The People Run Podcast

Michelle Baxter has been running for more than 20 years and she’s still chasing progress. In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Michelle shares what it really takes to stay consistent in running for decades. From early morning runs in −20° weather to raising a family while training for marathons, she talks about discipline, stacking years of consistent training, and the mental battles that sh...

Ultra runner Sierra DeGroff joins The People Run Podcast fresh off a podium finish at Jackpot 50 to talk about one of the wildest challenges in endurance running: racing Western States and Badwater just eight days apart. We break down what that experience was really like  the recovery, the mental battle, and what it takes to compete at that level. Sierra also shares her journey through ultra runni...

At 26 years old, Nathaniel was diagnosed with cancer. While sitting in a hospital room, a friend made him promise something unexpected run a marathon after he recovered. He hated running. Today, he’s known as “Cheezy” a smiling marathoner chasing big dreams and using his story to inspire runners and young cancer survivors that you are not defined by your diagnosis. Chapters 00:00 Cancer at 26 04:0...

Bianca was once an elite athlete whose entire identity was built around performance. When figure skating ended and running stopped being fun, she walked away from racing for nearly five years. In this conversation, we talk about losing the joy of running, rebuilding a healthier relationship with the sport, separating performance from identity, and what it really takes to come back stronger mentall...

Felicia Pasadyn, an accomplished runner with a background in competitive swimming. Felicia shares her journey from swimming to running, discussing the valuable lessons learned from her swimming career, her inspirations, and her commitment to endurance sports. She reflects on the mental and physical aspects of training, the importance of goal-setting, and her eventual return to running after a succ...

Felicia Pasadyn doesn’t train like most elite runners and that’s exactly why her story is interesting. In this episode we talk about her Olympic Trials qualifying performance at the New York City Marathon, recovering from injury while preparing for Boston, and the unconventional approach she uses: lower run mileage, heavy cross training, strength work, and long term thinking instead of short term...

This rebuild didn’t happen in one race  it happened over years. In this episode, Max Sauers breaks down how he rebuilt his body to run 2:32 after injuries, setbacks, and hard lessons from multiple marathons along the way, including Chicago and most recently Buckeye. This isn’t about chasing a perfect race. It’s about identifying weaknesses, committing to strength, increasing mileage the right way,...

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, I sit down with Maurice Lowman, a runner known for his consistency, positivity, and deep commitment to the running community. Maurice has completed 44 marathons, including seven Boston Marathons, and often races in a suit to give back and raise awareness for causes he believes in. We talk about marathon longevity, training through setbacks, strength work,...

Patryk Odedina didn’t grow up loving running he came from basketball, where running usually meant punishment. But after starting in 2019, everything changed. In this episode, we talk about why the New York City Marathon might be the perfect first marathon, even though it’s one of the hardest. Patryk shares what keeps bringing him back year after year, how crowd energy can completely change a race,...

Don joins The People Run Podcast and shares his journey through running, discipline, community, the training principles that helped him break plateaus and build purpose. From 5K breakthroughs to creating Heart on Fire, this episode dives into mindset, consistency, strength work, and the power of showing up. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the People Run Podcast 04:05 Don's Running Journey and...

In this episode of the People Run Podcast, Jeff Humphrey shares his incredible journey of losing 200 pounds not once, but twice. He discusses the mental and physical challenges he faced during his transformation, the importance of nutrition and training in ultra running, and the role of community support in achieving personal goals. Jeff emphasizes the significance of patience, consistency, and fo...

In this episode of the People Run Podcast , Fitz Mayi talks with Emily , a UK-based runner and mom, about how motherhood reshaped her running. Emily shares how pregnancy and postpartum made her stronger mentally and physically and how becoming a parent gave her new drive to chase personal bests. We also cover: How Emily balances work, running, and family life Summer marathon training in the UK The...

What started as an idea has now turned into twenty episodes of stories, lessons, and incredible people. From elite runners to parents balancing miles and life, I’ve learned something from every guest and this episode is a reflection on that journey. In this special episode, I share 10 lessons learned through the first 20 episodes of The People Run Podcast , from mindset and training to community a...

In this episode of The People Run Podcast, Fitz sits down with Mak Foss a Michigan runner chasing big marathon goals while juggling 5 a.m. runs, a full-time job, and building a community through her Society Track Club. Mak opens up about the nerves that come with racing, how she’s preparing for the Indianapolis Marathon, and why community and connection matter more than pace. From the lessons she’...

At just 26 years old, Ant DiAndrea has already completed 19+ ultras, including several 100 milers , and raised over $10,500 for orphans and inner city kids . But his story runs much deeper. At age 10, Ant’s life was forever changed by tragedy. Instead of letting it define him, he chose to rebuild with purpose leaning on running, faith, and community. From the 48 hour “Dreadmill” challenge , to cre...

In this episode of The People Run Podcast , I sit down with Sota Maehara runner, coach, and YouTube creator known for breaking down training science into simple, actionable lessons for everyday runners. Sota shares his journey from Japan to Australia , how he ramped up his training during COVID, and the lessons that shaped his running career.  We dive into: ✅ The benefits of tempo runs vs. cruise...

What’s it like to start track at 29 and still hit elite level times? 🇪🇸 Jaime  known as The Corporate Runner   joins me to share his unique journey from soccer in Spain to racing 800s in 1:55 and 5Ks in the 16s, while balancing career, travel, and now life in NYC. We dive into: The big differences between running culture in Europe vs. the U.S. Why you need a license to run official races in Spain....

There’s more nutrition “advice” out there than ever… but how much of it actually helps runners? In this episode of The People Run Podcast , Fitz sits down with Carla Duenas, a registered dietitian and endurance athlete , to cut through the noise and set the record straight on what really fuels performance. Carla shares the science and the practical takeaways behind: Why carbs aren’t the enemy  and...

Every runner wants to stay healthy, strong, and consistent but injuries often get in the way. In this episode of The People Run Podcast , Fitz sits down with Dr. Hunter Etheridge, a physical therapist, running coach, and lifelong athlete, to break down how to prevent injuries and run pain-free. From running form cues to overlooked muscles like the glute med, soleus, and posterior tib, Dr. Hunter s...

What happens when life doesn’t slow down and you still choose to run anyway?  In this episode, Meelo shares how he went from a strength focused athlete who hated running to a fatherhood finding meaning, discipline, and growth through the miles. We talk about his early struggles, how he ran his first marathon on grit alone, and what shifted in his mindset to keep going. From carving out time and lo...

What does it really mean to train your mind like an athlete? In this episode of The People Run Podcast, sports psychologist Maggie Goodman breaks down the mental tools that fuel performance from everyday runners to competitive athletes. We dive into self talk, imagery, body image, stress recovery, and how to build a process focused mindset that holds up through setbacks, injury, and race day press...

Sofie Schunk is a biomechanical engineer, run coach, and Olympic Trials Qualifier living with type 1 diabetes. In this episode, she opens up about chasing the OTQ, crashing mid race, and coming back six weeks later to qualify. We talk fueling, coaching philosophy, strength training, mindset and what it takes to keep going when life gets chaotic. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sophie Schunk 01:49 S...

Dan Marchese has run sub 3 Hr marathons, conquered 100 milers, and still isn’t done. In this episode, we dive into Dan’s transformation from Olympic weightlifting to endurance racing, his tough mindset, strength training for runners, coaching philosophy, and how he’s training to win a Last Man Standing ultra. If you're chasing big goals, this one will light a fire. Chapters 00:00 Introduction...

Ricardo went from racing triathlons to launching a sock brand built for athletes. This is a story of friendship, racing, and chasing bold ideas. !!! Note: Visuals switch to a photo after the first third due to a technical issue. Full audio and story still intact. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ricardo and His Journey 02:17 Training for Ironman: A Personal Journey 04:49 Injury and Recovery: Lessons...

Jerry Faulkner has run more than 20 years of sub 2:40 marathons (PR 2:21) and he’s still going. In this episode, we sit down to unpack the mindset, training philosophy, and day today discipline that’s kept him fast for decades. From his early days as a walk on athlete to dozens of marathon wins, Jerry shares the key lessons learned across years of racing, coaching, and staying hungry. We talk trai...