Episodes
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Join Kyle on The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind as he lives up to the show's unofficial motto: "I make the mistakes, so you don't have to." In this eye-opening episode, Kyle candidly shares his Las Vegas birthday blunder when celebrating turning 45 coincided with the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas 5K. Follow his perfect storm of pre-race errors – from early morning travel and desert dehydration to downing multiple beers before toeing the starting line. With scientific precision and self-deprecating humor, Kyle dissects exactly how alcohol sabotaged every system in his body, from muscle function and energy levels to coordination and recovery. Whether you're a competitive runner or casual jogger, this cautionary tale delivers valuable insights about the surprising ways alcohol undermines athletic performance. Tune in for this refreshingly honest look at what happens when birthday celebrations and race ambitions collide!
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Join us for an enlightening episode of The Back of the Pack Podcast where we welcome back our beloved guest host and award-winning podcaster, Karin Velez from the Just Grow Something Podcast. While Kyle continues his Las Vegas running adventure, Karin takes the reins to demystify the science behind VO2Max - a topic our listeners have been eager to understand. Known for her exceptional ability to break down complex scientific concepts, Karin unravels the mysteries of this crucial fitness measurement that runners often hear about but rarely fully comprehend. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting your running journey, you won't want to miss this listener-requested deep dive into the science that could transform your understanding of running performance and cardiovascular fitness.
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Missing episodes?
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Join us for an illuminating journey through Las Vegas's unexpected running paradise on this week's episode of The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind. Beyond the dazzling casino lights and entertainment shows, we explore the vibrant running community that calls the desert city home. From the iconic Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon that shuts down the famous Strip at night to the challenging trails of Red Rock Canyon, discover how running has transformed Vegas into a premier destination for athletes. We'll reveal how this thriving running scene generates over $200 million in annual economic impact, uniting 40,000 runners from around the world for an unforgettable nighttime marathon experience. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just curious about the intersection of sports and Sin City, this episode offers a fascinating look at how Las Vegas has evolved into a bucket-list destination for runners worldwide.
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Buckle up for a triple-header of race reviews that's more action-packed than a Presidents Day mattress sale! Join host Kyle as he burrows underground for the Groundhog Run's Tunnel to Tunnel Challenge, sprints to the finish before the Super Bowl kickoff, and laments the mysterious case of the phantom ice storm that stole the Sweetheart Run. But wait, there's more! Kyle dives into the art of spotting personal progress - because sometimes your biggest victories aren't just about beating your PR. Whether you're here for the race tales, the Kansas City winter running adventures, or just want to know if Kyle actually saw his shadow in those underground tunnels, this episode delivers faster than a post-race pizza order!
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Ever feel like one weekly dose of The Back of the Pack just isn't enough? Well, grab your recovery shoes because we're about to double your running podcast joy! Welcome to The Back of the Pack Podcast: Second Wind - where we're breaking free from the race course to explore all the paths that make up a runner's life. In this debut episode, host Kyle unveils his vision for this Friday favorite-to-be, where we'll dive into everything from crushing fitness goals and parenting adventures to mental health victories and whatever wild tangents catch our breath along the way. Think of it as your post-long-run coffee chat, where the conversation flows as freely as your favorite electrolyte drink. Whether you're a longtime Back of the Pack faithful or just stumbling upon our running family, lace up and join us for this exciting new chapter. Warning: May cause spontaneous motivation and uncontrollable desire to sign up for another race... or maybe just finally organize that gear closet!
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This week, we're diving deep into the world of hills, hills, and... oh yeah, more hills! Join host Kyle as he chats with Michael Russel about the upcoming Liberty Half Marathon and William Jewell 5k - where 'flat' is apparently a four-letter word. From the pre-race expo to the post-race celebrations, Michael spills all the details about this Hy-Vee sponsored event that's doing more than just torturing runners' quads - it's supporting the Liberty Hospital Foundation. Whether you're curious about the course (did we mention it's hilly?), want to learn about the charitable impact, or just need motivation to train on some inclines, this episode is your perfect training partner. Bonus: Find out why runners keep coming back to this challenging March event, despite their calves' formal protests!
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Join host Kyle as he takes you on a wild southern road trip that somehow involved two races, one dolphin-themed medal, and enough BBQ stops to fuel a small army. From Kansas City to Gulf Shores, this episode chronicles the Big Beach Marathon Weekend where Kyle tackled both the Safari 7k and Half Marathon to claim the coveted Dolphin Challenge. Whether you're here for the race stories, the travel mishaps through six states, or just want to see if Kyle actually survived running on beach sand, this episode has it all. Bonus: YouTube and Facebook viewers get to witness the beautiful bling that made all those miles worth it... or at least that's what Kyle keeps telling himself.
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She's BAAAACK! Our great friend Karin, from the Just Grow Something Podcast is back to drop her knowledge! This time she is going to talk to you about strength training. Now before your chicken butt runs off, Karin is going to make this so simple, even Kyle can understand! Now that's simple! So tune in while Karin breaks it all down for you. She will keep your running career going, we can promise you that!
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Brrrr! Well that was cold! This past weekends Battle of the Bean 5k was sure an eye opener! Or an eye freezer depending on how you want to look at it! Most of the US is in the ice box right now, with more cold air on the way. Let's talk about cold weather running. I know, I know, but we have to cover it at least once a year. It's reverse psychology, because if we talk about it now, we won't need it for the rest of 2025. Right? RIGHT!
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Let's put the finishing bow on 2024. Here we will cover every race we did in the last year. Get a the speedy review on all the places we've been. The good, the bad, and the ugly! If here is anything you want to hear more about, reach out to the podcast! We'll get you covered. We finish out the year and get heading full speed into 2025! Don't forget our big push on Intagram! Give us a follow @backofthepackpodcast on the Gram!
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Happy New Year! After a week off, we are back with our first episode of 2025! We already have one race under our belt, as we ran the Time Travel Half Marathon in Parkville, MO to start the New Year. We will tell you all about this race and get everything lined up for 2025. We had a great year in 2024, but this boat doesn't sail without your help! Enjoy the review, then hear all the ways you can help your favorite running podcast in 2025.
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We are back from our trip to Mississippi. In three words, things went NOT AS EXPECTED. We will break down all the events of the weekend. We will wrap up 2024 with a little bow and send everyone into their Holiday season! Thank you for a great year with The Back of the Pack Podcast. We can't wait to continue on in 2025!
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While Kyle is in Mississippi, we are being taken over this week by Gretchen and Elaine from The Happy Pace Podcast! The only podcast recorded while running! This week they are going to bring on a guest and talk about virtual racing, running on the treadmill, and more running knowledge from the other side of Missouri. The St. Louis Legends join us, so tune in and find YOUR Happy Pace!
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It's a little more somber week for The Back of the Pack Podcast. We will discuss a great new race we did in Kansas City, KS that was unfortunately born out of tragedy. We will discuss how to try to create a triumph even in the most difficult of situations. It is not easy and it is not immediate. We will also honor our 2024 Rexy Maddox who has finished his battle with cancer while gaining his wings. Join us for a more difficult episode.
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We're here for our first December episode. The year is almost over! What?!?! This week we are going to catch up on our race reviews, lay out the rest of the year, and then yes we are piggy backing! Our friends over at the Happy Pace Podcast put out an episode and we had to talk about it! We are talking DNF's. Yes, the dreaded runner term no one wants to hear. We will talk about how to approach them when they happen. Join in and make sure that this is an episode you take all the way to the finish line.
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Who doesn't love a new challenge? We have breaking news in this brand new episode of The Back of the Pack Podcast. The introduction of the new Fly Over Challenge with the Top City Half Marathon in Topeka, KS and the Lincoln Marathon (and half) in Lincoln, NE. We speak to both race directors on this new challenge taking place in May 2025.. Tune in and don't miss out!
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Another race weekend on the road for The Back of the Pack Podcast. We were in Rolla, MO for the Honoring Our Heroes Half Marathon. This race review was requested by a fan of the show, so we saddled up and went on a bit of a road trip to check this event out. It was an absolutely great race that we cannot wait to tell you all about. Join us as we deep dive this small Missouri race and yes, we will definitely hope to be back next year!
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It is Veteran's Day here in 2024. A day to honor those who serve. This week we ran two Veterans Day themed races. One of them turned out to be a most difficult of 5k! We'll do a quick review of these and talk about some other military themed events coming up in 2025. Some we have done, some we are learning about for the first time. So join us as we cruise though November and make our annual stop to honor our heroes!
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A weekend off for us, but the running world kept on spinning! The 2024 New York Marathon is in the books! A few races to cover, and then the eagerly awaited episode on the Galloway Run Walk Run Method. We'll break it down and talk about how it effects us on race day. We throw in a little runners etiquette to cap things off. Lastly, we have a BIG question for all of you in this episode. We need to know what you think, so listen in and let us know!
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We are back from Year Two at The Good Life Halfsy in Lincoln, NE. We enjoyed this race so much last year, we had to come back for another round! This time we brought a team with us! 70 runners joined our team this year. We had a table at the expo, met the folks, and ran the race. It was just about as good a weekend as one could have in Lincoln, NE. Join us as we breakdown all things Good Life, and go over this crazy month of October 2024!
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