Back of the Pack Podcast

Kyle Walker
  • 4.9 (38)
  • RUNNING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Lace up your sneakers, grab your favorite headband, and toe the starting line! The signal has fired and the “Back of the Pack Podcast” is up and running! Are you a fan of running 5k’s just because the finisher medal looks cool? You are not alone there! Join the show that is all about the race swag and running on a Saturday morning to get the most out of your race registration. We will talk about local races in the Kansas City area. We will give you a heads up if you’re wanting to go farther outside the area to run the big races. Host Kyle Walker has fourteen full marathons, over eighty half marathons, and hundreds of 5k’s and 10k's. Take it from us, you are among friends here if you’ve gotten to the finish line to find all the bananas gone!

  1. Cutoffs, Confidence, and the First Seven Miles

    1D AGO

    Cutoffs, Confidence, and the First Seven Miles

    This week, we start with a quick trip into the wilderness where common sense goes to die: the Barkley Marathons went down again, and the course reminded everyone who’s boss. Then we bring it back home for a race review of the Sweetheart Run 10K in Overland Park, Kansas, complete with the moments that felt smooth, the parts that bit back, and what the day taught us going forward. From there, we head straight into the pre-Tokyo nerves that a lot of us are feeling right now. If you’ve heard whispers about Tokyo’s cutoff mats and thought, “Wait… cutoffs along the course?” we break it all down in plain English. We talk through why Tokyo’s timing system feels different, how starting later can change the math, and what matters most when the clock is doing the chasing. We also share the mindset shift that turns the mats from scary to manageable, especially for back-of-the-pack runners who want to finish strong and stay calm. No panic, no doom, just a clear plan and a little confidence. If Tokyo is on the calendar or if we’ve ever worried about being “too close” to a cutoff, this episode is for us. Lace up, settle in, and let’s run the numbers without letting them run us.

    35 min
  2. The Long Run: Training Smarter, Not Harder

    4D AGO

    The Long Run: Training Smarter, Not Harder

    This week, we move deeper into our Running & Aging series by getting practical about what training actually needs to look like as we get older. As runners in our mid-40s and beyond, we can’t rely on brute force or outdated plans anymore, but that doesn’t mean we’re slowing down or giving anything up. We break down what physically changes as we age, the most common mistakes masters runners make, and how to train smarter through better structure, strength work, recovery, and intentional intensity. From building weekly schedules that respect recovery to understanding why strength training and sleep are no longer optional, this episode is all about keeping us healthy, consistent, and running strong for years to come. This isn’t about chasing who we used to be—it’s about building the best version of who we are now.

    34 min
  3. Running Underground: The Groundhog Run, Cave Miles, and Bus Line Blues

    FEB 9

    Running Underground: The Groundhog Run, Cave Miles, and Bus Line Blues

    This week we kick things off underground with a full recap of the Groundhog Run at Subtropolis, one of the most unique races around and one that has us literally running through caves. We talk about the good, the weird, and the wildly frustrating, especially the annual bus and parking chaos that leaves runners standing in the cold longer than we’d like. Once inside, though, the event shines with a warm cave atmosphere, great volunteers, and a community vibe that keeps us coming back year after year. We break down the Tunnel to Tunnel Challenge, tackling both the 5K and 10K, navigating crowded starts, overdressing for the cold, and trying to stay loose while waiting nearly two hours between races. It turns into a lesson in patience as muscles tighten, sweat cools, and we’re reminded how tricky winter racing can be. Along the way we celebrate small wins, from improved 10K pacing to cheering on friends hitting big milestones like their first 10K finish. We also share why we skipped the Kickoff 5K after a tough 16 mile long run and a grumpy knee, choosing smart training over stubborn miles as Tokyo gets closer. With taper season officially here, the focus shifts from racing everything to protecting the body and making it to the starting line healthy. It’s a mix of cave miles, cold mornings, medal hauls, and honest talk about listening to your body. As always, we’re just figuring it out together, one step at a time on the road to Tokyo.

    31 min
  4. The Long Run: Aging as Athletes

    FEB 6

    The Long Run: Aging as Athletes

    This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we kick off a brand new February series focused on what it really means to keep running as the years add up and the miles add character. As more of us find ourselves stepping into the Masters category, we explore how aging changes our training, recovery, and mindset, and why getting older doesn’t mean slowing down but getting smarter. From learning to respect rest days to embracing strength work, mobility, and experience-earned wisdom, we talk about how we adapt, evolve, and continue chasing goals without chasing our younger selves. Because this stage of running isn’t about proving anything, it’s about longevity, community, and still showing up at the start line together. We may have a few more creaks and a slightly longer warmup, but we’re still here, still moving forward, and still very much in the race.

    31 min
  5. Run Liberty at 10: New 10K, Same Big Heart

    FEB 2

    Run Liberty at 10: New 10K, Same Big Heart

    We welcome back Julie Gilmor to preview Run Liberty’s 10th anniversary race day on March 28, 2026—now featuring an all-new 10K. We dig into how the 10K starts with the half at 8 a.m., swings through Seaport, and finishes with the 5K, giving runners fresh scenery without heavy new infrastructure. We clear up the name-and-logo shuffle: the race is now “Run Liberty,” proceeds benefit the Liberty Live Well Foundation, and Liberty Hospital’s new partnership with The University of Kansas Health System strengthens local care. We talk presenting sponsor Give Me Liberty, the America 250 tie-in, and why this nonprofit race keeps 100% of proceeds in the community. Expo fans rejoice: we’re staying at William Jewell, Omni Apparel returns with merch (including an inaugural 10K shirt), and those beloved Liberty gloves live on. We cover medals (6-inch half, 5-inch 10K, 4-inch 5K), generous cutoffs around 16-minute miles, and safety upgrades on the frontage road. Big River Race Management joins the team this year, bringing major-league timing and logistics. We also plug our March 12 Chasing Rabbits Run Club x BOTP four-year party where Run Liberty will be on site with swag and a few race entry giveaways. And yes, we celebrate Fret Row’s eternal lukewarm beer stop and the on-course pass by the TreeHouse, a visible reminder of where dollars go. Hills included, community amplified—register, show up, and we’ll see you at the finish.

    34 min
  6. Runner Stories: Randy Taylor - 816 Run Club

    JAN 30

    Runner Stories: Randy Taylor - 816 Run Club

    We sit down with Randy Taylor—runner, coach, and creator of Team 816 Run Club—for our ten-question Runner Stories spotlight. Randy traces his pivot from the wrestling mat to the roads and trails, and how that competitive grit shaped a coaching style built on consistency, community, and smart stress. He opens up about chasing speed later in life, including a 4:57 mile at age 39 and a 2:40 marathon at Chicago, and how those lessons translate for everyday runners. We dig into the ultra toolbox too: fueling, pacing, and mental resets from a 14:29 hundred at Tunnel Hill and a scorching 3:35 50K on gravel. Randy shares what he looks for when writing plans, the red flags he shuts down early, and the simple cues he gives athletes on workout days vs. easy days. We talk Team 816’s origin story, why group culture beats lone-wolf heroics, and how to welcome first-timers without scaring them off. Most of all, this is a conversation about building durable joy in the sport, whether you’re gunning for a PR or finishing with friends.

    1h 5m
  7. Build Your Spring: Why We’re Running the Rainbow

    JAN 26

    Build Your Spring: Why We’re Running the Rainbow

    We’re heading to Jackson, Mississippi for a deep dive on Run the Rainbow, the growing 50K/Marathon/Half/10K/5K set for Saturday, March 21, 2026. Joining us are the race director, the assistant race director, and the CEO of the state’s only children’s hospital, which this event proudly supports. They walk us through a course that mixes historic neighborhoods, a scenic museum trail, and plenty of honest hills, complete with live bands, themed aid stations about every two miles, and cheers as you pass the hospital itself. You’ll hear how the “Memory Mile” near the finish turns grit into goosebumps, why generous cutoffs and an early start make this event back-of-the-pack friendly, and how no finisher is ever short-changed at the line. We talk post-race fun too: a true Southern spread, coffee, and cookies shaped like Mississippi, with a finish-line party that lasts until the last runner celebrates. The expo brings local shops, other races, and an expert panel on training and fueling. Swag hounds, rejoice: big kid-designed medals, quarter-zips for longer distances, and finisher towels are on deck. From community volunteers to unique prizes (yes, even tires for the champs), it’s an event built by runners who care about runners. If you’re looking for a spring race with heart, hills, and hospitality, this episode is your invitation to Run the Rainbow.

    54 min
  8. Runner Stories: Kyle Walker

    JAN 23

    Runner Stories: Kyle Walker

    We flipped the script this week on Second Wind: with our guest delayed, Kyle sat in the hot seat and answered our ten signature questions himself. From a decade-plus of start lines and almost 370 finish-line stories, he digs into the run that changed him, the day that nearly broke him, and why he still laces up when motivation goes missing. You’ll hear about the people who shaped his journey, the weird and wonderful moments only runners collect, and what “setback and comeback” looks like from the back of the pack. Kyle talks community, identity, and the quiet wins that matter more than PRs. There’s practical advice for newer runners and a candid look at how the sport evolves alongside life. Think of it as a fireside chat with your favorite race buddy—equal parts honesty, humor, and heart. After you listen, hit us with your own answers to the Big Ten and we’ll share a few on next week’s show!

    33 min
See All (248)

4.9
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

Lace up your sneakers, grab your favorite headband, and toe the starting line! The signal has fired and the “Back of the Pack Podcast” is up and running! Are you a fan of running 5k’s just because the finisher medal looks cool? You are not alone there! Join the show that is all about the race swag and running on a Saturday morning to get the most out of your race registration. We will talk about local races in the Kansas City area. We will give you a heads up if you’re wanting to go farther outside the area to run the big races. Host Kyle Walker has fourteen full marathons, over eighty half marathons, and hundreds of 5k’s and 10k's. Take it from us, you are among friends here if you’ve gotten to the finish line to find all the bananas gone!

Information

  • Creator
    Kyle Walker
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    248
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The Back of the Pack Podcast
  • Show Website
    Back of the Pack Podcast

You Might Also Like