The Run Around Iowa

In this interview from October 14, Maggie talks of her quick transition to assistant coach at Black Hills State, located in Speardish, South Dakota. She tells the coaches who influenced her when she was a prep at Mount Vernon/Lisbon and why she waited until her senior year to go out for cross country. She tells when she decided to run in college and why she chose to attend Iowa State over Northern Iowa. Maggie describes how she thought her career was over before telling a funny story of meeting Iowa State's coach for the first time. She tells of the pressure she faced to stay on the Cyclone roster and struggling with "imposter syndrome" during her career. Maggie relives some of her favorite moments as a Cyclone and keeping up with her great workout partners and teammates. She tells what she learned from coaches Amy Rudolph and Jeremy Sudbury both as an athlete and assistant coach with the Cyclones last year. Maggie describes why she loves coaching and one of her favorite activities outside of track and field and cross country.

Lance starts the podcast with his thoughts on the IMT Des Moines Marathon under new director Jake Jass. Hear interviews from half marathon winners Cody Baele and Emma Huston and their future goals. Lance then dives into the outlook at Division I NCAA regionals for the Iowa universities when they compete at Stillwater, Oklahoma, on the second weekend in November. He also gives the prospects for the Wartburg College teams in Division III and Dordt University in NAIA. The talk shifts to a new project started by the owners of the Fitness Sports running store that should be an eye-opener. Lance discusses Ironman's new series and how that will affect the pros in central Iowa. He also mentions a former Wartburg athlete who is asking for assistance from the running community.

Jake tells about how his dad inspired him to try a triathlon and how a friend of his first go him started on working triathlons. Jake, an Ankeny High graduate and Ironman Des Moines race director, tells about changes he has made with this year's race and tweaks he hopes to make in the coming years. Jake gives his outlook on the cancelation of the Twin Cities Marathon and how that could affect his race. He goes into the decisions behind when it is unsafe to race and why the 2022 Ironman Des Moines event was held in stifling heat. He tells why the elite field has been scaled back for 2023 and one of his favorite things to do when he's not in the office or spending time with his wife and son.

Lance starts the episode by talking about college freshman phenom and former Ballard great Paityn Noe, who won the Chili Pepper 5K title while leading Arkansas to the team title. He talks about a big appointment for Drake Relays director and Drake director of track and field Blake Boldon, who has been very busy this summer and fall. He gives a good example of why the marathon appears alive and well in the U.S. Lance gives his thoughts on the Twin Cities Marathon cancelation Sunday and what he would have done had he been put in that situation. The podcast closes with interviews with the men's winners of the 5K and half marathon races at the 40th Capital Pursuit on Sept. 24. Austin O'Brien and Cody Baele describe their very different goals for October and November.

Sam, a Simpson College alum, tells how an invitation by coach Keith Ellingson to join the Storm cross country team in the mid-1990s changed the trajectory of his life. Sam turned that moment into something much more when he applied for a job as a web editor at the New York Road Runners. Sam tells the story of interviewing for the job and not thinking he would get it. Sam, the NYRR director of professional athletes since 2005, reveals one of the hardest days of his career in 2012. He explains why he believes the Fifth Avenue Mile is the best race in the world. He says why this race stresses him out much more than the New York City Marathon. Sam gives his view of the biggest change in distance running the past 10 years and why Iowa native Jenny Simpson is one of his favorite people in running. He also talks about how former Iowa State All-American Annie Frisbie made him a believer a couple of years ago and the process of moving elite runners from Midtown Manhattan to Staten Island on marathon morning.

Lance goes solo for this show. He talks about two men who ran for Iowa colleges who will be racing for Team USA at the World Road Racing Championships in Latvia next month. He tells why the decision by the City of Des Moines and Drake University to create a world record sign downtown will appear foolish soon. He talks about marathons upcoming for two of the best American marathoners, former Iowa State greats Betsy Saina and Annie Frisbie. He tells of changes with Iowa runners at the Minnesota Distance Elite team and gives well-wishes to a former Iowa ultramarathoner who is recovering from a terrible car accident. He closes the show by giving his top villains in marathoning for 2023.

Lance starts the podcast by highlighting some of the best performances by Division I athletes from Iowa in season-opening cross country races. He also gives his view on conference realignment and if it will affect NCAA Division I teams. He offers his take on the recent World Athletics Championships and talks about an upcoming road race to put on your calendar. Lance also talks about his next project for the podcast. Josh Yeager then comes on to talk about a recent trip he took. The former Drake athlete now with the Minnesota Distance Elite team tells what he has learned from a younger Josh who battled injuries while running for the Bulldogs. He also provides his support system that got him through the rough times in the last year when he thought he his pro career might be at an end. Josh also takes a look at what his racing season could look like in the fall and winter.

Kyle comes on in an interview from August 22 to talk about where the top two seniors in the Class of 2023 - record-breaking Jackson Heidesch and Paityn Noe - will be running at this fall. Kyle, a former assistant coach at Iowa State, also tells where some other top graduates will be running out outside of Iowa. Then, Kyle takes a deeper dive into Iowa's four Division I and the freshmen who have signed to attend those schools. The conversation shifts to the top seniors to watch for the 2023 high school cross country season as well as a few underclassmen who should impress this year and coming years. Kyle also gives his view on the teams to beat in the four classes for boys and girls cross country.

Kyle, the director of women's track and cross country at the University of Utah, comes on the program to address Utah's move to the Big 12 Conference and the impact it will have, if any, on recruiting and scheduling with the women's teams. He talks about the outlook for the Utes in their final cross countey season in the Pac-12. Kyle looks back at the special weekend he had coming back to Iowa in April, when his his team won the Relays Cup at the Drake Relays. He tells about growing up in Webster City and the impact his coaches and youth leaders had on him, and when he made the decision to focus on cross country instead of football. He also looks back at the Chris Bucknam era at Northern Iowa and the challenges that the Panthers face competing in the improved Missouri Valley Conference. Kyle also talks about his family and if his two young daughters have shown an interest in cross country and track.

MacKenzie talks about her new coaching job at her alma mater - Iowa Central Community College - and the process of coming back to coach with director of track and field Dee Brown. She also explains why she enjoys Fort Dodge so much. The former Dubuque Senior standout explains what she learned from coaching at Gustavus Adolphus in Minnesota last spring and when she knew she wanted to become a runner in college. MacKenzie tells the story of how she ended up at Iowa Central and then at Minnesota State. She talks about her memorable final cross country season with Minnesota State when the Mavericks made history by qualifying for nationals. McKenzie also details a big reason why Dubuque produces so many standout runners.