The Running Effect Podcast

Record-setting Tar Heels superstar Ethan Strand returns to the show today as he gears up for the Indoor Track and Field Championships this March in Virginia. The year 2025 has been good to this mid-distance star, as he ran a remarkable 3:48.32 indoor mile in Boston on February 1. This performance cemented Ethan as the fastest indoor miler in NCAA history while also positioning himself as the third-fastest indoor mile runner ever.This rising legend also owns the NCAA record in the 3,000m; he ran 7:30.15 in Boston at the end of 2024, famously out-kicking his similarly-stellar teammate, Parker Wolfe. Ethan also ran his first-ever indoor 5k and won in impressive fashionwith a time of 13:26.60 at the ACC Indoor Championships in March.Prior to entering the conversation for being on the pantheon of the greatest NCAA runners ever, Ethan attended Vestavia Hills High in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was a two-time Alabama Gatorade Cross Country Player of the Year winner (2019 and 2020). Ethan comes from coaching parents, as his father, Scott, is a former coach on the Alabama men’s track team, and his mother, Lori, was a cross-country coach at Samford University. In today’s conversation, Ethan walks me through his past few months of performances including two NCAA records and winning the ACC 5k, we discuss XC strength, why things have clicked recently for him, the inside scoop on the UNC DMR, his goals going into Nationals, and his long-term vision for outdoors. Take the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest to ever do it at the NCAA level. Tap into the Ethan Strand 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

American Olympic distance runner Fiona O'Keeffe joins the show today as she gears up for an electrifying spring of racing.Fiona, best known for winning the 2024 United States Olympic Marathon Trials in her 26.2 debut, is an accomplished 5k and 10k runner with accolades dating back to her high school days.Fiona competed at Davis High School in California, where she won the 2014 Gatorade California Cross Country Runner of the Year award, the first to do so from her school. During her time at Davis High she was a three-time California State Division 1 champion; she won the 2016 California track title in the 3,200m, and was a member of a team runner-up finish at NXN in cross country. She then took her talents to Stanford, where she was a seven-time All-American as a Cardinal for the class of 2020. Fiona won the 2019 Pac-12 individual cross country title, in addition to being a member of two team podium finishes at the NCAA cross country championships.Fiona's lifetime PRs include 15:01 in the indoor 5k; 30:52 in the 10k; 67:42 in the half marathon; and 2:22:10 in the full marathon–which was her first place finish at the 2024 US Olympic Trials marathon. She also notched first place in the 2022 US 10 mile championship. After turning pro in 2021, Fiona signed with Puma. She is currently coached by Amy and Alistair Cragg. In today's conversation, Fiona takes me through her past year of successful running, winning her US Olympic Marathon Trials title last February, how she handles setbacks and pressure/expectations, her goals for 2025, and much more. Tap into the Fiona O'Keeffe 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

THE CONNOR BURNS & SIMEON BIRNBAUM SPECIALThe Oregon Boys are back in action, baby! Our Call Room legends, Connor Burns and Simeon Birnbaum, return from a short TRE break–ready to dish on everything they've been up to. Buckle up!The boys broke the 4-minute mile barrier in high school, and set countless state records. Connor set a National Record in the 5k by running 13:37; Simeon set a South Dakota state record in the 3,200m; ran the second-fastest 2-mile in US high school history; and the second-fastest 1,500m time in high school history.Connor is off to a strong 2025 season so far, setting a PR in the 3,000m indoors on February 14 with a time of 7:48.47. In high school, he had PRs of 1:51.00 in the 800m, 3:45.42 in the 1,500m, and 3:58.83 in the mile. Simeon has high school PRs of 1:47.96 in the 800m, 3:37.93 in the 1,500m, 3:57.53 in the mile and 8:34.10 in the 2-mile.Just eye-popping numbers from both stud athletes.  The boys' freshman years were hampered a bit by injury, but that doesn't dim the swagger they bring on the track and the grass. These boys are far from shy, and are the linchpins of Oregon coach Jerry Schumacher's distance program. Schumacher assumed leadership in 2022 after a 15-year tenure with the Nike Bowerman Track Club.In today's conversation, Connor and Simeon take me through their XC/fall seasons and indoor season accomplishments, including Connor's B1G title in the 5k and Simeon running 3:52 in the Mile. We also dive into their mindsets going intothe outdoor season, Simeon's take going into the NCAA Indoor Meet, & answer your listener questions!You'd be a fool to miss this one. Tap into the Connor Burns & Simeon Birnbaum 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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'm

Adidas pro Josh Hoey joins us fresh off a scorching performance at the Indoor Championships in New York, kicking off his 2025 season in other-wordly fashion.Josh broke his own American Indoor 800m record, winning his first national championship at the 2025 USATF Indoor Championships in Staten Island with a time of 1:43.24. Josh also ran a blazing 1:43.9 in the 800m at the Millrose Games; prior to that he won the 1500m at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston with a time of 3:33.66, beating Olympian Grant Fisher. In January of this year he set a new American record in the short track 1,000m with a time of 2:14.48–which is the second fastest time in indoor history. Josh finished fourth in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800m with a time of 1:44.12. Josh went to Bishop Shanahan High School in Pennsylvania, where he set a U.S. high school national record in the 800m as a senior with a time of 1:47.67.Josh has experienced a lot in his time as a competitive runner, having worked with six coaches over six years. While Josh's dad is his main collaborator when it comes to training, his current work with coach Justin Rinaldi–who leads the Fast8 Track Club–is bearing immediate dividends. In today's conversation, Josh takes me through his mindset, why he has much bigger things on his mind than what he's accomplished so far in 2025, what he wants to do on the World Stage, the state of the US Men's 800m, why his faith is so important to him and much more. This conversation was excellent in its ability to dive-deep into one of the biggest up-and-coming runners in the world. Tap into the Josh Hoey 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

The fastest high school 3,000m runner in history, Tayvon Kitchen, is on the show today for the first time, ready to break down his record-shattering senior season and what's next for him.Tayvon clocked a 3:59.61 at the BU Terrier DMR Challenge this past February 21, cementing himself as the seventh-fastest indoor high school miler ever.The senior from Crater High School in Central Point, Oregon, has been on a heater as of late, putting himself in the same conversation with the best 18 year olds in the nation.He ran the fifth-fastest indoor 2-mile in US history with a time of 8:41.21 at Chicago's Gately Park on January 31 of this year. He also broke Nico Young's aforementioned high school 3,000 meter record with a time of 7:55.48 at the 2025 Husky Classic in Washington. He also owns a 5,000m PR of 14:18.75.Tayvon won the 2023–2024 Gatorade Player of the Year award for boys cross country in Oregon; he came in fourth at the Nike Cross Northwest Regionals that year. He is also a National Honor Society member, and has volunteered locally as part of his church's Welfare Farm program.This Coros-affiliated stud is also well-known for doubling at the 2024 Nike U20 Championships by running a 14:24 in the morning and then a 14:31 in the evening. In today's conversation, we go into Tayvon's 3k HS record, him breaking 4:00 minutes in the Mile, his ambitions for the outdoor season, what makes Crater so special, and what his training looks like. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from one of the best to do it at the high school level. Tap into the Tayvon Kitchen 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

Middle-distance star, marathoner, and Brooks runner Jess McClain joins the show for the first time today, with her sights set on an Olympic qualifying time on the track. In February of 2024, Jess came in fourth place at the Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando with a time of 2:25.46; this was just her third marathon ever. Jess coached herself leading up to the 2024 Olympic Trials, while working full-time in marketing and training without a sponsor. Jess had previously worked with her high school coach, Jeff Messer, after graduating from Stanford, but took a hiatus from competitive running in 2020 when the pandemic hit.Impressively, Jess negotiated her own deal with Brooks after the Olympic Trials, showing savvy both on the track and roads but also in the negotiating room.In high school at Xavier College Prep in Arizona, Jess was a 14-time state champion; four-time Foot Locker finalist; and Gatorade Runner of the Year in track and cross country.Collegiately she ran for Stanford, where was a 7-time All-American, 2-time PAC 12 Champion in the 10,000m; and had an NCAA-leading time in the 5,000m in 2015.Professionally, Jess has held the title of Executive Director of the Johnjay & Rich #LoveUp Foundation, and has worked as a marketing consultant.In today's conversation, Jess goes into her mindset, her 2025 racing schedule, her new coach, and how she's structuring training, what she's learned through the process of returning to running, lessons from the last year, and so much more.Jess always brings so much wisdom to our conversations, and I hope you'll take the time to learn from her successful career. Tap into the Jess McClain 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

New high school mile record-holder and future Washington Husky, Owen Powell, joins the show just days after crushing his second sub-4-minute mile in February, etching his name in history books.First, Owen ran a sizzling 3:57.74 on February 14 against collegiate runners at the Husky Classic in Washington. Then, to add to his incredible start to 2025, he blew the doors off the national high school indoor mile record (held by Hobbs Kessler) with a time of 3:56.66 at BU's Terrier DMR Challenge on February 21. The signs have been pointing toward this type of performance for a while; last season Owen was named 2023-24 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Washington, running a 1:48.60 in the 800m to gain national attention. Owen also won the Washington 3A State Championship in the 1,600m in 2023, and state championships in cross country and the 800m in 2024. In addition to his mile and 800m PRs, he has also run 2:24.41 in the 1,000m, 3:44.70 in the 1500m, and 8:04.83 in the 3,000m.Heading into his senior year he had an impressive 3.68 GPA in the classroom. Outside of school, Owen is an avid mountain biker and rock climber, while also volunteering locally as a youth track coach.In today's conversation, Owen takes me through his remarkable week of performances, his mindset leading into this outdoor season, and his thoughts on Webb's record, what his training looks like, and so much more. Tap into the Owen Powell 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

Olympic middle-distance star Emily Mackay joins us today, fresh off a blazing new 3,000m personal best set in February in Boston. Emily, who currently runs for Team New Balance Boston, is coming off a tremendous 2024 season where she represented Team USA in the Paris Olympics. She qualified for the 1,500m after coming in second during the trials with a time of 3:55–which puts her third all-time for American women in the distance. Prior to the Olympics, Emily was a bronze medalist in the 1,500m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships; she also took home bronze in the 1,500m at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile. Emily graduated from Binghamton University as a five-time NCAA Division 1 All-American. She was a multi-discipline specialist, showing strength and versatility by placing a school-best 14th overall at the 2020 NCAA XC Championships, in addition to coming in seventh overall at the 5k in the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track Championships.She received her undergraduate in Psychology and went on to acquire her MBA in 2022. Emily is a very balanced and impressive person on many levels. Her current 800m PR is 1:57 and her PR in the 3,000m is 8:35 (which she ran at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix). In today’s conversation, Emily takes me through her recent success in sport, the journey to get to that point, how she has progressed over the years, her Olympic experience, her dreams for the future, training with the best in the US, and many other subjects relating to running, life, and well, coffee. Tap into the Emily Mackay 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

We have officially released 500 Episodes of The Running Effect Podcast. This one honestly means a lot. Because I had direct control over that number. At the end of the day, I can't control how many people listen, where I sit on the charts, etc, but I can control my work and my effort. 500 is the result of a dream and journey I started almost five years ago and a consistent effort to create something meaningful. At the end of the day it's just a number, but I know Dominic from four years ago would be really proud. 90% of podcasts quit after just twenty episodes. I knew that wouldn't be me. We live in a society today where everyone wants the quick fix, the easy route to success, the instant gratification. But the quickest fix is the longest path. It's never been so easy to win in all of history before. You literally have a million-dollar idea in your head. You're just scared to act, scared of what other people will think of you. The Dominic who is writing this today is in large part a reflection of these 500 conversations. They've molded me into the person I am today, and for that, I'll be forever grateful. If you're a former guest reading this, thank you for the impact you've had on me and for gifting me with your time and wisdom. I appreciate you more than you know. If you're a listener, thank you for spending some time with me. I hope I provided you value and inspiration. I'm excited at the opportunity to learn and grow further in these next 500. I promise to pour my soul into them and produce the best possible conversations for you all. I love you guys. Thanks for changing my life through this platform. Truly so many wonderful memories. I wouldn't change a thing. The journey is beautiful: all of it. I mean, the world's in denial, but they all know what I'm headed for. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!S H O W   N O T E S-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

Fresh off a national record and his electrifying 800m performance at the Millrose Games, Cooper Lutkenhaus returns to the podcast today. Cooper, a Texas native and only 16 years old, is already being lauded for his ferocious and insanely strong kick during racing. Recently, he set a new indoor high school national record in the 800m, flying to a 1:46.86. Prior to showing up to the Millrose Games, Cooper ran against collegiate runners at the Texas Tech Invite, where he set a high school U.S. sophomore record with a time of 1:50.15. During his breakout freshman year, Cooper won three national meets and a Texas Class 5A state title in the 800m, while also finishing 47th in the Class 5A cross country state meet with a time of 16:23.4 in the 5k. Cooper comes from a family of supremely-talented athletes: his father George was a state runner-up in the 1600m in 1995; and his brother Andrew ran a 1:50.04 in the 800m in high school. Cooper has shown impressive range as an athlete as far back as middle school, competing in football, wrestling, and basketball–in addition to track and XC. Cooper’s personal bests in his short career so far include outdoor times of 22.12 in the 200m; 47.33 in the 400m; 4:14.17 in the 1600m; and the aforementioned 800m indoor record of 1:46.86.In today’s conversation, Cooper takes me through his record-breaking Millrose 800m, what led into this race, his ambitions for the rest of the season, his thoughts on when he’ll go Pro, what athletes he looks up to, in-depth insights on his training, and so much more. Tap into the Cooper Lutkenhaus 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. 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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