The Running Effect Podcast

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

Professional triathlete, two-time Olympic Silver Medalist, and recent HOKA signee, Morgan Pearson, joins the show today to discuss all things training and running. Morgan was raised in New Vernon, New Jersey, and grew up as a competitive swimmer, ocean lifeguard and runner. Morgan went on to compete in cross country and track and field while at the University of Colorado, where he was a five-time indoor All-American. He has PRs at Colorado that include 7:51.93 in the indoor 3k; 13:43.37 in the indoor 5k; 1:52.89 in the outdoor 800m; 3:42.31 in the outdoor 1,500m; 4:13.90 in the indoor mile; and 13:36.22 in the outdoor 5k. Morgan got his start in elite triathlon when he began training at a few development camps with USA Triathlon. He debuted as an elite in 2018, and then won a bronze medal at the 2021 World Triathlon Championships in Yokohama. Morgan really became an all-time triathlete star when he anchored the silver-medal-winning U.S. Mixed Relay team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He won another silver as a member of the Mixed Relay team in Paris in the 2024 Olympic games. Most recently, Morgan kicked off 2025 with a scorching 1:01.01 half marathon in Houston, setting a new 13.1 mile PR by seven seconds. He continued to show off his versatility and strength as a triathlete when during a two-day span at the beginning of February, he ran a 4:11 indoor mile, followed by a 40-mile gravel bike race the next day–finishing in one hour and forty minutes. In today’s conversation, Morgan takes me through his famous twitter “rules,” signing with HOKA, how he views his future in sport, and so much more. Tap into the Morgan Pearson Special.If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!S H O W N O T E S-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

Versatile distance runner and HOKA professional, Ahmed Muhumed, joins the show today to discuss his humble beginnings and his ambitions for the future. Ahmed was born and raised in Ethiopia, before coming to the U.S. with his family in 2011. He started running in middle school, and then became a cross country and track star at West Salem High School in Oregon. (Ahmed won back to back cross country titles in high school.)At Boise State, Ahmed was the Mountain West freshman of the year in cross country in 2017. He was also the 2020 champion in the indoor mile in the Mountain West conference. Ahmed then went on to grad school at Florida state, where he similarly thrived on the running scene. He finished 20th at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships; he also competed at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships his final semester. Ahmed parlayed his college success into a professional contract, and in his rookie year as a professional for HOKA in 2022-23 he set PRs in the 3k, 5k and 10k. His list of PRs include a sizzling 13:08.73 in the 5k; 3:37.36 in the 1,500m; and 3:57.32 in the mile. Ahmed had a successful 2024 campaign, as he started it with a third place finish at the USATF Cross Country championships, and then closed it out in the fall of 2024 with a second national title–this time at the USATF 5k Championships in New York City. His impressive range was on display as he won the Philadelphia Half Marathon in late November with a time of 1:03.15.Ahmed earned a degree in International and Global Studies at Boise State before receiving his master’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from Florida State. In today’s conversation, Ahmed takes me through his humble beginnings, how he transitioned into the states and went from soccer player to runner, how his upbringing shaped him, how he has built up and maintained self-belief throughout the years, his ambitions as a professional runner, and much more.It’s hard not to listen to Ahmed and love the guy. I hope you all are inspired by this conversation. Tap into the Ahmed Muhumed 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

Coach, athlete, mom, author, Sara Slattery comes on the podcast today for the first time! Sara has a diverse and impressive resume, which began in high school when she ran for Mountain Pointe High in Arizona.  Sara went to run at the University of Colorado, where she placed 8th at the 2000 NCAA Women’s Cross Country championships, becoming the first frosh to win All-American honors at Colorado. She was an 11-time All-American, four-time NCAA champion and was inducted in 2016 as a member of the Colorado Athletics Hall of Fame. She earned her Master’s degree in Education at this time. Sara began her 2006 season as a professional runner. It was that year she set PRs in the 5k with a time of 15:08 and the 10k with a time of 31:56. Sara was the Pan American Games Champion in 2007 after recovering from a stress fracture. She also came in fourth at the Olympic Trials in the 5k in 2008.Sara turned her focus to coaching when she became the head coach of the Grand Canyon University cross-country team from 2015-2022. She is one of a few women Division One coaches that has coached both genders.Sara has been busy since making coaching and parenting her priority: she is the Director of Nike Camp Elevate XC Camp in Prescott Arizona; in addition to co-directing the Women’s Running Retreat at Civana Resort in Carefree, Arizona with marathoner Sara Hall. Today, she is coaching middle school cross country and track.Outside of her running and coaching, Sara has co-authored the book, How She Did It, with Molly Huddle; she is now in the proposal phase for her second book on pregnancy and running, which she is writing with Molly Huddle and Alysia Montano.In today’s conversation, Sara takes me through her findings of studying 50-elite athletes and how they did it, the differences of coaching female athletes, her years in the NCAA and winning four titles, her life as a mom, camp director, coach, and more. Tap into the Sara Slattery 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-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wF-My Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Cameron Myers, an 18-year-old Australian middle-distance running prodigy, has shattered multiple age-group records and is lighting up the track. He recently broke the world U20 indoor mile record with an incredible 3:47. Myers shares his journey from soccer to running, the personal challenges he faces, and his training under esteemed coaches. He discusses the pressure of social media on young athletes, the excitement of future Olympic aspirations, and his favorite travel spots, all while balancing the fun of teenage life with his athletic ambitions.

We are joined today by one of the best high school cross country coaches in the country, Kelly Christensen.Coach Christensen leads Niwot High School in Colorado. They recently won the High School Nike Cross Nationals boy’s race in December. The team put together one of the best finishes in NXN history, totaling just 70 points, and emerged as the first boy’s team to capture the title in Colorado high school history. Coach Christensen became a school counselor and coach at Niwot in Colorado in 2016, after transitioning from a career in construction management. Coach Christensen earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Western State College. During his time at Niwot, the Cross Country program has achieved five girl’s state championship titles and two boy’s state titles. The boys have crowned four individual state champions and one individual runner-up finish as well.Prior to coaching at Niwot, Christensen served as the head cross country and track coach at Palmer Ridge High School from 2014 - 2016 (achieving two boys’ track and field titles and a cross country title).In today’s conversation, Coach Kelly takes me through his coaching philosophies, his backstory into coaching, how he emphasizes the importance of balance, the story of how his boys won their first-ever NXN title, how he coaches disappointment, and so much more.This conversation was a true blessing and I hope you take the time to listen to it. I wish I had this podcast episode when I was a freshman in high school. Don’t waste the opportunity to learn from one of the best coaches in the sport.Tap into the Coach Kelly Christensen 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-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

Today on the podcast is one of the most successful coaches in our sport, Mark Coogan. Coach Coogan has had an illustrious career as both a runner, coach, and parent, and is currently leading the New Balance team–an elite distance running crew that began in 2014. (Notable stars on the team include Elle St. Pierre and Parker Valby).Coach Coogan's personal running journey started at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, Massachusetts. He then went on to run at the University of Maryland, where he specialized in the steeplechase. Coogan has the distinction of being the first Massachusetts native to run the mile in under four minutes.Coach Coogan played basketball in high school–he was even skilled enough to receive scholarship offers to play basketball from some lower-level schools. He has PRs of 3:58.81 in the mile,  8:21.45 in the 2 mile, 8:26.90 in the 3,000m steeplechase, 13:23.72 in the 5k, and 28:19.07 in the 10k. Coach Coogan's post-collegiate running career showcased incredible range (1988-2004): He ranked in the top 10 in the United States in the mile, steeplechase, 5k, 10k, and marathon during his career. He ran his marathon PR in the U.S. Olympic trials leading up to the 1996 games, where he ran a 2:13.05. (He ran 2:20.27 at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, placing 41st). He retired from competitive running in 2004, and turned his focus to coaching. Coogan has spent time as the distance coach at Dartmouth College, Tufts University, MIT, and Phillips Exeter Academy. Coach Coogan and his wife Gwyn (who ran the 10k at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics) have three children: daughter Katrina, who is a professional runner for New Balance Boston; Margaret, who runs for George Washington University; and son, William, who runs for UNC. Coach Coogan's book, Personal Best Running: Coach Coogan's Strategies for the Mile to the Marathon, was released in 2023.In today's conversation, Mark takes me through his years as a successful athlete and coach. We dive into insights from coaching Elle St. Pierre and Parker Valby and his philosophies around training. Tap into the Mark Coogan 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-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

THE DEENA KASTOR SPECIAL On the podcast today is the inimitable Deena Kastor–bronze medal legend and women's distance running record-holder. Deena was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, but went to high school in Agoura Hills, California. Deena has opened up about being adopted at birth and how that has impacted her life. Deena has one daughter. At Agoura High School in California, she won three state cross country titles and two state titles in the 3200m. She competed in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships all four years. She has said in the past that Cross Country is her true passion.After high school, Deena took her talents to the University of Arkansas; as a Razorback, she was a four-time SEC champion and an eight-time All-American. Deena graduated with two degrees in English/Creative Writing and Journalism.Post collegiately, the ASICS-sponsored runner really took off when she went to Colorado to train with coach Joe Vigil. Most recently, she has been under the guidance of her husband, Andrew, since 2015. Andrew runs the Mammoth Track Club.Deena's resume is monumental and includes the following times: 4:07.82 in the 1500m, 8:42.59 in the 3,000m, 14:51.62 in the 5k, 30:50.32 in the 10k, and 2:19.36 in the marathon. Deena's race achievements could fill a book, but notable highlights include winning the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials;winning the 2007 USA Outdoor 10k race; and winning the 2005 Chicago Marathon and the 2006 London Marathon.Deena's talent stretches beyond land locomotion, as she wrote a New York Times Best seller and 2019 Memoir of the Year, Let Your Mind Run. Tap into the Deena Kastor special.  In today's conversation, Deena walks me through lessons from her successful years at every level in the sport of running. We walk through what it took to accomplish the things she did, how to build belief and confidence, how to handle negative thoughts, what Deena wants her legacy to be, and so much more. This was one of my favorite conversations I've ever had. Don't miss it!Tap into the Deena Kastor 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-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

Brock is back baby.Digital creator and collegiate distance runner Brock Kelly returns to the podcast for round three today to discuss all things running and life.Brock is a senior at Mississippi College, has a popular YouTube page, and is a budding entrepreneur. Through three-plus seasons he has compiled the following PRs: 1:55.03 in the 800m; 3:51.00 in the 1500m; 4:11.19 in the mile; 14:49.20 in the 5k; and 32:00.55 in the 10k.In high school, Brock was a state champion in the 3,200m; two-time state champ in the 1,600m; three-time state champ in the 800m; and Cross Country state champion in 2018 and 2019.Brock is best known for his YouTube channel (which currently boasts 19,700 subscribers) where he documents his NCAA journey; his “The Daily Mile” series is particularly popular.In addition to his video content, Brock created the OE Athletics Club during his junior year. The brand’s motto, “Intentions Over Everything,” focuses on intentionality in athletics and how it can help build strong morals that lead to success.Brock kicked off the 2025 indoor season at the Samford Indoor Open (in Birmingham, Alabama) on January 18 with a second-place finish in the mile with a time of 4:13.41. Prior to that he had two first-place finishes at the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker on December 6, 2024: one as an individual with a 4:17.39 mile; and the other as a member of the Distance Medley Relay team, which ran a 10:35.26.In today’s conversation, Brock and I discuss the third season of The Daily Mile, his creative process and inspiration these days, an in-depth look at his training, what he wants his legacy to be, and much more.I love Brock’s energy and our conversations are always insightful and a blessing! Don’t miss this one.Tap into the Brock Kelly 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 SCheck out the Garmin Forerunner Line Using Our Link: https://bit.ly/4gsEFJHOur Website: https://therunningeffect.runTHE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQMy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en

Wilma Nielsen, the Swedish mid-distance phenom from Oregon, joins the show today to discuss her recent breakthroughs in running.  Wilma is fresh off breaking the school record in the mile in January at the Dr. Sander Scorcher indoor meet at the Armory in New York. This six-second PR places her number three all time in the NCAA for the indoor mile and number two on Sweden’s all-time indoor list.   Wilma is a two-time All-American and three-time Swedish National Champion. She won the bronze medal at the European U23 Championships in Estonia where she ran a 2:02.29 in the 800m. Wilma has run collegiately for Bradley University, the University of Washington and now Oregon. Wilma was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. She has a twin sister, Julia–who was a package deal with her at Bradley–as well as older siblings Simon and Elisabeth, the latter of who was a Swedish National Championship finalist in the 800m in 2019 and 2020. Needless to say, running was a fixture in the Nielsen household.  Wilma was running fast even in her high school days, logging PRs of 58.19 in the 400m, 2:10.01 in the 800m and 4:31.59 in the 1,500m. Since she started running collegiately, she has lowered those to 57.50 in the 400m, 2:02.26 in the 800m, 4:07.38 in the 1500m and the aforementioned 4:25.89 mile. In today’s conversation, Wilma dives into her recent 4:25 Mile, her plans to do bigger and better things at the Millrose games, her hopes for her future, how she’s grown as an athlete while at Oregon, what it’s like to have Shalane Flanagan as a coach, and so much more.  Take the time to learn from and get insights from one of the biggest stars in the NCAA right now! Tap into the Wilma Nielsen 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 -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