Running--State of the Sport

Amby Burfoot and George Hirsch
  • 4.6 (30)
  • Running
  • Updated Semiweekly

The podcast where we talk to the smartest, most informed, most influential, and sometimes fastest runners on the planet.

  1. May 24

    Jared Ward

    In this week's episode of "Running: State of the Sport," Jared Ward becomes our first two-time guest on the podcast. We can't think of anyone better. Ward placed 6th in the 2016 Rio Olympic Marathon without the super shoes worn by the podium finishers. Neither he nor anyone outside Nike even knew about super shoes at the time. He soon began working with Saucony on that company's line of super shoes, and continued running fast times in major marathons. Ward hit his marathon PR, 2:09:25, in the 2019 Boston Marathon. Perhaps more importantly, he mentored a gaggle of younger BYU graduates like Conner Mantz and Clayton Young to their significant marathon careers. He also helped form the public/private "Run Elite Program" to encourage professional running in Utah while promoting health and fitness to the wider population. After moving his wife and six kids to Oxford, England, where he pursued an Executive Business Administration degree, Ward returned to near-top form this spring. Now 37, he ran a personal best 46:49 for 10 miles at Cherry Blossom, and then finished second in the Pittsburgh Marathon. In this podcast, he explains why BYU running has reached such a high level, and what he sees in his own running and business future. For more about Ward, see his profile on the Run Elite website. WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT" Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport." With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links. AppleSpotifyAudiblePandoraI Heart Radio Pocket Casts YouTube" Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels. "Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

    1h 1m

  2. May 12

    Oz Pearlman--mentalist and marathoner

    Oz Pearlman is a well-known mentalist-entertainer and a less-well-known marathon and ultramarathon runner. However, his record on the roads and trails is just about as impressive as his mindreading tricks. Pearlman, 43, has run a 2:23 marathon, a 2:25 at Boston, and finished the Western States 100, the Badwater 135, and the Spartathlon in Greece.  Recently, he was the planned entertainer at the White House Correspondents dinner in Washington, D.C.--the evening interrupted by gun shots and an apparent assassination attempt. Pearlman was crouched between President Trump and press secretary Karoline Leavitt, attempting to guess the name of her unborn child, when the first shots were heard. A moment later, he was caught in the swarm of Secret Service agents who stormed in to protect Trump, and lead him to safety. In this podcast, Pearlman chillingly describes the scene, including the fear he felt for himself and his wife and friends in attendance. He also talks about his early days in marathon running when he knew virtually nothing about the sport, and what he needed to learn before he became more successful. He's particularly insightful in explaining some of the shared mental strategies between his on-stage performances and in the last miles of a marathon or ultra. For more about Pearlman, check out his website or his Instagram feed. WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT" Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport." With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links. AppleSpotifyAudiblePandoraI Heart RadioYouTube "Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels. "Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

    49 min

  3. Apr 28

    Boston & London Marathons: Wow!

    Amby and George go it alone to review the recent Boston and Lo ndon Marathons. And, wow, is there a lot to review: A sub-2:00 hour world record by Sebastian Sawe at London, a new course record by John Korir at Boston, and a new women-only world record at London for Tigst Assefa. And plenty of hot action beside these three brilliant performances. We get into all the details--the latest Adidas shoes, consistent negative-split running, carb fueling, bicarb use, and an unusual number of strong American performances, both men and women, at Boston.

    50 min

  4. Apr 14

    Martin Dugard, author

    Marty Dugard began writing for Runner's World in the late 1980s, gained more notice as the best-selling coauthor of Bill O'Reilly's "Killing" series of books--Lincoln, Kennedy, Jesus, etc--and now has returned to running with The Long Run. It's a epic, fast-moving history of running (and especially marathon running) from roughly 1970 to Joan Benoit's victory in the 1984 Olympic Marathon, with a few throwbacks to Pheidippides, Bill Bowerman, and others. You'll meet the people and moments that shaped running as we know it today. Dugard isn't just a writer of historical non-fiction. He's been deeply immersed in running and running culture since his teen years. For the last 15 years, he has been coaching high school cross-country teams in California, several of which have won state championships. For more on Dugard, you can follow his regular blogs at MartinDugard.com WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT" Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport." With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links. AppleSpotifyAudiblePandoraI Heart RadioYouTube "Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels. "Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

    55 min

  5. Apr 3

    Grant Fisher

    In this episode of the podcast “Running: State of the Sport,” we interview American superstar Grant Fisher. Fisher is one of the greatest American distance track runners ever. He has run the fastest American times ever in the 3000, 5000, and 10,000 meters, and he won bronze medals in both the 10,000 and 5000 at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Most recently, Fisher completed his first serious road race in the super-competitive New York City Half Marathon. And he finished the tough course in a fast 60:53, although that was only good enough for 14th place.Now Fisher faces one of the toughest decisions of his running career: Should he switch to the marathon for the 2028 Olympics, or stick with the track? In this pod, he analyzes the pros and cons of his thinking on this important question.Fisher also talks about the full arc of his legendary running career. In high school in Michigan, he won two Footlocker XC Championships, and ran a 3:59 mile. He then ran successfully for four years at Stanford before signing a Nike contract and running with the Bowerman TC. Two years ago, he moved from Oregon to Park City, Utah, to reunite with his former high school coach, Mike Scannell. The pairing has worked well, especially in Paris. The whole running world will be watching Fisher’s racing the next two years as he positions himself for the LA 2028 Olympics. In this pod, he explains where he is today, and where he hopes to go.For more about Fisher, check out his Instagram account. WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT" Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport." With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links. AppleSpotifyAudiblePandoraI Heart RadioYouTube "Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels. "Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

    1h 3m

  6. Mar 23

    Jack Fultz, 1976 Boston Marathon champ

    Jack Fultz is the only runner to have finished first in the Boston Marathon, and also last. In this new podcast, Fultz talks about both memorable experiences. In April, Fultz celebrates the 50th anniversary of his epic victory in the 1976 "Run For The Hoses"--the hottest race in Boston's 129 year history. He didn't run particularly fast that day, 2:20:19, but who runs fast in 90-degree heat. Two years later, in better conditions, Fultz returned to finish 4th in 2:11:17.  For the last several decades, Fultz has been coaching the big Dana Farber charity team that raises funds to fight cancer. During that period, 95% of his runners, often beginners or little experienced runners, have completed the Boston course. Fultz's history with these runners has made him a foremost authority on how to train for Boston's challenging course, and how to pace yourself on Marathon Day itself. Many of his tips are more analytical and nuanced than you can find anywhere else.  WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT" Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport."With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links. AppleSpotifyAudiblePandoraI Heart RadioYouTube "Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels. "Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

    1h 11m

  7. Mar 4

    Barb Galloway: RIP Jeff Galloway

    Jeff Galloway, who died recently may have been the world's most influential and beloved running ambassador. In this podcast, we speak primarily with his wife, Barbara, and also with his son, Westin, and his co-coach, Chris Twiggs. Galloway was an Olympian in his competitive days, and also winner of the first Atlanta Marathon (1963) and the first Peachtree Road Race (1970). In those early days, no one could have imagined that running would be a massive participant sport on a global scale. Galloway did as much or more than anyone else to make the present-day miracle happen.    In literally thousands of clinic and talks, he spread a simple message: Yes, you can. You can run more than you have believed, and you will become a mentally and physically healthier person as you do.Importantly, Galloway had a training plan to accompany his words. This was the now-famous Run-Walk-Run approach, also called "Jeffing" by many. While some runners initially scoffed at the idea of walking during a workout or marathon race, others followed his inspiration and his instruction. And they succeeded. And they told friends that the program worked. Before long, a small trickle of run-walk-run fans became millions, and the fitness world at large was forced to acknowledge Galloway's genius, method, and impact.  His passing was met with an outpouring of love and thank-you messages, particularly on this Facebook page. Major media around the world also noted Jeff's life and accomplishments. Many of these articles are currently linked from the home page at JeffGalloway.com. WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport."With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links.AppleSpotifyAudiblePandoraI Heart RadioYouTube"Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels."Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

    47 min

  8. Feb 13

    Graham Blanks

    In the past four years, few if any American runners have posted results better than Graham Blanks. In his last two fall seasons at Harvard, Blanks won the NCAA Div. 1 Cross-Country Championships. After graduation, he qualified for the Paris Olympics, the 2025 Tokyo World Championships, and the 2026 World XC Championships in Tallahassee. After Tallahassee, Blanks ran two strong indoor races in the New Balance Games in Boston and the Millrose Games in New York City. At Millrose, he hit 8:08.60 in the 2-mile.  Now he looks to the future. It's a future in which he believes he can continue to improve on the track, and even win global competitions. (First he has to work on his kick.) Of course, he can't help but wonder about the marathon. One of his less-accomplished Harvard teammates, Ben Rosa, already ran a 2:09:47 in December, 2025. He and Blanks plan to hook up again for some tough training sessions later this year.  We imagine there will be much marathon talk on their grinding 20-milers. In addition, one of Blanks's advisors at Harvard was professor Paul Gompers, also known as the fourth place finisher in the 1988 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.  While some other top collegians have switched to corporate/professional coaches in their post-University days, Blanks is still working with Harvard coach Alex Gibby. A hallmark of their program? Blanks and Gibby don't believe in the "easy days" that underpin many other training plans.  Even on slower days, Blanks almost never dials things back any further than 6:00/mile. He figures this means he is always adding to his aerobic development. He does take one day off per week, usually Thursday. You can follow Graham Blanks on Instagram. WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"Use your smartphone to download our podcast from Apple, Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Podcasts. Once you've selected your favorite app, search for "running state of the sport." With your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can also listen direct to “Running: State of the Sport” at the below internet links. AppleSpotifyAudiblePandoraI Heart RadioYouTube "Running: State of the Sport" is brought to you by MarathonHandbook.com and RunLongRunHealthy.com. Marathon Handbook is the world’s leading marathon website, with a special focus on trustworthy running information and free, runner-tested training plans for all ability levels. "Run Long, Run Healthy" is a weekly newsletter focused on the newest, most scientific, and most useful training advice for runners. It was launched by Amby in 2021, and is now edited by Brady Holmer, exercise physiologist and 2:24 marathon runner.

    1h 1m
See All (64)

4.6
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

The podcast where we talk to the smartest, most informed, most influential, and sometimes fastest runners on the planet.

Information

  • Creator
    Amby Burfoot and George Hirsch
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amby Burfoot and George Hirsch
  • Show Website
    Running--State of the Sport

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