THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Latest Episodes:

The Comeback Is Greater Than The Setback: How NCAA Champion & Adidas Pro Will Sumner Is Using Lessons From His 2024 Setbacks & Using Them To Make 2025 His Best Year Yet Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

Mid-distance star Will Sumner is back on the show after smashing the Millrose Games 600m record in February, clocking an impressive 1:14.04

The former Georgia Bulldog, who attended Woodstock High School in Georgia, comes from a lineage of stand-out runners. Will's parents, Brad and Tosha, both ran collegiately in the 1990s–Brad at Villanova and Tosha at Georgia. Will's sister, Brynne, has run for Villanova and Clemson and specializes in the 800m and 1500m.

In high school, Will ran the (current) fourth-fastest outdoor 800m with a time of 1:46.53. He was named Gatorade Georgia Track and Field Player of the Year in 2021. He has since lowered that to an eye-popping 1:44.26 in 2023 when he won the NCAA Championships in June of that year as a freshman.

Will then went on to compete in the stacked 800m field at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oregon and finished fifth with a time of 1:47.41.

Will has a gold medal to his name, competing as part of the winning 4x400m team at the 2023 U23 NACAC Championships in Costa Rica.

After an accomplished year with UGA, Will decided to turn pro in 2023, signing with Adidas. Will has current PRs ofWhile the USA 800m scene is chock full of all-time greats, Will is primed to be in the mix for years to come.

Will's career PRs include 21.55 in the 200m, 45.78 in the 400m, 1:14.04 in the 600m and 1:44.26 in the 800m.

In today's conversation, Will takes me through his setbacks and challenges in 2024, insights from them, how to overcome your own challenges, what his training is looking like these days, his goals for 2025, and his Hot Wheels collection.

Tap into the Will Sumner Special.

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Notre Dame's Coach Chris Neal On His Wild Journey From Coaching Middle School To Leading Power Five Schools To NCAA Championships Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast is Coach Chris Neal!

Coach Neal is currently an Assistant Track & Field and Cross Country Coach at The University of Notre Dame. He leads the Men's program.

Before Notre Dame, Coach Neal y coached ten NCAA Cross Country Championship team qualifiers with four top-15 finishes. He has also coached his teams to 18 Southern Conference Team Cross Country titles, nine men titles and nine women’s titles. In 2017, Neal coached the Furman program to be the NCAA Cross Country Southeast Regional Team Champions.

In his time at Furman, Coach Neal led 133 individuals to All-Southern Conference Cross Country honors. There were also 47 student-athletes named USTFCCCA All-Regional Cross Country, and 20 NCAA All-Americans. He also coached athletes to break 30 school records.

During his tenure, Coach Neal coached 56 student-athletes to NCAA Track and Field first-round qualifiers and 28 individual NCAA Track and Field Finals qualifiers. Included in those qualifiers is Allie Buchalski, the NCAA 2nd place finisher in the 5,000m Championship in 2018, and Aaron Templeton, the 5th place finisher at NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2018.

Prior to his time at Furman, Neal spent 2008-2012 at Ohio State as the Head Women’s Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track and Field Coach. The Buckeyes were the 2011 and 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Big 10 Champions, and for the first time in school history claimed the Big 10 title for the Indoor Track & Field Championships. Also a first for Ohio State was when Neal coached the team in 2009 to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

At Ohio State, Coach Neal coached four individuals to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Eight student-athletes earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in that time. Coach Neal also coached 36 student-athletes to make the Top-5 All-Time List.

Coach Neal's career has also included stops at Tulane University, where he was the Head Women’s Cross Country/Assistant Track and Field Coach, and the University of New Orleans, where he was the Head Cross Country/Assistant Track and Field Coach.

A 2003 Eastern Kentucky University graduate, Neal earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and then went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Sport Administration from Ball State University in 2005.

In today's conversation, Coach Neal takes me through his journey in sport, his principles of coaching, how he recruits the right people to his program, and much more! I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Coach Neal and hope you take the time to listen.

Tap into the Coach Neal Special.

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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An Exclusive Look At The Freshman Year Of Connor Burns & Simeon Birnbaum Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

CONNOR BURNS & SIMEON BIRNBAUM RETURN TO THE PODCAST

You ask, we deliver.

After months of requests to get the villains back on the podcast, we came through.

Connor Burns & Simeon Birnbaum were two of the greatest high school runners of all-time and graduted high school this past spring. Both broke the 4-minute mile barrier, and set countless state records, and in Connor's case a National Record in the 5k by running 13:37. Simeon had one of the greatest seasons ever by a high schooler breaking record after record and turning heads with every race.

Both run for The University of Oregon and are currently true Freshman.

Around this time last year, we launched The Call Room with them, which was not only widely successful, but also incredibly fun and entertaining. Anytime they come on a podcast, it's a blast and turns some heads with hilarious takes.

In today's episode, Connor and Simeon recap their freshman year thus far, both on and off the track. This is a podcast for the books.

Tap into the Connor Burns & Simeon Birnbaum Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

Coach Lew Caralla On What It Takes To Be Great, Sacrifices, Attributes Of The Most Successful People, & Giving Viral Speeches Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast is the Director of Strength & Conditioning at the Univerisity of Charlotte, Lew Caralla.

He's perhaps best known for his viral practice speeches to his teams over the years that have amassed hundreds of millions of views. He made a book out of some of the principles he talks about called "Fire Lighters 365."

Before his current role, Caralla was Buffalo's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2018, following stints as Director of Strength and Conditioning at Louisiana-Lafayette (2016-17) and North Texas (2015). He was named Football Scoop's 2018 Strength Coach of the Year during his time at Buffalo.

He served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Michigan for three years (2012-14), at Mississippi State for one (2011), and at Georgia Tech. His career began with an internship at South Florida in 2007. He was an intern at Virginia in 2008 and became a graduate assistant at Mississippi State in 2009-10.

Originally from Tarpon Springs, Fla., Caralla graduated with a bachelor's degree in wellness and corporate fitness from Defiance (Ohio) in 2008. He was a two-time all-conference running back and also earned academic all-conference accolades twice. He received a master's degree in kinesiology from Mississippi State in 2010.

In today's conversation, Lew discusses what it takes to be great, what separates the good from the great, lessons from working with NFL legends, his journey in sport, and so much more! This conversation will get you fired up and ready to attack whatever task is at hand.

Tap into the Coach Lew Caralla Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

A Conversation With The Head Coach Of HOKA NAZ Elite: Jack Mullaney | Insights From Coaching Some Of The Fastest Athletes In The World Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast is Head Coach of HOKA NAZ Elite Jack Mullaney.

Born and raised in Eagan, Minn., Jack stayed in state and attended the University of Minnesota, where he spent time as a student assistant for the Gopher athletics program. After graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, he spent a brief time in the financial world before returning to Minnesota to pursue his passion for coaching. His journey began in sports administration, serving as the operations assistant for the University of Minnesota’s track & field and cross-country programs during the 2015/2016 school year. He moved on to Utah State in the fall of 2016, where he spent a year as the Director of Operations for the Aggies, organizing both the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Mountain Regional and 2017 Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

In 2017, he was finally given a chance to enter the coaching world when he was hired on as the assistant cross country and track and field coach at the University of Portland. For the next seven years, Jack was a key staff member for the successful Pilots distance program, working with men’s coach Rob Conner and women’s coach Ian Solof. During his time at the U of P, he went back to school and earned a Master’s of Science in Sport Management from West Virginia University in 2021. He is also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS) and a USATF Level 3 Coach.

While at Portland, Jack helped lead the men to two podium finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and the women to their highest-ever finish in program history. The recruiting coordinator for both programs, Jack helped bring top athletes to Portland from across the United States and abroad. He also worked with multiple Portland athletes after they graduated including France’s Emmanuel Roudolff-Lévisse who represented his country at the 2022 European Championships.

In today's conversation, Jack takes me through his journey as an athlete and coach, lessons he's learned over the years, what it's been like working with NAZ Elite thus far, future ambitions, and so much more!

Tap into the Coach Jack Mullaney Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

Sadie Engelhardt On Her Pursuit Of Greatness In 2024 + An Inside Look At Her Commitment To NC State Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

Back on the podcast is one of the fastest high school girl milers of all time, Sadie Engelhardt!

This past weekend, Sadie won the 2024 New Balance National Indoor Mile title by running a meet record of 4:36.36. She also recently commited to run for NC State in 2025 after she graduates high school.

If you're not familiar with Sadie, she has run 2:05.66 (800m), 2:41 (1k), 4:11.79 (1500m), 4:34.45 (Mile), and 9:50.69 (3200m). She was the California Girls Gatorade player of the year for both Track and XC, won the 800/1600 double at her state meet in California, and is 3xNew Balance National Championship Mile winner.

In today's conversation, Sadie goes through her past year of running, recent results, her ambitions for this year, signing an NIL deal, and so much more!

Tap into the Sadie Engelhardt Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

Beating The Odds: Habtamu Cheney On Running 110 Mile Weeks While Working A Full-Time Job Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast is Habtamu Cheney!

Habtamu holds PRs of 63:19 in the Half-Marathon and 2:15:43 in the Marathon. He most recently placed 22nd at the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials and last year 19th at the 2023 10k USATF Championships.

In college, he ran for Utah Valley, where he significantly contributed to the success of the program. Prior to his time there, he attended Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, where he held PRs of 4:14 (1600m) and 9:10 (3200m).

In today's conversation, Habtamu takes me through his training, journey, 22nd place at the trials, social media, and much more! In my opinion, he has one of the best up-and-coming stories in the sport, so I wanted to make this episode before his rise to the top. I hope you all enjoy this one as much as we did having it!

Tap into the Habtamu Cheney Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

Inside The Journey Of One Of The Youngest Female Coaches In The NCAA: The Inspiring Story Of Judy Pendergast Mar 09, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast is one of the assistant coaches at The University of Tennesee, Coach Judy Pendergast!

Coach Judy Pendergast began her first season coaching on Rocky Top in 2023-24 after spending a year on the coaching staff at Harvard.

While at Harvard, Judy assisted in coaching the Men’s and Women’s middle distance and distance runners to one of their best years in school history. She assisted in the development of two cross-country All-Americans, ten total individual conference champions, three indoor NCAA championship qualifiers, and twelve outdoor NCAA first-round qualifiers.

Judy graduated from Harvard College in 2022 with a degree in Psychology. She was captain of the Harvard Cross Country team in 2021, where she helped lead the team to an Ivy League conference title, an NCAA Northeast Region first-place finish, and the women’s program’s best NCAA championship finish in modern history. In her Harvard career, she was a conference champion in the indoor 5,000 meters, an NCAA Indoor Finalist for the 5,000 meters, a three-time NCAA Cross Country Championships participant with the team, and the former Harvard Outdoor 5,000 meter record holder with a time of 15:58.54.

In today's conversation, Judy takes me through her career, both as an athlete and coach. I loved every minute of this one and am confident you'll find immense value in it!

Tap into the Coach Judy Pendergast Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

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A Conversation With NCAA Champion, World Championship Finalist, & 4:24 Miler Maia Ramsden Ahead Of The NCAA Championships Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast is 2xNCAA Champion & National-Record Holder, Maia Ramsden!

This conversation was recorded the week leading into the NCAA Championship Mile, so it's very fun looking back on this conversation and hearing what Maia's mindset was leading into the race where she won in a meet record time of 4:25.13.

If you don't know who Maia is (you're probably living under a rock), she runs for Harvard and has been on a tear recently. Last weekend, she placed 10th in the Women's 1500m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Scotland while representing New Zealand. This season, she also ran 4:24.83, becoming the second-fastest female indoor miler of all time and taking down a 10-year-old Ivy League Record. She is also the Harvard record holder in the 1500m, 5000m, and Indoor Mile. Before Harvard, Maia won U20 national titles in the 1500m and 800m.

On the grass, Maia placed 11th at NCAA's in 2022 and in 2023 eclipsed that former result by placing 10th in the country.

Last year, Maia signed an NIL deal with On.

In today's conversation, Maia goes through her recent success, the World Championships, her mindset going into NCAA's this weekend, how she's handled all the recent success, balancing academics and athletics, her reflections on her final year at Harvard, and much more!

Tap into the Maia Ramsden Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

-2Before: Code: "THERUNNINGEFFECT30" for 30% off: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://2before.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A Conversation With The New Assistant Coach Of The Bowerman Track Club: Alex Ostberg Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Today on the podcast is the newly announced assistant coach of the Bowerman Track Club, Alex Ostberg.

For some background, Alex Ostberg is a seven-time All-American who holds PRs of 3:58 in the Mile, 7:49 in the 3k, and 13:18 in the 5k. He has a Bachelor's Degree in human biology, a minor in psychology, and a master's in public health. Alex graduated from Stanford before getting his masters from the University of North Carolina.

Alex recently accepted a position as an Assistant Coach at Nike's Bowerman Track Club.

In today's conversation, Alex recaps his journey to get to this point, the mentors who have propelled him to this position, his ambitions with the team, how he got the job, and so much more!

Listen to this conversation to be inspired by Alex's journey and all he's done to get to this opportunity.

Tap into the Alex Ostberg Special.

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo

S H O W N O T E S

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

-2Before: Code: "THERUNNINGEFFECT30" for 30% off: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://2before.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠