Steep Ravine...Deep Thoughts About Running

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank as they sit down with decorated American distance runner Galen Rupp in this episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast.  After last February's Olympic Trials Marathon, Galen had hip surgery followed by a long stretch of rehab in Flagstaff where he could be close to his coach, Mike Smith. Dive deep into Galen's newfound passion for coaching at Northern Arizona, the...

In this episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast, hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank delve into the fascinating world of running with their special guest, Dr. Amol Saxena. They discuss his incredible career, from humble beginnings at the Chili Chase 5K to becoming a trusted figure among elite athletes. Learn about his pioneering work with Achilles surgeries, his involvement with Olympic runners, and t...

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank in Episode 47 of the Steep Ravine Podcast as they discuss the intriguing dynamics of physical and mental gifts in the world of running and sharing anecdotes about athletes who embody these traits in varying combinations. Adding a personal touch, Matt shares his journey of tearing down an old family home and beginning anew with a fresh construction project....

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank on the Steep Ravine Podcast as they dive into a journey of inspiration and history in the world of running with their special guest, Jen Thatcher. In this episode, Jen shares her remarkable experiences as a high school and collegiate runner, shedding light on the evolution of women's athletics through her personal stories. Listeners will travel back to the...

Join Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank for Steep Ravine Episode 45 where they share stories and updates about recent cross-country events, including the Foot Locker Nationals and USATF Club Nationals. Dave shares his experiences from the Club Nationals, detailing the challenging conditions and memorable moments. The episode also delves into the Bowerman Award, celebrating the top track and field athle...

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank on this week's episode of Steep Ravine where they cover the Sharon Colyear-Danville indoor kickoff meet at Boston University, the high school cross country national championships at NXN, the Cal International Marathon and their usual banter.

In episode 43 of Steep Ravine, Dave and Matt anticipate the Old Man (over 60) division of the upcoming Cross Country National Championships, then cover all the highlights of last Saturday's California High School State Meet.

Join Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank on the Deep Raveen Podcast as they go deep into the NCAA Cross Country Championships - D1 in Madison, WI, D2 in Sacramento, CA and D3 in Terre Haute, ID.

Welcome to episode 41 of the Steep Ravine Podcast, where hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank delve into the exciting world of running with a special guest, Connor Foley. Connor, a freshman at Dartmouth, shares his journey from growing up in London and playing rugby to embracing cross-country running in the U.S. college scene.

In Episode 40, Matt and Dave delve into the heart of the cross-country season. High school state meets and junior College Nationals unfold. Anticipation builds for the Nike and Footlocker Cross Nationals. And NCAA regionals are coming up. Seasons are wrapping up for some and just getting interesting for others.

In this riveting episode of the Steep Ravine podcast, hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank welcome a remarkable guest, Matt Strangio. As a senior at the University of Portland, Matt is one of the nation's top cross-country runners, recently finishing second at the West Coast Conference Championships. With deep roots in the sport, Matt shares the influence of his parents, both former All-Americans,...

Join Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank as they welcome back special guest Jim Scattini in this episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast. Matt and Jim join from Lisbon after an unsuccessful quest to find Portuguese marathon icons Rosa Mota and Carlos Lopes. Dave gives an update on his prep for the upcoming Club Cross Country Nationals in Tacoma. And the trio runs down the latest high school cross country re...

Welcome to the latest episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast with Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank. Dave kicks it off with deep insights into how he orchestrates six different groups of high school runners at the same time with a magical stop watch. They then cover the latest distance running results with their typical meandering commentary.  

In this episode, Matt and Dave chat about Dave's recent Portland Marathon experience, the glory days of racing the Hood to Coast and California Relays, and they reach agreement that the proper distance for an annual XC Team Reunion race is 10 miles. 

In this episode, Dave recounts his final preparations for an imminent marathon. Then Dave and Matt chat about the latest XC results at both high school and college level.

In this episode, Matt and Dave catch up on their latest adventures, including Matt's annual gathering with his college teammates, a tradition that has kept them close for nearly 40 years.

Matt and Dave wander around a lot on this one, but eventually get to some good running stuff.

Welcome to the 32nd episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast! Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank as Matt recounts how Cal Poly Cross Country began back in 1948. They also bask in the sublime sound of their new podcast intro music. And eventually they get around to discussing the latest track and cross country news.

In this episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast, Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank dive into the early high school cross-country season. Dave shares his experiences coaching at a high school meet, recounting the excitement of seeing young athletes compete and reconnecting with old friends and colleagues. They also honor the memory of Joe Mallon, a beloved track and field fan who recently passed away.

This week, Dave provides a glimpse into his Portland Marathon prep (only 6 weeks away). Then Matt and Dave roll straight into the Lausanne and Silesia Diamond League meets, where to their amazement, red hot track performances continue unabated after the Olympic closing ceremonies.

Scattini is back with Matt and Dave to close out the Olympic coverage. Jim's passionate remarks about the US Mens 4x100M relay fit perfectly with the French venue! The casual track and field enthusiast will definitely learn some things from this one. 

Matt, Dave and guest host, Jim Scattini, dive into the latest thrilling events of the Olympic track and field finals!!

We've been building for months to get to this point. Grant Fisher DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! Jim Scattini joined the Pod this week as a guest host. He and Dave go deep on the artful subtleties of racing and coaching at the world class level. You don't want to miss this one! 

Welcome to the Steep Ravine Podcast with Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank! In this global episode, Dave tunes in from Chicago while Matt joins from Jakarta, Indonesia. Despite the miles, their discussion about distance running is effortless and as riveting as ever!  

Dave and Matt cover results of the Holloway Pro Classic in Gainesville, the London Diamond League meet, and the Sound Running Sunset Tour Meet. Dave fills us in on his new coaching gig at Mountainside High School.