring collection this week, and Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

MICHAEL BONSBY HVAC

We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

We sit down with Dr. Desmond Wilson, Eternal's Chief Medical Officer. He's a doctor, avid trail runner and talks to us about aging as an athlete. Eternal is new healthcare service tailored to performance for athletes, which just launched in San Francisco and New York. Eternal provides a proactive, science-backed approach to help athletes better understand their changing bodies, optimize peak performance, and continue excelling as they age.

The boys are back in town, except now Robbe has ventured off to Spain. But that's okay, as Karl joins Thomas and Meg in front of the camera this week to recap their adventure in Kenya with Kiprun to unveil their new race shoe, the KD900X LAB - a 5K/10K racer which seems pretty promising. Plus, Meg recaps her time in D.C. for the start of the Asics Move Her Mind Event Series as well as racing the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. This episode is a pretty long one, so hopefully you're running enough miles out there to cover the entire thing.

WAHOO FITNESS

Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals.

Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18

SWIFTWICK

The best running socks in the game, Swiftwick just launched their new spring collection this week, and Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

MICHAEL BONSBY HVAC

We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

We got Erin Azar back on the show, even though she’s officially too cool for us. This time, she’s talking casual convos with NFL players, her marathon training for London (using the Galloway method), and her very chill philosophy on doing less. Erin is down-to-earth and effortlessly funny and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Thomas and Karl are off galavanting in Kenya, so we recorded this on a Friday, which is always questionable. We cover the usual nonsense, talk about the Nike Vaporfly, and petition some brand, somewhere, to take us up on our offer to have a real life unicorn in Boston. Robbe also gives us his review of the King of Moab, a trail running documentary that– spoiler alert– is pretty great. There’s also a lot of shoe talk at the end, so go listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

SAYSKYExperience the premium quality and unique design of the SAYSKY collection. Check it out now at saysky.com and use code DROP15 to save. WAHOO FITNESS Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals. Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18 LMNTIt’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropMICHAEL BONSBY HVAC We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

Thomas spoke with Kyle Awtry, founder of Sauri Running—a niche running brand based out of LA. 

If you've ever looked a Canadian goose in the eye, well, you know you've seen pure evil. Today on the podcast, we talk about encounters with geese, jury duty in Baltimore, shark cages, and Karl's latest emo hit titled "Heartbreak Hill." We also talk about a few other shoes, including more experiences in the Tracksmith Eliot Racer and the Veja Condor 3 Advanced.

Support our sponsors!

SAYSKY X PUMA

Experience the premium quality and unique design of the PUMA x SAYSKY collection. Check it out now at saysky.com and use code DROP15 to save.

WAHOO FITNESS

Discover the KICKR RUN, a groundbreaking reimagination of the treadmill from Wahoo. Its innovative RunFree mode lets you run naturally—automatically adjusting to your pace without having to press a button. Plus, effortlessly sync with training devices to optimize your indoor workouts and achieve your goals. Learn more: https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/running/treadmills/?rfsn=8167444.8594e18

SWIFTWICK

The best running socks in the game, Swiftwick just launched their new spring collection this week, and Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

MICHAEL BONSBY HVAC

We talk a lot about performance and recovery—but let’s be real, if your home’s not comfortable, neither is your training. That’s why we teamed up with Michael Bonsby HVAC, a local Maryland legend and part of the Zephyr Home Services crew. They helped us out big time, and now they’re offering Believe in the Run listeners $50 off any service or new install. Spring is almost here, so get ready to elevate your cool down after this summer’s hottest runs. They’ve got you covered, so book your service now at www.michaelbonsbyhvac.com.

INDEX

3:05 - Favorite Seasons / Second Summer

5:28 - TV talk

13:00 - Boston Marathon course / Getting your heart actually broken at Heartbreak Hill

20:51 - Dolphins and sharks

27:00 - Evil Geese

31:20 - Robbe's Jury Duty experience

38:37 - Nepo Babies

42:15 - The Speed Project / Barkley Marathon / HAT 50K

1:07:06 - Weightlifting talk

1:09:00 - Shoe talk

1:16:00 - Tracksmith Signs Steph Bruce / Puma "Got High" ad

1:22:34 - Veja Condor 3 Advanced

One of the most fascinating athletes in the marathon scene right now, CJ Albertson is doing it his way and succeeding at every step of the way. From racking up ultra high mileage weeks to dropping it down to almost nothing in between cycles, to juggling running and a full-time job as a professor, coach and dad, all while managing to come out with top-10 finishes at the Olympic Trials, NYC Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and CIM. And that was just in 2024. This was such a great look inside the training and accomplishments of one of the best American marathoners right now.

Follow CJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjalbertson/

Check out our Brooks running reviews: https://believeintherun.com/shoe-reviews/type/road/?shoe_brand=971

Spring means one thing– the reemergence of snot slugs on the faces of marathoners. Just like this podcast, running ain't pretty, but we're good about putting lipstick on a pig, so we try to do it here by throwing in some talk about the LA Marathon and NYC Half Marathon. Also, let's say it for the record: don't take NSAIDs before or during a race. But DO take Zbiotics* afterwards.

*Does not consitute as medical advice, consult your doctor before and after listening to The Drop or celebrating St. Paddy's with Karl

Support our sponsors!

SAYSKY X PUMA

Experience the premium quality and unique design of the PUMA x SAYSKY collection. Check it out now at saysky.com and use code DROP15 to save.

WAHOO FITNESS

We’ve got a new series on YouTube that follows Thomas’ training to London using the Wahoo Kickr Run Treadmill. Follow along every Frida, and watch episode 2 ⁠here⁠. You can learn more about the runner-focused treadmill (including seamless elevation and pace changes) and purchase one ⁠here⁠.

LMNT

It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

INDEX

00:00 - Intro

5:08 - Streaking, Movie Talk, Looney Tunes

15:23 - NYC Half Marathon

20:48 - LA Marathon 2025

28:03 - ZBiotics

31:42 - Advil + Influencer Campaign

45:10 - Training Talk

1:08:47 - Gym Talk

1:12:28 - Shoe Talk (Diadora Atomo Star)

In-studio guests are always the best, and since Speedland is always doing their best to be the best, it only made sense that they'd come to Baltimore to hang out. Robbe talks with founders Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon about upcoming 2025 models, including the RX:FPY, the brand's first-ever road shoe (now available for pre-order). This is a great episode for all you industry folks and shoe nerds, to see what goes into getting a small footwear brand off the ground.
Check out Speedland: https://www.runspeedland.com/
Follow Speedland on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runspeedland/

Southwest is basically Spirit Plus now, which makes this podcast Spirit Minus, but don’t worry– we’ll never charge you for all that baggage you’re carrying around. Zero guarantees this plane stays on course, because right after liftoff we veer right into King Richard III, Baltimore ice cream trucks, and our favorite variations of the Mandela Effect. Also, a couple of us signed up for the JFK 50 Miler, for better or for worse. Finally, we talk about the Tracksmith Eliot Racer, a surprisingly capable race day shoe with a super bouncy, dual layer ATPU and PEBAX midsole.
Support our sponsors!
SAYSKY X PUMA
Experience the premium quality and unique design of the PUMA x SAYSKY collection. Check it out now at saysky.com and use code DROP15 to save.
SWIFTWICK
The best running socks in the game, Swiftwick just launched their new spring collection this week, and Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe
LAGOON PILLOWS
You already know we love Lagoon Pillows for getting us more sleep which means a decreased risk of injury and better performance for all our runs. Get your own magical pillow and use code BELIEVE to save 15% off your first order: http://lagoonsleep.com/believe
LMNT
It’s warming up, which means you’re sweating more, which means you need more salt. Like, a lot more. Luckily, LMNT has 1000 mg of the stuff, as well as potassium and magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop
INDEX
00:00 - Intro
4:11 - Richard III found under parking lot
18:43 - Baltimore Ice Cream Trucks
21:28 - Southwest Airlines newest baggage policy
27:41 - Nerds Gummy Clusters
30:58 - JFK 50 Miler
42:58 - Training Talks / Wahoo Kickr RUN
56:21 - The Mandela Effect
1:00:46 - Horror Movies
1:02:47 - Puma x Saysky
1:06:47 - Canadian Bacon vs. Bacon
1:12:00 - Shoe talk (Tracksmith Eliot Racer)

A good collab is a great thing, and the all-new Puma x Saysky footwear and apparel collection hits all the right spots. We head up to Puma HQ in Boston to check out the collection and sit down for a podcast discussion with Saysky founder Lars C. Pedersen, as well as Puma designers and product line managers. Get the background on how it all came together, what went into the designs, and how much teamwork it takes to get a collaboration off the ground and into your hands.
The Puma x Saysky collection features three key footwear silhouettes (ForeveRun Nitro 2, Deviate Nitro 3 and Deviate Nitro Elite 3), as well as a full range of men's and women's apparel. It launches globally on March 13 at 11:00 AM CET, and will be available to purchase on PUMA.com, SAYSKY.com, in PUMA Flagship stores and in select retailers across the globe.

It's a sign of the times that we ended up talking about the Tokyo Marathon, but first– we cover all the food topics we can with cockroach milk, Wendy's Thin Mint Frostys, Hop Water, and maybe some watermelon sugar (sounds like a great flavor of LMNT). Then we tie it all together with the Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2, a very comfortable and bouncy stability shoe, with just the right amount of support.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

LMNT
The LMNT Sample Pack includes 8 of our drink mix flavors. This is the perfect offer for anyone who wants either to find their favorite LMNT flavor, or to share LMNT with a friend.Get your LMNT sample pack here ➡ https://www.drinklmnt.com/thedrop

We've made a huge mistake and gave Karl a dedicated microphone. Robbe's taken aback by his golden voice, but the show goes on with a recap of our visit to Puma headquarters, overview on the Hoka Clifton 10, first thoughts on the Norda 005, and Thomas's recap of a raucous weekend with Taylor, head of the BITR Dirt Division.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!

LAGOON PILLOWS

Stop being tired, get better sleep with Lagoon Pillows. We use them every night, you should too. Use discount code BELIEVE for 15% off your first order: https://www.lagoonsleep.com/believe

SOAR

We've partnered with SOAR to offer one lucky listener a SOAR Race Vest and Marathon Shorts to update their racing wardrobe. Simply sign up to receive SOAR email offers and news and one runner will be chosen at random and notified after 28/02/2025. Enter to win:https://www.soarrunning.com/en-us/blogs/news/believe-in-the-run-x-soar

LMNT

The LMNT Sample Pack includes 8 of our drink mix flavors. This is the perfect offer for anyone who wants either to find their favorite LMNT flavor, or to share LMNT with a friend.Get your LMNT sample pack here ➡ https://www.drinklmnt.com/thedrop

INDEX

00:00 Intro

1:08 - Garfield & Friends

3:57 - Lagoon Pillows

6:00 - Boston Puma Trip

6:58 - Cheesecake Factory gift card

46:34 - Tattoos

49:49 - A Weekend in Baltimore with Taylor

1:07:30 - Shoe talk