THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

• Simeon Birnbaum: The Quiet Killer of NCAA Running — How a 3:52 Miler Is Rising to Greatness & An Inside Look At His Breakthrough NCAA Season

  PSA: the audio on this is weird. We have no clue why it's like this, but I would rather release then it never see the light of day. He went from Rapid City to Hayward Field. From high school phenom to NCAA standout. And now, toeing the line with the best in the world, Simeon Birnbaum is bridging the levels in a way few athletes do.In his return to the show, we catch up with Simeon just 24 hours after his electric 3:56.64 mile at the Prefontaine Classic—his first real taste of pro racing on one of the sport's biggest stages.This isn't a rehash of what you already know. We're looking ahead: what it felt like lining up against Diamond League vets, how that race taught him more than any workout ever could, and why he's hungrier than ever to chase greatness at the highest level.The journey that brought him here is important, though: like the 3:57.53 mile he ran as a high school senior (and the 3:59.51 he clocked as a junior), the 1:47.96 800m speed he still carries, and the 3:37.02 1500m PR he dropped this spring at Oregon Twilight. Add in his 13:31.87 5000m from Big Tens (a meet record), and you're looking at one of the most versatile young talents in U.S. distance running. He came in 7th in the 1500m at NCAA outdoors in June of 2025. From his days winning 13 South Dakota state titles and earning 2023 HS Boys Athlete of the Year, to bouncing back from early setbacks in his freshman year and finishing 3rd at NCAAs in the 1500m, Simeon's story is just getting started.Whether you're a high schooler dreaming big or a fan of the sport tracking the next American great, this is the kind of conversation you'll want in your earpods for your next long run.In today's conversation, Simeon gives me a deep dive look into his Sophomore year. We dicuss the tactics, training, and races that made it successful. We walk through his first-ever NCAA Outdoor Championships, running the Pre-Classic, and his ambitions for domination in the future.Simeon Birnbaum is on the podcast. Don't miss it. Tap into the Simeon Birnbaum 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

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• Josh Kerr: Reigning World Champion and 2x Olympic Medalist on Relentless Discipline, Brutal Self-Honesty & the Competitive Fire Behind Greatness

  This isn’t just a running interview. It’s a front-row seat to what greatness sounds like.Josh Kerr is the reigning 1500m World Champion, an Olympic silver (Paris 2024) and bronze medalist (Tokyo 2020), and the fastest Brit of all time, stopping the clock at a jaw-dropping 3:27.79 in the 1500m at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.And his résumé doesn’t stop there. Josh’s current personal bests include: 3:27.79 in the 1500m outdoor (British record); 3:45.34 in the outdoor mile; 7:30.14 in the indoor 3,000m (Scottish indoor record) and 8:00.67 in the 2-Mile indoor short track (a World Best). From breaking NCAA records at the University of New Mexico to stunning the world in Budapest and Paris, Josh has built his career on intent, aggression, and an unshakable belief in his process.He’s not about fluff. He’s about focus. And whether it’s skipping warmups or setting world bests, he’s never afraid to do it his way.Josh has much to say about the mindset behind the medals, the rivalries that keep him sharp, and the hunger that still drives him, even while he’s already at the top.He isn’t here to play it safe. He’s here to take over.In today's conversation, Josh takes me deep into his mindset, chase for greatness, parts of his journey that go untold, his desire to be the best, rivalries, what you can do to become a better runner today, and so much more.Tap into the Josh Kerr 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

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• Train With Awareness, Not Ego: Alex Ostberg on the Recovery Mistakes, Fueling Gaps & Mindset Shifts That Separate the Best From the Broken

  -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rsAlex Ostberg is back to cut through the noise and get straight to what actually matters for smarter, healthier, and more effective training. This month’s theme? Train with awareness, not ego.First, Alex wrote about not chasing gains at the expense of your body. Top athletes play defense first. Solid sleep, real food, and smart recovery aren’t optional, they’re non-negotiable. If you’re always flirting with injury, you’re not training. You’re barely hanging on.Next, he examined the plate. If it’s low on carbs or protein, you’re killing your recovery and setting yourself up for a setback. What you eat says everything about how ready you are to train hard, and stay healthy doing it.Then he wrote about the myth of precision. Pace, mileage, VO₂ max, macros…they’re helpful, but they’re not gospel. Training isn’t about hitting perfect numbers. It’s about responding to what your body’s telling you today.To close out June, he examined how your body always speaks first. That tightness, that fatigue, that off mood? Don’tignore it. The best runners don’t push through red flags, they pivot.One month, four takeaways, and one big truth: better results come from fewer mistakes. Let’s make training something that builds you up, not breaks you down.In today's conversation, we break it all down. Don't miss the opportunity to become a better runner. Tap into the Alex Ostberg Rundown 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

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• NCAA All-American Paityn Noe on Breaking Records, Battling Setbacks, and the Radical Mindset Shift That Took Her From Surviving to Soaring

  Paityn Noe has gone from being an injury-plagued freshman to one of the NCAA's most electrifying distance runners, redefining success with speed, resilience, and purpose.After a turbulent freshman year marked by injury and setbacks, Paityn didn't just bounce back, she transformed, clocking a blazing 31:36.91 to break Arkansas' 10,000m record, becoming All-American in the 10,000m and 5,000m outdoors,and finishing 4th at NCAA Outdoors.Her resume reads like a breakout-year checklist: she ran 15:11.27 in the 5000m; 8:47.17 in the 3000m; she finished in 7th place at NCAA Cross Country Nationals; and she earned All-American honors in the 3,000m and 5,000m indoors.But behind the accolades is a story of mindset, discipline, and a radically honest approach to fueling and recovery. Paityn has been candid about how embracing nourishment, faith, and joy became the foundation for her breakthrough. Now, she's on a mission to change how young athletes think about performance.Paityn's discussion is equal parts blueprint and inspiration; an inside look at what it takes to turn adversity into acceleration.In today's conversation, Paityn takes me through her NCAA performances from this indoor and outdoor seasons; her 7th place finishes at the 2024 NCAA XC Championships, handling setbacks/injuries her freshman year, her ambitions for the future, her thoughts on NIKE's Breaking4 project, and so much more.Tap into the Paityn Noe 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

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• An Inside Look At How Double Threshold Training Turned Andreas Almgren Into One Of The Greatest Runners In The World (12:44 5k) + Lessons From Doing Workouts With Jakob Ingebrigtsen

  Andreas Almgren went from nearly quitting the sport to redefining European distance running.The Swedish phenom’s career began with a 1:45.59 in the 800m before a cascade of devastating injuries nearly ended it all. We’re talking stress fractures, torn muscles, and years of physical setbacks that forced Andreas to rethink everything, from his training philosophy to his identity as an athlete.What followed is one of the most remarkable reinventions in modern track history.Andreas had to endure a mental and physical shift that included trading middle-distance intervals for long runs, double-thresholds, and five-hour bike weeks. The countless hours of work transformed him into a record-breaking force. His stats say it all: 3:32.00 in the 1500m (Swedish Record); 12:44.27 in the 5,000m (European Record); 26:52 in the 10,000m (Swedish Record); 26:53 in the road 10,000m (European Record); and 59:23 in the half marathon (becoming the first Swede under 60 min). Whether you're coming back from injury, building toward your breakthrough, or just chasing the edge of performance, this man showed one example of a blueprint for resilience, reinvention, and world-class excellence.Andreas went from shattered bones to shattering records.In today's conversation, Andreas takes me deep into his training, the double threshold method, how much he runs per week, what he eats, how slow his easy days are, and even lessons from training with Jakob Ingebrigtsen. We also dive into his recent race performances and his goals for the World Championships. Tap into the Andreas Almgren 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-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run-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

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