The XLR8 Performance Lab Podcast

Send us Fan Mail David is a former standout runner from Boise State University. He currently runs professionally as one of the top 5k runners in the United States. A late bloomer, hear how David did not even start running until his senior year of high school and how that changed the entire trajectory of his life. Sponsor Information: Final Surge: Thank you to Final Surge for sponsoring the podcast...

Send us Fan Mail Arianna is one of the best all-around athletes in the state of Iowa, and is only going to be a sophomore. The multi-sport standout from Des Moines Roosevelt HS is an elite cross country runner, basketball player, and track and field competitor. She won middle school titles in the 800, high jump, and shot put. That talent led her to finish 7th in her age division nationally in the...

Send us Fan Mail Emmit attends Staples-Motley HS in Minnesota. The school only has about 300 students in 9-12, but has been a powerhouse for several decades, beating schools 10 times their size and being ranked nationally multiple times. Hear Emmit talk about his victory in the State Showcase last fall and what it is like to run for such a prestigious program.

Send us Fan Mail Chandler is one of the greatest distance runners in Iowa HS history. The Boone graduate ran times of 4:07 and 8:51 for the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. He also ran 15:05 for 5k cross country and qualified for prestigious races such as the Nike Cross Nationals and the Brooks PR Invitational. We catch up on old times of when I was started coaching him in only my 3rd year as a coach. He...

Send us Fan Mail Jack is one of many outstanding runners to have come out of the Cedar Rapids Prairie program. He has many all-state finishes to his name, but even more crazy is the fact that two of those finishes cam with only one shoe. Hear him talk about what it is like to run for such a storied program and how he plans to continue developing his career as an Iowa Hawkeye. Twitter: @jackpenderg...

Send us Fan Mail What more is there to say. Tune in and hear what makes Dowling the unstoppable distance running machine they are today. Twitter: @CoachIves Sponsor Information: Thank you to Final Surge for sponsoring the podcast. Checkout their outstanding training and coaching platform to help you organize your programs and find ways to increase your performance. Enter code: "XLR8" for...

Send us Fan Mail Ana is the defending state cross country champ for Stillwater HS in Minnesota. She also qualified for the Nike and Footlocker National Championship races. Ana talks about how she developed as a runner and some of her places she is considering attending college in a few years. Instagram: anaweaver8 Sponsor Information: Thank you to Final Surge for sponsoring the podcast. Checkout t...

Send us Fan Mail Oliver is the defending state cross country champion from Highland Park in South St. Paul, Minnesota. He had a breakout season to not only win the state title, but also qualify for the Nike XC National Championship race as an individual. Listen to him talk about his goals and his choice to run for the University of Wisconsin in the fall. Instagram: oliverpaleen Sponsor Information...

Send us Fan Mail Leo runs for Highland HS in Gilbert, Arizona. He became just the 11th HS boy in US history to break 4:00 in the mile this past week. He also has the #2 all-time 5k cross country mark with a time of 14:14. Leo talks about the moment he realized he broke 4:00 in the mile and his plans with running at the University of Washington in the fall. Instagram: leo_m_daschbach Sponsor Inform...

Send us Fan Mail Jack is going to be a senior this fall at Iowa City Liberty HS in Iowa City, IA. He had a breakout season this past fall and was looking to lower his track times this spring before having the season cut short. Hear what he has to say about his team and individual goals for this upcoming season. Twitter: @jkinz4 Instagram: jkinz4 Sponsor Information: Thank you to Final Surge for sp...

Send us Fan Mail Ainsley will be a junior for Carlisle HS in Iowa next fall. She has some of the best range in the country as she is able to run 26 seconds for 200 and sub-19:00 for 5k and was the #1 returning runner in the state in the 400, 800, and 1500 meter runs before the season was cancelled. Her 2:10 outdoor time trial was #1 in the nation heading into this week and she is looking to lower...

Send us Fan Mail Coach Cunningham is an assistant boys track and field coach for the West Des Moines Valley Tigers. They have won 3 consecutive state titles and were gunning for a 4th prior to the shutdown of the season. Listen to Coach Cunningham discuss what makes his teams so special and why he coaches in the system he does. Twitter: @hcoachmikec2 Sponsor Information: Thank you to Final Surge f...

Send us Fan Mail Lauren runs track and field for Valley High School in West Des Moines. She has personal best time of 4:51 and 10:26 for 1500 and 3000 meters. She talks about what she had hoped to run this spring and how she is channeling that energy into a great upcoming cross country season. Twitter: @ laurenschulze28 Instagram: lauren.schulze Sponsor Information: Thank you to Final Surge for sp...

Send us Fan Mail Gabe is an outstanding distance runner for the Ankeny Centennial Jaguars. He is getting a jump start on his training for this fall cross country season in order to give himself the best shot possible to achieve his ultimate goal of winning a state title. Listen to him talk about what it was like to have the opportunity to run with his brother in the state 3200 meter race last spri...

Send us Fan Mail Harris was a high-performing distance runner for Math and Science Academy, a charter school in the South St. Paul area of the Twin Cities. He talks about his plans on competing for St. Thomas as they transition from Division 3 to Division 1 over the next few years. He also has a unique training partner who always keeps him on his toes. Instagram: sirrah15 Sponsor Information: Than...

Send us Fan Mail Shelby is an Olympian who hails from Sioux City East HS in Iowa. At one time she held the state records at 800 and 1500 meters, and is the current American Record Holder in the 1500 and 5000 meters on the track. She talks about what it was like growing up as a track athlete from day one and how she has her sights firmly set on a gold medal. Twitter: @shelbo800 Instagram: shelbo800...

Send us Fan Mail Tierney is a US Marathon Trials competitor will still just a high schooler. She also holds the Nike Heartland XC course record. Her Twin Cities Marathon race where she set an age group world record was controversial in that it came in the middle of her high school xc season. Listen to how she details how her once mental struggles as a runner have led her to pursue a career in spor...

Send us Fan Mail Drew is the US high school record holder in the indoor mile and former record holder for 3000 meters indoors. Her currently competes for Tinman Elite, an Adidas group based out of Boulder, CO. In his senior year of high school he ran an epic 4:00 mile anchor leg on the Distance Medley Relay to try to steal the win. Give it a listen and check out the video to see what happens. Twit...

Send us Fan Mail Karissa is the American Record holder for 3000 meters indoors. She is one of the fastest American women's distance runners of all time and is a graduate of Dowling Catholic HS in West Des Moines, IA. She won multiple national titles while at the University of Missouri and now runs for the Bowerman Track Club. Listen to her talk about what it is like to be an American Record h...

Send us Fan Mail Brandon is an elite distance runner for Perham HS in Minnesota. His team has won 3 consecutive state cross country titles in the small school class. Even though he can't break 60 in the quarter we will still be running distance races for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the fall. Listen in to hear what makes the Perham program such a powerhouse. Twitter: @b_ohara1 Instagr...

Send us Fan Mail Camille Jackson is a distance runner for Ames High School in Iowa. She was the state 4A cross country champion, setting a new course record in route to the title. She recently signed to attend the University of Colorado. Hear how she went from an above average runner to an all-time record holder from one season to the next.  A great listen for all who are interested in the "s...

Send us Fan Mail Anna is a superstar runner for Farmington HS in Minnesota. The junior has been a 4 consecutive year qualifier for the Nike Cross National Championship race in Portland, Oregon. One of the best distance talents in the country talks about what it is like to be part of the Farmington team and how her fear of losing channels her outstanding performances. Twitter: @annaafenske Instagra...

Send us Fan Mail Charlie is a sprinter from St. Edmond HS in Fort Dodge, IA. He has been on numerous elite relays for the school and will be attending the University of Iowa in the fall. Hear his take on being an elite sprinter and the strange things his coach does to keep him relaxed before races. Instagram: charlie_shelly Sponsor Information: Thank you to Final Surge for sponsoring the podcast....

Send us Fan Mail Alan Webb is the American record-holder in the mile with a time of 3:46. But before he set that record he was a high school phenom, breaking Jim Ryun's high school mile record with a stunning 3:53 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. We dive into his background as a youth athlete and his progression up to the day of the 3:53. Twitter: @alan_webb1 Instagram: alanwebb1...

Send us Fan Mail The first episode of our new series, "Tilus and Trey", drops with the news of Dathan Ritzenhein retiring. the 3x Olympian also won 2 Foot Locker HS National XC titles, and an NCAA XC title, in addition to several national records. The conversation also gets around to Michael Jordan and even what it was like to be around a shooting during a workout in college. Get to know...