The Run Around Iowa

Lance interviewed seven individuals at the season-opening college cross country race hosted by Iowa State on Aug. 29. Iowa State coach Jeremy Sudbury talks about the pressure of entering the season as the top-ranked men's team and why he might not field a complete team until the Big 12 Conference meet. New Drake coach Sam Read, an Iowa native and former Wartburg College runner, tells of the quick transition as the Bulldogs' new leader and his vision for the program. Former Cyclone Gable Sieperda looks back at his performance at the USA outdoor track and field nationals in Eugene, OR. Current Cyclone sophomore and former Danville-New London prep Allen Bonnesen talks about his runner-up finish in the 6K at the Cyclone Preview and buying into the program built by Sudbury. Cyclone fifth-year senior Bella Heikes, a runner-up in the women's 5K, and sophomore Olivia Verde, both former Johnston preps, offer their goals for the Cyclones' season and why this could be a special season. Northern Iowa sophomore Micah Rees talks about the competition on the young Panthers squad and a mentor who has made a big impact on his runner career.

In an interview recorded on August 14, Kyle comes on to talk about where the top seniors in the Class of 2025 will be running at this fall. Kyle, a regular on the IATC Exchange Zone podcast on Sunday nights and the cross country coach at Bondurant-Farrar, and Lance take a deeper dive into where those athletes have signed. The list includes several NCAA Division I signees. The conversation shifts to how the college recruiting landscape has changed and the top seniors to watch for the 2025 high school cross country season as well. Kyle also gives his view on the teams to beat in the four Iowa classes for boys and girls cross country.

The first-year race in southeast Iowa was a big hit with athletes and had over 200 finishers on Saturday, Aug. 2. Adam, a Muscatine police officer, gives details on the family-friendly event at Deep Lakes Park and Riverside Park. The sprint triathlon attracted more than a dozen professionals who chased a $5,000 top prize on both the men's and women's sides. Adam talks about a key local sponsorship with that helped kickstart the event and where this event could be headed in coming years under his "Go big or go home" philosophy. He also tells of some tips he learned from other triathlons, including the now-departed Quad Cities Triathlon.

Jess comes on the show to chat about the rise of the Crown Running professional running team, which has blossomed since its creation by Jess and her partner, Ben Lundell, in 2021. She talks about the new members and why her racing team is different from other Iowa racing teams. Jess, the women's state masters record holder for 7 miles, tells her story and the moment when she had to decide if she would quit the sport or throw herself fully into it. Jess, who lives in Dubuque, offers some changes she has made over the years that have enabled her to post personal records in her 40s. She also talks about her blended family with Ben and a new race that she and Ben want to get started in Dubuque.

Karim comes on the show to talk about his win at the Dam to DSM race in Des Moines on May 31. Karim goes into detail about coming to Fort Dodge from his native Spain and some of the transitions he had to make. The two-time NJCAA Half Marathon champion tells about some of his finest moments running in college for either the Tritons or Northwest Missouri State. The Runablaze Iowa athlete talks about returning to Iowa, his current job and when he finds time to do his workouts. Karim also clears up details about a race he and Lance competed at last year.

Ryan comes on the show about seven weeks after finishing 10th overall at the Boston Marathon in 2:08:00. A member of the ZAP Endurance team in North Carolina, Ryan talks about that race and how it has improved his status in the running world. He also compares his 2024 New York City Marathon to the 2025 Boston Marathon and the differences in the races. Ryan details his one season in Ames with Iowa State and the amazing team culture he witnessed in that time. He discusses several of his teammates from that 2021 cross country team that finished second nationally and the impact they've had on him. The native of Huntsville, Alabama, chats about growing up in a small school with no track team until his junior season of high school and the recruitment process that led him to UT-Martin. Ryan also talks about his go-to fuel before a race and a fun hobby that keeps him connected to his friends.

Julius joins Lance on the show during the drive home from the Lincoln Half Marathon, and they talk about their races on Sunday, May 4. Julius tells the story of how he came to a small NAIA college in Kentucky and decided to stay in America. The 2003 Dam to Dam champion talks about how odd jobs in college led to valuable knowledge of construction and woodworking that he uses today. Julius relives some of his tales of racing against some of the best distance runners in America, including the USA 1 Mile Road Championships in Des Moines just over a decade ago. He talks about the struggles he's had in returning to his form before the pandemic. Julius also reveals a story Lance has never heard - when he did a training run from Ames to Des Moines while running on Interstate 35.

Lance interviewed many athletes during the recent 115th Drake Relays. Hear from Iowa State senior and former Charles City prep Kiki Connell, former Marion High and Iowa runner Maddie Block, former Dubuque Hempstead and Wartburg College star Shaelyn Hostager, Runablaze Iowa's Blake Whalen, Iowa State junior and former Humboldt prep Quinton Orr, former Glenwood and Iowa State star Janette Schraft, Iowans Derek Leicht and James Fingalsen from Iowa's winning 4x800 relay, Iowa senior and former Ottumwa prep Alli Bookin-Nosbisch, Olympians and Iowa natives Shelby Houlihan and Karissa Schweizer at a historic women's mile Saturday, former Drake star Isaac Basten, former Iowa runners Ellie Meyer and Haley Meyer from Wartburg's winning Iowa College distance medley relay,former Iowa preps Derek Webster, Alex Volden, Kaleb Brand and Jack Brown on Central College's record Iowa College DMR, former Davenport Assumption and Iowa standout Mallory Lindaman and Darius Kipyego from Iowa State's winning university sprint medley relay.

Ben comes on the show to talk about preparations for the two races, which occur on April 19 and April 22. The former Osage High and Grand View University runner chats about the fields for the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, which feature the best women's field in its history. Ben also talks about what goes into months of preparation for these races and the promising future for both events. He also tells the story of how he met his wife, Ariana, and hobbies he likes to do when he's coordinating these races.

Robbie returns to the podcast to talk about his run across Iowa, from Omaha to Muscatine, from March 20-23. He set the new record of 3 days, 21 hours, 10 minutes while raising funds for a new timing system for his community, the Collins-Maxwell school district. Robbie mentions some of the many people who ran with him and assisted him on the journey, including a Collins-Maxwell student who ran about 50 miles of the journey with him. He tells of an unfortunate and heartbreaking incident that nearly derailed his run in the eastern part of Iowa. Robbie describes his strategy that allowed him to get so far ahead in the first couple of days and his fueling strategy. He also reveals his plans to challenge fellow Iowa native Pete Kostelnick's record for fastest run across the U.S. and offers an anecdote for why he believes it's very possible. Robbie tells how he went the extra mile during this run and also some struggles he has had as a single parent and trying to be a role model for his daughter, Cypress.