The Wisconsin Runner Podcast Peak Endurance

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 missing out on some of his biggest goals at the high school and collegiate levels have had silver linings that continue to shine through in his career today. 

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 the sport, the transition to and challenges of training at an elite level with a rigorous work schedule, and the flow of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. As one of the most process oriented folks we know, we loved getting a glimpse into the inner workings and transformations that played a prominent role in his 2020 breakthrough.

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 Board of Regents.  



This is not yet a done deal and if you're willing to help spread the word and advocate for not only University of Minnesota programs, but our sport in general please click on the link below.



https://linktr.ee/reinstateumnmenstf

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 the Warhawks. His performances were significant breakthroughs, yet Simons, like several other members of Wisconsin's Sub-4 Club, was far from the most sought after talent coming out of the state that year. What may have appeared to others as a culmination was really a launching point.

With a college career that included transferring, uncertainty, disappointing performances, and a struggle to find the success he knew he was capable of, John once again burst forth on to the scene, this time on the NCAA level, with a now legendary performance at an indoor last chance meet at Notre Dame in 2013.

This episode is an excerpt from a forthcoming full-length episode with John, now an assistant coach at Dartmouth University. Keep an eye out for a great conversation about the full scope of John's career and some phenomenal insights on the power of self-belief in the days to come!

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 (Dinger's Ringers): 18:12
3) John Dewitt (The Dew Crew): 18:40
4) Andy Knapp (Dinger's Ringers): 18:49
5) Danny Machmueller (The Dew Crew): 19:13
6) Nathan Petesch (Dinger's Ringers): 19:25
7) Joe Zack (The Dew Crew): 19:33
8) Derek Johnsrud (The Dew Crew): 19:39
9) Erik Duethman (Dinger's Ringers): 20:08
10) Chase Robles (The Dew Crew): 20:22
11) Kyle Fraser (Dinger's Ringers): 21:14
12) Aaron Cahn (Dinger's Ringers): 21:46
13) Matt Borneman (Free agent): 22:48
14) Derek Rubis (The Dew Crew): 29:26 (virtual 4.1 in AZ; converts to 27:59)

Women:
1) Gabi Anzalone (The Dew Crew): 21:54
2) Erin Wagner (The Dew Crew): 22:37
3) Jessa Victor (Dinger's Ringers): 23:04
4) Andie Shine (The Dew Crew): 23:39
5) Kiera Depies (Dinger's Ringers): 24:26

*The course ran slightly short of 4 miles (most GPS readings were between 3.88 & 3.93), so adding .1 of a mile at an athlete's given pace (ie. 5:00 = 30 seconds) should give an indicator the time for a full 4 miles.

Team scores:
Dinger's Ringers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, (9) = 16
The Dew Crew: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, (10) = 24

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. This week's episode comes to us from someone who wasn't even the best middle distance runner on their own high school team.

In 2012, the Brookfield Central Lancers set the boys 4x800m state record to upset an incredibly deep field for the D1 title. The anchor leg carry of junior Carl Hirsch, unofficially timed at under 1:50, in addition to his commanding victories in the 1600 and 3200 were the talk of the weekend. The following year, Hirsch literally fell just short of pulling off the elusive 3200-1600-800 triple crown. It would take a state record performance from Eric Brown to defeat Hirsch, who hit the track just steps before the finish line. In addition to Brown, Hirsch's Lancer teammate Andrew Dusing crossed before Hirsch willed himself across the finish line in third place.

The Lancers had a dominant distance squad on the track, but the name Andrew Dusing did not appear on their cross country roster (He played volleyball). Dusing, who had carried the baton in the lead leg for the record setting BC relay, went on to attend college and compete for the University of Miami (Ohio), a program who did not sponsor men's indoor track & field. He would go on to be a First-Team NCAA Division 1 All-American, run 3:40 for 1500m, and spoiler alert, break 4:00 in the mile.