Midday Treat with HOKA NAZ Elite

HOKA NAZ Elite's Krissy Gear recaps her bronze medal finish at the 2023 USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500 meters. The race also featured Nikki Hiltz and Sage Hurta-Klecker. Krissy describes her mindset going into the race, what it's like to race in a tactical 1500, and what she was thinking as the race heated up with 300 meters to go. Plus, she's got a great way for how to determine whether or not you had a good race, "Did I have my best day?"

HOKA NAZ Elite's Abby Nichols recaps her 4:29.09 mile victory at the 2023 BU Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational. The run was Abby's first time under 4:30 for the mile and it was a HOKA NAZ Elite Team Record. Hear about what the race was like mentally and physically, and what it means for Abby, moving forward.

Happy NCAA Cross Country week! In advance of the Championships, we hosted a Fantasy XC Draft and recorded it for this special edition of the Midday Treat with NAZ Elite Podcast hosted by Ben Rosario and featuring coach Jenna Wrieden, Krissy Gear, Olin Hacker and surprise guest Kyle Merber of Citius Mag. Enjoy!!

An awesome conversation between Futsum Zienasellassie and NAZ executive director Ben Rosario about Futsum re-signing with the team, his upbringing in Eritrea, moving to the U.S. at the age of 14, finding cross country after missing the date for soccer tryouts, his up and down career at NAU, and what he's looking forward to in the months ahead.

HOKA NAZ Elite rookie Abby Nichols talks about growing up in a family of musicians, switching from gymnastics and cheer to running track, becoming a state champion, choosing Ohio St, transferring to CU, the pressure of the NCAA Championships, moving to Flagstaff, her new teammates, and her goals for the next few months. (1:00) Intro to Abby's story (2:20) Talking the great state of Ohio and finding running (5:00) Growing up in a family of musicians (7:00) Abby's high school career (8:30) Ohio St. and winning a Big 10 title (15:00) Transferring to CU (19:00) Competing at the National Level (24:38) The NCAA Track Champs- physically and mentally (27:32) Moving to Flagstaff (30:00) Goals for the next few months

Olin Hacker takes us through his high school career in Wisconsin where he became a State Champion and finished second at both NXN and Foot Locker finals his senior year in cross country. Then he discusses his seven years at the University of Wisconsin that culminated in an NCAA Championship at 5,000 meters. Finally, he chats about his first month-and-a-half with HOKA NAZ Elite and his goals for 2023.

Ben Rosario and Jesse Williams of Sound Running talk for an hour and dig into where the sport of track and field and distance running is going...or could go. Jesse previews his next event, The Cross Champs, in Austin, TX. Then the two talk about the Sound Running Meets and what they could become in the future.

Alan Culpepper and Ben Rosario have an awesome chat about high school cross country training and racing with the championship season right around the corner.  (1:00) Alan updates the fans on the NAZ Elite team. (5:36) What Alan thinks about the U.S. HS XC landscape and how teams are training--good and bad. (11:15) How to handle racing and where it fits in the training cycle. (14:28) Good aerobic workouts for HS athletes. (16:10) Preparing specifically for the State Meet course. (19:19) How to get ready for a fast start. (21:30) How often should you talk about the State Meet? (23:55) State Meet race strategy. (26:20) Alan talks about his World XC experience. (28:50) Individual strategy for the 3rd-7th runners on your team. (32:22) Approach for qualifying races. (34:00) Wrap-up and HOKA NAZ Elite Strava Run Club Announcement!

(1:00) Nick reveals his fall marathon choice (7:33) Nick talks about Alan Culpepper coming on as NAZ's new head coach (12:14) The NAZ rookies (16:35) Training with Matt Baxter (17:58) Nick's new level of fitness (19:40) What some of the NAZ athletes are really like (22:00) Learning from Steph Bruce's big win at the USATF 10k (25:55) Talking double workout days (33:55) Nick talks about the upcoming USATF 10 Mile Champs

HOKA NAZ Elite's Julia Griffey announces what marathon she'll be running in the fall of 2022, discusses her battle with Long Covid, tells us about playing college soccer and then joining the XC/Track teams as a fifth-year senior, running for fun after college and then getting more serious, winning the Twin Cities Marathon, finishing 10th at the Trials and getting engaged after the race, and she catches us up on her current training. Great episode! (1:35) Julia announces her fall marathon plans (3:40) Discussing Long Covid (12:33) Working at Panera (16:13) Working for the St. Louis Cardinals (18:35) Being married to a former pro basketball player (21:35) Playing soccer in college (23:58) How/why she started running her senior year (31:20) Moving back to St. Louis and running for fun at first (37:00) Winning the Twin Cities Marathon (39:50) Getting engaged, and finishing 10th, at the Olympic Trials (45:20) Training update and looking forward...

HOKA NAZ Elite's Ben Bruce talks about his trip to Chamonix, France to watch the 2022 UTMB race which featured a much-hyped battle between ultra stars Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmlsely, among others. Ben takes us through the entire week, what the vibe is like in Chamonix, and gives an incredible play by play of watching the race. Enjoy! (1:15) What is UTMB? (3:20) HOKA's role and why Ben went this year (5:40) UTMB week (7:50) What was the vibe like in Chamonix? (17:15) What's the buildup like toward UTMB itself? (19:20) Ben describes the Jim Walmsley v Kilian Jornet hype (25:00) Who was Ben following and more HOKA talk (27:45) Watching the race as a fan. The PLAY BY PLAY!! (47:00) Does Ben want to run an ultra? Could Kellyn Taylor or Des Linden be good at UTMB? Will he run Masters races this fall?

A must-listen for all of you Kellyn Taylor fans. Kellyn shares the news that she's pregnant, reminisces about her career thus far, lists her three favorite marathons, discusses the foster care system (she and her husband Kyle have fostered 17 children in three years), and makes it very clear that she will indeed be back competing next year. Enjoy! (1:00) Kellyn is Pregnant! (4:40) Discussing fostering (7:40) First thoughts after finding out about the pregnancy (9:05) Gaining confidence from other pro runner moms (11:40) The story of her first pregnancy (15:31) Looking back at her career thus far (24:06) Crazy story about her 10k PR (27:40) Kellyn ranks her top 3 marathons (32:30) Looking forward to 2024 (36:25) What comes down the road? Firefighting? Ultra Trail? (39:30) Kellyn's message to fans and to young female athletes (47:08) What the biggest misconception about Kellyn? (48:22) Pregnancy "stuff" (coffee, sushi, core work, running, heart rate, etc.)

One of the newest members of HOKA NAZ Elite, Adriaan Wildschutt, chats with Ben Rosario about growing up in South Africa, following his brother Nadeel to Coastal Carolina University, running for former World Champion Zola (Budd) Pieterse, transferring to Florida State, racing Wesley Kiptoo, Conner Mantz, and Abdihamid Nur at NCAA Championships, competing at the World Championship and Commonwealth Games, and what he's looking forward to as a pro.

HOKA NAZ Elite's Alice Wright catches us up on the injuries and illnesses that caused her to miss two years of racing, how she came back from all of it to finish second at the 2022 Houston Marathon, and how her preparation is going in advance of this summer's European Championships.

HOKA NAZ Elite's Ben Rosario talks with HOKA Festival of Miles Meet Director Tim Cornell about the history of FOM and what to expect from the 2022 edition. Tim discusses top athletes to look out for including high school superstars Natalie Cook and Gary Martin.

Ben Rosario talks with Tyler Day about what led to his Haglund's Deformity surgery in September of 2021, what the surgery entailed, how he's doing now, and what he's looking forward to the rest of this year.

Listen to the full press conference announcing two-time Olympian Alan Culpepper as the new Head Coach of HOKA NAZ Elite. NAZ Elite Executive Director, Ben Rosario, and HOKA Global Director of Sports Marketing, Mike McManus, spoke to reporters on Thursday, May 19, 2022 about the transition and about the future of the Team.

HOKA NAZ Elite Coaches Ben Rosario and Ben Bruce talk about Ben B's decision to run the 2022 Boston Marathon, and the Big Sur Marathon six days later! "The Bens" discuss how to prepare for both races, the importance of downhill preparation, recovery between events, and much more. They also talk about Ben's wife, Stephanie, and how she's approaching her final year as a pro runner. Show notes: (1:00) NAZ + Big Sur Partnership (2:00) Ben B explains the Boston 2 Big Sur Challenge (5:23) Ben B's goals for his Boston 2 Big Sur (6:30) Ben B's advice for fellow Boston 2 Big Sur Participants (8:25) Recovery between Boston and Big Sur (10:48) Big Sur course description and advice (18:15) Stephanie Bruce's Boston Prep (20:25) The Bruce family's future plans (24:50) Boston Marathon Talk

HOKA NAZ Elite added NCAA Outdoor 5,000 runner-up Katie Wasserman to its roster in October of 2021. Katie joins Coach Ben Rosario for an intro podcast where she reveals that she didn't even run cross country in high school, she never ran a 5,000 on the track until grad school, and she never considered running professionally until the very end of her college career.

In the final episode of our Fall '21 Workout Wednesday series, Coach Ben Rosario give out some great tips on Marathon Race Weekend--from traveling on Friday, to relaxing on Saturday, to race morning...and of course for the race itself!!

HOKA NAZ Elite Coach Ben Rosario takes you through the workout that the NAZ athletes run before every marathon; 2 miles at marathon pace/ 8 x 400 at 30-minute race pace/ 2 miles at marathon pace.

HOKA NAZ Elite Coach Ben Rosario explains the world famous Moneghetti Fartlek and why it's such a great workout any time of year...even for marathoners.

HOKA NAZ Elite athletes Scott Fauble, Julia Griffey, Rory Linkletter, and Scott Smith join coach Ben Rosario to preview the 2021 Boston Marathon.

HOKA NAZ Elite coach Ben Rosario takes you through a different kind of fartlek than perhaps you're used to. He uses Nick Hauger's recent workout as an example; three minutes hard, three minutes float. The "hard segments" are at lactate threshold effort, and the "float" segments are at a pace that's one-minute per mile slower.

HOKA NAZ Elite coach Ben Rosario explains hill circuits and uses a recent workout featuring Stephanie Bruce and Kellyn Taylor as an example.

HOKA NAZ Elite Coach Ben Rosario explains the difference between pros and amateurs running 16 miles at marathon pace and how you can simulate training like the pros in your own marathon long run.

Show Index: 2:30 Steph explains cupping 3:20 Training and racing update 6:55 Coping with grief 17:35 Motivation 19:05 Injuries and confidence 20:40 Advice for HS runners 22:42 Keeping your energy level high 24:47 Staying on top of your game 28:22 Sun damage 29:50 Anti-Doping and the Shelby Houlihan case 35:30 Rapid fire questions 46:00 Stress and anxiety related to social media

HOKA NAZ Elite's Ben Rosario gives you a tip on how to maximize that longest run you do before a marathon by adding 3-6 miles of harder work at the end of the run.

HOKA NAZ Elite's Ben Rosario explains a workout that Stephanie Bruce and Kellyn Taylor did as they prepared for the 2021 TCS NYC Marathon-- The Ladder Cutdown Long Run. Hear about the session and learn how to do it yourself!

Ben Rosario explains one of the staple HOKA NAZ Elite marathon workouts--the "Tempo, Long, Tempo." He takes you through how to do it yourself and also describes a monster version of it that Scott Fauble and Rory Linkletter did in preparation for the 2021 Boston Marathon.

A special Midday Treat! Coach Ben Rosario sits down with the newest member of HOKA NAZ Elite--Alex Masai. Alex is from Mt. Elgon, Kenya and comes from a family of professional runners including brother Moses (2-time Olympian) and sister Linet (World Championship Gold Medalist). Learn about Alex's upbringing, his time at Hofstra University, and his goals as he embarks on his own pro running career.

HOKA NAZ Elite's Ben Rosario explains how to run 1k repeats at lactate threshold place with 1-minute rest in preparation for a marathon. This video features athlete appearances from Ben Bruce, Stephanie Bruce, Rory Linkletter, Kellyn Taylor, Sid Vaughn, and Alice Wright.

Ben Rosario talks to Scott Fauble and Rory Linkletter about their recent races.

The Marathon Project Press Conference by HOKA NAZ Elite

Host Eric Senseman talks to Ben Bruce and Ben Rosario and previews the HOKA Distance Carnival to be held on September 1, 2020.

Head Coach Ben Rosario speaks with Erin Strout, head writer at Women's Running Magazine, about COVID-19 and the running industry.

Super agent Josh Cox breaks down the 2018 Boston Marathon win for his client, Des Linden, with HOKA NAZ Elite's Scott Smith and Coach Ben Rosario.

The 2018 Boston Marathon 3rd and 4th place finishers, Shadrack Biwott and Tyler Pennel, join 6th-placer Scott Smith of HOKA NAZ Elite, and Coach Ben Rosario, to break down the race.

1983 Boston Marathon Champion Greg Meyer and one of the greatest American distance runners of all-time, Dathan Ritzenhein, join HOKA NAZ Elite's Scott Fauble and Coach Ben Rosario to talk about the 2019 Boston Marathon and a whole lot more.

Track and Field broadcaster Paul Swangard joins HOKA NAZ Elite's Scott Smith and Coach Ben Rosario to talk about the crazy 2018 Boston Marathon, Des Linden's win and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the TV production of a marathon.

Women's Running Senior Writer, Erin Strout, joins HOKA NAZ Elite's Scott Smith and Coach Ben Rosario to talk about covering the crazy 2018 Boston Marathon. Erin chats about the Shalane Flanagan "Porta Potty Incident" and the importance of Des Linden's win.

Mario Fraioli of the Morning Shakeout talks about his experience at the crazy 2018 Boston Marathon with Scott Smith and Ben Rosario.

Kellyn Taylor joins teammate Scott Smith and Coach Ben Rosario to talk about her experience at the crazy 2018 Boston Marathon.

Join host Eric Senseman as he catches up with one of our newest members, Nick Hauger. --- Music by Andre Barake

Join host Eric Senseman as he catches up with Scott Fauble and Sid Vaughn prior to the Marathon Trials. --- Music by Andre Barake

Join host Eric Senseman as he talks with Head Coach Ben Rosario. --- Music by Andre Barake

Join host Eric Senseman as he talks with Matt Baxter about his new book, Hurt Me If You Can. --- Music by Andre Barake

Join host Eric Senseman as he talks with Kellyn Taylor and Aliphine Tuliamuk before the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon. --- Music by Andre Barake

Join host Eric Senseman as he talks with Stephanie Bruce and Scott Smith before the 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. --- Music by Andre Barake

Join host Eric Senseman as he talks with Matt Baxter before the 2019 Rock 'n' Roll San Jose Half Marathon. --- Music by Andre Barake

Join host Eric Senseman as he talks with one of our newest members, Matt Baxter. -- Music by Andre Barake