THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Today on the podcast is professional trail & track runner, Anna Gibson.  Anna has one of the most insane resumes I've ever seen.  Anna was born in Jackson, Wyoming, where she had a record-shattering prep career, winning 17 (YES SEVENTEEN) overall Wyoming state titles combining track, cross country, and Nordic skiing. She was also the valedictorian of her class with a 4.0 unweighted GPA She won the 2017 Brooks PR Invite in the Mile in 4:43.77 and placed fourth at NXN in 2016 Nike Cross Nationals. She was the 2017 Junior National Champion in the 10k Classic for Nordic skiing. After a brief stint at Brown, Anna transferred to The University of Washington where she was a part of the NCAA Record-Run in Distance Medley Relay. She was 2023 Second Team All-America (Mile, Indoors | DMR, Indoors) and Honorable Mention (1,500m, Outdoors), 2022 All-West Region XC, 2022 Honorable Mention All-America (1,500m, Outdoors), 2022 Second Team All-America (Mile, Indoors) & the 2022 Pac-12 1,500m Bronze Medalist. Anna now competes for Brooks Running professionally both on the trails and on the track. She placed 18th at US Olympic Trials this past summer & holds a PR of 4:08 in the 1500m. She was 10th at USAs in 2023 in 1500m.  On the trails, she placed 6th at Sierre-Zinal 2024. She holds the course record at the Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb 2024. 3rd at Pikes Peak Ascent 2023. 4th at Mammoth Trailfest 2023. 12th overall Golden Trail World Series 2023, having raced only two out of three scoring opportunities during the season. In today's conversation, Anna takes me through the diet of a professional runner, her astounding high school years, growing up in a small state, her growth and development in college, the impact her UW years had on her, her transition to professional runner, her ambitions for the future, and so much more! I absolutely loved this conversation; it was such a fun conversation! Put in your airpods, lace up your shoes, and hit the pavement with Anna.  Tap into the Anna Gibson Special.  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.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!  S H O W N O T E S -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Throughout the years, some of my favorite episodes have, funny enough, been with kids from the same high school, Valor Christian.  The man who coached these athletes is Coach Greg Coplen. After hearing so many positive things about him, I knew I needed to get him on the podcast and pick his brain.  Coach Coplen coached at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, CO, for 10 years and is now starting his 2nd full year at Chaparral High School in Parker, CO.  He's coached five teams in four different years, at two different schools, that finished the season in DyeStat National rankings, four of those finishing in the top 10 in the country. Throughout his tenure, he's coached state champions at nearly every event in both genders.  In his first year at Chaparral High School, he helped coach the five boys' State Champions and oversaw the emergence of the girls' cross-country team, which finished third in the state of Colorado, sixth at Nike Southwest Regionals, and 27th in the country. Before last season, the Chaparral girls had not been ranked in the top 10 in the state in over 15 years. In today's conversation, Coach Coplen takes me through how to flip around a program in one year, how to instill excellence in your athletes, how to handle setbacks and disappointment, the lessons he's learned from coaching high-level athletes like Cole Sprout & Ashley Jones, the legacy he wants to leave behind in the sport, and much more!  This conversation was absolutely fantastic. I personally have many takeaways, and I hope you'll take the time to listen to it! Tap into the Coach Greg Coplen Special.  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.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!  S H O W N O T E S -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is a man who voted for Pedro, Graham Blanks.  Graham also happens to be an Olympian. He placed 9th in the 5k at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.  Last November, Graham won the 2023 NCAA title on the grass and two weeks later put an NCAA record to his name. Graham went undefeated all of the 2023 Cross Country season culminating in him winning the 2023 NCAA XC Title. He won in a time of 28:37.7 on ⁠Panorama Farms⁠ in Charlottesville, Virginia. He became the first-ever Ivy to win the men's cross-country individual national title.  Just two short weeks later, Graham lined up for his first race of the indoor season against a historic field, and ran a breathtaking 13:03.78 to win the race and set a new Collegiate Record.  In today's conversation, Graham recaps his historic outdoor season, the road back from injury, how to maintain belief in yourself when things aren't going well, making his first Olympic team, his thoughts on his final year in the NCAA, exclusive stories from the Olympic Village, and much more!  Tap into the Graham Blanks Special.  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.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!  S H O W N O T E S -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Back on the podcast after placing 5th in the Olympic Games is Hobbs Kessler! Hobbs placed 5th in the 1500m in Paris, running 3:29.45. This was the greatest 1500m championship race of all-time.  Hobbs competes professionally for Adidas, having turned professional directly after high school. He holds the North American U20 record in the 1500 meters, having run 3:34.36 at the Portland Track Festival in May 2021. He also holds the American high school record for the indoor mile, with a time of 3:57.66 set in February 2021. He was named the 2021 Gatorade National Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Hobbs competes for The Very Nice Track Club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hobbs is one of the greatest runners of our generation. Hobbs is also a World Road Running Champion and holds the World Record for the Road Mile. Hobbs is also a Bronze Medalist from the 2024 World Indoor Championships in the 1500m.  In today's conversation, Hobbs takes me through his 1500m performance at the Olympics, his take on USA 1500m running, his 2024 season, his thoughts on Jakob sticking with the 1500m, him never winning an XC State Title, going pro out of HS, and so much more. Hobbs is such an awesome guy and I always love my conversations with him. Put in your airpods, lace up your shoes, and hit the pavement with Hobbs.  Tap into the Hobbs Kessler Special.  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.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!  S H O W N O T E S -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Kung Fu Kenny comes on the podcast today to share his story & ambitions.  Kenny Bednarek is the current World #1 in the 200m, a 2xOlympian, a 2x Olympic Silver Medallist, a World Championship Silver Medallist, the 2021 Diamond League Champion, and a 9xDiamond League winner.  Needless to say, this guy is really good at track.  Kenny represents NIKE & The United States on the global stage.  Kenny has run 9.87 in the 100m and 19.59 in the 200m.  In today's conversation, Kenny walks me through the moments that have led up to his successful career, his Paris experience, and reflections on his Silver track speed vs. football speed; if Lebron could break 5 minutes in the mile, his ambitions for the future, and so much more!  This conversation was a true privilege to have and exceeded my expectations. I hope you all take the time to listen and learn from Kenny!  Tap into the Kung Fu Kenny 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.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!  S H O W N O T E S -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is one of the biggest up-and-coming 1500m stars, Elliott Cook!  Elliott is one of the best runners in the NCAA at the moment. He competes for The University of Oregon.  In 2022, Elliott won his first PAC-12 Championship in the 800. In 2023, he became an Indoor All-American (7th in the Mile) and was a 2023 Individual Qualifier in XC.  In 2024 Elliott stepped up his game and became the 2024 Outdoor PAC-12 Champion in BOTH the 800. and 1500m. He was the outdoor runner-up in the NCAA 1500m and was an Olympic Trials Finalist in the 1500m where he came 8th. Elliott holds PRs of 1:46.6 (800m), 3:33.8 (1500m), and 29:22 (10k XC).  In today's conversation, Elliott and I go through his background in sport, how he's gotten to where he is today, his breakout year in 2024, ways he's taken his running to the next level, his ambitions for the future, 614 subjects, and so much more!  This one was a ton of fun and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did having it! If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!  Tap into the Elliott Cook Special.  We did this one in person in a beautiful studio in Austin, Texas. You can listen on Apple Podcasts or watch + listen on Spotify / YouTube by searching for "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.  S H O W N O T E S -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

80 minutes of obsessing about running, discussing college, how to get the most out of your life, and so much more!  That's today's podcast.  And there's no better human jam on those subjects with than Mr. Obession himself, Zach Pogrob.  Zach has created next-level content over social media over the past few years and has amassed a following of over 1.4 million followers on Instagram alone. He's one of the best writers I've ever read, and his writings have profoundly impacted my life.  Zach has also recently fallen in love with the sport of running and has thrown himself fully into the fire of seeing how far he can go in this sport. In his first Marathon, on next to no training Zach ran a 3:16:30 Marathon. In his second marathon, Zach ran 2:55:14. He's a beast.  This podcast was one of my all-time favorites. It's just two humans who want more out of their lives having one of those late-night talks about everything on their mindown. You won't want to miss this one. It's special.  If this episode blesses you, please share with a friend!  Tap into the Zach Pogrob Special.  We did this one in person in a beautiful studio in Austin, Texas. You can listen on Apple Podcasts or watch + listen on Spotify / YouTube by searching for "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.  S H O W N O T E S -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is the one and only Coach Brandon Bonsey from Georgetown!  Coach Bonsey is entering his seventh campaign as head men’s cross country coach and previously served as an assistant coach for the track & field / cross country program. Bonsey returned to his alma mater at the beginning of the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach and has worked primarily with the middle-distance and distance runners from the men’s team. In the events that he coaches, the Hoyas have tallied 34 total BIG EAST event titles (29 individual, 5 relay) and the Hoya men have won four-consecutive team titles at the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 BIG EAST Cross Country Championships.  Coach Bonsey used to be an athlete himself at Georgetown, where he was captain of the cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams during his senior year. In today's conversation, we discuss the impact the Olympics could have on the future of US distance running, stories from his years at Georgetown, the lessons he's learned throughout the years of coaching high-level teams, and much more!  If this episode blesses you, please share with a friend!  Tap into the Coach Brandon Bonsey 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 -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Back on the podcast is a household name, Shannon Thompson MAPP, NCCP!  Today's conversation particularly centers around how to get the most out of your training and racing through simple mental performance skills that you can put to practice this cross-country season. We also dedicate a portion to talking about parents and their effects on an athletes athletic/life success. We dive into the courses Shannon has created to help this audience.  If you're not familiar with Shannon, she's the mental performance counselor who works closely with NAU, NAZ Elite, UA Dark Sky Distance, and a plethora of top professional runners. As an athlete and a coach, Shannon has always been fascinated by the psychology of well-being and achievement. Her interest regarding the power of the mind to impact an athlete's performance and overall experience drove Shannon to complete an undergraduate degree in psychology, and then a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.  Through listening to this podcast episode, you'll walk about with practical tools on improving mental performance that you can directly apply today.  Tap into the Shannon Thompson Special.  If this episode blesses you, please share with a friend!  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 -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast are the legends, Drew Griffith and Ryan Trahan!  Today, these Irish boys and I go through the hottest takes in track and field and answer your questions!  If you're not familar with them, let me introduce you:  Drew Griffith is one of the most successful high school runners of all-time. He was a Footlocker National Finalist in 2022 and 2023, becoming the Footlocker National Champion last year. He won National Titles at New Balance in both the Mile & 2 Mile in 2024 setting meet records in both. He also won Brooks PR and Festival Of Miles. He was the Gatorade XC PA player of the year in 2022 and 2023. He was the Gatorade Track and Field PA player of the year in 2024. Drew holds PRs of 800- 1:52.05, 1 Mile - 3:57.72, 2 Mile - 8:31.46.  Cameron Todd was the NXN Runner-Up in 2023, NXR Midwest Champion in 2023 (did so in an NBA Pacer jersey), 2x Foot Locker All-American, Indiana Individual, and Team XC State Champion (All Classes). He was the 2023 IN Gatorade Player of the Year XC and has run 4:08 (Mile), 8:46 (3200m), and 14:43 on the grass.  Cameron Todd is also Ryan Trahan and will wear socks while sleeping. He can also probably bench a plate.  This one may be one of the most entertaining podcasts of all time, and you will not want to miss it!  Tap into the Irish Special.  If this episode blesses you, please share with a friend!  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 -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com