US Olympic Marathon Trials champion Fiona O'Keeffe joins us at 55:03 to break down her 4th-place finish at the NYC Marathon, how she rebounded from Olympic heartbreak, and what it's like training under Amy and Alistair Cragg. She opens up about her workouts, recovery from injury, and her long-term goals for 2026 and beyond.
Before that, we dive into a wild week in track and field:
USADA quietly banned Marvin Bracy, the 2022 World 100 m silver medalist, for nearly four years after he provided "substantial assistance" in a federal doping investigation involving the AIU and the DEA. The story first broke through former sprinter Rae Edwards (RaesTake), who claimed Bracy had been serving a secret suspension and said Bracy's then-coach Dennis Mitchell tipped off the authorities after Bracy confided in him about using a PED.
The case has sparked major questions about transparency, informants, and how far USADA should go in keeping suspensions hidden.
Plus, the IOC bans males from women's sports, Conner and Kylie Mantz headline the Two Cities Marathon, Elise Cranny may be training with Keely Hodgkinson in the UK, and much more.
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Show notes:
0:00 Marvin Bracy Popped and Fiona O'Keeffe Teased
0:23 Introduction and Weekly Highlights
1:31 Revisiting Fiona O'Keeffe's Olympic Marathon
7:15 The Impact of Super Shoes
12:13 Olympics Ban on Males in Women's Sports
19:10 Marvin Bracy's Secret Doping Ban
20:55 Rae Edwards and Dennis Mitchell's Role
30:00 Secret Suspensions and Transparency Debate
32:39 Did USADA Let an Olympic Trials Runner Serve a Secret Ban?
36:54 Was the 2022 USA 100 m Sweep a Farce?
40:07 Public Proposals – Yay or Nay?
44:15 Conner and Kylie Mantz at the Two Cities Marathon
49:43 Elise Cranny Training with Keely Hodgkinson?
55:03 Fiona O'Keeffe Interview (NYC Marathon, Comeback, Training, Future)
59:18 Training Insights and Key Workouts
1:02:46 Transition to Marathon Training
1:03:37 Copenhagen Half Experience
1:05:44 Final Reflections and Learnings
1:06:46 Goals and Career Aspirations
1:08:57 Path to the Marathon
1:11:07 College Mileage and Progression
1:12:19 Olympic Trials Victory and Injury
1:14:37 Olympic Race Day Experience
1:19:37 Recovery from Stress Fracture
1:25:43 Future Race Selection and Priorities
1:28:30 College Development and Training Group Dynamics
1:34:21 World Road Running Championships
1:35:51 Super Shoes and Technology
1:37:56 Long-Term Career Plans
1:38:48 Join the Supporters Club
Related Links
WADA Statement: WADA says an athlete who used EPO and steroids competed at an Olympic qualifier and never had their ban announced
Erin Brown Tweet: https://x.com/TheErinBrown/status/1983401964156432668
Joanna Harper story: A Brief History of Intersex Athletes in Sport – LetsRun.com
Rae’s Take tweets (August): https://x.com/search?q=(from%3ARaestaketv)%20until%3A2025-08-18%20since%3A2025-08-01&src=typed_query&f=live
Two Cities Marathon thread: https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=13864597#post-9
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