Welcome to the Allie on the Run show.
I'm your host, Allie Feller, and this is where I talk with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond.
From professional athletes and celebrity runners to the everyday amateur and back -of -the -pack runner, we are here to celebrate everyone and anyone who enjoys a life on the run.
Whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been holding you back.
I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace.
Hey, happy first day of USA Track and Field Outdoor National Championships.
Yay! So how do we celebrate?
With Nikki Hiltz, of course.
Nikki will be racing in the first round of the 1500 meters on Thursday at 6 .32 p .m. local time.
Local is Eugene, Oregon, where these athletes will be taking over Hayward Field for the next four days.
In this conversation recorded 26 hours before it's time for Nikki to tow the line.
We talk about how Nikki's feeling heading into USA's.
Nikki began training with a new coach, Julie Benson earlier this year.
And it was fun to get an update on how that's been going and why it's working as well as what it's like having training partners who are also competitors.
All eyes are on track and field for these next four days.
So get excited, Let these athletes know you love them.
And please enjoy this conversation with fan favorite Olympian Nikki Hiltz.
All right. I asked the people, I said, who do you want to hear from?
Who are you excited for?
The resounding, overwhelming, beautiful response was the people want Nikki Hiltz.
So we're giving the people what they want.
Nikki, happy USA's week.
Happy everything. Welcome back to the Allie on the Run show.
I meant to count. This might be number.
We're definitely well into the double digits at this point.
Welcome back. Have to be.
Have to be. Oh, my God.
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
This is, like, such an honor to talk to you.
I'm such a huge fan.
And this is truly, like, my favorite meet of the year.
So it's just, like, all my favorite things coming together.
Yay. So let's get right into it.
how are you feeling as we're talking it is Wednesday evening Wednesday late afternoon for you you are competing tomorrow in the first round of the 1500 so just around 24 hours out how you feeling no I'm feeling good yeah um round one's always a little bit scary it's just like I think a little nerve -wracking um but it also like after round one I always feel so much better because you just like, okay, now I just have to do that again, you know?
Um, so I'm excited.
Yeah. We went to the track this morning, did pre -meet and no, I'm feeling good.
Can you explain to everyone listening when you say we did pre -meet, what is that?
What does that entail?
And what did it look like for you?
Yeah. Um, so pre -meet is kinda, you go to the track and you go, I usually do like a 30 minute run, four miles, whatever comes first. Um, and then I go into the stadium and I do a threshold 800.
So I run an 800 at five 20 pace.
And then I do two, two hundreds just to kind of like shake the legs out, kind of go race pace.
Um, and then I jog a lap to cool down.
And it's just kind of like a very baby mini workout, um, to get your legs, like apparently physiologically like shock, like shocks your system so that you then feel you, you did like just enough work to to feel good the next day.
Okay. So is there like a window of time that you're supposed to go?
Can you go anytime?
That's a good question.
I actually usually like to go like 24 hours before, but the track had like weird hours today.
Um, so we went early, but yeah, there's no, there's no method to the madness at this point.
Like the haze in the barn, like, you know, nothing you do is gonna like, yeah.
So I can be flexible with that.
So we went, we went at like noon, but yeah, yeah, if I had it my way, I would have gone at like six, but it's fine.
That's not going to be a break.
We'll be, we'll be yapping at six your time.
Yeah, exactly. So just as, just as, as beneficial come race day.
Okay. All important parts of, of pre -race day.
What's the energy like at the track during all of this?
It was kind of crowded.
Like there's a, there was a lot of athletes there.
And, um, the really cool part about this year's championships actually is that we're sharing it with the para athletes.
So there was some wheelchairs in lane one, which was kind of chaotic.
There's there's Noah Lyles there, you know, doing sprints on the back stretch. There's Gabby Thomas in her blocks.
Then there's like Emma trying to set up a hurdle to practice her steeple jump.
Like there's just like kind of a lot going on.
So you got to be really aware to not get in anyone's way.
But it's good vibes.
Like I feel like I'm friends with with a lot of other professional athletes and, you know, making these national teams pretty consistently over the past few years.
I've gotten to know like a lot of the sprinters too and throwers and things like that.
So it's good to see everyone, not just like the distance runners, but yeah, just everyone there trying to get ready for the biggest meet of the year.
Is there anyone that you get really excited to see?
Well, maybe this includes your friends, but is there anyone that makes you kind of go like, oh, so -and -so's here?
um I think definitely like Shikari yeah yeah yeah like I get um yeah I get very like fangirly when I see her but she's just iconic and like um she actually came up to me one time in like Budapest it was like right before she yeah like it's like right before the round started and I was like getting breakfast at the buffet whatever and she comes up to me and she goes hi Nikki and I was was like oh my god like you know my name and she okay so the big thing with shikari is that people get her name wrong a lot they call her shikari yeah like come on and the thing i love about her she always corrects
you right like if anyone's anywhere like shikari she goes shikari you know um and she came up to me and she kind of was like she's like i love i love that you're like queer and like you know she's like you tell them what you want to be called like you know And I was like, oh, my God, like, thank you.
Like, kind of like, you correct them when they get it wrong.
And I was like, oh, like, thanks, Sha 'Carri.
Like, good luck today.
Like, I was just, like, so starstruck.
I don't even remember what I said.
But it was such a special moment because I was like, wow, like, okay, yeah, I can step into my power and, like, you know, like, call me this.
It's just like correcting someone that got your name wrong.
So, yeah, I'm a huge Sha 'Carri fan.
Also, that's got to be so, I don't know if validating is the right word, but, like, To know that Sha 'Carri is watching what you're doing and isn't just like, just tuning in for the race, but also knows so much of the narrative here and knows your story and that you are helping people get it right.
That's so cool that she's dialed in.
No, I was like, not Sha 'Carri being a fan.
Was she at the track today?
Did you see her? I didn't, no. I did see Noah though.
I gave him a hug. He's great.
all right so what about the rest of the day so pre -meet what else did your day entail today um yeah so we did that and then we went and got lunch after which was fun um i went with emma my beautiful partner um and a couple of my training partners helen schlachtenhoffen and heather mclean um and then our coach julie joined us for a bit um so we got a little coffee and and lunch and then yeah came back to Airbnb not to brag but one of my flexes is that I can spell Helen's last name every time like I don't think it's hard so and so we were really proud of that it's truly like I love it like we were talking
to we were at the track the other day and there was this like really cute like soccer like group of like I don't know like 12 to 14 year old like like girls playing soccer and their coach was like guys come over like these are olympians you know we like introduced and then the coach was like okay everyone say your name like you know introduce yourself like my name's nikki hiltz there's like amanda mclean alan goes i'm alan schlock and the coach was like huh all the girls were like what like bless you i love it yeah I love it.
Um, okay. And so like you said, you're at an Airbnb.
So you and Emma have chosen not to, I believe a lot of the athletes are at the graduate.
So how does that work?
You have a choice of where you want to stay?
Yeah. Um, so I, the past two years we've gone in Airbnb and it's just really nice.
Like, it just feels like, I think this meets a little long.
It's like a four day meet.
And so it's just like, I don't know.
I just feel more comfortable in a Airbnb than a hotel and you can like cook for yourself.
And we got a rental car.
It just feels more like this meat is already like high stress enough, like kind of to try to find ways to like center yourself or be calm.
Like we've just really liked the Airbnb vibe.
Between you and Emma, is there usually a designated driver and a designated passenger?
Yeah. I, I drive usually.
I feel like that would have been my guess.
yeah um and then i also like book the airbnbs like you know that trend that's like i i planned the vacation i booked all the excursions i put gas in the car yeah i know yes and it's not it's funny because it's not i'm not really the type of like anyone that knows me like knows that that's not really like my kind of like forte like i'm not usually the planner but like em and i are both so So not the planners that like someone had to be one.
I'm out of the two of us.
I think I trend more to, OK, I guess I'll do it.
Like, it's not something that comes naturally like at all.
You both get in on the passenger side, kind of look around where we stand.
I don't know. Well, glad to see that.
Yes, you have housing.
So tomorrow race day for both of you.
What will the day look like tomorrow leading up to the races?
Yeah, that's a great question.
So I usually work backwards from the race.
like I always in my notes app, I always like, like, I feel like in my notes app, you could look at any single race and it has like, I like I write like what I'm doing when I'm very like, I so I guess like, maybe I am a planner.
Now that we're analyzing.
Yeah, so I kind of work backwards in the race.
So my race tomorrow is at 632.
So at 532. I'll warm up.
And then at 432. 2 p .m i'll like want to get to the track and then at like like i have specific i kind of just work backwards from the race but essentially the morning is just you know go get breakfast um and then come back it's there maybe i'll do a shakeout six hours before the race usually uh so which is like a 13 minute run because i'm a swifty i was gonna ask if that's what is that really why it's a 13 minute run um it's a couple reasons yes because like that's taylor's number but also like um 13 is kind of like an unlucky number and I remember in college um my coach like at the time was like
she was always like okay go for like a 10 to 15 minute jog and I was like well which one 10 or 15 like that's like like tell me what to do that's you know like that's very different and so then we picked I remember a team and I were like let's do 13 because it's right in the middle and then we'll get our like bad luck with out of the way like like that day.
So I've done it ever since college.
Like, um, yeah. And so it's just kind of a superstition, but, um, and so yeah, I'll do that like six hours out.
And then, I mean, I like to we just rot in bed until the race.
Like you just rot, you watch TV.
Yeah. Yeah. Um, you go on your phone, you go on Tik TOK, like you just kind of like lay low and not okay.
Time to put on our matching cute walk -up fits and then like go to the track and it's cool Emma and I are both racing um on the same days this time so we'll go to the track together and and yeah so will you be able where will you be because Emma races first correct so where will you be when she's racing will you be able to be trackside yeah I think our credentials um can get us anywhere so yeah I think I'll I'll probably be in the stadium.
Yeah. Cheering. Yeah.
I haven't, we haven't really figured it out yet, but yeah, no, I want it.
This is a big deal for her.
And I want to, it's like, I can get away with sitting in the stands and cheering for her and still then perform in round one.
So, you know, but you do always like, or like, how much is this going to me putting energy into someone else?
Is that going to take away from my race?
Like you kind of balance the, like, is it worth it?
But But yeah, the timing, I think, makes enough sense for me to be there and cheer her on and then kind of immediately when she's done, I go warm up.
What about eating? Are there certain things, like, are you pretty strict about what you eat on race day?
No. I feel like a coach early on taught me, which was really good advice, you could have your preferences.
I like eating oatmeal as my last meal or toast with peanut butter and banana.
like but don't be like married to something because you never know when like the store is not going to have it or like you know you're at you're in a foreign country and they don't have oatmeal or right like um so i'm pretty flexible but i genuinely like one of those two things um and then when you have an evening race you you know you just want to eat like a big breakfast and then kind of each meal gets like i would say like smaller and smaller um i used to be like super nervous before races, so it was really hard for me to eat.
But now my stomach's pretty solid.
I can eat whatever.
But obviously I'm not going to eat a big hefty burrito like the day of a race or something.
That would be a choice.
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Okay, so you have a pretty good streak going in terms of lining up at these big meets and performing quite well.
How does that feel to you going into this, knowing that you are absolutely one to watch, one to beat?
How does that feel?
It feels really good and a lot of pressure at the same time.
So it's like, I think both can be true.
It feels really good because I whenever I have doubt or nerves, which is just inevitable, like I can just I know I'm capable because I've done it.
You know, like I can just lean into that that like, and I did it twice, the past two years, I've won, and they were both such different races.
So I think that gives me confidence in like, whatever happens, like, I can handle a tactical race, I can handle a really fast one.
So like, it gives me a ton of confidence.
And then it also is like, shit, like, I feel like I have pressure on me, like, like, this is scary.
You know, and you try not to, like, go to the outcomes, you try to just be really like process oriented and focused but yeah i think i think there's a little bit more pressure in eyes but at the same time like that's that's where every athlete dreams to be like you want to be at the top right like um so i think it's it's new for me like i it still feels new to be the favorite i've never gone this is my first championship going in with i think i have the fastest seed time um like even at the trials last year i went in i think i had like the fourth fastest time that year like um so this is it's
still pretty new and it feels like an adjustment it feels now being on both sides like someone chasing to try to win versus like defending the win like I will say it it feels a little bit easier to be the person chasing like just like in a race it's it's easier not to lead right it's easier to be the one chasing down the win instead of like being at the front like defending it so it feels a little bit like that but um so yeah it's kind to just like both like and you just that's like the crown that you wear when you're the defending champ um but it's it's a pressure it's a privilege like i i do
have a target on my back but that's fine you know yeah it's almost like you put it there exactly come get me so tomorrow is the the first round for the 1500 you have the fastest well you have the fastest seed time in the whole field, but also in, in your heat.
What was your reaction when you got the heat sheets, when you saw you're in the first heat, when you saw who was in it, when you saw where everyone was, what's your take?
Yeah. I mean, um, I think I, I was like, okay, this is, this is, yeah, I actually really do like being heat one because it, um, the start time is your time.
You don't have to do any math, you know, love that.
Uh, you get it done and then you get to watch the next two heats so there's there's like kind of pros to being heat one um and then yeah it just shook out how it shook out I think there's a you kind of look for like yeah who's in your heat like who are the fastest maybe PRs or season's best but um I also look at like who kind of trains together and there's a couple girls in my heat that both train under like Diljit Taylor so I'm like okay maybe there'll be some like teamwork there but like I don't know you just kind of look and and see it i like just focusing one round at a time so i'm like okay
this is my battle tomorrow i just have to be top three um in this race and just focus on these other 11 athletes and and what are these people's strengths and weaknesses and and how do i find a way to be top three and um yeah can you explain i was looking this up earlier and it'll shock you to learn that i could not easily and quickly find the answer to this um because they make it so easy can you explain there are three heats for the 1500 who gets through to the final yeah so there's three heats so top three in each heat and then it'll be the next three fastest times so a final of the 1500 is always
12 people um so yeah so if three from heat one then three for me two three from heat three that's fine and then the next three come from like the three fastest times so if my heat heat goes really fast six people could come from my heat um usually it's kind of like there's yeah there's it kind of does shake out a lot of the times that all the time qualifiers will come from one heat versus like one from each but i've seen every scenario happen so you just want to make sure you're top three because then you automatically get in um but if you can't be first second or third you definitely try to be
fourth fifth or sixth because if you're you get seventh it's in a heat you're out of luck yep thank you for explaining that that's very helpful this is your first championship race with your new coach Julie Benson so how is that feeling how have things been going can you talk a little bit about the coaching change that you made and what it's been like yeah no it's been awesome um it's super fun like I really have enjoyed getting to know Julie the past uh we started working together in like the very start of of outdoor season so like early March um so it's been a minute like this season is so long
and so um she's great like I feel like Julie and I are kind of cut from the same cloth where we're both just like nerds and fans of the sport um we both just like yeah we can kind of like I just have really enjoyed like the friendship that we've built like um I always know like when a meet's going on like I know she has a flow track subscription a runner space subscription all this like as do I and I know that like we're both watching like heat three at the Portland Rock Fest because she'll text me and be like what's this dude wearing you know and I'm like yeah I don't know like or what's this rabbit
doing right we'll like joke with each other and things like that um no it's been great she's come out to flag so we're working remote um so she lives in Philly and I live in Flagstaff um so there's a little bit of a time change but she's so so communicative and, and it's really, I think challenged me in a good way to be more super communicative with my coach. Um, and yeah, we, we talk on the phone almost every day and like text and, um, she's come out to flag, um, twice now for like a week, which, which was great.
Like I kind of, there's certain key weeks in the training block and she was there for, for both of those.
And, um, yeah, it's been really cool.
Like I, I've just really enjoyed it.
Um, I feel like I was just ready for a change in my career and I yeah it's been good like I'm doing a lot when it comes to training obviously I didn't change a lot because what I was doing was working but here and there like she's implemented little tweaks and changes that I've really enjoyed like I think my body mind and spirit kind of like enjoy a new stimulus and and training and so yeah it's just been overall like really good and and Emma my partner is also coached by her so it's fun to like we went from the dynamic of like me being Emma's coach to like now we're kind of like have the same
coach and we're more like training partners and no it's it's just really good I'm really happy yeah your teammates and you also are going in to this meet with Helen and Heather it's been a minute since you've gone to an event with teammates does it feel different oh yeah it's awesome like uh or training partners am i using the right teammates teammates just sounds so lovable i know the thing is like with this boy like nobody has teammates because like it's an individual sport um like helen heather and i are all in the same event and like we we're actually the opposite of teammates we're competitors
oh no no that too sorry for for your friendship yeah but so I like to use the word training partners because that's just like the reality of the situation but I do think teammates is cute uh but yeah so I it's been great like I love it I I never really set out to do this sport alone like I I've always wanted a team like I went to Oregon because I it was a really good team and then when I transferred I went to Arkansas because I was like no I want to be a part of a team and so when I turned pro just for whatever reason like the brands I was with or like the the groups and coaches like I just kind
of ended up being the only 1500 runner um which was fine but um it's been so so cool to sync up and like actually have like specific 1500 training partners um and in a way it's kind of like opened my eyes to like shoot like these girls are really fast I'm I'm I don't want to say I'm like scared of anyone.
Cause like, I'm, I'm, you know, I'm, I'm confident in myself, but like Heather and Helen are fit and they're like quick.
And like, I, yeah, like we've done every workout together.
So I'm like, in a way it's, it's what's been really awesome.
But also it's like, yeah, well, like I'm not levels ahead of anyone.
We're all, everyone in this field is so even.
Um, and it's going to be like a really good battle.
What do you do if, or when that gets into your head, like in training or, or even leading up to this race?
How do you handle that?
Um, I think like, I think all you can do is your best. And like, I just know that every day I show up and do my best, you know, if it's a big workout, I'm going to show up and like, and rip it.
And like, and then if it's a recovery run, I'm going to do my best at like, how can I run the most recovered eight miles possible?
Like, so if every single day I'm am showing up and doing my very best I know that when race day comes I'm going to show up and do my very best and if my very best is like fourth or fifth like it is what it is but I'm you know like if my best is first second or third like also awesome like so I think I think you just kind of like talk to yourself of like you know just do your best and and it's proven the past years that your best is good enough and if it ever is not it's not your you know you can't base your like self -worth or self -love on that um so yeah good takeaway uh is it safe to assume that you
will be racing in uh two different kits one for the heats one for final and that we've never seen before yeah all right can you give us any hints yeah i have two new kits um though the one i look better in so that's the one i'm gonna wear for the final i have like they're they're both really really cool um the one i'm wearing for the prelim though it's just like it's okay it's like a orange the top of his orange which like in theory is like cool but like for some reason it's just like not my color wheel and i kind of look like nakey oh it's like that orange okay it's like kind of like skin color so i'm
like okay this one's gonna be the prelim but no it's cool i mean emma's reassured me that it looks better than i think it does but um no we'll be honest yeah yeah so um Um, no, I'm excited.
It's, um, yeah, they're both pretty cool.
So yeah, I've had like a new every race this year.
I know it's very fun.
Yeah. We, we, the people look forward to it.
Also orange is the color that people perform best in.
Oh, just so you know, like it's science.
It's actually science.
I learned that at, when I was at the new balance lab, they told me that orange is the color that people perform best in.
There's some science about it.
I clearly zoned out by that part but I I got the color so every single year New Balance's uniforms are orange constantly this is the same year after year um and what about on your feet what shoes are you racing in um I what are what's on my feet um lululemon socks are on my feet uh and yeah should we not talk about shoes we can skip that I've been wearing um the Nike Victory they're um they're what Faith wears so oh running a 406 mile or 348 like I'm gonna wear it with whatever she's wearing um safe to assume that you were tuning in for breaking four I would love your thoughts yeah I think it
was awesome like I think um like the I think about it every day the fact that she she came through the 1200 and 301.
That's insane. Like, like she was like, I think that she could have gone faster if she, um, you know, had gone out in 61 or 62 and not, you know, 60, 60, 60, like, but I also think that that's so bad -ass that she just went for it.
Like it wasn't, let's see how fast Faith can run.
It's let's see if she can break four.
And like, I just think that's so admirable.
And like, I loved, I know there was probably a lot of people that were like, she didn't do it boo like whatever but I I actually think there was more people that were like that was really cool that was really sick to see someone put a goal out there go for it and like she fell short but like so what like and I thought that that was really cool that this consensus walking away felt very like it's okay to try and go for a big goal and it's also okay to fail because like that's part of the journey it's not going to be linear and so uh I'm I'm like like, Faith's biggest fan.
Like, I think that's, like – yeah, it's just so admirable.
And it's cool, like, on any level for anyone to, like, go after a big goal.
And, like, it's also okay to fall short.
Like, it's life. It's life.
Yeah. This episode of the Allie on the Run show is brought to you by Boulderthon. I know.
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Can we get an update on kick the documentary you've been sharing more we've seen, uh, you raised a whole bunch of money so that that could happen.
Can you tell us a little bit about, uh, where things are at, what we should know?
Give us an update. Yeah, this fricking documentary.
Um, no, I love it. It's, I am so grateful for the amount of people that supported, like we, We were like, okay, I think 50K, like, maybe we could do that, you know.
And, yeah, we ended up raising, like, I think a little over 80K, which is incredible.
And so it just, like, reaffirms, like, yeah, people do want to see this.
Yeah, and I'm also just so grateful for anyone who supported to that campaign.
Like, it really does go a long way.
And, like, to kind of explain why we needed to do that was, like, I've learned so much about the film industry or, like, streaming services, like, all that.
I like I know knew nothing at the start.
And like, from what I understand, like we, you could like, pitch it to a streaming service, and then they buy it.
And then they like pay for it, right?
Like, that's one option.
But if you do that, then they kind of whatever the streaming services, like, they can have kind of more creative control of it.
Or like, we want this part, we want this part.
And because it was, I felt like it's such a sensitive story, because it's about a trans person.
and just like the political climate we're in right now and like the way that we really, I let them into my life like so in so many ways that we were, it was actually really important for us and the editing team and director to keep that control.
And so we were, so it's essentially like self -funded.
Like, so there's like certain sponsors that we have and Lulu Lemons donated a big amount, which is awesome.
It's essentially one big Lulu ad.
I'm just wearing Lulu this whole time.
And so like little, we've had little grants and things like that that have really helped but um we so we were like let's just crowdfund because like we need to pay the editor like for the you know edit this part and blah blah so it just it really was so important to us to like um yeah kind of self -fund this movie and like the money that we raise is like so helpful in doing that so um yeah that's also I think why it's taking a little bit longer to like come out than I think I originally thought I just didn't know how this process worked but yeah I think they're basically trying to get it ready
for Sundance which is in in September so it's almost like done we have one more shoot which is actually happening next week um the crew's coming to flag one last time because the movie needs an ending um so yeah so we're we're almost at the home stretch but I also think next week Emma and I are gonna we actually get to watch it next week or like watch like what they have so far so I'm really excited to yeah and then we'll kind of while they're we'll film the end and then also like I think little bits in here of pieces of like they need more audio like you there I think it's pretty much like 90
% done so I'm really excited to see like like what what it looks like yeah is this gonna be the first time that you'll have watched it yeah I haven't seen anything I've seen like some of the cinematic like shots but like I've never haven't seen like a scene or anything like okay so set the scene for watching the scenes are you going to be watching it like on a laptop at home are you going somewhere with a bigger screen like what are you gonna do I guess I feel like we'll come they'll either come to our house or we'll go to the they always get like an airbnb so yeah I feel like I'm imagining um
just watching it on my tv at home with Emma and us like cringing at ourselves like laughing and crying um but yeah no I'm excited so in this phase that the documentary is in what can people do right now to support oh that's a good question so the um seed and spark was the platform we were using to raise money but um if you want to give and and that's a way like you want to contribute like we do i think have a i think the link i'll put the link in my bio but you can still give the seed and spark basically was only a month long it was like a 30 -day thing so that's all wrapped up but i we still still
do have an active link if you if you missed that deadline and want to participate so um yeah there's that and then I think also just follow kick documentary which is the um instagram handle uh that's where all the like um there's little clips like posted there and I think that'll stay pretty active for like um when we do premiere it at like events and there's like um yeah a whole like red carpet moment and all that have you thought about that have you like pictured it no like I I truly like I said that I've, like, learned a lot, but I feel like there's still so much more to learn.
Like, okay, what does a premiere look like?
Where is that? Like, is it – so I think it's going to be in, like, LA or New York.
And, yeah, there is, like, a red carpet, and, like, both my parents are, like, in the film.
So, like, they're invited, and obviously Emma's coming.
And, yeah, so I don't know where or when that is.
Like, I'm still in the dark on a lot of things.
Okay, but, like, start thinking about outfits because that's fun.
So true. What should I wear?
I don't know. I mean, will this be a thing where like will Lulu design something for you or is this like high fashion?
What do you want it to be?
I don't know. I mean, when we went to the ESPYs last year, like Lulu, it was like half Lulu, half like Prada.
Like that was fun. So maybe something like that.
Like yeah, like a mix of both like high fashion and Lulu.
Yeah. I love it. Yay, can't wait to see.
I did want to talk about you shared a really sweet post about your agent Howie Kofleski and who you cannot find anyone in this industry who does not love and just as much respect Howie Kofleski and what he's built is amazing.
And your post was really sweet.
And what I loved about it was that you shared that, you know, this is your, I believe seventh national championship that you're lining up with that Howie has represented you for, but that it wasn't in all of the moments of celebrating so much that meant the most to you it was the harder times and i would love to hear a little bit more about that about what your agent has done for you during the tough times and not the wins yeah yeah totally like i've had seven nationals and the there's four of those like three of those i made the team like i was third in 2019 i was first in 2023 and first in 2024
and those were like the most high highs of my career um and then the rest I didn't make the team and not only did I not make the team I think I was like 10th 9th 12th like not great not a great day you know um and that's just the thing like about nationals like you kind of either do it or you don't and like I remember in all of those um being really sad like it's it sucks like it's it's you know you work all season for this moment you want to be able to represent team usa on the global stage like you you work so hard and it just comes down to one race and if you're off you're off like um and so it's
like devastating and i've i think the hardest heartbreak for me was probably 2021 when it's an olympic year it's kind of elevated um i just remember being so sad after and like how he like came over to me um right after you get through the mix zone and um he was was one of the first people I saw and he's like we love you Nikki like we're here for you like this is you know like what do you need from us like where you know you still want to race this summer like we can get you in any meets also we don't have to talk about racing at all right now you know just like so like we are here for you and this does
not change a single thing with like our agency or working together or like your contract right like a lot of a lot of times after an olympic year like your contract's up so it's really scary like you know you you want want to really perform at the national championship to show your worth and so there's just kind of elevated stress like that and like Howie just does such a good job I think of like carrying that stress for his athletes and like you know being like none of that matters right now like we're just here for you like win or lose we love you and that's just like that's all an athlete needs
because you're so hard on yourself already like you don't need more stress on you and so I think he just does like such a beautiful job at that and he I you know I think having a brother met in meb kafleski like or i honestly i just think that's how i think that's just like how his heart is like i don't i don't know what it is but i think he just like knows like that's like i just want to help and like i don't know like you said like there's an if you know howie like you love howie um everyone in this industry has nothing but nice things to say and i'm just you know when i was coming out of college
i just i talked to two agents um and how he was is just like I want to work with this guy uh and he's the only thing out of I turned pro in 2018 he's the only person in my corner that's been consistent since then which is crazy like I've changed brands I've changed coaches I've I've moved like and but how he's like always been consistent and like it's I yeah I just like it's cool that 23 year old Nikki coming out of college like just made such a right choice in that oh I love that so your first nationals was 2017 you're in your uh your Arkansas kit and you're racing with Jenny Simpson and Shannon Robery
and Kate Grace what do you remember about that I remember it was in Sacramento and it was so hot it was like 110 degrees or something um and I remember I made the final which was really cool because I um yeah I was I was just a junior in college and I remember Katie Rainsberger also made the final and she was a we were the two collegiates in the final um and my goal was okay I want to be the top collegiate so like my goal essentially my goal was to beat Katie beat you that was my only goal um and I do remember being this is actually a really funny story I was in the we were staying at this hotel
in Sacramento and it's like where all the athletes were saying and like there's like that continental breakfast whatever and my dad for some reason was like I want to come have breakfast with you Nick and I was like sure and so we're eating and then like Jenny Simpson like walks down and is like getting like oatmeal or something and I was like like oh my god like that's jenny simpson i like said it to my dad he goes where like not like chill at all and i was like oh my god like dad be cool be cool be cool and he goes let's go say hi like like come on come on like and i was like no like please
like and it was like the morning of the final and he goes no i'm gonna say hi so she like of course she like walks by he goes jenny i was like i was like mortified i'm like oh my gosh and he was like this is my you know it's my kid like Nikki like they just made um the final like like like talking to Jenny Simpson about me I'm like dad shut up like but I was like oh I'm such a big fan and then she's like yeah like I know you are like congrats on making the final like you know and it just like meant so much to me because I was like oh my god like my hero and then and then she like walks away and my
dad's like see that was fine and I was like I'm mortified dad someday I will tell this story on a podcast through gritted teeth.
That's the most dad story ever.
Actually, the most dad part of that is coming to get the free continental breakfast. Like that's a David Feller move right there.
That's always the question when we're traveling.
My dad goes, does the hotel have breakfast?
And I'm like, they have a restaurant.
So they don't have a continental breakfast?
No, they don't. Well, let's look at another hotel then.
You're right. Whatever you want, dad.
So what would you say to that Nikki Nikki in 2017 in their Arkansas kit first time really racing in the big leagues what would Nikki now say to Nikki then oh my gosh I'd say like like stick with it like because like I remember I actually I think I was like sixth in that race like I did pretty well as a college kid um but I think you know I was six like I wanted to be better like you know um and I think there was some disappointment or whatever but like um yeah I think being like stay in the sport and keep putting your nose in it and like Monday you're you're gonna be a lot higher than six you
know um I don't know or like you know I I think like that moment with Jenny actually like meant a lot to me because I felt like she was like you know in 2019 like a couple years later when I did make the world team like I got to be on that team with her and I felt like she really like showed me I think what like a leader in the sport looks like of like she was I think that was her last ended up being her last team and it was my first and and she was just kind of like so gracious through the rounds with me like we were in the same semi -final in Doha and like we both made the final and she was like
I'm so proud of you like you know like like this is so awesome we have three Americans in the final like it just felt very like I was like okay that's the person I want to be like I want to be kind of take the younger generation like under my wing and like Like, yeah, like when I'm at maybe that age in this sport, like I want to be like Jenny and like, I want to be, you know, like gracious and like welcoming and like bring, helping bring people up and never like tear people down.
And so I don't know.
I think, I don't think that answers your question.
I think it just was all very, to use a Nikki word is all very wholesome.
You know, I'm here for that.
That's what I love.
But I mean, it's cool to think that like it won't happen tomorrow because you're at an Airbnb and not at Best Western.
But like, you know that there are athletes, there are so many new, young and collegiate athletes racing the 15 tomorrow who probably idolize you and whose dads would probably stop you at the breakfast and say all those things.
And we'll tell that story someday.
day and so you know I don't want to say it's like a full circle moment because I do think that your circle in so many ways is just getting started and that's really exciting um but you know the reality is when you look at these fields and the who's who in the 1500 in this country right now like you can't talk about the 15 without talking about Nikki Hilts and that's really cool and just to see what you've done and the impact that you've had I mean every time you race there is someone usually many people in the crowd with very specific signs for you and who are there for you and i just i think
i say this every time we record but um i hope you always feel that when you line up at these races before during and especially after um like you have an absolute legion of people in your corner and it's um that's you know that's a really special thing so i hope you know know that I think you know that do you know that yeah yeah okay great no thank you perfect no it means a lot yeah yeah yay uh all right well I want you to go um get your dinner and get a good night's sleep tonight in preparation for tomorrow we will all be watching and cheering for both Emma and you and hopefully we can do a a recap
episode to hear about how everything went and I love to catch up with you before and after and we'll be screaming at my TV all evening tomorrow.
You just fly out to Eugenie and Holly.
The number of times I thought about it, I've thought about it.
I know. I don't think I could make it now.
I think it might be cutting it too close, but does anyone have a private jet?
I'm very interested in friends who have jets and boats.
Yeah. So if you fit that bill.
And I think those people definitely are frequent listeners of of your podcast so i know i was thinking the same thing get your jet get it to new hampshire okay and then get it to eugene and tomorrow and then see you tomorrow uh but truly thank you for doing this to get to chat with you uh 24 hours out is such a treat and such a privilege so thanks for making it happen and we'll catch up again next week yes no thank you so much um chatting with you love you bye Thank you so much for being here for this episode of the Allie on the Run Show with my guest, Nikki Hiltz.
Go give Nikki some love as they get ready to race tonight and hopefully again later this weekend.
I'll be tuning into all of the USA's action.
I'm sure you will as well.
And hopefully I can rally and get some post -USA's conversations recorded with so many of our favorite athletes.
Thank you so much to Boulderthon and to Gooder for supporting this episode.
Thank you to all of you for your support.
And hey, as a reminder, you've got this.
You're doing great.
And thank you for joining me on the run.
