This week, we discussed the events that we're most excited to watch at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, now being held after a one-year postponement.

Most Pleasant Exhaustion

Episode 189--The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo!

This week, we debriefed our interview with Grace Hall a bit, checked in on George's Berlin Marathon training now that the Zwift Duathlon League is behind him, and described the incredible exploits of Lachlan Morton in the "Alt Tour." We also named our next Book of the Quarter! Tune in next week for our Olympic Games preview!

Episode 188--Lachlan Morton, the Zwift Duathlon League, and Our Next BOTQ!

Last month, 17-year-old Grace Hall become one of the youngest people ever to finish a 100-mile race. As it happens, she's the daughter of podcast regular Erik, so she joined us this week to tell us about her decision to do the race, her training, her nutrition, and the race itself.

Episode 187--Black Hills 100 Race Report with Grace Hall!

This week, we reviewed our book of the quarter: "Bravey" by Alexi Pappas. In the book, Pappas--a Greek Olympian and filmmaker--describes the physical and mental challenges she has faced as an elite athlete and the survivor of depression. It's an important contribution to the ongoing conversation about athletes and mental health, but we had differing opinions of the book.

Episode 186--Book Review of "Bravey" by Alexi Pappas

Justin Schmidt and Justin Dugan are back to talk about the 2021 Tour de France, which begins on June 26! The course, key stages, riders to watch, our theories about how the race will unfold, stage and podium predictions . . . it's all here just in time for the Grand Depart!

Episode 185--2021 Tour de France Preview with Justin and Justin!

This week, we got to talk to triathlete Tiencia James. Tiencia recently qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, and she told us about her path to qualification, her expectations for the race, and of course, her favorite workouts.

Episode 184--Interview with Kona Qualifier Tiencia James!

This week, we spoke with age group world record holder Betty Lindbergh. At age 96, Betty still competes at a variety of distances, and she offered us advice on how to endure for as long as she has.

Episode 183--Interview with Superstar Athlete Betty Lindbergh!

We took a few minutes this week to record a special edition about Sifan Hassan's new WR in the 10,000m . . . that was then broken by Letsenbet Gidey two days later! We break down each race and talk a bit about what we hope to see if/when the two amazing runners square off in Tokyo this summer!

Episode 182-2--A Special Edition on the Women's 10,000m WR!

We had a lot to say this week about Colleen Quigley's new contract, Naomi Osaka's exit from the French Open, Hobbs Kessler's new HS 1500 record, Francine Niyonsaba's new 5K PR, and Erik's new favorite shoes!

Episode 182--Osaka, Quigley, Kessler, and more!

This week, we debriefed our interview with Taggart VanEtten, we discussed the virtuosity of Simone Biles, and we celebrated the accomplishments of Hellah Sidibe and the Marietta High School XC teams. We also discussed (again) whether the Tokyo Olympics will be happening, and we recounted the tragedy at the Yellow River Stone Forest 100K in China this past weekend.

Episode 181--Some good news and some bad news

On May 1st, Taggart VanEtten ran 100 miles on the treadmill faster than anyone ever has. This week, we talked to Taggart about the race, his setup and nutrition, his background and training, and what's next on his calendar.

Episode 180--Interview with World Record Holder Taggart VanEtten

This week, we talked to professional runner Wilkerson Given. Wilkerson qualified for both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, and he told us a bit about how he got where he is, the challenges he has faced along the way, and what it was like to be a professional athlete in 2020 when no races were happening. Wilkerson is also the co-owner of Stoke, a company that he founded with his friend James Perez that makes elite nut and seed butters.

Episode 179--Interview with Professional Runner Wilkerson Given

We're all about the marathon this week, as we recount George's virtual Eugene Marathon, which he also used for the World Marathon Majors Global Challenge. (Spoiler alert: it went well!) We also discussed the gigantic margin that runners had to be under the qualifying standard in order to gain acceptance to the 2021 Boston Marathon, and we celebrate the fact that Michelle is one of those very runners!

Episode 178--Michelle's Boston Acceptance and George's Race Report!

This week, we had the opportunity to interview the Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club, Rich Kenah. Rich is an accomplished runner--he won two World Championship bronze medals and was on the U.S. Olympic team in 2000--who came to Atlanta to lead the track club in 2014. We talked about the challenges he has faced, the changes he has made, and what the near future holds for ATC and its most famous race, the Peachtree Road Race.

Episode 177--Interview with Rich Kenah!

This week, we focused on two races: Des Linden's world best in the 50K, and our own Erik Hall's win at the Southern Tour Ultra 50-miler!

Episode 176--Des's 50K and Erik's 50-Miler!

Discussing issues of interest to the local, national, and international endurance community.

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Most Pleasant Exhaustion

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