The Run Around Iowa

Mike comes on the show to talk about his victory the day before in an 800 meters at the University of Iowa. He also chats about running the No. 2 effort all-time in the 600 meters in Davenport the week before that clinched USTFCCA national athlete of the week honors. Mike details his wrestling background that included an appearance at state and injuries that derailed several of his seasons. He talks about the different dynamic of running 5Ks in cross country and then sprints and hurdles in track and field. Mike describes 40 of the most memorable minutes of his life when he made history at the Drake Relays with a pair of high school titles in three races. He also tells of the moment when Loras coaches knew he would no longer be running 400 hurdles and instead concentrate more on 800s. Mike talks about his new bride Beth, her influence on him and their honeymoon in August. He also tells of goals he has this season and beyond.

The podcast opens with news on a new Iowa State assistant track and field coaching hire. Then, former Center Point-Urbana prep standout Josh Yeager comes on to provide his progress from a stress reaction in his leg. The Minnesota Distance Elite athlete tell of his adjustment to using a product called LightSpeed Lift, which reduced his body weight by 25 pounds while running on a treadmill. Josh also talks about a test that showed he has low bone density and what's next in his plan. He also chats about adding a dietitian and changes he is making with his food intake.

Dan talks about a move back to the Eastern time zone, to Vermont/New Hampshire, during the pandemic to train with longtime American standout Ben True. He goes into detail what working with Ben has meant to him. Dan also describes how his interest in mountain/elevation running got started. He talks about his time in Ames and how team tactics were used in many championship races. He also gives his viewpoint on why the Martin Smith era ended a couple years ago. Dan tells why he feels he has a gift for mountain running and the popularity of the sport in Europe. He also tells some of the challenges he encountered while racing in Italy last September.

The podcast starts with a few news items involving track teams in Iowa. The top audio segments from 2022 are introduced, in chronological order. They include stories and conversation from former Davenport Assumption a d Iowa athlete Mallory King; former Marion and Mount Mercy prep Annie Ertz; former Cedar Falls prep and current Northwest Missouri State athlete Caroline Cunningham; Des Moines marathoner John Taylor III; former Des Moines Christian prep Oksana Johnson; former Western Dubuque and Wartburg College runner Joe Freiburger; former Crestwood prep and current Baylor student Ellie Hodge; professional triathlete Jess Smith of Clive; former Sioux City North and current South Dakota runner Merga Gemeda; former Iowa State All-American Hillary Bor; former Earlham High prep Andrea Haus; and former Marion High and current Maranatha Baptist runner Jeremy Fopma.

Jeremy comes on to talk about his fourth consecutive National Christian College Athletic Association Division II cross country title won last month in Missouri while running for Maranatha Baptist on Wisconsin. Jeremy chats about pursuing a master's of divinity degree and about his marriage to Maddy. He describes how he wants to dedicate time in the future toward a professional running career, with an eye on qualifying for a U.S. Olympic Trials race. He also tells of an unglamorous summer job that has taught him several lessons. Jeremy tells of his large family and how he got his start in running. He also describes his memorable state track and field individual title that boosted Marion to a state team championship. Jeremy also is asked a question to show how he has matured in just a short time. He also is asked about an inspirational athlete who has encouraged him during his time at Maranatha in Watertown.

Andrea comes on the show to talk about her marathon debut, a 3:02 at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon last month in challenging conditions. She tells if she has gotten the marathon bug or if this dare from her friends has been completed. Andrea, a former Hamline University all-conference runner and coach, tells how she ended up as the marketing and events coordinator at Mill City Running in the Twin Cities and the joy she experiences with her job. Andrea also explains what a speckler does. The former 15-time state track qualifier in middle distance events at Earlham talks about the special role she played in her best friend's wedding. Andrea also shares a fun race that she will be participating in in March. She also tells some of her favorite foods as well as new workouts she thought she would never enjoy when she was at Hamline.

The podcast opens with a tribute to Bill Bergan, the Iowa State men cross country and track coach who died on November 22. Lance details Bergan's tremendous impact on the program, including two NCAA team titles and 25 Big 8 titles. Lance talks about Ironman's change with its signature Ironman World Championship in 2023 and gives a possible solution in place of a split event. Lance then recaps the final college cross country championship of 2022, the NCAA Division II meet near Seattle. Regular guest Josh Yeager then comes on the show to talk about a stress reaction in his tibia occurred and how the injury and recovery will affect his indoor track season.

The podcast opens with Dordt University men's cross country team's first NAIA team championship. It's also the first NAIA championship of any kind in school history. Coach Nate Wolf also talks about the historic victory. In the NCAA Division III nationals meet, the Wartburg men took second nationally and the women were third. Hear how their finishes came about. Loras College's Kassie Parker became a repeat champion after dominating the women 6K race. A former Iowa Western star led Alabama's charge to a high finishes by taking sixth in the NCAA Division I meet in Oklahoma. In the NCAA Division II regionals, Iowa natives Caroline Cunningham and Myles Bach as well as two former Iowa Central stars led their teams to nationals with top-five finishes. The podcast concludes with the Iowa Central women's national championship in the half marathon a week ago in Florida.

Kyle comes on the podcast to talk about the top seniors who ran recently at the Iowa state cross country meet. The three-time state qualifier at Central Elkader and former Loras College captain also describes some of the top underclassmen who should be on the radar of Iowa's top college programs. Kyle, the director of corporate communications at the Iowa Sports Foundation, is asked by Lance to give his thoughts on some notable college runners from Iowa. The two also talk about Saturday's NCAA meets and who are the teams to watch. Kyle, a former coach at Iowa State under Martin Smith, also gives his opinion on the state of the program under Jeremy Sudbury.

The show leads off with the Iowa Central men's performance at NJCAA nationals in Tallahassee. The Tritons finished national runner-up, their ninth top-two finish at nationals in 10 years. Lance them breaks down the top performances in NCAA Division I regionals Friday. They include four Iowa State runners and one Drake Bulldog qualifying for rhe meet in Stillwater, as well as Iowans on the Arkansas and Notre Dame men's teams. He talks about the impressive showing by the Wartburg College teams at the Division III meet in Illinois. Loras star Kassie Parker will be joined by both of the Duhawks teams at nationals. Several other individuals from Simpson, Central and Luther also have qualified for nationals in Michigan on Saturday and Lance lists those athletes.