THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Dominic Schlueter

The Running Effect is changing the way the world sees running. Every week, host Dominic Schlueter sits down with the fastest, smartest, and most inspiring people in the sport to share untold stories, elite insights, and powerful conversations that move the culture forward. Whether you're chasing a personal best or dreaming bigger about what running can mean in your life, The Running Effect is your home for passion, performance, and possibility. 🚀 Join the movement that's reshaping running media. More than a podcast — a revolution in how running is told, lived, and loved.

  1. 10H AGO

    The Next Jakob Ingebrigtsen—But Better? How 16-Year-Old Sam Ruthe Did the Unthinkable & Keeps Setting Records

    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.  Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W  N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run  -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

    34 min
  2. 2D AGO

    From Not Making Nationals to NXN Runner-Up in One Season | The Yohanes Van Meerten Story

    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.  Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W  N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run  -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

    35 min
  3. 4D AGO

    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

    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. 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.  Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W  N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!):  https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run  -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

    56 min
  4. JAN 9

    From Viral Videos to Endurance Miles: How Anna Sitar Is Redefining Discipline and Growth

    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.  Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W  N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run  -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

    52 min
  5. JAN 7

    Built for Greatness: Marcelo Mantecon on Pressure, Records, and Chasing National Titles in High School

    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.  Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W  N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run  -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

    23 min
  6. 12/29/2025

    What Happens When Two Generational Talents Grow Together? Ethan Strand & Parker Wolfe on Confidence, Competition, and the World Stage

    Are we watching the rise of the greatest distance running teammate duo in history?  Ethan Strand and Parker Wolfe are well on their way to grabbing that title, and their next stop is with Team USA for the World Cross Country Championships. Parker recently won his first professional national title at the 10,000m XC championship in December; Ethan won the 2,000m in electric fashion. Both runners are from the University of North Carolina and now run professionally for the Swoosh Track Club under coach Mike Smith. Ethan is the NCAA Men's Indoor 3000m record holder, having run a 7:30.15 back in 2024; his mile PR is also a sizzling 3:48.32. Parker won the 2024 5,000m Outdoor NCAA Championship, and ran his impressive 29:16 at the Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland recently to secure first in a competitive USATF championship field. Parker has PRs of 3:48 in the mile on the road, 3:34 in the 1500m, and 13:10 in the 5,000m.  The boys are back to show how elite confidence is built, how teammates become rivals, and how records are meant to be broken. Tap into the Parker Wolfe/Ethan Strand 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.  Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen.  If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W  N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run   -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

    46 min
4.9
out of 5
765 Ratings

About

The Running Effect is changing the way the world sees running. Every week, host Dominic Schlueter sits down with the fastest, smartest, and most inspiring people in the sport to share untold stories, elite insights, and powerful conversations that move the culture forward. Whether you're chasing a personal best or dreaming bigger about what running can mean in your life, The Running Effect is your home for passion, performance, and possibility. 🚀 Join the movement that's reshaping running media. More than a podcast — a revolution in how running is told, lived, and loved.

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