Galen Rupp made the finals at 10,000 meters in his first Olympics in Beijing in 2008, and London is definitely in his sights for next summer. Earlier this year he ran his first half marathon in New York City and went 1:00:30, the third fastest half marathon for an American. In mid September he stepped it up a notch when he ran an amazing 26:48.00, the fastest ever 10,000 for a non-African.

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Earlier this summer the folks at ASICS snuck 2:04:58 marathoner Ryan Hall into a hotel in Orlando to surprise their major retailers. I was honored to emcee a classic Q&A with America’s fastest ever marathoner. As Ryan gets ready for the Chicago Marathon, it’s a great time to check out this interview.

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After just one chat, Shannon Rowbury has quickly become one of our all-time favorite interviews. What a great personality! Besides being really, really talented – 2008 Olympic finalist at 1500 meters for the U.S.,  really bright – she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke and completed her Masters Degree there as well, we love the fact that she grew up Irish dancing, is a really good steeplechaser, actually has done some bench pressing, and came all the way back from a stress fracture in her hip joint only one year before the Olympics.

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On April 18th, Ryan Hall ran 2:04:58 in Boston, the fastest time ever for an American. He talks about how much he loves high fiving the other runners on his way to the start and shares his thoughts on being part of one of the greatest races in marathon history.

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 Let’s start with the fact that no one considered him to be a medal contender at the 1964 Olympic 10,000. Toss in the fact that he broke the world record in the 10,000 meter finals, won the Gold Medal and shocked the world. Then mix in the fact that he is a Native American, that he is still the only American to win a 10,000 meter Olympic Gold Medal and that a movie of his life called Running Brave was made and you’ve got one helluva interview. It was totally appropriate that Billy Mills came on with us right after the NBA All-Star Game ended: Billy Mills is the ultimate All- Star.

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Yin and Yang; long and short; AJ Acosta and the man who ran 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states, Dean Karnazes. Karno, as always, was an awesome interview. The guy can actually run on water!

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The first non-African to run sub 27:00 for 10,000 meters, America’s Chris Solinsky, came on to chat about his career and his American Record setting run . Believe it or not, the 10,000 he ran on May 1^st at Stanford was his first ever 10,000. Not a bad debut! Co-hosting this time around was the 2010 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack. Solinsky and McCormack are  both considered too large to be successful at their chosen  profession. Solinsky is 6’1” and 160 pounds and towers over his competitors at 5,000 and 10,000 while Macca, at 175 pounds, is the heaviest man to ever win in Kona. There was obviously a lot of mutual respect going on during the conversation.

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Always one of our favorite guests, 2:13 marathoner Josh Cox came on to chat about everything from Comrades to what makes Ryan Hall  and Meb Keflezighi so special to Chris Lieto’s chances to run 2:55 in Kona this year and win the Ironman.

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