Back of the Pack Podcast

This week on Second Wind, we’re bringing in Kyle’s buddy Joe Klassen, a pastor with a microphone history and a “let’s do the hard thing” streak that somehow led him straight into CrossFit. Joe shares the moment that sparked his whole transformation, and it’s the kind of story that hits like a kettlebell to the feelings. From there, we get into what it actually looks like to start from zero, rebuil...

No race weekend in Kansas City? Fine. We made our own chaos. This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we’re swapping the usual race recap for a Tokyo Marathon countdown update and a deep dive into the workout that can make or break a cycle: the long run. Kyle takes you to Lexington Lake Park for a “virtual half marathon” powered by laps, a trunk-made aid station, and sheer stubborn consistency....

We sit down with runner and American Heart Association advocate Molly McGuire from Muncie, IN, and her story grabs us from the first mile. We open on maternal heart health as Molly explains preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, the warning signs people miss, and why quick action saves lives. We dig into how grief and survival reshaped her outlook, then pivot to the run: the 50-states quest (45 down), p...

We kick off 2026 with double race vibes and fresh resolve. We headed to Overland Park for the Hangover Half Marathon, then jumped the timeline to Parkville for the Time Travel 10K, trading late-night confetti for early-morning miles. We talk course feel, start-line energy, and why these New Year races are sneaky-good fitness barometers. There’s honest chatter about rebuilding after a rough 2025, t...

Happy New Years everyone! 2026 is going to start off with a very special guest! This week on Second Wind, we hand the mic to Lisa Watkins, host of Behind the Bib, whose mantra is simple: do it scared, then do it again. From a first solo half during lockdown to building a fiercely welcoming run community, Lisa shares how showing up—imperfect and honest—can change your running and your life. She let...

In this episode of The Back of the Pack Podcast, we crack open our 2025 race calendar like a scrapbook with sweat stains and start pulling out the stories. Forty-eight races, forty-seven race days, and enough finish lines to make our bib drawer file for workers’ comp. We dig into the “stat snacks” too: 339.95 miles of racing, an average rhythm of basically a race every week, and a whole lot of hal...

This week we welcome Rex Hunt and Sydney Sorkin for a candid tour of the ultrarunning life. Rex shares how trails became his classroom, why he chased six 100-mile finishes in a single year, and what those long nights taught him about patience, pacing, and grit. Sydney adds her own perspective as a runner and group-run leader, answering our ten signature questions with stories that feel equal parts...

We kick things off with a quick dash through a festive December 5K vibe, then unwrap our year-end Naughty & Nice List for 2025 races. On the Nice side, expect roaring crowd energy, buttery-smooth logistics, aid stations that absolutely delivered, medal-and-swag that made our racks smile, a course that felt like a postcard, and events that genuinely lifted the community. The Naughty list keeps...

This week on Second Wind, we sit down with Sam, a Kansas City runner whose quiet grit and generous spirit light up every start line. You’ve probably seen her out there: compact, powerful, and moving with purpose as she shares the course with her son, mile after mile. Sam walks us through our ten core questions with disarming honesty—how she started, what keeps her coming back, the hard days that t...

After a long layoff, Kyle laced ‘em up for a doubleheader weekend and brought back two fresh race reviews. First up: the second annual Nolan Davidson Champions Run 10K in KCK—solid organization, community heart, and plenty of course character to wake up the legs. Then it’s holiday cheer at the Jingle Bell Run 5K for the Arthritis Foundation, where costumes, cowbells, and a great cause turned miles...

We’re kicking off our December–January interview series with two familiar faces from the KC running scene: Kody & Katie. Newly engaged and endlessly energetic, they joined Kyle in studio for a wide-ranging, laugh-filled hour built around our ten signature questions. We talk origin stories, toughest days and biggest lessons, community, comeback moments, and the weird/wonderful things you only s...

No races? No problem. Today Kyle flips the script and teaches you how to Spectate Like a Pro—the art of being a runner’s MVP on race day. From picking perfect cheer spots and timing your moves, to clutch sign ideas, smarter tracking, and the right words at the right mile, this episode turns sideline chaos into smooth, fun support. You’ll get real-world tips for hand-offs, finish-line aftercare, an...

For our Run the Reset finale, Kyle takes Second Wind on the road to Restore Hyper Wellness in Overland Park—and the vibe is all recovery, all optimism. We tour the studio, meet the team, and dig into how personalized, science-backed therapies can help runners recharge smarter through the winter. Kyle hops in the whole-body cryo chamber (hello, sub-zero!) and kicks back with compression therapy, sh...

What happens when running—the thing that centers you, defines you, grounds you—gets ripped away? In this raw and unfiltered episode, Kyle opens up about the brutal reality of injury: two weeks sidelined, three races missed, and the anger that comes with watching your running crew cross finish lines without you. This isn't a "everything happens for a reason" pep talk. It's about the jealousy of scr...

This week we turn November’s Run the Reset lens toward something every runner needs when the temps drop: a workable winter routine. Kyle lays out simple, time-based templates that keep you consistent without chasing peak-season mileage, plus the “Rule of 3” anchors—one key run, one strength day, one easy session—to define a win even in chaotic weeks. We’ll talk Plan A/B/C thinking for outdoor, tre...

This week isn’t a pity party—it’s a playbook. Kyle shares a candid knee update and then flips the script: how to stay a runner when you can’t log miles. We lay out a bench-time training plan (knee-friendly strength, core, and cardio), the recovery foundations that actually accelerate healing, and simple PT markers to track progress without obsessing over pace. You’ll get a quick checklist of smart...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we continue our Run the Reset series by taking on one of the hardest parts of recovery — the mental side. Kyle dives into the “post-race hangover” that so many runners feel once the medals are hung and the adrenaline fades. We talk about why it’s normal to lose motivation, how to quiet the negative voice in your head, and how to rediscover yo...

We hit the road to Lincoln for the Good Life Halfsy and… let’s just say the weekend had range. From an expo with unexpected vibes to a race morning that felt like winter crashing the party, nothing went quite by the book—in the best “you had to be there” way. Kyle shares the little pre-start misadventure that nearly derailed his calm, the mid-race surprise that changed his game plan, and the finis...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we kick off a brand-new November series called Run the Reset — and it all starts with the body. After months of racing, training, sweating, and chasing goals, it’s time to slow down and rebuild. Kyle dives into why rest isn’t weakness, how active recovery keeps you healthy, and the mindset shift that turns “taking time off” into an essential...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we go global! Kyle takes listeners on a tour of the Abbott World Marathon Majors — the legendary lineup of races that make up every runner’s dream circuit. From the streets of Boston to the bright lights of Tokyo, from the speed of Berlin to the energy of New York, we break down what makes each race iconic, how many runners they draw, and the fascinating...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we wrap up our Run if You Dare October series with a Halloween Special packed with spooky fun and runner-friendly frights! Kyle dives into some of the scariest running myths we’ve all heard — and busts them with a playful Halloween twist. We share eerie, funny, and downright bizarre running stories that could only happen in the dark, on the t...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we get real about an emotion runners aren’t “supposed” to talk about: being mad at ourselves. We’re always told to “stay positive” and “don’t beat yourself up,” but sometimes frustration is the spark that finally pushes us to change. Kyle breaks down the difference between destructive self-talk and motivational anger — the kind that comes from self-respec...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we take the Run if You Dare series into the night—literally—with an episode all about running after dark. From peaceful nighttime miles and cooler fall temperatures to the unique focus and freedom that comes with running under the stars, we explore why so many runners love lacing up after sunset. We also dive into the safety essentials every...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, it’s all about the biggest race weekend in Kansas City — the Garmin Kansas City Marathon! With more than 10,000 runners filling the streets, it was a celebration of endurance, community, and pure running joy. Kyle recaps an incredible couple of days, from setting up at the expo and meeting listeners to race-morning excitement and those powerful final-hour...

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we close out Season 3 in style — and in stride — with our season finale! As we head into Garmin Kansas City Marathon weekend, Kyle reflects on the road that got us here: a season full of growth, great guests, and some unforgettable races. From mental health and community building to miles logged and lessons learned, we revisit the moments tha...