Run With It
42: Morgan McDonald – Chicken Boy vs Alligators, Coaching Changes & 2026 Goals
1h 14m
Athletes Mentioned
Morgan McDonald (aka “Chicken Boy”) joins Elise to talk through a change in coaching, his return to racing at the World Cross Country Championships, and how he’s approaching training and competition in 2026.
Morgan unpacks representing Australia in Tallahassee, the chaos of a feature-filled cross-country course (yes, including the alligator logs!), and what it meant to wear the green and gold again. He also opens up about the tough decision to step away from the On Athletics Club to take a more individualised approach to his training. Now reunited with college coach Mick Byrne, he shares why trust, patience and a more collaborative training model are central to this new phase, guided by the mantra “start early, progress slow.”
We also dive into NCAA glory days in Wisconsin, injury setbacks, why he’s gone a little anti-Strava in 2026, as well as and some big goals ahead, including the Commonwealth Games and the road to the LA Olympics in 2028.
Plus: coffee orders, book club scheduling sagas, adventures with partner Sinta, double threshold chat, and an elite lunch recommendation. A fun-filled chat to kick off the year!
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Morgan McDonald is an Australian distance runner originally from Sydney, and now based in Boulder, Colorado. A former NCAA champion at the University of Wisconsin, Morgan won the NCAA cross-country title in 2018 and completed the rare indoor 3000m/5000m double in 2019. He has represented Australia at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, and is a regular member of national teams across track, road and cross-country. Known affectionately as “Chicken Boy,” Morgan co-hosts The Coffee Club Podcast with Olli Hoare and George Beamish, and has his own YouTube channel. --
Subscribe to Run With It wherever you get your podcasts, so you don’t miss a thing! -- Follow us on Instagram: @morganmcdonald__ @runwithit.pod @elisebeacom
Check out Morgan's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MorganMcDonaldisaloser The Coffee Club Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/coffee-club-a-running-podcast-about-nothing/id1587508622 -- Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom
Graphic design by Kate Scheer