Over the last few years, HOKA NAZ Elite athlete Adrian Wildschutt has established himself as one of the best distance runners in the world. The South African record holder across multiple distances finished 10th in the 10,000m at both the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2025 World Championships, and most recently won the United Airlines NYC Half. Now, Adrian is taking on a new challenge: the marathon at the Chicago Marathon. Adrian joins Carrie to talk about why he chose Chicago for his marathon debut, how his training has gone, and what he’s hoping to accomplish on race day. They also look back at his NYC Half victory and discuss why that performance may have been a sign of what’s to come in Chicago. Adrian shares his journey from growing up in Ceres, South Africa, to his successful collegiate career at Coastal Carolina and Florida State University, and his rise to the world stage. He also opens up about the mindset that has helped him find success, his goals beyond Chicago, and his upcoming autobiography set to be released in October. From his roots in South Africa to the biggest stages in the sport, Adrian’s story is one you won’t want to miss.
Photo Courtesy of Kevin Morris (@kevmofoto) www.kevmofoto.com
Aired: October 8, 2026
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