The XLR8 Performance Lab Podcast
Fab Four On The Fast Track
Four state champions, four distinct paths, one honest conversation about what it really takes to get faster, stay healthy, and choose the right next step. We bring Lili, McKenna, Marissa, and Piper together to go beyond highlight reels and talk through the decisions, data, and doubts that shape a young distance runner’s future. From the moment Lili knew Texas felt like home to the twist that led Marissa to Arkansas after a rough race, you’ll hear how fit, team culture, and coach trust drive recruiting choices more than logos or hype.
We dig into the science too. Lab testing isn’t just about paces on a sheet; it’s a confidence engine that turns training into targeted progress. Lili explains how winter structure fueled her spring breakout. McKenna shares how dialing iron and pacing solved mid-race fade. Piper talks about growing with the program since seventh grade and why evidence beats opinions when the pressure rises. Marissa adds the hard-won lesson of rebuilding after an unsustainable peak: sometimes you have to accept being slower today to be stronger tomorrow.
You’ll also get the fun stuff that reveals race IQ—who wins an elimination 1200, what distance flips the odds, and how each athlete would beat the others with tactics that fit their strengths. Sit-and-kick or press from the gun? Late surge or controlled suffering? Their answers show a deep understanding of strategy and self. We close with clear goals—430 in the 1500, a 3K title defense, NXN bids, dropping track times—and generous peer praise that reminds us why community moves the needle.
If you care about middle distance and distance running, recruiting decisions, training data, and the mindset behind big performances, this one’s packed with insight and heart. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review telling us which race tactic you’d choose and why.