Parker Valby

Most people spend years chasing a record. Jane Hedengren did it on her first try.

On April 3rd at the Stanford Invitational, BYU freshman Jane Hedengren stepped onto the track for her first-ever collegiate outdoor race and ran 30:46.80, the fastest collegiate 10,000m in NCAA history. She broke Parker Valby's record by nearly four seconds. 

That's who TRE is sitting down with this week.     

But this episode isn't really about the record. It's about what it takes to perform at that level before you've had time to be afraid of it. Jane is 19 years old, the daughter of an All-American runner, competing for BYU under head coach Diljeet Taylor—and she is doing things in her freshman year that most distance runners never do in a career. Two NCAA indoor titles. The indoor 5,000m record. And now this.

The numbers are already legendary. 

What this conversation goes after is everything behind them: the race tactics, the mindset between back-to-back NCAA gold medals, the training system that built her, and the question that’s been nagging many in the industry: does she let herself think about the 2028 Olympics?

TRE does. And you will too by the end of this one.

conversation that is long overdue.

Tap into the Jane Hedengren 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. 

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

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It’s officially that time again: The spreadsheets are out and the ranking formulas are loaded. Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia have returned with the kind of number crunching that would make a tax accountant blush.

Yes — we’re talking about The Ten, and more broadly, the increasingly anxiety-inducing state of the 10,000 meters heading into the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Because apparently World Athletics took one look at the event and said, ‘What if we made this harder, more confusing, and fully dependent on vibes, shoe tech, and whether your country’s federation knows how to read the rankings page?’

So here we are. The women’s standard dropped to a vicious 30:20.00. The men’s remains at a world-class 27:00.00. And unless you’re from Kenya or Ethiopia—or somehow running 10Ks on the road in super shoes fast enough to melt tarmac—you’re probably counting on the whims of the World Rankings gods to punch your ticket to Tokyo.

In the U.S., Weini Kelati is still the queen of consistency. Parker Valby and Karissa Schweizer skipped The Ten entirely. Elise Cranny has re-entered the picture and Jessica McClain quietly garnered some valuable points by PR’ing by half a minute.

On the men’s side, it’s a little simpler: Grant Fisher, Nico Young, Graham Blanks, and Woody Kincaid are qualified. All they have to do is battle at USAs.

There’s still time. A 10K at Mt. SAC is coming. Maybe Pre will host a last-minute 10K.  So let’s break down who’s up, who’s down, who’s close and who’s hoping UK Athletics doesn’t screw them over again.

Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram + Preet Majithia | @preetmajithia on Instagram

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RUNNA: Runna is the #1 rated personalized running app designed to help you crush your goals no matter the distance. Runna is trusted by hundreds of thousands of runners around the world and makes expert coaching accessible with personalized training plans that fit every goal, fitness level, and schedule. Whether it's someone's first 5K or it's someone chasing a marathon PB, they are here to help runners train smarter, stronger, and love every step of the way. Sign up for Runna today and get your first two weeks free using the code CITIUS.

OLIPOP: Big name sodas are rolling out bold new flavors in 2025, but the real buzz is happening in the prebiotic pop aisle. If you haven't already jumped on the Olipop train yet, now's the time. BuzzFeed just came out with an article that recently named Olipop the best overall soda for flavor — and with a lineup that includes classic root beer, vintage cola and cherry vanilla, it's easy to see why. Try Olipop today and save 25% on your order using code CITIUS25 at checkout at DrinkOlipop.com.

“The really great athletes – they all have a superpower. [It’s about] what makes them uniquely excellent and helping them understand what their superpower is and how they wave that sword around…You may not have laser vision, but you can fly. How do you use your ability to fly and max that out?”

In just two years, Will Palmer has overseen quite a bit of success for the Florida Gators distance program. In 2023, as the associate head coach for cross country and assistant track and field coach, Palmer led the Gators’ women to their highest national ranking since 2009, an SEC championship, and a second place finish at the NCAA East Regionals. In addition to all of that, he and his wife Samantha were the coaches behind Parker Valby's record-breaking dominance, guiding her to NCAA titles, collegiate records, and her first Olympic team.

Before arriving in Gainesville, Palmer made an impact at Alabama, helping the women's team to an SEC title and a podium finish at the NCAA Championships in 2022. His coaching career also includes stops at Georgetown, Western Kentucky, Iowa State, and Oklahoma, shaping some of the best distance programs in the country. So today we dive into the vision behind Florida's rise in cross country, what made Parker Valby's training and mindset so unique to be part of, his coaching philosophy, and what he's building in Gainesville – plus lessons from a career spent developing talent and much more.

If you've been enjoying these office hours episodes, shoot me a message with other coaches that you'd like to hear from. We've got interviews with Mike Smith, Diljeet Taylor, Ed Eyestone, Laurie Henes, Dave Smith, Alex Gibby, Mark Coogan, and other top coaches in our archives.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram 

Guest: Will Palmer | @willpalmxc on Instagram

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

KETONE-IQ: Level up your training with Ketone-IQ – a clean shot of energy with no sugar or caffeine. Or try the new Ketone-IQ + Caffeine, combining 5g of ketones with 100mg of green tea caffeine for a smooth, sustained boost. It’s used by pro runners like Des Linden and Sara Hall. Proven to enhance endurance, focus, and recovery, ketones are 28% more efficient than glucose. No crashes, no bonking—just next-level performance. Take the shot. Feel the difference. Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six pack of Ketone-IQ with KETONE.com/CITIUS.

RUNNA: Runna is the #1 rated personalized running app designed to help you crush your goals no matter the distance. Runna is trusted by hundreds of thousands of runners around the world and makes expert coaching accessible with personalized training plans that fit every goal, fitness level, and schedule. Whether it's someone's first 5K or it's someone chasing a marathon PB, they are here to help runners train smarter, stronger, and love every step of the way. Sign up for Runna today and get your first two weeks free using the code CITIUS.

OLIPOP: Big name sodas are rolling out bold new flavors in 2025, but the real buzz is happening in the prebiotic pop aisle. If you haven't already jumped on the Olipop train yet, now's the time. BuzzFeed just came out with an article that recently named Olipop the best overall soda for flavor — and with a lineup that includes classic root beer, vintage cola and cherry vanilla, it's easy to see why. Try Olipop today and save 25% on your order using code CITIUS25 at checkout at DrinkOlipop.com.

Elite distance runner and former Oklahoma State star Taylor Roe joins the show fresh off her scorching 1:07:22 half-marathon victory at the USATF Half-Marathon Championships on March 2.

Now a professional runner for PUMA and a member of the PUMA Elite Running Team, Taylor punched her ticket to represent Team USA at the World Running Championships.

Taylor is known throughout the running community for her impressive performance at the 2024 Indoor Track Championships, where she came in second to Parker Valby in the 5,000m, notching an impressive 15:15.01.  

Taylor attended Lake Stevens High School in Washington, where she was named Gatorade Washington Women’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2017. 

During her time at OSU, she also won the women’s 3,000m title indoors in 2022, and finished third in the 10,000m in June of 2024 during outdoor season. She ended 2024 with a stellar performance at the Eagle Elite Invitational in Boston, running a 15:12.71 in the 5,000 meters. This race not only secured her the fourth-fastest indoor 5K time in NCAA history but also shattered the previous school record.

Although Taylor has PRs of 4:13.99 in the 1,500m, 4:33.56 in the mile, 8:51.60 in the 3,000 and 32:17.45 in the 10,000m, she has aspirations of getting those times down this summer–and there is no evidence that we should doubt her.

In today’s conversation, Taylor takes me through her most recent win at the USATF Half Championships, her journey as a pro, her years in the NCAA and how she progressed so well, what it's like being surrounded by excellence every day, what she wants to accomplish in the coming years, and much more. 

Tap into the Taylor Roe Special.

  

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If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

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Today on the podcast is one of the most successful coaches in our sport, Mark Coogan. 

Coach Coogan has had an illustrious career as both a runner, coach, and parent, and is currently leading the New Balance team–an elite distance running crew that began in 2014. (Notable stars on the team include Elle St. Pierre and Parker Valby).

Coach Coogan's personal running journey started at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, Massachusetts. He then went on to run at the University of Maryland, where he specialized in the steeplechase. Coogan has the distinction of being the first Massachusetts native to run the mile in under four minutes.

Coach Coogan played basketball in high school–he was even skilled enough to receive scholarship offers to play basketball from some lower-level schools. He has PRs of 3:58.81 in the mile,  8:21.45 in the 2 mile, 8:26.90 in the 3,000m steeplechase, 13:23.72 in the 5k, and 28:19.07 in the 10k. 

Coach Coogan's post-collegiate running career showcased incredible range (1988-2004): He ranked in the top 10 in the United States in the mile, steeplechase, 5k, 10k, and marathon during his career. He ran his marathon PR in the U.S. Olympic trials leading up to the 1996 games, where he ran a 2:13.05. (He ran 2:20.27 at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, placing 41st). 

He retired from competitive running in 2004, and turned his focus to coaching. Coogan has spent time as the distance coach at Dartmouth College, Tufts University, MIT, and Phillips Exeter Academy. 

Coach Coogan and his wife Gwyn (who ran the 10k at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics) have three children: daughter Katrina, who is a professional runner for New Balance Boston; Margaret, who runs for George Washington University; and son, William, who runs for UNC. 

Coach Coogan's book, Personal Best Running: Coach Coogan's Strategies for the Mile to the Marathon, was released in 2023.

In today's conversation, Mark takes me through his years as a successful athlete and coach. We dive into insights from coaching Elle St. Pierre and Parker Valby and his philosophies around training. 

Tap into the Mark Coogan 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. 

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

S H O W  N O T E S

-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

“Once I made the Olympic team, it was kind of like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I finally accomplished that goal. This is weird to say, but I feel like there was a lot less pressure on me for the Olympics than any NCAA race. At NCAA races, I was expected to win. But at the Olympics, they're like, ‘She's here!’”

My guest for today's episode isParker Valby. This is her third time on the show. Over the past year, she rewrote the NCAA record books, becoming the first woman in history to win 5 individual NCAA titles in a single academic year. It earned her the prestigious Bowerman Award. Her undefeated season included a record-breaking performance at every championship level from cross country to indoor to outdoor.

She shattered the collegiate 10,000m record by 28 seconds, ran a historic 14:52 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and capped it all off with a runner-up finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials to qualify for her first Olympic team. Then she took 11th at the Paris Olympics. 

Now she's taking her talents to the professional stage with Team New Balance Boston under the guidance of Mark Coogan. She's navigating a new training environment with tougher competition and adjusting from being dominant in the NCAA to now trying to contend on the global stage. In this conversation, we talk about her transition to the pro ranks, her unique training approach that still prioritizes cross-training, and what she hopes to achieve in her first season as a pro.

We also get into her Olympic experience and recap her professional debut at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix where she ran 8:34 for a personal best and third place finish against a very strong women's 3000m field.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram 

Guest: Parker Valby |@parkervalby on Instagram

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

KETONE-IQ: Level up your training with Ketone-IQ – a clean shot of energy with no sugar or caffeine. Or try the new Ketone-IQ + Caffeine, combining 5g of ketones with 100mg of green tea caffeine for a smooth, sustained boost. It’s used by pro runners like Des Linden and Sara Hall. Proven to enhance endurance, focus, and recovery, ketones are 28% more efficient than glucose. No crashes, no bonking—just next-level performance. Take the shot. Feel the difference. Save 30% off your first subscription order & receive a free six pack of Ketone-IQ withKETONE.com/CITIUS

SPOKANE SPORTS COMMISSION: In Spokane, Washington, there’s Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and now, Fast.. Fifth Season is hosting elite indoor track and field events all throughout January and February. All events take place at the Podium Powered by STCU, SPOCAN’s state-of-the-art indoor track facility. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more atSpokaneSports.com/FifthSeason⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Podcast cover image by Dan Vernon via New Balance.

The Getting Chicked New Year’s special is here! In our last episode of 2024, Karen, Rachel, and Megan reflect on their favorite moments from the past year and chat about their biggest running goals for 2025. Karen and Rachel also share their hopes for the Boston Marathon and Megan starts to think about her plans for post-partum racing. The Chicks also share some of their boldest predictions for the upcoming year, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen venturing into trail racing, Jenny Simpson writing a book, a rise in AI-based coaching, and more.

Time stamps:

2024 Reflections:

00:40 - Karen’s top moments

4:06 - Megan’s top moments

5:43 - Rachel’s top moments

12:01 - 2025 resolutions + goals

14:40 - Karen’s running goals

18:10 - Rachel’s running goals

26:10 - Marathon fueling revolution 

31:02 - Megan’s running goals

2025 Predictions (35:27):

36:28 - Clayton Young or Conner Mantz will medal at Worlds

37:22 - Women’s American marathon record will fall

43:54 - Jakob Ingebrigtsen ventures into trail racing 

44:59 - More AI-based coaching

47:02 - Gabby Thomas races a mile

48:26 - Taylor Swift runs a marathon 

50:29 - Shelby Houlihan won’t qualify for the World Champs

52:36 - Marathon OTQ lowers to 2:35 for women

55:24 - The start of a distance running reality show

56:18 - Jenny Simpson writes a book 

58:00 - Parker Valby places top 5 at the World Champs

1:01:25 - Getting Chicked goes global

1:04:22 - Rachel in the lab: Is Boston or NYC faster?

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– Karen Lesiewicz | @kare_les on Instagram

– Rachel DaDamio | @rdadamio on X

– Megan Connelly | @meganmorantwwe on Instagram

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