Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara

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...

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 g...

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...

"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...

Des and Kara return this week, fresh off of Kara's annual, girls weekend and Des's trip to the Every Woman's Marathon in Scottsdale, AZ. You get proper updates and behind-the-scenes stories on both of those. 

Then, they turn to interesting discussions on the upcoming Brooks XC Championship presented by Fleet Feet. The regional qualifying events are at the end of November with the finale in San Diego in mid December. Spoiler alert: Des and Kara will be there for it with a live podcast incoming.

Finally, before a Top 5, they have an in-depth conversation about N...

Life is a series of transitions from one thing to the next, and this year marks a transition for Des with the move from elite marathoning to her next chapter. This episode is about just that and her documentary titled "The Next Chapter," where she talks about the timing and reasons behind this transition for her. If you haven't checked out the documentary already, then do so here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuPVzH3HN8I. It's a must-watch that will have you wiping your eyes. Kara shares the moment with Des as she relates back to her o...

This is the post-NYC episode you have been waiting for!

First, we catch up on Colt's race on Saturday at the CO state meet where somehow Kara dropped the ball and missed seeing him mid-race. Fortunately, he and his team still ran well, but Des coaches Kara up on how she can be a better specator next year ;). We also get an update on Des's knee and whether or not she will be racing the 50-miler this weekend after running 26.2 in NYC.

Then, it's all about New York where Des and Kara mix together Des's...

"If you could smell ringworm... " - Des Linden

Des and Kara took ketones before this episode so you know it's going to be a good one. They start with life updates including a tick bite and a banged-up knee for Des :( and amazing performances from Colt and his team at XC Regionals to qualify for the state meet.

Then, they get spicy and fired up about a host of topics including the recently-announced Treadmill World Championships, a doping storyline on The Morning Show (spoiler alert!), and details about the Ruth Chepngetich doping case. There is p...

From two of your favorite showgirls... this episode covers Taylor's Life of a Showgirl, but it is so much more than that!

Some highlights... neti pot usage, (violent) dreams, books, Hunting Wives, Alanis Morissette, Japanese maples vs. redwoods, Showgirl, TS marathon prediction, Femke Bol to the 800m, Courtney Dauwalter on the roads, pillow talk, motivational sunglasses, and so much more!

And the real question is: do you hear the words in your head when you read to yourself?!

Now, use code NOBODYASKEDUS for 15% off on your first order at Lagoon Sleep.

...

It's October, and marathon season is fully here, which means you will be hearing plenty from Des and Kara over the coming weeks. We know you aren't mad about that!

First, you get some fun intro banter talking about college tours, hotel rooms, raw denim, and happy sweaters from the sale rack. You might want to check out YouTube to see the happy sweater. Can you guess who was wearing it?!

Then as the main course, they recap the results from the Chicago Marathon including Conner Mantz's American Record, before finishing with their takes on...

Last night, Des and Kara were live at the Chicago Marathon in a live event hosted by Brooks Running and Fleet Feet Chicago!

As with all of the live episodes, this is a fun one with their usual catch-up banter, a very special guest in CJ Albertson, race previews for the marathon on Sunday, and some great questions from the live audience (with all of the audio captured!). 

Just some of the fun... CJ's recovery post Tokyo and his goals for Sunday, race day predictions, quick takes on The Life of a Showgirl, what Des a...

This is an exciting episode with a very special guest, thanks to our presenting sponsor Brooks Running!

Anthony Ramos seems to have done it all from musicals to movies to music to television and more, but he hasn't run a marathon... yet. Thanks to Brooks and the NYRR, plus some sage coaching from the one and only Des Linden, he will achieve that milestone at the NYC Marathon this year.

You might know Anthony as the original actor for the dual role of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Hamilton or for playing the lead...

In this final bit of Tokyo coverage, Des catches up with Kara's alter ego (Carol?) to talk about Tokyo recovery and recap the last night of action at the World Champs. Carol is a dead ringer for Kara with a much raspier voice and a deep, deep love of karaoke (no mic needed). 

They intro by talking about their return trips from Japan, overcoming jet lag, and trying to avoid getting sick along the way. Kara may not have been so successful there. Then, they did into the final night of track action including recaps of the W...

In their last episode to record in Tokyo, Des and Kara give their hot takes on the women's 5000m and men's 800m finishes. Plus, they preview the men's 5000m and women's 800m so you can see if their predictions come true.

Tokyo has been a blast and we thank you all for following our coverage of it. There will be one more recap episode coming this week once Kara and Des catch up on sleep back in the US!

And... please show your love to our sponsors for the Tokyo coverage - Brooks Running, our...

Please show your love to our sponsors for the Tokyo coverage - Brooks Running, our presenting sponsor, and Ketone-IQ. If you aren't wearing Brooks shoes yet, then go buy some now! And, to get your ketone fix, go to https://ketone.com/pages/nobody-asked-us for 30% off on your subscription order.

This episode was recorded live at the Brooks Hyperion House in Tokyo. You can watch the video under the "live" tab on our YouTube channel. Des and Kara recap the chaos on the track in the women's steeple and men's 1500m. They also give Josh Kerr his...

Again, we have to give a special thanks to Brooks Running, our presenting sponsor, and to Ketone-IQ for their support of these Tokyo podcasts. If you aren't wearing Brooks shoes yet, then go get some now! And, to get your ketone fix, go to https://ketone.com/pages/nobody-asked-us for 30% off on your subscription order.

In this "quick" one, Des and Kara break down the Men's Steeple and Women's 1500m finals, as well as give their commentary on the Cole Hocker DQ. Beamish being Beamish. Faith being Faith. A 1500m men's final that is now wide open...

First of all, we have to give a special thanks to Brooks Running, our presenting sponsor, and to Ketone-IQ for their support of these Tokyo podcasts. If you aren't wearing Brooks shoes yet, then what are you waiting for?! And, to get your ketone fix, go to https://ketone.com/pages/nobody-asked-us for 30% off on your subscription order.

Also, it should be noted that all that all 3 of the women on this World Champs Marathon team are sponsored by Brooks Running - Susanna Sullivan (4th), Jess McClain (8th), and Erika Kemp (52nd). They join Des and Kara...

First of all, we have to give a special thanks to Brooks Running, our presenting sponsor, and to Ketone-IQ for their support of these Tokyo podcasts. If you aren't wearing Brooks shoes yet, then what are you waiting for?! And, to get your ketone fix, go to https://ketone.com/pages/nobody-asked-us for 30% off on your subscription order.

Now, check out this episode where Des and Kara recap the exciting finishes in the 10Ks and marathons, as well as the drama from the 1500m (men's and women's) and steeplechase (men's) heats. The US put two women in...

Des and Kara are in Tokyo! This episode was recorded live at the Brooks Hyperion House in Tokyo to preview the men's and women's marathons and 10K races coming up in the next few days. Special thanks to Brooks Running and Ketone-IQ for sponsoring these episodes in Tokyo. We will have at least 6 episodes coming over the next week to cover everything happening at the World Champs.

Go to https://ketone.com/pages/nobody-asked-us for 30% off on your subscription order with Ketone-IQ. 

This episode was streamed live on our YouTube channel. You can find the vi...

The most important thing to know today is that the Tokyo World Champs are incoming this weekend, and Des and Kara will be there covering it all. We will have LIVE podcasts from the Brooks House on our YouTube channel at 8 pm EST on Sept 12 (Friday), Sept 15 (Monday), and Sept 17 (Wednesday). Mark your calendars! Plus, we will be posting other episodes with event recaps, reactions, and hot takes throughout next week. Stay close to your computer and podcast player to catch it all!

For this episode, we prep you for what's to come...

Of course...

"What are we even going to talk about? We just did an episode last week..." - Des and Kara before they blink and produce 70 minutes of glorious podcast content.

As such, this "short" episode turned long in all of the best ways. It starts with a laugh-inducing intro with life updates from Des and Kara and ultra training updates from Des. Then, they get into all of the latest running news - 20K US Champs, Sydney Marathon, UTMB, DL Final, GST, and a suprising and very maddening US doping positive.

From leopard-print pajamas to Red...

Des and Kara are not capable of recording short episodes so this one is long with plenty of straight talk about running drama and the upcoming Chicago + NYC marathon fields. No one wants their episodes short (and curly) after all... 

This one starts with life updates that quickly devolves into hilarious, hotel horror stories. You will be laughing along and thinking about your own nightmare hotel stays. Just make sure you are in a place where you can laugh out loud, because you will, and it might get out of control!

Then, they lean into t...

Gossip? Facts? Real news? This episode has a little bit of all 3 in a back-and-forth dynamic that will leave you laughing and loving it. 

Des and Kara start with an update on their girls trip to Cincinnati to visit their friend @runningcb. There was baseball and tennis and so much walking involved that Kara is still sore today. There were also shenanigans with dog Miles and beer challenges for Des and shared bedrooms. It's safe to say that Des and Kara have entered into a new level of friendship with this trip (and that Crouton might be j...

We know you want US Champs reactions, but this episode starts with the real post-mortem you've been waiting for... the redux on the Hot Ones challenge where Kara and Des go full TMI on you. They tell you all about the spicy aftermath of last week's episode, and Des shares that she has been going back for more.

Then after quick life updates, they get into in-depth recaps of every event 800m+ at the US Champs. There are almost too many storylines to cover from surprises in the distance events to some sprint drama both on and...

We are mixing it up with this episode, and let's just say that things get a little bit spicy!

If you haven't subscribed to our YouTube channel yet, then now is the time b/c you will want to watch this one there for sure.

In this episode, I (editor Chris) join as host to take Des and Kara through the Hot Ones challenge, using the hot sauce line-up from Season 27 of the show. Hot Ones is the show with hot questions and even hotter wings, but since we recorded this in Austin, we swapped i...

Surprise! Des and Kara are bringing you a 3rd episode in as many weeks because they have to talk about the news of this week - US Champs incoming!

This is your comprehensive preview show of every event from 800m and up. They give you all of the favorites AND the athletes to watch who might just sneak onto a podium. Trips to the Tokyo World Champs are on the line, so consider this episode your homework to be ready for the meet which starts THIS Thursday.

You can hear Kara on the call on...

And we aren't talking about Caesar salad...

Kara and Des are joined in-person by a very special guest on this one. She isn't very talkative, but they can't stop interacting with her throughout the show. You might jump over to YouTube for the full experience on this one.

This episode is a good one that is absolutely jam-packed. You get all of the life updates from both. Des gives us the rundown on pacing Western States and her epic, hut-to-hut trip in Switzerland, where she learned the magic of trekking poles. Now, trekking poles might...

You asked for it, and here it is. This is a bonus episode with Des and Kara's freshy fresh takes on the Ruth Chepngetich doping positive and provisional suspension. Ruth shocked the world with a 2:09 WR at the Chicago Marathon last year, and now, it appears that it wasn't real, even as the WR will likely still stand. If you are curious about their reactions, stop everything and press play.

Plus, come back for our regularly scheduled programming on Tuesday, July 22nd when our next episode will land!

In this episode, we take a break from our usual content (due to summer travel) to share a fun interview with Michael Brandt, the founder and CEO of Ketone-IQ. Michael is also a very fast marathoner with goals to one day break the 2:30 barrier.

In this conversation, Michael takes us behind the scenes of Ketone-IQ, including the original story of its founding, the government research that really launched the brand, and the science behind how ketones work as fuel for you and your brain. Plus, good news... it no longer tastes like gasoline (his word, not mine...

Who is ready for Faith Kipyegon's sub-4-mile attempt?!? We are! Des and Kara are big Faith fans, and they are excited to tune in to the attempt on Thursday. But, what do they really think about it and will she get it?!? Listen in to find out what they think, but be ready for SO MUCH MORE!

Des and Kara start with the usual catch-up chat. You get updates on Des's pacing duties at Western States this weekend and her plans for a running trip to the Swiss Alps after that. Kara shares about her 5K...

"It's free. After you pay for it, it's free. Just a one-time fee, that you pay annually." - Portlandia cell phone episode + most track streaming services, probably, but NOT Portland Track Fest (which is truly free to stream!)

In this episode, Portland Track president Jeff Merrill joins the show! Jeff is a former 800m runner himself who spent time at Nike before getting involved with the Portland Track Festival and starting tracklnd.com and Tracklandia. His meet is THIS weekend in Portland, so see the notes below on how to support, attend, or watch (FREE!) from afar. 

Pulling up to this episode is like pulling up to your local library... it's got a little bit of everything in it, except for hopefully those pesky midwestern ticks.

The episode opens with the usual intro banter, where Des characterizes Kara as being in "librarian mode." If Kara is the librarian, then that makes Des the person who is relentlessly trying to make you laugh in there. Thus, we are off to a good start riffing about summers in the midwest, travel, and camps. 

Kara talks about winning an Emmy(!) and about Colt graduating from 8t...

They warmed you up with plenty of pre-race content, Des and Kara and the athletes delivered on exciting races, and now it's time for the cooldown!

Des and Kara recap the Save the 10,000 with all of their reactions and lessons learned. They give you even more build-the-scenes details of the event and discuss whether or not there will be a year 2 for the event. 

But first, there is plenty of intro banter on Des's post-Boston recovery and Kara's Mother's Day with the family. They also give you some teasers on Des's fall racing schedule. Is i...

To get you excited about Saturday night's Save the 10,000 with Des and Kara, this episode is all about Kara's history with the event. She talks about 10,000m legends Lynn Jennings and Billy Mills and how they inspired her to want to be an Olympian. She gives the story of how she WALKED in her very first 10,000 on the track, seemingly swearing off the event for good.

She details coming back to the distance at later time and surprising herself in her 2nd attempt at the distance. Then of course, she shares the play-by-play on her historic medal...

It's race week. Are you ready for this?!? Cue the 2 Unlimited music in your head!

In this episode, Trevor Rhodes joins the show. He is the race director for the meet, and the event wouldn't have happened with him. Des, Kara, and Trevor take you behind the scenes on putting together the Save the 10,000 with Des and Kara. They talk about the budget, key decisions, prize money, the elite fields, and give you some exciting race-week announcements.

They also give special thanks to you for showing up in a big way for the virtual race...

"People say you should go out on top, and that's what I am doing - because getting to race my final professional marathon in Boston is indeed going out on top." - Des Linden

Those are the words she shared via an ad in the Boston Globe placed and paid for by her and released on race morning. Then, she did indeed go out on top... running 2:26 (as she predicted) and finishing as the first masters finisher against a stacked 40+ field. In this episode, Des gives us the breakdown of her final professional marathon in Boston including...

Live from WBUR Cityspace, this is the 2025 version of Des and Kara from Boston. In this episode, you get all of the normal, fun banter plus a section-by-section rundown of the Boston course from their experiences. If you are racing on Monday, then this is a must-listen before you toe the line for plenty of inspiration and some great course intel. For everyone else, there is plenty of humor and fun anecdotes to go around.

Thank you to WBUR for hosting and to Brooks Running for their title sponsorship of the podcast!

Spring time is here. The leaves are returning to the trees, and we are turning over new ones. 

Some new leaves in this episode: new Brooks foams and new track meets, plus massages (!), excursions (!), and a lot of breaking news for Save the 10,000. 

This episode starts with an update on Des's build to Boston and her plans for the upcoming taper. She details one of her final big workouts and talks about how she listens to her body (vs. a rigid plan) during these final weeks. She also bought not one, not two, but THREE ma...

This episode is a vibe all to its own, and you know it's is a good one when hilarious stuff comes up in the most random of ways.

This episode isn't about chafing, but you get plenty of hilarious (and perhaps a little disgusting) banter on it. Elite or not… every runner can relate to that. 

What else do we have in this one? Let's see…lost toenails, disgusting feet, how-to's on post-chafing showers, socks or no socks(?), the 90's style comeback, OnlyFans, beef with the social media trolls, Disney PTSD, pillow preferences, and we haven...