LetsRun.com's Track Talk: The Home of Running and Track and Field

Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum joins the LetsRun.com Track Talk podcast after off a breakout NCAA indoor season. The former South Dakota high school phenom - who left the high school ranks #2 all-time at 1500 & 3200/2-mile - finished second in the NCAA indoor 3,000m and reveals the tactical mistake that cost him the title. Birnbaum says the Habtom Samuel DQ was "pretty soft" and discusses how running fast means nothing, all that matters is winning titles. He opens up about choosing Jerry Schumacher over other programs, the injuires that derailed his early college career, Schumacher's strict no-Strava policy, the NIL landscape for track athletes, and why he picked Diadora over Nike.

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Timestamps

0:00 Start

2:43 Birnbaum's Breakthrough NCAA Season

3:18 What Cost Him The NCAA 3,000 Title

6:05 Birnbaum On The Habtom Samuel DQ

8:54 Balancing Oregon Travel And Classes

10:51 Outdoor Goals: NCAA Titles In The 1500 And 5,000

13:01 Long-Term Goals And LA 2028

13:33 Why He Chose Oregon And Jerry Schumacher

18:35 Adjusting To Jerry Schumacher's Training

20:39 How He Finally Stayed Healthy

27:28 NIL Deals And Choosing Diadora Over Nike

32:02 The Sunglasses Origin Story

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.

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Jonathan Gault and Robert Johnson break down Jane Hedengren's astonishing 10,000m collegiate record and debate whether the hype around her long-term medal prospects is getting ahead of reality. They also react to Sha'Carri Richardson's season-opening win at the Stawell Gift, dig into World Athletics' plan to remove the marathon from the World Championships, and examine Jimmy Gressier's rebound, Botswana's sprint surge, and the latest Michael Norman what-ifs before closing with an interview featuring Oregon star Simeon Birnbaum at 63:08.

🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe

LINKS

LetsRun.com newsletter

LetsRun.com Supporters Club

LetsRun.com 2026 April Fools’ Page

Irish Times Writeup About Our April Fools’ Page

Chat GPT Can’t Record Mile Times

Video: Rojo Says Usain Bolt Did Not False Start In Berlin - Yohan Blake Did

Jonathan Gault Tweet About Sha’Carri / Sprint Expert Nat

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro Music

00:22 Newsletter And Episode Intro

05:30 Jane Hedengren's 10,000m Record And Ceiling Debate

17:41 Who Is America's Best Women's 10,000m Runner?

21:29 Alicia Monson Update And The Medal Standard

26:58 Sha'Carri Richardson Returns At The Stawell Gift

36:39 World Athletics Splits Off The Marathon Championships

47:37 Jimmy Gressier's Rebound And Botswana Sprint Buzz

53:15 Michael Norman, Quincy Wilson, And Sprint What-Ifs

60:18 Supporters Club Pitch And Boston Preview

63:08 Simeon Birnbaum Interview Begins

65:28 Birnbaum's Breakthrough NCAA Season

66:03 What Cost Him The NCAA 3,000 Title

68:50 Birnbaum On The Hampton Samuel DQ

71:41 Balancing Oregon Travel And Classes

73:37 Outdoor Goals: NCAA Titles In The 1500 And 5,000

75:47 Long-Term Goals And LA 2028

76:18 Why He Chose Oregon And Jerry Schumacher

81:22 Adjusting To Jerry Schumacher's Training

83:25 How He Finally Stayed Healthy

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.

Like this pocast? Join the Supporters Club today! This podcast was out 3 days ago for Supporters Club members. Join our club. Money back guarantee, bonus podcasts, exclusive content. https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe?from=public

Josh Kerr is going after one of the most historic world records in the sport, Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record. After winning his second straight World Indoor 3000m title in Torun, Kerr sat down with LetsRun.com to lay out his plan to break the 27-year-old mark of 3:43.13 at the London Diamond League on July 18th. He wants a negative split, he's picking his own pacers, and he's not moving the race if it rains. Kerr talks race field politics, whether Cole Hocker or Jakob Ingebrigtsen could crash the party, the mile vs. 1500 debate, his bicarb usage, the rise of Western milers, and what it would mean to join Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, and Steve Cram as a British mile world record holder. Plus: Danny Mackey, Brooks Beasts, and Josh's daily trainer pick, the Brooks Glycerin 23 and the workout shoe: Brooks Hyperion Elite

LINKS

Josh Kerr's Mile World Record Announcement

Josh Wins World 3000 over Cole Hocker

Hicham El Guerrouj's Mile World Record (3:43.13, 1999)

Brooks Glycerin 23

Brooks Hyperion Elite

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Music

00:33 Intro and Welcome

02:25 World Indoor 3000m Race Tactics

05:18 How Satisfying Was the World Indoor Title

07:23 Bouncing Back and Building for 2025

09:10 The Mile World Record Announcement

12:39 Weather Worries and Why London

15:17 Who Gets to Race and the Business of Running

19:13 Pacing Strategy and Negative Splits

23:09 Biggest Rival and the Golden Age of the Mile

25:26 British Mile Legacy and Chasing History

28:50 Mile vs 1500: Which Record Is Harder

33:50 Bicarb and the Rise of Western Runners

36:37 Danny Mackey, Jakob, and Looking Ahead

41:52 Shoe Picks: Glycerin and Hyperion

🏃 Flagstaff All-Star Coaching Clinic Diljeet Taylor, Marius Bakken, Mike Smith, Greg McMillan, and Ben Rosario, along with mental performance consultant Shannon Thompson. Sponsored by Nike and Final Surge. July 13–15 in Flagstaff, AZ. Meet athletes from the Nike Swish Track Club, run the Flagstaff trails, and learn from the best. Space is limited — sign up at mcmillanrunning.com/flagstaff-all-star-coaching-clinic. (sponsored)

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🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe

EPISODE SUMMARY

Josh Kerr has announced Project 222, targeting Hicham El Guerrouj's Mile World Record of 3:43.13 at the London Diamond League on July 18th, a record that has stood since 1999. The crew debates his chances, Cole Hocker's potential spoiler role, and whether the Bowerman Mile at Pre could see the record fall first. In Australia, 19-year-old Cam Myers ran 3:30 for 1500m, demolishing world indoor medalist Adam Spencer by seven seconds. Shelby Houlihan didn't come close to Alicia Monson's American record at 10,000m but was still a pretty decent run. A Rojo Rant erupts over the Berlin Half Marathon, where pacer Dennis Kipkemoi was seemingly told not to win after bridging past leader Andrea Kiptoo. Plus, details emerge on Adaejah Hodge's secret 17-month doping ban and the AIU's controversial use of silent suspensions.

🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe

LINKS

Flagstaff Coaching Clinic (sponsor)

Josh Kerr Announces Project 222 Targeting 3:42 Mile World Record at London DL

Berlin Generali Half Marathon — Dennis Kipkemoi Pacing Controversy

Shelby Houlihan Wins The Ten in 30:50

Tate Taylor Runs 9.92 at Texas 6A State Meet

Gout Gout vs Lachlan Kennedy 200m at Maurie Plant Meet

Gout Gout Viral Sprint Video

Thread of the Week: Jude Ritzenhein Runs 4:10.95 1600m as a Ninth Grader at Altitude

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Flagstaff Coaching Clinic

00:39 Aletheia Sponsor

01:38 Episode Preview and NCAA Tournament Chat

07:28 Josh Kerr Announces Project 222

13:28 Brooks Speed Suit and Record Logistics

18:07 Can Cole Hocker Crash the Party?

25:26 Niels Laros Injury Update and the Mile's Future

28:53 Cam Myers Puts On a Show in Melbourne

30:57 Hobbs Kessler and Teen Phenom Expectations

35:44 Gout Gout, Texas Sprinting, and Young Phenoms

43:34 Rojo Rant: Berlin Half Marathon Scandal

49:48 Should Pacers Be Allowed to Win?

53:31 Integrity of Competition and Rabbit Ethics

59:09 Shelby Houlihan's 10K and US Women's Distance Depth

62:58 Adaejah Hodge's Secret Doping Ban

68:06 Silent Bans and Anti-Doping Transparency

72:58 Youth Doping Crisis and Unanswered Questions

76:35 Previewing the Top US Runners for 2026

78:54 Outro and Supporters Club

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.

🏃 Presented by Aletheia Run stronger, avoid injury. Aletheia's wearable sensor gives you a force portrait of every run. Free 30-Day Trial + 10% Off with Code LETSRUN10 (sponsored): https://www.aletheia.run/start-my-free-trial

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Cooper Lutkenhaus, 17, became the youngest men's individual world champion in any track event by winning the 800 at World Indoors in Torun, Poland, then celebrated at McDonald's with a Big Mac and a gold medal around his neck. Keely Hodgkinson obliterated the women's 800 field by over three seconds and anchored Britain's four-by-four relay within the hour. Africa was completely shut out of the running medal podium for the first time in World Indoors history. Off the track, World Athletics granted the US seven women's entries at the World Road Running Championships half marathon after the Atlanta course debacle, and reports surfaced that the London Marathon may expand to two days in 2027.

🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe

Links

LetsRun.com Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe

LetsRun.com Shop — https://shop.letsrun.com

Jonathan Gault's recap of Cooper Lutkenhaus's World Indoor gold

Cooper Lutkenhaus World Indoor 800 thread on LetsRun message board

Cooper Lutenkhau's coach Chris Capeau podcast after World Indoors

Cole Hocker's Instagram post on his silver medal perspective

The Guardian: Revealed — Secret Plans for Two-Day London Marathon

World Athletics announcement on US women's half marathon entries

Aletheia — Free 30-Day Trial + 10% Off with Code LETSRUN10

Aletheia free sensor giveaway — enter your email

Timestamps

00:00 Supporters Club and Sponsor

00:58 World Indoors Recap Overview

02:19 Cooper Lutkenhaus Wins World Indoor Gold

06:49 Cooper Meets Let's Run at McDonald's

10:32 Cooper's Tactical Masterclass Breakdown

13:09 Youngest Men's World Champion in History

15:23 Managing Expectations for a 17-Year-Old Champion

18:48 Cooper's Ceiling, Wanyonyi, and the 800 Meter Rivalry

22:20 Dreaming of LA 2028 and Keeping Cooper Grounded

25:38 Coach Capeau's Open-Minded Approach

27:16 Keely Hodgkinson Dominates the Women's 800

33:52 Jordan Anthony and Sprint Stars Shine

37:54 Biggest Winners and Losers From Torun

45:20 Cole Hocker's Perspective and Men's 1500 Parity

50:12 Prediction Contest and Aletheia Sponsor

55:22 Team USA's Medal Haul at World Indoors

59:21 Africa Shut Out of the Podium

63:47 US Women's Half Marathon Selection Controversy

66:08 USATF's Seven-Woman Solution Breaks Down

73:56 London Marathon Eyes a Two-Day Event

80:49 Grand Slam Track Bankruptcy Update

84:45 Outro and Supporters Club

Contact us:

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.