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.

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⚠️ 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 been a quiet-ish week in the track and field world but that won't stop Eric Jenkins and Aisha Praught-Leer from finding enough to yap about.

This week's topics include:

– Aisha recaps the 2025 Team Boss Mile and the massive success

– Boulder has the nepo babies of running

– We'll be at Nike Cross Country Nationals

– Elise Cranny to M11 Track Club

– Marvin Bracy-Williams has been suspended but cooperated with USADA investigators

– A conspiracy theory on whether World Athletics left Melissa Jefferson-Wooden off the finalists list for Athlete of the Year because of the Marvin Bracy Williams news

– A thank you and farewell to Bee Keeper Coffee

– All three rounds of the women's 100m will be run in one day at the 2028 LA Olympics

– The athlete and public reaction to the three rounds in one day

– Aisha explains her role with World Athletics and the attention to detail on this

– Expectations for LA hosting the Olympics

– The Epstein Files and whether Donald Trump gave Bill Clinton a BJ

– A TikTok influencer was ordered to pay $1.75 million for seducing her manager

– We learn about Alienation of Affection Laws

– Voicemails from listeners include: What is the cure to male loneliness; the stakes for Team Eric vs Team Aisha + the modern obsession with marathoning over shorter distances

📞 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

🐝 ☕️ Presented by Beekeeper Coffee – Beekeeper Coffee is bringing a new voice to coffee with its delicious cold brews made from premium Honduran beans and a drop of pure organic honey sourced from TrackTown USA (Eugene, Ore.) - they are available in four latte flavors - Vanilla, Mocha, Caramel and Horchata - as well as a Black cold brew. Follow them @beekeepercoffee. Get 25% off your online orders at BeekeeperCoffee.com or on Amazon using code CITIUS25.

🏃 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.