Episode 36: Down Weeks, New Balance’s Big Year, Provisional Stars, and “Am I a Runner?”

Welcome to episode 36 of the Kinda Fast Podcast, the show where we talk running, real life, and everything in between.

This week, Travis and Claire break down down weeks and why pulling back is part of getting better, not falling behind. Then they hit the running news with a big New Balance growth story (including $9.2B in 2025 global sales and U.S. manufacturing expansion), plus an absurd but hilarious attempt to lunge an entire marathon.

Next, Claire goes on a passionate rant about Cape Town’s “provisional star” and what that means for the World Marathon Majors conversation. After that, they debut a brand new segment: Would You Rather: Running Edition.

Finally, they settle a question runners hear all the time: “When do you actually become a real runner?” (Spoiler: if you run, you are one), and close with an important faith-based reminder about where our deepest identity really comes from.

In this episode, we cover:

• What a down week is (and how it’s different from a taper)
• How much to reduce mileage during a down week (and why you may still feel tired)
• New Balance’s momentum and what’s driving their growth
• The “lunge marathon” attempt (and why starting with a 5K is way more realistic)
• Cape Town’s provisional star and why it’s controversial
• Would You Rather: Running Edition (race-day chaos, no explanations allowed… kind of)
• The truth about being a “real runner” and how to fight runner imposter syndrome
• A faith-centered reminder: running is something we do, but our identity is in Christ

Who this episode is for:

• Runners who feel beat up and wonder if they need a down week
• Anyone building consistency and trying to train smarter (not just harder)
• People who say “I’m not a runner” even though they run all the time
• Runners who love news, hot takes, and fun debates
• Anyone who wants a segment to play with their run group
• Believers who want a running podcast that keeps perspective in the right place
• Literally anyone and everyone

YouTube Chapters:

• 01:51 What Does That Even Mean? Down Week
• 08:33 Running News: New Balance growth + U.S. manufacturing
• 15:11 Running News: the guy who tried to lunge a marathon
• 17:21 Running News: Cape Town provisional star rant
• 20:25 Would You Rather: Running Edition
• 24:57 Deep Dive: “I’m not really a runner” (4 truths)
• 38:10 Training check-in: Claire’s 5K + Travis’s down week + upcoming half marathon
• 40:01 Wrap-up and how to support the podcast

Join the Kinda Fast community: https://www.upwardrunning.com/kindafast Use code KINDA FASTFAST for two weeks free inside the RunClub App.

If this episode helped you rethink recovery weeks, runner identity, or your own self-talk, leave a review, drop a comment with your Would You Rather picks, and share this with a runner who needs the reminder that they belong.