The Run Around Iowa

Seth is the new coordinator for the Fitness Sports Distance Project and the former East Marshall prep outlines his goals for the team, which includes top former collegians as well as casual runners. Seth talks about his close relationship with Fitness Sports co-owners Jordan and Lindsay Andrews that goes back to his college career at Grand View. It led to him taking over the new store in Ames a year ago. Seth also looks back at improvement with his running he has made since high school and some key changes he has made. He also looks ahead to the IMT Des Moines Marathon, where he hopes to improve on his sixth-place finish from a year ago.

Lance interviews some of the top runners at the Aug. 31 meet in Ames, including women's 5K runner-up Bella Heikes of Iowa State, 10th-place finisher Emma Hoins of Northern Iowa and Panther senior Caleb Shumaker, who finished eighth in the men's 6K race. Iowa State director of track and cross country Jeremy Sudbury talks about the departure of Amy Rudolph to Tennessee, the target that is on his fifth-ranked Cyclone team and his strategy to get his team to peak in November. Former Cyclone Janette Schraft, seventh in the women's race, tells what she is up to now. Another former Iowa State great, Cailie Logue, talks about her move to the Minnesota Distance Elite team and her future event in distance running. Lance finishes the podcast with his opinion on the IMT Des Moines Marathon's decision to drop prize money for elite runners.

Artur comes on the podcast less than a month after finishing as the top masters runner at the Quad-City Times Bix 7, where he ran 38:12. He tells his story of how he returned to running at age 38 after being away from the sport for about 20 years and how he has had to overcome a significant health issue to exercise regularly. Artur, a 2003 Bettendorf graduate who came to America with his mother and stepdad from his native South Africa at age 9, talks about his diet and his go-to location for many of his workouts. He explains what he has learned from his first marathon in April in Champaign, Illinois, when he ran 2:40:21. Artur, 41, mentions why he goes to YouTube a lot and how important his family and faith are to him.

The new podcast covers a variety of topics in distance running, starting with Lance's initial thoughts from the Paris Olympics. Listeners then get to hear from former All-Big Ten runner Max Murphy after his 15th-place performance at the Bix 7. The former Pleasant Valley prep tells the decision behind his transfer to North Carolina. Former Loras College seven-time NCAA champion Kassie Parker also talks about her experience with the Hansons-Brooks team based in Michigan and what's ahead for the former Clayton Ridge (Guttenberg) prep for her racing season this fall. Lance gives his most inspiring performance from July and it came from a legend in ultramarathons. The podcast ends with a trip around Iowa and changes occurring with four road races.

Grace tells listeners all about how the Ames 5K race, coming up Saturday, July 27, got its start. The Ames High graduate details her story of how, with help from Blank Children's Hospital and medicines, she was able to overcome migraines. Grace felt terrible about the children who were not as fortunate as her in leaving the hospital so soon. She began a lemonade stand at age 11, raising $100 her first summer. From that venture came a Christmas toy drive and now the annual race, which is in its eighth year. Grace has now raised over $173,000 for Blank Children's Hospital through the race. The eighth annual race regularly draws Iowa State University athletes and she tells which athletes she was most excited to meet. The lifelong Cyclone fan is now a sophomore at Northern Iowa University and she tells where her true loyalty stands with the universities. Grace says her parents continue to be a driving force for this race and how grateful she is for their support. She also talks about a new charity that will benefits from this year's race proceeds and the future of the race going forward.

Michelle comes on the podcast to talk about the 50th running of the road race, which takes place on Saturday, July 27. She comments on new things with this year's event, including a Senior Bix run on Tuesday, the unveiling of a statue of former race director Karl Ungurean on Monday and added activities with the Brady Street Sprints on Thursday. Michelle also takes about the Fab Four who will be coming to Davenport for the race: Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, Joan Samuelson and Meb Keflezighi. She also tells when she finds the time to work out amid her hectic schedule and where her happy place is when she goes on vacation.

Spencer comes on the program just a month after winning his first NCAA Division III title in the 10,000 meters in South Carolina. Moon talks about his race and how he was able to break through after some past disappointments at nationals. Spencer tells what he is up to now after graduating from Simpson. Moon talks about the special relationship he has with Simpson director of track and field Heath Moenck, and what sold him to attend the Indianola school. The conversation turns to his Relay Iowa and the fun times he and his friends had doing the weekend event five times. Spencer talks about fun things he liked to do away from the track and a possible race he could try with his Simpson career now over.