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What a day at the Chicago Marathon with fireworks in all of the races! Des and Kara are here with your Freshy Fresh. They break it all down and get to interview Clayton Young who is now the 2nd fastest American of all-time! Des gives an update on her race as well. Spoiler alert: she is ok. Ryan had his hamstring tighten up during the race, so she stayed with him to the finish. Plus, Kara gives her perspective on how the broadcast went. Stop what you are doing and tune in!

It's Chicago Marathon time, and Des and Kara are on the scene. They helped kick off the weekend's festivities with Brooks Running from the Chicago Athletic Association in front of a live audience. This episode does not disappoint! It starts with tequila shots, has all of the unhinged banter that we love, and of course, plenty of inspiration and intel on the elite races on Sunday. Whether you are racing, spectating, or watching at home, this is a must-listen to get you ready for the fireworks on Sunday! The World Majors are finally stateside, and we are here for it!

It's Chicago Marathon race week, and we are excited to be headed to the Windy City this weekend! Live pod on Friday night. 5K Saturday. Race Sunday. Freshy Fresh incoming after that. So much good stuff so stay glued to our channels (both audio and YouTube). In this episode, we catch up on some weekend happenings with a little deep-dive into Des's hundred-mile training. She is doing back-to-back long runs like a boss, while simultaneously enduring long, painful sessions on the couch watching San Diego and Detroit sporting heartbreak. Which is more difficult for her? The jury is out, but we will learn more on Chicago weekend where she will do 30 miles (including the marathon) on Sunday and then another long run on Monday! Kara's been through a proverbial "marathon" on her own via another type of self-inflicted suffering - lasers to the face! Yes, she literally burned her face off, and the fresh skin is just starting to peak through, just in time for being on the call in Chicago. You will have to check the YouTube for early results. She will put her new face to the test in the 5K on Saturday where she is targeting a sub-20 time. Will it make her faster?!? Finally, for your main course in this episode, they give you two names to watch near the front of the men's and women's fields in Chicago. Vince Mauri and Emma Grace Hurley. Vince came out of nowhere with a 2:05 at Glass City in the spring, and now takes on Chicago as a sponsored athlete, even though he does most of his training on a treadmill at Planet Fitness while balancing a day job. Emma Grace led the way at the World Half Champs for the US women, running 1:06 and now debuts at the marathon distance in Chicago. She seems to have assembled all of the skills that she needs for a great debut, but she still has to run the race. Both runners seem to be taking big swings in this race, and it will be fascinating to see how it goes for them.  Tune in to the live show recording (posting late Friday or early Saturday) for a more complete breakdown of both fields in advance of Sunday!

Fall marathon season is officially here with the Berlin Marathon this past weekend, and as usual, there is much to discuss. First, Des and Kara catch up on life's happenings. Des is in Arizona previewing the Javalina course for her upcoming 100-miler. She had a near-miss with a rattlesnake who was taking over a dirt road, and she learned that she is more nimble than she thought. Kara commiserates with her own rattlesnake stories and then shares about a bobcat siting. They talk 100-mile prep, driving instructors and tests (Happy Birthday Colt!), and dance-partying the night away. Who remembers their driving test? Did YOU have to parallel park? Of course, then they turn the discussion to the Berlin Marathon where Tigst Assefa ran the 3rd fastest time ever, finishing the final miles on a completely torn Achilles tendon. An insane finish. Also insane... the uneven discussion of men's and women's performances as it relates to chasing records. Kara just can't get over the fact that the men are always glorified when they run fast, while the women's performances are always questioned for cheating. As for the men in Berlin, the winner (Adola) ran a 2:02 ;). Meh? Finally, we finish with a top-5 to close things out in yet another fun episode!

Last week, Des and Kara recorded a bonus episode live from Washington DC, hosted by Pacers Running. The highlight of the episode was re-living the 2012 US Olympic Trails with Julie Culley, co-owner of Pacers. Julie made the 2012 Olympic team after WINNING the 5K at the US Trials in a performance that perhaps has never gotten its due because of the close battle between 3rd and 4th that day. Julie tells her side of the story and gives you some insight into her Olympic experience as a teammate of Des and Kara in London that year. They also chat with Julie about poopgate as someone who is getting into Hyrox herself. Then, Des and Kara turn to chat about all-things half marathon to prep the audience for the DC Half last weekend. They give their own experiences with the distance, both the love and the hate, and provide some tips to the audience for racing that distance.  Finally, they finish with an audience Q&A which has amazing questions as always, including questions about frequency of hair washing after running, the funniest thing heard from a fan at a race, tips for someone doing a 100-miler, and more!  It's a bonus episode - no extra charge ;) - so please enjoy! Thank you again to Pacers Running and to Julie for hosting the podcast in DC!

This past weekend essentially marked the end of track season, punctuated by the Athlos meet in London and the World Road Championships in Copenhagen (where a lot of track athletes finished their season). It was a fun way to cap the track year, and now we turn the page to major marathon season with Berlin and Chicago on deck in the coming weeks!  Before we discuss this episode, here are two podcast notes for your planning purposes: Chicago live pod tickets will go on sale THIS Thursday (9/24) at 10 am CST. The Chicago live podcast will be on the Friday night of race weekend. The ticketing link will post at this link: https://events.brooksrunning.com/26chicagohyperionhouse. The show will sell out FAST so plan accordingly! We will have a bonus podcast release this Friday (9/25) from the Live Nobody Asked Us in DC last week. Mark your listening (or viewing) calendars for the bonus episode. It was a fun one as always.  In this episode, Des and Kara recap Athlos and the World Road Champs, covering all of the highlights including the impressive US results in Copenhagen. They give their reactions on the formats for both and have some feedback for Athlos in particular as it continues to find its place in the sport. Unfortunately, they must also cover Nike's negligence in an extremely sad and concerning incident at a Nike Track Camp where a female athlete was allegedly raped. The response from Nike officials and representatives, based on the lawsuit's allegations, were completely unacceptable, and both the company and those in charge should be held accountable. Des and Kara discuss their reactions and also raise bigger questions about protecting young athletes in the NIL era. On a lighter note, they share some fun catch-up time early on, give an update on the Hyrox poop-incident, and congratulate Jessie Diggins on her 100-mile WIN within the top 5. As always, NAU is a must-listen in the middle of your week!

You know it's going to be a good one, when the episode starts with Kara and Des beat-boxing and dancing to a Jock Jams anthem. Call us Netflix or Spotify... Des brings a book recommendation to the table for the history buffs, and Kara catches us up on her rainy trip to Stamford, Connecticut to call the Ultimate World Champs.  Speaking of rain, the clouds exploded in New Jersey where a half marathon should have been canceled due to rain and floods (but continued anyway). And at a Hyrox event in China, there was another type of explosion that should have resulted in a pause to the event or a DNF for the athlete involved (but didn't). Des and Kara give their *explosive* takes on both before turning to recap the action from the Great North Run and the Ultimate World Champs. How did Clayton Young do in his prep race for Chicago? Plus, did the Ultimate World Champs live up to the hype? Spoiler alert: it mostly did! Des and Kara break down the pros and cons of the new format and then give you their takes on the major action, both from the track and the mixed zone. Now with the Ultimate World Champs a success, they talk about what might be improved for next time before finishing with a top 5. Take your bathroom break before you listen and then settle in for another good one with Des and Kara!

The Ultimate World Championships (UWC) are this weekend (9/11-9/13), so Des and Kara break down the big events so you know what to watch for! Kara will be on the call with NBC from Connecticut, and you will want to tune in for sure as the track season nears its end for this year. We had our doubts about the viability of the UWC, but it looks like we are in for some very exciting racing.  Of course, it wouldn't be an NAU episode without so much more! On this one, you get fun chats about recent Diamond League action, track trash talk from Jakob, behind the scenes in Utah, Jenny Simpson on Rich Roll, fishing and sailing stories, and yes... more. We are back to an episode with just Des and Kara, and you know you love it! Get your tickets for Des and Kara live in DC next Wednesday, September 16th: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/ANightWithDesKara Plus, special thanks to Lever Movement who is our additional sponsor for this episode. To get your LEVER Movement system, use this purchase link (bit.ly/4bLI2tG) and code NOBODYASKEDUS for 20% off!

Clayton Young is Utah state champion, NCAA champion, and Olympian. He is a 2:05 marathoner who now has his sights set on even bigger goals. He lives in Provo, Utah, where he trains with coach Ed Eyestone and a crew of elite marathoners chasing dreams together. Clayton has a big announcement about his upcoming marathon in Chicago. Des and Kara were there to witness it and can now share it with you.  Yes, this episode is about chasing fast times, but it is also a picture into Clayton Young as a human. You will see and hear sides of him that you may not know including his background growing up as the 5th child on a family hobby farm, his amazing partnership with his wife Ashley, the uncertainty of being a young pro, the unique training dynamics of competitors and friends, and so much more. If you weren't a fan of Clayton before, you will be now!  Once you listen to the full audio version, mark your calendars for Saturday (9/5) when Clayton will release more BTS video from Des and Kara's visit to Provo, Utah on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@_Clayton_Young_ Finally, thank you so much to our presenting sponsor Brooks Running for supporting Clayton and for making this trip to Utah possible.

The gang got together for a rare, in-person episode on a semi-secret trip to a yet-to-be-named location. There are a few hints in the episode if you want to take a guess. That special episode will come out next week, and it is a good one - "fire" as the kids say. As for this one, it's a good one too as Des and Kara dive into a host of track-nerd topics after their usual catch-up. It's a grab-bag episode, not to be confused with another bag of something that always seems to find Des or Kara. Kara gives a Jenny Simpson update as she got to see her recently. They dig into the recent Diamond League results from Lausanne and Silesia with special emphasis on the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m. For those events, they ask "where have the east Africans gone?" and give some free advice to Grant Fisher, Ethan Strand, and Hobbs Kessler on what might be best as their next moves. Take it or leave it Grant, Ethan, and Hobbs! Finally, they preview the Ultimate World Championships (UWC) as invites are being announced, including wild cards for Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 1500. What will become of this Paris 1500m rematch with a loaded field? And, will the UWC turn out to be the major event that World Athletics billed it to be? So far, it is looking better than expected as the fields come together! All in all, this is a great episode that covers a lot of ground (including the new half WR for the men). These are always good when Des and Kara record while sharing a beer in person. Enjoy!

This episode is an extra long one as a show of appreciation for our long-time, hard-core listeners like the one and only Jessie Diggins. Yes, she's just like you. She listens to the show too, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome her TO the show! Of course, we start with some classic Des/Kara catch-up with a side of Eugene-2028, US-Trials reactions. Say what about the 10,000m?!? Then, we cozy up for a long conversation with THE Jessie MF Diggins. She just happens to to be the most-decorated US XC skier of all time. She is a 4-time Olympian and 4-time Olympic medalist. She's won more World Cup races and titles than we can count, and on the side, she has been on the front line of building the sport in the US, as well as advocating on important topics like climate change and mental health. She is kind of a big deal and really f-ing cool too. Plus now in retirement from her sport, she has switched over to ours and has a big trail 100-miler on deck next month.  Des and Kara trade Olympic, retirement, and trail running stories with her and just generally shoot the s**t in the most inspiring way possible. At just under 2 hours, this one is a must-listen, but be warned, it might make you want to run (or ski) through a brick wall! New product alert! Go get your Otter II pre-order below from Lagoon Sleep. Yes, it's 15% off on the new Otter pillow exclusively for our listeners. The Otter is the pillow that Kara loves, and it is now more consistent and cooler for your sleep and recovery needs: https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/lagoon-the-nobody-asked-us-podcast-from-kara-goucher-and-des-linden.

Get your eye and earholes ready for this one! Kara and Des welcome special guest Brandon Miller to the show, thanks to presenting sponsor Brooks Running.  But first, they catch up on Noah Kahan, weekend plans, and books. Kara shares about the Noah Kahan concert in Denver where she balled her eyes out, and then they discuss their latest reads: Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About by Isabel Klee and Famesick from Lena Dunham. They are Olympians and now elite book reviewers whether you like it or not ;).  Then, Brandon joins the show. He's made World Championship and Olympic teams already in the 800m, but this may be his biggest season yet with wins at both the Pre Classic and London Diamond League. He gives us more on his background as a multi-sport athlete, the decision to turn pro, how he connected with Brooks, his relationship with Josh Kerr, and the keys behind his latest success. He is one of the nicest guys on the circuit and is now one of the best in the world in his event.  If you aren't already a Brandon fan, then it's time!  Lever Movement is our additional sponsor for this episode. To get your LEVER Movement system, use this purchase link (bit.ly/4bLI2tG) and code NOBODYASKEDUS for 20% off.

Migrating random topics is the best with Kara and Des, and this episode delivers on that to be sure. They catch up with talk about Kara embarrassing Colt via the pod, her past as a dancer, a sandpiper update, and a mini-book club on Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden. Kara sometimes has "permission to be cringe," and for better or worse, the sandpipers have been evicted for the summer. Des was doing her best to hide her excitement about that. She also has a new book rec for Kara - Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About by Isebel Klee. Then, the discussion shifts to an update on Kara's half marathon in NYC, which she won in 1:32 (!), thanks to CB who pulled a "Clayton Young" to let Kara take it. It wasn't without challenges and plenty of twists and turns (literally and figuratively), but she got it done with Carrie to run her longest race with dystonia. Now, it's all about recovery for at least a week before she gets back to running more again. Congrats to Kara on the race! Finally, they turn to a thorough discussion on the new NCAA eligibility rules which go into effect in the fall of 2027. Meanwhile, the University of Texas just signed a 59 minute half marathoner (corrected time vs. what was mentioned on the pod), who will be a 25-year-old freshman to help stack the deck for their distance team. Is the NCAA just becoming another pro league and what does this mean for the development pipeline for high school graduates? Will the new rules help bring order to it all? Now, you need to optimize your sleep with a Lagoon pillow. Go take the pillow quiz and get 15% off on your first order at this link: https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/lagoon-the-nobody-asked-us-podcast-from-kara-goucher-and-des-linden. Your sleep will thank you!

I might be on vacation, but Des and Kara are not! Fresh off her birthday, Des opens the show and is ready to roll. They catch up on July birthdays and life before digging into ALL of the angles of the latest controversial topic in track and field - new "rules" on camera angles for track and field telecasts. This is a topic that is not straightforward, and Des and Kara cover all of the nuances of it. I think you will find their discussion both funny and interesting! What do you think of the new guidelines? Then, they break down some of the key races from USA Champs, spending the most time on the 1500s and 10,000s in particular. It was great to see the events at a new venue in NYC, but was this the right year for a change? All hail Nikki Hiltz and their US title streak! Plus, were the 10K racing styles doing the distance any favors or not? Or maybe it doesn't matter? It was a great year for some fresh faces! If you want to snag one of the Berlin charity bibs, go to this link: https://www.children.de/bmw-berlin-marathon-english.

There are callers and then there are SHOTcallers. Which are you? Josh called his shot in the mile. 222! Kara is calling her shot in the half marathon (sort-of), and Des is backing them both up. She predicted that Josh would get the World Record, and now she is predicting that Kara will get her goal. This episode starts with the "normal" catch-up chat where Kara discusses her half marathon training (!), and Des shares the chaos of Ryan's sailing race. Thankfully, he made it back safely, but it was touch and go there for a moment. Then, they discuss Kara's experience joining the Flotrack Athlete's Lounge to follow the London DL. She gives some BTS intel and calls out all of the silly haters who love to watch, but then turn into online trolls. She is calling her shot by saying she would go toe-to-toe with any of you and win.  Finally, they dig into all things London Diamond League. Keely v Femke! Brandon Miller! And, yes, of course they break down everything about the mile World Record. Josh called his shot and then controlled every single detail to make it look easy, even though we know it wasn't. He is a master of peaking for a single goal and showed that again here with absolute class. Congrats to Josh, his team, and to Brooks! It was a performance for the ages! To support the pod and get your LEVER Movement system, use code NOBODYASKEDUS for 20% off here... Purchase link: https://bit.ly/4bLI2tG.