I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein Podcast

This episode is sponsored by Kava Haven, Batch, Goodr, and Tailwind Nutrition.

I’m excited to share this conversation with Elena Hayday, who just ran 2:24:45 at the Boston Marathon to finish as the sixth American woman in a massive breakthrough performance. This episode is a crossover with Road to the Trials, the podcast I co-host with Peter Bromka and Matt Chittim, and it’ll also air over there next Monday. Peter joins me for this conversation as we talk with Elena about the jump from 2:30 to 2:24, what clicked for her in Boston, and why she’s quickly becoming one of the most exciting marathoners to watch in U.S. distance running.

Elena runs for Minnesota Distance Elite and is currently studying neuroscience as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota. We talk about balancing school and training, qualifying for the Olympic Marathon Trials at Grandma’s Marathon, and what she’s learning as she continues leveling up in the marathon. She’s thoughtful, grounded, incredibly tough, and I think you’re going to love getting to know her story.

Topics Discussed

Elena Hayday’s breakthrough 2:24:45 performance at the 2026 Boston Marathon

Chasing faster marathon times after years of near-misses and setbacks

Recovering from stomach issues at the 2025 New York City Marathon

Working with a dietitian and realizing she was severely under-fueling on protein

Balancing elite marathoning with a neuroscience PhD program

Joining Minnesota Distance Elite and training under Chris Lundstrom

Learning to train and race alongside athletes like Dakotah Popehn and Annie Frisbie

Building confidence through higher mileage and more individualized training

Why Elena wants to become more aggressive and competitive in races

Navigating the emotional side of fully committing to running at a professional level

Signing with an agent and stepping more fully into the professional side of the sport

Future goals including representing Team USA and chasing faster marathon performances

Training the gut for marathon fueling and learning to absorb 90g of carbs per hour

Books, Movies, TV & Media Mentioned

Project Hail Mary

Noah Kahan Netflix documentary

Thank you to our sponsors: 

BatchBatch is a Wisconsin-based wellness brand creating small-batch, science-backed CBD and THC products designed to help with stress, sleep, and overall balance. Their formulas are developed in-house using high-quality hemp and third-party testing for consistency and transparency.

Go to hellobatch.com/another and use code “Another” for 30% off your order!

Tailwind NutritionTailwind Nutrition creates all-in-one endurance fuel and hydration products designed to be easy to digest while providing calories, electrolytes, and hydration during long efforts. Their products are built specifically for endurance athletes who want simple, effective fueling without GI issues.

Go to tailwindnutrition.com/another and use the code “Another20” for 20% off your first order.

Kava HavenKava Haven offers a kava-infused, non-alcoholic spirit designed to give you a relaxed, social “buzz” without alcohol, hangovers, or sugar. It’s made with noble kava root and crafted as a functional alternative for winding down or social settings.

Go to KavaHaven.com/illhaveanother and use the code “Illhaveanother15” for 15% off your order.

Goodr

Goodr sunglasses are no-slip, no-bounce, all polarized, and actually affordable, with tons of fun styles and colors for summer. Go to goodr.com/another and use the code ANOTHER for $10 off your first order.

Courtney Frerichs returns to the podcast for a conversation that goes far beyond racing. Courtney opens up about the difficult road back from major ankle and ACL surgeries, missing the 2024 Olympic Trials, and what it’s looked like to rebuild both physically and mentally over the past two years. She shares how stepping into a completely new chapter of her career has changed the way she approaches training, racing, and confidence.

We also go all the way back to Courtney’s early days growing up in Missouri, playing multiple sports, doing gymnastics at a high level, and discovering running later than most elite athletes. She reflects on the impact her college coach had on her life and career, what made their relationship so special, and how those lessons still shape her today. Courtney also talks about moving to Park City, joining Ed Eyestone’s group, racing with freedom again, and the mindset shift that helped her run her fastest 5K in over two years at the USATF 5K Championships.

Topics Discussed:

Returning to racing after ACL and ankle surgeries

Rebuilding confidence after injury

Letting go of comparisons to past versions of herself

Missing the 2024 Olympic Trials

Joining Ed Eyestone’s training group in Park City

Learning to race freely again

Her silver medal race in Tokyo

Growing up playing multiple sports

The impact of Coach Butler on her career

Finding longevity and joy in the sport again

Support our sponsors:

Huug makes high-quality bras and underwear designed to actually fit and support your body through every phase of life. Their pieces are comfortable, functional, and built for movement, making them a go-to for everyday wear and training alike. Use the code “Lindsey” for 15% off at huug.com.

BatchBatch is a Wisconsin-based wellness brand creating small-batch, science-backed CBD and THC products designed to help with stress, sleep, and overall balance. Their formulas are developed in-house using high-quality hemp and third-party testing for consistency and transparency.

Go to hellobatch.com/another and use code “Another” for 30% off your order!

Previnex — I’ve been using their Muscle Health formula and I love that it combines creatine monohydrate with BCAAs and essential amino acids to support strength, recovery, and muscle maintenance. They just released a new citrus flavor that’s really refreshing, and it’s formulated to improve amino acid absorption and protein synthesis. I also take Previnex Gut & Greens every day and swear by it. Codes you can use: LINDSEYSUPERFOODS when Gut & Green is in cart; otherwise ANOTHER or LINDSEYSTRENGTH for Muscle Health at previnex.com.

Andrew Colley joins me on the podcast after winning the USATF 25K Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan, just six weeks after he and his wife Tristin welcomed their daughter Lily June into the world. We talk about balancing newborn life with training, racing at a high level while sleep deprived, and the excitement of finally seeing years of consistent work continue to pay off.

Andrew is a 2:09 marathoner, a three-time Team USA World Cross Country representative, and a longtime member of the ZAP Endurance team under coach Pete Rea. We talk about his recent marathon PR in Seville, why he feels there’s still a much bigger breakthrough coming, and what’s changed in his approach to the marathon over the years.

We also get into life after sponsorship changes, staying patient through the ups and downs of professional running, and what motivates him as both an athlete and now a new dad. Plus, because Tristin and Lily June came over too, this episode includes some laughs, baby snuggles, and a very real in-person conversation that felt more like hanging out than recording a podcast.

Topics Discussed:

Adjusting to life as new parents with baby Lily June

Winning the 2026 USATF 25K Championships

Racing Seville Marathon and feeling capable of a breakthrough

Training consistency after years of injuries and setbacks

Underfueling, body image struggles, and disordered eating in men’s running

Mental health, vulnerability, and pressures within professional running

Training with NC State athletes and life in Raleigh

Sponsorship uncertainty after ZAP Endurance and navigating the business side of pro running

Olympic Trials goals and believing in yourself at the highest level

Sobriety, addictive personality traits, and lessons from past mistakes

The infamous cheesecake story at Club Cross Country Nationals

Favorite recovery routines, TV shows, and fantasy books

Advice for young runners about confidence and self-belief

Books, TV Shows, & Media Mentioned:

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Holiday Inn

Support our sponsors:

Lagoon Sleep — If you’re ready to upgrade your sleep, Lagoon pillows are truly a game changer. Their customizable pillows are designed to help you fall asleep faster, stay cool, and wake up without neck or shoulder pain. You can adjust the fill to make it perfect for you. Save 15% by going to https://lagoonsleep.com/lindsey and using the code LINDSEY at checkout.

ZBiotics is a pre-alcohol probiotic drink, engineered by PhD microbiologists, designed to help your body break down the byproduct of alcohol that can lead to rough mornings after drinking. Check it out at zbiotics.com/another and use code another for 15% off your order.

Geist Half Race Series

Go to geisthalf.com and use the code “Another26” for $10 off any race distances.

Noogs: Noogs Nutrition is my go-to for fun, flavorful fuel with carbs and electrolytes, with flavors like Lemon Zinger, Electric Watermelon, and Blue Raspberry, plus caffeinated options too. Use code “another15” for 15% off your first order.

This episode is brought to you by Kava Haven, Tailwind Nutrition and Batch.

Sara Hall joins the podcast to talk about her new book For the Love of the Grind, which quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Sara has been one of the most consistent and compelling figures in American distance running, with a 2:20 marathon personal best, a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and a career defined by longevity, resilience, and a deep love for the process.

In this conversation, Sara reflects on her career arc, from being the first professional athlete to say yes to this podcast back in 2016 to becoming a veteran of the sport who continues to push her limits. She shares what it has looked like to race at a high level while raising four daughters, staying grounded in her values, and following what feels most authentic to her, even when it doesn’t follow a traditional path.

The conversation also dives into the themes of her book, including faith, identity, motherhood, and the emotional highs and lows of a decades-long career. Sara opens up about how her beliefs have evolved over time, how she’s navigated criticism, and why she chose to tell her story in her own voice.

This episode is a deeper look at what it means to commit to the long game, both in running and in life, and how growth often comes through the hardest seasons.

What we talked about:

Writing For the Love of the Grind and telling her story in her own voice

Faith, deconstruction, and evolving beliefs

Growing up in a strong religious background and rethinking it as an adult

Choosing which moments and races mattered most in her story

The emotional weight of motherhood and pursuing elite goals

Adoption journey and family dynamics

Balancing ambition with presence as a parent

Career longevity and gradual marathon progression

The Olympic Trials and processing near-misses

Super shoes era and competing across changing generations of the sport

Relationships and community throughout her career

Transitioning perspective from outcomes to process

Media mentions: 

For the Love of the Grind

Love Wins

Thank you to our sponsors: 

BatchBatch is a Wisconsin-based wellness brand creating small-batch, science-backed CBD and THC products designed to help with stress, sleep, and overall balance. Their formulas are developed in-house using high-quality hemp and third-party testing for consistency and transparency.

Go to hellobatch.com/another and use code “Another” for 30% off your order!

Kava HavenKava Haven offers a kava-infused, non-alcoholic spirit designed to give you a relaxed, social “buzz” without alcohol, hangovers, or sugar. It’s made with noble kava root and crafted as a functional alternative for winding down or social settings.

Go to KavaHaven.com/illhaveanother and use the code “Illhaveanother15” for 15% off your order.

Tailwind NutritionTailwind Nutrition creates all-in-one endurance fuel and hydration products designed to be easy to digest while providing calories, electrolytes, and hydration during long efforts. Their products are built specifically for endurance athletes who want simple, effective fueling without GI issues.

Go to tailwindnutrition.com/another and use the code “Another20” for 20% off your first order.

I’m coming to you with a bonus episode recorded live in Indianapolis during an incredible weekend at the 500 Festival Indy Mini Marathon and the USATF 5K Championships. I had the opportunity to announce the 5K and witness a high-stakes race where the top two finishers were competing for a spot on the world championship team, which made the energy in the city so special.

The day before the race, I hosted a live podcast at the beautiful Bottleworks Hotel alongside my friend Ally Brettnacher from Finish Lines and Milestones. These Indy weekends have become such a fun tradition for us, bringing the running community together in a meaningful way.

We were joined by an amazing panel: Emma Grace Hurley, Drew Hunter, and Courtney Frerichs. Emma Grace is in the middle of a breakout season, recently breaking an American record and continuing to stack impressive performances. Drew just won the USATF 5K Championship race that weekend and shared insights from his journey as both a professional athlete and a dad. Courtney, an Olympic and world silver medalist, opened up about her return to racing after navigating major injuries and surgeries over the past couple of years.

And in true live-event fashion, we had a surprise moment when Jenny Simpson jumped on the mic for a quick cameo, which made the night even more special.

This event came together with the help of some incredible local partners, and the atmosphere was just so much fun. We had great food, a shoe decorating station, and a packed room of people who love this sport.

Quick note on the audio: since this was recorded live with wireless mics, it may not be as crisp as a typical episode, but the conversation and energy more than make up for it.

If you enjoy this episode, I’d love for you to leave a rating and review, and if you’re ever in Indy for these race weekends in May or November, come join us live.