The Run Around Iowa
The podcast dedicated to interviews and insights on the individuals who are making headlines in distance running and triathlons in our great state.
Season 5, Episode 22: A commentary on Iowa State's men's cross country program after suspensions
Lance gives his thoughts on the Cyclones men's program after the suspension of multiple athletes the previous weekend. He also provides comments on the challenges that lie ahead for the team in its final two races and if the loss of depth will be too much to overcome. He also remarks on the integrity of the program and coach Jeremy Sudbury.
Season 5, Episode 22: A commentary on Iowa State's men's cross country program after suspensions
Lance gives his thoughts on the Cyclones men's program after the suspension of multiple athletes the previous weekend. He also provides comments on the challenges that lie ahead for the team in its final two races and if the loss of depth will be too much to overcome. He also remarks on the integrity of the program and coach Jeremy Sudbury.
Season 5, Episode 21: A conversation with Spirit Lake native and 2025 Twin Cities Marathon champion Will Norris
Will comes on the show to talk about becoming only the second native Iowan to win Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 5. He discusses the strategy that he used to pull away from Tesfu Tewelde of Eritrea while running 2 hours, 15 minutes, 39 seconds. The Northwestern College All-American and Red Raiders record holder talks about his celebration with family before returning to his new home of Charlottesville, Virginia. Will details his strong support system and the training plan of his longtime coach, who is also the father of his wife, Cleo Boyd. He talks about the challenge of breaking into gaining an...
Season 5, Episode 21: A conversation with Spirit Lake native and 2025 Twin Cities Marathon champion Will Norris
Will comes on the show to talk about becoming only the second native Iowan to win Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 5. He discusses the strategy that he used to pull away from Tesfu Tewelde of Eritrea while running 2 hours, 15 minutes, 39 seconds. The Northwestern College All-American and Red Raiders record holder talks about his celebration with family before returning to his new home of Charlottesville, Virginia. Will details his strong support system and the training plan of his longtime coach, who is also the father of his wife, Cleo Boyd. He talks about the challenge of breaking into gaining an...
Season 5, Episode 20: Interviews from the Blazing 5K race in Des Moines
Lance opens the podcast by talking about a monumental win by an Iowa native and other top performances by Iowans at the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 5. Then, the focus turns to the Blazing 5K on that same day. Susie Duke set a new Iowa women's masters road racing record and the Searsboro resident explains why she's been away from running for about four years. Former Wartburg College All-American Joe Freiburger talks about returning from three surgeries and never giving up hope he would run again. Former Northern Iowa star Emma Hoins tells what's next in her life. Finally...
Season 5, Episode 19: A conversation with Fleet Feet Des Moines owner Phil Young
In this podcast recorded on Sept. 5, Phil describes the process of how he became involved in the running shoe and apparel business, starting with a job in Iowa City. He talks about the timeline and process involved in starting his first Fleet Feet in Davenport and challenging the established running store, Running Wild, in the Quad-Cities. Phil tells if he thinks there may be changes coming to the Des Moines store and changes he's seen in the running store business. Phil, who has a best of 15:30 for the 5K, chats about the most memorable win of his career and...
Season 5, Episode 18: Interviews from the 43rd Capital Pursuit races
Lance interviews the two champions of the 10-mile races at Easter Lake on Sept. 14 - former Loras College seven-time NCAA champion Kassie Parker and former Iowa State steeplechase All-American Gable Sieperda. He also hears from men's runner-up Cody Baele, who is a two-time winner of the IMT Des Moines Half Marathon. Others interviewed included men's 4-mile runner-up Josh Evans and former Wartburg College conference champion Lexi Brown, who ended up thrid in the women's half marathon champion. Lance also corrals professional triathlete Jess Smith, who aims to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in one week.
Season 5, Episode 17: Clips from an interview with former Drake Relays champion, Bulldog star Reed Fischer
Reed was interviewed as part of the Drake University Everclass session for Drake alumni and friends of the track and field program on Aug. 19. Lance listened in on the interview by Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon and captured some sound bites from the 67-minute session. Fischer talks about his last-minute decision to attend Drake and why it was one of the best decisions he's ever made. The Tinman Elite runner based in Boulder, CO, gives the history of his race team and the fortunate timing of his first sponsorship deal with Adidas. Fischer speaks...
Season 5, Episode 16: Interviews from the Cyclone Preview in Ames
Lance interviewed seven individuals at the season-opening college cross country race hosted by Iowa State on Aug. 29. Iowa State coach Jeremy Sudbury talks about the pressure of entering the season as the top-ranked men's team and why he might not field a complete team until the Big 12 Conference meet. New Drake coach Sam Read, an Iowa native and former Wartburg College runner, tells of the quick transition as the Bulldogs' new leader and his vision for the program. Former Cyclone Gable Sieperda looks back at his performance at the USA outdoor track and field nationals in Eugene, OR. Current...
Season 5, Episode 15: A conversation with Kyle Wagner of the IATC Exchange Zone podcast
In an interview recorded on August 14, Kyle comes on to talk about where the top seniors in the Class of 2025 will be running at this fall. Kyle, a regular on the IATC Exchange Zone podcast on Sunday nights and the cross country coach at Bondurant-Farrar, and Lance take a deeper dive into where those athletes have signed. The list includes several NCAA Division I signees. The conversation shifts to how the college recruiting landscape has changed and the top seniors to watch for the 2025 high school cross country season as well. Kyle also gives his view on the teams...
Season 5, Episode 14: A conversation with Muscatine Triathlon race director Adam Raisbeck
The first-year race in southeast Iowa was a big hit with athletes and had over 200 finishers on Saturday, Aug. 2. Adam, a Muscatine police officer, gives details on the family-friendly event at Deep Lakes Park and Riverside Park. The sprint triathlon attracted more than a dozen professionals who chased a $5,000 top prize on both the men's and women's sides. Adam talks about a key local sponsorship with that helped kickstart the event and where this event could be headed in coming years under his "Go big or go home" philosophy. He also tells of some tips he learned from other...
Season 5, Episode 13: A conversation with Crown Running co-founder and former Wartburg College runner Jess Hruska
Jess comes on the show to chat about the rise of the Crown Running professional running team, which has blossomed since its creation by Jess and her partner, Ben Lundell, in 2021. She talks about the new members and why her racing team is different from other Iowa racing teams. Jess, the women's state masters record holder for 7 miles, tells her story and the moment when she had to decide if she would quit the sport or throw herself fully into it. Jess, who lives in Dubuque, offers some changes she has made over the years that have enabled her...
Season 5, Episode 12: A conversation with former Iowa Central runner Karim Achengli
Karim comes on the show to talk about his win at the Dam to DSM race in Des Moines on May 31. Karim goes into detail about coming to Fort Dodge from his native Spain and some of the transitions he had to make. The two-time NJCAA Half Marathon champion tells about some of his finest moments running in college for either the Tritons or Northwest Missouri State. The Runablaze Iowa athlete talks about returning to Iowa, his current job and when he finds time to do his workouts. Karim also clears up details about a race he and Lance...
Season 5, Episode 11: A conversation with former Iowa State All-American Ryan Ford
Ryan comes on the show about seven weeks after finishing 10th overall at the Boston Marathon in 2:08:00. A member of the ZAP Endurance team in North Carolina, Ryan talks about that race and how it has improved his status in the running world. He also compares his 2024 New York City Marathon to the 2025 Boston Marathon and the differences in the races. Ryan details his one season in Ames with Iowa State and the amazing team culture he witnessed in that time. He discusses several of his teammates from that 2021 cross country team that finished second nationally and the impact...
Season 5, Episode 10: A conversation with 2003 Dam to Dam champion Julius Rotich
Julius joins Lance on the show during the drive home from the Lincoln Half Marathon, and they talk about their races on Sunday, May 4. Julius tells the story of how he came to a small NAIA college in Kentucky and decided to stay in America. The 2003 Dam to Dam champion talks about how odd jobs in college led to valuable knowledge of construction and woodworking that he uses today. Julius relives some of his tales of racing against some of the best distance runners in America, including the USA 1 Mile Road Championships in Des Moines just over a decade...
Season 5, Episode 9: Interviews with Shelby Houlihan and Karissa Schweizer, many others from Drake Relays
Lance interviewed many athletes during the recent 115th Drake Relays. Hear from Iowa State senior and former Charles City prep Kiki Connell, former Marion High and Iowa runner Maddie Block, former Dubuque Hempstead and Wartburg College star Shaelyn Hostager, Runablaze Iowa's Blake Whalen, Iowa State junior and former Humboldt prep Quinton Orr, former Glenwood and Iowa State star Janette Schraft, Iowans Derek Leicht and James Fingalsen from Iowa's winning 4x800 relay, Iowa senior and former Ottumwa prep Alli Bookin-Nosbisch, Olympians and Iowa natives Shelby Houlihan and Karissa Schweizer at a historic women's mile Saturday, former Drake star Isaac Basten...
Season 5, Episode 8: A conversation with Ben Huftalin of the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile
Ben comes on the show to talk about preparations for the two races, which occur on April 19 and April 22. The former Osage High and Grand View University runner chats about the fields for the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, which feature the best women's field in its history. Ben also talks about what goes into months of preparation for these races and the promising future for both events. He also tells the story of how he met his wife, Ariana, and hobbies he likes to do when he's coordinating these races.
Season 5, Episode 7: A conversation with Robbie Erickson, who ran across Iowa in record time
Robbie returns to the podcast to talk about his run across Iowa, from Omaha to Muscatine, from March 20-23. He set the new record of 3 days, 21 hours, 10 minutes while raising funds for a new timing system for his community, the Collins-Maxwell school district. Robbie mentions some of the many people who ran with him and assisted him on the journey, including a Collins-Maxwell student who ran about 50 miles of the journey with him. He tells of an unfortunate and heartbreaking incident that nearly derailed his run in the eastern part of Iowa. Robbie describes his strategy that allowed him...
Season 5, Episode 6: An interview with the Voice of the Drake Relays, Mike Jay
Lance opens the podcast by mentioning his last podcast with Lance opens the podcast by mentioning his last podcast with Robbie Erickson, who is running across Iowa in just over a week's time. He talks about why the interview was so special. He also shares news on two-time Olympian and former Dowling Catholic runner Karissa Schweizer and an apparent change of venue for the Midnight Madness road races in Ames. Then, Lance plays the recorded interview he did with Jay from the Capital Striders' annual banquet from March 7. Mike talks about how special the 2025 racing season has been and...
Season 5, Episode 5: A conversation with Robbie Erickson, who is running across Iowa
Robbie comes on the show to talk about his inspiration for running across the state, from Muscatine to Omaha on Highway 92, starting on March 19. Robbie chats about his training, which has included many runs on busy highways. He tells of his pride for his daughter Cypress, who has qualified for state track with Collins-Maxwell High School. Robbie opens up about skateboarding in Philadelphia and how an accident ended his career in that sport. He talks about his start in ultramarathons and where his journey has taken him. Robbie, a native of Grimes, details the logistics of his 276-mile challenge...
Season 5, Episode 4: Interviews from the Iowa State Classic
Lance starts the podcast by announcing big news with the end of the Bowerman Track Club's pro team, which will affect two-time Olympian and former Dowling Catholic star Karissa Schweizer. He then launches into six interviews from the Iowa State Classic on Feb. 8. Hear from former Ankeny Centennial prep Millie Hill and former Tipton runner Caleb Shumaker, who are both at Northern Iowa and who vaulted into the top 10 in program history in races at the Lied Center. Former Cyclone and Central Lyon-GLR prep Gable Sieperda tells what he is up to and training partner Quinton Orr, a former...
Season 5, Episode 3: A conversation with St. Ambrose track coach and former UNI great Tyler Mulder
Tyler talks about going into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame next month in St. Louis and why it could be a big thrill for his family. The graduate of Unity Christian (Orange City) tells about his journey in track and field and how it has provided him with so much in his life. Tyler remembers the day he broke 4 minutes in the mile and is quizzed on his knowledge of the other six Iowans who have accomplished the feat. The NCAA 800-meter indoor champion from 2008 talks about his coaching journey on the way to St. Ambrose in...
Season 5, Episode 2: A conversation with former Indianola prep Bailey Blake and news from track and field in Iowa
Bailey comes on the show to talk about her career at Northwest Missouri State, where she is No. 2 all-time in the 600 meters. The fifth-year senior details the start of her final indoor season in Maryville and what it will take to get her to NCAA Division II nationals. She talks about the breakdown of workouts and how she is on the lower end of the 800 runners as far as mileage. She talks about her famous father Casey, who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball and about living in two cities while being home schooled. The oldest of six children...
Season 5, Episode 1: A look back at the record-breaking year in Iowa running
Lance starts the podcast by sharing a story about his late stepmom at a cross country meet. He also reports on the death of a former Iowa Central Community College runner. He jumps into some of the best, record-setting performances on a national and regional level by former Iowa preps and Iowa collegians. The list includes Betsy Saina, Biya Simbassa, Hillary Bor, Karissa Schweizer, Adam Fogg, Paityn Noe, Megan Johnson and Spencer Moon. He concludes the show by listing the 38 new additions, male and female, to the Iowa all-time road racing list.
Season 4, Episode 28: A conversation with former Iowa State standout Titus Winders
Titus comes on the podcast just three days after finishing 15th at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Washington. The former Iowa State All-Big 12 runner talks about his performance and preparation for the event. Titus comes from a family of runners and he discusses their influence on him. Titus, a Tennessee state champion as a senior, goes into detail about how timing of his signing with NCAA Division II Southern Indiana was fated. The current Minnesota Distance Elite runner describes how Iowa State and assistant coach Cale Wallace impressed him after he went into the transfer portal...
Season 4, Episode 27: A conversation with UNI senior and former Tipton Community runner Caleb Shumaker
The podcast opens with Lance taking a look back at the highlights from last weekend's NCAA cross country championship races. Then, Northern Iowa 8K record holder Caleb Shumaker comes on to talk about his historic final cross country season in Cedar Falls. Caleb tells about running for head cross country coach Alexina Teubel and the lessons he's learned from the multi-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier. Caleb looks ahead to the indoor track season and a new goal he has set for himself. He also dives into his passion and how it all started. He and Lance also discuss...
Season 4, Episode 26: A conversation with former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep and Iowa Hawkeye Jack Pendergast
The podcast opens with Lance telling about an impressive performance by Iowa teams at the recent NJCAA National Cross Country Championships. Then, former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep star Jack Pendergast comes on the show to talk about the reasons he left to run at the University of Kentucky after graduating from Iowa. Jack describes the limited recruiting process that led him to Lexington. He also details a few of the improvements that have helped him stay healthy and post big personal-best times this fall. Jack tells of the goals the Wildcats have at Friday's Southeast Regional in South Carolina...
Season 4, Episode 25: A conversation with former Loras College and Davenport Central star Mason Tope
Mason opens the conversation, recorded on Oct. 17, by talking about his move to Las Vegas and lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle since graduating from Loras in 2018. Mason tells about a conversation that sparked his return to running competitively in early 2023. The former Loras College conference champion relives a race on the track during his comeback where he competed with a bit of a handicap. Mason talks about a turning point his freshman year of college where he knew had a lot of potential. He goes into detail about the running philosophy at Loras under former coach Bob Schultz. Mason talks...
Season 4, Episode 24: Interviews with 3 champions at the 2024 IMT Des Moines Marathon
The podcast begins with Lance highlighting some of the college cross country performances over the weekend that stood out to him. He also looks ahead at a couple of conference championships coming up. The focus turns to Sunday's IMT Des Moines Marathon, where former Central College star Angela Chaney talks about her first marathon victory and surviving a warm second half of the race. Former Hansons-Brooks runner Danna Herrick, the women's half marathon champion, details her impressive year of running that culminated in her first IMT title. Men's half marathon champion Cody Baele shares his thoughts on repeating as...
Season 4, Episode 23: A look back at the record-breaking Blazing 5K and one of Iowa's all-time running greats
Lance starts off the podcast with the news of Iowa State hosting the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional in 2026. Then, he pays tribute to former Big Ten Conference champion Diane Nukuri, who concluded her professional career at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. The three-time Olympian for Burundi owns many incredible accomplishments, including several University of Iowa records. Lance details them all. He also picks out some notable accomplishments on both the roads and cross country since his last podcast. He closes out the show by looking back at the Blazing 5K, where former Loras College seven-time champion Kassie Parker...
Season 4, Episode 22: A conversation with former Grand View University runner Seth Kilborn
Seth is the new coordinator for the Fitness Sports Distance Project and the former East Marshall prep outlines his goals for the team, which includes top former collegians as well as casual runners. Seth talks about his close relationship with Fitness Sports co-owners Jordan and Lindsay Andrews that goes back to his college career at Grand View. It led to him taking over the new store in Ames a year ago. Seth also looks back at improvement with his running he has made since high school and some key changes he has made. He also looks ahead to the...
Season 4, Episode 21: Interviews with Jeremy Sudbury, Janette Schraft and Cailie Logue from Cyclone Preview
Lance interviews some of the top runners at the Aug. 31 meet in Ames, including women's 5K runner-up Bella Heikes of Iowa State, 10th-place finisher Emma Hoins of Northern Iowa and Panther senior Caleb Shumaker, who finished eighth in the men's 6K race. Iowa State director of track and cross country Jeremy Sudbury talks about the departure of Amy Rudolph to Tennessee, the target that is on his fifth-ranked Cyclone team and his strategy to get his team to peak in November. Former Cyclone Janette Schraft, seventh in the women's race, tells what she is up to now. Another former...
Season 4, Episode 20: A conversation with Kyle Wagner of the IATC Exchange Zone podcast
In an interview recorded on August 22, Kyle comes on to talk about where the top seniors in the Class of 2024 will be running at this fall. Kyle, with the IATC Exchange Zone podcast and cross country coach at Bondurant-Farrar, and Lance take a deeper dive into where those athletes have signed. The conversation shifts to the top seniors to watch for the 2024 high school cross country season as well as a few underclassmen who should impress this year and coming years. Kyle also gives his view on the teams to beat in the four Iowa classes for boys and girls...
Season 4, Episode 19: A conversation with top Iowa masters runner Artur Mueller of Davenport
Artur comes on the podcast less than a month after finishing as the top masters runner at the Quad-City Times Bix 7, where he ran 38:12. He tells his story of how he returned to running at age 38 after being away from the sport for about 20 years and how he has had to overcome a significant health issue to exercise regularly. Artur, a 2003 Bettendorf graduate who came to America with his mother and stepdad from his native South Africa at age 9, talks about his diet and his go-to location for many of his workouts. He explains what he has learned from...
Season 4, Episode 18: Interviews with Max Murphy and Kassie Parker from Bix 7
The new podcast covers a variety of topics in distance running, starting with Lance's initial thoughts from the Paris Olympics. Listeners then get to hear from former All-Big Ten runner Max Murphy after his 15th-place performance at the Bix 7. The former Pleasant Valley prep tells the decision behind his transfer to North Carolina. Former Loras College seven-time NCAA champion Kassie Parker also talks about her experience with the Hansons-Brooks team based in Michigan and what's ahead for the former Clayton Ridge (Guttenberg) prep for her racing season this fall. Lance gives his most inspiring performance from July and it...
Season 4, Episode 17: A conversation with Grace McCunn of the Amazing Grace Lemonade Race
Grace tells listeners all about how the Ames 5K race, coming up Saturday, July 27, got its start. The Ames High graduate details her story of how, with help from Blank Children's Hospital and medicines, she was able to overcome migraines. Grace felt terrible about the children who were not as fortunate as her in leaving the hospital so soon. She began a lemonade stand at age 11, raising $100 her first summer. From that venture came a Christmas toy drive and now the annual race, which is in its eighth year. Grace has now raised over $173,000 for Blank Children's Hospital through...
Season 4, Episode 16: A conversation with Quad-City Times race director Michelle Juehring
Michelle comes on the podcast to talk about the 50th running of the road race, which takes place on Saturday, July 27. She comments on new things with this year's event, including a Senior Bix run on Tuesday, the unveiling of a statue of former race director Karl Ungurean on Monday and added activities with the Brady Street Sprints on Thursday. Michelle also takes about the Fab Four who will be coming to Davenport for the race: Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, Joan Samuelson and Meb Keflezighi. She also tells when she finds the time to work out amid her hectic...
Season 4, Episode 15: A chat with Iowa State All-American, ex-Central Lyon-GLR prep Gable Sieperda
Gable comes on the show to talk about his recent performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials and his third place in the 3,000 steeplechase at NCAAs. He lets his listeners know that he will be turning professional after his final cross country season at Iowa State and when he realized he was good enough to take a shot at a pro career. Gable tells one of the training tools that has helped his steeplechase career at Iowa State. He talks about how he has embraced the unpredictability of Jeremy Sudbury, Iowa State director of track and field, and why the...
Season 4, Episode 14: A conversation with Simpson College NCAA 10,000 champion Spencer Moon
Spencer comes on the program just a month after winning his first NCAA Division III title in the 10,000 meters in South Carolina. Moon talks about his race and how he was able to break through after some past disappointments at nationals. Spencer tells what he is up to now after graduating from Simpson. Moon talks about the special relationship he has with Simpson director of track and field Heath Moenck, and what sold him to attend the Indianola school. The conversation turns to his Relay Iowa and the fun times he and his friends had doing the weekend event...
Season 4, Episode 13: A conversation with former Central College star Megan Johnson
Megan comes on the show to recap her victory in the NCAA 3,000 steeplechase final when she produced the fifth-fastest time ever in Division III. The former Aplington-Parkersburg prep provides the highlights of her senior academic year at Central College and the rapid progress in the Dutch women's program. Megan details studying in England in the fall of 2022 and gives some of her highlights. She also talks about the transfer portal process and how she ended up choosing Oklahoma University for her final seasons of eligibility. Megan also talks about her basketball career and why she chose track and field and...