In 2023, Polow suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm while out on a run.

He woke up in the hospital days later, spent weeks in the ICU, and had to relearn how to walk before he could even think about running again. The first attempts back were brutal tears, panic, fear that it could happen again, and the question of whether he would ever feel like himself as a runner again.

Eventually, he kept showing up.

Polow talks about the emotional side of recovery, survivor’s guilt, therapy, the first runs he couldn’t finish, and the moment running finally started to feel normal again. He also shares how the experience completely changed his relationship with training, ego, sleep, recovery, and what it means to actually take care of himself.

We also get into Run N Brunch, the Atlanta running community he built around making sure nobody feels left behind, his return to 13.1 at SeaWheeze, and why his next challenge means more than any race he has done before.

Now, Polow is training for the New York City Marathon in support of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

For him, getting to that start line is about much more than 26.2 miles.

“It means I made it.”

Chapters

00:00 Surviving a Brain Aneurysm & Returning to Running

01:57 The Fear of Running Again

03:58 The Day Everything Changed

08:00 Waking Up in the ICU

11:56 Learning to Walk Again

16:07 When Running Finally Felt Normal Again

19:59 Working From a Place of Rest

24:03 Building Run N Brunch & Running for the Back of the Pack

28:08 Leaving Ego Behind & Returning to Racing

33:04 The Road to the NYC Marathon

Follow Polow:

instagram.com/polizzy/

Support Polow’s NYC Marathon:
Polow is running the NYC Marathon in support of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. You can support his fundraising efforts here:

https://fundraisers.nyrr.org/polow-lynn

Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

Madey is a 2:28 marathoner chasing even bigger goals while working full time as a nurse and regularly training up to 100 miles per week.

In this episode, we talk about how she balances 12 hour hospital shifts with high level marathon training, 4 a.m. runs, and the discipline required to make it all work. Madey shares how working in healthcare has changed her perspective on running, why she refuses to take her health for granted, and how she’s learned to race more aggressively and “close the gap.”

Fueling 100 mile weeks, body image in distance running, recovery, relationships, the sacrifices behind chasing big goals, and why she wants other nurses and everyday runners to see that a demanding career doesn’t mean giving up the things you love.

A conversation about running fast, making time, and appreciating the opportunity to do both.

Chapters

00:00 Meet Madey: Nurse, Runner & 100-Mile Weeks
03:51 Managing Fatigue, Recovery & Fueling
09:18 Mental Toughness & Race-Day Mindset
16:22 From the Mile to a 2:28 Marathon
22:23 How Working in Healthcare Changed Her Running
24:42 4 A.M. Runs, Friends & Strength Training
28:57 Getting Faster & Building Confidence
36:50 Chasing the Olympic Trials & Staying Healthy
39:52 Two Full-Time Jobs: Work, Running & Sacrifice
43:33 The Bigger Why Behind Her Running

Follow Madey:

instagram.com/madeydickson/


Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

Joey Whelan was running 2:13 - 2:15 marathons while balancing running with work when he decided he had one more shot to see how good he could become. With the support of his wife, he quit his job, went all in on running, and eventually broke 2:10.

Joey talks about what changed when running became his full time pursuit, racing multiple marathons a year, recovering quickly enough to keep coming back, and what each race has taught him. We get into Berlin's brutal heat, winning and setting course records, representing Team USA, training at 100+ miles per week, and the small details he's learning as he tries to close the gap to the next level.

Now, after winning 11 marathons, running under 2:10 and holding five course records, Joey isn't interested in staying where he knows he can win. He's headed to Chicago to find out how he stacks up against some of the best runners in the country and he's not finished yet.

This one is about betting on yourself, finding another level, and seeing what happens when you go all in.



Chapters

00:00 Going All In on Running

09:21 Chasing Sub-2:10: Berlin, CIM & Going Full-Time

16:16 Learning to Race Like the Elites

21:17 Racing the Best & Chasing the Majors

28:30 What Every Marathon Has Taught Him

35:54 What Separates a 2:09 Marathoner?

44:46 Recovery, Fueling & Life as a Pro

52:34 Nothing to Lose: What Comes Next

Follow Joey:

instagram.com/jpwhelan23/


Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

Emily Durgin has been a U.S. champion, finished ninth at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and spent years consistently improving and competing at the highest level. Then an injury changed the rhythm of everything.

Emily opens up about the past year and a half of trying to feel like herself again. She shares what it was like racing at 85%, questioning whether her best years were behind her, and eventually deciding that continuing to push through wasn't worth sacrificing a full recovery.

We talk about the mistakes she's made returning from injury, learning when to stop forcing fitness, rebuilding from the ground up, and separating her identity from running while still believing deeply in what she can accomplish.

Emily also looks ahead to 2027 and 2028, why she believes her fastest running may still be ahead of her, and what it means to give herself the chance to go all in one more time.

Chapters

00:00 – Emily’s comeback and injury reset

01:04 – Why she stopped racing through pain

05:23 – The hardest part: being away from competition

07:12 – Starting fresh in Boulder

10:59 – The lesson: stop running through it

12:21 – Why racing means so much more than workouts

17:39 – Redefining success and choosing joy

27:13 – Hill strides and rebuilding form

30:32 – The biggest mistake runners make after injury

34:12 – Faith, friendship, and joy outside running

43:15 – December marathons and the road back

47:41 – Why 2028 is the main goal

50:55 – What she’ll appreciate most when she’s back

Follow Emily:

instagram.com/em_durgin/

Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

Less than a year after signing up for her first HYROX, Courtney qualified for the HYROX World Championships.

In this episode, Courtney shares how she balances a full-time career, family life, and training while chasing her potential. We talk about qualifying for Worlds, running a sub 40 10K, training 15+ hours a week, fueling, recovery, and the mindset that's helped her improve so quickly.

Whether you're training for HYROX, running your next race, or simply trying to fit big goals into a busy life, there's something in this conversation for you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: From First HYROX to Worlds

02:11 Signing Up for Her First HYROX

03:57 Training, Mindset & Finding Her Potential

07:10 The Mental Side of Racing

10:11 The Road to HYROX Worlds

15:46 Race Day at Worlds

19:01 Lessons From HYROX Worlds

23:02 Running, HYROX & Getting Faster

29:07 Balancing Work, Family & Training

33:04 Fueling, Recovery & Community

44:02 What's Next? Hong Kong & Future Goals

Follow Courtney:

instagram.com/courtney.hybrid.fit/

Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

Olympic medalist, author, and lifelong runner Deena Kastor joins The People Run Podcast.

We talk about how her relationship with running has evolved, why joy matters more than chasing personal bests, what keeps her running today, the growth of the running community, writing Let Your Mind Run, and the lessons running continues to teach her decades after standing on the Olympic podium.

If you’ve ever wondered why we keep coming back to running, this conversation is for you.

Enjoy the episode.

Chapters

00:00 Why Running Never Leaves You
02:58 Deena's Current Running Routine and Goals
06:59 Evolving Relationship with Running and Aging
12:00 The Impact of Community and Environment on Running
17:02 The Growth of the Sport and New Major Races
22:05 Deena's Reflection on Her Marathon Journey
26:53 The Mental and Emotional Benefits of Running
33:50 Writing Let Your Mind Run
42:00 The Power of Inspiration and Quotes in Running
45:06 Kindness, Community, and the Future of Running

Follow Deena:

instagram.com/deenakastor/

Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

Sydney Levenfeld never expected running to change the direction of her life.

After being diagnosed with epilepsy in 2020, running became a safe space during a difficult period. What started as a way to cope eventually led to a 3:15 debut marathon in Chicago, a growing belief in what she was capable of, and ultimately a 2:46 marathon PR.

Sydney joins the podcast to talk about finding confidence through running, her rapid marathon progression, learning to love the training process, the workouts that helped her improve, racing Chicago, Boston and Eugene, and the unique pre

race ritual she uses to visualize her goals.

We also talk about leaving teaching, navigating uncertainty in her career, betting on herself, and co-founding Lead Pack Athletics as running became more than something she did it helped shape the person she wanted to become.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Sydney Levenfeld's Running Journey
02:07 How Running Helped Build Confidence and Self-Belief
04:03 Sydney's First Marathon and Its Significance
05:52 Overcoming Health Challenges and Running Safely
10:01 Breaking 3 Hours and Improving Marathon Times
11:59 Key Training Strategies and Mental Models
14:07 The Love for Threshold Work and Speed Training
16:03 The Role of Visualization and Rituals in Racing
20:08 Memorable Races and Personal Highlights
24:56 Building Lead Pack Athletics to Address Industry Gaps
29:58 Future Goals and Vision for Running Industry

Follow Sydney:

instagram.com/sydney.b.fitness/

Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/

What does it take to balance teaching at a university while running a 2:13 marathon?

In this episode, I sit down with Kristoffer Mugrage a professor at Adams State University, sports psychology lecturer, and one of America's top marathoners. We dive into the mindset, consistency, and training principles that have helped him become an elite marathoner while balancing a demanding career outside the sport.

We talk about Boston Marathon, running 120+ mile weeks, altitude training, fueling, sports psychology, managing stress, confidence, and why enjoying the process might be the biggest key to long term improvement.

Whether you're chasing your first marathon or your next PR, Kristoffer shares practical insights that runners of every level can apply.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Kristoffer's quote on planning and belief
02:09 Kristoffer's race experience and mental preparation
04:03 Being in the race tent with elite athletes
06:51 Training progression and early marathon times
10:54 Balancing a busy career with elite training
16:55 Training for mental toughness and pain management
21:58 Common misconceptions about marathon training
24:04 Nutrition strategies and daily calorie intake
36:11 Simplified principles for marathon training
38:05 Altitude necessity and its nuances
43:04 Disparity between easy and speed runs
46:11 Lessons from students and teaching
51:03 What excellence means in running and life
54:04 Closing remarks and future goals

Follow Kristoffer:

instagram.com/kris_muggi/

Follow The People Run Podcast:

instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/