Choosing a college is one of the biggest decisions a family will make together, and the recruiting process can bring plenty of excitement, questions, and uncertainty along the way.

In this episode of Relaxed and Fast, we’re talking directly to recruiting parents. We share what we’ve learned through years of coaching college athletes and recruiting hundreds of families, and we offer practical advice on how parents can play an incredibly valuable role without taking ownership of a process that ultimately belongs to their son or daughter.

We discuss why it’s important for recruits to communicate with college coaches themselves, how parents can build confidence from the sidelines, and why the best recruiting decisions are almost always centered on finding the right fit rather than the biggest name or highest division.

We also share what college coaches notice during the recruiting process, common mistakes families can avoid, and questions every parent should be asking after a campus visit.

Whether your athlete is just starting to explore college running or is getting close to making a decision, we hope this conversation gives you confidence, perspective, and a few practical tools to help your family navigate the process together.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Why ownership matters during the recruiting process

• How parents can support without taking over

• What coaches appreciate most from recruiting families

• Questions to ask after every campus visit

• Why finding the right fit leads to the best college experience

Our hope is simple: that every family finds a place where their athlete can grow academically, athletically, and personally over the next four years.

Thanks for listening to Relaxed and Fast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a family beginning the recruiting journey.

In this episode, Coach Joe Eby and Coach Josh Fiorentino dive into one of the most overlooked parts of distance running: the work that happens before and after the run.

Summer is the perfect time to build strength, improve mobility, address imbalances, and develop the habits that pay off when championship season arrives. While everyone is putting in mileage, the athletes who commit to lifting, core work, strides, and corrective exercises often separate themselves when the races matter most.

We discuss why ancillary work isn’t “extra” training. It’s an essential part of becoming a healthier, more durable, and more complete runner. We also share practical ways athletes can fit these habits into their summer routine and explain why the little things done consistently often lead to the biggest improvements.

If you’re looking to make the most of your summer training and build a foundation for a successful cross country season, this episode is for you.

What do coaches really learn about a recruit during a campus visit?

In this episode of Relaxed and Fast, Coaches Joe Eby and Josh Fiorentino talk through the recruiting visit from the coach’s side of the table. Most recruits think the visit is mainly about seeing campus, meeting the team, checking out the facilities, and deciding if the school feels right. And all of that matters. But coaches are also paying attention.

We talk about the little things that stand out during a visit, from first impressions and punctuality to engagement, body language, conversation, and how a recruit interacts with current athletes. We also discuss what coaches learn from the questions recruits ask, why team chemistry matters, and how a visit can either confirm a great fit or raise some important questions.

This episode is especially helpful for high school athletes and families preparing for campus visits. The goal is not to make recruits nervous. It is to help them understand that visits go both ways. Coaches are not looking for perfect. They are looking for genuine, engaged, curious people who want to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Be yourself. Ask questions. Get to know the team. Pay attention. And remember that finding the right fit matters for everyone involved.