The Drop

Taylor chats with Adidas Terrex Athlete Eli Hemming.Follow Eli on Instagram: @eli_hemming

We traveled a day ahead and a week in time to experience the 2025 World Athletics Championship in Tokyo. From the 100 meter finals to the world record in the pole vault to the men's and women's marathons on a hot and humid morning, we witnessed greatness across the board. We did our best to assimilate and only made a few blunders along the way (that we're aware of, anyway). We may not have come back with any Labubus, but we brought home plenty of amazing memories. Thanks to Asics and thanks to Tokyo for being so awesome, we won't forget it anytime soon.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENGet 15% off by using code Believe15!* We use Maurten gels for all our races and some of the most elite athletes in the world rely on their bicarb system for optimizing their fuel strategies on race day. Stock up for your fall marathon training and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://www.maurten.com/?utm_source=referral&utm_campaign=bitr_podcast&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_content=believeintherunSWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15.Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believeLMNTThe Lemonade Salt has returned for good, so make sure you grab the greatest flavor on the planet for all your fall marathon needs. You'll be getting 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that will restore balance to your life after any hard effort. You'll also get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop*Valid for all products except Bicarb Cannot be combined with other promotions One-time use per customer Valid through 31 Dec 2025INDEX0:00 - Intro4:12 - Travel to Japan12:57 - Citius Mag Group Run21:22 - Quest for Labubu25:45 - Robot Sushi30:17 - Boat Dinner, Karaoke, and Snails38:24 - Day 1 (For Us) of Athletics43:43 - Robbe Reunites With Old ""Friend""49:36 - Final 'Move Her Mind' Stop, Fancy Dinner, Day 2 (For Us) of Athletics56:42 - Women's Marathon / Karl and Robbe's Side Quest in Shinjuku1:23:57 - Day 3 (For Us) of Athletics / Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's Final Race1:25:03 - Men's Marathon / Clayton Young Falling1:31:01 - Sumo Wrestling1:39:53 - Final Evening / Mondo's World Record / Japanese McDonald's

Taylor interviews Kyle Siegel, founder of Raide - a performance based apparel and equipment company focused in the trail space. Check out their products and learn more about the company here: https://raideresearch.com/

Stuck with cacti and debating the merits of art school and She's All That, that's where we're at. We make sure you're covered with all the unnecessary info before diving into the Nike Vomero Premium, the third release in the Vomero line for 2025, featuring a 55 mm (!) stack height for the dual-Air Zoom midsole. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENGet 15% off by using code Believe15!* We use Maurten gels for all our races and some of the most elite athletes in the world rely on their bicarb system for optimizing their fuel strategies on race day. Stock up for your fall marathon training and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://www.maurten.com/?utm_source=referral&utm_campaign=bitr_podcast&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_content=believeintherunLA SPORTIVALooking for a new training partner? Meet the La Sportiva Prodigio Max—built for ultra-distance comfort, with nitrogen-infused XFlow Endurance foam and a wide, stable platform to keep you moving mile after mile. Shop the La Sportiva Prodigio Max here: https://rei.pxf.io/K0LmKa * Valid for all products except Bicarb Cannot be combined with other promotions One-time use per customer Valid through 31 Dec 2025

Robbe sits down for a chat with Mario Fraioli, running coach and author of The Morning Shakeout newsletter on Substack, to talk about daily journaling, how running changes as we get older, showing up when you don't feel like it, music, culture, and much more. Subscribe to The Morning Shakeout: https://substack.com/@mariofraioliCheck out his website: https://mariofraioli.com/

Thomas and Karl are back in the U S of A where the salt mounds of South Baltimore are a close second to the snowy peaks of Mont Blanc. We hear all about their remaining adventures, including a seasick paragliding adventure and watching the finish of the greatest trail race on the planet. We also cover some of the Adidas Chasing 100 event and the wonderful world of piglet racing. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSMAURTENGet 20% off for one week only by using code Believe20! We use Maurten gels for all our races and some of the most elite athletes in the world rely on their bicarb system for optimizing their fuel strategies on race day. Stock up for your fall marathon training and save 20% off your order by using this link: https://www.maurten.com/?utm_source=referral&utm_campaign=bitr_podcast&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_content=believeintherunLA SPORTIVALooking for a new training partner? Meet the La Sportiva Prodigio Max—built for ultra-distance comfort, with nitrogen-infused XFlow Endurance foam and a wide, stable platform to keep you moving mile after mile. Shop the La Sportiva Prodigio Max here: https://rei.pxf.io/K0LmKa LMNTBIG NEWS: Lemonade Salt is here to stay! Our favorite flavor of the summer is back and ready to give you 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that will restore balance to your life after any hard effort. You'll also get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropSWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. They're rolling out a lifestyle collection in the coming months, but for now, grab a pair of Flite XT or any other amazing styles. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15.Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believeINDEX0:00 - Intro1:57 - UTMB / Chamonix Recap29:39 - Maryland State Fair / Piglet Races / Motion Sickness35:10 - UTMB / Chamonix Recap (cont.)1;01:43 - ACG / Satisfy Popups1:03:41 - Adidas Chasing 100 / Evo Prime X 1:12:31 - Hoka Mafate 51:16:56 - Move Her Mind Event Series (Oklahoma) / Charles St. 12 Miler

Thomas chat with Tatum Brandt, founder and creative director of Brandt Creative Co., a design studio specializing in branding and web development for fitness, wellness, and sports businesses.

The Dirt Division is in Chamonix for UTMB, so the crew is coming to you live from their little chalet. The gang recaps their time so far, including the ETC race which Thomas and Karl participated in. Taylor also recaps his experience racing Leadville 100. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LMNTWe're in the full swing of marathon training, so get your 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that will restore balance to your life after any hard effort. You'll also get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropLA SPORTIVAThe Prodigio Pro is for speed. The Prodigio Max- It's for the long haul. With XFlow Endurance dual-foam cushioning, a wide forefoot, and a stability wrapping system, the La Sportiva Prodigio Max is built for hours—not just segments. Go farther. Feel better. Finish stronger. Find it at your local run shop or nearest REI.INDEX0:00 - Intro1:35 - Chamonix So Far / ETC Race49:38 - Taylor’s Recap of Leadville 100

Taylor sits down with Abby Hall, Adidas Terrex Athlete, straight off her win at Western States.

Grab a cod fillet bar, it's time to get some gainz. This week on The Drop, we recap Robbe's breathing struggles at the Leadville 100 as he helped crew Taylor, leader of the Dirt Division. We also recap Meg's latest Move Her Mind stop, before discussing The New York Times article every long distance runner is talking about. Eventually, we discuss a trio of shoes: the featherweight Asics Metaspeed Ray, the Under Armour Velociti Elite 3, and the Norda 001A.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LMNTWe're in the full swing of marathon training, so get your 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that will restore balance to your life after any hard effort. You'll also get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropSWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15.Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believeINDEX0:00 - Intro4:35 - Leadville 100 Recap48:34 - Move Her Mind Event Series (Decatur, GA) 58:48 - David Protein Bars and...Cod Fillets? 1:04:55 - Marathoning and Colon Cancer / Ozempic Blindness / Marathon Project1:26:07 - Asics Metaspeed Ray / Under Armour Velociti Elite 3 / Norda 001A

We sat down with Ben Rosario to talk all things The Marathon Project—but first, we trace his journey through the sport. From his early running days to launching Big River Running Co. in college, moving to Flagstaff to found NAZ Elite, Ben’s path has been a fun journey to follow. Now, he’s reviving The Marathon Project in a bold, reimagined way, and Meg will be one of the 1000 amateurs toeing the line of the Gold Wave. If you’re interested in running The Marathon Project, you can get more information and apply here: https://www.themarathonproject.com/

Robbe is currently losing his lungs in Colorado as he gets ready to help Taylor run the Leadville 100, but we got this podcast recorded before he self-destructed. I mean, we kind of self-destructed by diving into things we know nothing about, like carnival games at the doctor's office, WNBA, and declaring the day after the Super Bowl an official federal holiday. Enjoy your day off, you're welcome. Oh yeah, we also talk about two shoes that dropped out of nowhere, the all-new Asics Sonicblast and Megablast. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LA SPORTIVAPossibly the best trail shoe of 2025, the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro is 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! Shop the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro: https://rei.pxf.io/gOXQy0LMNTThomas is mixing and matching flavors, Robbe is tapped into the Mango Chili, but whatever you go with, just know you're getting 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that will restore balance to your life after any hard effort. You'll also get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropINDEX0:00 - Intro4:48 - Getting Weighed at the Doctor's Office8:18 - Asics Metaspeed Ray + Balloons17:38 - WNBA 21:39 - Move Her Mind Event Series (Louisville, KY)35:02 - Fall Marathons, Weekend Trail Races, La Sportiva Prodigio Pro48:03 - Robbe and Taylor at Leadville 100 / Reese at TransRockies53:30 - $10 on a Starbucks Gift Card and a Dream55:33 - Super Bowl Sunday Scheduling Suggestions 57:28 - Muppets and Other Assorted Haunting '80s Characters 1:03:12 - Tracksmith Trail Collection1:15:04 - Our Beloved Running Staples1:22:35 - Asics Sonicblast + Megablast, Miscellaneous End-of-Episode Talk

Fresh off his win in the 1500 at Hayward Field for the US Champs, Under Armour elite Jonah Koech joins us in studio to talk about that race, the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, and his mindset during running. Also, he's lived in Baltimore for three years and hasn't had crabs or gone to an Orioles game so we need to fix that ASAP.Watch his race: https://youtu.be/dWnr_7vdQVk?si=nbI36ADoNehCScmu

From swim stories to ostrich racing to figure out if we're Team Shelby, the stars aligned this week to bring you the best running content second to the National Championships. We also recap Summer GRIT and this past weekend's ice cream party before diving in the New Balance Fresh Foam More v6 and a little bit of Puma Velocity Nitro 4.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LMNTThomas is mixing and matching flavors, Robbe is tapped into the Mango Chili, but whatever you go with, just know you're getting 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that will restore balance to your life after any hard effort. You'll also get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropSWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15.Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believeINDEX0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Meg's D.C. Trip, Airport Sushi, KOC Supreme Convention12:42 - Model Planes, Ultra Gliders, Swim Stories21:50 - Taylor in Town, GRIT Party Weekend, Ostrich Racing46:02 - Summer GRIT Results Breakdown53:44 - London Marathon and Guinness World Records, Lightning Strikes58:49 - USATF National Championships, TSA's Policy on Greek Yogurt1:09:37 - Shelby Houlihan 1:15:03 - New Balance Fresh Foam X More V6, Miscellaneous Shoe Talk

Taylor sits down with Josh Rosenthal, founder of Borderlands, a trail runner's hub that centers on community. We talk about his small-town roots, entrepreneurial spirit, and how running has hooked him like nothing else. Listen to his story and everything he's involved with in the trail running space.Check out Borderlands: https://www.instagram.com/runborderlands/

We were all surprised to learn that Monterey Jack cheese came from Monterey, but we weren't surprised by Meg churning out some fast miles at the Wharf to Wharf 6-miler in Santa Cruz. We recap her West Coast journey as well as Thomas and Robbe's trip to Brooklyn (just a couple days after the launch of the On Cloudsurfer Max). Also, Summer GRIT just wrapped up and we had some incredibly performances to highlight (including one woman who has racked up 160,000 feet of elevation gain in one month). Lastly, we highlight the Nike Structure 26 and Norda 008, two shoes that have carried us through the past couple weeks. INDEX0:00 - Intro6:30 - Move Her Mind Event Series (Monterey) / Wharf-to-Wharf 10K Race24:50 - Robbe in Florida29:41 - On x BITR Brooklyn Event43:52 - New Balance x BITR x Coffee & Chill Brooklyn Event1:05:20 - Norda 0081:10:00 - Nike Structure 261:21:40 - Summer GRIT LeaderboardsSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LAGOON PILLOWSWe use Lagoon to get our best sleep and you should too. Featuring super soft covers, Certi-Pur foam and customizable features, they'll help you find the best pillow for your sleeping style. Plus, they're owned by runners. Visit them and use the discount code BELIEVE for 15% off your first order: http://lagoonsleep.com/believeLMNTYou already know that LMNT has been getting us through Summer GRIT thanks to its blend of electrolytes and 1000 mg of sodium. It's a summer running necessity, and since you're a listener of The Drop, you get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

Running is firing on all cylinders right now, which means that run culture is a multi-facted ecosystem revolving around branding, fashion, and personal style. Today on the podcast, Robbe chats with our run culture editor Alfredo Mejia, who joins him from Berlin to talk about the most exciting stuff happening in run culture, including everything he saw at Paris Fashion Week last month. Make sure you read all of Alfredo's stories at believeintherun.com, and follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alfredo.mejiaa/

Robbe is manifesting true Florida Man energy this week so Karl takes his place in front of the camera. Topics this episode include our fall race plans, beer floats, the final TransRockies Run, and more Summer GRIT updates. We also take a look at the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, the new lightweight daily trainer from Puma that is pretty versatile by all accounts. Join the boys this Sunday, July 27 in Brooklyn for "Coffee & Chill" and sample a pair of the New Balance Rebel v5. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4o0Yop3INDEX0:00 - Intro4:44 - Tour De France / Maryland Cycling Classic8:39 - Mushroom the Dog / Karl's Chances of Getting a Dog11:51 - Fall Race Plans / Running Talk24:09 - Ruth Chepng'etich Doping Controversy29:15 - Summer GRIT Weekly Updates31:29 - Savory Ice Cream and Other Weird Snacks35:46 - James Gunn's "Superman" / Entertainment Talk42:26 - "Coffee & Chill" Brooklyn Event with New Balance49:18 - ETC Race at UTMB / The Final TransRockies Run1:00:29 - Puma Velocity Nitro 4 / End-of-episode NonsenseSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSSWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15.Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believeLMNTYou already know that LMNT has been getting us through Summer GRIT thanks to its blend of electrolytes and 1000 mg of sodium. It's a summer running necessity, and since you're a listener of The Drop, you get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

From Swiss underdogs to global heatseeker, On has won softly over the past decade with its unique approach to footwear design and performance. This week, Robbe chats with Ed Coyon, Global Head of Product for the brand, to talk about On's approach to running, design, production, and the all-new Cloudsurfer Max.The On Cloudsurfer Max is available now for $180: https://www.on.com/

Throw on your sweaty headphones and tune in for this week's episode of The Drop, featuring an elevator pitch for America's hottest new airline: Weight & See. We also hear about Thomas's trip to the Bahamas and Meg's behind-the-scenes look at the Brooks HQ out in Seattle. Then there's Robbe, who was just sifting through trash in Baltimore. Finally, we cover the Adidas Adizero Prime X 3 Strung, a super trainer sporting a 50 mm stack height in the heel.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSLAGOON PILLOWSWe use Lagoon to get our best sleep and you should too. Featuring super soft covers, Certi-Pur foam and customizable features, they'll help you find the best pillow for your sleeping style. Plus, they're owned by runners. Visit them and use the discount code BELIEVE for 15% off your first order: http://lagoonsleep.com/believeLMNTYou already know that LMNT has been getting us through Summer GRIT thanks to its blend of electrolytes and 1000 mg of sodium. It's a summer running necessity, and since you're a listener of The Drop, you get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropINDEX0:00 - Intro3:10 - Lagoon Pillows, Carpeted Bathrooms, Antenna Headphones11:42 - Meg's Seattle Trip / Brooks HQ30:13 - Thomas's Bahamas Trip46:03 - "Weight & See": The Premier Airline from BITR52:37 - Robbe's GRIT Treasure Hunting59:04 - Adidas Adizero Prime X 3 Strung1:06:28 - Summer GRIT Leaderboards