The Run Around Iowa

Lance opens the podcast by talking about some news involving Drake University All-American Isaac Basten, Drake Relays director Blake Boldon and cross country scheduling. He then gives his opinion on who deserved to win the Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year Award. Then, some of the top athletes from the July 29 Quad-City Times Bix 7 race are featured. Bix winner and USA 7 Mile champion Biya Simbassa, top Quad-Citian Devin Allbaugh and University of Iowa All-Big Ten runner Max Murphy give their insights on their races and their futures. The monthly interview from July 26 with former Center Point-Urbana prep and Drake athlete Josh Yeager concludes the show. Josh tells of his trip back to Iowa, a familiar face joining his Minnesota Distance Elite team and where he plans to jump into a race in the next two months.

Tyson comes on the show to discuss the good and disappointing from last weekend's Ironman 70.3 triathlon. The former Iowa Central and Johnston High runner talks about how a poor 2022 triathlon racing season had changed his outlook for this season. Tyson discusses athletes on the Runablaze team who are shooting for earning a spot in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. The Des Moines resident details some ideas he has to boost the in-state rivalry with fellow race teams Running Wild Elite and Crown Running and the organization of October's Blazing 5K race. He talks of how he met his future wife Elise, a former Southeast Warren runner, and why he had doubts they would have a second date. Tyson tells of how their honeymoon to New York showed how Elise is the perfect partner for him. He describes the perfect scenario where he returned to John Deere as a product design engineer this year and his family's long history with the company. Tyson says a younger brother could be following in his path as a swimmer and tells if he wants to remain a cat dad.

Nick comes on the show to tell where he is headed after recently graduating from Notre Dame with a master's in business administration. Nick tells where he gains his inspiration for achieving so much in his life academically and athletically. He describes his early years as a runner starting out and how big sister McKenzie, a former Alabama and Vanderbilt runner, provided a tough act to follow. Nick mentions a tough state cross country meet with his Pleasant Valley High team and why the meet was memorable years later. He talks about an eating disorder that he struggled to beat while running at the University of Georgia and who helped him get back to a positive position. Nick relives an odd COVID-19 year with the Bulldogs and how graduating from Georgia in just three years created a different obstacle. He tells of his deep involvement with the LGBTQ+ group at Notre Dame and the circumstances behind him telling his friends, teammates and family he was gay. Nick finishes the show by detailing the experiences he learned from doing the marathon, including Boston in April when he was the top finisher from Iowa, and why he believes this October's Chicago Marathon will be his best marathon yet.

Lance starts the podcast by giving a bit of the behind-the-scenes details it took to complete the podcast with Cailie Logue. He talks about a recent race from Shelby Houlihan and a big move from former Pleasant Valley prep Devin Allbaugh. Lance also mentions an athlete he is interested in watching at the USA Championships that start Thursday. He also tells of his experience running in New York on vacation. Josh Yeager then comes on the program to chat about strides he is making in his return from injury and exercises he does to improve his core and hips. Josh also tells when he thinks he could return to racing.

Cailie joins the program just over a week after finishing sixth at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Cailie talks about her final races as a Cyclone and how she prepared for the heat of Austin, Texas. She discusses the differences in coaching philosophy from Andrea Grove-McDonough to her current coach, Amy Rudolph, and the lessons she learned from "Coach Amy." She tells if she will be pursuing a professional career and staying in Ames for a while pursuing her master's degree. Cailie tells the reasons she decided to attend Iowa State over her other primary finalists, Oklahoma State and Arkansas. Cailie describes the special relationship the team's distance runners have with Lisa (Kohl) Uhl and is asked who she thinks will be the next breakout distance running star for the Iowa State program next year. She talks about growing up on Erie, Kansas, and why she appeared destined to become a distance runner. Cailie is quizzed on one specific piece of knowledge about Iowa State and she finishes the show with her thoughts on her teammates and her time in the Cyclone program.

Before the interview, Lance pays his respects to former Storm Lake St. Mary's prep star Paul Yak, who was found dead near a trail in Delray Beach, Florida, on May 26. Then he brings on Emma Gordon, who started a podcast called Hawt Guy with fellow Hawkeye Maddie Block just over a year ago. He asks he how they came up with the name and their most memorable shows and if the podcast will ever come out of a hiatus. The former Ankeny Centennial prep talks about her standout final cross country season with the Hawkeyes, when she was 18th at the Midwest regional in Columbia, Missouri. Emma shares why that race was especially memorable for her. She chats about an experiment that went wrong during the most recent outdoor season. Then she delves into her prep career that started at Mediapolis. Her first love was soccer, but Emma says a bit of bad timing led her to cross country and distance running for good at Centennial her junior year. Emma tells of her embarrassing first practice at Centennial. She then lists some of the universities that turned her down when she was hoping to run in college and the story of how she eventually ended up at Iowa. Emma mentions if there is more running in her future and her internship in downtown Des Moines this summer. She also tells her favorite thing about living in Iowa City.

Carrie participated in the 2022 Ironman World Championships at Kona. She tells of the struggles she and other triathletes faced during brutal conditions at the 2022 Ironman Des Moines race. She describes how technology has changed in the sport from her first triathlon at the Hy-Vee event in 2008. Carrie gives listeners an idea of a typical week of workouts that includes one long bike ride and one long run. She says why she's a big supporter of the YMCA and how her family has to be on board with her decision to do an Ironman. Carrie talks about her early days in track and field and how she was a star jumper and hurdler, not a distance runner, at Wall Lake View Auburn High School. She details one of her favorite memories in sports that came immediately after a big disappointment. She describes what she could write on her wrist for inspiration at Sunday's race and an impact she hopes to make even before Sunday's race. Carrie also shares her names for her bikes, the first which was a $400 model.

The sophomore talks about a strong conclusion to her sophomore season with the Panthers that included her coming within 7 seconds of qualifying for the NCAA West Prelims in the 3,000 steeple. Emma tells of the meeting she arranged with UNI coaches to see if they were interested in bringing her aboard and her reasons for leaving Hawkeye Community College one academic year early. Emma gives her reasons why she decided at age 18 to get rebaptized and her special relationship with former Charles City rival and now Iowa State runner Kiki Connell. Emma details the art of the steeplechase event and listen where she uses the phrase "kick people's butts." The church youth leader tells of how a meeting with former Iowa State great Abby Caldwell helped change the trajectory of her prep running career. Emma gives the background behind the Waverly-Shell Rock Go-Hawks nickname and why she periodically deletes her Instagram account. She also tells of a special friend and the fun trip they took and whether her hair if naturally curly.

The podcast opens with a new intro song, followed by acknowledgment of the work done by Chris Burch. Burch started his new job as operations director of the Principal Charity Classic on April 27. Lance tells of the many accomplishments Chris achieved in nearly 18 years at the helm of the IMT Des Moines Marathon and who has succeeded him in the role. Josh Yeager then comes on the program for a monthly chat to talk about his slow return to running. Josh also gives his opinion on the state of professional running and if the Drake Relays was hurt by too many competing meets. He also is asked his ideal spring racing season were he to target racing at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in early July.