Sam Parsons: Redefining Purpose in Running, Building A Tech Startup, and Moving to LA

Mastering Your Summer XC Training With Coach Joan Hunter

How do you structure the summer months for a high school cross country team comprised both of runners with zero running background, and those gunning for a national championship? In this episode, host Drew sits down with legendary coach (and Mom!) Joan Hunter for a full deep-dive on structuring the ultimate summer base-building phase.This is a guided discussion peeling back the layers of Joan's highly successful 9-week high school summer training blueprint. She breaks down her training philosophy for high schoolers of all levels, giving insight into her developmental, caring, structured, and strategic approach– one that led Loudoun Valley High School to win back-to-back national championships.High school XC coaches and athletes: this one's for you! Listen for a full unveiling of summer training knowledge from one of the best coaches out there.Want access to Joan's summer XC guide? Head to the Resources page on our website and download it for free! https://haxtraining.com/guidesIf you found this conversation valuable, be sure to like the video and subscribe for more! We have lots of exciting stuff coming up this summer 👀In This Episode:02:45 Run Walk For Beginners05:07 Injury Proofing Routine06:44 Long Runs09:58 Easy Days Easy11:53 Hills For Strength13:38 Team Culture And Warmups17:11 Training In Summer Heat20:21 Soreness Logs And Adjustments24:45 Team Culture26:03 Race Day Warmup Routine36:13 Modern Changes And Shoes38:44 Do Kids Need More Miles39:30 NIL And College Pressure45:33 Pro vs HS Coaching_____________________________________________________HAX Show Partners: We're grateful to partner with Stryd and LifeQuotes to bring you this episode. Learn more about each of our partners below. StrydAchieve your best run everyday by getting the most accurate power and pacing metrics in real-time. Learn more: https://stryd.live/haxLifeQuotesProtect the long run.Get your free quote today: https://lifequotes.com or call 800-955-6618______________________________________________________⚒️ About Hammer & Axe TrainingOur coaches work with runners of all levels, providing genuine relationships, proven training methods, and education that helps athletes train with purpose and consistency.Unlock the Ultimate HS Training Library:Want complete access to a library of 150+ training plans? We're excited to offer the HAX Athlete Bundle, with plans including base building and XC training to 800 through 5K specific plans across varying time goals and experience levels. Just $24.99/month gets you complete access alongside a premium TrainingPeaks membership. Get yours today: https://checkout.trainingpeaks.com/product/781dc3ac-6723-4bbf-93cb-bc0066c682011:1 Coaching | Take our quiz to find your coach: https://haxtraining.com/take-the-coaches-quizTraining Plan Library: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/hammer-axe/Follow For Daily Training Content: https://www.instagram.com/hammerandaxetraining/Read Our Newsletter: https://thehammer.beehiiv.com

"2:09 Isn't Enough Anymore" | Reed Fischer on Dad Strength, Leveling Up, & Taking Risks

Tinman Elite professional marathoner and HAX coach Reed Fischer returns to the show (this time as a new dad!), to talk all things parenthood, perspective shifts, and the reality of what it takes to be competitive in the marathon these days. Reed also shares his takes on 'dad strength', the record-breaking results at the Boston Marathon this year, and why he's willing to take a little more risk with his running now leading up to the 2028 Olympic Trials. Speaking to 'dad strength', Reed explains why a shift in perspective can actually become an athlete’s greatest competitive asset. Pulling from his experiences navigating his wife Christine’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2023 to entering parenthood via surrogacy, Reed talks about how finding deep fulfillment outside of the sport builds a higher ceiling for performance than a hyper-obsessive focus. For both aspiring elites and recreational runners, Reed’s insights offer a ton of value on leveling up as an athlete while keeping the sport in its proper place. In This Episode: 00:16 New Dad Life Update 08:20 Back to Running Schedule 12:25 Finding a New Rhythm 18:03 Is Dad Strength Real? 26:42 Seville Marathon Recap 37:20 Training Block Setup 37:39 Lower Mileage / High Intensity Approach 40:51 Shift Toward Speed 41:16 Double Threshold As A Marathoner 46:53 Sub 2:10 Reflections 49:12 Thoughts on Boston Marathon 57:35 Why Americans Are Getting So Much Faster 01:09:35 Next Build: Bigger Risks 01:15:29 What Our Kids Can Take From Running Unlock the Ultimate HS Training Library: Want complete access to a library of 150+ training plans? We're excited to offer the HAX Athlete Bundle, with plans including base building and XC training to 800 through 5K specific plans across varying time goals and experience levels. Just $24.99/month gets you complete access alongside a premium TrainingPeaks membership. Get yours today: https://checkout.trainingpeaks.com/product/781dc3ac-6723-4bbf-93cb-bc0066c68201 HAX Show Partners: The HAX Show is grateful to partner with Lever Movement and LifeQuotes to bring you this conversation. Learn more about each of our partners below. Lever Movement:Recover faster, run injury-free, and improve performance with a Lever device. Use code HAX20 for 20% off at this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/HAX20LifeQuotes Get your quote: https://lifequotes.com or call 800-955-6618 ⚒️ About Hammer & Axe Training Our coaches work with runners of all levels, providing genuine relationships, proven training methods, and education that helps athletes train with purpose and consistency.1:1 Coaching | Take our quiz to find your coach: https://haxtraining.com/take-the-coaches-quizTraining Plan Library: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/hammer-axe/Follow For Daily Training Content: https://www.instagram.com/hammerandaxetraining/Read Our Newsletter: https://thehammer.beehiiv.com

Achieving Breakthroughs: USA 5K Champs, London Marathon, & Training for Longevity

Drew Hunter is joined by movement coach Lawrence van Lingen for a deep-dive Q&A on training philosophy, mindset, and what it takes to unlock your performance potential. Together, they break down elite-level concepts into practical advice that runners at any stage can apply to their own training. From questions like “How should I lift during a marathon taper?” to “What’s the best approach for training for an 8K cross country race?”, Drew and Lawrence share thoughtful, experience-driven answers shaped by years in the sport as both athletes and coaches.If you enjoyed this new Q&A-style format, let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear if you want to see more episodes like this. In This Episode: 01:18 Lawrence's London Marathon Experience 06:08 Drew's USA 5K Champs Recap 12:11 Advice on Lifting During the Taper Phase 16:10 Race Visualization Tactics 25:05 Reframing Strength Training For Runners 34:12 How To Improve Your 5K Time 36:35 Most Common Mistakes Runners Make 43:48 Getting into Running Later in Life 46:31 Speed, Strides, And Hills 49:10 Fix Form Without Overthinking 52:54 Philosophy Into Practice 58:41 Cross Country 8K Training Tips 01:00:47 Gratitude And Wrap Up If you learned something valuable from this conversation, please like the video and subscribe for more episodes. Have more questions for Drew or Lawrence? Drop them in the comments! NEW OFFER: Want unlimited access to a complete library of our training plans? Now's your chance! Introducing the HAX Athlete Bundle: 150+ training plans including base building, XC training, and 800-5K specific plans for every athlete. Just $24.99/month gets you complete access alongside a premium TrainingPeaks membership. Get yours today: https://checkout.trainingpeaks.com/product/781dc3ac-6723-4bbf-93cb-bc0066c68201 HAX Show Partner: Lever Movement:The HAX Show is grateful to partner with Lever Movement to help you recover faster, run injury-free, and improve performance. Support the pod and LEVER by using code HAX20 for 20% off at this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/HAX20 ⚒️ About Hammer & Axe Training: Our coaches work with runners of all levels, providing genuine relationships, proven training methods, and education that helps athletes train with purpose and consistency. 1:1 Coaching | Take our quiz to find your coach: https://haxtraining.com/take-the-coaches-quiz Training Plan Library: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/hammer-axe/ Follow For Daily Training Content: https://www.instagram.com/hammerandaxetraining/ Read Our Newsletter: https://thehammer.beehiiv.com

Joe Klecker: 2:05 at the Boston Marathon | Is Faster Possible?

Joe Klecker, OAC professional and Olympian, returns to the show to recap his 2:05 performance at the 2026 Boston Marathon. In a year where world records are falling and the depth of American marathon running is reaching new heights, Joe breaks down how he navigated a historic day in what was only his first race in Boston, and second-ever marathon overall.Joe's race was a great reflection of the grit and adaptability it takes to run the marathon. He dives into what the splits don't show, including how he threw out his original fueling plan at mile 9 due to a nagging side stitch, and even debated dropping out and pivoting to enter the London marathon the following week. We also discuss the details of his training build, where he explains the philosophy on maintaining track-focused, VO2 sessions as a marathoner and the impact of training alongside teammates as OAC grows its elite presence on the roads.Lastly, we talk about the "why" behind the current marathon revelation, both in American distance running and internationally, as performances that once seemed unfathomable are now happening more frequently. Joe explains the compounding effects of super-shoe technology and the fueling evolution that is allowing athletes not only to race faster, but to train harder and recover better than ever before.In This Episode:00:45 Boston Marathon Mindset & Strategy13:10 Inside The Race - When Things Don't Go To Plan21:11 Final Result Reflection24:41 The Training Build32:01 Shoes & Training Essentials37:28 What To Improve43:38 Why Times Are Dropping52:47 Building The OAC Marathon Team58:00 Track Vs Marathon LessonsIf you enjoyed this conversation, like the video and subscribe for more! Feel free to leave a comment with what stood out to you most.About Hammer & Axe TrainingHammer & Axe Training is a coaching and education platform built by athletes, for athletes. Our coaches work with runners of all levels, providing genuine relationships, proven training methods, and education that helps athletes train with purpose and consistency.1:1 Coaching | Take our quiz to find your coach: https://haxtraining.com/take-the-coaches-quizTraining Plan Library: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/hammer-axe/Follow For Daily Training Content: https://www.instagram.com/hammerandaxetraining/ Read Our Newsletter: https://thehammer.beehiiv.com________________________________________________________The HAX Show is grateful to partner with Lever MovementRecover faster, run injury-free, and improve performance.Follow: @levermovementTo support the pod and LEVER, use code HAX20 for 20% off, or follow this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/HAX20

Austin Dalquist on Elite Performance, Overcoming RED-S, and What HS Runners Are Missing

Austin Dalquist joins the show for a conversation on his career progression across the top levels of the sport, personal struggles throughout his career, and finding greater purpose in both running and life through faith. He dives into his recent indoor season, his unique path from a non-running family to becoming an elite high school recruit to competing for the University of Arkansas, and openly discusses his struggles with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-s) and disordered eating, offering valuable insights on fueling and recovery for athletes.He dives into his early days of running with the culture and mindset of his HS program, how he became one of the top middle distance recruits in the country, and why he chose Arkansas after initially committing to Ole Miss. He openly discusses his experience in college with RED-S and disordered eating, which eventually led to a broken sacrum, and the important nutritional changes that helped his recovery. He also shares how faith shapes his approach to an ego- and performance-driven sport and reflects on coaching high school runners, emphasizing positivity and long-term development over the specifics of training.In This Episode:00:30 Indoor Season Recap and Future Racing Plans06:06 High School Breakthrough10:52 HS Training And Mindset18:46 Choosing Arkansas22:47 RED-S And Eating Struggles29:31 Recovery And Nutrition Tips37:37 Faith In Competition49:40 Why Coach High School54:52 Culture Over WorkoutsIf you found value in this conversation, like the video and subscribe for more! Feel free to leave a comment with what stood out to you most.________________________About Hammer & Axe TrainingHammer & Axe Training is a coaching and education platform built by athletes, for athletes. Our coaches work with runners of all levels, providing genuine relationships, proven training methods, and education that helps athletes train with purpose and consistency.1:1 Coaching | Get A Free Personalized Recommendation: https://haxtraining.com/coaching-matchTraining Plan Library: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/partners/hammer-axe/Follow For Daily Training Content: https://www.instagram.com/hammerandaxetraining/Read Our Newsletter: https://thehammer.beehiiv.com_________________________The HAX Show is grateful to partner with Lever MovementRecover faster, run injury-free, and improve performanceFollow: @levermovementTo support the pod and LEVER, use code HAX20 for 20% off, or follow this link: https://levermovement.com/discount/HAX20