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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?

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🎙️ 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

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This isn’t about blaming one side.

It’s about understanding the reality behind the decision.

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👇 We want to hear from you:

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

Cancel early?
Or wait and take the risk?

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🎧 I Don’t Know Running Podcast
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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.

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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

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