Off The Rails is officially back for 2026, and Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer waste absolutely no time getting comfortable.

The episode opens with New Year’s resolutions (or the lack thereof), including Eric’s sudden commitment to mindfulness and Aisha’s accidental discovery that Diet Pepsi might be the key to peak hydration.

Also discussed in this episode:

– The rise of hydration culture: Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke, Liquid IV, Spindrift, LaCroix, and the realization that soda might actually be elite

– Aisha’s full hydration personal best and why skiing all day unlocked a new relationship with fluids

– Growing up in the ’90s, mom culture, and why Diet Coke feels genetically encoded

– Aisha accidentally skiing a black diamond, survival turns, and Strava validating the effort

– Why Aisha's Strava is private, deprogramming from pace shame, and learning to enjoy running again

– World Cross Country Championships are days away and the excitement is real

– Beatrice Chebet is sitting out World Cross to prioritize starting a family

– The difference between European and American running fan culture

– Brainstorming a World Cross fantasy draft and snake-draft chaos

– Voicemails include: HBO’s Heated Rivalry/gay hockey discourse; AI chatbots/ChatGPT vs everything else; Stranger Things' final season + more

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

It’s the final episode of Off The Rails for 2025.

In this episode:

– The joy of being home, sleeping in your own bed, and why buying a mattress for your in-laws might be elite holiday behavior

– Casper vs. Costco mattresses and Aisha accidentally starting a comfortable sleep revolution

– Anti-nap club vs. people with the terrifying ability to nap anywhere, anytime

– Snoring horror stories from training camps, Olympic Villages, and the loudest roommates imaginable

– Mouth taping, deviated septums, and why some sleep trends should come with warning labels

– Eric’s ideal sleep setup

– Holiday recaps from Boulder and the Jenkins household, including white Christmases, Scandinavian food traditions, and Boxing Day chaos

– World Cross Country Championships are 13 days away and nobody is talking about it

– Breaking down the newly revealed World Cross course featuring bridges, sand, water pits, mud pits, hay bales, and fake alligators

– Why World Cross is the hardest race in the sport (and possibly turning into a Tough Mudder)

– A full primer on World Cross: distances, formats, mixed relays, and why it’s such a brutal championship

– Previewing the 2026 men’s and women’s fields, including Jacob Kiplimo, Beatrice Chebet, and other global stars

– The full U.S. squads and what a “great day” realistically looks like for American athletes

– A brief history lesson on the last Americans to podium at World Cross

– Why hosting World Cross on U.S. soil actually matters

– Announcement: Eric and Aisha are racing a 4K at World Cross

– Race strategy debates, obstacle-course anxiety, and who’s getting left behind in the mud

– ASICS gear chatter, spike panic, and Achilles-preservation strategies

– Someone admits they would fail a drug test spectacularly

– How contract years actually work in track and field and why early-season races are basically job interviews

– Why kit reveals, sponsorship switches, and brand changes are way messier than fans realize

– The NCAA story involving a collegiate runner fundraising to stay in school — and the baffling eligibility consequences that followed

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

It’s another holiday-adjacent, slightly sleep-deprived episode of Off The Rails as Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer check in from opposite ends of the country. Eric is fresh off Donovan Brazier’s wedding, while Aisha is deep in Midwest holiday chaos. We're always "one coffee away from a menti-b."

In this episode:

– The fallout from the Grand Slam Track bankruptcy

– The rise of the Patriot Games

– The continued expansion of the Enhanced Games

– A baffling ruling involving Emily Venters’ stripped results sparks a deeper discussion about athlete protections at the collegiate level

– Ideal NIL deals in Eugene (Market of Choice supremacy + The spiritual experience of Hirons Drug Store

– Buc-ee’s, Wawa, and whether Aisha could survive a 74,000-square-foot travel center without a plan

– Eric’s unhinged love of arriving two hours early at the airport

– Chili’s, airport walks, and why Eric thrives in terminal chaos

– Announcement: We're coming out of retirement for cross country

– Strava employee fired after a drunk incident at a bar

– Breaking down results from The Marathon Project

– Voicemails: Bedtime snacks for runners who refuse to give them up; The “Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit” Instagram account and the joy (and danger) of calling out fake marathon times + an Off The Rails bedtime story

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

Between birthday chaos, breaking running news, and a few pop culture detours, Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught Leer cover a lot of ground in this week’s episode.

Topics discussed in this week’s episode include:

– Being together in Portland around Nike Cross Nationals and what it’s like when the pod records in-person

– Aisha’s birthday chaos, including a surprise party bus, brake fluid concerns, and unintended emotional damage

– Sagittarius traits, astrology skepticism, and why they're both “26 again”

– The Valencia Marathon: standout performances, crossover athletes, and what makes Valencia the place to run fast

– The latest fallout from Grand Slam Track filing for bankruptcy and why the athletes are paying the biggest price

– What a real apology from Grand Slam leadership should sound like

– Lindsey Vonn’s shocking return to World Cup skiing at age 41 and why Aisha is now fully locked in for the Winter Olympics

– Sinclair Johnson’s American record at the Hawaii Mile and how wild it is to run that fast with a hairpin turn

– BU going absolutely nuclear to open the indoor season (Josh Hoey, Jane Hedengren, and more)

– Marco Langon’s all-time unhinged post-race interview and why March NCAA Championships just got way more interesting

– Making it onto your husband’s lock screen after 13 years together

– Netflix discourse, must-watch shows, and whether great series get lost in the algorithm

– The Diddy documentary, hip-hop history, and opinions on it

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

It's a rare occasion where Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer are together in-person to record the podcast. This time, they're in Portland as the CITIUS MAG team partners with NIKE around Nike Cross Nationals.

Topics discussed in this week's episode include:

– Our experience together in Portland at Nike Cross Country Nationals

– Did we tank in our first time on stage?

– Ideas that we have for our first Off The Rails LIVE show in Boston

– Thoughts on visiting the NIKE campus

– World Athletics Awards

– Mondo made a Grand Slam Track joke that killed

– Egg Yolk Facials + the need for a CITIUS MAG makeup department

– Eric's newest running crush is a very talented runner

– Age gap couples

– Aisha's big ego boost

– Spotify Wrapped and what your musical results say about you

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

With another down week of news, we decided to crown the best track and field moments of 2025, according to Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer.

This week's topics include:

– Thanksgiving reflections, travel mishaps, and the annual debate over Turkey Trots

– Eric’s family 5K pacing controversy

– The deep anthropology of leftovers, Erewhon and the “rich people grocery store” experience

– Homeless vs. Unhoused

– The Boulder Effect: training environment, altitude advantages, and the ever-growing pro scene

– How the Oregon Project was set up when Eric was on the team

– A farewell to our Jamaican marathon record dreams + recalibrating future goals

– What to expect from us at Nike Cross Nationals

– Listener voicemail: What does winning a race actually feel like?

– Celebrating the legendary career of Evan Jager

– The best of 2025 in track & field: from George Beamish to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden

– Dong-gate 2025: Honoring the most iconic wardrobe malfunction in recent memory

– More on the best rivalries, comebacks and the athletes reshaping the sport in 2025

– More voicemails include: How Do We Approach Thanksgiving Plates? What Does Eric Do During The Day? What Do You Do After A Bad Race?

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.

It’s a six-month anniversary episode (!) and also a chaos-filled, cross-country-heavy, holiday-adjacent, pop-culture-spiraling installment of Off The Rails with Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer. NCAA XC wrapped 15 minutes before recording and the takes are HOT.

This week's topics include:

– Celebrating six months of Off The Rails (they said it couldn’t be done!)
– Early Christmas vibes + Denver Botanical Garden date night adventures
– Real vs. fake Christmas trees + DIY confidence from YouTube University
– Thanksgiving plans, turkey trots, and Aisha’s undying love for potatoes
– Hosting 30-person Thanksgivings + abandoning Boulder runners this year
– Full breakdown of the NCAA XC Championships
– The men cutting the course (!), hay-bale chaos, and why Aisha was screaming
– Doris Lemngole vs. Jane Hedengren: a dogfight at the front
– The women’s team race + the rise of powerhouse female coaches
– Lori Henes, Diljeet Taylor, Shalane Flanagan and the wide spectrum of coaching styles
– The men’s race: Habtom Samuel’s decisive move
– The pre-race press-conference drama between Ed Eyestone and Dave Smith
– Recruiting, age-gap advantages, international athletes, and the gray areas no one wants to talk about
– Whether the NCAA needs age limits, rule reforms, and real testing
– NCAA testing vs. USADA vs. WADA (and why NCAA testing is basically vibes)
– World Cross Country implications + the absolutely STACKED U.S. Cross entry lists
– The 4×2K relay, selection rules, and why high schoolers might get pulled into the mix
– NXN weekend logistics, live show planning, and putting Aisha on “house arrest”
– The Epstein Files Transparency Act (!): what it means and what might be revealed in 30 days
– Advent-calendar-style release fantasies featuring Mariska Hargitay
– Wicked press-tour weirdness, pop-culture updates, and Kevin Spacey (allegedly) being “homeless”
– Aisha’s RapChat education + Eric’s former rap name (“Ricky Roxer”) revealed
– Dating apps, hinge marriages, Tinder match confessions, and the horror of being roasted by a group chat
– Dancing With The Stars: finale thoughts + which runners would crush on the show
– Listener voicemails on alienation-of-affection laws, political chaos, fan theories, and whether Aisha works at FanDuel

📞 Call in to (856) 279-0080‬ to leave us a voicemail with any question you may have, whether it’s running-related or not.

📲 Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow the show on Spotify to stay up-to-date with all the latest episodes.

Follow your hosts on Instagram:

🗣️ Follow Eric Jenkins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@_ericjenkins⁠⁠⁠⁠

🗣️ Follow Aisha Praught-Leer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@aishapraughtleer

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

🏃 WAHOO: The KICKR RUN isn’t just another treadmill; it’s a complete rethink of indoor running. With Dynamic Pacing, it automatically adjusts to your stride—no buttons, no breaking form, just pure running freedom. Its Terrain Simulation makes the deck feel like a track or trail, while lateral tilt mimics real-world conditions so you’re always prepared for race day. So whether you’re chasing your first half-marathon finish, a marathon PR, or your next trail adventure, the KICKR RUN is built to help you Run Your Run. Check it all out at ⁠⁠⁠WahooFitness.com⁠⁠⁠ and use code CITIUS at checkout.

----

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Listening to “Off The Rails with Eric and Aisha” while running may result in uncontrollable laughter, side stitches, funny looks from strangers, and the occasional trip hazard due to snort-laughing mid-stride. Proceed with caution—and maybe stretch your abs beforehand. Use caution when wearing earbuds in public places—people will wonder if you’re okay. You are. You’re just having a really good time.