Podcast appearances and mentions of steve sisson

Even though we didn't plan this episode to link up so well with the last one (see Ep 88: Liminal Running (Part I): Breaking Frames), it just does. A continued bending of the tariffs impact on Atreyu & Michael's livelihood with one of Steve's major philosophical positions, soul-style. We really catch a groove here & are interested in your feedback, if you've got any. Thanks for listening, we truly appreciate our listeners. Godspeed, y'all, godspeed. 

Man, this podcast is so fucking cool. I mean, it certainly is an acquired taste - like nattō or Limburger cheese or Mr Twit's Odious Ale - but when it hits, it hits. This episode (88) should be paired with the next episode (89, duh) in terms of full on Keep Going. We sense we are getting into rarified air, if lack of oxygen is your thing, in these two epsiodes of sharing our personal experiences alongside some pop culture references & our continued anti-running culture vibes. We are't likely gonna win over any new listeners with tour views, but we will continue to explore the liminal spaces of running experience.  We really can't categorize these two episode so just trust us: a mouthful of nattō is NOT a bad thing. Godspeed, expeditionaries, godspeed. 

A little musical prelude where we talk about Dan Reeder, Ted Lucas & Charles Bukowski before we wander back into the AI discourse on our way to what beauty & art mean in our current crazy world. Steve asks Michael about these damn tariffs & we all get a great education on the struggles & strategies around running a small businessFor more on this please don't miss Michael's heartful & revealing Tariff Talk on his YouTube channel.  This discussion was recorded on April 3rd & Michael's talk was released a week after this episode. At the time of this episode's release, there were 3.3K views & 182 comments on the video: that's a good bit of discussion around a critical issue for all of the running shoe industry. Consider this discussion as an early iteration on Michael's thinking around the challenges these tariffs will create. We hope you enjoy 

Cross training is always a fruitful topic & one we haven't really explored together on this podcast. Michael makes his arguments for why cycling & swimming are really optimal cross training options for the serious runner. We also discuss the longterm potential of this podcast, take a listener's recommendations really seriously & ask any of our consistently listeners to chime in on requested topic suggestions. This one is for all our dedicated listeners. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

One of our heros In this episode we loop back to the ideas of running as Practice & running as Pursuit that we unpacked many months ago. It 

Note: If you tried to listen to this early on Monday, March 10th, we'd uploaded a repeat of last week's episode. This has been corrected. If you downloaded it prior to our correction, you may need to refresh to get the actual episode. Sorry for any confusion. Your intrepid hosts were completely winging it on this one & we thought it might end up on the cutting room floor. Then we decided that we among friends here so why not air out some crazy thoughts & theories. Certainly we meant for there to be more levity & laughter on this one but we ended up getting into the competitive world of distance running & Michael is still waiting for the sport to create format & delivery upgrades before he'll really dive into the sport. Steve gets angry, sad & a more than a little sensitive. We end up shaking hands but it got a little spicy here for a hot minute.  Trend Topics Include:Footwear ApparelTraining GroupsJoy of RunningThen an hour long argument around what it would take for there to be more fans of the sport. 

Shit is gettin weird around here, y'all. & fair warning: Steve gets really riled up on this one. & drops lots & lots of f-bombs. It's helpful to remind you that this is just a conversation between friends.  If you take this episode's title at face value, you may be a bit confused for the first 10-15 minutes where we touch into personal addictions & thoughts on sobriety. Eventually we transition into our more general discussion around magic & the desire we all have for altered states. Our foundation is that our current models of what is real & how the world is represented by our senses are not up to the task of what we desire around meaning & purpose. We talk about how language & communication are complicit in the way we experience the world, how are conditioning & mindsets can hold us captive if we do not examine them closely & ensure they are working for you. We eventually get to a place where we recognize suffering is so helpful to our lived experience, especially as runners. For anyone interested in egregores see THIS reddit thread.  Join us on a journey where we explore a magical way of experiencing the world & our running, more specifically.this is some deep shit, friends, Godspeed. 

Send us a textDiscussion of the music of Remington Steele with guest Steve Sisson. Hosted by Eric Alton-Glenn Hilliard and Sara McNeil.Send your comments to SteeleWatching@Yahoo.comWebsitesOfficial Steele Watching PodCast websiteSteele Watching PodCast on TwitterSteele Watching PodCast on FacebookSteele Watching PodCast on InstagramSteele Watchers Group on FacebookRemington Steele: Music changed for the DVDsSteve Sisson on YouTubeSteve Sisson Music on FacebookSteve Sisson Official WebsiteSupport the showPlease consider helping support the show. Help support this show. Become a monthly supporter of this show for as little as $3 (US)/month. Buy Me A Coffee (one-time donation) Paypal (one-time donation) Purchase Steele Watching Swag

Please be patient in listening to this episode, friends. We take a little while to get rolling on our topic but we think its worth your time & listening investment.  ichael & Steve use the analogy of playing a musical instrument for how we might approach our body/mind experience in running. As Michael is learning how to bring his music theory & experience of musicianship to learning how to play the pedal steel. We take that & run with it, no pun intended. Steve ends with a short introduction of his developing theory of Four Intelligences. We end with a little outro music from Michael, for your listening experience. Godspeed, friends, godspeed. 

While this was entirely unintended, this episode feels like a part two of last week's discussion. This one leans into the struggles we both feel about this late capitalist, social media saturated attention economy as entrepreneurs & "experts" in our respective fields. What would happen if it all fell apart? Is mission enough? What is our expertise worth? We wrestles with these topics & many more in an attempt to stay optimistic & creative in a challenging market that seems to suck the soul from any entrepreneurial effort. We hope this frank & vulnerable conversation resonates with you. Godspeed, friends, godspeed. 

A deep dive into training with a group & what training even is anyway. Is "Everything is Training" really true? What about when you aren't in a series training mode? How do you process not having a goal race staring right down your face? In this episode we cover a lot of ground but we stay committed to the topic & hope you enjoy our ponderings. Until next time, friends, godspeed!

We dive into a favorite topic of Steve's: listening to your body. Along the way we discuss the Japanese kōan, guitar pedals, old school running magazines, book collecting, etc. In this episode, Steve mentioned that he has an online lecture series created in 2020 that he was willing to offer. If you are interested, send Steve an email at sisson at telosrunning dot com. We hope y'all enjoy this one & godspeed!

Appreciation of the radio, early Genesis & Keep Going Radio kick this episode off but our main topic is on the importance of racing various race distances for all runners. We cover how training for & racing different race distances is incredibly beneficial for all runners. We hope you enjoy this one...Godspeed, friends, godspeed. 

We start with Steve's experience of the "Fuck You Beer" & move into much more important matters like Michael's discontinuing of Atreyu's iconic Base Model. We recorded this episode on December 12, 2024. It seems important to mention this at the outset of this episode. There is a lot of early chatter around bodily functions - yikes Steve - but it is all a part of what we appreciate about this podcast: conversation. There is a lot in this discussion around endings, getting older, dying & the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Par for the course over here in Austin, Texas. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

"Aspiration without attachment." - MichaelPlease join us in a discursive, yet oddly flowing conversation exploring the paradoxes around being an Artist. For more on Michael's analogy of "a vending machine on Mars" see below, curated from the Atreyu Running's newsletter that you should be subscribed to: Before there was Atreyu, there was this audacious dream: to design a pair of running shoes that could be purchased from a vending machine on Mars. I know, I know... it's a wacky idea, but stick with me. This motivation was vivid and visceral to me. It still is.I have this philosophy about goal-setting: it's about daring to transcend the logical confines of a reasonable outcome. For instance, if we aim to move from a 4 to a 7 on a 1–10 scale (any goal, any task), I find myself best served by aspiring toward a 15, only to land, serendipitously, on an 8 or a 9. Occasionally, I even achieve an 11, and have the opportunity to recalibrate my prior boundaries of excellence. Magic.The audacity of the goal is something to revere and embrace. The storytelling boldness alone has the capacity to catapult us beyond the familiar, pushing us into uncharted territory: the “exploration zone.” It allows us to glide gracefully over the incremental steps required to achieve the goal. Yes, those small victories are vital, but shooting for the audacious 15 becomes the beacon that keeps us inspired and invigorated in the pursuit.With that said, I am renewing my commitment to this challenge of the world's first vending machine in space. If humanity ever ascends to the point of running marathons in space, I fervently hope Atreyu is the title sponsor of the race, outfitting you with marathon finisher metal worthy of the stars.Wishing you boundless success in your own endeavors as you reach for the seemingly unattainable. Dream big, and always remember: Huge goals are a mosaic of tiny victories, thoughtfully strung together in an extraordinary way._michaelP.S. A shoe is just a shoe until you imbue it with meaning. I hope your Atreyus carry you on an adventure that's nothing short of extraordinary.We hope you enjoy this conversation. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

Neither of your two intrepid co-hosts planned to continue to explore, analyze & interrogate "the race experience", but here we are. The past few months have followed Michael's preparation & execution for the 2024 Detroit Marathon & we covered significant prep/debrief in episodes 71 & 72. Then in episode 73 we discussed the importance of felt-sense for training & racing thinking we'd moved on...& that was not the case. in this discussion, I felt it was really important to unpack more a specific comment Michael made in the episode on felt-sense. Here we unpack this in much greater detail. This episode was recorded on November 7th but will be released almost a month later because we took a break for The Running Event (TRE) & Thanksgiving. I made the executive decision to release our November 14th conversation earlier to coincide with when The Running Event is actually happening. We'll be back with you in December. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

This episode is released as The Running Event (TRE) - an annual trade conference for the running industry - is in full swing in our hometown of Austin, Texas. As a provocation, I asked Micheal the question "What's New In Running?" thinking we might just skate along the surface. Instead, Michael unloads in an open & honest reflection of the thoughts, insights & fears surrounding the business side of the business of running. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

What is the felt-sense? How important is it for runners to be conversant & skilled in the varieties of the feeling states we encounter in our running practice & pursuit? While this episode only scratches the surface on this topic, it does try to grapple with what we feel is a critically overlooked aspect of training & racing for runners across a variety of domains, from footwear to easy running to racing paces & effort. We hope you enjoy this episode. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

In part two of our race series discussion around Michael's Detroit Marathon performance, we debrief his experience. Surprises ensue, respect is gained. Godspeed my friends, godspeed. As mentioned in the short intro, check out THIS REALLY COOL RACE VIDEO Michael made documenting his race experience for his Man on the Run YouTube channel. Very cool & inspiring. Like & subscribe, as they say. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

Consider the first of a two part series on the Detroit Marathon 2024. Michael & Steve create a race strategy for Michael's Detroit Marathon run from scratch in this episode & in the one well release tomorrow, we'll debrief the race itself. Godspeed! 

This conversation goes a thousand different directions. If you need a little help in determining if you want to join us on this crazy ride based on the topics we cover, here are a few: flat earth theory, running monoculture, the mind as immune system, recovery, failure/mistakes are required, capitalism, suffering well, etc. This is the podcast episode we reference in this episode: AI EXPERT ON THE DAWN OF CONSCIOUSNESS.  Curt Jaimungle's Theories of Everything podcast is one of Steve's favorites. In this episode, he interviews William Hahn, associate professor of Mathematical Sciences & CEO of an AI AI William is a technologist and researcher, specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence, programming languages, and the nature of consciousness.

The taper is the least discussed aspect of a runner's training plan that causes the most distress in the 2-3 weeks before a command performance race. Michael & Steve break it all down in this episode. Godspeed, y'all!

A conversation exploring beauty & how it plays into our experiences of running. 

In this episode of the Keep Going podcast, Michael & I discuss the psychology of running. 

In this episode we trace many of the mistakes that an athlete makes at the midpoint of their training for a big command performance. Ostensibly, it is about dialing your strategies in way before race day: pacing for your race, dialing a specific strategy, fine tuning nutrition, getting your shit straight NOW!  Don't make the mistake of waiting until your taper phase to be planning your work & working your plan. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

We finally take a break from all the track & field talk & get back to talking training. Michael has been following the telos Running training model in preparation for his upcoming marathon in Detroit. In this episode we catch back up with his training progress, answer some questions & do what we are pretty "famous" for here at Keep Going, talking shit about running. We discuss mileage, how to execute in hot/humid conditions & adapting to these on race day, "sneaking in" last chance Boston qualifying races, strength training - in praise of the pistol squat!, curiosity & creativity in training, racing off feeling-based training & more. This one is a little of a grab-bag discussion be we cover a lot of ground &, as usual, have so much fun talking training. We hope you enjoy this one where we get back in the flow of the "typical" Keep Going content.Please don't puke! Godspeed, friends, godspeed. 

Halfway through the Olympic Games, Michael continues to reflect on his track & field education. We reflect on our experiences as fans during the amazing Paris Olympics.  This episode was recorded on August 8th, about halfway through the Olympics T&F events. We know we are risking a little overkill for some of you who prefer our discussions around running culture & training more than this experiment in building a track & field fan. But we know there are some of you who are loving this shit. Don't worry. We'll get back to regular Keep Going content in the coming episodes. 

Definitely a provocative title, but true to how a new fan has experienced this compressed tutoring in the sport. This episode was recorded way back in early July, post-Olympic Trials & Pre-Olympics. For certain this is outdated discussion but we still feel like its interesting listening for those who have been following our ongoing attempts to turn Michael into track fan, for those who are interested in Steve's "hot takes" (racism, elitism, diversity, etc) & for our thoughts on how the sport is distributed across media channels. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

You can't get strong & fast at the same time.-Steve SissonA mistake many runners make at some point in their running career is breaking the rule above. This episode covers the dangers of ramping up mileage while in the specific phase of a training plan. Steve describes the phases that he uses in any training program: Base, Foundations, Specific & Taper. We also discuss what the right mileage is for marathoners, what pace should our easy runs be & can they be too slow, & what about doing doubles? & much more great training intel in this episode. We hope you enjoy & godspeed. 

This is a special episode discussing/analyzing the first half of the Olympic Trials this past week in Eugene. The Women's 800m Final VideoThe Women's 5000m Final VideoThe Men's 1500m Final The Men's 10,000m Final

In this special edition of Keep Going, Michael & Steve interview Darian Allberry, Head of User Experience or "Product Translator" at Coros. They discuss smartwatches, GPS & data & their uses in our training experience. 

This episode ends up being a continuation of last week's discussion around the important aspects any runner should be considering when starting a training plan. We covered so much ground last week but it felt to us that there were still things we needed to address. Every runner who embarks on a training journey desires transformation. Ultimately, every runner who sets a goal time for a race wants to be somewhere different from where they find themselves in the moment. They are desiring transformation. & because they are working extremely hard for this change, there is a significant risk that if they don't hit the mark, there will be significant disappointment. So the training process is very serious business. What do we need to be considering in order to be ready for the transformation we desire. Listen along as we unpack this more deeply. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

Last time around we covered the essentials of a quality session. This time around we attempt to cover what to consider when starting a training cycle. Jury is out on whether we succeed or not. What we most certainly do is get our rant on. Steve pops off all over the goddamn place. Trigger warnings for vegans, overreachers, those who are full of shit & many others. This is definitely a wide open conversation heavy on Steve's "strong opinions".Godspeed, friends, godspeed. 

What makes a workout something other than just a run? In this training deep dive, Michael & Steve describe the architecture of a workout. The two categories we use are form & function - following the famous quote of Louis Sullivan: "Form ever follow function." The full quote is pretty cool, actually: Whether it be the sweeping eagle in his flight, or the open apple-blossom, the toiling work-horse, the blithe swan, the branching oak, the winding stream at its base, the drifting clouds, over all the coursing sun, form ever follows function, and this is the law. Where function does not change, form does not change. The granite rocks, the ever-brooding hills, remain for ages; the lightning lives, comes into shape, and dies, in a twinkling.It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things superhuman, of all true manifestations of the head, of the heart, of the soul, that the life is recognizable in its expression, that form ever follows function. This is the law.-Louis SullivanIn our discussion we break things down as such:Formpace/effortdistance/durationrest/recoverywarm-up/cool-downFunctionvariationspecificityone discrete wholepurposeWe go pretty deep here. Enjoy & godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

In essence a Part II of episode 54 - The Privilege, in this episode we unpack Michael's IM Woodlands race experience. We cover how we can think through race results that go wrong & so much more.

The Women's 10K/5K HistoryThe 10K wasn't even added into the WC or Olympics until 1988.  Again, the domination by the East African countries, especially Ethiopia & Kenya has been total. I'll mention Ingrid Kristiansen, a Norwegian badass in the 80's who revolutionized the women's 5000/10,000 before moving up & getting steam-rolled in big races by the inimitable Joan Benoitin the inaugural women's Olympic Marathon (LA-1984). After this though, she utterly dominated the marathon between 1985-1989. Why is she not the GOAT? 4th in 1984; DNF in 1988. After this the East Africans come in & start dominating, same as with the men. Recent Results setting up 2024 Paris Olympics10K/5K2019 World Championships at Doha: VIDEO & SUMMARY2020 Solo WR by Letesenbet Gidey at Valencia with the wavelights VIDEO 2021 Olympics in Tokyo VIDEO not the full race unfortunately & SUMMARY2022 World Championships in Eugene VIDEO & SUMMARY2023 World Championships in Budapest VIDEO & SUMMARYThe women's 5K/10K players over the past 5 years. Sifan Hassan (1500m to Marathon) the world's greatest all around talent, hand's down.. But she loves to play. & simply wants to enjoy her career. If winning happens (& don't get it twisted...she wants to WIN) so be it. If not, she honors the Gift. Letesenbet Gidey (WR - 10K/Half/fastest marathon debut ever) Perhaps the greatest overall potential. But she has a hard time holding off the kickers - except in Eugene. Hellen Obiri (NYC Marathon wins '22 & '23; 5K World Champion '17 & '19; 5K Olympic silver in Tokyo; 10K World Championship silver '22)Gudaf Tsegay (5K WR - 14:00.21/10K World Champ '23; 5K WC '22; 1500m silver WC '22)Faith Kipyegon: The greatest miler of all time AGOAT (male or female...the A stands for Absolute) moved up to the 5K last year at the WC & won an epic battle with Sifan. Americans: Kara Goucher was our last great 10K woman. We have some solid potential here but we don't have our Grant Fisher yet. Alicia Monson was stellar in the WC 10K battling to 5th but will struggle since the event is dominated by women who ha e equal or greater aerobic talent & sub 4 min 1500m wheels & gears on top of gears.& Karrissa Schwitzer has been close but can't hold up under the final 800m pressure. Elise Cranny could be in there but it seems she wants to move down to the  1500m/5K. We have seen women lead the world in willingness to move freely between the roads & the track, led by my favorite runner - male or female - right now, Letensebet Gidey. The most representative race to cover in the 2022 Eugene WC 10K Race. Watch the final 800m (30:54)Until the rash of WR 5K performances this past summer, Gidey held the WR in the 50K, 10K, 15K road (where, in the final 10K, she ran the fastest time ever recorded by a woman at the time - 29:12) & the Half Marathon. SHe's run two marathons now Valencia - 2:16 where she was 2nd in her debut - fastest debut ever - & 2nd at this fall's NYC Marathon. But Obiri is now the NYC/Boston x2 champ & looks to be the best strategic marathoner in the world. But what will happen in the 5K/10K this summer? I am most excited for these two races in Paris. --

Where we start with X - & weak sauce social media takes, move into Michael's pre-race thoughts around IRONMAN Texas on April 27th (no pressure, dude!) & finish with privilege of celebrating the human experience of training & racing. Hot takes on Death, predictive processing, & the recent Kara Goucher/Rich Roll episode.We hope you dig this one. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

In this episode Steve takes a deep dive into the 10,000m track event in our series on trying to make Michael into a track & field fan in anticipation of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. For the notes Steve created to help introduce Michael to the event, please see below. Please note that we while we didn't go into the women's 10K nearly enough, we'll continue to bring out the important storylines over the coming months to ensure Michael has as much intel on the women's events as the men's.  The 10,000m Episode NotesRelevance. It's more likely that you have experience running/racing the 10K than the 800m. Also, you understand the energy needs for this event more than the 800m. The TEN. One of the biggest 10Ks of the year was run this weekend. Sound Running put on the their yearly 10K on So Cal in perfect conditions where athletes were trying to get their Olympic standards. This provides an excellent opportunity for you to watch the race before we talk & have it top of mind. Here is a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdnO--7pbP4You won't know many/any? of the names before watching this video & I won't be surprised if you want to fast forward to the final 5 min or so. If you do fast forward, I recommend you jump to 17 min (18:17 on the video). One argument for listening all the way through is you can get a chance to be exposed some of the lingo & energy. How To Qualify for the Olympics. This will give us a chance to go over the rather confusing & complicated process for getting on the starting line of the 10K in Paris. Another important 10K happened over the weekend in Spain where two of the favorites for the 10K gold medal ran on the roads. You can see that HERE of you are interested. Main Discussion PointsWe want to talk distance. How the event feels when racing. We want to talk surface. Track (25 laps of the 400m track) vs Cross Country vs Road. I want to talk about technology & how wavelight & new "super" spike/shoe tech has revolutionized the distance. Also, here is an interesting review of the top 6 models as of summer 2023.I want to talk a quick overview of the history of the event: Flying Finns, Emil Zatopek & then the African Dominance of the past 30 years. See below for a bit more on that. Set Up for the Olympic 10K final. Is the 10K redundant?Quick HistoryThe MenThe Flying Finns: Paavo Nurmi & the dominance of Finland in the first Emil Zatopek, of Czechoslovakia East/North African Dominance At the World Championships, between 1991-2023, out of 51 potential medals, 47 were won by East or North Africans. The other four were won by Mo Farah of Great Britain, who was born & raised in Somalia, in East Africa. . At the Olympics, between 1988-2020, out of 21 potential medals East/North Africans won 17 of 21. 2 of these were Mo Farah. The other two were an Italian in 1988 (EPO era) & Galen Rupp in 2012. There have been a few eras in the 10K since the 70's.The Lasse Viren era (Prefontaine & Frank Shorter competed in this era).The Haile Gebraselassie/Paul Tergat era.The Kenenisa Bekele era.The Mo Farah era.& the Joshua Cheptegai era we are in currently. The WomenWomen did not begin competing in the 10K until the late 80's at the World Championships (1987) & 1988 Olympics. Similar story to the men in the dominance of East/North Africans in the event. Recent Results & Race Videos setting up 2024 Paris Olympics2019 World Championships at Doha: VIDEO & SUMMARY2020 Solo WR by Joshua Cheptegai at Valencia with the wavelights VIDEO & SUMMARY2021 Olympics in Tokyo VIDEO & SUMMARY2022 World Championships in Eugene VIDEO OF FINAL 1K & SUMMARY2023 World Championships in Budapest SHORTER VIDEO & SUMMARYThe TEN (VIDEO) was raced this weekend & 8 runners got the Olympic Standard. & that's just the men. 

In this episode we introduce a series in which we endeavor to educate & inspire Michael to become a track & field fan as we approach the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the series unfolds, we'll go through each of the distance/middle distance events & unpack the event, its history & attempt to set the stage for whatever transpires this spring & summer. It is an incredible time to be a track fan. Each event now has an unprecedented about to drama, really compelling storylines & rivalries & we are seeing an absolute renaissance in the sport, & especially in the middle & ling distances as America is finally competitve & the hegemony of the East & North Africans is beginning to be broken up. It is a very exciting time to be a fan. We hope you'll consider joing us on this journey we call Hoe To Become A Track Fan: An Introduction. Godspeed my friends, godspeed. 

In this episode Steve critiques Michael's strength training regimen. We cover four domains that should be considered when spending any time working on developing strength. Some links to resources discussed in this episode:The two classic text's Steve references here are by Jay Dicharry are Anatomy for Runners & Running Rewired. 

In this episode we discuss the roots of being local. In Austin, we have a local business support rallying cry that has become the de facto Austin vibe: Keep Austin Weird. We spend a lot of time wrestling with the concept of being local in a global running culture. This is our 50th episode & while we don't really celebrate the milestone in any concrete way, we definitely hit our favorite themes here. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. Some links around what we discuss in this episode:Comedor Running Club in AustinAtreyu Run Club is Michael's crew in Austin. Episode 25 where Paul Carrozza challenges us to invest in local events. We've decided to jettison the intro & drop the needle right into the deep track. Let us know if you miss it...I certaily won't miss doing it!

What an awesome opportunity Michael & I had last week to interview the legendary Leo "The Lion Manzano.  This is a personal & wide-ranging discussion around his experiences in the sport & industry of distance running. One of Keep Going's missions is to explore local running culture & this episode does not disappoint on that level, but it is also so much more. Leo is incredibly candid, funny & insightful in detailing how a young Hispanic boy in Granite Shores/Marble Falls with limited options or opportunities ran himself into the American running legend he his today. In this episode we cover a lot of ground but spend most of our time discussing Leo's local Central Texas roots & racing experiences. If you don't know who Leo Manzano is, you must be living under a rock. He won the first Olympic medal in the 1500m in the 2012 London Olympics in 44 years. As we discuss here, we argue that Leo - & his University of Texas teammates between 2004-2008 - fundamentally changed the face of American distance running. Leo has two ventures we are excited to support. Check out his store at www.leomanzano.com. Leo is also announcing very soon his involvement in the new Border Line Track Club, founded by Paul Carrozza this spring. This group's unique feature - besides having both Paul & Crayton, his six-time All-American son, onboard - is to help athletes who find themselves in limbo in their collegiate career. There are many athletes who find themselves pushed out of the collegiate system. This group will allow these athletes to bridge back to the collegiate system, or bypass it altogether if that's the best choice. See this recent FloTrack article for more, We are very excited to see how this venture proceeds & look forward to supporting Leo & Paul in any way we can. Please enjoy this extended & candid conversation with one of the all time greatest American middle distance runners, Leo "The Lion" Manzano.  A correction in the audio: Leo was at UT from 2004-2008, not from 2008-2012. 

We have been dancing around the edges of capital P "purpose" in many of our discussions over the past year, but in this episode Michael & I dive in deeper. We consider if purpose should be considered as an ultimate aim or if we are in need of a  less grandiose & more useful conception. As usual we get into pretty deep waters. But you've come to expect that by now. So we hope you'll join us for a conversation we call Running & Purpose: Towards a Natural Style. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

One of the core opportunities every runner needs to experience is getting embedded in a running community. Having others do the work along side you significantly nehances the running experience. In this episode we interview Ryan Yamba, president & social media coordinator for the Rose City Track Club based in Portland, Oregon. We discuss his personal running journey, the benefits of training in a group, the hazards & responsibilities of training in  group environments & more. In the final 30 minutes we really dig deeper into the meaningful experience of group running & how perhaps the cliche of the Church of the Long Run is actually a true statement. Be sure to check out the Rose City Track Club's Instagram page for more of the flavor of their unique setup & vibe. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

There are so many varieties of training experience: the easy run, quality sessions, long runs, VO2 max, threshold, etc. The list is very long here, for sure  One very specific varietal is commonly called, The Grind. In this episode we steep deeply on this concept & the ways it can be considered. Is The Grind essential? Is it good? Is it dangerous? What kind of wisdom, of felt sense, are required to balancing The Grind with the very real risks of overtraining. We mention discernment as being critical in this regard. An analogy of the defensive backs in American football has always seemed appropriate to be. There is a saying, "bend but don't break". This cuts to the heart of what we discuss around the critical distinction between working hard & smart & risking overtraining & injury. We hope we've thrown a little light on the subject in this episode we call The Grind: Varieties of Training Experience. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

We have all experienced the existential dread around the 48 hours prior to a command performance: bubble-guts, lack of ability to focus or relax, the feeling that wish the race would not happen or there would be a cancellation so you don't have to go through the actual suffering you know is going to be served. In this episode, Michael & I explore this space in some details. We get meta & highly practical. Typical of how we've been rolling in these last few episodes. Because it may be of interest, since I mention my recent episode of Running on Purpose, where I provide  what I hope is a helpful road map for skillfully operating- in training & racing - with the contents of your body, mind & soul. you can find links to the episode & worksheet below. So please enjoy the episode we are calling Some Thoughts on Mental Training. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. THE MISSION PROTOCOLTHE MISSION PROTOCOL DOCUMENT

Love & light are not all there is. While at some foundational metaphysical level, perhaps all is emptiness or bliss or any other altered state of consciousness. But in the day to day operations of being a human in this crazy, fucked up world at this "interesting time" in civilizational history, things are much more painful & messy & hard. How we wake up everyday pretending to be ready for the chaos that is awaiting us once we step out our doors of safety, is astounding to me. We talk about purpose or meaning or manifesting. But reality of the situation is that we are in nature & of nature & nature doesn't give a flying fuck about us. Our personal history & goals don't seem mean a goddamn thing to actual functioning of the universe. & there are hazards to being alive & aware & paying attention. Suffering, pain & risk are right here. Right in front of us. & if we are going reason & hope & try at this game of life, is to risk everything. We must wrestle with the angel of risk, just as Jacob wrestled with his angel in the Biblical story in Genesis (34:27). In this episode we get really real about risk: how most people avoid recognizing risk in their training & racing, how risk can effect our mental health & life purpose & how accepting risk & meeting it head are the cost of doing business when trying to operate in high performance situations. As we frequently do in these conversations, we lay out a blanket & sit down with risk. Along the way we get messy, ball the blanket up, tear at it gnash our teeth, bend over backwards as we approach the monsters hiding underneath it. We get hot & bothered in this one & I go on a few spontaneous rants. You've been warned. So join us in this exploration we call Wrestling with the Angel of Risk. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

The nature of human endeavor is to keep moving, to keep pressing forward. What is it about the human condition that looks forward & plans? We've all nodded knowingly when someone quotes, "Man plans; God laughs." & yet, we're incorrigible planners. In this episode, Michael & I break down our 2023 experience of this crazy life & look forward to whatever 2024 might bring. Maybe you are already tired of our personal reflections or, in general, are experiencing  "year in review" fatigue. If so, maybe skip this one. But we hope you'll join us if only to get a clearer understanding of the themes that this podcast is constantly mining for ways that we can steal the culture. So we're using the tried & true method of reflection to help us peer ahead & see what might be around the next corner. Join us for the episode we call "Your Life Is Here For You Right Now: A Reflection". Happy New Year, y'all. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

This is an episode that has a lot really personal revelations. I felt maybe it was a little too personal, entering TMI zone from my perspective, but Michael's trip to Japan has become so important to his overall worldview & the direction he is beginning to be called to take Atreyu & his own creative journey. It would be remiss to let this episode sit on the cutting room floor, so consider it a Christmas gift from Michael & I to you in this holiday season. We recorded this right after his trip, in mid-November & much of the discussion is devoted to the unique beauty of Japanese running culture. We eventually move on to how travel, journeys & running in on & in country have changed our lives. We hope you enjoy unpacking this audio gift we call, On Japan & Journeys: Personal Reflections on Running Culture. We'll see you again in 2024. Godspeed, my friends, godspeed. 

Ahhh, the iconic Lou Reed with singing the title to this week's Keep Going podcast. In this episode, Michael & I finally get back to a specific running training topic. We wax poetic, abound locquatious platitudes & reach toward the profound. All in search of the perfect long run. Thank your for listening to Keep Going & if you want this podcast to reach others like you, give us a rating or review wherever you drop into these conversations. Not that we really care that much...it's like Christmas comes every Thursday for us. Here's the episode we call, A Perfect Day: On the Long Run.Godspeed, my friends, godspeed.