By Chris Chavez
January 29, 2024
We have been debating our top three men’s and women’s U.S. marathoners for months. In just a few days, we will get our answers as we head to Orlando for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. CITIUS MAG is proud to partner with HOKA for all of the weekend’s festivities and celebrate everyone from the athletes looking to qualify for Paris to those everyday heroes and 9-5 workers who somehow found a way to run fast enough to toe the line against the best.
HOKA will have several top contenders competing on Saturday including 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion Aliphine Tuliamuk, 2:09 marathoner Futsum Zienasellassie and Kellyn Taylor (8th at the 2020 Marathon Trials, top American woman at the 2023 NYC Marathon).
We paid a visit to Flagstaff, Arizona earlier in the month to help tell Zienasellassie’s story in the latest Humans of HOKA film.
Stay tuned as we will be dropping our men’s and women’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials previews to CITIUS MAG newsletter subscribers first on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Subscribe here to get it.
We will also share a NAZ Elite workout video on the coming day on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up on all of the video content to come.
Our HQ will be the CITIUS CAFE at 151 E. Washington Street. Orlando, Florida (which you can also find by plugging in I Love Orlando Cafe into your phone or GPS)
Here’s a rundown of some of the events CITIUS MAG and HOKA have planned for the Marathon Trials festivities.
ALL WEEK
Take on the HOKA Lake Eola Challenge on Strava: Start at the Disney Amphitheater at Washington St and run the 0.85-mile loop counterclockwise. Any competitor who breaks the men's or women's standing course record will be awarded a free pair of HOKA running shoes. Just pop by the HOKA FlyLab at 151 E Washington St and show proof that you're the new record holder on the Strava app to claim your prize. HOKA is giving away prizes to anyone who participates.
THURSDAY
PREVIEW SHOW AT THE CITIUS CAFE (151 E. Washington St) at 10 a.m. – The CITIUS MAG team will be recording and streaming our U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials preview show. We'll run down all of the qualifying scenarios, who the top contenders are, highlight some sleeper picks, analyze the weather and give our best analysis on what to expect on race day. We will be streaming this live on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel and will have the show available on the CITIUS MAG Podcast feed afterward.
SHAKE AT THE SHACK at 6:30 p.m. – Join HOKA, Believe In The Run and Track Shack for an evening run with a chance to demo product and learn more about Hoka's latest speed shoe.
FRIDAY
CITIUS MAG GROUP RUN at 4:30 p.m. – Meet us at the CITIUS Cafe as we pass out Hoka's newest shoe to demo and then we will head out for an easy run at 5 p.m. The run will be three to five miles long, and feel free to make it as short or as long as you would like. All paces are welcome. RSVP here.
We'll have some guest appearances from Luis Grijalva (World Championship 5000m finalist) and Krissy Gear (2023 U.S. steeplechase champion). After the run, we'll hang out for one last live show with Luis, Krissy, Believe In The Run and share our FINAL predictions before Saturday morning's race. We will be streaming this live on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel.
Those in attendance will be treated to free Jeni’s ice cream, Olipop and other drinks (must be 21+).
SATURDAY
MARATHON TRIALS WATCHALONG – The CITIUS MAG team of (Chris Chavez; Kyle Merber; Eric Jenkins and Sara Masters) will be watching the race from the CITIUS Cafe. We'll have TVs available for people to watch all of the action along with us. We'll provide our own alternate commentary for those who choose to watch with us from home. Don't miss our insights, analysis and reactions as we inevitably will be shocked at the drama unfolding in the races.
We will be streaming this live on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel.
You can RSVP to all of the events at Events.Hoka.com/HOKAMarathonCelebration
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
