The Wisconsin Runner Podcast

Low- to moderately-informed takes on a trio of exceptional boys XC races, including the final chapter of the Manny Putz era. How (Wisconsin) Rapid(s) will the nation's #1 prep cross country performer run?

On the eve of a potentially historic state championship meet, Spencer, Matt & Thomas give their takes on individuals and teams to watch across all three divisions, including a LOADED girls D2 field.

Join us dive into all things running, from our own marathon training to the evolving landscape of the upcoming cross country season. In this episode, we discuss competitive balance changes in high school cross country, exciting upcoming events like the WISCO Running Summit 2024 and RANGER XC RELAYS, and the state of college and post-collegiate cross. Check out the links below for some fun upcoming...

As we roll into July, we talk through some strategies for doing more than just making it through summer training, and instead making the most out of the seasonality our state offers. We tackle both what types of workouts work best this time of year (both from a weather and training periodization perspective), as well as the significance of effort-based training. As elite coach and Wisconsin native...

We're back at it! Pumped to get things rolling again! If you've got any feedback for us, or topics you'd like us to cover PLEASE reach out to us at: ourteam@ascentendurancegroup.com

A man of remarkable range, from PR's of 1:51 and 3:50 to a top 5 GrindFest finish in a loaded year, to being the social media mastermind of WRRT, Joe Zack covers a similarly impressive range of topics in our spotlight.  A graduate of Oconomowoc HS ('13) and UW-Oshkosh ('18), Joe talks us through his unique journey to finding the sport, growing his passion for running within a similarly growin...

2020 was a year that will be tough to forget. On top of all that went on in the world, it’s was also a very memorable one for one of the newest members of WRRT, Tai Dinger. The 2019 Stanford grad and Washington DC native made the most of his racing opportunities, representing Team USA at the Pan Am XC Championships in February, and running a string of remarkable PRs (13:49 for 5k, 28:25 in his 10k...

Today we sat down with John Simons to talk about the news that came out a couple weeks back with the press release stating that University of Minnesota planned to discontinue Men's Track & Field, Gymnastics, and Tennis programs ad the end of the 2020-2021 school year. John takes us into the mind of a Minnesota TF alumni and someone who helped create part of the legacy that is University of Min...

The loaded Wisconsin high school class of 2009 saw a proliferation of talent, producing a year in which it took 9:15 to make the medal stand in the 3200m. The man standing on that final podium position, John Simons of Arrowhead, had a weekend that looked to be the peak of an athletic career years in the making, bringing home two individual medals (though none higher than 5th place), as well as tak...

Catch our pre race and post race shows from this weekends first event in The Series, the Fort "Four".   We make some individual, team, and time predictions and then reflect on how close, or FAR off we were.   Catch us on the Wisconsin Runner Racing Team Facebook Page for more immediate updates on events and live feeds, but we will always keep you in the loop here on the podcast. Rac...

Hello once again everyone! We are back at it after our summer vacation, and much like the post office, trying to make sure we're able to deliver the goods to you fine folks, no matter what! The pantheon of Wisconsin's sub-4 milers is filled with names like Hacker and Solinsky, whose ascent into such hallowed performances seemed all but certain at an early age. Some of the more recent additions to...

Our next installment of the "Sub 4 in Sub 4" series features Menomonee Falls North and UW grad, Tim Hacker. Hacker had a prolific career across a number of disciplines, including winning cross country titles at the NCAA and US Championships a dozen years apart, in 1985 (in Milwaukee) and 1997, respectively. His prowess on the track was just as remarkable, and it is that middle-distance skill set t...

Matt Barrett's accomplishments over his nearly two decades of competitive running--a 9:13 altitude 3200m in high school, a pair of top 20 finishes at the NCAA Regional XC meet to help guide his college team to the national meet, and post-collegiate PRs of 65:18 and 2:23--are a lot to celebrate. Beyond his running resume, Matt carries a tremendous appreciation for each day, each run, and each breat...

With the help of a special guest host who gives us some insights into the days before he was a star, we've got another edition of the Sub 4 in Sub 4 series for all you track fans! Today's story features the breakout race that launched Sam Penzenstadler (Oshkosh West '11) onto the national scene. As a prep in Wisconsin, Sam finished 4th at the state cross meet in one of the closest years in recent...

On this anniversary of the world's first sub-4 mile, we're launching our new series: "Sub 4 in Sub 4." Our hope is to share with you as many of the stories of Wisconsinites who have broke the elusive 4 minute mile barrier by having them tell the story, and do so in less than four minutes.  The inspiration comes from a coincidence too surreal to be an actual coincidence. Our first in the serie...

In one of our most wide ranging conversations yet, we are excited to be joined this time around by physical therapist and long-time friend AJ Sobrilsky. AJ has had a remarkably varied range of experiences in the running world, from an unconventional origin story as a former four-sport high school athlete to collegiate distance runner, all the way to being plugged in to the Mecca of the American di...

As we were scheming plans for where we wanted to go with the podcast after the Olympic Marathon Trials, we were looking forward to the spring HS & NCAA track season, road racing scene, and the build up to the Track & Field Trials and Olympics Games. Like so many, we've seen things change a lot in the last two weeks.  Our most recent interview, recorded just at the start of all of thes...

As we gear up for the start of the 2020 Wisconsin high school track & field campaign, we are excited to share a conversation with a man who has made building the sport a priority, not only where he coaches, but across the state. In addition to the tremendous success of his Whitewater Whippets on the conference and state levels, Maas has been an integral part of the growth of the Wisconsin Trac...

Our final Miles of Trials profile is Math teacher, head track coach, and two-time US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier John Dewitt. One of the most interconnected members of the Wisconsin running community, John's energy & passion for all aspects of the sport are a catalyst for so much good. If you've not had the pleasure of meeting Dewey, the enthusiasm, cleverness, and passion for others giv...

With the US Marathon Olympic Trials just over a week away we were lucky enough to sit down with 2xOlympic Trials Qualifier Caitlin Kowalke. Caitlin takes us through her journey as a runner, from her first memories of racing, to running for the Badgers, and her time as a professional.  She also describes the challenges that she has faced throughout her journey and how she has balanced her life...

As we close in on the final weeks before Atlanta, we are joined this week by Gabi Anzalone, who ran the USOT A Standard at the 2017 US Marathon Championships at CIM.  In true Gabi fashion, we got to talk openly about the challenges she has faced in the sport, balancing a remarkable real life schedule, and falling back in love with the process through the running community. In an hour of emoti...

We are back with one of our fan-favorite guests, Muskego coaches CJ Michaud & Rich Raney! At the 2020 Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association, we sat down to talk about the NXN experience: the excitement, the challenges, and the spectacle of it all. They share their perspective on the balance of making it a business trip versus enjoying the complete experience out in Portland. We loved the...

It's often easy to see the line of someone's path to the Olympic Trials as a pretty straight forward journey. Sure, there may be bumps in the road, but overall, the same heading towards a particular destination is evident at every step. This is not such a story.  Beginning her running career as a pole vaulter, running her first NCAA races as a senior in college, and qualifying for the Trials...

Jessa’s unpaved road to Atlanta

Following Tyson's recent induction to the WCCCA Hall of Fame we are back with part 2 of our interview with Tyson where he tells us stories about how it was having his Dad as his coach, helping to create a dynasty, and the success and failure that goes along with it.