THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Alex Ostberg, Nike pro running coach and newsletter author, explains why a donut can be legitimate post-run fuel and when junk carbs make sense. He breaks down how to respond after a bad race without overreacting. He outlines why volume often beats extra intensity and shares five practical rules to raise mileage safely while avoiding the durability lag.

Isaiah Photo, content creator and competitive runner known for viral stunts and a 2:41:54 marathon PR, describes his 75-day transformation—muscle gain, fat loss, and disciplined routines. He talks about daily 5am habits, ice baths, strict diet rules, strength work, recovery strategies, and how he balances family life while chasing Boston marathon goals.

Grant Fisher, 28, elite American distance runner and Olympic medalist, shares the pivotal college conversation that reshaped his commitment. He walks through rebuilding his training, switching coaches and cities before Paris. Listen to stories about peak stretches, durability, managing setbacks, and why he’s betting on himself for future track and road goals.

Adriaan Wildschutt just became the first South African in history to win the NYC Half Marathon, and it looks like he’s in the middle of a memorable career.Adriaan holds five South African national records. He ran a sizzling 59:13 half marathon debut. He was 13th at the World Cross Country Championships, which was the best finish a South African man has ever had at that event. This guy is notbuilding toward something. He's already in the middle of it. Adriaan’s NYC Half Marathon victory on March 15 was both historic and revelatory. If the running world didn’t know him before, they do now. At the Valencia Half Marathon in October 2025, he debuted with a 59:13. And at  the World Athletics Championships in August 2025, he secured a 10th-place finish in the 10,000m in Tokyo.To cap it off, he holds the South African national records in the 10,000m (outdoor): 26:50.64, the 5,000m (outdoor): 12:56.76, the 3,000m (outdoor): 7:32.99, the Half Marathon: 59:13, and the 5,000m (indoor): 12:56.67.Historic, revelatory, and long overdue for the recognition, If the running world didn't know Adriaan Wildschutt before Sunday, they do now.Tap into the Adriaan Wildschutt 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!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

Ryan Waite, BYU assistant coach and five-time All-American runner, shares the behind-the-scenes of Carter Cutting’s NCAA Indoor Mile win. He discusses scouting prelims, using championship races as simulations, race-specific pacing lessons, and the mental preparation that turned a qualifier into a champion. Short, tactical, and full of racing candor.

Carter Cutting, BYU middle-distance runner and 2026 NCAA Indoor Mile champion, built confidence through yearly PRs since age nine. He talks about his decisive closing kick, the mile-simulation workout that prepped him, choosing BYU and individualized coaching, and balancing speed with distance while enjoying underdog status.

Kimberley May, a New Zealand middle-distance standout who just signed with New Balance after a stellar Providence run, discusses her pro transition and life in Boston. She talks about the mindset shift that reignited her career, near-quit doubts and the pivotal talk with her mom, training differences between college and pro life, altitude camps, team dynamics, and lofty Olympic and national-record ambitions.

For nearly 40 years, Jeff Troesch has worked behind the scenes with NBA players, MLB All-Stars, Olympic medalists, and national championship programs.He's coached athletes at every Olympic Games since 1988, helped shape the mental systems at IMG Academy, and consulted for USA Track & Field.In 2025, he distilled 150 mental performance lessons into one book: One Day Better.Jeff doesn't preach positive thinking, he teaches neutral thinking. His approach encourages athletes to define what "one day better" looks like for each specific session, preventing the overwhelm that comes from fixating on long-term goals. Adaily decision, not a distant destination.Jeff’s career path wasn't linear. After a marketing degree from Washington State University and four years as Media Relations Director for the Seattle SuperSonics, he returned to school for an advanced degree in sports psychology. He launched his performance career in 1987 as an NBA consultant, later expanding into MLB with the Mariners and Tigers."One Day Better" isn't a slogan: it's a system. Whether you're chasing an Olympic Trials qualifier, a high school PR, or just trying to stay consistent when life feels chaotic, the mental game is the game. You don't need to win the season today. You just need to win the day.Tap into the Jeff Troesch 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!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

Mike Scannell is back on The Running Effect Podcast.The last time he joined the show, we talked about the long-term vision behind coaching one of America’s most talented distance runners. Since then, that vision has turned into one of the most remarkable stretches in American distance running history.His athlete, Grant Fisher, has won two Olympic bronze medals in Paris, broken indoor world records in both the 3,000m and 5,000m, and firmly established himself as one of the most dominant distance runners on the planet.And now, the next chapter is about to begin.On March 15th at the United Airlines NYC Half, Fisher will make his professional half-marathon debut.Coach Scannell’s coaching record speaks for itself: Footlocker and Dream Mile national titles, multiple state records in the 1600, Olympic Trials qualifiers, and Olympians. He was an incredible runner himself, but in many ways he’s an even better coach.That is continuing to evolve with some of the best runners on the planet, and we can’t wait for you to hear our latest chat with one of the best minds in the sport.Tap into the Coach Mike Scannell 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!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

The last time Connor Burns and Simeon Birnbaum were here, they were two highly anticipated freshmen trying to find their footing in one of the most historic distance programs in NCAA history.Now? They’re conference-dominating sophomores ready for their next target.At the 2026 Big Ten Indoor Championships, Simeon Birnbaum swept the distance double, winning both the 3,000m and the 5,000m to claim two Big Ten titles while continuing to climb the Oregon all-time lists.Connor Burns dropped a 7:40 in the 3000m at Boston University, one of the fastest times in the NCAA this season, and crossed the line second in the Big Ten 5000m before a controversial disqualification changed the results of the race.Now, both are headed to the NCAA Indoor Championships, where Simeon enters as a double threat in the 3000m and 5000m, and Connor arrives as one of the top contenders in the 3000m.We’re watching two of the most talented distance runners of their generation grow into championship racers at the NCAA level, and with the NCAA Indoor Championships up next, the Oregon Boys’ story is still being written.Tap into the Conner Burns and Simeon Birnbaum 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!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