Summary
This off the rails bonus meditation exists because Sloane Spencer is a huge running nerd. She submitted a question to the Off the Rails with Eric and Aisha podcast, part of the Citius Mag network, and much to her surprise, they read it on air.
Here's the link to that episode. Scroll to about 1:28:10.
This bonus episode takes you on a chill trip through the quieter side of track and field, the kind of vibe you don’t always notice when the stadium’s packed and the gun goes off. Picture it: the crowd’s gone, the sun’s dipping low, and the track has that warm glow that makes you want to stay a little longer.
We walk the lanes together, not chasing PRs, just settling into the rhythm, breath syncing with stride, legs moving easy, like the world finally slowed down to match your pace. By the end, it’s just you, the track, and the night sky showing off its stars.
It’s a pause button kind of episode, where movement and stillness meet, and a reminder of why the track feels like home even when the race is over.
Show Notes
Sleep with Rock Stars is the premiere sleep podcast for Gen X music fans.
In this episode of Sleep with Rock Stars
- Imagine walking into a stadium after the crowd has cleared. The lights are low, the track’s still warm, and it feels like the whole place is yours.
- You step into the lane, not to hammer a workout, but just to move. Every stride matches your breath. No stopwatch. No coach yelling splits. Just rhythm.
- The infield grass is swaying, the air slows down with you, and suddenly the track doesn’t feel like pressure, it feels like home.
- By the end, you’re flat on the surface, staring up at a sky full of stars, realizing the day’s done, and you actually get to rest.
But it’s not just about the vibes
- We also dive into Citius Mag, the online hub for track nerds who want more than box scores.
- From podcasts and athlete interviews to sharp takes on pro races and even high school standouts, they’ve built a space where fans can hang out and feel plugged in.
- Founder Chris Chavez and the crew make it feel like you’re part of the team, not just watching from the bleachers.
Why listen
- You’ll get a meditative reset on what track really means beyond the stopwatch.
- You’ll get introduced to a community that keeps the sport fun, smart, and alive.
Takeaways
- Picture an empty stadium where you don’t have to fight for lane one. Just peace, quiet, and that post-practice glow.
- Running here isn’t about splits or PRs. It’s about finding your flow and remembering why you started.
- Citius Mag is basically the group chat for track fans: podcasts, interviews, hot takes, and the stuff you actually want to read.
- Rest is part of training. Yes, lying on the track staring at the stars counts as recovery.
- The oval never goes anywhere. Whether you’re crushing workouts or jogging easy, it’s always waiting.
- Track is more than times and medals, it’s that weird mix of beauty, grit, and joy that keeps us all coming back.
Mentioned in this Episode
- Citius Mag
- Aisha Praut-Lear
- Eric Gregory
- New York Times
- Chris Chavez
- Mac Fleet
- Dana Giordano
- Kaitlin Hutchinson
- David Melley
- Jasmine Todd
- Kyle Merber
- Alexis Ohanian
- Michael Johnson
- Malcolm Gladwell
- Brooks
- Nike
Recommended If You Like
track and field, running podcast, sleep meditation, athlete interviews, track and field news, Citius Mag, sports magazine, Olympic track coverage, peaceful running, mindfulness in sports, relaxation techniques, track and field history, professional running, NCAA track, summer Olympics 2024, sports journalism, race analysis, sports community, running culture, quiet stadium ambiance, athletics
Transcript
00:00:00.560 - 00:06:20.750
In this special episode of Sleep with Rock Stars, we take a moment to dip into track and field. Close your eyes and imagine you're standing at the edge of a quiet stadium.
The crowd is gone, the sun is setting and the track glows softly under the fading light. You step onto the lane, smooth, steady, endless. Each breath feels like the rhythm of a long, easy stride. Inhale and exhale.
The air is cool, calm and effortless. You start to move, not racing, not pushing, just flowing forward like a runner in perfect form. Your body is light, unhurried, carried by momentum.
Around you, the infield grass sways gently, the world slowing down with you. Every step becomes softer, slower, until you're gliding to a peaceful stop.
You lie down on the warm curve of the track, gazing up at a wide, quiet sky. Stars begin to shimmer like distant finish line lights, reassuring you that the day's work is done.
With each breath you sink deeper, as if resting in the center of the field, safe, grounded and calm. The race is over. The track will always be here. Tomorrow. Tonight, you simply rest.
Citius Mag is an American online sports magazine covering track and field. The outlet publishes podcasts, videos, articles, newsletters and social media content, including race coverage and analysis and athlete interviews.
The outlet has been described by the New York Times as a track and field news website that focuses on running news, history and coverage. The name Citius means faster in Latin. It is the first word of the Olympic motto Citius Altius Fortius.
The magazine's stated mission is to make it easier and way more fun to be a track fan. Chris Chavez, a former Sports Illustrated writer, founded Citius in 2016 before working for the outlet full time beginning in 2021.
The staff has included runners Mac Fleet, Dana Giordano, Kaitlin Hutchinson, David Melley and Jasmine Todd. Kyle Merber previously served as the director of partnerships and writer of the Lap Count Newsletter.
Citius covers professional NCAA, NUS high school track and field. Its eponymous podcast features interviews with elite athletes as well as league owners like Alexis Ohanian and Michael Johnson.
Citius also produces events which have featured public figures like Malcolm Gladwell and sponsored content with running brands such as Brooks.
In April 2024, cities released the first look at Nike uniforms for Team USA track and field at the 2024 Summer Olympics, which received national press coverage due to criticisms of a high cut leotard.
This episode of Sleep with Rock Stars was recorded September 17, 2025 from the Wikipedia entry for Citius Mag, which can be found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/citius underscore mag.
Mentioned in this episode:
Sleep with Rock Stars Gen X Sleep Podcast You Deserve a Good Night's Sleep or Whatever
The motto for the generation
