Episode Notes
When it comes to the sport of running, every sprint, every breath, and every challenge is a testament to the resilience and spirit of an athlete. Today on the RunnersTribe podcast, I dive into the remarkable journey of a good friend of mine, Will Leer, a former professional American middle-distance star renowned for his dedication and achievements on the track. As a two-time indoor national champion in 2013, a world relays silver medalist in 2014, and a top 8 finisher in the 1500 meters at the World Indoor Championships in 2014, Will's career epitomizes the relentless pursuit of excellence.
But there's more to Will than just his accolades. Beyond the track, he has embraced new passions, finding as much joy in the tranquility of nature as in the adrenaline of competition. This conversation isn't just about running; it's a deeper exploration of life after the finish line, the pursuit of new challenges, and the enduring spirit that defines a true athlete.
Join us as we uncover the layers of Will Leer's journey, from the peaks of his racing career to the new adventures that keep the essence of his athletic spirit alive. Lace up for an inspiring episode that goes beyond the track, right here on the RunnersTribe podcast.
Summary
In this conversation, Jon Rankin and Will Leer discuss their experiences in running and the state of Track and Field. The conversation covers various topics related to track and field, including athletes' showmanship and storytelling, standout American athletes, field events, the Prefontaine Classic, and the mental side of running. They also dive into the role of storytelling in sports marketing and the impact of shoe technology on performance. They highlight the importance of creating visibility for athletes and celebrating their achievements. The conversation concludes with a discussion on standout athletes in track and field and the highly anticipated race between Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00: Introduction and Skiing
00:30: Rediscovering Running and Skiing
04:00: Running as a Social Outlet
05:06: Finding New Passions
07:02: Unfinished Business in Running
08:12: The State of the Sport
09:38: Athletes' Stories and Social Media
11:32: The Power of Storytelling in Sports Marketing
13:05: The Impact of Shoe Technology
14:31: Making Track and Field Entertaining
16:26: Under Armour's Focus on Running
20:28: The Challenge of Making Track and Field Popular
22:35: Telling Athletes' Stories
23:34: The Excitement of Fast Running
25:12: The Evolution of Running Shoes
27:07: Elevating Athletes and Celebrating Their Achievements
29:21: Creating a Special Experience for Runners
31:42: Standout Athletes in Track and Field
34:29: Athletes' Showmanship and Storytelling
36:24: Standout American Athletes
38:21: Field Events: Shot Put and Discus
39:17: Ryan Krauser's Dominance in Shot Put
40:15: The Athleticism of Field Event Athletes
41:14: Emerging Stars in Field Events
42:21: Yared Nuguse and His Story
47:12: Prefontaine Classic: Ingebrigtsen vs. Kerr
49:18: Yared Nuguse's Competitiveness
52:29: The Mental Side of Running
55:08: The Pursuit of Excellence in Running and Life
59:09: Question for the Next Guest
References:
Yared Nuguse - @yaredthegoose
Jakob Ingebrigtsen - @jakobing
Josh Keer - @joshhkerr
2024 Prefontaine Classic - https://www.preclassic.com/ | @preclassic
Guest:
Will Leer - @williamleer
Host:
Jon Rankin - https://gobemore.co/ | @chasejonrankin
Learn More:
RunnersTribe - https://runnerstribe.com/ | @runnerstribe
EPISODE 378 | BEYOND VICTORY: FEATURING JOE KLECKER
EPISODE 36 FEATURING RICO ROGERS ON TRAINING AT ALTITUDE FOR ELITE RUNNERS
EPISODE 35 FEATURING STEVE MONEGHETTI | A LEGEND OF THE SPORT
EPISODE 34 FEATURING LUKE MATHEWS: HIGHS AND LOWS OF A MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNER
EPISODE 33 FEATURING STEPHEN DINNEEN: UNCUT
EPISODE 32 FEATURING SAMUEL TANNER: SELF BELIEF AND CHASING JOHN WALKER
EPISODE 31 FEATURING AMY BUNNAGE ON STANFORD AND NIL WITH ON RUNNING
EPISODE 30 FEATURING RILEY MCGOWN: BREAKTHROUGH YEAR
EPISODE 29 FEATURING JAMES HANSEN: KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
EPISODE 28 FEATURING PHILO SAUNDERS: CHASING ELUSIVE PARALYMPIC GOLD
EPISODE 27 FEATURING JAMES TEMPLETON ON DENG, CAMERON MYERS & SUPER SHOES
EPISODE 26 WITH HOST JAMES CONSTANTINE | FEATURING ELOISE WELLINGS
EPISODE 25 FEATURING ZACH FACIONI: DOUBLE THRESHOLDS AND LEAVING WAKE FOREST
EPISODE 24 FEATURING REECE EDWARDS: AN HOUR DOWN THE ROAD
EPISODE 23 WITH HOST JAMES CONSTANTINE | FEATURING WAYNE LARDEN
EPISODE 22 WITH HOST JAMES CONSTANTINE | FEATURING LUKE BOYES
WHEN WE WERE FASTER WITH HOST DANIEL HOPKINS | FEATURING BENITA WILLIS
EPISODE 21 WITH NEW HOST JAMES CONSTANTINE | FEATURING ED GODDARD
EPISODE 20 |FEATURING LEE BOBBIN: THE COACH OF CAMERON MYERS
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