How Sara Hall Competed at 8 Olympic Trials IN A ROW, Rebuilt Her Body From Injury, and Ran Her Best Marathons After 40 — On Faith, Ego, and the Love of the Grind
THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST
Dominic Schlueter
4.9 • 822 Ratings
🗓️ 14 February 2026
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In the last 14 months, Sara Hall has shattered the American marathon masters record, finished runner-up at back-to-back marathons, and proved (once again) that elite performance doesn’t have an expiration date.
Sara most recently finished second at the 2026 Houston Marathon with a time of 2:26:26. At 42 years of age, she is still setting Masters records, including her 2:23:45 showing at the 2024 Valencia Marathon. Even with a 5th place finish at the 2024 Marathon Olympic Trials, she steadfastly remains an elite runner on the world stage.
Sara’s personal best in the marathon is an impressive 2:20:32, set at The Marathon Project in 2020. She holds the U.S. masters marathon record for the 40+ age group with her 2:23:45 time from Valencia. Even more impressively, she has competed in eight consecutive U.S. Olympic Trials since 2004, spanning distances from the 1500m to the marathon.
Sara is coached by her husband, Ryan Hall, who held the American record for the half marathon for many years before a new crop of men bested his time in 2025 and 2026.
Sara Hall’s career doesn’t fit neatly into eras. It stretches across them. From Olympic Trials as a teenager to podium finishes in her 40s, Sara has quietly built one of the most resilient résumés in American distance running history.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Ladies and gentlemen, you're in for a good one today because I have the privilege of speaking |
| 0:05.5 | with a long time guest I've wanted to for a while now, Sarah Hull. |
| 0:10.3 | And if you're not familiar with Sarah, she's qualified for eight straight Olympic trials |
| 0:14.0 | from 2004 to 2004. |
| 0:16.8 | Every single one since I've been alive, I was born in 2005. |
| 0:20.5 | So crazy stat there, just putting in perspective. |
| 0:22.7 | She holds the American half marathon record. |
| 0:24.9 | She's been a pro for 21 years, |
| 0:26.5 | and she just ran 226 to play second at the Houston Marathon at the age of 42. |
| 0:31.6 | But in this conversation today, she talks about why she felt empty earlier in her pro career, |
| 0:35.6 | despite having everything taken care of for her, how ego nearly broke her love with the sport, and why, in her words, she hasn't conceded that she's past her prime. She's also got a book coming out in April called For the Love of the Grind. This one is absolutely worth your time. And if you enjoy this one, consider following the show so you don't miss these conversations like this one or in the future. |
| 0:55.3 | Send this to one runner in your life who needs to hear it. |
| 0:57.6 | And if this podcast has meant something new in the past, leave a five-star review, takes |
| 1:01.2 | less than 10 seconds and helps us more than you know. |
| 1:04.1 | Let's get into today's conversation with the true legend of the sport, Sarah Hall. |
| 1:11.9 | Ladies and gentlemen, I am joined by an absolute stud, one of the legends in this sport |
| 1:16.5 | and still kicking it. |
| 1:17.5 | It seems Sarah, every couple months, you're still ripping a marathon. |
| 1:21.8 | I still at the front, going for it all. |
| 1:25.2 | I really respect you. |
| 1:26.1 | I've looked up to your career for years. I have wanted to get you on the podcast for a while. I really respect you. I've looked up to your career for years, |
| 1:28.0 | have wanted to get you on the podcast for a while. I remember a part of my story I share is that |
... |
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