Run Culture Podcast

Mike Smith, former Northern Arizona University coach and leader of Nike Swoosh Track Club, explores the art of developing elite runners. He discusses building team culture, transitioning athletes like Parker Wolfe, Ethan Strand, and Nico Young to the professional level, and finding creative edges in training. The conversation also delves into empathy, trust, honest feedback, and the mentors and friendships shaping his coaching philosophy.

What if your biggest race-day limiter isn’t fitness- but your mindset?In this episode, Shannon Thompson, a mental performance coach for elite distance runners in Flagstaff, shares practical tools to help you race with less fear and more freedom.We explore: The mountain and the weather - understanding fear and anxiety when racing gets tough. The heart of the race - deciding who you want to be and how you want to show up in the race. A loose race plan - focusing less on outcomes and more on what you can control: staying present and committing to the actions you can take, regardless of how you feel.Packed with insights for runners and coaches at every level. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Explore Shannon’s work: Website: https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/ Focus Sessions: https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/focus-session-series/ Free Session 1: https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/2026-fall-focus-session-series-session-one/ Register for the 7-session summary: https://portal.campnetwork.com/Register/Register.php?camp_id=396864

In Ep 206 of the Run Culture Podcast, Archer Hewett joins host and training partner; Liam Hemmingway and his coach Dane Verwey for a chat about his recent 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games experience! Over the past 4 years there have been several points where Archie wasn’t sure he wanted to continue 'competitive running'.Fast forward a few years and he’s representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games and finishing 4th in the Men's T20 1500m.Dane, Liam and Archie get into the whole journey - losing the love for running through COVID, finding para-athletics, building confidence, dealing with nerves, training, nutrition and getting his head right when it matters.We also get into the stuff around the racing that you don’t always hear about. Spain. Glasgow. Life on the road. Drug testing at 9:30pm the night before the race. And probably most importantly, finding the people and environment that make you feel like you actually belong.There’s a lot in this one.And Archie’s definitely not done yet.Latest episode of the Run Culture Podcast - out now wherever you listen.

Chris Miltenberg, veteran collegiate distance coach (Stanford, Georgetown, UNC) who emphasizes coaching the human side. He talks about staying curious after 22 years, simplifying training to protect athletes’ lives, and building routines that reduce distraction. He discusses controlling the narrative, holding high standards with care, and mentoring athletes through transitions.

What makes someone truly skilled: speed and certainty, or patience and attentiveness? Scientist Dr. Carl Woods explores lived experience, contextual coaching, and why expertise grows from noticing what’s happening around us. They also discuss the pressure to optimise every moment, the value of slowing down, and how thoughtfully designed spaces can invite people into movement.

Dr. Marc Bubbs, performance nutritionist and author of Peak who’s worked with Olympic athletes, talks about the “other 22 hours” that shape performance. He covers sleep and circadian habits, practical nutrition basics like protein and periodized carbs, recovery strategies, and why mastering simple routines beats chasing gimmicks. Short, actionable fundamentals for steady improvement.

Alex Ostberg, a former 13:18 5,000m runner and Nike Swoosh Track Club assistant coach, offers a rare look inside elite distance running. He discusses Charlie Hicks’ Boston breakthrough, marathon volume, fueling, tapering, and the realities of coaching alongside Jerry Schumacher. They explore world-class habits, recovery, technology, calculated risk, and the balance between sacrifice and enjoyment.

EPISODE 201 IS LIVE!This week I’m joined by Sonia Savage from @balanced_life_nutrition to chat about something that probably deserves way more attention in running circles: gut health. The bias amongst runners when it comes to performance is to over index the 'work' proponent of training...it's visible and linear thinking would suggest 'train harder = win easier' ...but as Sonia explains it's a bit more complex than that...the gut can heavily influence energy, recovery, immune function, hormones, mood and how well you actually adapt to training.We get into: • why the gut is often called the second brain • how gut health affects serotonin, dopamine and focus • the link between the gut, iron levels and inflammation • why some runners keep getting sick or flat after big efforts • good vs bad bacteria, fibre, probiotics and food diversity • common gut irritants like gluten, dairy and processed sports nutrition • practical ways to improve gut health without overcomplicating it.Plenty in this one for runners who want to understand the bigger picture a bit better — not just how to train hard, but how to actually absorb the work and stay healthy enough to keep improving.Listen now on the Run Culture Podcast.If you want to reach out to Sonia or find out more be sure to go to: @balanced_life_nutrition

How does a team go from never making NCAA Nationals… to becoming D2 national champions? That’s what I wanted to understand in this episode, when I sat down with Wingate Head Coach @poldomenechf In 2021 Wingate had never made the national championships. Two years later they won the whole thing. What fascinated me wasn’t just the result- it was the system behind it.We talked about building belief in athletes who weren’t big recruits, the role of aerobic development and threshold training, and how they’ve created a culture where athletes just keep improving year after year. We also spoke about the NCAA pathway for young runners- something a lot of Australian athletes are curious about. There’s a lot of wisdom in this one. If you enjoy conversations about coaching, development, and the culture of distance running, I think you’ll really enjoy this episode. Out now on the Run Culture Podcast.Episode 200 I might add!! Now, that's 200 conversations more wiser than when I started this project.If you enjoyed this chat and are interested to find out more or follow Wingate College's progress over the coming years be sure to go to @wingatexctf

Jack Mullaney, head coach of Northern Arizona Elite known for values-driven team building. He discusses training in Flagstaff and daily routines. He contrasts pro and college coaching, shares how he develops athletes like Jackson Sharp, and explains the five C's that shape culture. He emphasizes reframing pressure, compassion after near-misses, and the mantra to 'heat the room' through consistent, joyful daily habits.