Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara

It's Chicago Marathon time, and Des and Kara are on the scene. They helped kick off the weekend's festivities with Brooks Running from the Chicago Athletic Association in front of a live audience. This episode does not disappoint! It starts with tequila shots, has all of the unhinged banter that we love, and of course, plenty of inspiration and intel on the elite races on Sunday. Whether you are racing, spectating, or watching at home, this is a must-listen to get you ready for the fireworks on Sunday! The World Majors are finally stateside, and we are here for it!

It's Chicago Marathon race week, and we are excited to be headed to the Windy City this weekend! Live pod on Friday night. 5K Saturday. Race Sunday. Freshy Fresh incoming after that. So much good stuff so stay glued to our channels (both audio and YouTube). In this episode, we catch up on some weekend happenings with a little deep-dive into Des's hundred-mile training. She is doing back-to-back long runs like a boss, while simultaneously enduring long, painful sessions on the couch watching San Diego and Detroit sporting heartbreak. Which is more difficult for her? The jury is out, but we will learn more on Chicago weekend where she will do 30 miles (including the marathon) on Sunday and then another long run on Monday! Kara's been through a proverbial "marathon" on her own via another type of self-inflicted suffering - lasers to the face! Yes, she literally burned her face off, and the fresh skin is just starting to peak through, just in time for being on the call in Chicago. You will have to check the…

Fall marathon season is officially here with the Berlin Marathon this past weekend, and as usual, there is much to discuss. First, Des and Kara catch up on life's happenings. Des is in Arizona previewing the Javalina course for her upcoming 100-miler. She had a near-miss with a rattlesnake who was taking over a dirt road, and she learned that she is more nimble than she thought. Kara commiserates with her own rattlesnake stories and then shares about a bobcat siting. They talk 100-mile prep, driving instructors and tests (Happy Birthday Colt!), and dance-partying the night away. Who remembers their driving test? Did YOU have to parallel park? Of course, then they turn the discussion to the Berlin Marathon where Tigst Assefa ran the 3rd fastest time ever, finishing the final miles on a completely torn Achilles tendon. An insane finish. Also insane... the uneven discussion of men's and women's performances as it relates to chasing records. Kara just can't get over the fact that the men are always glorified…

Last week, Des and Kara recorded a bonus episode live from Washington DC, hosted by Pacers Running. The highlight of the episode was re-living the 2012 US Olympic Trails with Julie Culley, co-owner of Pacers. Julie made the 2012 Olympic team after WINNING the 5K at the US Trials in a performance that perhaps has never gotten its due because of the close battle between 3rd and 4th that day. Julie tells her side of the story and gives you some insight into her Olympic experience as a teammate of Des and Kara in London that year. They also chat with Julie about poopgate as someone who is getting into Hyrox herself. Then, Des and Kara turn to chat about all-things half marathon to prep the audience for the DC Half last weekend. They give their own experiences with the distance, both the love and the hate, and provide some tips to the audience for racing that distance. Finally, they finish with an audience Q&A which has amazing questions as always, including questions about frequency of hair washing after…

This past weekend essentially marked the end of track season, punctuated by the Athlos meet in London and the World Road Championships in Copenhagen (where a lot of track athletes finished their season). It was a fun way to cap the track year, and now we turn the page to major marathon season with Berlin and Chicago on deck in the coming weeks! Before we discuss this episode, here are two podcast notes for your planning purposes: Chicago live pod tickets will go on sale THIS Thursday (9/24) at 10 am CST. The Chicago live podcast will be on the Friday night of race weekend. The ticketing link will post at this link: https://events.brooksrunning.com/26chicagohyperionhouse. The show will sell out FAST so plan accordingly! We will have a bonus podcast release this Friday (9/25) from the Live Nobody Asked Us in DC last week. Mark your listening (or viewing) calendars for the bonus episode. It was a fun one as always. In this episode, Des and Kara recap Athlos and the World Road Champs, covering all of the…

You know it's going to be a good one, when the episode starts with Kara and Des beat-boxing and dancing to a Jock Jams anthem. Call us Netflix or Spotify... Des brings a book recommendation to the table for the history buffs, and Kara catches us up on her rainy trip to Stamford, Connecticut to call the Ultimate World Champs. Speaking of rain, the clouds exploded in New Jersey where a half marathon should have been canceled due to rain and floods (but continued anyway). And at a Hyrox event in China, there was another type of explosion that should have resulted in a pause to the event or a DNF for the athlete involved (but didn't). Des and Kara give their *explosive* takes on both before turning to recap the action from the Great North Run and the Ultimate World Champs. How did Clayton Young do in his prep race for Chicago? Plus, did the Ultimate World Champs live up to the hype? Spoiler alert: it mostly did! Des and Kara break down the pros and cons of the new format and then give you their takes on the…

The Ultimate World Championships (UWC) are this weekend (9/11-9/13), so Des and Kara break down the big events so you know what to watch for! Kara will be on the call with NBC from Connecticut, and you will want to tune in for sure as the track season nears its end for this year. We had our doubts about the viability of the UWC, but it looks like we are in for some very exciting racing. Of course, it wouldn't be an NAU episode without so much more! On this one, you get fun chats about recent Diamond League action, track trash talk from Jakob, behind the scenes in Utah, Jenny Simpson on Rich Roll, fishing and sailing stories, and yes... more. We are back to an episode with just Des and Kara, and you know you love it! Get your tickets for Des and Kara live in DC next Wednesday, September 16th: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/ANightWithDesKara Plus, special thanks to Lever Movement who is our additional sponsor for this episode. To get your LEVER Movement system, use this purchase link (bit.ly/4bLI2tG)…

Clayton Young is Utah state champion, NCAA champion, and Olympian. He is a 2:05 marathoner who now has his sights set on even bigger goals. He lives in Provo, Utah, where he trains with coach Ed Eyestone and a crew of elite marathoners chasing dreams together. Clayton has a big announcement about his upcoming marathon in Chicago. Des and Kara were there to witness it and can now share it with you. Yes, this episode is about chasing fast times, but it is also a picture into Clayton Young as a human. You will see and hear sides of him that you may not know including his background growing up as the 5th child on a family hobby farm, his amazing partnership with his wife Ashley, the uncertainty of being a young pro, the unique training dynamics of competitors and friends, and so much more. If you weren't a fan of Clayton before, you will be now! Once you listen to the full audio version, mark your calendars for Saturday (9/5) when Clayton will release more BTS video from Des and Kara's visit to Provo, Utah on…

The gang got together for a rare, in-person episode on a semi-secret trip to a yet-to-be-named location. There are a few hints in the episode if you want to take a guess. That special episode will come out next week, and it is a good one - "fire" as the kids say. As for this one, it's a good one too as Des and Kara dive into a host of track-nerd topics after their usual catch-up. It's a grab-bag episode, not to be confused with another bag of something that always seems to find Des or Kara. Kara gives a Jenny Simpson update as she got to see her recently. They dig into the recent Diamond League results from Lausanne and Silesia with special emphasis on the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m. For those events, they ask "where have the east Africans gone?" and give some free advice to Grant Fisher, Ethan Strand, and Hobbs Kessler on what might be best as their next moves. Take it or leave it Grant, Ethan, and Hobbs! Finally, they preview the Ultimate World Championships (UWC) as invites are being announced, including wild…

This episode is an extra long one as a show of appreciation for our long-time, hard-core listeners like the one and only Jessie Diggins. Yes, she's just like you. She listens to the show too, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome her TO the show! Of course, we start with some classic Des/Kara catch-up with a side of Eugene-2028, US-Trials reactions. Say what about the 10,000m?!? Then, we cozy up for a long conversation with THE Jessie MF Diggins. She just happens to to be the most-decorated US XC skier of all time. She is a 4-time Olympian and 4-time Olympic medalist. She's won more World Cup races and titles than we can count, and on the side, she has been on the front line of building the sport in the US, as well as advocating on important topics like climate change and mental health. She is kind of a big deal and really f-ing cool too. Plus now in retirement from her sport, she has switched over to ours and has a big trail 100-miler on deck next month. Des and Kara trade Olympic, retirement, and…

Get your eye and earholes ready for this one! Kara and Des welcome special guest Brandon Miller to the show, thanks to presenting sponsor Brooks Running. But first, they catch up on Noah Kahan, weekend plans, and books. Kara shares about the Noah Kahan concert in Denver where she balled her eyes out, and then they discuss their latest reads: Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About by Isabel Klee and Famesick from Lena Dunham. They are Olympians and now elite book reviewers whether you like it or not ;). Then, Brandon joins the show. He's made World Championship and Olympic teams already in the 800m, but this may be his biggest season yet with wins at both the Pre Classic and London Diamond League. He gives us more on his background as a multi-sport athlete, the decision to turn pro, how he connected with Brooks, his relationship with Josh Kerr, and the keys behind his latest success. He is one of the nicest guys on the circuit and is now one of the best in the world in his event. If you aren't already…

Migrating random topics is the best with Kara and Des, and this episode delivers on that to be sure. They catch up with talk about Kara embarrassing Colt via the pod, her past as a dancer, a sandpiper update, and a mini-book club on Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden. Kara sometimes has "permission to be cringe," and for better or worse, the sandpipers have been evicted for the summer. Des was doing her best to hide her excitement about that. She also has a new book rec for Kara - Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About by Isebel Klee. Then, the discussion shifts to an update on Kara's half marathon in NYC, which she won in 1:32 (!), thanks to CB who pulled a "Clayton Young" to let Kara take it. It wasn't without challenges and plenty of twists and turns (literally and figuratively), but she got it done with Carrie to run her longest race with dystonia. Now, it's all about recovery for at least a week before she gets back to running more again. Congrats to Kara on the race! Finally, they…

I might be on vacation, but Des and Kara are not! Fresh off her birthday, Des opens the show and is ready to roll. They catch up on July birthdays and life before digging into ALL of the angles of the latest controversial topic in track and field - new "rules" on camera angles for track and field telecasts. This is a topic that is not straightforward, and Des and Kara cover all of the nuances of it. I think you will find their discussion both funny and interesting! What do you think of the new guidelines? Then, they break down some of the key races from USA Champs, spending the most time on the 1500s and 10,000s in particular. It was great to see the events at a new venue in NYC, but was this the right year for a change? All hail Nikki Hiltz and their US title streak! Plus, were the 10K racing styles doing the distance any favors or not? Or maybe it doesn't matter? It was a great year for some fresh faces! If you want to snag one of the Berlin charity bibs, go to this link:…

There are callers and then there are SHOTcallers. Which are you? Josh called his shot in the mile. 222! Kara is calling her shot in the half marathon (sort-of), and Des is backing them both up. She predicted that Josh would get the World Record, and now she is predicting that Kara will get her goal. This episode starts with the "normal" catch-up chat where Kara discusses her half marathon training (!), and Des shares the chaos of Ryan's sailing race. Thankfully, he made it back safely, but it was touch and go there for a moment. Then, they discuss Kara's experience joining the Flotrack Athlete's Lounge to follow the London DL. She gives some BTS intel and calls out all of the silly haters who love to watch, but then turn into online trolls. She is calling her shot by saying she would go toe-to-toe with any of you and win. Finally, they dig into all things London Diamond League. Keely v Femke! Brandon Miller! And, yes, of course they break down everything about the mile World Record. Josh called his shot and…

It's an exciting week for our presenting sponsor as Brooks athlete Josh Kerr attempts to run the mile world record at the London Diamond League this weekend. Will he do it? Can anyone spoil the party? Of course, Des and Kara break it all down with predictions. But first... we have a special gift for those who love good intro banter - a brilliantly-long and smile-inducing intro. Everyone else can go touch grass and then fast forward through the first ~40 minutes. We've got a proper catch-up on summer travels, July birthdays, a mini book club chat on Yesteryear, some good laughs over Kara's Strava demotion, a Des training and sandpiper update, and some unhinged discussion of running neuroses. Can you handle a run that doesn't end in a 1-mile or 0.5 mile increment?! Now, we all need to lock in and cheer for Josh. Go get it done Josh! To take advantage of our Ketone-IQ sponsorship, use this link: https://ketone.com/pages/nobody-asked-us. You will receive 30% off on your subscription order so you can try the new…

What could be more summer than a day with horse flies, fireworks, fishing, and fast track on the 4th of July! Kara was calling Prefontaine before heading home to play pyro. Des was fishing and deck sitting, while trying to avoid getting eaten alive by the bugs. Now, they break down two days of track & field at the Pre Classic, and there is much to discuss! Brandon Miller over Cooper in the men's 800m. Keely Hodgkinson (with bloody knees) 2nd to Odira in the women's 800m. Parker Wolfe holds them off in the 2-mile. Silliness in the women's two. A tale of two races in the women's steeple. Cam Myers looking unbeatable. Down goes Faith after 5 years to Nikki! And more... As always thank you to Brooks Running, our presenting sponsor. Thanks also to our sponsor for this episode - Lagoon Sleep. To get your pillow with 15% off on your first order, take the quiz and use code NOBODYASKEDUS at this link: https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/lagoon-the-nobody-asked-us-podcast-from-kara-goucher-and-des-linden.

This one is so good that they had to record it twice! From Western States to the Paris DL, there is so much good stuff to talk about this week. BUT, it wouldn't be a Nobody Asked Us episode without a lot of fun, random topics as well. Haunted hotels. Crazy Netflix docs. Book club incoming? Prefontaine preview. Des's next race. Content creation on the roads and track. DNFs. Breakthrough performances at the 100-mile distance. WR attempts. US Diamond League wins. Hurdles to the 800m... no problem. And more of course. Get your latest running news and hot takes here!

Duluth got two shows last week, and as promised, now it is your turn! We start with a weekend recap from Duluth. Kara breaks down the Goucher family 5K results where Colt and Adam performed annoyingly well. Des shares what it was like to be an adopted family member for the weekend, and Kara takes us through some of her broadcast fun - you betcha! They also give love to Jenny Simpson who is recovering from a scary heart event last week. By all accounts, she is now on the mend, and we are sending all of our prayers and healing vibes her way. Plus of course, they run through the elite results from the half and full, where live-show guest Dakotah Popehn won the marathon. Congrats Dakotah! Then, we turn the page to share the full audio from live show #2 in Duluth where you get more great content and even better questions from the crowd. In particular, thank you to Kara's nephews for opening the Q&A. They were the cutest, and the crowd was great as usual. Two sold out shows in Duluth is simply amazing. What a…

Duluth got two shows last week, and YOU are getting two shows this week. For this first one, we replay the audio from the live show on Thursday at the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, featuring the one and only Dakotah Popehn (Des's nemesis). Then later in the week, we will release another BONUS episode with fresh content from Monday recapping the weekend in Minnesota, plus a replay of the 2nd live show in Duluth. Stay on top of your audio downloads this week, so you don't miss any of it. In this episode, Kara oozes all of her love for this race, Des gets introduced to Minnesota accents and Minnesota nice, and Dakotah shares the story about how this race inspired her Olympic dreams. Plus, the audience asks great questions. If you want to race Grandma's someday, there is a lot of great course beta too. Even if not, this episode will definitely make you smile. Listen in and then check back later this week for the full weekend recap! Thank you to the team at the Grandma's Marathon and the fans in Duluth for all of…

Yes, they talk about the NCAA Champs for a good portion of the episode, but this episode is about so much more (as usual)! Des and Kara start with some hilarious catch-up stories where Kara can't stop laughing (sorry Adam!). Then, they dig into the LA Grand Prix results where Parker Valby ran another PR, and Josh Kerr ran an 800m in prep for his WR attempt. Of course, they talk about the NCAA Champs where there was a potential WR run in the prelims of 110 hurdles. But, will it count due to the doping protocols of the NCAA? There was also a big DQ in the women's 5K. Fair or not? Plus, what does it all mean for NIL as the professionalization of the NCAA continues... Finally (before a top 5), they discuss a big doping positive from the pro ranks with an unusually short punishment timeline. Was it justified or should it have been longer?? It's all a bit complicated, and Des and Kara are here to simplify for you! To support the pod and get your LEVER Movement system, use code NOBODYASKEDUS for 20% off here...…

Delayed but still diamond! The Diamond League results in Sweden and Norway were the centerpiece of this episode, but it has so much more! Des at Harvard Business School. Colt at Brooks PR. Travel delays. Fast times and great racing in the DLs. Holy Cooper. More heat for Puma in the legal system. And more! To sign-up for the Brave Like Gabe 5K (virtual or in-person in 9 locations nationwide), use our promo code by June 25th - Gabe's 40th birthday! If 500 of you register, then we can raise almost $20,000 for BLG! Use promo Code - Kara&Des - for 5% off at this link: https://organizations.hakuapp.com/sites/organization_sites/cd4e4817d889bfcc5e42 Also, thank you to our additional sponsor for this episode - Lagoon Sleep. Take the pillow quiz and get 15% off on your first order here: https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/lagoon-the-nobody-asked-us-podcast-from-kara-goucher-and-des-linden.

Do you see what we did there? Maybe not... This episode begins with Kara detailing her impromptu, "red-eye" drive to Minnesota, and the sleepy aftermath. Then, you get a proper pet update with fun stories from both Des and Kara on their furry and not-so-furry animals. If you are watching the YouTube, you get a Boston sighting! Kara and Des also give their takes on the Netflix documentary called The Crash about a teenager in Florida who was convicted of murder for intentionally driving her car into a wall, killing her boyfriend and his friend. There is so much to process from that tragic story, but at least one thing is clear: the parents of the convicted murderer were completely out of touch with the reality of the situation. Of course, we do get to the latest running news. Des and Kara digest the new World Championship standards released by World Athletics, and the times are FAST. The objective from WA seems clear... to get more athletes into the event via the world rankings. BUT, are those rankings fair…

Yes, there was that other gimmicky meet this weekend, but we don't have time for that. There is real track to talk about it after all! Outdoor track is *finally* in swing, and there are some great story lines to discuss already. First, Kara and Des acknowledge that the last episode did indeed live up to its name. There was plenty of "hate mail" and feedback to go around. They discuss the polarizing opinions on it and if they would do anything differently. Then, they catch up on their own lives - Colt's mile PR and blazing fast Bolder Boulder (while a little under the weather no less), Des's return to running after her break, summers in Minnesota and Michigan, and plans for the live shows at Grandma's soon. Next, they get into all of the "real" track action from the weekend from the LA Track Fest and the Diamond League, before previewing a few exciting things to come later this summer. Parker Valby. Emma Coburn. Brandon Miller. Josh Kerr. Emily Mackay. Keely Hodgkinson. And more. From comebacks and PRs to WR…

Cue the comments section. We think this one is going to get a lot of attention - good and bad. It was a slower-news, running week, so there were a lot of angry runners arguing on social media about silly (?) things. Naturally, Des and Kara have to weigh in because many of you did already. But first (!)... Kara gives us a recap of Colt's amazing run in the 2-mile at state, after correcting the record on his 800m PR. His race at state was full of surges, but he finished higher than his seed in 14th and now is exciting to head to the Brooks PR meet. Meanwhile, Des is enjoying her time off from training but is now feeling the urge to get started again before this becomes a permanent break. Then, they dig into the drama with reactions about the Satisfy Running debate, where many people (particularly in the trail world) are frustrated about how they are showing up in the sport. Satisfy is a new-ish running shoe and apparel brand. Their gear is really expensive, but should we be mad about it? As a fun side question…

1KG was a one hit wonder, Colt is going to state, and Rachel and Courtney are serious badasses. This episode is just a fun one, as usual. Kara gives a masterclass on parenting a young athlete while trying to stay calm during Colt's push for a state qualifying time in the 2-mile. He gets it with a massive PR. Kara and Des break down the impressive action from Cocodona 250 where Rachel Entrekin WON the whole damn thing in a course-record time. Meanwhile, Courtney Dauwalter conquers the 200+ mile distance for the first time to earn 2nd female and 6th overall. Is there anything she can't do?! Abby Steiner is suing Puma over "defective shoes?" What does that mean? Are super shoes even safe?!? Who needs a cuddle from their dog? And, who needs a little Ketone for recovery? Grab a blanket, your favorite pet, and cuddle up for another great episode! To take advantage of the Ketone deal from the episode, go to this link for Ketone-IQ: https://ketone.com/pages/nobody-asked-us.

This is the episode you have been waiting for! Des gives us all of the incredible (and sometimes gory) details of her podium finish at the Marathon des Sables through the Sahara. From the hectic travel to exactly what self-supported means and all of the details of each stage, she holds nothing back (including the water to rehydrate her portable toilet paper). She carried all of her food and gear for each of the 6 stages, and still managed to crush it. The queen of Boston becomes the queen of the desert, and it's an amazing tale to tell. As always, thank you to Brooks Running as our presenting sponsor. Also, thank you to our additional sponsor for this episode - Lever Movement. To support the pod and LEVER, use code NOBODYASKEDUS for 20% off here... Link to purchase: https://bit.ly/4bLI2tG

It's been a crazy three weeks for Des and Kara, and now they are happy to be home and sleeping in their own beds with their Lagoon pillows. In this episode, they recap all that was the London Marathon from their live pod with Cynthia Erivo to Des's run with CB to the blazing-fast elite races. Of course, they keep it real with their takes on the sub 2 and the women's only WR. Some of you (guys in particular) might not like their takes, but that's why we love them. They call it like they see it! Plus, they share their perspectives on the shocking 2:05 race at the Glass City Marathon in Toledo, including the fun implications for the men's marathon trials in 2028. Hello Vinny Mauri... welcome to the scene with a US debut record! Thank you to our sponsors for this episode: Ketone-IQ and Lagoon Sleep. They both help Kara and Des keep going (in very different ways) through these crazy weeks. To take advantage of the special deals for those two sponsors, go to these links: Ketone-IQ:…

From Boston to London Des and Kara are live again, this time with very special guests! In this intimate conversation, Cynthia Erivo shares her journey into distance running, how she balances marathon training with a demanding creative career, and what's fueling her preparation as she heads into London 2026. She'll be joined on stage by Brooks pro marathoner Erika Kemp, her marathon coach, offering additional perspective on the training process, mindset, and work behind the scenes as race day approaches. If you aren't familiar with Cynthia's work, she is one of a select group of people to be nominated for an Emmy, Tony, Grammy, and Oscar, so far winning all but the Oscar. She made her West End debut in the stage musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (2011) and her Broadway debut as Celie in the musical revival of The Color Purple (2015–2017). She expanded to films in 2018 with the crime thrillers Widows and Bad Times at the El Royale and then later Harriet (2019), Wicked (2024), and Wicked: For Good (2025).…

Hot off the presses... it's another freshy fresh from Des and Kara. This was recorded just a few hours after Des ran 2:35 from the main field, and Kara finished commentating the world feed. So... the takes and reactions are as freshy fresh as they can be! You get their thoughts on the races of the day with Korir and Lokedi both defending their titles, and Americans setting all sorts of records on this course. Plus, Des shares the details of her race pacing Ryan after bouncing back from MDS. She was the fastest woman in the main field and second masters on chip time, all with a beer cracked in Newton. Unbelievable running from her and what a day in Boston! Listen in and bask in the after glow with us!

"I may not be elite, but I will always be VIP." - Des Linden That quote alone should be enough to suck you into this one. What a night in Boston! Over 1,000 of you packed into the Berklee Performance Center near Boylston for a live taping of Nobody Asked Us with Des and Kara, presented by Brooks Running. Des and Kara delivered with an awesome night, breaking down the fields for the marathon, reminiscing on 2018, and giving you all of the motivation you need if you are racing yourself. This is a must-watch before Marathon Monday!

This episode was recorded on March 30th before Des left for Morocco. She is now in her 4th stage of the Marathon de Sables and absolutely crushing it across the Sahara. You can check the live results via the "LiveTrail" app. She's currently 4th overall female after 3 stages with the big 100K stage up next. The podium is within reach! Go Des! In this episode, Des and Kara break down the start lists for the Boston Marathon and tell you what to expect at the front of the races - who are the favorites, who might win, and what to expect from the top Americans. They also talk Boston tactics and how those have evolved with the advent of super shoes. It's less than 2 weeks to Marathon Monday... let's go! Note: Since the recording, Conner Mantz, Natosha Rogers, Megan Sailor, and Gabi Rooker have all withdrawn from the race.

Cue the latest running controversy because it had been a few weeks. But first (!), Kara and Des update you on their lives including the latest race from Colt, and of course, Des's final preparation for Marathon des Sables. She will soon be running self-supported across the Sahara desert. In fact, she lands in Morocco on the very day this episode posts. Go Des... we are ALL cheering for you! Then if you missed it, Emma Bates posted on IG about getting "dropped" by UCAN (her nutrition sponsor) because of her pregnancy. Naturally, the world came to her defense, and now Emma is sharing more of her story on Ali Feller's podcast. Kara is no stranger to this issue, so she and Des dig into it, raising some good questions on the topic as well as a host of related ones. The short answer is... it's complicated, as many things are for athletes that are contractors and not in-house employees. Overall though, more rights and support for pregnant athletes is needed, and Alysia Montaño and Allyson Felix are leading the way.…

We missed you last week as Kara was on vacation, and the internets weren't cooperating for a recording session. So... we are back this week with a longer episode to catch up on all the latest in life and running news. Grab your favorite cocktail or mocktail and get cozy! We start with extended life updates. Kara breaks down Colt's amazing race at New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston, where he won his heat in the mile. You get all of the proud-parent moments from Kara and some great perspective on supporting your kids in their dreams. She then shares about her amazing spring-break vacation to St. Maarten with friends, where beach time was what the doctor ordered. Cosmos were served nightly as Kara channeled her inner Carrie Bradshaw. Who knew she was a Sex and the City fan?! Des talks about her weekend in Oakland where she used a half marathon as a training race and did some final testing with GU Energy to dial-in nutrition and hydration for MDS. She also discusses the result from her VO2Max test there,…

The running community was up in arms this past week over so many things, so naturally Des and Kara must talk about it! Yes, they get to the positive aftermath of the Atlanta kerfluffle, and then they dig into the NYC marathon charity debate, the LA marathon "photo finish," the course misdirection for the leader there, and of course, the 18-mile medal drama. But first! They give you an extended life update where Kara talks about her tentative optimism about her own running (with support from her Lever), and Des shares the latest on training for the Sahara via sunny Florida. All in all, we just want people to relax a little on the socials. It is ok to vehemently disagree with someone on there without wanting to ruin their life. Plus, we have to give USATF and the Atlanta Track Club for doing their best to resolve the issue at the US Half Champs. And, we have to give the LA Marathon kudos for doing their best to avoid cancelling a race where weather presented a real risk for some. Congrats also to Nathan Martin…

New sponsor alert! New sponsor alert... see the offer link below for ButcherBox! Wow... what a crazy weekend of running news and results! We start with Des's secret race as she ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon and WON. She talks about the early 5 am start, helping Ryan a little with his workout, and having a blast touring the park in this fashion. Kara shares her weekend of flying to NYC and calling USA Indoors. Then, they dig into the fiasco that was the women's race at the US Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta, where the lead vehicle led the top 3 women off-course. What a tough situation, and there are no good solutions. Des and Kara try to make sense of it all and give some potential options. We are left wondering... what will USATF and ATC do to try to rectify the mistake? UPDATE: Atlanta Track Club has decided to pay out prize money to both the official winners and to the 3 women that were led off course. In much better news, Des and Kara dig into the exciting results from the distance action…

The Olympics are over and Des and Kara are going through withdrawal like so many of you. Fortunately, we have some fun running news to keep us occupied and to ease the pain... After the usual life updates, they dig into the new 800m, indoor world record, set by Keely Hodgkinson from Great Britain. She faced some injuries last summer which meant only a bronze medal at the World Champs in Tokyo. Now, she is healthy, already blazing the indoor oval, and her splits indicate that there might be even more in the tank. Des and Kara break it all down. Then, they introduce you to the 6th fastest US marathoner ever, who no one had ever heard of him until this past weekend. Meet Ethan Shuley, a 27-year-old American from Kentucky who lives and trains in Tokyo. He just threw down a 2:07 in Japan with no sponsor after steady gains over the last 18 months. Who is Ethan? What does this mean? How was it possible? And what are the implications for the US Marathon Trials for LA? Finally, they give you their top Olympics…

Your 50K world record holder - Des Linden - is now an ultra trail marathoner, and you get the full breakdown here first! After a little catch-up time, Des and Kara go deep on the results from the Black Canyon 100K and 50K, with Des finishing 13th female in the latter race this past Sunday. They start with an overview of the 100K, which both of them spectated virtually. The races at the front were FAST with the course records going down on both sides, plus Molly Seidel earning a golden ticket to Western States for her 4th place finish. Then, Des shares her experience in the 50K race from start to finish including expectations, the trail community vibes, and a tough day that had her neck/back locking up on her in the final 3rd of the race. She got it done in spite of those challenges and is happy with the finish. Kara can relate b/c her trail debut at the Leadville Marathon was a tough day as well. All in all, this was a great learning experience for Des, and now she looks ahead to the Marathon de Sables.…

The Winter Olympics are ON and Des and Kara have the fever for it. In this episode, they talk about two controversies from the Games so far and give you a preview of the athletes/events they are tracking. Plus, you hear some behind-the-scenes details on their opening ceremony experiences from Beijing and London respectively. Des also gives a quick preview of her race this weekend at Black Canyon before an episode-ending Top 5. Some highlights: injections in crazy places, downhills without an ACL, broken tibias, silly keyboard warriors, ice and curling upsets (oh my!), urine-urine everywhere, when meeting your heroes gets weird, and so much more! Congrats to our Lever contest winner (announced in the episode). If you didn't win, go get yours: Use code NOBODYASKEDUS for 20% off here... Purchase link: https://bit.ly/4bLI2tG.

This is about the Millrose Games, but it's also not about the Millrose Games. We promise you are going to love it. As usual, they start with some life updates including an update on Des's training for MDS (Marathon de Sables). She gives us a little BTS on prepping for the pack she will carry during the race. There is a weight vest involved so she can prepare for the supplies she will bring en route. It's a self-supported race after all. This might mean that Des finally does some strength work, and Kara volunteers to be here personal accountability partner on that. Someone check the Vegas odds! Kara shares some beta on Millrose travel and time in NYC with Colt, and then they get into the fun details of the meet itself. There is talk of the results, but there is also so much more. They break down results from the key races and also give BTS on the production meeting, Kara's make-up, Sonya's return to the booth, that ONE particular commercial, and Colt's Millrose escapades meeting all of the athletes. They talk…

This episode is a fun one because it contains a big announcement about the future of of the pod. Spoiler alert... Brooks is involved (if the episode title didn't give it away). Drum roll please... Brooks will continue their presenting sponsorship of Nobody Asked Us through at least LA 2028! To celebrate, we bring on Garrett Heath who is the head of sports marketing for Brooks to talk about the partnership. Des and Kara are excited to be together for this one at Brooks HQ. Before Garrett joins, they start by giving some love to Minnesota and the challenges that the community is facing there. They hope that compassion can rule the day - more of that please - and that this pod can be a fun/light respite from the news. They give short life updates and talk a little about the indoor results from the weekend. Indoor track is back and things are already fast and spicy! Then, they bring on Garrett. He gives you a background on his running (and skiing) career. He grew up in Minnesota, was NOT recruited by Kara's alma…

The buzz is real when it comes to Des's trail plans for this year. She just announced her first trail race of the season - the Black Canyon 50K - on February 15th in prep for the epic stage race Marathon des Sables (MDS) in April. MDS is a self-supported, multi-stage ultramarathon, primarily held in the Moroccan Sahara, where runners cover ~250 km (155 miles) in six days, carrying all their own food and gear while facing desert conditions, and sleeping in communal tents with other participants. We know Des likes a sufferfest, so it shouldn't be surprising that this race has captured her attention. She gives a little preview of her prep and opens the floor for some help for her team name. Drop your ideas in the YouTube or Spotify comments! Then, Des and Kara talk about the impending choice for the host city of the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials. Phoenix and St. Louis go head-to-head for the opportunity to choose our Olympic marathoners for LA. What factors should be considered and which city might have the…

"The files are in the computer." Guess that movie reference as we open the show! Well, the runners were in the TV this weekend with live action at the Houston Marathon/Half Marathon and the World XC Champs in Florida. Des was on the call in Houston on Sunday, and both Des and Kara watched the coverage of the races in Tallahassee on Saturday. What amazing races they were! They cover all of the amazing chaos from World XC (from water to "mud" to obstacles and snakes), which made for some carnage on the course. Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda won the men's race, and Caroline Agnes Ngetich absolutely stole the show on the women's side. Des and Kara talk about it all and assess the US performances, with both men and women finishing in 4th place in the team results. Congrats to Tallahassee for putting on a great show! Then in Houston, perfect weather brought some very fast times. You had 4 US men under 60 for the first time in a single race, with both the US men's and women's half records very nearly going down. And in…

Des and Kara are back in Houston for 2026 with another podcast, live from the Cullen Theater. We had another great turn-out, and the crowd brought their A game with great questions. The audio is clean for a live pod, and the content on this one is must-listen. Des and Kara start with some preview thoughts on World XC and on Houston Marathon weekend. Then, they take a little trip down podcast memory lane as they enter their 4th year of podcasting together. Finally, the crowd brings their A game with some fire questions. You get breaking news from Des on her 2026 racing calendar, and you might just learn something new about the two of them. There are some fun facts in here that not many know, plus plenty of inspiration to go around. Thanks to everyone who joined us and good luck to everyone racing on Sunday! Note: Unfortunately, this one is audio only as we had a video malfunction. We apologize to our YouTube loyalists!

Most importantly, if you will be in Houston this weekend, get your tickets to the Des/Kara live pod there. 7 pm on Friday (1/9) at the Cullen Center Theater. Tickets here: https://performingartshouston.org/events/nobody-asked-us-with-des-and-kara-2026-01-09-700-pm/. We hope to see you there! Now with this episode, Kara and Des kick-off 2026 with updates on their holidays, their winter training, and some tips on how to beat the winter training doldrums yourself. Cold or bad weather - don't sweat it! Roll with the punches, and remember that it is ok to modify or miss a day on occasion. And... that rule actually applies all the time whether it's winter or not. They also give brief previews of the events of this weekend including the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon and World XC in Florida. To watch World XC, tune into NBC and Peacock on Saturday morning (1/10). The mixed races start at 9:45 ET, and the senior races are at 11:35 am and 12:20 am for women and men respectively. While the two-time defending…

We are excited to wrap up the year with one final episode for 2025. Happy New Year's Eve everyone! As we wrap the year, we wanted to send a massive "thank you" to you for listening and to our presenting sponsor Brooks Running who makes so many things with the pod possible. Thank you Brooks. Go get yourself a pair of their shoes to kick off 2026! Also, Des and Kara will be in Houston for a live pod on Friday, January 9th at 7 pm at the Cullen Theater. Get your tickets here before they sell-out: https://performingartshouston.org/events/nobody-asked-us-with-des-and-kara-2026-01-09-700-pm/. Now, this is a fun episode where Des and Kara give you a little update on NCAA madness before sharing their top 10 running stories of 2025. Reminsce on 2025 with them and then go ring in the New Year!

Breaking news: There will be a live pod in Houston. I repeat... there will be a live pod in Houston! Save the date for Friday, January 9th at 7 pm at the Cullen Theatre. Ticketing link coming very soon. This episode starts with an update on Kara's power outage and some crazy house issues that she's been dealing with over the weekend. She and family are ok, but there's been a lot of extra stress lately. Cue the deep breaths needed. Then, they turn to a discussion on the emerging details from Grand Slam Track's bankruptcy filing, including the large sums of money they owe so many creditors. Michael Johnson promised us transparency, and we are finally getting it because the court is forcing his hand. These new details also raise questions of transparency for some of the "journalism" partners involved. Des and Kara weigh in on whether Citius Mag in particular owed us more transparency about their financial partnership with GST. Big J or little j? Does it even matter when we are just asking for the big T -…

In this episode, Des and Kara welcome a special guest - their editor and show-notes writer - Chris McClung. That's me! For those that don't know, I am also a running coach, and my business, Rogue Running, coaches athletes to help them achieve their running goals (both in-person and virtually). We just published a book called Running the Rogue Way where we teach you the how and why behind our coaching methods. Des and Kara were nice enough to have me on to talk about it. Links below if you want to check it out, but you get some teaser-tips in the conversation. The main message is that the book is for anyone who puts one foot in front of the other and wants to get faster - no certain speed or pace needed to start. But first(!)... we cover recent news and events including Kara and Des's experiences at Brooks XC Nationals, where runner-parents get some parent-coaching tips. We talk about Athing Mu's departure from Coach Kersee and how that certain news outlet reported it. And, we discuss the bankruptcy filing…

Des and Kara were live yesterday from the Brooks XC Nationals course. They preview all of the action which starts at 12:15 ET/9:15 PT today! You can stream on Flotrack here: https://www.flotrack.org/events/14624321-2025-brooks-xc-championships-presented-by-fleet-feet. Thanks to Brooks and Fleet Feet for keeping this race and its history alive! Good luck to everyone race!

This isn't the final episode of 2025 for Des and Kara, but this is the last episode of the year with a long list of running results to discuss. Listen in because there was A LOT of running action this past weekend from XC to the indoor track to the marathon. Des and Kara start with updates on their recent travels - Des to Shanghai and Seoul, Kara to snowy Wisconsin. As highlights, we learn Des's nickname in China and get an update on Colt's race at Brooks XC regionals in proper blizzard conditions. Then, they turn to this past weekend's results, starting with Nike NXN and the US XC Champs in Portland. Who showed up and showed out to earn spots on the World XC team for the US? Plus, holy Hedengren(!) as Jane H ran 14:44 to break the collegiate indoor and outdoor 5K record at BU. That's also the 2nd fastest time ever by an American indoors. She is only 19, but it seems like she is making it look too easy! The sky is the limit for her. Finally, they drill in on the US Marathon Champs at CIM (including Courtney…

"So, it doesn't hurt or bother you when someone's in your mouth?" - Kara "For his Thanksgiving, he used to go to a strip club that would have a potluck." - Des OMG... this is a good one. Where do we even start? Des and Kara start with some catching up, talking about the dentist, holiday decorations, and Thanksgiving plans. We also get a proper update on Colt and his team's amazing performance at NXN Regionals, plus a preview of what's to come at the Brooks XC Championships (live NAU podcast alert!). Des shares her travel plans to China and Korea over the holiday, while prepping a collab with the one and only Courtney Dauwalter at CIM. Then, they dig into all things NCAA XC Championships, including the amazing races and the controversies. From Jane's historic run to the team competitions, beef between coaches, and the course-cutting, there is plenty to talk about... Finally as usual, they end with an uplifting top 5 to cap this Thanksgiving-week episode. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are grateful for…