Sixty-one marathons in sixty-one days: From the southern border of Germany to the northern sea, Aleksander Lingauer covered the entire distance on his own.

No sponsors. No shortcuts. Just a backpack, a belief, and the stubborn will to see it through.

Aleksander is an endurance athlete and writer, and the mind behind Project 61, a solo mission to run the length of Germany, one marathon a day, for two straight months.

But his story isn't just about distance, it's about what happens when no one's watching. About walking away from millions to protect something deeper. And about the kind of training no one puts on social media—the alleyway push-ups, the quiet breakdowns, the handwritten letters from the far edges of Europe.

He's now writing his first book, a raw account of his 419-day solo hike across the continent.

Alexander is taking the steps to explore the space where discipline meets obsession, where modern masculinity meets vulnerability, and what it costs to chase something real in a world that moves fast and forgets even faster.

If you're building something hard, trying to stay steady in the noise, or looking for proof that grit still matters, then this episode is for you.

Let's get into it.

In today's conversation, Aleksander takes me through his wild physical adventures, what drives him to do these things, crewing the BPN Last Man Standing Race for Zach Pogrob and Kim, his ambitions for the future, and how to live for more.

Aleksander is 1 of 1. And this conversation was very introspective in the best of ways.

Tap into the Aleksander Lingauer Special.

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Today’s guest knows endurance—on the trail, in public service, and in life.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier of California has run 23 marathons, including Boston, New York, Napa, and even Paris.

A former lacrosse player turned lifelong runner, Mark once pursued a sub-3-hour marathon while simultaneously trying to bench press twice his bodyweight. He came heartbreakingly close—twice clocking a 3:04—and carried that same grit with him into politics, business, and recovery from a life-threatening illness.

In March 2020, Mark fell during a run in D.C. and sustained broken ribs. What followed was a terrifying cascade: a damaged spleen, undiagnosed pneumonia, organ failure, and five weeks in the ICU—four of them on a ventilator.

His odds of survival? Just 10 percent; one doctor told his sons he wouldn’t make it.

But he beat them.

Now serving in his 11th year in Congress, Rep. DeSaulnier brings that same sense of perseverance to his work on transportation, education, and mental health. He currently serves as Ranking Member of the House Ethics Committeeand is a senior member of the Education & the Workforce Committee.

But this episode isn’t about politics. It’s about what happens when we lace up and head out the door—what running teaches us, what it heals, and how it transforms who we are.

In today's conversation, Mark takes me through his running journey and pursuits, insights from his 23 marathons, running a 3:04 marathon back in the day, becoming known as the “running politician,” how he used to train back in the day, and how running saved his life - literally.

Tap into the Representative Mark DeSaulnier Special.

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What drives a 23-year-old to run seven marathons... on seven continents... in just seven days?

Today’s guest isn’t just an endurance athlete—he’s a human experiment in grit, creativity, and storytelling.

Wyatt Moss has run a marathon in all 50 states, built a woodworking business to fund the journey, and picked up over 100,000 followers along the way—not just for the miles he runs, but for the life he’s building while doing it.

In early 2025, Moss participated in the World Marathon Challenge, running seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days. His completion times ranged from 4:18:48 to 6:35:22, showcasing his resilience and adaptability.

In 2024, Moss completed a marathon in each U.S. state within a single calendar year, culminating with the Honolulu Marathon in December. He financed this endeavor through his woodworking business and documented the journey on social media, amassing over 100,000 followers.

From blisters and jet lag to business strategy and content creation, Wyatt is a maestro in mental endurance and making your passion pay for itself.

In today's conversation, Wyatt takes me through his wild physical pursuits, his mindsets behind them, how he has become more self-aware, his wild experiences like running a marathon in every state last year and doing the World Marathon Challenge, and shares insights into his next biggest challenge.

This podcast is next level.

Tap into the Wyatt Moss Special.

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What happens when you combine deep science with real-world results—and package it all in a way that actually makes sense to young athletes?

You get Kelsey Poulter.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by the founder of Next Level Athletes, a sports nutrition expert who has quickly become one of the most trusted voices in the performance space. With a background in Exercise Physiology and a skyrocketing online presence that’s grown from 2,000 to over 450,000 followers in just over a year, Kelsey is proof that authenticity, clarity, and results still win.

Kelsey is on a mission to help athletes—from high school hopefuls to pros in the MLB—turn food into a performanceweapon. She believes nutrition is wildly underutilized in sports and calls it the “separator” that most athletes are missing.

Kelsey likes to talk about how elite outcomes require elite actions—often the boring, consistent ones no one wants to talk about. In this episode she dives into the real difference between eating for general health and eating for performance, why sugar and carbs are absolutely essential for athletes, and how to rethink popular nutrition trends like skipping breakfast, cutting out food groups, or obsessing over seed oils.

Whether you’re a coach, a parent, or an athlete chasing your potential, this episode is packed with perspective-shifting advice that can help you level up—without losing your mind.

Tap into the Kelsey Poulter Special.

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He broke the barrier—and the sport felt it.

Quentin Nauman is back on the pod in the final episode of our Festival of Miles series—a fitting finish to a week that reminded us just how far the sport is moving.

Just days ago at the HOKA Festival of Miles, Quentin lined up against the top high school milers in the country and ran 3:58.65—joining the elite ranks of sub-four athletes and pushing the ceiling of what high school runners can do.

It wasn’t just a win. It was a cultural moment in high school track.

This year has been something different. Sub-four miles are no longer mythical, they're happening. But Quentin’s not just following the wave. He’s setting it.

Earlier this season, he became the first high school athlete in U.S. history to run sub-1:50 in the 800 and sub-4:00 in the 1600 at the same meet. That’s not progression. That’s a shift in what young athletes believe is possible.

What’s fueling this surge in high school distance running? What does it mean to carry the weight of a generational leap? And where do we go from here, now that the old limits are falling?

This isn’t just a fast kid running fast. This is a flashpoint in the evolution of the sport and Quentin Nauman is right in the middle of it.

In today's conversation, Quentin takes me through a race that will define him and his legacy for years to come. We dive into the BTS of the 2025 FOM and Quentin's legendary performance, where he won in 3:58 in a 54 close; we talk about the rest of his season, his ambitions for the future, including breaking Alan Webb's record, and more.

Tap into the Quentin Nauman Special.

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Recorded live. Fueled by the energy of the crowd. Powered by HOKA.

Straight from the Big River Running Company in Missouri on June 4th, this special episode of the podcast captures the excitement, energy, and anticipation just one night before the iconic HOKA Festival of Miles.

We sit down with four of the sport’s most compelling figures: Olin Hacker – NCAA champion turned pro who thrilled fans with his powerful closing speed in previous Festival races; Krissy Gear – Steeplechase star known for her fearless racing style, who brought the heat to this meet with memorable performances in the past; Brandon Miller – A local favorite and middle-distance standout whose past runs at the Festival showcased both talent and heart in front of his hometown crowd; and Colleen Quigley – Olympian and St. Louis native who’s been a longtime supporter and star attraction of the Festival, using this stage to inspire the next generation.

Whether you're a die-hard track fan or just tuning in, this episode sets the stage for one of the most exciting nights in distance running.

Tap into the Live Festival of Miles Special.

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What does it take to run for 28 hours straight?

To go beyond exhaustion—when your body gives out and only your will is left?

Alyssa McClellan knows.

She’s a former elite CrossFit athlete, a mother of four, and an ultra-endurance machine. At the Go One More Last Man Standing Ultra, Alyssa ran nearly 120 miles in just under 28 hours, outlasting every other woman and placing fourth overall. No pacers. No excuses. Just pure grit.

But her story doesn’t start there.

Before ultra running, Alyssa competed at the highest levels of CrossFit, ranking 252nd in the world and 156th in the U.S. at the 2018 Open. Her numbers speak for themselves: 320-pound back squat; 236-pound clean and jerk; 340-pound deadlift and 196-pound snatch.

Now, she’s bringing that same fire to the ultra scene—trading barbells for blisters and short bursts for soul-crushing distance. And she’s doing it all while raising four boys.

This episode goes deep into the pain cave—the place where most people quit and Alyssa keeps going. We talk aboutmental toughness, comebacks, and what it really means to show up, suffer, and choose to keep moving.

No fluff. No finish line. Just raw endurance.

Let’s go.

In today's conversation, Alyssa takes me through her 28 hours of pain, how she kept pushing when things got difficult, training for these endevours as a wife and mother, her ambtions for the future, and so much more.

Tap into the Alyssa McClellan Special.

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From rock bottom to 100 miles — today’s guest redefines what it means to fight back.

Meet Sean Rhodes: former alcoholic, now ultramarathoner, mental health advocate, and the driving force behind a mission that’s bigger than any finish line.

In May 2025, Sean didn’t just run a 100-mile race — he built one. The Stoney 100 was raw, solo, and powered by purpose: raising awareness for mental health and backing recovery-focused nonprofits like Quest in Recovery and Charleston Hope.

His stats are legit: he has run 37:00 in the 10k, 1:23 in the half marathon, 2:59 in the marathon, and 21:27 for 100 miles.

But forget the numbers for a second. What really matters is the journey — the comeback, the community, the cause.

This isn’t just a running story. It’s about resilience, redemption, and the grit to turn pain into purpose.

Strap in. This one’s got heart.

In today's conversation, Sean takes me through his 100-mile pursuit, flipping his life around and his life transformation, the key to unlocking discipline, how to keep going when your mind is giving out, how to put on muscle while still being a runner, his future goals, and so much more.

Tap into the Sean Rhodes Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it.

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S H O W N O T E S

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-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run

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