Catching Up With 2:21 Marathoner Betsy Saina Before The 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials
The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show
CITIUS MAG
4.9 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 12 January 2024
⏱️ 21 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"The U.S. has become my home because it's been over ten years since I moved there. That makes me feel really emotional. My heart is full. I'm so grateful to be able to represent the U.S., after all I've gained in living there: to my two sisters living there, my son being born in the U.S. – it's a family thing for me. So I'm running for the whole family now."
With all the excitement leading into the Olympic Marathon Trials on February 3rd, it seems like a good time to reacquaint listeners with some of the top contenders. This week, Kyle Merber spoke with Betsy Saina, the former three-time NCAA champion from Iowa State and fifth place finisher in the 2016 Olympic 10,000m. In April 2021, Saina shifted her allegiance and is now eligible to represent the United States. Following her 2:21:40 finish at the Tokyo Marathon and a win at the Sydney Marathon on a hot day in September, where she ran 2:26:47, there is certainly a possibility of her being in Paris on the horizon.
Host: Kyle Merber | @kylemerber on Instagram
Guest: Betsy Saina | @sainabetsy on Instagram
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
🍊 OLIPOP is a prebiotic soda with only 2-5g of sugar that is good for your gut health. – and it's delicious. Use code CITIUS25 for 25% off non-subscription orders. Learn more at https://DrinkOlipop.com (click the link or use our promotional code for the discount)
☕️ THE CITIUS CAFE (PRESENTED BY HOKA) will be open for the weekend of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando. We’re super stoked to share that we will be partnering with HOKA for all of the weekend’s festivities next month in Florida – which will include live panels with special guests, giveaways, a big shakeout run and a race day watchalong from the CITIUS Cafe at 151 E Washington St.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
🎥 Subscribe to the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello friends. I'm Chris Chavez and welcome back to the Studio Smag Podcast. It's my show where I get the chance to chat with some of the biggest names on the track on the roads within the coaching ranks and across the running industry. |
| 0:11.0 | We are less than a month away from the U.S. Olympic |
| 0:14.0 | Marathon trials in Orlando. We will be there as we've partnered with |
| 0:18.0 | Hoka and we will be opening up the Citius Cafe that week. That will be our HQ for live panels, shakeout runs, a live watch along on race day that will be streamed |
| 0:28.2 | on YouTube, giveaways and so much more. |
| 0:31.6 | So if you are in Orlando, you're going to want to come by to the |
| 0:34.8 | Hoka pop-up in the Citius Cafe. Come get your free coffee, your holly pop, talk to |
| 0:40.4 | us. We want everyone's top three predictions. I'll include more details in the show |
| 0:45.9 | notes, but for now, mark your calendars for Friday, February 2nd, 5 PM. We're going to be doing a shakeout run with the Believe in the Run crew and |
| 0:56.0 | we're hoping to get as many people out there as possible. It's going to be a great time. |
| 1:00.7 | As we ramp up our coverage ahead of our trip to Orlando, it seems like a good time to reacquaint our |
| 1:06.3 | listeners with some of the contenders. |
| 1:09.0 | So for this week's edition of the Lapp Count newsletter, Kyle Mervar spoke with Betsy Saina, the former three-time |
| 1:15.3 | NCA champion from Iowa State and the fifth place finisher in the 2016 Olympic 10K. |
| 1:22.0 | We had Betsy on the Citius Mac podcast after she ran the |
| 1:26.1 | Tokyo Marathon last spring. It ended up being the fastest time by an American woman |
| 1:32.1 | in the marathon in |
| 1:33.4 | 2023, so she's certainly a contender |
| 1:37.0 | with that 221 personal vest. |
| 1:39.2 | She also won the Sydney Marathon on a hot day in September by running 226-47. |
| 1:45.0 | There's certainly a possibility of her being in Paris on the horizon. |
| 1:50.0 | So without further ado, here is Betsy Senna. I'm so glad we got the time zones right I was nervous I messed that math up |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from CITIUS MAG, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of CITIUS MAG and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.