Will Leer’s College Thesis Predicted Josh Kerr’s Mile World Record

Aisha Praught-Leer and Eric Jenkins record on the day after Josh Kerr runs 3:42.66 to break the mile world record. Eric's friends don't get it. Aisha's husband spent the day texting every person he's ever run with.

Discussed in this episode:

– The world record reaction: Eric was pacing around his room, more nervous than Josh. Aisha and Will watched from Crested Butte with just one chair, the fireplace stoop, Tour de France on the TV and London Diamond League on the laptop, Will screaming before 9 AM during HOA quiet hours. They drove home overnight just to record. They listened to Chris and Kyle emergency CITIUS MAG pod in full.

– Will Leer's college thesis: His undergraduate thesis in applied mathematics and philosophy modeled out how and when the mile world record would fall, and what optimal splits would look like. Josh Kerr was not yet on anyone's radar when it was written.

– Why this is unlike anything we've seen: Breaking Two and the Faith Kipyegon world record projects were incredible and gripping. But this is the first time a world record was called months in advance, built toward publicly with workouts posted on YouTube, and then delivered live in an actual Diamond League race on home turf. No gimmicks, no manufactured scenarios, no flat road.

– Race breakdown: Eric breaks down what Kerr did tactically in the first lap — the confidence to let a step open between him and the pacer instead of clinging in panic, the subconscious muscle memory of knowing exactly what 3:42 pace feels like.

– The mental toll: Josh's post-race interview with Hannah England — tearing up when asked about the mental toll now that it's done. Aisha breaks down the village around him: family stopped everything for six weeks, a performance coach meeting with him daily.

– What comes next: Commonwealth Games next week in Glasgow.

– Brandon Miller: 1:42.19 for 800m: Fifth all-time for Americans was a good omen of things to come for the Brooks Beasts.

– Jess Hull's return: Looking like herself in London and won the 3000m.

– Keely Hodgkinson wins the women's 800: Coming back from the hamstring and the fall at Pre. 1:56 over Femke Bol. Femke discussed at length and her effortless-looking stride.

+ more from London Diamond League

Other topics include:

– USATF Outdoor Championships declarations

– The Cyclospora explosive diarrhea outbreak: Taylor Farms lettuce. Taco Bell alerted the public first and pulled lettuce from menus in affected states — and is now being blamed. They were the heroes.

– This week's voicemails include: A high school track coach struggling with social media-influenced athletes who think they need to run 70 miles a week and do double threshold; Annalise from Denver whose three-year-old's preschool did a Tour de France.