THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Latest Episodes:

How Frankie Ruiz Went From Team Alternate to 17-Time State Champion Coach — The Culture, the 1Team Philosophy, and What Most Coaches Get Backwards + Insights From Coaching Marcelo Mantecon Apr 04, 2026

Show notes

Miami doesn't have a running culture by accident. Frankie Ruiz built it.

From 17 Florida high school cross country state championships (9 in a row); to a junior who just finished 4th at Nike Cross Nationals; to a marathon that generates $300 million a year for Miami-Dade County; and a government appointment to make an entire city healthier—he does all of this simultaneously.

And he's been doing it for over two decades.

Frankie is the co-founder of the Life Time Miami Marathon and serves as Chief Running Officer at Life Time, overseeing one of the largest endurance event platforms in the country. He's the City of Miami's Chief Wellness Officer, where he'sreframing parks and public trails not as amenities, but as preventative healthcare infrastructure.

And every week, he runs with hundreds of people at the Baptist Health Brickell Run Club, which he founded in 2009 and which has grown into one of the largest free weekly run clubs in the world.

On the coaching side, his Belen Jesuit cross country program just broke its own Florida record with a 17th state title.

If you've ever wondered what it looks like when a city decides to take running seriously—this is the blueprint.

Tap into the Frankie Ruiz Special.

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If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

S H O W N O T E S

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How WORLD CHAMPION Josh Kerr Plans to Break a 30-Year World Record With a 3:42 Mile — Project 222, Custom Spikes, and the Mindset Behind History's Boldest Attempt Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

He said it was his to lose. Then he went out and made sure of it.

Josh Kerr is back on The Running Effect, and this time he's not limping off a global stage. He's walking out of Toruń with gold, and already calling his next shot.

At the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Kerr reclaimed the 3000m title he first won two years ago in Glasgow. He ran a 7:35.56, the second-fastest winning time in World Indoor Championships history.

February brought his return: a 2-mile against Cole Hocker at Millrose, a second-place finish that felt more like reconnaissance than defeat. He knew what was coming.

Before Toruń, he called the title his to lose. On March 21, he backed it up, settling patiently, surging at the bell, making himself the target, and winning by 0.14 seconds.

Now the next target is on the clock.

Project 222. On July 18 at the London Diamond League, Kerr will attempt to break Hicham El Guerrouj's mile world record of 3:43.13, a mark that has stood since 1999. The goal: 222 seconds flat. A 3:42 mile. His current PB of 3:45.34 is the British record and sixth all-time. Two seconds separates him from history.

Tap into the Josh Kerr Special.

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S H O W N O T E S

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The #1 Running Scientist Who Helped Eliud Kipchoge Break 2 Hours In The Marathon Shares What Actually Makes Runners Faster — And What Most Are Getting Wrong Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

A sub-2-hour marathon was supposed to be impossible. Then Dr. Brad Wilkins built the mathematical model that proved it wasn't, and Nike handed him the keys to make it happen.

In 2017, Kipchoge ran 2:00:25 at Breaking2—25 seconds short. Close enough to prove the science was right. Two years later, the 1:59:40 happened in Vienna. The blueprint Wilkins built made that possible.

Now he's back in a university lab asking an even bigger question: what is the actual ceiling of human performance? Spoiler: he doesn't think there is one.

From the gut bacteria influencing your race day performance, to the hormone data that's about to change how women train forever, to the super shoe numbers the industry doesn't want you to see, Dr. Brad Wilkins is bringing the actual science, not the headlines.

He'll tell you why your wearable is lying to you, why your brain quits long before your body has to, and why most of what you've heard about VO2 max, altitude, and recovery is noise dressed up as wisdom.

Ten years inside Nike's most secretive labs. Forty-plus published manuscripts. One bold claim: humans have no limits.

This is the episode that changes how you train.

Tap into the Dr. Brad Wilkins Special.

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S H O W N O T E S

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-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

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-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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How NIKE Pro Running Coach Alex Ostberg Reframes Running Nutrition — Donuts as Rocket Fuel, the Durability Lag, Building Injury-Proof Mileage & What To Do After A Bad Race Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

What if the secret to running faster is eating a donut?

World-class coach Alex Ostberg is back for another monthly breakdown of his newsletter, The Rundown; and this one might be his most thought-provoking yet.

Dominic and Alex tear through four recent editions, starting with a piece that'll make your clean-eating friends squirm: The Case for Junk Food as a Runner. Alex breaks down the real physiology behind post-run refueling—and why your muscles genuinely don't care where your carbohydrates come from.

From there, the conversation shifts to one of the most emotionally charged moments in any athlete's season: the bad race. Alex's piece, What Not to Do After a Bad Race, has a surprisingly sharp analytical edge, pulling from NBA data, Fidelity investment research, and a controversial Super Bowl call to make the case for why one result should almost never rewrite your entire plan.

Then Alex lays out The Best Way to Guarantee Improvement; a question every runner asks and very few coaches answer honestly. The aerobic vs. anaerobic breakdown is clear, practical, and backed by real science.

Finally, they close with Five Rules for Building Mileage Without Getting Injured. The "durability lag" concept and the Ferrari-in-a-Prius metaphor will stick with you long after this episode ends.

Tap into The Rundown Recap Special.

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S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

How Isaiah Photo Transformed His Body and Running in 75 Days — 10 Pounds of Fat Lost, 10 Pounds of Muscle Gained, Marathon PR Incoming Mar 28, 2026

Show notes

What do you do after you've literally run around the world? For Isaiah Photo, apparently, you wake up at 5 AM every single morning, jump into an ice bath, and spend 75 days trying to get a six-pack.

This is the kind of unhinged, disciplined, borderline-beautiful chaos that Isaiah Photo lives in. You might know him from his 10 million YouTube subscribers, or from that video where he attempted a marathon in high heels. But today, he's back on the show to discuss his 75 Hard Challenge, aka Operation Get Isaiah a Six Pack.

With all the humor, Isaiah is a legit runner. He successfully ran a marathon in cheap budget shoes. And outside of stunts, he is a highly competitive runner. He recently set a personal best of 2:41:54 at the Chicago Marathon. He has also attempted a sub-4:30 mile.

At the end of the day, running isn't just about miles or minutes or podiums. It's about the version of yourself you're willing to fight for: even when it's 5 AM, even when the ice bath is waiting, even when your next marathon is on a different continent and you're running it in a pair of shoes that absolutely were not designed for 26 miles.

Tap into the Isaiah Photo Special.

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S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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An Inside Look At How Grant Fisher Set 2 World Records in 6 Days, Became the First American to Medal in the Olympic 5K & 10K, and the Conversation at 19 That Changed Everything Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Grant Fisher holds American records, world records, and an Olympic medal. He's arguably the greatest American distance runner alive—and he's only 28.

But the story that shaped all of it almost didn't happen. His college coach sat him down junior year and asked one question: how much do you actually care about this? That conversation changed everything.

Then, before the 2024 Olympics, Grant did something most athletes never do at the height of their power: he blew it all up. New coach, new city, new training. Complete blank slate.

So what drives a man who already has the records to rebuild from scratch? What does it feel like when you can't force the magic; you just have to be ready when it comes? And how does one of the most honest athletes in the sport sit with the tension between peak performance and knowing the window is finite?

He's 28, at his absolute best, being chased by a new generation of Americans who want what he has, and in this conversation, he holds nothing back.

This is one of the most honest conversations we have ever had with an athlete operating at the highest level of the sport.

This conversation is worth every minute.

Tap into the Grant Fisher Special.

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S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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How Adriaan Wildschutt Won the NYC Half Marathon in 59:30 with Only One Career 20-Mile Run — The Track Speed, Half Marathon Build, and McGregor Mindset Behind It Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Adriaan Wildschutt just became the first South African in history to win the NYC Half Marathon, and it looks like he’s in the middle of a memorable career.

Adriaan holds five South African national records. He ran a sizzling 59:13 half marathon debut. He was 13th at the World Cross Country Championships, which was the best finish a South African man has ever had at that event. This guy is notbuilding toward something. He's already in the middle of it.

Adriaan’s NYC Half Marathon victory on March 15 was both historic and revelatory. If the running world didn’t know him before, they do now. At the Valencia Half Marathon in October 2025, he debuted with a 59:13. And at the World Athletics Championships in August 2025, he secured a 10th-place finish in the 10,000m in Tokyo.

To cap it off, he holds the South African national records in the 10,000m (outdoor): 26:50.64, the 5,000m (outdoor): 12:56.76, the 3,000m (outdoor): 7:32.99, the Half Marathon: 59:13, and the 5,000m (indoor): 12:56.67.

Historic, revelatory, and long overdue for the recognition, If the running world didn't know Adriaan Wildschutt before Sunday, they do now.

Tap into the Adriaan Wildschutt Special.

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S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

How Coach Ryan Waite Produced an NCAA Indoor Mile Champion — The Scouting System, Race Simulation Workouts, and Mental Edge That Won It Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

The man behind one of the most exciting moments in collegiate track this season is here: BYU Assistant Coach Ryan Waite. His athlete, Carter Cutting, just claimed the 2026 NCAA Indoor Mile title.

Ryan isn't just a coach. He's a five-time All-American who ran these same kinds of races, felt that same pressure, and now pours every bit of that experience and wisdom into the athletes he develops.

He is the current Assistant Coach for the BYU men’s distance program; he returned after a successful tenure as the head coach of the University of Delaware. He was instrumental in assisting the BYU Men’s Cross Country team to a National Championship in 2024. He also played a pivotal role in coaching steeplechase Olympian James Corrigan.

Before coaching, Coach Waite was a standout middle-distance runner for the Cougars as a five-time All-American and three-time Conference Champion. He was a part of the school's elite distance medley relay (9:29.0) at the time; he is fifth all-time at BYU in the indoor 800m (1:48.49); and sixth all-time in the outdoor 800m (1:46.83).

The résumé speaks for itself. Now let's hear from the man behind it.

Tap into the Ryan Waite Special.

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S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

Exclusive: How Carter Cutting PR'd Every Single Year Since Age 9 — The Compounding Confidence That Built an NCAA Mile Championship Win Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

Just a few months ago, Carter Cutting wasn’t the favorite in the men’s mile of the NCAA Indoor Championship.

In fact, he was ranked 10th in the field heading into this big meet. But when the moment came, the BYU junior delivered one of the most decisive kicks of the entire meet—closing his final 200 meters in 27.35 seconds to win the 2026 NCAA Indoor Mile National Championship in 3:58.94.

That victory didn’t just crown a new champion, it also ended a 15-year drought for BYU men’s individual indoor titles. And it capped a season where Cutting had already broken the BYU school record in the mile (3:52.84) and won the Big 12 title along the way.

His PRs include the 3:52.84 indoor mile, a 3:37.03 in the indoor 1500m, 1:48.53 in the 800m, and 2:21.48 in the indoor 1000m.

Carter Cutting’s story is a reminder that championship racing isn’t always about who has the fastest seed time: it’s about who’s ready when the moment arrives. He trusted his preparation, stayed patient in a tactical race, and unleashed the kick that made him a champion.

Tap into the Carter Cutting Special.

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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How Kimberley May Went From Almost Quitting Running to Signing With New Balance & Turning Pro — The Mindset Shift That Made the Difference Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

The last time Kimberley May joined the show, she was a 4:27 miler pulling back the curtain on what it takes to compete at the highest level of collegiate running.

Since then, her career has accelerated into something much bigger.

In early 2025, May ran 8:44.73 for the indoor 3,000m, breaking the Providence College record and posting one of the fastest times in NCAA history.

Over the past year, she has also risen to become the second-fastest New Zealand woman ever in both the 1,500m and the mile, cementing herself among the most accomplished middle-distance athletes her country has produced.

Her personal bests tell the story of remarkable range and progression: 2:03.46 (800m), 4:04.40 (1500m), 4:27.36 (mile), 8:44.73 (3,000m), and 15:26.50 (5,000m). That 4:04.40 in the 1500m ranks No. 2 all-time in New Zealand history, while her 4:27 indoor mile also sits second-fastest ever by a New Zealand woman.

Now, after a historic run at Providence, May is entering the next stage of her career: signing professionally with New Balance and stepping onto the global stage of middle-distance running. From NCAA standout to international contender, the trajectory of Kimberley May is only just beginning.

Tap into the Kimberley May Special.

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz