THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Back on the podcast is one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history, Coach Chris Miltenberg. Following seven years at Stanford University, Coach Milt was named Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at the University of North Carolina on June 27, 2019. The 2024-25 school year is his sixth at the Tar Heel helm. The 2023-24 cross country and track and field seasons will go down as one of the...

Today on the Call Room Road To Balboa, I'm joined by the one and only Manny Putz! Manny placed 5th last year at NXN as a junior and is a 3xWisconsin State Champion in XC as well as a pair of titles on the track. He was the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year in both his Sophmore and Junior years in XC.  Manny holds PRs of 2:00 (800m), 4:12 (1,600m), 8:56 (2-Mile), and 14:32 (5k XC).  But back in...

Today, sharing one of the best stories in the sport are Patrick Anderson and Will Coogan.  Last spring, five North Carolina men's track and field athletes were traveling to practice in a car after the Raleigh Relays. It crashed, flipped, and then landed in a ditch. Two of those athletes, Patrick Anderson and Will Coogan were in the car and both were seriously hurt, Patrick nearly dying from his in...

Last week, the SEC announced that they plan to set men’s roster limits to 10/35 for XC/TF.  Earlier last week, coaches and administration from the Southeastern Conference were informed of the proposed conference roster limits for cross country and track & field. Currently, the average SEC men’s XC roster is ~17. One of the athletes who came out against this news is Ole Miss athlete, Stone Smit...

Ethan Strand shares insights on becoming the newest NIL athlete for NIKE! Ethan went on an absolute tear in 2024. He competed at four meets during the indoor season, where he ran the Mile, 3k, and DMR. Ethan broke Tony Waldrop mile school record of 3:55 from 1974 in a 3:54.62 effort that won the mile event at the Eagle Elite. He was also part of a DMR group that set an ACC indoor record in the DMR...

THE EMILY SISSON SPECIAL  Emily Sisson is one of the greatest US Distance Runners of all-time, and she still has her best running ahead of her. At every level, Emily has been ABSOLUTELY dominant.  In high school, Emily qualified for the prestigious Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships all four years, a feat that has barely been replicated throughout history.  In college, at Providence...

THE EVAN JAGER SPECIAL  Evan Jager is one of the most decorated and accomplished runners in US Distance history. Evan is the American Record Holder in the Steeplechase, along with the Rio Olympic Silver Medalist in the Steeple and London World Championships Silver Medalist in the Steeple. On top of these feats, Evan has won a US title at the Steeplechase SEVEN times.  He is one of the original mem...

Back on the podcast, full of wisdom and insights is Drew Hunter! Drew had a remarkably successful season where he PRd at every distance. He ran 3:33 in the 1500m, 13:08 in the 5k, and 27:38 in the 10k. Drew placed 4th at the US Olympic Trials in the 10k, his highest-ever finish at a US Olympic Trials.  Before his professional career, he set the national indoor mile record for high school boys in 2...

The kid the nation is sleeping on arrives on the podcast today. His name is Jack Bowen. And this guy just ran 14:41 to beat a STAR-STUDDED field at the Nike Twilight XC Meet. Jack holds PRs of 1:55 (800m), 4:09 (1600m), 4:10 (Mile), 8:56 (3200m), and 14:40 (5k XC). He was a part of the Nike Indoor Nationals championship-winning team in the 4x800m, was 5th in the Mile at the same meet, and is a 2x...

One email I sent five years ago changed the trajectory of my life.  It was an email to Alex Ostberg, a Stanford student-athlete at the time.  Alex quickly became a mentor to me and that drastically changed the outcomes in my life and heavily affected me startingThe Running Effect. Today's conversation centers around mentorship, the importance of a mentor, where to find a mentor, and many other sub...

One of the biggest up-and-coming stars in the country, Daniel Skandera, comes on the podcast today to share his story! Daniel has one of the most INSANE resumes as a junior in high school.  He's a 4x USATF Junior Olympic National Champion. He's also set over FIFTY age-group world records ranging from 600m-5000m and ages 5-12.  He was 14th at 2023 Footlocker South Regionals, but the 1st underclassm...

Today on the podcast is the legend, Rocky Hansen! Rocky competes for Wake Forest University.  Rocky has run 1:50.85 (800m), 3:58 (Mile), 7:56 (3k), 13:44 (5k), and 23:06 for 8k on the grass. Most recently Rocky placed 2nd at Nuttycombe, and last year was 2nd team All-American in the 5000m outdoors. He was the 18th high schooler to break 4 minutes in the mile and the first in North Carolina.  Rocky...

Olympian Juliette Whittaker returns to the podcast after the 2024 Paris Olympics! Juliette Whittaker, a 2024 Olympic 800-meter finalist, has earned three NCAA championships, including two in the 800 meters (indoors and outdoors, 2024) and one in the indoor distance medley relay (2023). A seven-time All-American, she claimed the Pac-12 800-meter title in 2023 and was named the Pac-12 Women's Track...

Undefeated Benji Anderson hops on the podcast today!  Benji is one of the top boys in the class of 2025 and recently commited to run for the University of Notre Dame.  Benji holds PRs of 1:54.05 (800m), 4:15.26 (1600m), 8:52.12 (3200m), and 14:48 (5k).  Benji is a 2023 Footlocker All-American, and the #3 returner in 2024. He's a 3xState-Runner Up. He's a 2x4x800m state record-holder and state cham...

THE ELISE CRANNY SPECIAL IS HERE A 60-minute masterclass on flourishing within the sport of running. Elise tackles some tough questions surrounding how to go about the sport in a sustainable way while still pursuing big goals.  If you're not familiar with Elise, she's a 2xOlympian, 4xUS Champion, and US National Record Holder in the Outdoor 3k. She has had one of the most dominant opening stretche...

Jack Graffeo joins the podcast leading into his quest for glory in December. Jack has run 4:09.8 (Mile), 8:52.67 (2-Mile), and 14:41.50 in the 5k.  He's a Footlocker All-American, NBON Runner-up in the 2-Mile, and was a part of the NBON 5th place team in the DMR. Jack comes into the 2024 XC season looking to capture his first national title. In today's conversation, Jack takes me through his journ...

Today on the podcast is the top-ranked high school girl in the country, Rylee Blade!  Before she got into the sport, she played soccer for 10 years at a highly competitive level.  In her short time as a runner, she has lit the high school world on fire. She was the CIF State Champion in the 1600 and 3200m in 2023, and won the 3200m again in 2024. She was also the 2023 CIF XC State Champion and wil...

Back on the podcast is Sinclaire Johnson!  Sinclaire holds PRs of 1:59 (800m), 3:56 (1500m), and 8:37 in the 3k.  While running at Oklahoma State University, she was the 2019 NCAA Champion in the 1500m. She was the 2022 USATF Outdoor 1500m Champion where she then went on to place 6th at the 2022 World Championships hosted in Eugene, Oregon. She is the 6th fastest US woman all-time in the 1500m. Si...

Sean McGorty recaps his 2024 season on the podcast today! Sean holds PRs of 3:33.67 (1500m), 3:53 (Mile), 7:32.79 (3k), 8:20.77 (Steeplechase), 13:02.13 (5k), and 27:18.15 (10k). Sean was also a part of the 4x1500m AR team. Sean made the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where he made both the 5k and 10k teams! Sean also made the 2022 World Championships in the 10k. Sean competes for Nike's Bo...

The Spanish Rocket Mario Garcia Romo returns to the podcast.  Mario holds PRs of 1:46.9 (800m), 3:47 (Mile - Spanish National Record), 4:49 (2k), & 7:34 (3k). Mario placed 4th at the 2022 World Champions in Eugene, Oregon, and then placed 6th in the 1500m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and had multiple top performances at Diamond Leagues around the world.  In high school...

Today on the podcast is multiple-time All-American Chloe Scrimgeour!  Chloe competes for Georgetown University, where she's been absolutely dominant over the years.  Chloe is a 5xAll-American, a 4xBig East Champion, and the School Record Holder in the 3k, 5k, and 10k. She holds PRs of 8:50 (3k), 15:21 (5k), 32:29 (10k), and 19:28 (6k on grass).  In today's conversation, Chloe takes me thro...

Today on the podcast is former Notre Dame school-record holder, Ron Markezich!  On April 13, 1989, Ron ran 28:44 in the 10k to set a new Notre Dame school record that would last two decades. He was also an All-American in XC placing 11th on the grass.  In high school, Ron won state titles and did some crazy things, like running 9:05 in the 3200m as a sophomore (unheard of for the 80s).  After his...

Shelby Houlihan returns in less than four months.  On January 15 2025 her suspension will be lifted. And she can compete against the world's best once again. As she starts her buildup to the redemption tour, I wanted to get her back on the podcast to spill the tea on all she's been up to and how she's planning on coming back. Shelby is a 13xUS National Champion, a 2016 Olympian, and th...

Today on the podcast is the one and only Jack Flood (6'5 btw).  Jack isn't just a jacked, 6'5, 200IQ man. He's also incredibly accomplished in Track & Field.   He was the D3 National Champion in both the Heptathlon and Decathlon. He has placed top 10 at USAs every year since 2019 expect for 2023 because of a no height. He was 9th at the 2021 US Olympic Trials, and 5th in 2024. ...

THE GEORGIA BELL SPECIAL  Georgia won Bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Women's 1500m.  In her 17 races this season across 10 countries, she was absolutely dominant. She became a National Champion, European Silver Medalist, set a British Record, and as stated before, placed third in the Olympics. Georgia holds PRs of 1:56.28 (800m) & 3:52.61 (1500m).  What makes this season all the...