Back of the Pack Podcast

Back of the Pack Podcast

Lace up your sneakers, grab your favorite headband, and toe the starting line! The signal has fired and the “Back of the Pack Podcast” is up and running! Are you a fan of running 5k’s just because the finisher medal looks cool? You are not alone there! Join the show that is all about the race swag and running on a Saturday morning to get the most out of your race registration. We will talk about local races in the Kansas City area. We will give you a heads up if you’re wanting to go farther outside the area to run the big races. Host Kyle Walker has fourteen full marathons, over eighty half marathons, and hundreds of 5k’s and 10k's. Take it from us, you are among friends here if you’ve gotten to the finish line to find all the bananas gone!

Episodes

January 9, 2026 34 mins
We sit down with runner and American Heart Association advocate Molly McGuire from Muncie, IN, and her story grabs us from the first mile. We open on maternal heart health as Molly explains preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, the warning signs people miss, and why quick action saves lives. We dig into how grief and survival reshaped her outlook, then pivot to the run: the 50-states quest (45 down), pacing in Indiana, and the Honolulu ...
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We kick off 2026 with double race vibes and fresh resolve. We headed to Overland Park for the Hangover Half Marathon, then jumped the timeline to Parkville for the Time Travel 10K, trading late-night confetti for early-morning miles. We talk course feel, start-line energy, and why these New Year races are sneaky-good fitness barometers. There’s honest chatter about rebuilding after a rough 2025, the small wins that signal a comebac...
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Happy New Years everyone! 2026 is going to start off with a very special guest! This week on Second Wind, we hand the mic to Lisa Watkins, host of Behind the Bib, whose mantra is simple: do it scared, then do it again. From a first solo half during lockdown to building a fiercely welcoming run community, Lisa shares how showing up—imperfect and honest—can change your running and your life. She lets us peek at a live-wire moment mod...
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In this episode of The Back of the Pack Podcast, we crack open our 2025 race calendar like a scrapbook with sweat stains and start pulling out the stories. Forty-eight races, forty-seven race days, and enough finish lines to make our bib drawer file for workers’ comp. We dig into the “stat snacks” too: 339.95 miles of racing, an average rhythm of basically a race every week, and a whole lot of half-marathon living. We relive the hi...
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December 19, 2025 63 mins
This week we welcome Rex Hunt and Sydney Sorkin for a candid tour of the ultrarunning life. Rex shares how trails became his classroom, why he chased six 100-mile finishes in a single year, and what those long nights taught him about patience, pacing, and grit. Sydney adds her own perspective as a runner and group-run leader, answering our ten signature questions with stories that feel equal parts practical and inspiring. Together ...
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December 15, 2025 32 mins
We kick things off with a quick dash through a festive December 5K vibe, then unwrap our year-end Naughty & Nice List for 2025 races. On the Nice side, expect roaring crowd energy, buttery-smooth logistics, aid stations that absolutely delivered, medal-and-swag that made our racks smile, a course that felt like a postcard, and events that genuinely lifted the community. The Naughty list keeps it playful but honest: late starts ...
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December 12, 2025 46 mins
This week on Second Wind, we sit down with Sam, a Kansas City runner whose quiet grit and generous spirit light up every start line. You’ve probably seen her out there: compact, powerful, and moving with purpose as she shares the course with her son, mile after mile. Sam walks us through our ten core questions with disarming honesty—how she started, what keeps her coming back, the hard days that taught her the most, and the communi...
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After a long layoff, Kyle laced ‘em up for a doubleheader weekend and brought back two fresh race reviews. First up: the second annual Nolan Davidson Champions Run 10K in KCK—solid organization, community heart, and plenty of course character to wake up the legs. Then it’s holiday cheer at the Jingle Bell Run 5K for the Arthritis Foundation, where costumes, cowbells, and a great cause turned miles into momentum. We talk start-line ...
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December 5, 2025 66 mins
We’re kicking off our December–January interview series with two familiar faces from the KC running scene: Kody & Katie. Newly engaged and endlessly energetic, they joined Kyle in studio for a wide-ranging, laugh-filled hour built around our ten signature questions. We talk origin stories, toughest days and biggest lessons, community, comeback moments, and the weird/wonderful things you only see on the run. It’s equal parts hea...
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No races? No problem. Today Kyle flips the script and teaches you how to Spectate Like a Pro—the art of being a runner’s MVP on race day. From picking perfect cheer spots and timing your moves, to clutch sign ideas, smarter tracking, and the right words at the right mile, this episode turns sideline chaos into smooth, fun support. You’ll get real-world tips for hand-offs, finish-line aftercare, and capturing great photos without bl...
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November 28, 2025 34 mins
For our Run the Reset finale, Kyle takes Second Wind on the road to Restore Hyper Wellness in Overland Park—and the vibe is all recovery, all optimism. We tour the studio, meet the team, and dig into how personalized, science-backed therapies can help runners recharge smarter through the winter. Kyle hops in the whole-body cryo chamber (hello, sub-zero!) and kicks back with compression therapy, sharing what it feels like and how th...
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What happens when running—the thing that centers you, defines you, grounds you—gets ripped away? In this raw and unfiltered episode, Kyle opens up about the brutal reality of injury: two weeks sidelined, three races missed, and the anger that comes with watching your running crew cross finish lines without you. This isn't a "everything happens for a reason" pep talk. It's about the jealousy of scrolling through race photos, the gui...
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November 21, 2025 30 mins
This week we turn November’s Run the Reset lens toward something every runner needs when the temps drop: a workable winter routine. Kyle lays out simple, time-based templates that keep you consistent without chasing peak-season mileage, plus the “Rule of 3” anchors—one key run, one strength day, one easy session—to define a win even in chaotic weeks. We’ll talk Plan A/B/C thinking for outdoor, treadmill, or strength-only days so mi...
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November 17, 2025 36 mins
This week isn’t a pity party—it’s a playbook. Kyle shares a candid knee update and then flips the script: how to stay a runner when you can’t log miles. We lay out a bench-time training plan (knee-friendly strength, core, and cardio), the recovery foundations that actually accelerate healing, and simple PT markers to track progress without obsessing over pace. You’ll get a quick checklist of smart questions to ask your surgeon or P...
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November 14, 2025 33 mins
This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we continue our Run the Reset series by taking on one of the hardest parts of recovery — the mental side. Kyle dives into the “post-race hangover” that so many runners feel once the medals are hung and the adrenaline fades. We talk about why it’s normal to lose motivation, how to quiet the negative voice in your head, and how to rediscover your why when running feels more like...
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November 10, 2025 39 mins
We hit the road to Lincoln for the Good Life Halfsy and… let’s just say the weekend had range. From an expo with unexpected vibes to a race morning that felt like winter crashing the party, nothing went quite by the book—in the best “you had to be there” way. Kyle shares the little pre-start misadventure that nearly derailed his calm, the mid-race surprise that changed his game plan, and the finish-line moment that still made it al...
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November 7, 2025 26 mins
This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we kick off a brand-new November series called Run the Reset — and it all starts with the body. After months of racing, training, sweating, and chasing goals, it’s time to slow down and rebuild. Kyle dives into why rest isn’t weakness, how active recovery keeps you healthy, and the mindset shift that turns “taking time off” into an essential part of progress. We’ll talk about ...
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This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we go global! Kyle takes listeners on a tour of the Abbott World Marathon Majors — the legendary lineup of races that make up every runner’s dream circuit. From the streets of Boston to the bright lights of Tokyo, from the speed of Berlin to the energy of New York, we break down what makes each race iconic, how many runners they draw, and the fascinating stories behind them. We also talk a...
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October 31, 2025 24 mins
This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind, we wrap up our Run if You Dare October series with a Halloween Special packed with spooky fun and runner-friendly frights! Kyle dives into some of the scariest running myths we’ve all heard — and busts them with a playful Halloween twist. We share eerie, funny, and downright bizarre running stories that could only happen in the dark, on the trails, or in the middle of a race. ...
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October 27, 2025 38 mins
This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we get real about an emotion runners aren’t “supposed” to talk about: being mad at ourselves. We’re always told to “stay positive” and “don’t beat yourself up,” but sometimes frustration is the spark that finally pushes us to change. Kyle breaks down the difference between destructive self-talk and motivational anger — the kind that comes from self-respect, not self-hate. We talk about how...
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