THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

• “I Got Hit by a Car. Then I Ran 4:03 Mile.” — TJ Hansen’s Wild Rise to the Top of U.S. High School Distance Running

  For TJ Hansen, running isn’t just a passion — it’s the job. And business is booming.Up next in our 2025 HOKA Festival of Miles series, we welcome the Michigan standout who’s made a national name for himself on both grass and track.Representing Freeland High School, TJ is a two-time Nike All-American and finished runner-up at the 2024 Nike Cross Nationals, crossing the line in 15:30.60 — just 2.5 seconds off the win. That followed a top-10 finish at NXN in 2023.TJ also claimed the Gatorade Michigan Boys Cross Country Player of the Year title for 2024–25 and double-won at the Michigan Division 2 state meet in both the 1600m and 3200m.His PRs show he’s got range and firepower: he has run 1:54.27 in the 800m; 3:47.05 in the 1500m; 4:03.87 in the mile; 8:51.12 in the two-mile; and 14:24.40 in the 5,000m.Originally committed to Tennessee, TJ made a game-time decision to head west — he’s now bound for the University of Colorado, joining one of the deepest distance squads in the NCAA.In today's conversation, TJ walks me through his successful career thus far, how he's risen to be one of the best, choosing Colorado, his ambtions and journey for Sub 4, how Festival Of Miles plays into that, his training, getting hit by a car, and more.Tap into the TJ Hansen 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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  34:59
• Keegan Smith: 14:23 XC, 4:04 Mile Injured, NCAA Dreams, and His Relentless Chase for a Sub-4 Minute Mile

  As Keegan Smith is apt to say, winning isn’t everything – running your best is.Up next in our 2025 HOKA Festival of Miles series, we welcome one of the most dominant high school distance runners in the country: Keegan Smith, straight out of Tennessee.From the moment he laced up as a freshman, Keegan’s been smashing records and turning heads. He opened his high school career by dropping a 14:53.79 5K — the fastest ever by a U.S. freshman in cross country — then lit up the track with a 4:14.63 mile and an 8:52.96 3,200m, both national freshman records.Fast forward to his senior year: Keegan clocked a blistering 14:23.26 at the Nike Cross Southeast Regional, breaking the Tennessee state record and proving he's still leveling up. He closed out his high school XC career with wins at NXR Southeast and Foot Locker South, and shattered three all-time course records along the way.His PRs speak for themselves: he has run 1:51.93 in 800m; 3:55.64 in the 1500m; 4:11.90 in the mile; 8:54.97 in the two-mile; and 14:23.26 in the 5,000m in cross country. The longer the race, the stronger he gets.Now committed to the University of Colorado, Keegan’s taking his talent to one of the top distance programs in the nation. And with NIL deals already in place with HOKA and Precision Fuel & Hydration, he’s not just running fast — he’s building a brand.In today's conversation, Keegan shares behind-the-scenes stories from my marathon (lol), what it was like to run a local race, his breakdown of XC postseason, why his XC season was so meaningful to him, running a 4:04 Mile while being injured, his ambitions for the outdoor track season, and racing the 2025 HOKA Festival of Miles meet. Tap into the Keegan Smith 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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  49:19
• Registered Dietitian Alex Larson Shares Key Insights On How To Fuel Yourself Better As A Runner

  Dietitian Alex Larson, on a mission to fuel the world's endurance athletes, joins the show today to share her expert tips on nutrition, health, and performance for long-term success.Alex is a mother of three kids and successful entrepreneur, serving as the founder and CEO of Alex Larson Nutrition. After having her three kids in an eight-year span, Alex is back to running and gravel cycling for endurance events. She completed the Ironman Wisconsin in 2014, and is primed to continue that success as a busy mother and business owner. Alex has a stable of dietitians and nutrition coaches working for her, and offers meal plans, guides and a very accessible blog on her website. Her team has coached over 500 athletes across 28 thousand community platforms and has been featured on 40-plus media outlets.The Alex Larson motto is to improve performance and body composition through simple and flexible eating. On her new podcast, "Endurance Eats Podcast," she simplifies nutrition advice for endurance athletes and interviews well-known guests.In today's conversation, Alex takes me through key nutrition principles that you can apply in your day to day that will take your running to the next level. Tap into the Alex Larson 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-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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  37:46
• The Renaissance Athlete: How Former D1 Athlete & Artist Zach Litoff Has Worked With The Biggest Brands In The Sport, Re-Shaping What Running Means To Him, & Creating A Photo Book From The OLY Trials

  The creative force behind Litoff Studios, Mr. Zach Litoff himself, joins the show today, ready to discuss his new book. Zach seamlessly intertwines athleticism and artistry–blending his elite athletic background as an NCAA Championship steeplechaser with his innovative design work; this has led him to work with major brands like Nike, New Balance, and even Apple.Recently, he led the rebranding of the iconic Bay to Breakers race for their website, infusing it with fresh, modern visuals while honoring its rich history. Zach grew up in Boulder, Colorado, where he became enmeshed at an early age with drawing, climbing and running. At Monarch High School in Colorado he came in third in the state two-mile championships, third in the mile, and fifth in the 800m.At Santa Clara University he helped build a strong program, finishing as an All-American steeplechaser with PRs of 8:32 in the steeple and 13:52 in the 5,000m. Zach went back to Santa Clara and got his Master's in Marketing, and has since started his own company doing design work, marketing, photography, video production, web design, content creation and blog creation. Whew!Zach's latest triumph is a 160-page multimedia art book called "The Last Olympic Trials," which documents his experience at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene. It blends film photography, painted-over Polaroids, mixed media, and hand-drawn illustrations to capture the shifting culture of the sportIn today's conversation, Zach takes me through his running pursuits, how he's shifted his identity in the sport and how he's gone about that, his thoughts on Grand Slam track, the story behind his new book "The Last Olympic Trials" and so much more.This is just a good chat between two friends. Don't miss it. And pick up a copy of Zach's latest work to support a friend. Great work. Tap into the Zach Litoff 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-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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  45:30
• Corbin Coombs Shares Exlsucive Insights On His Journey To Running A Sub-4 Mile & Creating History In New Mexico As A High Schooler

  Episode 1 of The Call Room: Road to Records is here, featuring New Mexico's fastest miler and ascending star, Corbin Coombs.Corbin, a senior at Organ Mountain High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is gearing up for one of the biggest events of the calendar year, the 2025 HOKA Festival of MIles coming to you June 5. He came in 8th last year in the boyschampionship mile.In February, Corbin set a new state record by running a 4:02.59 mile at the Millrose Games in New York City, breaking a 21-year-old New Mexico record. Corbin, who is affiliated with the Sun Dragons Track Club, continued to make a name for himself at the 2025 Nike Indoor Nationals. On Friday at the two-mile championship race he came in second with a time of 8:45.88. Later that day, he was the anchor on his team's DMR victory: the group ran a 10:06.09, securing the fourth-fastest high school time this year. Then onSunday, he competed in the boys' mile championship and came in fourth with a time of 4:08.98.Then on March 1 at the Circuit: Philadelphia, Corbin ran a new mile personal best of 4:01.62. Corbin has additional PRs of 1:52.19 in the 800m indoor; 3:45.21 in the 1500m indoor; ​and 14:30.06 in the 5,000m for cross country. Corbin was the 2023 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Track & Field Player of the Year. In today's conversation, Corbin takes me through his training, mindset, results from his indoor season, racing the HOKA Festival Of Miles, what it means to come back, the class of '25, and so much more. Tap into the Corbin Coombs 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-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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  33:40

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