THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

While other pros are napping in NormaTecs, Matthew Marquardt is doing rounds in med school while still torching Ironman courses. 

Matthew is a two-time Ironman champion who just shattered the Lake Placid course record with a blistering 7:50:08. A month earlier, he dominated Ironman Cairns, closing the marathon with a fearless 2:39:47.

And here’s the kicker, he’s also a full-time medical student at Ohio State.

That’s right, while most ...

Alex Ostberg is back again, ready to unpack the powerful, and often overlooked, mental side of training. 

In this July roundup, Alex breaks down the four most impactful lessons from his newsletter The Rundown: covering everything from tapering tweaks to placebo power.

If you’ve ever second-guessed your workouts, tried to copy what the pros are doing, or sabotaged yourself before race day—this  episode is your antidote. 

First up, Alex...

If you follow high school distance running, you already know the buzz is real.

Caden Leonard has emerged as one of the most dominant prep runners in the country, and his résumé is growing almost as fast as his closing kick.

Let’s start with the highlights: he’s a two-time Texas 6A Cross Country State Champion; he was the 2025 Texas 6A State Track “Double Gold” winner in the 1600m and 3200m; he came in 2nd place at the Brooks PR Invit...

At 15, Sam Ruthe is breaking records and shattering expectations.

With a jaw-dropping 3:58.35 mile, he became the youngest human ever to break four minutes, vaulting himself into the global spotlight.

But if you know his story, none of this feels like a fluke.

Running is in Sam’s blood.

His grandfather was a Commonwealth Games steeplechaser.

His parents? Both competitive runners.

You can’t fake that kind of DNA.

The stuff he has accomplis...

Marco Langon went from prepping meals in a back kitchen to torching NCAA record books as one of the fastest middle-distance runners in collegiate history.

We’re talking 3:33.38 in the 1500m (2nd-fastest in NCAA history); 3:54.60 in the mile; 7:36.87 in the 3,000m; and 13:14.11 in the 5,000m. 

And he is still a junior at Villanova.

But the stats are just the start. Marco’s a 2025 NCAA 5000m bronze medalist (13:21.17), a multiple-time A...

From shattering age-group records before most kids knew how to pace a 400, to stepping onto the Olympic stage with grace, grit, and God-given speed, Brandon Miller’s journey is nothing short of electric.

At just 13 years old, he clocked a jaw-dropping 1:56 in the 800m. By 14, it was 1:51. A middle school phenom who didn’tjust peak early, he kept accelerating toward greatness.

High school? Dominant. Eight straight AAU Junior Olympic t...

If you follow ultrarunning, you’ve probably heard the name Caleb Olson recently. 

In 2025, he broke through in a big way, winning the Western States 100 in 14:11:25, the second-fastest time ever on that iconic course.

But his rise wasn’t sudden. 

Raised in the Seattle area, Caleb was an All-ASUN runner at Liberty University, with PRs of 3:51 in the 1500m and 29:11 in the 10,000m. He entered the ultra world in 2018 and has built his ca...

Pierce Showe is redefining what consistency, conviction, and calling look like in the world of ultra-endurance running.

He just broke the Guinness World Record for most consecutive half marathons on a treadmill—running 13.1 miles every single day for 125 days straight—and he’s here to talk about what it took, and why it mattered.

As a running coach and motivational content creator, Pierce is on a mission that’s as physical as it is s...

Sondre Guttormsen not only cleared six meters, but he launched past expectations, limits, and borders, and is considered one of the best to ever do it in the world of pole vault.

He's a European champion, a two-time Olympian, a three-time NCAA champion, and one of the elite few in pole vault's six-meter club.

In 2023, he made history as the first-ever Norwegian to win the European Indoor Championships, clearing 5.80 m with zero misse...

PSA: the audio on this is weird. We have no clue why it's like this, but I would rather release then it never see the light of day.

He went from Rapid City to Hayward Field. 

From high school phenom to NCAA standout. 

And now, toeing the line with the best in the world, Simeon Birnbaum is bridging the levels in a way few athletes do.

In his return to the show, we catch up with Simeon just 24 hours after his electri...

This isn’t just a running interview. It’s a front-row seat to what greatness sounds like.

Josh Kerr is the reigning 1500m World Champion, an Olympic silver (Paris 2024) and bronze medalist (Tokyo 2020), and the fastest Brit of all time, stopping the clock at a jaw-dropping 3:27.79 in the 1500m at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

And his résumé doesn’t stop there. Josh’s current personal bests include: 3:27.79 in the 1500m outdoor (British...

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

Alex Ostberg is back to cut through the noise and get straight to what actually matters for smarter, healthier, and more effective training. 

This month’s theme? Train with awareness, not ego.

First, Alex wrote about not chasing gains at the expense of your body. Top athletes play defense first. Solid sleep, real food, and smart recovery aren’t opt...

Paityn Noe has gone from being an injury-plagued freshman to one of the NCAA's most electrifying distance runners, redefining success with speed, resilience, and purpose.

After a turbulent freshman year marked by injury and setbacks, Paityn didn't just bounce back, she transformed, clocking a blazing 31:36.91 to break Arkansas' 10,000m record, becoming All-American in the 10,000m and 5,000m outdoors,and finishing 4th at NCAA Outdoor...

Andreas Almgren went from nearly quitting the sport to redefining European distance running.

The Swedish phenom’s career began with a 1:45.59 in the 800m before a cascade of devastating injuries nearly ended it all. We’re talking stress fractures, torn muscles, and years of physical setbacks that forced Andreas to rethink everything, from his training philosophy to his identity as an athlete.

What followed is one of the most remarkab...

Austen Dalquist is not your typical miler. 

He's an All-American from the University of Arkansas, a USATF Colorado Mile Champion, and a 3:41 guy in the 1500, but his journey hasn't been defined by times alone.

After battling personal health challenges, including an eating disorder and vocal cord dysfunction, Austen did what few dare to do: he stayed in the sport. He rebuilt from rock bottom, leaning on faith, community, and quiet res...

Lexy Halladay-Lowry is chasing the clock while rewriting the record books.

With an indoor mile PR of 4:31, a blistering 8:40 in the 3,000, and a sub-15 in both the indoor and outdoor 5,000m, Lexy is one of the fastest ever to do it in NCAA history.

She’s an 8-time All-American, a two-time NCAA cross country team champion, and the current No. 2 in the nation in the steeplechase after clocking 9:08 and finishing runner-up at the 2025 o...

Hans Troyer is the epitome of raw talent meeting ruthless resilience.

From a near-collapse in the desert to record-breaking dominance, his story is one of fearless grit, second chances, and an audacious leap: from college steepler to 100K trail crusher.

In just over a year, Hans has gone from collegiate standout to ultramarathon phenom: winning national titles, smashing course records, and landing podiums at some of the biggest races...

From humble hustle to steeplechase sensation, James Corrigan is rewriting the script.

Born in Los Angeles and now a force at Brigham Young University, James has quickly made his mark in the 3000-meter steeplechase. In just the past year, he placed third in the U.S. Olympic Trials, secured his Olympic standard in a last-chance race at the Penn Relays, represented Team USA in Paris, and most recently, he became the NCAA Championwith a...

Sixty-one marathons in sixty-one days: From the southern border of Germany to the northern sea, Aleksander Lingauer covered the entire distance on his own.

No sponsors. No shortcuts. Just a backpack, a belief, and the stubborn will to see it through.

Aleksander is an endurance athlete and writer, and the mind behind Project 61, a solo mission to run the length of Germany, one marathon a day, for two straight months. 

But his story isn...