Send us Fan Mail

Sometimes a race gets canceled…

and no matter what the reason is,
someone’s going to be upset.

In this episode, we’re breaking down the Carmel Marathon cancellation—and the bigger question behind it.

Should races cancel early to protect runners…
or wait and risk making the wrong call?

Because the reality is:
there’s no perfect answer.

We talk through the race director’s perspective, the runner’s frustration, and the growing divide between the two.

From last-minute cancellations…
to early decisions that look wrong in hindsight…
to the real cost of logistics, safety, and expectations.

And maybe the biggest question of all:

What should the right call actually be?

—

🎙️ Topics we cover:

Why race directors can’t “just delay it”
Early cancellation vs race-day decisions
The mental impact on runners
Travel, cost, and real-world frustration
“Run it anyway” mentality
Virtual races vs real races
What a better policy might actually look like

—

This isn’t about blaming one side.

It’s about understanding the reality behind the decision.

—

👇 We want to hear from you:

If you were the race director…
what would you do?

Cancel early?
Or wait and take the risk?

—

🎧 I Don’t Know Running Podcast
Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when finishing isn’t guaranteed?

In this episode of the I Don’t Know Running Podcast, Mitch shares the story behind one of the hardest races of his life—the Jersey City Marathon.

On paper, it doesn’t stand out.
6 hours and 12 minutes. His slowest marathon ever.

But what led up to this race is what makes it different.

Over the last few years, Mitch has dealt with:

a herniated disc
heart monitoring and health scares
Achilles surgery
a stroke
and just days before the race… a bladder stone

He didn’t feel ready.
He didn’t think he could finish.

But he showed up anyway.

From last-minute travel chaos and questionable race-day decisions… to battling tunnel vision, exhaustion, and doubt in the final miles—this is a story about pushing forward when everything says stop.

And somehow… marathon #179 became one of the most meaningful finishes of his life.

🎧 Listen in as we break down:

the mental battle behind the race
what it actually feels like to hit the wall
why this finish meant more than any PR
and what comes next on the journey to all 50 states

If you’ve ever questioned whether you could keep going… this one’s for you.

Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In 2019, it felt like women in sport had forced a turning point.

When Alysia Montaño, Kara Goucher, and Allyson Felix spoke publicly about pregnancy-related sponsorship penalties, major brands promised change.

Contracts changed. Protections were added. The sport moved forward… or did it?

In this episode, we unpack the “Pregnancy Penalty,” the recent controversy involving Emma Bates and UCAN, and a bigger question:

Did this problem go away… or did it just move into the fine print?

This isn’t just a conversation about one athlete or one brand.

It’s about what the sport values, what contracts protect, and whether pregnancy is still treated as a risk in professional running.

👇 What do you think?
Should sponsors be required to protect athletes through pregnancy, no matter the circumstances? Let us know in the comments.

#RunningPodcast #EmmaBates #AllysonFelix #KaraGoucher #AlysiaMontano #WomenInSport #RunningNews #Marathon #TrackAndField #PregnancyPenalty

Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Sometimes the hardest part of a marathon…
isn’t the running.

It’s everything that happens around it.

After hearing about a bizarre finish at a marathon earlier this year—where the race leader was literally sent the wrong way just meters before the finish—we started digging into how often things like this actually happen.

And it turns out… it’s not rare.

In this episode, we talk through some of the strangest and most unexpected moments in marathon history—from officials interfering at the worst possible time, to historic controversies, to moments where the line between competition and compassion gets blurred.

Some of these are frustrating.
Some are unbelievable.
And some are just… weird.

But they all raise the same question:

👉 How much of a race is actually in your control?

—

🎙️ Topics we cover:

The 2026 marathon finish controversy
Katherine Switzer and the 1967 Boston Marathon
The 1908 Olympic marathon chaos
When helping a runner becomes disqualification
Marathon cheating and bizarre race behavior
The strange role of spectators, officials, and outside interference

—

If you’ve ever run a race—or even just watched one—this episode might change how you see the finish line.

—

👇 We’d love to hear from you:
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen during a race?

—

🎧 Thanks for listening to the I Don’t Know Running Podcast
We’ll see you next time.


Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Why would an everyday runner cheat in a race?

Not elites.
Not professionals.

Just… normal people.

In this episode, we take a look at the strange and surprisingly relatable psychology behind cheating in running—from cutting courses and bib swapping to chasing Strava validation and Boston qualifiers.

This isn’t just about the stories.

It’s about the why.

Because at some level, most runners have faced the same question:

What matters more… finishing fast, or finishing honestly?

—

We also talk through:

• The infamous Rosie Ruiz Boston Marathon scandal
• The “porta potty time machine” ultra cheat
• Why social media may be fueling bad decisions
• How runners actually get caught today
• And what cheating really takes away from others

—

At the end of the day, the real finish line might not be the tape…

It might be who you choose to be when no one’s watching.

—

💬 Let us know:

Have you ever been tempted to cut a corner?

—

🎙️ The I Don’t Know Running Podcast
Real conversations about running—what works, what doesn’t, and everything in between.

—

#RunningPodcast #Marathon #RunningCommunity #Strava #BostonMarathon #RunningMotivation
Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

What kind of runner are you… really?

In this episode, we’re breaking down the different types of running communities—from Marathon Maniacs chasing finish lines to social run crews meeting for coffee, to performance-focused track clubs grinding through workouts.

Because depending on who you run with…
running can feel like a competition, a community, or something in between.

We talk through:

Marathon Maniacs and high-volume racing culture
Social run crews and the rise of community-driven running
Performance clubs and structured training environments
Mission-based groups running for a cause
The difference between chasing recognition vs building relationships

At the end of the day, running isn’t just a sport—it’s a culture.
And everyone finds their place in it a little differently.

So… which type are you?

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, consider subscribing for more honest discussions about running.

💬 Drop a comment:
What kind of runner do you consider yourself?
Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Sometimes the conversation around running isn’t about pace, training plans, or race results.

It’s about something deeper than that.

Why are you doing it in the first place?

In this episode of the I Don’t Know Running Podcast, Lewis and Mitch revisit the recent debate around race-day phones and cameras — but this time, they focus on what really stood out:

The responses.

Some runners believe you should “just follow the rules.”
Others argue safety is the priority.
And some take it even further… saying if you’re stopping for photos, you’re racing for the wrong reasons.

But is there really a “right” reason to run?

Or are we missing the point entirely?

This episode dives into the comments, the arguments, and the bigger question underneath it all — who gets to decide why someone runs?

—

🎙️ In this episode:

* Reacting to real listener comments
* The “just follow the rules” mindset
* Safety vs experience during races
* Are selfies and photos actually a problem?
* The idea of “wrong reasons” for running
* Gatekeeping in the running community

—

Honest conversations about running — the good, the bad, and everything in between.

If you’ve ever been told you’re doing it wrong… this one’s for you.

—

💬 Let us know in the comments:
Why do YOU run?

—

👍 Like, subscribe, and share with someone who loves running (or argues about it)


—

Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Did runners really get a marathon medal for only 18 miles?

At the 2026 LA Marathon, race organizers offered runners an early finish at Mile 18 because of extreme heat conditions. Runners who stopped still received a medal — but no official marathon time.

So… does that count as finishing the race?

In this episode of the I Don’t Know Running Podcast, Lewis and Mitch break down one of the strangest weekends in distance running.

Topics include:

• The LA Marathon’s controversial Mile 18 early finish option
• Whether giving runners a medal at 18 miles makes any sense
• The dramatic elite finish decided by 0.01 seconds
• The chaos near the finish when Michael Kamau was briefly disrupted in the final stretch
• And the debate over whether race organizers are doing too much to protect runners — or not enough

Meanwhile, Jacob Kiplimo answered recent controversy in the best way possible, returning to Lisbon and setting an official 57:20 half marathon world record — without pacemakers.

This weekend had everything: world records, race-day controversy, heat safety debates, and one of the wildest marathon finishes you'll ever see.

We want to hear from you:

👉 Does stopping at Mile 18 count as finishing the LA Marathon?

#runningpodcast #lamarathon #marathon #jacobkiplimo #distancerunning #runningnews #worldrecord #running

Check out our Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/IDKR

Support the show