THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Some people push the limit. Kim Gottwald treats it like a starting line. Meet  Kim Gottwald : ultra-endurance athlete, viral content creator, and founder of  Rappid Runs , a running apparel brand built for the brutal reality of long-distance races. If his name isn’t on your radar yet, it will be. Kim just co-won the  Go One More Ultramarathon  in Texas, racking up a mind-bending  378 kilometers (2...

Charlie Vause didn't just make waves this past season — he tore through the high school cross country scene like a storm, and today, we're fired up to welcome him back. Charlie, a senior at Rio Rancho High School in New Mexico, returns to the podcast after emerging as a standout in U.S. high school cross country during the 2024–2025 season. His achievements include winning the Nike Cross Nationals...

Quentin Nauman—remember that name.  Just a few weeks ago, he became the first high school athlete in U.S. history to run both sub-1:50 in the 800m and sub-4:00 in the 1600m... at the  same   meet. (Quentin clocked 1:49.41 in the 800m and 3:59.60 in the 1600m at the Iowa State Track and Field Championships.)  Let that sink in. From sweeping the Drake Relays to dominating cross country with a 14:59...

He’s back. Not just on this show — but back in the sport, back on the world stage, and back to  blow your mind  with what’s possible when talent meets resilience. Returning to the show is none other than Cordell Tinch — the hurdler whose journey reads like a Hollywood script. A former cell phone salesman turned world-class athlete. The guy who stepped away from the sport, then came back to dominat...

Today’s guest is a true game-changer in the world of track and field — a visionary whose passion, leadership, and creativity have helped transform one of the sport’s most electric meets:  Tim Cornell . Since 2021, Tim has served as the Meet Director for the  HOKA Festival of Miles , one of the most electric and meaningful meets on the track and field calendar. Under his guidance, the event has gro...

From a late start in high school track to becoming one of the fastest milers in NCAA history, today’s guest has rewritten the blueprint for distance running success. Gary Martin’s rise has been nothing short of electric. After a quiet freshman year at the University of Virginia, he exploded onto the national scene during the 2024 cross country season—capturing the ACC Championship with a course re...

Racing by feel and winning with heart. Margot Appleton has emerged as one of the premier collegiate distance runners in the U.S., blending tactical brilliance, relentless drive, and a flair for dramatic finishes. In 2019, as a high school junior, Appleton stunned the field at Boston's Mayor's Cup 5K, finishing second overall in 17:14—outpacing the reigning Foot Locker national champion. This perfo...

Returning to the show is a runner whose name has become synonymous with strategic racing and an electrifying finishing kick–Mr. Nathan Green. From his early days as a high school prodigy in Boise, Idaho, Nathan's journey has been marked by dedication and resilience. In 2022, he clinched the U.S. U20 1500m title with a time of 3:45.19, earning a spot on Team USA for the World U20 Championships in C...

Today's episode is special—and honestly, it might be historic. We've got two of the fastest high school distance runners in the country—maybe  ever —joining us just days before they toe the line at one of the most anticipated races of the year: the  Festival of Miles . First up:  Josiah Tostenson . He's the second-fastest indoor miler in U.S. high school history, clocking a blistering 3:57.41 at B...

From cross country and track star to talent management guru -- Matthew Sonnenfeldt has seen it all. Matthew’s journey from high school champion to collegiate athlete and now a mentor and representative for other athletes illustrates a career built on passion, resilience, and a commitment to excellence in track and field. At Knoxville West High School, Matthew captured the Tennessee state cross cou...

Today’s guest needs no introduction—but he definitely earned a new one. Olin Hacker is back—and this time, he's bringing a U.S. title with him. Just weeks ago, Olin stormed to victory at the USATF 5000m Championships in Indianapolis, running 13:32 to claim his first national crown. But this moment wasn’t built in a month—it was years in the making. As a collegiate runner, Olin secured multiple Big...

The Call Room: Road to Records  continues as we’re joined by the electric  Chiara Dailey  — La Jolla’s own and one of the most exciting names in high school distance running — as she prepares for the  2025 HOKA Festival of Miles . Chiara brings more than just speed. She’s relatable, confident, and on a mission. She kicked off her 2025 outdoor season with a new PR in the 800m, clocking  2:07.99  fo...

Some runners show up. Others shut it down when it counts. Riley Chamberlain is doing both. The  BYU junior  has become one of the most dangerous closers in the NCAA, helping lead the Cougars to  back-to-back national titles  in the  Distance Medley Relay —including their record-breaking 10:37.58 this season, which shattered both NCAA and BYU records. But Riley’s not just a relay weapon. She’s been...

What does it take to break one of the most iconic barriers in sports history? Brad Wilkins, lead scientist on Nike’s Breaking2 project, joins the show to pull back the curtain on the science, strategy, and soul behind chasing the sub-two-hour marathon. Dr. Wilkins currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Physiology at the University of Oregon. He is the Director of the...

For  TJ Hansen , running isn’t just a passion — it’s the job. And business is booming. Up next in our  2025 HOKA Festival of Miles  series, we welcome the Michigan standout who’s made a national name for himself on both grass and track. Representing  Freeland High School , TJ is a  two-time Nike All-American  and finished  runner-up at the 2024 Nike Cross Nationals , crossing the line in 15:30.60...

As Keegan Smith is apt to say, winning isn’t everything – running your best is. Up next in our  2025 HOKA Festival of Miles  series, we welcome one of the most dominant high school distance runners in the country:  Keegan Smith , straight out of Tennessee. From the moment he laced up as a freshman, Keegan’s been smashing records and turning heads. He opened his high school career by dropping a  14...

Dietitian Alex Larson, on a mission to fuel the world's endurance athletes, joins the show today to share her expert tips on nutrition, health, and performance for long-term success. Alex is a mother of three kids and successful entrepreneur, serving as the founder and CEO of Alex Larson Nutrition. After having her three kids in an eight-year span, Alex is back to running and gravel cycling for en...

The creative force behind Litoff Studios, Mr. Zach Litoff himself, joins the show today, ready to discuss his new book.  Zach seamlessly intertwines athleticism and artistry–blending his elite athletic background as an NCAA Championship steeplechaser with his innovative design work; this has led him to work with major brands like Nike, New Balance, and even Apple. Recently, he led the rebranding o...

Episode 1 of The Call Room: Road to Records is here, featuring New Mexico's fastest miler and ascending star, Corbin Coombs. Corbin, a senior at Organ Mountain High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is gearing up for one of the biggest events of the calendar year, the 2025 HOKA Festival of MIles coming to you June 5. He came in 8th last year in the boyschampionship mile. In February, Corbin set a...

High school mid-distance sensation  Cole Boone  joins us today, fresh off two monumental performances in March that have solidified him as a national champion. Cole, a junior at Pulaski County High School in Dublin, Virginia, has been crushing the 2025 campaign so far. The bar is set high for his senior campaign next fall. On March 4 at the Virginia High School League Class 3 State Indoor Champion...

INTRODUCING: THE RUN DOWN BY THE RUNNING EFFECT The Run Down isn’t just a newsletter. It’s a field manual for runners who want to master the mental, physical, and philosophical game of distance running—and life. Every week, professional running coach and former D1 All-American Alex Ostberg distills hard-earned insights from world-class athletes, top-tier coaches, and personal trial-and-error into...

GOODY’S (code "TRE2"): https://www.amazon.com/promotion/psp/AHBMMNWHO3WHJ Performance and sport expert Dr. Jim Taylor returns to the show to discuss Dominic’s recent running of the Knoxville Marathon and the impact their work together had on his experience.  Dominic, who ran a 3:33 marathon on April 6 with only two weeks of training, circles back with Dr. Taylor, who holds his Ph. D. in Psychology...

The journey of Jackson Heidesch is one of unbridled honesty and crushing heartbreak. From high school standout to oft-injured Duke student-athlete, Jackson Heidesch has been forced to deal with more than just physical maladies.   It's been 18 months of toil, rehab and bouts of depression for the Iowa native, who is now opening up about his mental health struggles. Jackson will be taking a designat...

Villanova's Liam Murphy is quickly etching his name into the record books.  Fresh off shattering the NCAA 1500m record with a blistering 3:33.02 at the Raleigh Relays, Liam joins the show today to discuss his recent run of success on the track. Since December, Liam has set school records in the 3,000m (with a time of 7:35.47) and the 5,000m (with a time of 13:10.42) in addition to being a key cog...

Registered Dietitian and running coach Cortney Berling joins the show to cut through the noise of diet culture and teach us how to fuel smart for long-term running success. Cortney, also a Certified Diabetes Instructor, mother of three (ages 1, 3 and 5), and military spouse (her husband is activeduty Marine Corps) has a diverse background in sports and nutrition. Originally from Medina, Ohio, she...