Low- to moderately-informed takes on a trio of exceptional boys XC races, including the final chapter of the Manny Putz era. How (Wisconsin) Rapid(s) will the nation's #1 prep cross country performer run?
On the eve of a potentially historic state championship meet, Spencer, Matt & Thomas give their takes on individuals and teams to watch across all three divisions, including a LOADED girls D2 field.
Join us dive into all things running, from our own marathon training to the evolving landscape of the upcoming cross country season. In this episode, we discuss competitive balance changes in high school cross country, exciting upcoming events like the WISCO Running Summit 2024 and RANGER XC RELAYS, and the state of college and post-collegiate cross. Check out the links below for some fun upcoming events, or let us know if you'd like to be on the next episode of FRIENDS OF THE POD Register for t...
As we roll into July, we talk through some strategies for doing more than just making it through summer training, and instead making the most out of the seasonality our state offers. We tackle both what types of workouts work best this time of year (both from a weather and training periodization perspective), as well as the significance of effort-based training. As elite coach and Wisconsin native Jerry Schumacher expressed, there are big long-term benefits to be had from having a training cycle...
We're back at it! Pumped to get things rolling again! If you've got any feedback for us, or topics you'd like us to cover PLEASE reach out to us at: ourteam@ascentendurancegroup.com
A man of remarkable range, from PR's of 1:51 and 3:50 to a top 5 GrindFest finish in a loaded year, to being the social media mastermind of WRRT, Joe Zack covers a similarly impressive range of topics in our spotlight. A graduate of Oconomowoc HS ('13) and UW-Oshkosh ('18), Joe talks us through his unique journey to finding the sport, growing his passion for running within a similarly growing team culture at Oconomowoc, and some of the highlights along the way. He also opens up about how just mi...
2020 was a year that will be tough to forget. On top of all that went on in the world, it’s was also a very memorable one for one of the newest members of WRRT, Tai Dinger. The 2019 Stanford grad and Washington DC native made the most of his racing opportunities, representing Team USA at the Pan Am XC Championships in February, and running a string of remarkable PRs (13:49 for 5k, 28:25 in his 10k debut) wherever he was racing in the fall. Tai talks us through his decision to continue pursuing t...
Today we sat down with John Simons to talk about the news that came out a couple weeks back with the press release stating that University of Minnesota planned to discontinue Men's Track & Field, Gymnastics, and Tennis programs ad the end of the 2020-2021 school year. John takes us into the mind of a Minnesota TF alumni and someone who helped create part of the legacy that is University of Minnesota Track & Field. He also gives us some insight into the argument they are making to the Boa...
The loaded Wisconsin high school class of 2009 saw a proliferation of talent, producing a year in which it took 9:15 to make the medal stand in the 3200m. The man standing on that final podium position, John Simons of Arrowhead, had a weekend that looked to be the peak of an athletic career years in the making, bringing home two individual medals (though none higher than 5th place), as well as taking part in his team's runner-up 4x800m relay, culminating in a dominant team state championship for...
Catch our pre race and post race shows from this weekends first event in The Series, the Fort "Four". We make some individual, team, and time predictions and then reflect on how close, or FAR off we were. Catch us on the Wisconsin Runner Racing Team Facebook Page for more immediate updates on events and live feeds, but we will always keep you in the loop here on the podcast. Race results: Results of The Series Race #1: The ~4 Miler* Men: 1) Tai Dinger (Dinger's Ringers): 18:06 2) Tyson Miehe (Di...
Hello once again everyone! We are back at it after our summer vacation, and much like the post office, trying to make sure we're able to deliver the goods to you fine folks, no matter what! The pantheon of Wisconsin's sub-4 milers is filled with names like Hacker and Solinsky, whose ascent into such hallowed performances seemed all but certain at an early age. Some of the more recent additions to the club have not been state champions or the most highly touted recruit in their graduating class. ...
Our next installment of the "Sub 4 in Sub 4" series features Menomonee Falls North and UW grad, Tim Hacker. Hacker had a prolific career across a number of disciplines, including winning cross country titles at the NCAA and US Championships a dozen years apart, in 1985 (in Milwaukee) and 1997, respectively. His prowess on the track was just as remarkable, and it is that middle-distance skill set that brings us four minutes of his time today. Tim holds the distinction of being the Wisconsinite to...
Matt Barrett's accomplishments over his nearly two decades of competitive running--a 9:13 altitude 3200m in high school, a pair of top 20 finishes at the NCAA Regional XC meet to help guide his college team to the national meet, and post-collegiate PRs of 65:18 and 2:23--are a lot to celebrate. Beyond his running resume, Matt carries a tremendous appreciation for each day, each run, and each breath. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis before his first birthday, Matt talks about the challenges present...
With the help of a special guest host who gives us some insights into the days before he was a star, we've got another edition of the Sub 4 in Sub 4 series for all you track fans! Today's story features the breakout race that launched Sam Penzenstadler (Oshkosh West '11) onto the national scene. As a prep in Wisconsin, Sam finished 4th at the state cross meet in one of the closest years in recent memory (top 5 all within 5 seconds). On the track, he graduated with personal bests of 1:57 and 4:18...
On this anniversary of the world's first sub-4 mile, we're launching our new series: "Sub 4 in Sub 4." Our hope is to share with you as many of the stories of Wisconsinites who have broke the elusive 4 minute mile barrier by having them tell the story, and do so in less than four minutes. The inspiration comes from a coincidence too surreal to be an actual coincidence. Our first in the series is Joe Stilin, a Milwaukee Rufus King '08 alum who went on to run collegiately at Princeton and the Univ...
In one of our most wide ranging conversations yet, we are excited to be joined this time around by physical therapist and long-time friend AJ Sobrilsky. AJ has had a remarkably varied range of experiences in the running world, from an unconventional origin story as a former four-sport high school athlete to collegiate distance runner, all the way to being plugged in to the Mecca of the American distance running scene in Flagstaff. Beyond some catching up & sharing old stories, we dive into t...
As we were scheming plans for where we wanted to go with the podcast after the Olympic Marathon Trials, we were looking forward to the spring HS & NCAA track season, road racing scene, and the build up to the Track & Field Trials and Olympics Games. Like so many, we've seen things change a lot in the last two weeks. Our most recent interview, recorded just at the start of all of these changes, opened the door to what the weeks to come can be about. For over a decade, Derek Rubis has been...
As we gear up for the start of the 2020 Wisconsin high school track & field campaign, we are excited to share a conversation with a man who has made building the sport a priority, not only where he coaches, but across the state. In addition to the tremendous success of his Whitewater Whippets on the conference and state levels, Maas has been an integral part of the growth of the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association & annual clinic, promoting best practices and positive, athlete-centered c...
Our final Miles of Trials profile is Math teacher, head track coach, and two-time US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier John Dewitt. One of the most interconnected members of the Wisconsin running community, John's energy & passion for all aspects of the sport are a catalyst for so much good. If you've not had the pleasure of meeting Dewey, the enthusiasm, cleverness, and passion for others give a great glimpse into how he ticks. We got to hear about John's start in the sport, including not r...
With the US Marathon Olympic Trials just over a week away we were lucky enough to sit down with 2xOlympic Trials Qualifier Caitlin Kowalke. Caitlin takes us through her journey as a runner, from her first memories of racing, to running for the Badgers, and her time as a professional. She also describes the challenges that she has faced throughout her journey and how she has balanced her life as a mother, wife, coach, employee, and extremely successful athlete....
As we close in on the final weeks before Atlanta, we are joined this week by Gabi Anzalone, who ran the USOT A Standard at the 2017 US Marathon Championships at CIM. In true Gabi fashion, we got to talk openly about the challenges she has faced in the sport, balancing a remarkable real life schedule, and falling back in love with the process through the running community. In an hour of emotion, humor, and resilience, we were so grateful for an authentic portrait of a remarkable runner and human ...
We are back with one of our fan-favorite guests, Muskego coaches CJ Michaud & Rich Raney! At the 2020 Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association, we sat down to talk about the NXN experience: the excitement, the challenges, and the spectacle of it all. They share their perspective on the balance of making it a business trip versus enjoying the complete experience out in Portland. We loved the glimpse into what it is like to compete at the highest level of team cross country on the high scho...
It's often easy to see the line of someone's path to the Olympic Trials as a pretty straight forward journey. Sure, there may be bumps in the road, but overall, the same heading towards a particular destination is evident at every step. This is not such a story. Beginning her running career as a pole vaulter, running her first NCAA races as a senior in college, and qualifying for the Trials on her second marathon--but over 5 years after her debut--are all just parts of the tremendous and turn-fi...
Jessa’s unpaved road to Atlanta
Following Tyson's recent induction to the WCCCA Hall of Fame we are back with part 2 of our interview with Tyson where he tells us stories about how it was having his Dad as his coach, helping to create a dynasty, and the success and failure that goes along with it.
This week, we're lucky to have another familiar face sharing their Olympic Marathon Trials journey, with guest Brittney Feivor. A 2013 Kenosha Tremper grad (where she ran 10:46 her senior year), Brittney hung around in Wisconsin for her collegiate career at Marquette University, where she went from being a walk-on to running a school record 16:26 in the 5k. Now a doctoral student in Physical Therapy in Arizona, Brittney has put down some scorching performances on the roads, including a 2:35 mara...
We kick off this Olympic year with the next edition of our US Marathon Trials preview, with this week's guest, Joe Stilin. A 2008 Milwaukee Rufus King HS graduate, Joe went on to be a decorated collegiate runner as an undergrad at Princeton, and in grad school at the University of Texas. Since the completion of his NCAA days, Joe has run professionally with Zap Endurance in North Carolina. The variety of topics covered is fitting for a man of such range, with personal bests from 3:39 for 1500m a...
Happy holidays everyone! While we're all enjoying some relaxed time with friends and family, we thought we'd talk a bit about the year that has been. We have been blown away by the feedback and support we've gotten from all of you, so first & foremost, THANK YOU! We've loved sharing some of these conversations and stories from the fantastic folks involved with our sport in Wisconsin. Today, we talk a bit about the big themes and highlights from our first two months of the pod. We also look a...
2:36 marathoner Gabi Anzalone chats us up before her GrindFest debut on Saturday, and how it fits into her build up for the Olympic Trials in the marathon. We talk about her steps into being a new cat mom, and what's got her most excited for this weekend. As alluded to in the episode, you can check out the GrindFest 2019 playlist on Spotify by clicking here , or by searching "GrindFest 2019."...
In advance of the 7th annual GrindFest, (probably) the world's largest indoor progression run, we catch up with John Dewitt, 2:17 marathoner and three-time GrindFest Champion. The pride of West Allis tells about his favorite GF memories and what makes the 'Fest so special. GrindFest is Saturday December 21st at 6:30 PM at the Pettit Center in West Allis. Registration and more information can be found at our website, www.thegrindfest.com
