Benjamin Bayless: A 2:15 Marathon Debut, Race-Day Mistakes, and Chasing 2:10

Benjamin Bayless ran 2:15:35 in his marathon debut at CIM, securing his 2028 Olympic Trials qualifier on his first attempt. A former collegiate runner at Miami University and Ole Miss, Benjamin made the jump to the marathon immediately after graduation and quickly proved he belonged at the elite level.

He joins Peter to break down his unconventional path to the marathon, including a 64-minute half marathon in Copenhagen, the training philosophy that helped him build confidence without excessive mileage, and the fueling mistakes that nearly derailed his CIM debut. They get into critical velocity training, racing tactics, super shoes, and what Benjamin learned from struggling through the final miles of his first marathon.

Benjamin also shares how his obsession with running science turned into a coaching career, his frustration with misinformation in the running world, and why he's interested in exploring ultramarathons. With his Olympic Trials qualifier already secured, he's setting his sights on a sub-63-minute half marathon, a potential 2:10 marathon, and a top-20 finish at the 2028 Trials.

Support our Sponsors:

Nomio: A 60 mL broccoli sprout shot designed to support hard training by helping reduce oxidative stress and blood lactate levels, so athletes can push harder with lower perceived exertion. Take it three hours before a key session, and use code RTTT15 for 15% off at Drink Nomio or The Feed.

Arrive at the starting line feeling race-ready with CEP's medical-grade compression socks, trusted by elite athletes for travel and recovery. Road to the Trials listeners can save 15% off their entire order at CEP Running through November 15 with code LRLNYC-15 at checkout, or shop at ceprunning.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/relayandtrials