THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Conner and Kylie Mantz are redefining what it means to chase big dreams as a team.

They’re two runners with one purpose–moving stride for stride through life.

Conner Mantz has become the new standard-bearer for American marathoning. After winning the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and placing 8th at the Paris Olympics (2:08:12), he stunned the running world in 2025–running 2:05:08 for 4th place at Boston, winning the Beach to Beacon 10K in a course record time of 27:26, and setting the American marathon record of 2:04:43 at the Chicago Marathon. 

His career arc, which was shaped by BYU coach Ed Eyestone’s patient approach, reflects eight years of steady growth from NCAA champion to global contender.

Kylie Mantz, meanwhile, has forged her own remarkable path. 

A latecomer to competitive running, she joined BYU’s women’s distance program in 2025 and quickly ran 34:57 for 10,000m and 16:49 for 5000m–astonishing progress for someone who didn’t run track in high school. Her joy-driven approach, grounded in curiosity and consistency, mirrors Cennor’s faith in long-term development.

Their parallel journeys (Conner’s disciplined pursuit of podiums and records; Kylie’s joyful rise into Division I competition) intersect in a shared belief that running is both art and anchor. 

Together, Conner and Kylie Mantz are proving that love, faith, and discipline can fuel world-class performance.

Tap into the Conner and Kylie Mantz Special.

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S H O W  N O T E S

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Haftu Knight is proving that professionalism in running isn't limited to sponsorship: it's a mindset.

His rise from shepherd in Ethiopia to one of the most exciting marathoners training under Jeff Cunningham with the Bat City Track Club is the perfect example of this.

Now based in Austin, Knight is part of a blue-collar group grinding through 100-mile weeks, blending raw talent with Cunningham's precision system of controlled intensity and relentless rhythm work. 

It's an environment built on belief, and Knight has bought in completely.

A former University of Texas standout, Knight was the 2022 Big 12 10,000m champion and NCAA Cross Country All-American, setting a school record of 13:32 for 5,000 m and ranking #2 in the 10,000m (28:30).

After college he jumped straight into the marathon, running 2:17:22 in his debut at Indianapolis in November 2024. Five months later, he shocked the road scene with a 2:09:38 at the McKirdy Micro Marathon in March 2025, followed by a 1:02:47 half in Chicago and a 2:11:39 at his first World Major that October.

Knight's day-to-day reflects Cunningham's mantra: manage everything well. 

Morning doubles, long runs in the Texas heat, and recovery shifts at Fleet Feet define the routine of a man chasing the next level. 

From a boy tending goats in Chelekot to a man redefining Texas distance running, Haftu Knight's story is one of grit, gratitude, and pure momentum. His next marathon block with Bat City isn't just training, it's the continuation of one of 2025's most inspiring breakthroughs.

Tap into the Haftu Knight Special.

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S H O W  N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

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Two-time Olympian Elise Cranny has long been a model of precision, patience, and perseverance in American distance running. 

A Stanford All-American turned professional with Nike, Cranny owns a résumé that blends range and record-setting speed, most notably the American records for both the indoor 5,000m (14:33.17) and outdoor 3,000m (8:25.10). 

Now 29 and training under NAU coach Jarred Cornfield, with an altitude base in Flagstaff, she continues to redefine consistency at the highest level.

After U.S. titles in 2021, 2022, and a 10,000/5,000 double in 2023, Cranny entered 2025 seeking balance: new coach, new league (Grand Slam Track), and renewed joy in the grind. That recalibration paid off this summer at USATF Outdoors in Eugene, where she claimed silver medals in both the 10,000 m (31:44.24) and 5,000 m (15:14.26). The double podium secured her spot on the U.S. team for the World Championships in Tokyo.

In Tokyo, Cranny finished 12th in the 10,000 m final and contested the 5,000m heats, wrapping a long season that tested both resilience and recovery. 

Whether lowering records, mentoring young athletes through Voice in Sport, or pioneering a new professional model in Grand Slam Track, Cranny remains one of the sport's clearest voices on fueling, self-trust, and sustainable success.

Tap into the Elise Cranny Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. 

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S H O W  N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

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Yaseen Abdalla’s story is one of adaptation and ambition.

He’s a runner who has thrived across programs, distances, and continents, representing Sudan on the international stage while redefining what a new-generation distance athlete can be.

At the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Abdalla placed 21st in the marathon (2:13:32), continuing a remarkable ascent that began a year after his Olympic debut in Paris, where he set a Sudanese national record of 2:11:41.

Known for his blend of speed and endurance, Abdalla’s range is staggering. His personal records include a 3:55.31 mile in 2025, 7:34.17 in the 3,000m in 2024, 13:09.99 in the 5,000m in 2025, and that 2:11:41 marathon.

Those numbers speak to a rare physiology: miler-level leg speed married to marathon efficiency.

His rise has been anything but conventional. From Lanham, Maryland and growing up in Texas, Abdalla ran collegiately for Texas, where he anchored the Longhorns’ 2022 NCAA champion distance medley relay, before transferring to Tennessee and later Arkansas, where he finished fourth at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships. That same winter, he set Sudanese indoor records at 3,000m and 5,000m at the Boston University meets.

Competing internationally for Sudan and a Bandit Running–supported athlete, Abdalla has his sights set on breaking the 2:10 barrier. His current training maintains track sharpness (strides/speed) alongside marathon preparation.

In today's conversation, 

Tap into the Yaseen Abdalla Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. 

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S H O W  N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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He's one of the NCAA's brightest young stars, and his recent sophomore season proved why.

Kole Mathison, the 2022 Champs Sports Cross Country national champion, and now a rising junior steeplechaser for the University of Colorado, joins the show fresh off a breakout year on the track and a strong start to the 2025 cross country season. 

Just weeks ago, Mathison placed 10th at the Nuttycombe Invitational, helping the Buffs to a runner-up team finish; another sign that Colorado's storied distance tradition is alive and well.

But the journey from Carmel, Indiana to Boulder wasn't linear. After winning a national title in high school and representing Team USA at the 2023 World U20 Cross Country Championships, Mathison faced an injury during his freshman campaign.

What followed was a lesson in patience and consistency, culminating in an 8:32 steeplechase personal best and NCAA qualification in 2025, plus impressive indoor marks of 7:52 (in the 3,000m) and 13:42 (in the 5,000m) on the fast Boston University track.

From national champion to NCAA contender, Kole's trajectory is proof that patience, belief, and relentless work still define greatness in collegiate running.

Tap into the Kole Mathison Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. 

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S H O W  N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

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In 2025, Herriman High’s Jackson Spencer became the name every prep distance fan had to know.

The Utah standout, who is headed to BYU next year, opened his season with a victory at the Simplot Games 3200m (8:56.03), then surged into spring with a breakthrough 8:51.26 at the Arcadia Invitational. 

His momentum carried into June, where he unleashed a 4:02.56 mile and 3:46.22 1500m at the HOKA Festival of Miles, performances that placed him among the fastest prep milers in the country. 

Just weeks later, he anchored Herriman High’s 4x800-meter relay to a national high school record of 7:26.12 at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.

By October, Spencer had proven his range extended well beyond the track. At the ASICS Clovis Invitational, he shattered the storied Woodward Park course record with a 14:16.9. 

Balancing excellence with humility, the 2025 Gatorade Utah Boys Track & Field Player of the Year embodies both athletic drive and academic focus. His progression—from indoor champion to outdoor record-setter to cross country course dominator—reflects rare versatility and discipline.

As he looks beyond Herriman, Spencer’s times and trajectory point toward a seamless leap to the collegiate ranks. 

Whether chasing sub-four on the track or new records on the roads, his next chapter promises to include lots of record-chasing performances. 

Tap into the Jackson Spencer Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. 

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S H O W  N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

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Final Surge: https://www.finalsurge.com (RUNNINGEFFECT20) 

He built a dynasty in Flagstaff, and now, Mike Smith is bringing that same fire to Nike’s Swoosh Track Club.

After nearly a decade at the helm of Northern Arizona University, where he built a dynasty that captured five NCAA men’s cross country titles and earned him 41 Big Sky Coach of the Year honors, Smith made headlines in 2025 when he left collegiate coaching to join Nike’s professional network. 

From his Flagstaff base, he’s now guiding elite athletes through the same philosophy that made NAU unstoppable: a culture of belonging, relentless consistency, and daily excellence.

A Georgetown University All-American and 2007 U.S. Olympic Trials marathon qualifier, Smith’s journey from athlete to coach has always revolved around purpose over prestige. He founded Team Run Flagstaff, studied under the legendary Dr. Jack Daniels, and molded athletes like Nico Young and Luis Grijalva into global talents. 

Now, with the Swoosh Track Club, Smith’s vision extends beyond collegiate borders: building systems that connect performance, identity, and community on a global stage. He currently coaches talents of Galen Rupp all the way down to Donvoan Brazier and many inbetween.

From the mountains of Flagstaff to the global stage, Mike Smith continues to redefine what it means to lead, reminding us that true excellence starts with purpose, not medals.

Tap into the Coach Mike Smith Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. 

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S H O W  N O T E S

• Final Surge: https://www.finalsurge.com (RUNNINGEFFECT20)  

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

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Sacrifice, grit, burnout, and the fight to be great: this month’s Rundown Recap dives into four stories that every driven person needs to hear.

The fellas kick things off with “Sacrifice Isn’t Sustainable,” a raw look at how constantly grinding and giving everything can start to take more than it gives. What happens when the thing you love starts burning you out?

Then, in “The Art of Championship Racing,” they unpack what separates the good from the great when everything’s on the line; the mindset, the confidence, and the quiet control it takes to rise in the biggest moments.

Next up is “Fuel for the Work Required,” a reminder that there’s no secret sauce, just consistency, simplicity, and showing up when no one’s watching. 

And finally, “Resist the Pull of Mediocrity” challenges all of us to fight against comfort, to refuse to settle for “good enough,” and to keep pushing toward what we’re truly capable of.

It’s one of those conversations that goes way beyond running,it’s about mindset, ambition, and how to build a life around doing hard things well. 

Tune in, this month’s edition might be the reset you didn’t know you needed.

Tap into the Rundown Recap Special.

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S H O W   N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

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Claire Manley went from chasing PRs on the track to building a storytelling engine for athletes and running brands.

She is the co-founder of Meet @ 7 Studios, a women-led social media and personal branding agency designed for professional runners and endurance athletes.

Her work focuses on giving athletes Fortune 500-level strategy and visibility while helping them own their stories and reach new audiences.

Before becoming a strategist and agency founder, Claire carved out her own story on the track.

A walk-on at Gonzaga University, she battled her way to captaincy and scholarship status while setting a 5000m personal best of 16:31.06 at the Oxy Invitational (in May of 2019), along with collegiate bests of 10:04 for 3000m and 4:47 for 1500m, and qualifying for the NCAA West Preliminary Round that year.

Her career timeline includes stops at Nike-sponsored Bowerman Track Club, where she built global community programs and launched the BTC Summer Training Program that drew participants from across 40 states and eight countries.

Today, she runs Claire Manley Consulting in Brooklyn, continuing that momentum through her independent strategy work.

Most recently, Claire has been active in Gonzaga’s alumni ecosystem, engaging with career treks that connect current students to NYC’s marketing and branding scene.

While she may not be lining up for NCAA championships anymore, her presence in the endurance space remains sharp, shaping the way athletes connect, communicate, and thrive in an increasingly digital sport.

Tap into the Claire Manley Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review!

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Jess McClain has become the new face of American women’s marathoning: a symbol of resilience, balance, and belief in one’s own path.

A former collegiate standout at Stanford, she stepped into the pro ranks with Brooks, only to face years of injury, transition, and even stepping away from full-time running to build a life outside the sport. 

Jess never left the track mentally. In 2024, working full time and largely self-guided, she shocked the field by placing 4th in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, narrowly missing the team by seconds.

Not content to be defined by near misses, she went on to win the USATF 10K title (setting a course record), she ran a breakthrough PR of 2:22:43 as top American at the Boston Marathon in 2025, and earned her place on Team USATF for the World Championships.

In Tokyo this past summer, she finished 8th overall in the marathon, which was a stunning result on the biggest stage of all. This finish wasn’t a random burst; it was built on her modest-mileage, high-quality approach.

As of 2025, Jess blends stride sessions, strength work twice weekly, and intentional rest; she also rejoined a coach-athlete relationship with David Roche in 2025. Her story isn’t solely about PRs and race placings, it’s also about redefining what’s possible when you craft your own path and control your narrative.

Tap into the Jess McClain Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. 

Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. 

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

S H O W  N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz