Kellyn Taylor, who ranks No. 8 all-time among American female athletes in the marathon at 2:24:28, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss HOKA ONE ONE recently deciding to extend its sponsorship and partnership with Northern Arizona Elite until 2024, in addition to providing all athletes in the group insurance. Taylor also reflects on a successful summer that included her running personal bests of 15:11.50 in the 5,000 meters at the Sound Running Sunset Tour event Aug. 22 in Southern California, and 31:07.60 in the 10,000 meters Sept. 1 at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. The latter mark would elevate Taylor, whose previous best was 31:40.70 in 2016, to No. 2 in the world this year and seventh-fastest in U.S. history had it not been for the pacing of NAZ Elite athlete and coach Ben Bruce. Taylor revisits having a sore hamstring before warmups the day of the race, but managing to ignore the pain in order for she and NAZ Elite teammates Stephanie Bruce and Lauren Paquette to all run under 32 minutes. Having placed eighth in the marathon Feb. 29 in 2:29:55 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Taylor speaks about being able to structure her training toward not only achieving another top-three finish in the 10,000 at next year's Olympic Trials like she did at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships, but also securing the Olympic standard of 31:25 prior to competing next June at the renovated Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. She also examines the desire to improve her closing speed in the latter stages of track races, with the addition of Paquette to the NAZ Elite training group already proving beneficial with both athletes running 5,000 personal bests as they took the top two spots at the Sunset Tour meet. Taylor also shares about the experience of her and husband Kyle providing foster care for several children, most recently for two young boys, in addition to their birth daughter Kylyn. She also expresses pride for NAZ Elite using their platform, both as individual athletes and the entire group under the guidance of head coach Ben Rosario, to be mentors and role models within the running community, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic.