After a record-breaking collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island, Ben wasted no time making the jump to the marathon—winning the open section of the 2024 Philadelphia Marathon and earning prize money in his very first attempt at the distance.

Now two marathons in, he already owns a personal best of 2:19:00, putting the 2:16 U.S. Olympic Trials standard firmly within reach. He’s currently building toward the 2026 Boston Marathon with a top-50 finish on the goal sheet.

If you’ve ever questioned whether it’s worth setting big goals—or wondered what it really takes to pursue them seriously—this conversation offers a real look at someone chasing something meaningful in the sport.

This episode of The Kick also showcases a full-circle moment: former high school rivals, now friends. Running really is a special sport.

Hosted by Will Loggia.

Ava Pravlik may still be a college student, but as marketing director of Peak Pulse Run Club, she’s already helped shape one of the most compelling running communities in the country.

Ava’s relationship with running was forged through years of consistency, adversity, and showing up when things got hard. A former high school team captain, she became known not just for performance, but also extraordinary resilience.

She continued running after an impactful high school career, pushed by her unwavering love for the sport. In this episode, she speaks candidly about the challenge of navigating the sport without the structure of a team.

Ava is currently training for her first official half marathon race, following a structured training plan and embracing the process with incredible consistency. Her voice is one of the most thoughtful and grounded you’ll find in the running community.

If you’ve ever loved running for reasons you can’t fully explain, struggled through injuries but kept coming back, or found yourself searching for connection through the sport—this episode is for you.

Hosted by Will Loggia.

Foster Malleck is one of the fastest Canadian middle-distance runners ever. He’s also someone I’ve known for years as a teammate, roommate, and friend.

In this episode of The Kick, I sit down with Foster to talk about his journey from high school standout and Penn Relays champion, to setting program records at Boston University, and now competing on the world stage as a professional runner.

Before turning professional, Foster placed 3rd at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships in the mile. After graduating from BU, Foster signed a professional contract with Under Armour and has already proven he belongs among the very best in the world.

Foster wasted no time after signing his pro contact, running the fastest 1500m EVER on Canadian soil on August 6, 2025. His 3:32.38 became the second-fastest 1500m ever by a Canadian.

If you’re a runner, a fan of the sport, or someone chasing big goals in any area of life, this conversation is for you.

Hosted by Will Loggia. Thumbnail photos courtesy of Jan Figueroa and Andrew LeMay.

#running

Emelyn Theriault is proof that your best running doesn’t have to end when high school or college does.

Working full-time at Boston University, Emelyn continues to train at a high level… and she’s still getting faster. Fresh off a 5K personal best at the Cambridge Winter Classic, she joins The Kick to talk about what it takes to keep improving on your own.

If you’re a runner who loves to learn how the most self-motivated people operate, this episode is for you!

Hosted by Will Loggia

Christian Noble is one of the greatest Division II athletes of all time. At Lee University, Christian set D2 records in the 1500m, Mile, 3000m, and 5000m. He won three NCAA titles, became a seven-time All-American, and solidified himself as a true collegiate legend.

Today, he’s a professional runner for Team New Balance Boston and an assistant coach at Boston University, where he helps guide one of the top distance programs in the NCAA.

In this episode, we break down his rise from D2 to world-class pro, his transition into coaching, and the mindset behind sustaining success at the highest level of the sport.

If you love an underdog, this episode is for you.

Hosted by Will Loggia

Sophie Novak is an NCAA superstar and one of the fastest steeplechasers in the world.

In 2024, she won the ACC Championship in the women’s 3K steeplechase and competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

In 2025, she elevated her game even further, winning the Drake Relays steeple in a meet-record 9:28 and later running a world-class personal best of 9:23.

Now, with one outdoor season left at Notre Dame, Sophie is aiming even higher. Her sights are set on big goals in 2026, including the Fighting Irish program record of 9:17.

In this episode, we break down her incredible career thus far and talk about the promising future that lies ahead.

If you’re a runner who loves to learn how elite student-athletes operate, this episode is for you!

Hosted by Will Loggia

Ronnie Melao is one of the most consistent and quietly driven runners you’ll ever meet. In this episode, we break down how he’s improved little by little over the years, most recently running a 2:34 marathon.

We discuss the decade-long arc of his development: the habits that kept him improving year after year, the accountability required to juggle full-time work with 80–90 mile training weeks, and the mindset that allowed him to continue improving even after his collegiate career ended.

We talk about his recent top-50 performance at the Philadelphia Marathon, his accomplishments representing the Stevens Institute of Technology, and his humble high school running beginnings.

If you’re a runner who loves stories of long-term growth, discipline, and sustained improvement well beyond college, this episode is for you.

Hosted by Will Loggia

#marathon #running