2026 Chicago Marathon Live Preview with Vinny Mauri & Patrick Cullen

A special live edition of LetsRun.com Track Talk from Chicago Marathon weekend features Vinny Mauri, the Planet Fitness treadmill sensation who ran 2:05:54 in his debut at Toledo, and now faces elite competition for the first time. Patrick Cullen the unsponsored recent college grad who publicly called his shot on the LetsRun message boards, predicting a 2:06 marathon while DoorDashing to pay the bills, also is a guest. Rojo & Jon break down the full elite fields, including Jacob Kiplimo's quest for another major title, Charles Hicks as the top American pick, and Galen Rupp's possible late-career resurgence. On the women's side, Sharon Lokedi, Brigid Kosgei, and Hawi Feysa square off in a race where Kosgei's planned 65:30 halfway split raises eyebrows. 🏃 Presented by VKTRY Turn any shoe into a super shoe with VKTRY carbon fiber insoles. 90-day risk-free trial — nothing to lose. https://vktry.com/pages/running-insol... SUPPORTERS CLUB MESSAGE 🎁 🎧 Get a 2nd LetsRun podcast every week + bonus content: Join the Supporters Club — https://www.letsrun.com/subscribe TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome & Vinny Mauri Introduction 02:18 Vinny Mauri's Training & Confidence 08:56 Toledo Marathon Experience 14:31 Chicago Goals & Race Strategy 20:25 Elite Men's Field Breakdown 25:09 Patrick Cullen: Calling His Shot 32:10 Patrick's College Journey & Training 36:22 Shoes, Sponsorship & Treadmill Talk 42:01 American Men: Hicks, Rupp & Young 49:37 Women's Race Preview 54:55 Chicago Marathon Predictions 61:00 Prediction Contest & The New Marathon Era 67:17 Live Watch Along & Closing CONTACT podcast@letsrun.com Call or text: 1-844-LETSRUN (1-844-538-7786) ABOUT THE LETSRUN.COM PODCAST Since 2000, LetsRun.com has been the independent home of elite running. Described by the New York Times as the "influential website that serves as something of a superego for American running," the podcast is the weekly deep dive into the world of track and field and elite distance running. The show is hosted by LetsRun.com co-founders Weldon Johnson, a 2-time Team USA member, and Robert Johnson, a former Cornell coach who helped pace the marathon world record, along with award-winning senior writer Jonathan Gault. Together they move beyond PR headlines to provide insider reporting and unfiltered debate serious fans rely on.