The Behind The Scenes Thrills Of A World Marathon Major Weekend + Eric’s Chicago Marathon 2025 Recap

Aisha Praught-Leer and Eric Jenkins reconnect after the Chicago Marathon and share Eric's highlights from the weekend and his first trip to the Windy City. They discuss the emotional journey of marathon runners, the excitement of major marathons, and the impact of recent doping scandals on the sport. Discussed in this episode: – The Chicago Marathon experience – Live shows can be nerve-wracking but rewarding for athletes. – Major marathons offer a unique energy that is unmatched in other sports – The emotional journey of marathon runners – Planning for marathons requires strategic thinking and commitment – Athletes who face immense pressure to perform well in major races – The impact of doping scandals can overshadow athletic achievements. – Contracts and appearance fees play a significant role in marathon participation. – Femke Bol's transition to the 800m is an exciting development – Kenyan athletes doing step aerobics – ATHLOS showcased high production quality and athlete engagement + how in-person experiences of events often surpass broadcast experiences. – Innovative field events like the Times Square long jump can attract new audiences to athletics. + Voicemails include: How commentary around women's sports needs to evolve to avoid stereotypes; Athletes' choices in uniforms are often based on performance needs; the future of athletics may include more pop-up events in unique locations. 📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not. 📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes. Follow your hosts on Instagram: 🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 🐝 ☕️ Presented by Beekeeper Coffee – Beekeeper Coffee is bringing a new voice to coffee with its delicious cold brews made from premium Honduran beans and a drop of pure organic honey sourced from TrackTown USA (Eugene, Ore.) - they are available in four latte flavors - Vanilla, Mocha, Caramel and Horchata - as well as a Black cold brew. Follow them @beekeepercoffee. Get 25% off your online orders at BeekeeperCoffee.com or on Amazon using code CITIUS25. 🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout. ---- ⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.