Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara

Ok, ok, we KNOW you wanted this episode, but the title will make more sense when you listen to the opening segment. Listen and then give us your ideas in the YouTube or Spotify comments!

For most of this episode, Des and Kara catch up on the aftermath of Chicago. Kara reflects a little more on the broadcast and on what she and the team can do better next time. She talks about the Nike polo she was wearing on camera, clearing up some confusion there. Then, she shares about her Stride and Story retreat with Mary...

What a day at the Chicago Marathon with fireworks in all of the races!

Des and Kara are here with your Freshy Fresh. They break it all down and get to interview Clayton Young who is now the 2nd fastest American of all-time!

Des gives an update on her race as well. Spoiler alert: she is ok. Ryan had his hamstring tighten up during the race, so she stayed with him to the finish. Plus, Kara gives her perspective on how the broadcast went.

Stop what you are doing and tune in!

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:

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 t...

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 D...

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 h...

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.<...

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...

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...

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...

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?

...

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.<...

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 Y...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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!

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Use promo...

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. T...

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 a...

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 14...

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 th...

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.

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! 

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...

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...

"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...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 S...

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...

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...

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...

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...