Running In Circles

Today on the podcast I’m joined by Jack Graffeo!Jack is a redshirt freshman at the University of Colorado Boulder and is showing the world that he’s ready for the big leagues.After facing a season ending injury during his senior year outdoor track season he overcame it and has shown tremendous promise throughout his first few races in the NCAA.In the fall he won the infamous cross country Nuttycomb B race and most recently ran 13:29 for the 5k in his return to his home town of Boston.In this episode Jack takes me through the end of his high school career and everything that led up to building from 0 to 80 miles a week after his season ending injury.Follow me on instagram to stay up to date on all the latest running stories - https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Follow Jack on instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/jgraffeo2?igsh=cGNqYnNrZmh1eWxk

From missing out on Nike Cross Nationals to setting the U.S. #1 mark in the indoor mile: Braelyn Combe is more confident than ever and is setting herself up for a killer senior track season.In today’s interview with Braelyn Combe we discuss everything that went into setting the U.S #1 in the mile and her signature move at the end of the race(you’ll have to listen to find out what it is).Braelyn is commited to run at Arkansas in the fall and is part of a loaded women’s distance class.Tune in to hear from one of best high school distance runners in the country.

Today on the podcast I’m joined by Isaiah Givens!Isaiah runs for Colorado University Boulder and has steadily been making a name for himself in the NCAA.Isaiah recently ran a 3:57 mile at his home track at altitude which converts to a mind boggling 3:51.On this episode we discuss everything from if altitude conversions on real to how Isaiah ended up running a marathon in middle school.Follow me on instagram to stay up to date on future interviews and running news - https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Follow Isaiah on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/i.givens?igsh=MTN6MnNwZjZrc3dkOQ==

Vincent Ciatti returns to the podcast today!Vince most recently placed 5th in the 2k race at the U.S. world cross country championships and then followed it up with a road mile in Hawaii.Since placing 4th at the Olympic trials in the 1500 in 2024 and narrowly missing a few other world teams, Vince has been putting in the work to get where he wants to be and is gearing up for a big indoor season.Tune in to hear about Vince’s experience at the U.S. cross country championships and his time working with a sports psychologist recently. As we tackle the question of what will set above his competitors in this golden age of mid distance and distance runningFollow me on instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Follow Vince on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vincentciattei?igsh=ZjV4cXppMDRzdGNt

Bethany Michalak just played a huge role in helping NC State win the cross country national title where she was an all American with a 29th place finish as a sophomore. She improved by over 100 spots this year from her freshman year cross country finish  and is one of the most promising up and coming runners in the NCAA.Bethany was a very successful high school runner, leading her team to a nike cross national title and winning Colorado State Championships.In this episode Bethany takes me through her transition to college running and gives the inside scoop on NC State's national title team.

Maddie Gullickson finished 7th at Nike Cross Nationals where she led her team Wayzata to the national championship. A week later she finished 6th at the Brooks cross country championships.Maddie is a senior in high school committed to run cross country and track at NC State next fall where she will run alongside the defending national champions.Along with all her cross country accolades she holds personal best of 4:44 in the 1600 and 10:18 in the 3200.Tune in to hear about Maddie’s skiing in the off season and the story behind her dominant cross country season.Follow Maddie on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/maddie_gully7?igsh=cHRreXkxZWVod29zFollow me on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==

Colton Sands just led the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill at Cross country nationals and then ran a personal best of 13:17 in the 5k.Colton has been the model of growth and a successful progression throughout his time in the NCAA. He finished 229th at cross country nationals in 2023 and finished 42nd this past November. He’s made multiple appearances on the national stage and holds a personal best of 7:39 in the 3k.Tune into my interview with Colton Sands to hear all about his time at UNC and how he’s developed as an athlete and as a person.Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Follow Colton on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/c.j.sands?igsh=NTYwb2Q0Nm82aWNm

Riley Chamberlain just finished 4th at NCAA cross country Nationals, playing a huge role in BYU’s runner up team finish and then she ran a personal best of 14:58 in the 5k at Boston university.She’s become one of the most talented distance runners in the NCAA after anchoring BYU’s DMR to a national title last year and setting personal best of 4:26 in the mile, 8:40 in the 3k, and 4:02 in the 1500m, putting her #6 on the collegiate all dates list for the 1500.Tune in to my podcast with Riley to hear how she got to where she is now and exclusive insights on her National titles at BYU.Follow Riley on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/riley_chamberlain04?igsh=MXE5NzFjMTB6cTRqNA==Follow the podcast on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==

Josh Hoey just opened up his season with an indoor world record of 1:12.84 in the indoor 600 meters.Last season he went on a tear, setting the American 800m record indoors and becoming the indoor 800m world champion. He finished 4th at the U.S. Championships missing the world championship team by one spot but he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.Tune in to hear how one of the greatest 800m runners in the world right now is preparing for the season and the behind the scenes of how he just set a world record in his season opener.- Follow me on instagram @Runningincircles.podcast to help me get to 2,000 followers before the end of the year- New episode every week!- Follow Josh on instagram @Joshhoey21

Today I’m joined by Marcelo Mantecon!Marcelo just led his team Belen Jesuit to their 10th consecutive Florida State Championship by getting the win individually.This weekend is Nike Cross Nationals and next weekend is Brooks Nationals, both of which Marcelo will be competing in. He didn’t compete at the Nike regional meet due to it being on the same day as his State meet but received an at-large invitation.He’s been a dominant force this season in the South, winning the Great American XC festival and the Southern showcase, arguably the two most competitive regular season races the south has to offer.He’s coming off a national title in the indoor 5k with a time of 14:14 at Nike nationals and will look to improve on his 15th place finish at NXN last year.Oh and did I mention that he’s only a junior…

Today I’m joined by Ben Balazs!Beni runs for the University of Oregon and won a national title in the 2k steeplechase in high school.Last year he won the Big Ten title in the steeplechase, placed 7th at NCAA’s in the steeplechase, earning All-American honors and followed that up with a 7th place finish in the steeplechase at the U.S. Championships.Most recently he won the Dellinger invite, leading the way for Oregon and then placed 12th at the Big Ten Championships.This conversation is a look inside what it’s like to train at the University of Oregon and Beni’s journey towards the top.

Today I’m joined by Brett Gardner!Brett transferred to the University of Virginia this fall to finish up his eligibility after competing for NC State.On this episode Brett discusses how he felt about a second place team finish and 32nd individually against a stacked field at the Gans Creek Classic which will be the scene where Nationals will be held later this year.He also shares some hot takes about food and more.While at NC State Brett won an ACC title in the 3k steeplechase and placed 8th in the 5k in 2025.He also placed 16th at the NCAA championship in the steeplechase in 2025.He holds personal bests of 8:29 in the 3k steeplechase and 13:36 in the 5k.Brett will look to help Virginia fight for an NCAA title in November.My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Brett’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/brettpgardner?igsh=YnE4bWlkMGtqeTZj

Today I’m joined by Iowa distance star, Marissa Ferebee!Marissa is currently a senior in high school and will run for Arkansas next fall.She’s had a quiet start to her season because of a long track season but will defend her NXR Heartland title later this year and will be a key piece for her team as they try to qualify for NXN.Last year Marissa broke the Iowa State record with a time of 16:30, becoming just the second ever high school girl from Iowa to run under 17 minutes for the 5k and placed top ten at Nike cross Nationals.In this episode we discuss some adjustments she’s made her training, how she went from a middle of the pack runner to one of the best in the country, her commitment to Arkansas and much more.Follow me on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Follow Marissa on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marissa.ferbs?igsh=MXY5dzVleTBleGZvZw==

Today I’m joined by the newest addition to the BYU cougars, Thomas Boyden!Before transferring to BYU Thomas ran for Stanford where he had a very successful career. While there he ran personal bests of 7:41 in the 3k, 13:21 in the 5k, and 28:06 in the 10k.He also placed 9th in the ACC cross country championships last year and 4th in the 3k at indoor ACC’s.Last year Thomas was accepted into UCLA law school but he will put it on hold until he’s finished up his running career.He’s one of the top transfers this year and will look to help the BYU men become repeat champions at the Cross Country national championship.In this episode we discuss how Thomas has managed to get through injuries, his law school aspirations, decision to come to Stanford and much more.My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Thomas’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/thomas_boyden?igsh=dmtveDR5dG1zajJ4

Today I’m joined by Oregon commit Quentin Nauman!Quentin took the track world by storm last outdoor season where he went on an absolute tear throughout the entire post season.At the Iowa State Meet he won four State titles running 8:57 in the 3200m, 3:59 for the 1600m, 1:49 for the 800m and 1:47 for the 800m in a relay.He went on to win the mile at Hoka Festival of miles with a time of 3:58 and a 54 second last lap, in arguably the most stacked high school boys mile race of all time. Finally, he went to Nike Nationals where he won the national title in the mile.Clearly he’s an incredibly accomplished running and he’s still got his senior year of high school left before he goes to the University of Oregon in the fall to continue his career.This season he will look to continue his momentum and qualify for Nike Cross Nationals for the first time.

Today I’m joined by SouthLake Carroll high school senior Caden Leonard!Last year Caden completed the triple crown in Texas by winning the cross country state title and both the 1600 and 3200 in outdoor track. He also placed 3rd at Nike Cross Nationals last year and will go into this season as the number one returner. But the path won’t be easy, as high school distance running is as stacked and competitive as ever.Caden holds personal best’s of 4:02 in the mile, 8:47 in the 3200 and 14:19 in the 5k.Next fall he will move from Texas to North Caroline where he’ll run for The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.In this episode we touch on a little bit of everything including Caden’s upbringing in the sport, his commitment to UNC, the upcoming season and more.Tune in to hear about how one of the best high school runners in the nation is approaching this cross country season.

Today I’m joined by Cooper Lutkenhaus!Cooper just did the unthinkable at USA’s and shocked the world.He ran a 1:42.27 800 as a 16 year old and placed 2nd to qualify for the world athletics championships in Tokyo where he will represent the U.S.I talked to Cooper a couple weeks back leading up to the meet and after his historic high school season.During the high school season he was dominant in every race he ran and set the high school national record for the 800 as a sophomore.During our conversation before USA’s Cooper told me “I’m just going into that race just trying to do the best I can, stick to my race plan. Who knows, maybe that’s to qualify for the semifinals, that’s a big goal I have. But going into the race, I wanna have fun with it. It’s my last race of sophomore year.”Little did he know he would end up running a huge personal best and make the team.Tune into this conversation to hear Cooper’s thoughts before he ran what will go down as one of the most historic races a high schooler has ever ran!My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Cooper’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/cooper.lutkenhaus?igsh=NzJ2MDc2bWI3bGpl

Today I’m joined by Brock Kelly for his second time on the podcast!Brock has been living life to the fullest recently as he finished up his collegiate running career, ran Grandma’s marathon and traveled to Switzerland.Now that Brock is done with school he’s focusing on full time content creation and working on growing his brand OE Athletics.You’ve probably seen Brock on instagram reels where his series “The Daily Mile” really took off. What started as him documenting swimming a mile everyday while he was injured has turned into much more and it’s something a lot people really resonate with.In Today’s conversation we discuss what the past couple months have been like for Brock and how his goals in running have changed now that he’s not in the NCAA, along with many other topics.If you enjoy the episode be sure to leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts because it only takes a few seconds.My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Brock’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/bkelly5192?igsh=eDZoaXN5d2t6MHRw

Today I’m joined by Christian Jackson!Christian runs for Virginia Tech where his primary event is the 800.This year at the ACC championships he clocked a 1:44.83, getting the win and breaking the meet record.He went on to win the East regional 800 which qualified him for nationals. Last week he traveled to Hayward field to compete against the nations best and placed 7th. After ACC’s I sat down with Christian to discuss his season and this is that conversation. Tune in to hear the thoughts of one of the nations best before nationals.Christian is just getting started with making his mark on the sport.On this episode we discuss Christian’s journey to becoming one of the best in the NCAA, how he adapted to more intense training once getting into college and more.My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Christian’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/chrissjaxx?igsh=cGFiMjNzbHB3ODNp

Today the Wake Forest sophomore sensation, Rocky Hansen returns to the podcast!Rocky was an incredibly accomplished runner in high school and wasted no time before he started mixing it up with the big dawgs in the NCAA. This past indoor season he helped his DMR team qualify for nationals by splitting a 3:50 1600 as the anchor leg. Then at nationals he ran the 5k where he placed 3rd and ran a personal best of 13:12.His success continued on into this outdoor season where so far he placed 6th in the ACC 1500m final and won the East regional 5k which qualified him for nationals. Later this week he will look to get his first NCAA title in Eugene, Oregon.This conversation is a very fun and insightful one as it revolves a lot around how Rocky and his teammates at Wake have been able to see so much success right out of high school and his thoughts before nationals. If you enjoy the episode please share it with a friend who might find it interesting and leave a comment!My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Rocky’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/rocky_hansen_?igsh=b2N6dG5wc2d3dnR1

Today I’m joined by Matti Erickson!Matti runs for The University of Oregon and just put on a masterclass in tactics to win the 800m national championship at NCAA indoors with a time of 1:46.4.He also won the Big Ten title in the 800, helping build his momentum going into nationals.Before the conference championships Matti wasn’t even qualified for nationals but he stayed focused and was able to squeeze in with the 15th spot.In this episode we discuss how he stayed composed in races and didn’t lose confidence when he wasn’t qualified for nationals and much more.The story of Matti Erickson is a special one. My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Matti’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/mattiericksonn?igsh=NTV2NXFjMjBzcnkw

Today I’m joined by Grant and Aidan Matthai! They attendUW-Lacrosse where they run D3 cross country and track and they have played a pivotal role in establishing one of the most dominant programs in D3 history.This past fall Grant and Aidan finished 1st and 2nd on their team, respectively, to help bring home the cross country national team title! This was an especially meaningful title because the year before they lost the team battle by just one point.Most recently they competed at indoor nationals where Grant won the national championship in the 5k and Aidan placed 4th. Then they opened up their outdoor season with a fast 5k where Grant ran 13:56 and Aidan ran 14:06.Grant and Aidan also have a YouTube channel where they document their lives and running journey which we touch on in this episode. When you listen to Grant and Aidan talk you can clearly see how dedicated they are to the craft and how much they love the sport. If you enjoy the episode please consider sharing it with a friend who you think might like it!

The Sinclaire Johnson interview is here.Sinclaire just placed 2nd at the U.S. indoor championships in the 1500 and earned her spot on the world indoor team. She’ll compete later this year at world indoors!Last year Sinclaire ran 3:56 in the 1500 and cemented herself in history as one of the greatest U.S. 1500m athletes ever but fell just short of the Olympic team, placing fourth at the trials. Her season wasn’t without adversity as she faced injury shortly before the trials started but still have it her all.In this episode we go over the emotional roller coaster of placing 4th at the trials, her expectations for world indoors and much more.Sinclaire was a part of Bowerman track club when she first when pro, the ran for Union Athletics club but recently announced she’s now being coached by her soon to be husband Craig Nowak. We go over how this transition has been so far and what the key to a smooth transition is.If you enjoy the episode please consider sharing it with a friend or you think might also enjoy it! It goes a long way in helping the podcast grow.Sinclaire’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/sinclairejohnson?igsh=cXQ3b2lmZWI0Mmh4My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==

Today I’m joined by 400m hurdle Paris Olympian Trevor Bassitt!Trevor has made 3 global teams in a row, and in 2022 he won the bronze medal at the world championships.Before becoming a pro he attended Ashland University where he ran D2 track and field where he was able to develop a lot as a person and an athlete.Despite putting up a lot of consistent results Trevor is an unsponsored athlete.In today’s podcast he takes me through the journey of what it’s like to be unsponsored and have the underdog mentality, his 400m season opener where he ran 45.6 and more.Trevor also shares about his faith and how God has played a role in his running journey.This is one for the books!My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Trevor’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/trevorbassitt30?igsh=MTRrbTRndjVmeXptbw==

Today I’m joined by Bullis senior Colin Abrams!Last year Colin was the runner up in the 800 at New balance indoor nationals and set the junior class national record with a time of 1:49.71.Just a few weeks ago he anchored his teams sprint medley relay with a 1:51 to help them secure the U.S. high school national record! But most recently he went up in distance and ran a 4:17 mile at the milrose games.Colin is commited to run for Stanford next fall and is making the most of the final year of his high school running career.In this episode we dive into what it’s like being a part of so many historic relays, how Colin and his teammates make each other better in practice, his commitment to Stanford and more.Sit back, relax and enjoy!My instagram-https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA==Colin’s instagram-https://www.instagram.com/colin.ab?igsh=MWw3NmM5Z3Z0cXp6Ng==

Today I’m joined by Virginia Tech’s George Couttie! George spent a year running D2 for Charleston before he transferred to Virginia Tech last fall where he’s coached by Ben Thomas who also coaches Olympic champion Cole Hocker and many other prestigious athletes. This past cross country season he led his team to nationals with a win at regionals and went on to place 14th individually at nationals and helped his team place 26th. But he didn’t stop there because after that he ran at the European U20 cross country nationals after NCAA’s where he placed 2nd to earn a silver medal. But the crazy thing is that 2 years ago at D2 nationals he placed 46th. As you’ll hear throughout the episodes George attributes many years of consistent work to his success this season. If you enjoy the episode please take a couple seconds to leave a five star review and share it with a friend who you think might like it! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== George’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/couttiegeorge?igsh=em85Nm1hem1oZzJt

Today I’m joined by the most underrated All American in the NCAA, Dylan Schubert! Throughout the past couple years Dylan has dominated his conference while running for Furman University by setting countless records and winning titles in a lot of different events. But he’s also made his mark on the national stage. Over the years at cross country nationals he placed 11th in 2022, 24th in 2023 and most recently 3rd in 2024. He also saw a lot of success on the track last year where he won the East regional 5k and went on to compete at nationals. Not to mention just a couple months ago he set a personal best of 13:17 in the 5k. Throughout this conversation we dive into some mistakes Dylan has made and how he’s been able to consistently improve and get to the top of the NCAA. This cross country season wasn’t easy and it included having to do some significant time cross training on the bike but he grinded it out and showed up when it mattered most. Dylan is also a coach for Blue Collar Endurance Training so we dive into that and what lessons he has learned from coaching his own athletes. If you enjoy this episode please share it with a friend who you think might like it and take a couple seconds to leave a five star review because it goes a long way in helping the podcast grow! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Dylan’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/schuby43?igsh=MThoYW5ldHV3OHl6aw== Blue Collar Endurance Training Website- bluecollaret.com 

Today I’m joined again by Nathan Green for episode 2 of our series The Life Of an NCAA Champion! Nathan just ran 3:50 in the mile for his first race of the year and got the win over a stacked field. That time of 3:50 now puts him at #4 all time on the NCAA all conditions mile list. In today’s conversation we go into what it takes to win fast races, hear about the start of Nathan and his former teammate Kieran’s piano playing journey and much more. Listen all the way to the end to hear one of the funniest stories I’ve ever heard on the podcast! What is the Life Of an NCAA Champion series about: Whenever someone wins a national title you might find yourself wondering what the X factor was. Was it the team culture? Was it the workouts? The high mileage? Are they just talented? This series will help shed some light on answers to these questions and will help you get to know one of the coolest guys on the college running scene. This is a series featuring Washington’s Middle distance star Nathan Green who won the outdoor 1500 national championship in 2023. It will follow his 2025 indoor season as he goes after another NCAA title. Every other week we will release another episode that will go over insights into his life and the ups and downs of his training. Nathan holds school records in the 3k (7:40), 800m (1:46), 1000m (2:18), and the 1500 (3:32). Not to mention he placed 5th in the 1500 at the U.S. Olympic trials last year. Someone from Washington University has won the 1500 outdoors/mile indoors 5 times in a row and one of those people was Nathan Green in 2023. This series is an inside look at the best middle distance program in the country that has never been seen before. Please join me as I document what might be one of the greatest seasons in college running history. All I ask is that you please share this episode with a friend so more people can gain value from Nathan’s experience or have a little laugh from some funny stories that are told and please take a few seconds to leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts because it really helps the podcast grow. My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Nathan’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/nathanrgreen?igsh=MWM2eHJndTFzazhlag==

Today on the podcast I’m joined by Ali Ince! Ali is a freshman at the University of Oregon where she runs cross country and track, and has been having an outstanding year so far. In high school Ali was an elite runner while also playing basketball. She was the new balance indoor nationals 800m champion and held personal best including 4:35 in the mile and 2:03 in the 800. At cross country nationals she placed 104th as a true college freshman and she had never been to a national cross country meet in high school. After cross country season she went on to run 4:32 in the mile at Boston university. In this conversation we go into her experience at Oregon so far and tackle the question of what has made her so successful as true freshman. She shares that she wasn’t even planning on running cross country this year but ended up gaining more fitness than she thought she would and helped her team place 5th at nationals. If you enjoy listening all I ask is that you please leave a five star review and share this conversation with a friend or two because it really helps the podcast grow! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Ali’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ali_ince24?igsh=MWEyOGp5ODEycGR1dw==

Introducing  episode one of A behind the scenes look at what it’s like to chase D1 NCAA titles! Whenever someone wins a national title you might find yourself wondering what the X factor was. Was it the team culture? Was it the workouts? The high mileage? Are they just talented? This series will help shed some light on answers to these questions and will help you get to know one of the coolest guys on the college running scene. This is episode 1 of The Life of an NCAA Champion with Nathan Green. A series featuring Washington’s Middle distance star Nathan Green who won the outdoor 1500 national championship in 2023. It will follow his 2025 indoor season as he goes after another NCAA title. Every other week we will release another episode that will go over insights into his life and the ups and downs of his training. Nathan holds school records in the 3k (7:40), 800m (1:46), 1000m (2:18), and the 1500 (3:32). Not to mention he placed 5th in the 1500 at the U.S. Olympic trials last year. Someone from Washington University has won the 1500 outdoors/mile indoors 5 times in a row and one of those people was Nathan Green in 2023. This series is an inside look at the best middle distance program in the country. In episode 1 we discuss what the past year has looked like for Nathan and how rebounded from 10th in the NCAA to go place 5th at the Olympic trials and much more! Please join me as I document what might be one of the greatest seasons in college running history. All I ask is that you please share this episode with a friend so more people can gain value from Nathan’s experience and take a few seconds to leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts because it really helps the podcast grow. My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Nathan’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/nathanrgreen?igsh=MWM2eHJndTFzazhlag==

Today I’m joined by Chloe Thomas! Chloe had one of the most underrated cross country seasons this year and is looking to Continue her momentum into the indoor season. She won the Big East Championship individually leading her team to 3rd place, won the NorthEast regional meet, placed 9th at nationals and ran a 15:17 5k for a UConn school record a U23 Canadian record. In this episode we discuss her plans to race the Canadian circuit in hopes for a trip to the Tokyo World Championships during outdoors, the value of community and competing for a less talked about school in UConn. If you enjoy the episode please share it with a friend and take a couple seconds to leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! This really helps me out and helps the podcast continue to grow! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Chloe’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/chloethomas_17?igsh=MXBnaTdza3dwMHps

Today I’m joined by Virginia’s Gary Martin! Gary just placed 13th at NCAA cross country Nationals and ran a 7:36 3k to end the season which puts him #4 on the NCAA all time list. He’s also the 2024 ACC cross country champion and performer of the year. He’s been consistently getting better throughout college but so far this year he’s gotten to another level. In 2023 he placed 219th at cross nationals and jumped up all the way to 13th this year. In this episode we discuss everything that went into this season, how he approaches his break and more. If you enjoy the episode please leave a five star review and follow the podcast on whatever platform you use to listen! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Gary’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/gary.martin20?igsh=cDVnMHNzNTRlM3Rz

In this episode I have the pleasure of talking with Ethan Strand who just set the NCAA 3k record with an astonishing time of 7:30. That is almost 4 minute per mile pace. First we discuss how he was feeling going into it and then we pull up the race and he takes me through it. Leave a five star review if you feel inclined and enjoy this episode with one of the best stars in the NCAA. WATCH ON YOUTUBE HERE - https://youtu.be/iRjDUQKmR_o?si=F5FvbLCvXXSkuFDC

Today I’m joined by JoJo Jourdon! JoJo was a sub four miler in high school and a national champion at Nike Cross Nationals. This year at wake Forest he placed 8th at the ACC Championships, helping his team come away with the win, placed 47th at Cross Country Nationals and was named the ACC freshman of the year. He started out as a red shirt for his first couple races but as his confidence built he decided he wanted to represent the team and help them in every way possible. As he says in this episode that he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself he saw the boys lose and thought he could do something to help. Follow the podcast instagram account @runningincircles.podcast to stay up to date on some crazy projects coming up. If you enjoy the episode please take a couple seconds to leave a five star review and share it with a friend who you think might enjoy hearing from JoJo! Follow me on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Follow JoJo on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/jojo.jourdon?igsh=MW44enJxeWljYncwcw==

Today I’m joined by Marco Langon! Marco has one of the most remarkable stories I’ve ever heard. From a car crash in high school all the way to 15th at NCAA Cross Country Nationals and he’s still just scratching the surface. You’ll find out very quickly from Listening that Marco isn’t the type of guy to make excuses and is committed to the grind. Just after recording this episode he ran 13:14 in the indoor 5k to become #13 on the NCAA all time list. He’s a Jr. at Villanova University and is going to be the first person in his family to graduate and get a degree. I’d really appreciate it if you left a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and if you enjoy the episode send it to a friend who you think might like it! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Marco’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/marcolangon?igsh=MWV2amdha2l1c2gwNA==

Today I’m joined by Owen Powell! Owen opened up his season with a 3 mile cross country high school National record of 13:30 and a win at the prestigious Woodbridge invitational. He’s been killing it for a while as last track season he won a national title in the indoor 800, ran 1:48 outdoors in the 800 and set a national record in the 1k outdoors with a time of 2:23. But as he says in this episode this year he really figured cross country out. In the past couple weeks he won a state championship individually and with his team in Washington and qualified for Nike cross Nationals by placing 3rd at his regional meet. You’ll want to Watch out for him late in the race at Nationals as he’s had some crazy kicks this season to take down the nations best competition. This episode is a great one as we discuss what Owen’s successful day would like at NXN, break down his season so far and more. Follow my instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Follow Owen on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/owen_powell_07?igsh=ZHVpY3Uyd3RmZ2ht

Today I’m joined by someone who has a very bright future in the sport! Vincent Ciattei is here and he’s here to stay. He runs for Under Armor’s Mission Run Dark Sky Distance which is based in Flagstaff Arizona. Last year he placed 4th in the 1500m at the Olympic Trials in route to running 3:31, won the USATF road mile Championship and ran a 3:50 mile indoors. Not to mention back at college he was runner-up in the NCAA mile and 1500. The guy knows how to run his best at the most important time of the year. In the this episode we discuss his crazy year last season, how he developed as an athlete at Virginia Tech, what’s to come and more. If you enjoy the episode please leave a five star review and send it to a friend who you think might like it! Follow me on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Follow Vince on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/vincentciattei?igsh=MXVsZWlsZW4xOWw3aQ==

Today I’m joined by Klaudia Kazimierska! Klaudia just helped Oregon win a Big Ten Cross Country title by placing 11th and a West Regional title by placing 12th, which secured an automatic bid to Nationals for the women of Oregon. She also holds a personal best of 3:59 in the 1500m and represented Poland in the Olympics over the summer where she placed 10th in the world. And she got on the podium in the 2024 NCAA 1500m final where she placed 3rd. After her incredible track season Nike took notice and she recently signed an NIL deal with them which she was stoked about. Klaudia almost didn’t run cross country for the Ducks this year because of how long her  track season was but she ended up going for it and is having quite the impact. Tune into this episode to hear Klaudia discuss how Oregon needed some time to adjust but these incredible team performances aren’t a surprise to them, her pursuit of sub four over last track season, her favorite things to bake and more. If you enjoy the episode please share it with a friend and take a few seconds to drop a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to support the pod! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Klaudia’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/klaudia.kazimierska?igsh=MXFvOHlnMDRud3kzOQ==

Today on the podcast I’m joined by David Mullarkey! David transferred to NAU from FSU this fall and is continuing to leave a huge mark on the NCAA. At FSU he set the school record in the 3k with a time of 7:42, ran 13:28 in the 5k, placed 2nd in the ACC 3k, and 40th at Cross country Nationals to earn All American honors. So far at NAU this year he’s led the team in every race and just helped them win the Big Sky Conference meet, where he captured the individual title! David is sure to be someone to watch at Cross country Nationals, which is just around the corner. If you enjoy the episode please leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple podcasts and share the show with a friend or two! Follow my instagram here- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Follow David on instagram- https://www.instagram.com/david.mullarkey?igsh=MTFoYWdwejJoMmM2bA==

Today on the podcast I’m joined by Chloe Foerster! Chloe is the 2024 PAC-12 Champion in the 1500 and most recently placed 6th at the Big Ten Cross Country Championship and led Washington to a 2nd place team finish. She holds NCAA records in both the indoor DMR and 4 by 800m relay with her teammates. She also as an NIL deal with Brooks Running that she signed after competing in the 1500 at the Olympic trials this past Summer In this episode we go over how the season has gone so far so her and the team, opinions on the pumpkin spice flavor, the team culture at UW right now and more. If you enjoy the podcast please share it with a friend and take a few seconds to leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, as it’s the best way to support the podcast so I can continue to bring the best episodes possible to you! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Chloe’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/chloefoersterr?igsh=MXIxbmllbW9nb2YxdA==

One of the Most unique stories in the sport. Today on the podcast I’m joined by Josh Hoey! This summer Josh placed 4th in the 800m at the U.S. Olympic Trials and has a personal best in the event of 1:43.8! He also got 2nd at the prestigious 5th Ave Mile in New York City against a stacked field. In December of 2023 Josh had some tough races including one where he ran 1:49 in the 800, but as we discuss in this episode he didn’t let it get him down. Originally he was committed to Oregon in high school but decided to forgo that and sign pro with Adidas. His contract was going to expire this year so at a point he even thought it might be his last year running as a pro. If you enjoy the episode please consider taking a second to share it with a friend and leave a five star review! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Josh’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/joshhoey21?igsh=MWpsOTU0bmR0d2dqaw==

Today on the podcast I’m joined by Riley Smith! In March of 2024 Riley ran a U.S. #1 time for the year so far in the 3200 of 8:39, closing his final lap in 58 seconds. He was primed for an incredible season. But shortly after he suffered an injury that put him out for the season. It was a tough break to be so fit and have to shut things down but he’s now a freshman at the University of Florida and he’s not going anyway anytime soon. Enjoy this episode as I catch up with Riley on the college life so far and recap his first 8k race. If you enjoy please consider sharing it with a friend and dropping a five star review to support the pod! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Riley’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/rileysmith414?igsh=MThtZ3g5M3ltYm5ldA==

Today I’m joined by Paul Bergeron! Paul is a freshman at Stanford and will play a crucial role in the success of their distance program for years to come. He just raced his first college 8k where he ran 23:28 and placed 13th overall. Stanford also took home the team win, but as we discuss in the episode the team really isn’t putting too much weight on these early season meets and they want to race their best at NCAA National meet. In high school his personal bests included 8:39 in the 2 mile and 14:14 in the 5k. He was also a 2 time cross country State champion in his home state of Massachusetts and a 2 time Footlocker National Cross Country Championships meet qualifier. In this episode we go into how he’s liking Stanford so far and much more! If you enjoy my conversation with Paul I’d really appreciate it if you took a few seconds to share it with a friend and leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Hit me with a follow on instagram to get 2,000 by the end of the month! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Paul’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/pbergdawg?igsh=MXNkanQ4cHFlbmk5MA==

Today I’m joined by Rylee Blade! Rylee just won the prestigious Woodbridge Classic over a stacked field and set a national record for the 3 mile distance of 15:20 along the way, smashing the previous record by 12 seconds. She also won the 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals 5k and is a part of the Nike Elite Program. This Season Rylee is looking to play her cards just right as she will be in contention for a National Title at Nike Cross Nationals! In this episode we discuss her big win at Woodbridge, the best parts of living in California, where she draws motivation from and much more. If you enjoy the episode please leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple podcasts and share the pod with a friend who you think might like it! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Rylee’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/rylee.blade_?igsh=MW5ocngwZmhuYWw2cA==

Today on the podcast I’m joined by the legend himself, newest pro on the block, Ethan Gregg! This is one of the most inspiring and fun conversations I’ve had on the podcast to date. Ethan has faced a lot of adversity in his running career but has also had extreme success. From being DQ’ed at the national championship in the 5k to losing the cross country team battle by one point at nationals and to having to end his last college track season early due to injury. But he has an individual cross country national title which he won in 2023, team and individual track titles, and he’s been a source of inspiration to others which in my opinion is one of his most impressive accomplishments! If you enjoy the episode please leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple podcasts and share it with a friend who you think might find it enjoyable, because it really helps the podcast grow and the stories of athletes reach more people! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Ethan’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ethan.gregg?igsh=dGwwYThqNHJ2cXM2

Today Graham Blanks returns to the podcast after competing at the Olympic Games! Graham is an NCAA Champion in Cross country and was looking unbeatable after he ran 13:03 for a NCAA record indoors but soon after he suffered an injury. He missed the bulk of his indoor season and got a late start to outdoors but ended up placing 5th at the NCAA outdoor 5k and then qualified at the Olympic trials for the Olympic Games in Paris! He went on to place 9th in the world in the 5k and is already looking forward to getting back to the Olympics someday. But right now he’s gearing up for one more ride in the NCAA! I always love catching up with Graham and it was inspiring to hear about his comeback from injury. If you enjoy the episode please share it with a friend and follow the podcast over on instagram @Runningincircles.podcast My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Graham’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/graham_voted_for_pedro?igsh=MTdreWJhYWFlNmV3Yg==

Today on the podcast I’m joined by reigning Nike Cross Nationals Champion, Addy Ritzenhein! Addy is a jr. At Niwot high school in Colorado and holds personal bests of 10:09 in the 3200m, 16:44 in the cross country 5k and 9:17 in the 3000m. She broke out on the scene of high school running when she won NXN in 2023 as a sophomore and led her team to a 2nd place finish by one point. She went on to win the Gatorade National Girls Cross country player of the year as she excelled on the grass and in the classroom. In this episode Addy and I discuss the after math of winning a national title, her time in Paris Watching the Olympic Games, how her dad has had an impact on her running and more. If you enjoy the episode please consider sharing the episode with a friend who you think might like it and leave a five star review wherever you listen! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Addy’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/addy_ritzenhein?igsh=OHh1N291b2thczl1

Today I’m joined by UNC’s Ethan Strand! In the past year Ethan was a finalist in both the NCAA 1500m and the Olympic Trials 1500m. He used a blistering kick to outlast a lot of his competition. He also placed 4th in the indoor NCAA mile and broke a 1974 UNC record in the mile by running 3:54.62 at a meet earlier in the season. A record that I’d be willing to bet he will break again next year. In our conversation Ethan’s discusses the value of having teammates that push you, having his younger brother now running at UNC, his advice to upcoming freshman and more. If you enjoy the episode I’d really appreciate it if you left a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share the episode on social media! My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Ethan’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ethan_strand?igsh=M2RiMWJjbDZ3aHI2

Today on the Running In Circles podcast I’m joined by Leah Stephens! Leah is a Sophmore at NC State where she runs cross country and track. Last year she became an All-ACC Runner after finishing 8th in the conference 6k and then went on to finish 43rd at the NCAA Cross country Championship as a true freshman, which helped secure NC state’s 3rd straight women’s cross country team title. She got injured with a stress fracture during the outdoor track season so she’s currently getting back into some longer runs and is looking forward to seeing what she and the team can do this season. Throughout the episode we discuss her summer life guarding job, her initial reaction to getting injured, how recovery went, how to have a good transition from high school to college cross and more. You can listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your shows! If you enjoy listening I’d really appreciate it if you shared the episode with a friend or two and leave a five star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, because it really helps me grow and the stories of athletes reach more people. My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Leah’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/leah_.stephens?igsh=bnh2YmE2a2dsbHAx

Today I’m joined by Oregon’s Elliott Cook! If you’re not familiar with Elliott he’s been making his mark on the NCAA in the past couple years while being the face of Oregon’s distance team.  Throughout the 2024 outdoor season he completed the double at the PAC-12 Conference Championship where he won both the 1500 and 800. Then at NCAA outdoor’s he placed 2nd in the 1500 and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. At the trials he placed 8th and secured a personal best of 3:33.84. Safe to say he’s making a name for himself. I’d really appreciate it if you shared this episode with a friend who you think may like it and leave a five star review wherever you’re listening. My instagram- https://www.instagram.com/runningincircles.podcast?igsh=MWtwN2Fma2V5NHI3MA== Elliott’s instagram- https://www.instagram.com/elli0ttcook?igsh=NWRsaDB0ajZ5b3dx