Beneath The Grandstand

John Anderson has been hosting ESPN's flagship SportsCenter since 1999. While at ESPN, he has stood as the resident evangelist for track and field. A former high-jumper for the Mizzou, John joins Ryan and Alex for an honest assessment of the current state of coverage in the sport.

Tinker Hatfield is credited as the lead designer for both the Jordan line and the original Air Max. Tinker is a legend in sneakerhead culture, but at his core is a Pole Vaulter.

An athlete of the Bill Bowerman era, Hatfield parallels all of his design ethos through the lens of speed and power.

We chat about the influence of MJ and Kipchoge, and his final assessment of the “New” Hayward Field.

Michael Woods is a runner. Yes, he's one of the top cyclists in the world, but his soul still lives on the track. To this day, Michael Woods ranks as one of the most impressive North American junior athletes track has ever seen. "Woodsy" tried to make it as a runner until a foot injury finally forced him to hobble away from the sport. He took up cycling as a form of cross-training until a coach said his "numbers" were world-class.

In 2018, Des Linden arrived at the starting line of the Boston Marathon with two pairs of shoes. When the gun went off in Hopkinton what was on her feet was a blacked-out, almost completely untested prototype of Brooks' newest innovation, the Hyperion Elite. In the episode, we dive into Des' leap of faith as well as the design evolution behind a moment that American distance running will not soon forget.

Fresh off a 196-mile week, Des Linden is reshaping her perception of what is next. In 2021 she bears the burden that comes with being the "alternate" for the US Olympic team. But 2021 might also be the opportunity to launch her career into its next chapter.

Des Linden is a two-time Olympian and in 2018 became the first American woman to win to the Boston Marathon in 33 years.

Today's episode features Strava co-founder Mark Gainey. COVID has awoken an arms race in the wearable device and connected fitness industry. Through it all, Strava has remained open and adaptable to every new platform thrown at it. Mark and Alex dive into what the gamification of endurance sports will look like moving forward, as well as the corporate responsibility that comes with fostering our community's data.

The affects of COVID-19 continue to leave unanswered questions in so many facets of our world, even once decisions are made. Most recent in college cross country, the NCAA announced the new date of the NCAA Cross Country on Monday, March 15, 2021...only two days after the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The decision leaves coaches and athletes with many questions including how to qualifying, how to train for potentially two very different races and how to plan competitions with current travel and budget restrictions in place. Ryan and Alex sit down with defending NCAA Championship (indoor, outdoor and xc...triple crown in 2019!) coach at the University of Arkansas, Lance Harter. Harter has led the Lady Razorbacks for the past 31 years and is the most decorated women's track and field/xc coach in SEC history

Less than two weeks from Eliud Kipchoge Vs Kenenisa Bekele at the 2020 London Marathon, a matchup that we thought might never happen, Ryan and Alex sit down with London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher. Hugh's heritage in the sport will shock you and help you understand his unwavering grit and dedication to make the 40th edition of the event happen. We dive into all the race scenarios that were considered amidst COVID restrictions and the business challenges that those decisions effect. We wrap up the interview teasing the course innovations that will enable the deepest marathon field in history.

Eliud Kipchoge's sub-2 attempt in the marathon wasn't only the chase of a human to do the impossible, but it also became one of the most significant moment's in running footwear innovation in recent years. And in turn, it became a chase for all shoe companies to develop their own carbon tech footwear.

In episode three of our series, we catch up with the brand that embraced the thickness before it was cool; Hoka One One. For an athlete perspective, we bring on Rory Linkletter of NAZ Elite. We close out the episode with Hoka's head of design, Matt Head who balances form and function for a brand with undeniable momentum.

Eliud Kipchoge's sub-2 attempt in the marathon wasn't only the chase of a human to do the impossible, but it also became one of the most significant moment's in running footwear innovation in recent years. And in turn, it became a chase for all shoe companies to develop their own carbon tech footwear.

In the second installment of the series, we explore the Asics Metacracer. Elite marathoner, Emma Bates, joins us after rocking the newest model while snagging 7th at the US Olympic Trials. Following the athlete's perspective, we get insight into the design process with Asics product line manager Chad Mullavey.