It’s a similar route each morning, east to west up, then west to east down the Charles River. Sometimes up the north bank and down the south, sometimes the other way. Some days, I make six miles, turning for home at the Arsenal Street Bridge. Others, I make it another mile up to North Beacon Street. It’s only after three miles anyway that my stiff legs loosen, that my mind starts to stop, and that my whole body begins to unwind from the internet.
It’s up here, in the two miles between the north and south sides of Arsenal Street Bridge, that I see him. I’ve crossed paths with him now 100 times or more. The old man with the crown of his olive green, wide-brimmed hat facing directly forward. On one of three benches, and once between them, his bags are neatly stacked. One of them looks to be a 75 Liter internal-frame Gregory or Kelty, with the red faded to burnt orange. I wonder if he’s ever noticed me pass, and I think sometimes of stopping to take his picture.
Simplicity makes running a perfect pursuit in the distraction-filled modern world. It also highlights the pursuit’s largest challenge: How can we motivate ourselves to get out the door day after day, month after month, and year after year to see what we are capable of?
A much-discussed set of new tailwinds in running is contributing to a rising tide of running performance: high-carb fueling, more effective training plans, super shoes, heat training, improved resistance training protocols, supplements, and the illicit use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Less discussed is the growing prevalence of running podcasts, which also provide a tailwind to runners by connecting us to how the elites train, providing a little bit of modern distraction, and acting as our virtual training partners–a connection to other runners who are stacking up miles and sharing the stories in real time. Here are my top five:
Inside Running Podcast
Brady, Croakes, and Moose are elite Australian marathoners and dads.
These three accomplished runners are plugged into the top of the Australian running scene. Each week, they recap their training weeks and often interview Olympians like friends debriefing their local 5K.
Each of their three hosts has a career and family–none has made a career out of competitive running alone, but compared to most runners, they have come close. Moose represented Australia at the 2014 World Championships in Dubai, and with the slowest marathon PR between the three at 2:20, any of them would be the fastest distance runner in most counties in the U.S. As the listener, you’re part of the crew as they share their lives as runners.
The weekly recaps are such a pivotal part of the podcast that they recently paused their interview with Olympic Gold Medalist Jessica Hull to go over their training weeks one after the other, day-by-day, run by run in detail. Jess listened politely and even commented on the boys’ workouts.
If you find yourself listening to podcasts and audiobooks on 2x speed, David and Meghan Roche might be your type of people. The former environmental lawyer and the Medical Doctor/Sports Physiology PHD are a wealth of knowledge about their shared passion for endurance sports performance. Former U.S. Mountain Running Champions and current coaches to a who’s who of endurance athletes, David and Meghan are also parents to two young children.
In addition to keeping you up-to-date on the latest developments in the scientific literature, training theory, and their coaching approach, they share their personal lives and how their journey through life’s adventures interacts with their pursuit of excellence in their own running. David is the winner of the 2024 Singletrack Podcast Trail Performance of the Year, for his course-record finish at the Leadville 100. Megan’s big race in 2024 was called off the day before the 2024 Canyons 100k as she learned of her pregnancy. She returned in 2025 to win the Run Rabbit Run 50 miler.
While the weekly training format of the Australian podcast is absent here, you’ll hear about race recaps, taper jitters, last-minute footwear decisions, and overcoming unexpected training hurdles.
Battle past the intro music to join a group of Baltimore friends and runners responsible for the internet’s leading running shoe review site. But don’t expect much more than the occasional shoe talk here. Meghan, Robbie, and Thomas are just sort of shooting the breeze.
“Oh my god, everyone listening just got so much dumber,” Is a common refrain from Meghan, whose de facto role is to conduct the conversation back on track to running. Much of the listening here is simple small talk between running friends, but often that’s exactly what the doctor ordered when you need something to listen to halfway through a training cycle.
Their interviews are often fantastic. They’ve interviewed Kipchoge and become friends with Emma Bates and Kierra Di Amatto. Robbie has interviewed Ben True and Killian Jornet, who he casually chats with as if their goals are not so different from his own. Disarmed by the egalitarian approach, many of the world’s best open up in a way we might never have otherwise seen without Believe in the Run.
One of the world’s leading track and field journalists, a former Ivy League track and cross country runner, Jonathan Gault does his best to keep his boss, LetsRun.com co-founder Robert “RoJo” Johnson, between the lines as he fires off hot takes and inserts socially conservative talking points into the conversation. Robert’s twin, Weldon Johnson, offers experience-based analysis of elite running as a former 4th placer in the U.S. Trials 10,000 meters.
This podcast is sports talk radio for track, and it allowed me to enter the world of middle and long-distance track and road running fandom. It turns out, with a little commentary, debate, and background on the characters in the sport, running can actually be among the most fun sports to follow, especially if you’re a runner! The Track Talk podcast allows listeners to delve into the seasons of top track and field athletes, listen to debates about their training and tactics, and generally interact with the sport as fans.
An unfortunate truth about trail running is that ultra distances control much of the media attention, aspirations of amateurs, and sponsorship dollars–maybe nobody knows because contracts are traditionally confidential in running.
Sub Hub hosts and pro runners Dani Moreno and Emkay Sullivan are here to shine a light on the ultra-competitive and entertaining world of professional women’s trail running, which takes place at distances under 50 kilometers.
As competitive members of the scene, listeners get both a first-hand account of taking on some of the world’s most challenging races and candid conversations with their friends and competitors. In just a few episodes, you’ll be plugged into the world of women’s trail racing.
This newer podcast is rapidly becoming one of my favorites. A West Virginia group of trail runners discuss their training, races, and gear. Dan Green’s recent win of a 250 Mile race and signing by Salomon seems to have been the catalyst for this group dipping their toes into the media world AppleSpotify
State of the Sport –
1968 Boston Marathon winner and former Editor in Chief at Runner’s World, Amby Berfoot, and New York City Marathon Co-Founder, George Hirsh, break down the news, chat with a runner or running industry professional, and grant them three wishes. AppleSpotify
Coffee Club –
Ollie, Morgan, and George are professional runners with a Coffee Club and a canine CEO named Gus. AppleSpotify
Strength Running –
Jason Fitzgerald is a running coach and former college runner who works to provide the everyday runner with insights normally reserved for pros and elites. AppleSpotify
FKT Podcast –
Heather “Anish” Anderson chats with recent FKT runners and fastpackers about their adventures. AppleSpotify
First Attempt Outerwear 