The TalkIN Distance Podcast

In this episode, we talk through some of the top storylines facing the sports of XC and Track in Indiana this Spring season. Topics include the new IHSAA transfer rule, The additional IHSAA-mandated summer moratorium, and the Indoor HSR State Finals.

Today on the podcast we welcome in Coach Ryan McMaster. Coach McMaster is the Head Coach of both the Boys and Girls XC programs at Ben Davis High School. We ask him about how it felt to watch his Boys team make it to the IHSAA State Meet for the first time in 25 years, the rich program history at Ben Davis, and the many mentors that have helped him in his coaching journey.

Today we got to catch up with Coach John Arredondo. Coach A has led the Valparaiso Girl's XC program for 17 seasons. We ask him about what makes the Valpo program special, his memories of a magical 2023 State Meet, and even dive into some music suggestions toward the end of our conversation.

A friend of the podcast, Dr. Matthew Harber, stopped by to discuss the Double Threshold method of training. Dr. Harber is now an assistant coach at Taylor University, which has touted tremendous success using this as a component of their overall training. We discuss the reasons behind this growing trend, how it might look at the high school level, and how it is tremendously adaptable to wide range of ability levels.

In this episode we tackle what priorities we have in the offseason. We sift through a variety of topics, including having individual meetings with athletes, taking time for yourself to recharge, maintaining motivation for coaches and athletes, and making adjustments for the always-eventful winter weather.

In this episode we discuss the most recent Class Cross Country vote. We try to answer why, after decades of debate, it still seems like such a polarizing issue. Also, we look around the state after week 4, and share some exciting sponsorship news.

In this episode we talk about Week 3, which featured some blazing fast times around the state. We also give some recognition to some of the performances around the state that we have been able to witness early on this season.

As we anticipate the start of competition in the 2024 Cross Country season, we debate the aspects of our sport are worthy of focus. We take the path of pruning down some of the aspects that might not be as important as we sometimes make them out to be.

In this episode we try our hand at taking some "hot-take" predictions about the upcoming 2024 Cross Country season. We even place a friendly wager on which of our predictions (if any!) turn out to be reality!

While probably an overused word in distance-running circles, consistency is still is possibly one of the most important aspects of becoming a good high school distance runner. In this episode, we dive into 5 different aspects of our sport that it pays off to have consistency in.

After quite the spring hiatus, we catch up in this episode. We discuss the long Track & Field season, the odd time of year as post-season outdoor Track meets finish up and Cross Country preseason starts, and what are some of the most important things teams can be doing right now to set the foundation for a great Cross Country season.

In this episode we look at the ways that Psychology and Distance Running intertwine. We wonder if there are topics in psychology that can help us understand our pre-race anxiety? Or, why it is so hard to take that first step of a run? We also discuss how Psychology may help us be better parents and coaches of distance runners.

In this episode, we discuss the large training block over the winter months. We try to tackle topics about what the focus of winter training should be, how to handle the indoor season, and ways to keep kids motivated to train through the adverse Indiana winter weather.

It is by-far the biggest debated topic in Indiana high school Cross Country...... So, we take a stab at some pros-and-cons of the Class XC debate. This is not even close to an exhaustive list, but instead, a conversation that is really aimed at informing and getting more voices heard throughout the state on a topic that is passionately debated in every circle of the sport.

After a short hiatus, we return to discuss the Top 10 Conferences in Indiana in Cross Country. We discuss the teams that make up these conferences as well as what makes them special.

In this episode, we talk to Springs Valley Cross Country Coach Derek Freeman. The Hawks have had unprecedented success under Coach Freeman, so we had a bevy of questions for man in charge. We discuss training, culture, and how success at a small school in Indiana's single-class system may be defined differently, but does not mean lowering expectations.

In this episode we summarize, recap, and digest all that happened in the 2023 IHSAA State Cross Country Meet. We include team talk, individual talk, and some coaching hypotheticals coming off of the biggest meet of the XC season.

In this episode we try to pack in as much IHSAA State Meet preview content as possible. We look at both the Boys and Girls Individual and Team title contenders, highlight some small and medium-size schools that qualified, and preview what comes next now that the Cross Country season is drawing to a close.

In this episode we cover a wide variety of topics, including reflecting back on an exciting Sectional weekend, looking forward to an exciting Regionals weekend, as well as pour over some classification breakdown of Regional-bound teams. We even discuss what a 2 or 3 class Cross Country tournament may look like from our current alignment.

In this bonus episode this week, we discuss the value of the Sectional round, to not only small schools, but all schools. Then, we take a quick trip through the state and highlight one Sectional meet from each of the Regional sites that they feed into.

In this episode, we talk about the excitement that surrounds the week leading up to Sectional Saturday. We try to break down what the priorities are in training and mental prep through the final part of the season. Finally, we discuss how to navigate fall break when it comes during a crucial part of the postseason.

Two (very tired) coaches try to recapitulate the epic Nike "XC Town" Twilight Meet, as well as look at what kind of changes that may lie ahead as we enter the first edition of our new 3-round IHSAA tournament structure.

In this episode we talk about what kind of things change (and remain the same) as we enter the final weeks of the regular season. Also, we attempt a nuanced analysis of small and medium-sized schools in Indiana that are having success and what can be learned from them to grow our sport as a whole in the state.

In this episode we give our Top-5 "Do" lists for athletes and parents of Cross Country runners. We discuss some main qualities we believe it takes to be a good distance runner, as well as qualities that make up being a good parent of a distance runner.

In this episode we talk about the first weekend of racing in September. Recapping some stellar individual and team performances around the state. We also take time to discuss the topic of tempo/threshold running as well as begin to open up the topic of how we as coaches can collaborate with parents in our program.

In this episode we roll through another week of meets and performances, pointing out our top takeaways. Then, we dive into the topic of keeping athletes focused on the present and avoiding looking too far into the future. Finally, we discuss how athletes today may be harder on themselves than any previous generation, and how to help them navigate challenges in a positive way.

Not only is the Cross Country scene in Indiana heating up, so is the weather! In this episode we review the last week of meets and discuss some highlights. Also, We dive into the coaching of young distance runners, and finish the episode off by discussing how the hot weather rolling in this week influences our approach

In this episode we rundown several meets that happened during the opening Saturday of the IHSAA Cross Country season. We discuss team and individual performances that caught our eye, as well as discuss what makes the Indiana Cross Country community so connected and sharing.

In this episode, we dive into an 80/20 conversation. Not about the training book authored by Matt Fitzgerald. Instead, it's a discussion how most individuals, teams, or runners may only get 80% of full potential out of themselves, and what lies in the remaining 20%. We give several examples of coaches and teams in Indiana that are teaching us lessons about the "little things" that make them successful that we all could learn from.

In this episode, we discuss what changes, and what remains constant, as the official season of Cross Country gets underway. We try to take on topics like: Should our mileage and intensity continue to progress as meets start up? Is there a purpose to having the much-maligned mid-week meet on your schedules? We also contend that big workouts early in the season may instill confidence in our athletes that last well into October.

In this episode Coach Sluder and Coach Turner discuss some overarching thoughts on the ways that the new IHSAA XC tournament structure will change things about the 2023 season. We also dive into some of the things we believe are paramount to consistent, positive program development.

In this episode we dive into the excitement that is the summer training months leading up to Cross Country. We discuss what training elements are important this time of year, how we try to maintain excitement through "base mileage", and we even dive into our thoughts on the double threshold craze. Be sure to reach out to us with any topic ideas or comments at talkindistancepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Matt Harber from Ball State University to discuss some of the physiology behind distance running training. Topics discussed include lactate/lactic acid, VO2 Max, and a variety of training elements that influence our physiology.

In this episode we spend most of the time discussing thoughts on the newly announced re-alignment of the IHSAA Cross Country State Tournament. But, we also save a few minutes at the end to talk training, namely the design, pace, and where in training to use the Long Run.

In this initial episode we look at the the reasons for starting this podcast and the passion for Indiana high school distance running that exists between the two hosts, Rick Sluder and Jared Turner and the hope of expanding and spreading that passion. We also talk about the "must haves" in our training philosophy as well as preview the upcoming HSR State Indoor Finals.