Performance Running Gym Podcast

Caleb Birklid is a national level triathlete, cyclist and runner turned Coach who joined the PRG team this past summer. Caleb has brought a new perspective to our training and coaching at PRG with his background is coaching triathlon and swimming, and his emphasis on both heavy and functional strength training as a key component to his approach to working with athletes.  On this episode we talk to...

Colleen MacDonald is a Arvada, Colorado based ultrarunner with roots in Minnesota who recently captured the imagination of adventurers everywhere by setting the Fastest Known Time on the legendary Northern Route on the iconic Mt. Kilimanjaro - the highest peak on the African continent. Colleen has made it her mission to empower women and girls to pursue their own outdoor adventures by raising mone...

Dr. Kailee Carlson is a licensed Acupuncturist and a RN with a doctorate in Chinese Medicine with a Sports Emphasis. She has her practice onsite at Performance Running Gym and has helped many in our community in reaching their sports performance goals. Kailee is also an accomplished and versatile ultra endurance athlete, competing in races ranging from half marathon up to 200 miles. Kailee recentl...

We’re kicking off season 4 of the Performance Running Gym podcast with a topic that’s been requested by many in our community - Managing Hydration and Electrolytes for Running Performance. To address such an impactful topic, we brought in the best local resource, Zach Zenner, the Owner of the Twin Cities’ Precision Fuel and Hydration Sweat Testing Center.  Zach is a former NFL running back, nutrit...

Jess Simmons is a Minneapolis-based Health Coach and Personal Trainer who helps clients build strength, resilience, and lasting health habits through a unique blend of fitness programming, nervous system regulation, and behavior change coaching. She specializes in helping high-achievers feel strong, energized, and in control of their health—without burnout, perfectionism, or restriction.  On this...

Every year runners spend countless hours training, recovering, and mentally and physically preparing for one event, the marathon. What many don’t know is just how much the event you select has an impact on the outcome and experience you can expect to have on race day. Every year, many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of marathons occur in the USA alone. Selecting the right one for you can mean the dif...

On this episode we welcome Kari Gibbons, the champion and fourth woman ever to complete the Iditerod Trail Invitational 1000 mile footrace! Kari is one of our Team PRG sponsored athletes and is an absolute legend in Minnesota Ultra Distance athletics. Kari has been in the ultra endurance game since 2014, and is known as the local queen of winter ultras. In this episode, we take a deep dive with Ka...

Coach Landon Tourville from our coaching team right here at Performance Running Gym. Landon has a B.S. in Kinesiology with a minor in Sports Coaching, is a NASM Certified Trainer, and a RunDNA certified Gait Analyst and is the head of our gait analysis program here at PRG. Landon specializes in working with runners to develop custom strength and run training programs to help them run stronger, inj...

John Storkamp is the Owner and Director of Rocksteady Running, the organization that directs some of the biggest trail races in the midwest, including the Superior Fall Trail Races, Afton Trail Races, Zumbro Trail Races, and the Endless Summer series. John himself is an amazing athlete with an incredible athletic resume. John has over 140 finishes at races of the marathon distance or beyond, inclu...

On this episode we discuss some of the most popular diet plans and nutritional approaches for athletes, the common mistakes that hold athletes back from real progress, and Josh's four pillars to address to optimize your nutrition and fueling strategies to improve your running, energy, and overall health. Josh is the most recent addition to our coaching team at PRG and begins working with athletes...

In this episode, we discuss the mental and physical side of training for your best marathon, from finding your why and shoring up your mental game, to the specifics of what makes for a great training block.

Jeff Miller is a lifetime endurance athlete, running coach, and a friend to many in the Midwest trail and ultrarunning community. He holds four grandmasters titles at the rugged and relentless Fall Superior 100, won the Firetower 100k and Duluth’s Last Runner Standing in 2023, and has dozens of top 10 and podium finishes to his name over the last decade. In addition to being an amazing athlete, Je...

Landon has a B.S. in Kinesiology with a minor in Sports Coaching, is a NASM Certified Trainer, and a RunDNA certified Gait Analyst and is the head of our gait analysis program at Performance Running in St. Louis Park, MN. Landon specializes in working with runners to develop custom strength and run training programs to help them run stronger, injury free, and achieve their running and fitness goal...

Dr. Kailee Carlson is a licenced acupuncturist and a RN with a doctorate in Chinese Medicine with a Sports Emphasis. She has her practice onsite at Performance Running Gym and has helped many in our community in reaching their sports performance goals. But in today’s episode, we focus on Kailee Carlson, the athlete.  This past March Kailee completed the grueling Canebrake 200 mile race outside of...

Clayton is a steeplechaser, 5k, and 10k track and cross country runner originally from Washington, Missouri. He is a recent addition to Minnesota’s elite running team, MDE. Clayton is a 4-time all-state athlete and set high school records in the 1600, 3200, and 2000m steeplechase. After high school Clayton attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO before moving up to division 1 at Wichita...

In this episode Coach Bobbi interviews Dick Beardsley, a local legend originally from Minneapolis, MN. Beardsley is a multiple running hall of fame inductee, a 2x winner and former course record holder of the Grandma's Marathon (a record that stood for 33 years!), London Marathon Champion, American Record Holder in the Track 10 mile, former course record holder at the Napa Valley Marathon, and...

Emi has a master’s in Nutrition Dietetics and Sensory Sciences from Kansas State University. She has been running professionally with Minnesota Distance Elite for 6 years and has a goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials this summer. Her passion for nutrition grew out of her family garden, collegiate athletics, and her desire to help others live a more functional and healthy life. On today’s epi...

Breanna Sieracki is a Pro Runner and Coach who lives in Bloomington, MN and trains with our local elite running team, Minnesota Distance Elite. At the time of this recording, Breanna is a few weeks off of competing in the Olympic Trails Marathon in Orlando, FL.  In early 2022, Breanna and her husband, Connor, welcomed their daughter, Addison. Breanna’s journey has set an example of what it is like...

Today we’re bringing on Dr. Michael Rodriguez, the Owner of Endurance Sports Physical Therapy and Performance, based out of PRG, to discuss how to go sub-3 in the marathon distance. While our focus will be on the 3hr time goal, this discussion applies beautifully to anyone who is chasing an aggressive marathon personal best, no matter your pace. We chose Dr. Michael because as an elite level runne...

Just over one month ago Dakotah became the first minnesotan to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics after an incredible 3rd place finish with a time of 2:25:21. Although Dakotah came on the radar for many in the running community after the trials, she is no stranger to the podium. Dakotah has two Grandma’s Marathon wins to her name from 2021 and 2022, as well as placing 2nd in the 2019 Twin Cities...

Chris Lundstrom, or “Coach Lundo,” as he’s known by our local running community, is the Head Coach of MN’s premier elite running team, Minnesota Distance Elite. He is responsible for recruiting, retaining, and developing this team of 10-12 professional distance runners in events ranging from 1500 meters up to the marathon. Since this February’s Olympic Trials, Chris has been thrust into the spotli...

Francesca Wilson is a strength coach and personal trainer at Performance Running Gym with over a decade of experience. She specializes in working with women of all ages to help them perform their best and reach their fitness and performance goals. Francesca has a BA in Exercise Science, is a certified trainer and certified women’s conditioning specialist, a Precision Nutrition Certified Nutrition...

Jacob is a USATF Certified Running Coach, a Run DNA L2 gait analyst, and is also double certified from the NASM as a personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist. Jacob has helped dozens and dozens of athletes in the Performance Running community reach their potential through his training and coaching services, as well as his gait and athlete development services with his own company, Oak E...

Andrew Warg is a 34 year old trail runner, tech industry account exec, and family man from Hastings, MN. Andrew first came on my radar after a podium finish at the 2022 Superior 100. This year, he did it again, besting his previous time by an hour and again coming away with a 3rd place podium finish among one of the most competitive fields in the history of the event. Andrew is known by many as a...

Matt Van Donsel is a trail and ultra runner from Hopkins, Minnesota and a member of Performance Running Gym’s sponsored athlete team, Team PRG. Matt has been racing ultras since 2009, where he got his start in trail running on the rugged trails of Appalachia country in his previous home state of Virginia. Since then, he’s completed over 20 races at or beyond the marathon distance, including five 1...