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.

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🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

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⚠️ 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.