The Runner's Club Podcast

Running is supposed to be one of the most accessible sports in the world. So why does it feel like we need a second job just to afford it?

This week, Courtney, Ian, and Mike get into the rising cost of running and how a sport that only requires a pair of shoes has turned into expensive race entries, travel, watches, gear, and race-day fits. How much of it do we actually need, and how much are we convincing ourselves we need?

We also recap Chicago Marathon weekend, the energy at Mile 23, and why sometimes the training journey means more than crossing the finish line. Plus, we get into the controversy surrounding New York Marathon festivities, extreme race conditions, the Moab 240, and the wild things endurance athletes put themselves through.

And somewhere along the way, we discover Courtney's been in her chef era, and Ian apparently hasn't been paying attention.

Running might be free, but being a runner? That's a whole different story.

Welcome back to The Runner's Club Podcast.

Find us on IG 

Courtney - ⁠@courtneynphillips⁠

Ian - ⁠@acoolthought⁠

Mike - @mikeb_runnin

Intro by producer Dini - ⁠@dinibeats⁠

Chicago Marathon season is here, and Mike is the only one of us actually running it. So naturally, we have a lot to say.

This week, Mike takes us inside his peak marathon training before we get into the chaos surrounding Chicago’s stormy 20-mile weekend, and whether running through bad conditions is really something worth bragging about.

Then things take a turn.

We catch up on the latest chapter in the Camille Herron saga, try to make sense of one very messy HYROX finish, talk wearables, the Chicago Marathon course change, and ask why marathon merch can’t just be better.

We close things out looking back at some of our favorite Chicago Marathon memories and how Mile 23 went from the “dead zone” of the course to one of the most special places in Chicago running.

Brands come and go. Mile 23 remains.

Find us on IG 

Courtney - ⁠@courtneynphillips⁠

Ian - ⁠@acoolthought⁠

Mike - @mikeb_runnin

Intro by producer Dini - ⁠@dinibeats⁠

Running is booming… but when did it start getting this weird?

Courtney, Ian and Mike are back for another week of miles, laughs and conversations that somehow go way deeper than expected.

Ian gets real about being afraid to start running again and what it feels like returning to the sport older, heavier and nowhere near the fitness level you remember. That leads to a bigger conversation about starting over, taking the pressure off and figuring out what running looks like in a new season of life.

Then things get interesting.

Would you use a Strava heat map to decide where to live? What happens when running data starts telling a bigger story about neighborhoods, access and community? And apparently we're claiming territory with our runs now?!

The crew also gets into the running boom, ridiculous world records, the evolution of fueling and training, wearables, longevity culture and one big question: how much faster can humans actually get?

A little running. A little culture. A lot of side quests.

Welcome back to The Runner's Club Podcast.

Find us on IG 

Courtney - ⁠@courtneynphillips⁠

Ian - ⁠@acoolthought⁠

Mike - @mikeb_runnin

Intro by producer Dini - ⁠@dinibeats⁠

Running is getting expensive, the group chat is making its way onto the mic, and apparently the dishes can wait.

This week, Courtney, Ian, and Mike catch up on training, race plans, balancing fitness with real life, and the ever-growing cost of being a runner. From there, the conversation gets deeper as we talk about safety, accountability, and the responsibility run clubs have to create spaces where people actually feel welcome and protected.

We also get into whether your favorite running shoes really matter as much as you think they do, respond to a listener Pace Check, and as usual, find plenty of ways to get completely off track along the way.

Running, community, life, and a little mess. Welcome back to The Runner’s Club Podcast!

Dante: 500 Miles on Psychedelics

Find us on IG @runnersclubpodcast + send in your listener letters to [email protected]

Hosted by Courtney Phillips @courtneynphillips &  Ian Gonzalez  @acoolthought

Intro by producer Dini - @dinibeats | Podcast edited by Jerami Watson - @teezythegreat (twitter)

The Runner's Club Podcast just got a little bigger.

This week, we're officially welcoming Mike Brown as our producer as we introduce a new format, new segments, and a fresh rhythm for the show.

We catch up on Courtney's postpartum return to running, Ian's focus on strength over marathon training, and why movement looks different in this season of life. We also dive into the difficult conversation around women's safety while running, celebrate a historic mile world record, and talk through the races we're eyeing next.

Whether you're training for your next PR, finding your way back to movement, or just here for the conversation, we're glad you're here.

Press play and come get these miles with us.

Find us on IG @runnersclubpodcast + send in your listener letters to [email protected]

Hosted by Courtney Phillips @courtneynphillips &  Ian Gonzalez  @acoolthought

Intro by producer Dini - @dinibeats

This week, Courtney and Ian are figuring out what their relationships with running look like these days. Ian celebrates his first pain-free three miles after a knee injury, while Courtney finds her way back to running after pregnancy and embraces pilates, swimming, strength, and moving for life.

Then, naturally, things go left.

We get into GLP-1s, postpartum fitness, destination races, $400 Equinox memberships, the Enhanced Games, three-inch booty shorts, jiu-jitsu and, somehow, Thomas Jefferson.

Running may look a little different these days, but one thing hasn't changed: running will always be bae.

Press play and come get these miles with us.

Instagram Handles 

Runnersclubpodcast

Courtney - @courtneynphillips

Ian - @acoolthought

Intro Produced by Dini (IG) @dinibeats

Hey big head... you up?

We've missed you.

It's been two years, and we've got a lot to catch up on. In this long-overdue return, Courtney and Ian sit down for an honest conversation about where life has taken them since the last episode. From major career changes and Ian's evolving relationship with running to the heartbreaking challenges Courtney has faced on her journey into motherhood, this episode is filled with vulnerability, laughter, reflection, and hope.

Whether you've been with us from the beginning or you're just joining The Runner's Club Podcast, we're picking up right where we left off!

So lace up, press play, and let's catch these miles together.

Follow us on Instagram

Runnersclubpodcast

Courtney - @courtneynphillips

Ian - @acoolthought

Ian and Mike both ran the 2024 Chicago Marathon. In this episode, they do what marathoners love doing and share every single detail of their race!

Find us on IG 

Courtney - ⁠@courtneynphillips⁠

Ian - ⁠@acoolthought⁠

Mike - @mikeb_runnin

Intro by producer Dini - ⁠@dinibeats⁠

Podcast edited by Jerami Watson - ⁠@teezythegreat (twitter)⁠

Wow yall, 100 episodes in! Thank you for all of your listens! Let's get more miles together!

Find us on IG 

Courtney - ⁠@courtneynphillips⁠

Ian - ⁠@acoolthought⁠

Mike - @mikeb_runnin

Intro by producer Dini - ⁠@dinibeats⁠

Podcast edited by Jerami Watson - ⁠@teezythegreat (twitter)⁠

Courtney takes a break to begin her journey as a mother and our favorite guest Mike Brown steps up to keep the miles going!

Find us on IG 

Courtney - ⁠@courtneynphillips⁠

Ian - ⁠@acoolthought⁠

Mike - @mikeb_runnin

Intro by producer Dini - ⁠@dinibeats⁠

Podcast edited by Jerami Watson - ⁠@teezythegreat (twitter)⁠