Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara

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!
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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! 
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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?
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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.