Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer are back together after Tallahassee and why this was the quickest post-event turnaround in Off The Rails history. Warning: There's somehow a lot of murder talk in this one so if you're someone inclined to DM us about your disapproval of a subject, maybe skip this episode.

In this week's episode:

– Why the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee might have been the most fun event we have covered

– Why World Cross fully lived up to (and exceeded) the hype

– Running the course ourselves and realizing how absurdly fast the pros actually were

– Breaking down the course obstacles: the man-made hill, deep sand pit, blue water pit, alligator hurdles, and shoe-swallowing mud

– Eric meets Beatrice Chebet and immediately loses all composure

– Beatrice Chebet officially becomes a Rail Rider

– Mondo’s new song is a banger and the lyrics feel way too personal for Eric

– Recapping Houston Half Marathon madness: eight men sub-60, Alex Maier’s No. 2 all-time American performance, and Rory Linkletter’s Canadian record

– Valencia continues its reign of road-racing chaos with European records and ridiculous depth

– Another major doping suspension with Albert Korir and why it’s both necessary and devastating

– The Enhanced Games is adding more athletes, but “you don’t have to take the drugs” makes no sense, so we have skepticism about the entire concept

– A shocking murder case involving a former NJNY athlete and how rarely this intersects with pro running

– The Community race chaos featured jugglers passing exhausted former pros

– Training panic ahead of the New Balance Mile Relay Challenge

– Voicemails include: beer theft by a collegiate star, toilet FaceTimes, rapper alter egos, and LinkedIn motivation

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

Off The Rails is officially back for 2026, and Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer waste absolutely no time getting comfortable.

The episode opens with New Year’s resolutions (or the lack thereof), including Eric’s sudden commitment to mindfulness and Aisha’s accidental discovery that Diet Pepsi might be the key to peak hydration.

Also discussed in this episode:

– The rise of hydration culture: Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke, Liquid IV, Spindrift, LaCroix, and the realization that soda might actually be elite

– Aisha’s full hydration personal best and why skiing all day unlocked a new relationship with fluids

– Growing up in the ’90s, mom culture, and why Diet Coke feels genetically encoded

– Aisha accidentally skiing a black diamond, survival turns, and Strava validating the effort

– Why Aisha's Strava is private, deprogramming from pace shame, and learning to enjoy running again

– World Cross Country Championships are days away and the excitement is real

– Beatrice Chebet is sitting out World Cross to prioritize starting a family

– The difference between European and American running fan culture

– Brainstorming a World Cross fantasy draft and snake-draft chaos

– Voicemails include: HBO’s Heated Rivalry/gay hockey discourse; AI chatbots/ChatGPT vs everything else; Stranger Things' final season + more

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.