• Delusional Confidence, Real Results: George Couttie on Belief, Pressure, and Becoming Elite + Insights From Training With Cole Hocker
    Jan 21 2026

    One of Britain’s fastest rising stars is here and he’s no slouch. His name is George Couttie, and he’s a 3:55 miler who is shaking up U.S. collegiate running.


    George competed for Great Britain English Schools in high school and was the cross-country champion during his time there. He was a U20 National 1500m champion. He currently owns personal bests of 3:36.40 in the 1500m, 13:58.32 in the 5000m, 7:36.74 in the 3000m, 3:55.44 in the mile, and 1:51 in the 800m.


    In 2024, he was the runner-up in the U20 race at the 2024 European Cross Country Championships, while also finishing 14th at the NCAA XC Championships. Prior to that, he spent a year at the Division 2 level at the University of Charleston, before making the move to train under the guidance of Ben Thomas, the well-known coach of Cole Hocker.


    In 2025, he finished 10th in the NCAA Division 1 XC Championships with an impressive time of 28:47 in the 10,000m. In December, he ran 7:36.74 in the indoor 3000m at BU.


    From rapid PBs to elite competition, George’s story is just heating up. Trust us, you’ll want to follow what comes next.


    Tap into the George Couttie Special.


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    52 min
  • “PBs Don’t Matter. Winning Does.” Marco Langon On Pressure, Confidence, And Why He Wants To Destroy Everyone
    Jan 19 2026

    Marco Langon wants all the smoke, and he isn’t hiding from a soul.


    The last time Marco was here, he was already one of the best distance runners in the NCAA. Since then? He’s leveled up.


    Marco went out and ran 13:05 for 5,000 meters in December, breaking Villanova’s school record and becoming one of the five fastest collegiate indoor 5000m runners in history. He came in second in a thrilling race, being edged out by Habtom Samuel (the 2025 XC Champion) by 0.0004 seconds.


    His quotes and energy post-race continue to make him a welcome figure in the sport. He’s not quiet and he’s not afraid to show his emotions.


    As a collegiate athlete, he stacked All-American finishes across cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, and quietly established himself as one of the most consistent high-end performers in the sport.


    He’s also Diadora's inaugural NIL partner in the track and field space, donning their gear as he bears his heart and soul on the track and grass.His PRs include the 13:05.21 indoor 5000m showing, 7:36.87 in the 3000m, and 3:54.59 in the mile, and 3:33.38 in the 1500m.


    What makes Marco Langon so compelling right now isn’t just the times, it’s the trajectory, and it’s the energy and panache with which he’s doing it.


    He’s great for the sport, and he’s back on the show to break it all down.


    Tap into the Marco Langon Special.


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    46 min
  • The Next Jakob Ingebrigtsen—But Better? How 16-Year-Old Sam Ruthe Did the Unthinkable & Keeps Setting Records
    Jan 17 2026

    Is Sam Ruthe the most exciting teenage runner in the world right now?


    He may be, and when you look at the numbers, your jaw will drop. He is a New Zealand prodigy who became the youngest person in the world to break the four-minute mile barrier, at the ripe old age of 15 in March of 2025 (he ran a 3:58.35). For reference, Jakob Ingebrigtsen did it at 16.


    In December of 2025, He set a New Zealand under-20 record in his 5000m debut, running 13:40.48. He also won the New Zealand senior men’s 3000m national championship with a time of 7:56.18, in the process becoming the youngest men’schampion in New Zealand athletics history.


    It doesn’t stop there: he ran a 1500m PR of 3:39.17 in July, lowering his own national under-17 and under-18 1500m records. The went and smashed it again in the 800 and 1500m, with times of 1:46.81 and 3:38.62.


    Recently, in January, he set an all-time world best for a 16 year old in the 1000m with a time of 2:17.82.


    He’s got world best times at 1000m, national records across distances, and a sub-4-minute mile before age 16. This isn’tjust hype, it’s history. Sam Ruthe is here to break it all down.


    Tap into the Sam Ruthe 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.


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    34 min
  • From Not Making Nationals to NXN Runner-Up in One Season | The Yohanes Van Meerten Story
    Jan 15 2026

    Every few years, a high school runner comes along who forces the entire country to look toward one place.


    This fall, that place was Flagstaff, Arizona, and the runner was Yohanes Van Meerten.


    Yohanes is a prominent high school distance runner from Flagstaff High School in Arizona, who just finished an outstanding junior season. We’re not kidding when we say outstanding: he was the runner up at Nike Cross Nationals, the highest finish ever for an Arizona athlete at the meet.


    He also won the Arizona state championship, setting an overall course record and becoming the first runner in state history to run a 5,000m race in under 15 minutes.


    He set a course record at the Mt. Sac Invitational, running three miles in 14:10.10. His outdoor PRs include 4:26 in the mile, 9:14 in the 3200m, and 14:28 in the 5,000m.


    Yohanes was born in Ethiopia and adopted into the U.S. at age one. His story is unique as he emerged as one of the top national high school runners during his junior year, following the impressive 14:28 performance in the 5000m at Nike Outdoor Nationals last spring.


    He’s Arizona’s fastest. He’s one of the nation’s best. And he’s just getting started.


    Yohanes is here and ready to tell his story.


    Tap into the Yohanes Van Meerten 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.


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    35 min
  • Coaching at the Highest Level: Robert Gary on Leading Olympians, NCAA Stars, and Athletes First / Leadership Over Medals: Robert Gary on Building One of the NCAA’s Most Respected Distance Programs
    Jan 13 2026

    Robert Gary is an Olympian, a program builder for thousands of runners, and a coach who puts athletes first.


    A two-time Olympic steeplechaser (Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004), 11-time World Cross Country Team member, and Track & Field News Cross Country Runner of the Year, Gary now serves as the Director of Cross Country & Track & Field at Furman University, where he has built one of the most respected distance programs in the NCAA.


    Before arriving at Furman in 2012, Gary coached at Ohio State University and has played a significant role on the international stage, including serving as Head Men’s Coach for Team USA at the 2019 IAAF World Championships and leading the U.S. men to a silver medal at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships.


    While Gary’s personal performances are elite (7:52.62 for 3,000m, 8:19.26 in the steeplechase, and a 4:01.05 road mile), his impact as a coach may be even more impressive. Under his leadership, athletes and teams have achieved sustained success across cross country and track at the NCAA, national, and international levels.


    From racing in the Olympics in the steeplechase to leading Team USA and building one of the strongest distance programs in the country at Furman, Robert Gary has seen every level of the sport.


    Tap into the Coach Robert Gary Special.


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    56 min
  • The 2026 Playbook Of Greatness: Why Long-Term Plans Fail, The Cost of Winning, and How to Build a Life That Actually Feels Good
    Jan 11 2026

    In this episode, Dominic sits down with Alex Ostberg to distill the three biggest lessons from 2025 and set the framework for a better 2026.


    They unpack why you sometimes have to “throw out your long-term plans,” how to invest in preparedness without trying to predict the future, and why embracing voluntary struggle is the best training for the inevitable hardships life will bring.


    They also talk about a hard truth: you’ve already achieved goals you thought would make you happy — and why joy, fulfillment, and “a string of good days” matter more than chasing the next milestone.If you’re trying to make 2026 your breakthrough year in running, business, or life, this conversation will rewire how you think about goals, uncertainty, discipline, and what success actually costs.


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    https://therunningeffect.run


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    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-


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    44 min
  • From Viral Videos to Endurance Miles: How Anna Sitar Is Redefining Discipline and Growth
    Jan 9 2026

    Most people see Anna Sitar as a creator. Fewer people know she’s quietly stacking endurance goals, like marathons, long training blocks, and now Ironman-level ambitions, to show what happens when you commit to something long enough for it to change how you think, work and live.


    Anna is a content creator and influencer known for her lifestyle vlogs, relatable content and warm and engaging personality.


    Her dynamic “I Don’t Want It” TikTok series has propelled her to incredible media heights; she has over 11 million followers on TikTik and over 1.5 million on Instagram.


    Anna is a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate from Western Michigan University. She moved to Los Angeles in 2019 to pursue her master’s, and it ultimately fueled her career as a content creator.


    Anna is the founder and creator of the A N X N A clothing brand, and has worked with companies like Dior, Louis Vuitton, Delta, Amazon and Google.


    She is also slowly building up her endurance athlete profile these past few years: she recently completed the New York City Marathon after running the Honolulu Marathon in 2024. According to recent activity, she is training for an ironman, working to become a more well-rounded long distance athlete.


    Because of that, Anna’s story is a reminder that running doesn’t have to be about times or podiums to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s just a place to test who you’re becoming next.


    Tap into the Anna Sitar 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.


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    52 min
  • Built for Greatness: Marcelo Mantecon on Pressure, Records, and Chasing National Titles in High School
    Jan 7 2026

    Marcelo Mantecon is Florida’s all-time 5,000m high school record holder, a Nike Indoor National Champion, and an NXN finalist. And he’s only a junior in high school.


    Marcelo joins the show after a soaring spring and fall season for Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, Florida, that saw him cap it off with a 4th overall finish at the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) on December 6, 2025, with a time of 15:05.


    In September, he etched his name into the Florida High School Boys XC record book, running a 14:35.25 at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama, becoming the fastest boy to do so at the distance in the state. He then took that even lower in October by running a 14:33 in the New World Fall Spectacular.


    As a sophomore last year, he was named Florida’s Gatorade 2024-25 Boys Cross Country Player of the Year. He won the 5000m National Title Indoors in March of 2025 as well.


    His PRs include 4:15.83 for the mile, 8:16.86 for the 3000m indoor, 8:49.78 for the 2 mile outdoor, 14:14.38 in the 5000m indoors, and 14:33 in the 5000m for XC.


    Records show you how fast he is. We’re here to dissect how he thinks; the discipline behind the breakthroughs, the pressure of carrying expectations, and what it takes to chase national greatness while still being a high school junior.


    Tap into the Marcelo Mantecon 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.


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    23 min