THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Back on the podcast for her third appearance is the wise Vanessa Fraser! 

A lot has happened in the past year for Vanessa and we break it all down in today's conversation. 

Many professional runners talk about the importance of vulnerability in sharing the tougher moments of their careers, but very, very few do it. Vanessa is one of the few I know who is completely open about her full journey, and that always makes our conversations so insightful. 

If you're not familiar with Vanessa, she holds PRs of 4:09 in the 1500m, 14:48 in the 5k, and 31:52 in the 10k. In college, she was one of the most storied runners in Stanford history, where she was a 7xAll-American, and her school record of 15:09 in the 5k still stands. 

Vanessa currently runs for Saucony and Team BOSS. 

In today's conversation, we discuss the brutal realities of running at a high level, the ups and downs of Vanessa's career, her new deal with Saucony, her ambitions for the future, and much more!

Tap into the Vanessa Fraser Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is Julian Florez, Assistant Coach of the Brooks Beasts Track Club. 

Coach Florez began running at the age of thirteen, eventually becoming a first-generation student-athlete at Adams State University, where he was part of a NCAA DII national championship team. He then competed for University of New Mexico, earning All-American honors.

After graduating, he moved up in distance, eventually qualifying for and participating in the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials. Coach Florez also works as an artist, using the world around him to inspire his work with line and color.

This man does it all. Coach, pace, support, and everything in-between. 

I loved this conversation with one of the up-and-coming coaches in the sport. Julian is a great guy who is full of wisdom and exuberance. 

Tune into today's conversation to hear what it takes to truly be world class and the behind the scenes of one of the best track clubs in the world. 

Tap into the Coach Julian Florez Graphic Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

-MORE INFO ABOUT BROOKS PR: https://www.soundrunning.run/brookspr 

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com 

Today on "The Call Room: Road To Seattle" is the most underrated boy in the country, Riley Smith. 

Y'all ask, we deliver. After months of requests to get this guy on, we're making it happen. 

I'm going to be honest, I hadn't heard Riley's name until a few months ago, but already in the first few weeks of the track season, he's made a name for himself and is looking to shock some people in the months to come.

He's undefeated this indoor and outdoor season and is looking to continue that streak. 

His progress in the sport has been monumental. His best 5k his junior year of HS was 17:52, not even qualifying for the state meet. A year later, he won the whole thing and ran 14:57. 

So far this season, Riley has run 8:39 in the 3200m and 1:50 in the 800m. The scary thing is that 3200m was Riley's second-ever attempt at a distance. As you'll hear in our conversation today, Riley knows he can go sub 8:30 this year. 

Riley will be going to his first Brooks PR Meet in 2024 and is currently deciding between the Mile/2-Mile. Whichever event he chooses, he's looking to surprise some people and turn some heads.  

In today's conversation, Riley shares his remarkable story in sport, how he's gotten good so fast, being the underdog, letting the doubters fuel him, his ambitions for his final year of HS, what he wants to do at Brooks, some of his most insane workouts, and much more! 

This is an awesome opportunity to look into the mind of a kid who's name you'll hear a lot of in the months and years to come. 

Tap into the Riley Smith Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

-MORE INFO ABOUT BROOKS PR: https://www.soundrunning.run/brookspr 

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is the one and only Tommie Runz!

"Tommie Runz" was born in New York in August 1984. Growing up, Tommie was raised in Detroit and Southfield, Michigan. In 1993, at the age of 8, he lost his father to a stroke, leaving his mother with the burden of raising him and his sister alone. Tommie's mother made things work and raised them in a loving and hardworking home. However the pain, heartache and trauma of losing his father made way for the inability to comprehend his emotions as a young man. At 17, he took his first drink and found the relief he was searching for in alcohol. The lack of healing in Tommie's life created the perfect recipe for bad decisions, seemingly one after the other.

On January 11, 2017 he chose a life of sobriety. This is when Tommie's journey into fitness and health began. His new found sense of freedom, control, and wellbeing ultimately led Tommie to try veganism in February 2018. A few months later, his running journey began when he was challenged to run the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in Chicago. To this day, sobriety, veganism and mindfulness play a vital role in who he is as a human and a runner.

Since his introduction into running in 2018, Tommie has established and solidified a community of individuals who share the same passion in running, mindfulness, and self-improvement. He created and founded Chip Time Running to disrupt the current status quo in the running industry; began a podcast and live show, The Run Eat Sleep Show; and launched the PR Project on YouTube, where he sits as co-host. In April 2021, he qualified for the Boston Marathon with a chip time of 2:48:43. 

In today's conversation, Tommie takes me through his incredible story from the start to the present day. We dicuss the different elements of his story and how he's using it to impact lives around the world. I really loved this conversation!

Tap into the Tommie Runz Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is the Founder & CEO of Soul Focus Sports & Run Local Ventures, JT Service. 

JT is one of the kindest and most fired-up individuals I've ever met. I've had the privilege of working with him at a few events last year, and this guy is next level. 

Soul Focus specializes in event production and experiential for numerous clients as well as developing our proprietary Run Local Event Series. Current event clients include the San Francisco Giants, Under Armour, HOKA, Global Genes, Cumulus Media, JP Morgan Chase, and others. 

JT was also a fantastic runner back in the day and has made the US Olympic Marathon Trials. 

In today's conversation, JT takes me through his day-to-day life, what it's like expanding a business, how he's grown Soul Focus so much over the years, the importance of a morning routine, his years as an extremely successful runner, and much more!

I absolutely loved this conversation and grew a lot from it. Take the time to be blessed by JT's words. 

Tap into the JT Service Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast are two of the greatest coaches in NCAA History, Coach Chris Miltenberg & Coach Mike Smith. 

Coach Chris Miltenberg is the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at University Of North Carolina. 

Coach Mike Smith is the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Northern Arizona University. During his tenure at NAU, Coach Smith has earned 23 Big Sky Coach of the Year awards, 5 Chick Hislop Awards for USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, 5 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Coach of the Year awards, 4 Bill Dellinger Awards for the National Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, and 1 USTFCCCA National Men's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year awards. He's coached so many legends over the years including Luis Grijalva, Abdi Nur, Geordie Beamish, Nico Young, and many others. 

Coach Chris Miltenberg is the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at The University of North Carolina. Under his leadership, UNC's teams achieved significant milestones, qualifying for the NCAA Cross Country Championships and earning high ACC finishes. Coach Milt's athletes consistently earned All-America honors and excelled at NCAA Championships. During his tenure at Stanford, the teams secured ten podium finishes in NCAA Championship competitions, with the men's track and field/cross country program winning the John McDonnell Division I Program of the Year in 2019. His coaching prowess was evident as he led the women's cross-country team at Georgetown University to a national championship in 2011. 

In today's conversation, Coach Milt & Smith discuss their friendship, being roommates in college, lessons learned from their college coach, Coach Patrick Henner, how they help each other in the day-to-day, and so much more!

This conversation was truly legendary and such a privilege to have. I hope you all take the time to listen and be enlightened by two legends of the sport!

Tap into the Coach Chris Miltenberg & Coach Mike Smith Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast are the fastest twins in the country, Olivia & Andrea Markezich! 

Olivia placed 3rd at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships in Charlotte, Virginia, a few months ago. That incredible performance led her team to a 4th place finish! This was also one week after coming down with sickness. A few week short weeks later, she opened up the indoor season with a time of 8:40.42 in the 3k, breaking her own school record which was previously set last season as she ran an 8:50.08. Her time of 8:40.42 also ranks #2 all-time! Last year, Olivia won the 3000M steeplechase at the 2023 NCAA Championships with a remarkable time of 9:25.03, setting a facility record at the University of Texas. Olivia also signed an NIL Deal with On last year.

Andrea placed 35th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships in Charlotte, Virginia, a few months ago, gaining All-American status and helping her team place 4th overall! Before her time at the University of Notre Dame, she ran for UW and was the 2023 Pac-12 10,000m Runner-Up, a part of the 2023 All-America Second Team in the DMR, and in 2022 All-Pac-12 Second Team XC. This Fall, Andrea will be working at Dell Technologies as an Emerging Technologies Specialist in the NGSA Program!

Before their time in college, Olivia and Andrea pushed each other consistently on and off the course, helping each other make it to where they're both at today. They re-joined forces this past year when Andrea transferred to Notre Dame to close out her NCAA eligibility (under the condition from Olivia that she dye her hair blonde - more on this in the podcast). 

Today's conversation is the definition of wholesome. Two twins chopping it up on their journey in sport and life, and how they've pushed each other through it all. This episode is the perfect mix of serious and insightful while also being incredibly fun and lighthearted. 

This episode will make your weekend miles fly by! Tap into the Markezich Twins Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is Owen Slacker!

Olin opened up his 2024 season with a new PB at 5,000 meters (13:08.76) indoors at the BU Terrier Classic. A month later he ran a fantastic race to finish second at the USATF Indoor Championships over 3,000 meters, earning a spot on Team USA at the World Indoor Championships. At Worlds, he ran valiantly over the final two laps…eventually finishing in fifth place.

Olin ran for the University of Wisconsin, where he earned an undergraduate degree in biology and a graduate degree in kinesiology while achieving notable personal bests in the mile (3:56.66), 3,000 meters (7:45.73), and 5,000 meters (13:19.34). His crowning achievement came in his senior year with a dramatic victory in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Championships. In 2022, he turned professional and joined HOKA NAZ Elite. 

In today's conversation, Olin takes me through his past few months of running and racing, his takes on Nico Young, Jakob vs. Josh, why college kids are running so fast, his plans for the outdoor season, and much more!

Anytime I get Olin on the podcast is a good time. This episode was that and then some!

Tap into the Owen Slacker Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com

Today on the podcast is the Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at the University of Toledo, Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough!

Under the leadership of Coach McDonough, the Toledo cross country teams have achieved remarkable success, securing consecutive Mid-American Conference Women’s Cross Country titles in 2021, 2022, 2023 and notable individual accolades. The 2022 women’s team notably climbed to the No. 16 spot in the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll. Additionally, the men’s team has claimed consecutive runner-up finishes at the MAC Men’s Cross Country Championship meets in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Beyond cross country, Coach McDonough's impact extends to track and field, where her athletes have excelled both domestically and internationally. Her coaching prowess has been recognized with numerous Coach of the Year awards throughout her career. Prior to Toledo, she spent time at UNC, Iowa State, and UConn. 

Prior to becoming a coach, she was a two-time national titlist, winning the 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials in the 10,000 meters. She ran professionally for 12 years and was a seven-time Canadian National Team member. 

In today's conversation, Coach McDonough takes me through her journey as an athlete and coach, how she flipped around the Toledo program, how she recruits the top kids in the country (and sometimes out of the country), her ambitions for the program, and much more!

Tap into the Coach Andrea McDonough Special. 

You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching "The Running Effect Podcast." 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. 

The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo 

S H O W N O T E S

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

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

-My Newsletter: https://therunningeffect.substack.com