Brooks Beasts Coach Danny Mackey On The Making Of A World Champion In Josh Kerr, Nia Akins’ Breakthrough + Team Success In 2023

“I still haven’t processed it. I haven't celebrated at all, I had to go back to work and take care of my daughter. Actually, I woke her up from her nap to watch Josh win because I was like, ‘He might do it, so let's wake her up just so she will remember’... Even yesterday [at the 5th Avenue Mile] they had the camera on Josh and they replayed his last 200m and I still got goosebumps. It's been three weeks, so I don't know if I'll ever process it. I hear people say this and I know what they mean; it's like you just get humbled by it. You're like, ‘Man, that was really hard to do.’”

Danny Mackey has been the coach of the Brooks Beasts since the team started in 2013 and can now say that he’s the coach to a world champion after Josh Kerr’s stunning 1500m victory in Budapest. The Beasts have put together a strong year with Nia Akins winning the U.S. indoor and outdoor 800m titles before finishing sixth in the World Championship final. Marta Freitas and Isiah Harris also competed at the World Championships. Henry Wynne is running strong with a fifth-place finish at USAs and then a 3:53.70 mile PR at Falmouth this summer.

It’s been a culmination of more than a decade of hard work, learning and adapting for coach Mackey and his meticulously scientific training perspective and approach. He’s vocal about doing things the right way and not operating in any gray zone. You’ll learn much more in this episode that goes beyond just the making of a world champion.

A quick note before we start the interview, this has also been the most tragic and difficult year of Mackey’s life. As reported by LetsRun.com, back in March, his fiancee died by suicide and he is now raising his baby daughter on his own. He took a few days away from the team and coached remotely from the U.S. while the team was in Budapest. The pain and loss is still felt by Mackey and he’s been resilient for his fellow coaching staff and athletes all along the way.

Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Danny Mackey | @dannytmackey on Instagram

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