The Runaround Podcast

Cole Basden went viral after completing what has become known as the "Quad Ultra"—running 100 laps (over 44 miles) around the University of Illinois Main Quad on Reading Day. It turned one of the most stressful days of the semester into an unforgettable challenge that inspired so many. But the viral run is only part of his story. In this episode, Cole shares how his passion for movement...

Midge Taylor-Good is the Senior National Manager of the Field Experience Team at Hoka. Before stepping into her current role, Midge spent nearly 15 years at Naperville Running Company, where she held a variety of positions, including retail, employee training, community engagement, and general management. She also spent time consulting within the run specialty industry, helping businesses and lead...

On this episode, I’m joined by Alli O'Keefe, a Regional Tech Lead at On, to talk about her path in the running industry. From studying journalism at North Central College to working as the Digital Marketing Manager at Naperville Running Company, Alli shares how her career evolved before eventually joining On as a Tech Rep and growing into her current role. We also talk about balancing a caree...

On this episode of The Runaround Podcast, I’m joined by my three college roommates and teammates, Charlotte, Litzey, and Hope, as we reflect on our first semester at the University of Nebraska Omaha. From adjusting to college life and balancing academics with athletics, to the moments that defined our fall, we share our favorite memories and the lessons that stood out most along the way. We also l...

In this episode, I sit down with Anderson Bobo — the Creative Director of Track & Field at the University of Oregon — to talk about the intersection of sport, storytelling, and creativity. Bobo shares how his love for running and media merged into a passion for capturing the world’s best athletes through photos and video. From his days competing at the University of North Florida to earning hi...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Coach Bennett — Nike’s Global Head Running Coach — we dig even deeper into the philosophy that has made him one of the most influential voices in our sport. We unpack his signature saying, “This is about running. This is not about running,” and how it came to be.  From bridging the gap between elite and everyday runners to his deep belief that running can make the...

In the first part of this two-part, inspiring conversation, I sit down with Coach Bennett, Nike’s Global Head Running Coach, to explore the side of running you can’t measure on a watch. We talk about turning criticism into growth, finding optimism in tough moments, and why the training shapes so much more than just our fitness. The Runaround Podcast has always aimed to dive into the emotional side...

In this episode, I sit down with former collegiate athlete Haleigh Morales for a reflective and heartfelt conversation on the evolution of her relationship with running. We dive into her standout high school career, where she competed at the highest level alongside one of her closest friends — Katelyn Tuohy. Haleigh shares what it was like to train and grow next to a generational talent, and how t...

In my FIRST solo episode, I take you along on my recent trip to Oregon — a wonderful trip filled with family, time outside, and lots of running. From quality time with my family and running among beautiful scenery in Bend to witnesseing track and field history in Eugene, this trip will always be a core memory for me. I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Prefontaine Classic — a bucket lis...

In this episode, I’m joined by Division I runner at George Washington University and former Neuqua Athlete, Ashley Robinson. She's chasing more than just fast times on the grass and track. While competing at the collegiate level, she’s also pursuing a degree in journalism — with her sights set on becoming a sports reporter. In this candid episode, we dive into how she undertook the transition...

In this special episode, I’m joined by two of my closest friends, Lauren Varak and Mridula Natarajan, as we reflect on a major turning point in our lives—finishing high school and stepping into what comes next. We open up about how we chose our colleges, what factored into those decisions, and what lies ahead for each of us.  We also share some honest advice for anyone still navigating the halls o...

In this episode, I sit down with professional industry creative Kevin Gunawan, whose work has become a staple in the running world. He shares his journey from discovering the sport in high school to competing as a Division I athlete and how that background influenced his unique perspective as a visual storyteller. We dive into his bold decision to leave college early to pursue a full-time career i...

In this special two-part episode, I sit down with Kris Hartner , founder and owner of Naperville Running Company , to hear the incredible journey of how a dream became a thriving reality. In Part 2 of my conversation with Kris, we dive into the philosophy that drives Naperville Running Company’s success. While NRC is a running store at its core, Kris emphasizes that it’s for everyone —whether you...

In this special two-part episode, I sit down with Kris Hartner , founder and owner of Naperville Running Company , to hear the incredible journey of how a dream became a thriving reality. In Part 1, Kris takes us through his early love for running, how his college studies shaped his passion, and his experiences in the running industry—all leading up to the decision to open NRC in 2000 . His story...

To celebrate the 20th episode of The Runaround Podcast, I’m bringing back my very first guest, Katie Chapman! Together, we take a trip down memory lane to reflect on the best and worst moments of 2024 and share what those experiences taught us. We also dive into our goals and plans for 2025, with plenty of laughs along the way (because it wouldn’t be a conversation with us without them). Kick off...

Paige Carter is a former collegiate runner who competed for both UCLA and Boston College. After her time in the NCAA, Paige was the Director of Marketing for Heartbreak. Though it is not addressed in this episode due to it being recorded about two months ago, she recently accepted a new position as a Lead in Global Digital Marketing for Nike Running.  In this episode, Paige relives her six-year co...

From Heartbreak & Adidas’s pop-up shop in downtown Madison, professional runners Katelyn Tuohy and Elly Henes join me for a quick recording ahead of the 2024 NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships taking place tomorrow, November 23rd, at Thomas Zimmer Championship Course. The girls reflect on their experiences as athletes and teammates at NC State, one of the most established distance programs in...

On this episode, Dylan Brilliant dives into why he started posting running content on social media, how he grew his platform, and the ways NIL has changed college athletics. Dylan is a fellow Heartbreak Hill Running Company Love Squad Athlete and a sophomore distance runner at Stonehill College in Massachusetts. He has almost 55,000 followers on Instagram and 34,000 on Tiktok. He simply hopes to p...

Hurdler at the University of Iowa, Natalie Harris, dives into her love for track and field, posting on social media, dealing with a major injury, and balancing athletics with being a regular college student. Natalie is the most positive person, and her honesty about the ups and downs of life in this episode is inspiring. She is also a fellow member of Heartbreak Hill Running Company's "L...

Marisa Hird is a mom, elite runner, and the Director of Culture at Naperville Running Company. In this episode, she recaps her high school and college running careers, dives into her eleven-year pursuit of running an Olympic Trials Marathon qualifying time, and being a pivotal part of creating the meaningful community that can be found at Naperville Running Company. Marisa is the epitome of "...

Mckayla Childs is a rising senior cross country and track athlete from Houston, Texas. This past year she competed at Nike Track Nationals in Eugene, Oregon in the 800 meters. Mckayla and I got to know each other over the past two summers at Bowerman Running Camp in Bend, Oregon. This past July, we were assigned to be roommates and got to know each other even better! In this episode, Mckayla dives...

Danny Winek was a runner on Neuqua Valley's cross country and track & field state championship teams in 2016 and 2018 and a collegiate athlete at the University of California at Berkeley. He is currently one of the best Ironman triathletes in the world. Regarding high school, Danny shares how special it was to be a part of such a successful team, how he dealt with injuries, and the things...

In the second part of this conversation with Coach Paul Vandersteen, he dives into his current endeavors as a coach. He shares the differences between coaching collegiate/adult athletes and coaching high schoolers, in addition to the surprising things both groups have in common. He also informs about ways for any athlete to be successful in and beyond high school. This is an extremely informative...

This is the first episode of a two-part conversation with Coach Paul Vandersteen. He has so much to share about what separates the good athletes from the great ones and how to foster a positive, committed culture within a team. This is a must-listen for high school and college athletes looking to excel in their sport. Coach Vandersteen has been coaching runners for 36 years. Most well known for hi...

Daniel McArthur is competing at the Track & Field Olympic Trials starting tomorrow, June 21st! He was a collegiate thrower at the University of North Carolina, where he became a 5-Time All-American, 4-Time ACC Champion, the indoor & outdoor North Carolina School Shot Put Record Holder, the ACC Indoor Championship Meet Record Holder, and earned the #7 All-Time mark ever thrown in the NCAA....