Podcast Episodes

The Rise of Jackson Spencer: Inside the Mind of America’s Next Great High School Star

In 2025, Herriman High’s Jackson Spencer became the name every prep distance fan had to know.

The Utah standout, who is headed to BYU next year, opened his season with a victory at the Simplot Games 3…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

What It Takes to Build a Dynasty: Mike Smith on Systems, Identity, and Relentless Growth in Elite Running | Exclusive Lessons From Coaching NAU, Galen Rupp, Nico Young, Donavan Brazier + More

Final Surge: https://www.finalsurge.com (RUNNINGEFFECT20) 

He built a dynasty in Flagstaff, and now, Mike Smith is bringing that same fire to Nike’s Swoosh Track Club.

After nearly a decade at the helm…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

What It Really Takes to Be Great: Inside the Grind, the Burnout, and the Relentless Fight to Keep Going With NIKE Pro Coach Alex Ostberg

Sacrifice, grit, burnout, and the fight to be great: this month’s Rundown Recap dives into four stories that every driven person needs to hear.

The fellas kick things off with “Sacrifice Isn’t Sustain…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

From PRs to PR: How Claire Manley Turns Athletes Into Brands

Claire Manley went from chasing PRs on the track to building a storytelling engine for athletes and running brands.

She is the co-founder of Meet @ 7 Studios, a women-led social media and personal bra…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

From Missing the Olympic Team to World Championship Greatness: The Unbelievable Comeback of Jess McClain

Jess McClain has become the new face of American women’s marathoning: a symbol of resilience, balance, and belief in one’s own path.

A former collegiate standout at Stanford, she stepped into the pro …

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

What Elite Performers Get Right: Sports Scientist Kristen Holmes on Sleep, Recovery, and the Psychology of Greatness

Kristen Holmes has worn every hat in the world of performance, including athlete, coach, scientist, and innovator.

Today, she’s setting the standard at WHOOP.

At the University of Iowa, she was a two-t…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

From a 3:48 Mile to the Mud of Nationals — Gary Martin’s Full Plan to Win NCAA XC (Training, Tactics, Mindset)

Few athletes have risen as fast—or raced as fearlessly—as Gary Martin.

Now a senior at the University of Virginia, he has evolved into a consistent national contender with personal bests that rank amo…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Fix Your Plateau: Alex Ostberg on the Real Reasons You’re Not Improving (and How to Turn Bad Days Into Breakthroughs)

The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

Progress in running is rarely smooth, often unpredictable, and sometimes shaped most by the days we’d rather forg…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Dathan Ritzenhein's Championship Blueprint: From Beamish's World Title to Nuguse's World Record and Obiri's Boston—Inside OAC's System for Winning

Dathan Ritzenhein has lived two lives in running: first as one of America's most decorated distance runners, and now as the head coach of the On Athletics Club (OAC). 

As a coach, Ritzenhein has been …

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Joey Pointer (Fleet Feet CEO): How Data + Community Built a 300-Store Running Retail Powerhouse

Fleet Feet CEO Joey Pointer has made a career of combining community-driven retail with cutting-edge data insights.

His journey into running retail wasn't a straight line. Raised on a North Carolina f…

Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago