Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara Podcast

"It's free. After you pay for it, it's free. Just a one-time fee, that you pay annually." - Portlandia cell phone episode + most track streaming services, probably, but NOT Portland Track Fest (which is truly free to stream!)

In this episode, Portland Track president Jeff Merrill joins the show! Jeff is a former 800m runner himself who spent time at Nike before getting involved with the Portland Track Festival and starting tracklnd.com and Tracklandia. His meet is THIS weekend in Portland, so see the notes below on how to support, attend, or watch (FREE!) from afar.

Jeff helped Des and Kara with ideation around the Save the 10,000, and here he shares really interesting perspectives on storytelling in track and field and how to make it interesting for the fan/viewer. You'll get all of the behind-the-scenes intel on the 17-year history of the meet, plus the storylines for this year including Donovan Brazier continuing his comeback.

You will love Jeff's thoughtfulness and Des and Kara's thoughtful questions until a top 5 with an epic twist from Kara that will have you rushing to the YouTube version. Check this out and then mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday to watch the PTF!

Pulling up to this episode is like pulling up to your local library... it's got a little bit of everything in it, except for hopefully those pesky midwestern ticks.

The episode opens with the usual intro banter, where Des characterizes Kara as being in "librarian mode." If Kara is the librarian, then that makes Des the person who is relentlessly trying to make you laugh in there. Thus, we are off to a good start riffing about summers in the midwest, travel, and camps. 

Kara talks about winning an Emmy(!) and about Colt graduating from 8th grade and being on the precipice of both driving and high school. Des shares about her prep for the upcoming Western States training camp. Is she ready to enter the shallower end of one of the most historic 100-milers in the world?

Plus, they bond over their mutual hatred of ticks before turning to discuss their impressions of season one for Grand Slam Track (GST). What do they think so far? Where could it be improved? Will it move the needle on interest in our sport?

Then, they react to a RW article on influencers and phones in races. Should they be allowed? Where is the line to be drawn? Is it good for the sport or just annoying?

Finally, they end with a Lagoon Sleep top 5 where Des questions her chinchilla ways as they both share uplifting moments from their weeks. 

If you love the pod, support our partners and the pod in the following ways...

• Get a pair of Brooks running shoes to support our title sponsor.
• Sleep better by using code NOBODYASKEDUS for 15% off on your first purchase at lagoonsleep.com/NOBODYASKEDUS.
• Use code NOBODYASKED for 30% off on your subscription order (PLUS a free gift with your second shipment) at KETONE.com/NOBODYASKED.

They warmed you up with plenty of pre-race content, Des and Kara and the athletes delivered on exciting races, and now it's time for the cooldown!

Des and Kara recap the Save the 10,000 with all of their reactions and lessons learned. They give you even more build-the-scenes details of the event and discuss whether or not there will be a year 2 for the event. 

But first, there is plenty of intro banter on Des's post-Boston recovery and Kara's Mother's Day with the family. They also give you some teasers on Des's fall racing schedule. Is it a 50-miler or 1-mile race in the plans?!? Kara may have different plans for Des than Des has for herself!

And of course, they finish with a very uplifting Top 5 from Lever Movement. 

To support the podcast, please support our sponsors for this episode - Brooks Running and Lever Movement.

Use code NOBODYASKEDUS for 20% off at levermovement.com.

To get you excited about Saturday night's Save the 10,000 with Des and Kara, this episode is all about Kara's history with the event. She talks about 10,000m legends Lynn Jennings and Billy Mills and how they inspired her to want to be an Olympian. She gives the story of how she WALKED in her very first 10,000 on the track, seemingly swearing off the event for good.

She details coming back to the distance at later time and surprising herself in her 2nd attempt at the distance. Then of course, she shares the play-by-play on her historic medal in the 10,000 at Osaka in 2007 that would change her running life forever. 

This episode is here to remind you why the 10,000 is worth saving. We hope you enjoy. 

If you are in Southern California on Saturday night (May 3rd), then go see the event in person at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. Admission is free. Otherwise, you can stream for free on RunnerSpace. The men's race starts at 8 pm PST, and the women's race closes the night at 8:45 pm.

Thank you also to all of the sponsors for the event: BioBrace, Old Spice, Secret, The Sport Specialist, Lever Movement, Pacers Running, and of course Brooks Running. Please show those sponsors some love!

It's race week. Are you ready for this?!? Cue the 2 Unlimited music in your head!

In this episode, Trevor Rhodes joins the show. He is the race director for the meet, and the event wouldn't have happened with him. Des, Kara, and Trevor take you behind the scenes on putting together the Save the 10,000 with Des and Kara. They talk about the budget, key decisions, prize money, the elite fields, and give you some exciting race-week announcements.

They also give special thanks to you for showing up in a big way for the virtual race and with your donations. Plus, they shout-out all of the sponsors for the event: BioBrace, Old Spice, Secret, The Sport Specialist, Lever Movement, Pacers Running, and of course Brooks Running. Please show those sponsors some love!

If you are in Southern California on Saturday night (May 3rd), then go see the event in person at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. Admission is free. Otherwise, you can stream for free on RunnerSpace. The men's race starts at 8 pm PST, and the women's race closes the night at 8:45 pm. We can't wait!