Making a name for herself on her own merit has been the formula of Emma Grace Hurley's consistency as an emerging distance talent who has shined in her breakout moments with a second place finish at the 2024 USA Cross Country Championships and making the U.S. national team for the world cross country champs later that year.

And she's practiced the kind of patience and consistency that has put her in the conversation for the 2028 Olympics for one of three coveted women's marathon slots,

But the path hasn't come easy. She found herself tied to a bit of drama and controversy in March when a pace vehicle mistakenly led her off course USA Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta and off of the podium. After the matter was mostly resolved, Hurley continued a strong season on the road and heads into the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen in September ready to prove why the stage she continues to face courageously is the one she belongs on.

Adjustments are inevitable in the sport and so far this year has been a mix of world leads, athletes moving up in disciplines or even using the season of no world championships or Olympics to start families.

But the track has stayed active and the road racing is equally as busy — while Sinclaire Johnson has been taking the mental notes to find and establish her place among podium chasers.

In this episode, Johnson, who is the current North American record-holder in the mile, offers a wide-ranging and honest take on her progression, her sponsor switch to Hoka, navigating injuries and defining what clarity looks like on race day.

Consistency and improvement are probably the two main pillars that Ben Allen routinely leans on when he lines up at the track on race day, but also in his approach to training. The Minnesota native has specialized in distances between the 800m and the mile for New York-based Empire Elite Track Club where he's defined his mark on the professional scene.

After his collegiate career at Concordia University, St. Paul, Allen was unsure where running would take him but connected with Empire after seeing current teammate Eric Holt's animated reaction during an interview at a track meet.

In this episode, Ben talks about embracing the nuances of progression that sometimes comes with detours — and even setbacks — and finding the tools to prevail as he continues to press to break 3:50 in the mile.