Run Free Podcast

Chasing Big Goals: The Journey to Running Success

Setting big goals can feel intimidating—but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to shape your daily actions and keep you motivated.

In this episode, Coach Jay reflects on his recent racing experiences at the Drake Relays US Masters Mile Championship and the Labor Day Road Race. He shares honest insights from aiming high (trying to win both the mile and 800 at Drake, and chasing a sub-15 5K), what the results taught him, and how those lessons apply to every runner chasing their own ambitious targets.

You’ll hear about:

• Why setting big goals is really about framing what you’re responsible for today
• How adjusting mileage and nutrition led to real progress
• The visualization technique that helped him believe he was a sub-15 guy again
• Why embracing the process (even when you fall just short) builds resilience
• The importance of truly easy running as you age
• Common strength-training mistakes runners make—and what to do instead

Whether you’re chasing a PR or just trying to stay consistent, this episode offers practical mindset shifts and training wisdom from someone who’s been in the trenches.

Hit play, and let’s chase those big goals the smart way.

#Running #GoalSetting #MastersRunning #TrainingTips #CoachJay

Ryan Hall and Jay Stephenson openly share the curiosity, passion, and love they still have for running after years of competing, coaching and living the sport.

In this conversation, two mid -40's runners dig into the things that keep running fun, fresh and exciting-long after the early motivation fades. Through honest, fun, and informative stories, they explore what still lights them up about the sport and how runners can reconnect with the original feeling of falling in love with running.

Whether your passion has dimmed, you've hit a plateau, or you're simply looking for a reminder of why you started, this talk is meant to rekindle the spark through their passion.

Ryan and Jay share real experiences from their journeys-the joy, the challenges, the lessons, and the simple practices that continue to fuel their love for running years later.

If you've ever wondered how to keep the fire going after the medals, the PRs, and the early excitement settle down, this conversation is for you.

Drop a comment and let us know: What's one thing that still makes running exciting for you? What are you still curious about?

Like and subscribe if this helped remind you why you lace up in the first place.

Meet the women behind Run Free Women, a community built to get more women running together. In this episode, Eliza shares the story of her 23-year running streak — one of the longest in the world — and how she's kept it alive through motherhood, injury, and the hardest seasons of life. Then Callie, a former Olympic Trials qualifier, opens up about her path from young runner to elite competitor, and how pregnancy is reshaping her relationship with the sport. Plus: favorite routes, go-to workouts, shoe picks, and an invitation to join the community.

https://www.runfreetraining.com/landing?gender=women

In this episode, Jay talks about Racing to Win and also includes 5 things that may be holding you back from doing it. Enjoy, share, like, rate, all the things. If you want to learn more about Run Free or to get a free consultation, please visit www.runfreetraining.com.

Dr. Matt Silver joins Jay on the podcast this episode to talk about cooldowns, nutrition, strength routines, injury prevention and recovery, and much more. You will love this fantastic episode full of helpful information. For some extra info, you can click these links below to to learn more about those topics:

Post Run Cooldown

Injuries and Strength Routines

Jay's Supplement List & Three Day Pre Race Routine

Enjoy part two of Jay's time with Khem. This episode was also recorded in India. Amazing to know Run Free has a global impact and not just a national one. So many great athletes there and if you'd like to help them out, you can contribute to the go fund me campaign to help some runners achieve their goal of competing for their country in the Olympic trials. See link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-sonam-and-fellow-athletes-olympic-dreams?attribution_id=sl:71406dbc-d45a-4ea0-baf2-0c557cb80620&ts=1765770614&utm_campaign=natman_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp13_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Jay is in India and recorded this new podcast with runner, Khem Rautela, amidst the Himalayan Mountains, which is really cool. They talk about all kinds of things including a really important Go Fund Me campaign to try and help some Indian runners like Sonam achieve their dreams by competing in the Olympics. If you want to donate to that, you can by following the link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-sonam-and-fellow-athletes-olympic-dreams?attribution_id=sl:71406dbc-d45a-4ea0-baf2-0c557cb80620&ts=1765770614&utm_campaign=natman_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp13_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Powerhouse episode this time as Ryan Hall returns to the podcast and is also joined by Eric Meyer and his amazing story. Great discussion and a lot of good tips and stories so be sure to check it out and share with others!

On this episode, Run Free Co-Founder, Jay Stephenson, talks about the advantages and disadvantages to doing side excursions as runners and athletes. They can go extremely well and sometimes not so much. Listen as he gives some great examples of each.

This episode of the Run Free Podcast is brought to you by Blank's Nutrition. Be sure to check them out as well as all of their amazing products at www.blanksnutrition.com.

Young Run Free athlete Christian Estep joins the podcast this week for a great discussion with Run Free Co-Founder, Jay Stephenson. We love coaching and working with runners of all ages. If you are at all interested in a coaching subscription, hit us up for a free consultation at:

www.runfreetraining.com

Hope you enjoy the episode. Please like, share, review, rate, comment, and engage with us on our social platforms as well. Visit our website for more about Run Free Training!