The HAX Show

We're excited to welcome Joan Hunter onto the show this week. Joan is a longtime coach, national championship team builder, and current head coach of Tinman Elite -- not to mention a mom of 9 and grandma of 4. In this episode, you'll get an in-depth look at her evolution from grassroots coaching, to winning back-to-back NXN team championships at Loudoun Valley High School, to now leading a professional running team.Joan shares how she first got into coaching, the mentors who guided her early on, and what it was like starting her career in a male-dominated sport. She recounts meeting her husband, Marc Hunter, through coaching, and how the two worked together to build a national championship program at Loudoun Valley while raising a family.We'll also discuss Joan's transition into the professional ranks — from dealing with imposter syndrome to learning to coach the marathon and adapting training to different athlete profiles. She talks about her coaching philosophy based on curiosity and continuous learning, explains concepts like double threshold training and different training cycles, and reflects on how her approach has changed over time.Joan also shares the challenges and rewards of coaching her son, Drew, the differences between coaching pros and high school athletes, and her goals for the future of Tinman Elite.Give this episode a listen to learn more on the mindset behind successful coaching at any level and what it takes to guide athletes to success.

About Hammer & Axe TrainingHammer & Axe was born out of a vision shared by a handful of elite distance runners. We found, in our own training, that we ran our best when we committed to training our speed and strength equally. A focus on strength made us durable, strong, and prepared for the adversity that racing brings—we were reliable like a hammer. A focus on speed made us confident, efficient, and ready to move when the right moment arrived—we were sharp like an axe. We wanted to bring this feeling of speed and strength to as many runners as possible.Our mission is to empower and guide runners to their loftiest goals through effective training and meaningful relationships.⚒️ Meet Our Coaches: https://www.hammer-and-axe.com/find-a-coach⚒️ Grab A Training Plan: https://app.rundna.com/hammer-and-axe/program-categories⚒️ Follow For Free Daily Training Content: https://www.instagram.com/hammerandaxetraining/

In this episode of The HAX Show, we sit down with Joe Klecker — Olympian, NCAA runner-up, and founding member of the On Athletics Club — for a deep dive into his journey from collegiate excellence at CU, to the world stage of distance running on the track, to his upcoming marathon debut in NYC this weekend.Joe shares what it was like helping build On’s pro team from the ground up and choosing Dathan Ritzenhein as a coach whose vision shaped the team’s identity. He also talks about the training environment during his time at CU under Mark and Heather Wetmore, the transition from track to the roads, and his mindset and training strategies leading into the NYC Marathon.We also explore the economics of professional running, what will define a successful debut marathon for Joe, and the importance of setting A, B, and C goals to stay adaptable on race day. Joe breaks down key workouts, fueling strategies, and why so many runners still underestimate the role of nutrition in performance.Plus, a personal note — Joe shares what it was like watching his wife, Sage Hurta-Klecker, run 1:55 in the 800 and place fifth in the world in Tokyo this year.If you’re interested in the intersection of performance, mindset, and what it takes to compete at the highest level, you'll find this conversation valuable.

In this episode, we sit down with professional marathoner Connor Winter - member of Tinman Elite and Hammer & Axe Training coach - for an honest discussion on the highs and lows of the marathon, what keeps him internally driven to stay in the sport, and insights on the past, present, and future of Tinman Elite.

Key topics covered with Connor:

• His evolving relationship with running and transition to the roads after overcoming surgery

• The mental side of marathon training and racing, and how to stay grounded through the triumphs and challenges

• His standout 12th place finish at the Olympic Trials, and how he’s navigated seasons that haven’t met that standard

• Working with Coach Joan to create a training plan built on belief, science, and balance

• Coaching insights, including advice for runners hitting the infamous "wall" in the marathon

• Parenthood, perspective, and prioritizing life beyond sport

• The story behind Tinman Elite’s evolution, and where the Tinman marathon team goes from here

• What’s next for Connor - and what keeps him motivated to stay in the sport

If you’re a competitive athlete, coach, or fan of the sport looking for a raw and honest take on the marathon mindset, give this episode a listen.

Welcome to the first episode of The HAX Show, a space where we talk about the art of running—how we train, compete, and think about the sport. In this conversation, Drew sits down with Reed to unpack his Tokyo World Championships experience and take a deep dive into his training and mindset. Topics include:

• Reed’s biggest mileage weeks and what summer training looked like
• The decision to race the NYC Marathon right after Worlds
• Whether there’s really a “secret formula” to training
• Learning to embrace fatigue as part of marathon prep
• The key differences between track and marathon training
• How to handle disappointment when you fall short of your goals
• How appearance fees affect what races to run
• Thoughts on super shoes and today’s running boom
• Why belief in your training matters more than any one formula

This is an inside look into the mindset of high-level distance running, with practical lessons any runner can apply.