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Kristian sits down with Rachel McCardell, a Puma Project 3 athlete and Olympic Trials qualifier, just days before she lines up at the Berlin Marathon.

Rachel shares what it's meant to be part of Puma Project 3 and the running community around it, and opens up about the incredible influence of her college coach at Northwestern, a conversation that Kristian says gave him chills.

She talks through her Olympic Trials qualifying race in Chicago, a six minute personal best run with her teammate pacing her the entire way, and how the mindset lessons from her college program have stayed with her well beyond running.

The conversation closes with her honest, low pressure approach to goal setting heading into Berlin, and the sub 2:30 time quietly sitting in the back of her mind.

https://www.instagram.com/rachel_mccardell/

In this episode:

- Being part of Puma Project 3 and the community around it

- The Northwestern cross country coach who transformed her mindset

- Lessons on teamwork, gratitude, and making hard work fun

- Qualifying for the Olympic Trials with a six minute PR in Chicago

- Having a teammate pace her through the entire race

- Learning to stop putting pressure on time goals

- Fueling and nutrition lessons from the Puma Project 3 resources

- Her honest, low pressure approach to Berlin

- The sub 2:30 time quietly in the back of her mind

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introducing this Berlin special with Rachel

01:38 Announcing the podcast's sponsorship with Saysky Copenhagen

01:50 Welcome to Rachel, seven days before Berlin

03:28 How it felt to be selected for Puma Project 3

05:09 Fueling: the biggest takeaway from the project

10:05 Deciding to run marathons to stay with her community

10:19 Qualifying for the Olympic Trials in Chicago with a 2:34

11:11 Her teammate Mitch pacing her through the entire race

11:52 The Northwestern coach who gave Kristian chills

17:35 Lessons on teamwork, fun, and gratitude that stuck with her

37:09 Fueling and nutrition lessons from the project

58:03 Race day nutrition strategy explained

1:04:10 Sharing the Chicago moment with her teammate

1:04:51 Her goal for Berlin and why she won't verbalize a time

1:07:03 The sub 2:30 quietly in the back of her mind

1:07:19 Closing thoughts and good luck in Berlin

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Full episodes + the Boston 2025 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@Warwickruns

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