Midday Treat with HOKA NAZ Elite

HOKA NAZ Elite's Krissy Gear recaps her bronze medal finish at the 2023 USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500 meters. The race also featured Nikki Hiltz and Sage Hurta-Klecker. Krissy describes her mindset going into the race, what it's like to race in a tactical 1500, and what she was thinking as the race heated up with 300 meters to go. Plus, she's got a great way for how to determine whether or not you had a good race, "Did I have my best day?"

HOKA NAZ Elite's Abby Nichols recaps her 4:29.09 mile victory at the 2023 BU Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational. The run was Abby's first time under 4:30 for the mile and it was a HOKA NAZ Elite Team Record. Hear about what the race was like mentally and physically, and what it means for Abby, moving forward.

Happy NCAA Cross Country week! In advance of the Championships, we hosted a Fantasy XC Draft and recorded it for this special edition of the Midday Treat with NAZ Elite Podcast hosted by Ben Rosario and featuring coach Jenna Wrieden, Krissy Gear, Olin Hacker and surprise guest Kyle Merber of Citius Mag. Enjoy!!

An awesome conversation between Futsum Zienasellassie and NAZ executive director Ben Rosario about Futsum re-signing with the team, his upbringing in Eritrea, moving to the U.S. at the age of 14, finding cross country after missing the date for soccer tryouts, his up and down career at NAU, and what he's looking forward to in the months ahead.

HOKA NAZ Elite rookie Abby Nichols talks about growing up in a family of musicians, switching from gymnastics and cheer to running track, becoming a state champion, choosing Ohio St, transferring to CU, the pressure of the NCAA Championships, moving to Flagstaff, her new teammates, and her goals for the next few months.

(1:00) Intro to Abby's story

(2:20) Talking the great state of Ohio and finding running

(5:00) Growing up in a family of musicians

(7:00) Abby's high school career

(8:30) Ohio St. and winning a Big 10 title

(15:00) Transferring to CU

(19:00) Competing at the National Level

(24:38) The NCAA Track Champs- physically and mentally

(27:32) Moving to Flagstaff

(30:00) Goals for the next few months

Olin Hacker takes us through his high school career in Wisconsin where he became a State Champion and finished second at both NXN and Foot Locker finals his senior year in cross country. Then he discusses his seven years at the University of Wisconsin that culminated in an NCAA Championship at 5,000 meters. Finally, he chats about his first month-and-a-half with HOKA NAZ Elite and his goals for 2023.

Ben Rosario and Jesse Williams of Sound Running talk for an hour and dig into where the sport of track and field and distance running is going...or could go. Jesse previews his next event, The Cross Champs, in Austin, TX. Then the two talk about the Sound Running Meets and what they could become in the future.

Alan Culpepper and Ben Rosario have an awesome chat about high school cross country training and racing with the championship season right around the corner. 

(1:00) Alan updates the fans on the NAZ Elite team.

(5:36) What Alan thinks about the U.S. HS XC landscape and how teams are training--good and bad.

(11:15) How to handle racing and where it fits in the training cycle.

(14:28) Good aerobic workouts for HS athletes.

(16:10) Preparing specifically for the State Meet course.

(19:19) How to get ready for a fast start.

(21:30) How often should you talk about the State Meet?

(23:55) State Meet race strategy.

(26:20) Alan talks about his World XC experience.

(28:50) Individual strategy for the 3rd-7th runners on your team.

(32:22) Approach for qualifying races.

(34:00) Wrap-up and HOKA NAZ Elite Strava Run Club Announcement!

(1:00) Nick reveals his fall marathon choice

(7:33) Nick talks about Alan Culpepper coming on as NAZ's new head coach

(12:14) The NAZ rookies

(16:35) Training with Matt Baxter

(17:58) Nick's new level of fitness

(19:40) What some of the NAZ athletes are really like

(22:00) Learning from Steph Bruce's big win at the USATF 10k

(25:55) Talking double workout days

(33:55) Nick talks about the upcoming USATF 10 Mile Champs

HOKA NAZ Elite's Julia Griffey announces what marathon she'll be running in the fall of 2022, discusses her battle with Long Covid, tells us about playing college soccer and then joining the XC/Track teams as a fifth-year senior, running for fun after college and then getting more serious, winning the Twin Cities Marathon, finishing 10th at the Trials and getting engaged after the race, and she catches us up on her current training. Great episode!

(1:35) Julia announces her fall marathon plans

(3:40) Discussing Long Covid

(12:33) Working at Panera

(16:13) Working for the St. Louis Cardinals

(18:35) Being married to a former pro basketball player

(21:35) Playing soccer in college

(23:58) How/why she started running her senior year

(31:20) Moving back to St. Louis and running for fun at first

(37:00) Winning the Twin Cities Marathon

(39:50) Getting engaged, and finishing 10th, at the Olympic Trials

(45:20) Training update and looking forward...