Runnerd Library Podcast

Season one of the Runnerd Library Podcast comes to an end. Listen in as I recap the season and look ahead to 2024. This one-person discussion is "a stream of consciousness, a veritable fartlek exercise of an episode." What are your recurring running dreams? I'll give you my top three pre-race dreams. Can you relate? I announce my Mount Readmore of running books. The top five, must-read running books, in my humble opinion. I'll be putting the RUN back into runnerd in 2024, as I discuss my goals for the upcoming year. Until we kick off season two, I'll see you on the roads. Run. Read. Repeat.

Special thanks to Odd Squad Productions for their professionalism and talent in the production of this episode.

In Segment 1 we get to know more about Dr. Karp's running background. His love of running started with the Presidential Fitness Test. His ability to finish in the top couple of students in the 600 yard run gave him the confidence to run in middle school and on to high school. He developed a love of researching running topics and has a penchant for writing books. Segment two, listen in as he talks periodization, debunks 80/20, and expands on the value of speed before endurance. We wrap up with segment 3 where you can learn more about his teaching and coaching at Georgia Southern and other projects on his to do list!

Martinus Evans is the author of The Slow AF Run Club, a practical, hands-on guide for getting started as a runner. Martinus wrote the book that he wished he had when he first began running. The basic underlying premise is that regardless of body type or ability, he believes there is a place in the running community for anyone who wants to participate. And the book does a fantastic job of laying out "must know" elements of becoming a runner. Martinus covers mindset, training, goal setting, nutrition, and so much more. So far over 20,000 people have joined the movement. Listen in as Martinus shares stories from his own running experience as a 6' 4" 300+ pound runner, how being black impacts the way he thinks about training logistics, and his next big undertaking, starting a not-for-profit to assist runners in underserved communities. Runnerd Library supports inclusivity and is proud to share Martinus's message with our audience. Visit www.slowafrunclub.com to learn more about the movement and see Martinus's upcoming events.

Our first two time guest on the podcast, Bill returns to discuss his newly published collection of short stories, Tiny Little Running Shorts. Listen in as we discuss his inspiration for these stories, the complexities of teenage years, and the long-standing bonds of teammates.

Catching up with Westfield High School Girls Cross Country Coach, Scott Lidskin. Scott returns to the helm of the Shamrocks for the 2023 XC season. In this episode, we talk about coaching philosophy, his growth as a coach, why Yoda may have had it wrong, building a program, what it feels like to be 500m away from the finish line at the state meet watching your team finish (and win a championship), and more. You will hear Scott describe the importance of finding joy in the sport as we discuss Curly's "one thing," a reference to the movie City Slickers. Tune in and get ready to take notes as Scott shares his lessons from the Cross Country Course.

Lindsey A. Freeman is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Simon Fraser University. In Running, the former NCAA Division I track athlete presents the feminist and queer handbook of running that she always wanted but could never find. For Freeman, running is full of joy, desire, and indulgence in the pleasure and weirdness of having a body. It allows for a space of freedom—to move and be moved. Through tender storytelling of a lifetime wearing running shoes, Freeman considers injury and recovery, what it means to run as a visibly queer person, and how the release found in running comes from a desire to touch something that cannot be accessed when still. Running invites us to run through life, legging it out the best we can with heart and style.

Join us as we discuss how she got started in running, her love of pencils and notebooks, BQ'ing, and finding her identity as a queer person.

Endeavoring to break the 4:00 minute barrier in the 1950s, when no one else had done so, was a bold quest. Three men waged an epic battle to become the first man to accomplish the feat. Sir Roger Bannister of England, John Landy of Australia, and Wes Santee of the USA were living and training on three different continents but shared the same goal. In the book, The Perfect Mile author Neal Bascomb tells the story of the build-up to May 6, 1954 and the eventual showdown between Bannister and Landy in Vancouver to see who was the fastest man alive. Listen in as we discuss the personalities of each man, triumph, failure, and what it was like for Neal to walk the Iffley Road Track with Roger Bannister nearly fifty years after Roger ran 3:59.4.

Episode Content

Segment 1: Neal's background in athletics and writing. Hockey, Cross Country, Marathoning, Zen runs, knowing he wanted to be a writer early on, and a rough start to writing novels.

Segment 2: Neal doesn't have a favorite child but he might have a favorite book from his catalog. We discuss one of the books that makes my Mt. Rushmore of running titles and also happens to be one of Neal's personal favorites of his work: The Perfect Mile.

Segment 3: What's up next for Neal? A book about Gandhi, a TV series, and ascending Mt. Kilimanjaro.

When the book What Made Maddy Run was first brought to my attention by my daughter Emmeline, she was talking about it over a family dinner, I took notice. Our entire family took notice. My wife Liz began reading the book soon after that conversation. We bought a second copy of the book. Over the next couple of months, the entire family had read the book. It's not uncommon for Liz or me to have read a book the kids are reading for school or to read along with them. It is uncommon for all four of us to read the same book. When deciding on a list of books to discuss in an episode of this podcast, What Made Maddy Run was at the top of the list.

What Made Maddy Run was written by bestselling author Kate Fagan. The author expertly navigates the delicateness of the subject matter, mental health and suicide. The story of Madison Holleran, Maddy to her family and friends, is one of a gifted student and athlete. She is described as beautiful, funny, and popular by those who knew her. Her social media accounts portrayed her as being full of life. And yet, as Maddy transitioned to her freshmen year of college she was met with feelings, internal struggles that she hadn't encountered before. Maddy contemplates quitting sports which was always a big part of her identity. She also considers transferring to a different college as she seeks to be happy again. Kate uses letters to and from Maddy; social media posts; first-person accounts; and elements of her own mental health concerns and experiences to describe Maddy's state of mind.

Throughout the book you will root for Maddy to find the answers she needs. You will relate to Maddy, her family, her friends, her coaches, and her teammates at different times. You will be left feeling empathetic for all of those folks in her life who will forever mourn her. We are reminded after reading this book to be kind to everyone you meet because you don't know what struggles they are facing. And as a parent, I am reminded to hug my kids and tell them I love them often.

My guests for this episode are Mr. Ryan Collins and Coach Josh Wachtel. They are the gentlemen who created the high school reading assignment that brought Maddy into our lives. Ryan and Josh are English teachers at Westfield High School (Indiana). The three of us discuss the scope of the student choice assignment. You will find out why What Made Maddy Run was added to the list of novels to choose from. We dig into student reactions after reading the book. We explore the impact of social media on the perception of happiness. And we talk about the importance of having someone to be able to open up to. None of us knew Maddy or her family personally but we were all moved by their story.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. At Runnerd Library we have selected guests for our May podcast episodes with whom we will discuss mental wellbeing of athletes via contemporary literature. First up, in this episode, I speak with author Todd Corbin, CPC. Todd is a mindfulness and mental performance coach, author, speaker, avid runner, and learning specialist. He spent more than two decades in higher education publishing and was a Community College instructor for twelve years, teaching courses in stress management, communication skills, peak performance, mindfulness, and meditation. Todd is co-author of the best-selling, Mindfulness For Student Athletes: A Workbook to Help Teens Reduce Stress and Enhance Performance. During our conversation, you will be given tips for applying mindfulness techniques within your own life to offset stress and anxiety. A must listen episode for athletes, parents, and coaches who are looking for improved performance in the moment!

Many thought it unattainable. A feat beyond human ability. Sir Roger Bannister proved that it could be done. This episode pays homage to Sir Roger Bannister on the 69th anniversary of his remarkable achievement, running 3:59.4 for one mile at Iffley Road Track in Oxford, UK on May 6, 1954.

Guest Number 1: Neal Bascomb, New York Times Bestselling Author, author of The Perfect Mile

In his book, The Perfect Mile, Neal recounts the quest for the sub-four-minute mile being undertaken by Bannister, Australian athlete John Landy, and American track star Wes Santee. Neal is a master of historical narratives. The level of detail Neal uses as he describes the three-way competition between Bannister, Landy, and Santee makes you feel as though you are witnessing the events firsthand. I recommend reading Chapter 14 to travel along with Sir Roger as the day unfolded on May 6, 1954. From a gray and windy start to the day to near-perfect execution on the track, you will feel the anticipation as Bannister and his teammates go all in.

I have selected three audio clips from an upcoming Runnerd Library Podcast episode featuring Neal Bascomb, author of The Perfect Mile for this tribute episode. In the first clip, Neal paints a picture of the man, Sir Roger Bannister. In the second clip, Neal talks about walking around the Iffley Road Track with Sir Roger as they discuss Roger's memories of the day. And in the final clip, Neal sets up the showdown between Bannister and Landy in Vancouver to see just who was the fastest miler.

Guest Number 2: Todd Corbin, Mindfulness Coach and author of mindfulness for student athletes

Todd will be my guest on a full episode of the Runnerd Library Podcast that drops on May 9th. On that episode, we will discuss the concept of mindfulness in sport and Todd will share his expertise on the subject matter. While we were preparing for that episode we exchanged several emails about mindfulness in sports as it relates to personal best performance. I asked Todd to rewatch the video footage of Sir Roger Bannister breaking the 4:00 minute barrier. In the audio clip for this episode, Todd will discuss the focus and awareness he observed from Bannister during the race.

(There are several excellent videos on youtube containing the entire race. Look for a version that includes Bannister's commentary.)

Guest Number 3: Alan Webb, American Record holder for the mile (3:46.91)

In 2007 Alan Webb set the American Record for the mile with a mark of 3:46.91. These days you will find him coaching the Gyrenes of Ave Maria University in Florida. He graciously joined me to discuss the importance of Bannister breaking the 4:00 minute barrier for future runners, including Alan himself. We talk about training methods, equipment, the rite of passage for milers, and what the future might hold for the American Record.

Listen all the way through to the end of the episode to hear a special challenge issued by Runnerd Library. You can also find more details about the challenge at www.runnerdlibrary.com.

Thanks for listening.

Teacher, Coach, Runner, Novelist, Relationship Builder... and how it all started with a pair of orange striped, blue Brooks running shoes.

In this episode we launch the Runnerd Library Podcast.  Before we bring in authors to discuss their books, which will be the focus of the podcast in the future, I wanted to share my runnerd moment.  I also share a list of books that were among the first to be added to my runnerd library.  We'll talk about future guests of the podcast and where you can find a list of who will be appearing.  We want to hear from you as well.  Your mission is to share with us how you became a runnerd.  We also want to field your questions for the authors appearing on the podcast.  You can find the list of guests and release dates on https://www.runnerdlibrary.com/podcastepisodes.