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Artwork for Running--State of the Sport

Running--State of the Sport

Amby Burfoot and George Hirsch
Boston Marathon
New York City Marathon
Grant Fisher
Olympic Trials
Chicago Marathon
Running
Olympic Marathon Trials
London Marathon
Paris Olympics
Olympics
Marathon Running
Marathon
Women's Marathon
Men's 1500-Meter
Distance Running
Running Community
Clayton Young
Running Training Strategies
Doping In Athletics
John Cahill

The podcast where we talk to the smartest, most informed, most influential, and sometimes fastest runners on the planet.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes72Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RunningSports

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Artwork for Running--State of the Sport

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we interview Bill Rodgers on the 50th anniversary of his historic win in the first 5-borough New York City Marathon of 1976. On that occasion, Bill beat two-time Olympic medalist Frank Shorter, and helped launch the urban running boo... more

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As a freshman at Yale in the spring of 1974, Dan Schlesinger broke the school's record in the 6-mile run. That record was previously held by a guy named Frank Shorter. Remember this for your next running trivia game.

Schlesinger did much more in his... more

YouTube

In the latest episode of the podcast, "Running: State Of The Sport," George and Amby chat with German Silva, winner of the 1994 and 1995 New York City Marathons.

Silva grew up as one of 13 children living in a small Mexican town without electricity.... more

YouTube

Rod Dixon is one of the alltime great runners from New Zealand--a country that has produced far more than its expected share of top runners. This possibly extends from the influence of Arthur Lydiard, the immensely influential New Zealand coach from ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Bill Rodgers
Four-time Boston Marathon and four-time New York City Marathon winner
Episode: Bill Rodgers--King of the Roads
Dan Schlesinger
Marathon runner and fine artist; author/illustrator
Artist, Author of Injury Blues And The Red Running Shoes
Episode: Dan Schlesinger--marathon great and fine artist
Hermán Silva
Mexican marathon great, New York City Marathon winner
Mexico (athlete)
Episode: German Silva--Mexican marathon great
Rod Dixon
New Zealand distance runner and marathoner
New Zealand athletics
Episode: Rod Dixon--New Zealand great
Pete Pfitzinger
Marathon great, author of Advanced Marathoning, online coach
Pfitzinger Coaching / Advanced Marathoning
Episode: Pete Pfitzinger--marathon great, book author
Paul Gompers
American marathoner, Harvard Business School professor, and venture capital practitioner
Harvard Business School; Sperr Capital Partners
Episode: Paul Gompers--elite marathoner and Harvard Business School professor
Bob Bickel
Founder of Run Sign Up
Run Sign Up
Episode: Bob Bickel--RunSignUp.com
Paula Radcliffe
Elite runner and guest
Former world record holder in the marathon
Episode: Paula Radcliffe
Jared Ward
Marathoner, BYU alum, businessman
Athlete and entrepreneur
Episode: Jared Ward

Hosts

Amby Burfoot
Host with deep history in running and coaching, frequently collaborating on episodes that blend athletic insight with sport culture.
George Hirsch
Co-host known for deep domain knowledge of the sport, governance perspectives, and guest curation across episodes.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 53 ratings
  • Great Running Podcast

    Amby Burfoot is one of my favorite historical runners. His knowledge of the science of running with his experience is great to hear. I always enjoy the takes on the podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NBA 2K Lakers
    United States6 months ago
  • Going downhill

    This podcast is becoming almost unlistenable. The sound quality is barely audible. Come on guys, it’s 2026. Either get better equipment or a sound engineer. The content is there but that doesn’t matter if you can’t hear it.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    TinyMcghee
    United States7 months ago
  • George and Amby!

    If you are a runner, this podcast is a must listen. The deep knowledge of the hosts and the quality of the guest is great! The recent Jack Fultz episode was AWESOME. Thanks George and Amby!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rich Houston
    United States8 months ago
  • Excellent podcasts.

    No one knows more about the competitive running scene than Amby and George. They do amazing podcasts! I love these guys.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nihaoman1
    United States10 months ago
  • Such fun for running fans

    This is a great way to learn about and stay up to date on all-things running, from two of the foremost experts, George Hirsch and Amby Burfoot. Their passion for the sport in all its forms shines through and is infectious.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @mbhogan
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Hosts bring a unique blend of history and current events in running.
Thoughtful, well-researched discussions with high-caliber guests.
Sound quality and guest depth are generally praised, with some notes on occasional production gaps.
Solid listening for runners who want depth beyond race results.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#112
United States/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#191
Canada/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#245
Australia/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#113
Mexico/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#149
South Africa/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#241
Denmark/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bill Rodgers--King of the Roads
Q: How did that race, the 76, 5-Burrow marathon, and the 5-Burrow part is the important part, change the entire arc and history of marathon running in the world?
Rodgers says Fred Lebow and New York's political leadership took a chance on the five-borough course, demonstrating that a major marathon could run through a city. He says the success inspired other urban races and helped create the global marathon scene.
Bill Rodgers--King of the Roads
Q: What ever gave you the feeling that you could compete with Frank in October in New York City?
Rodgers says he had been close to Shorter in the Olympic Trials, had beaten him in World Cross Country, and had tied him in a 10-mile race. He admired Shorter, but felt they were evenly matched despite having different strengths.
Pete Pfitzinger--marathon great, book author
Q: What was your prescription for lactate threshold training?
Lactate threshold is a few percent faster than marathon pace, something a well-trained marathoner can hold for about an hour; it can be trained in one piece or accumulated across multiple segments to fit individual schedules and preferences.
Martin Dugard, author
Q: elevator pitch: Why should runners be interested in The Long Run?
Because it frames the 1970s running boom as a revolution that reshaped society, not just a sport, and it connects personal stories to larger cultural shifts in a way that feels immediate and engaging.
Oz Pearlman--mentalist and marathoner
Q: Can you describe the White House Correspondents' Dinner incident and what you learned from it?
I was on stage performing for the President and First Lady when armed security swarmed the room; I learned to stay calm under extreme uncertainty, rely on training and presence, and appreciate how quickly life can change, which reinforced gratitude and perspective.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Running--State of the Sport

What is Running--State of the Sport about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently centers on high-level endurance running, blending historical context with current developments in training, coaching, governance, and industry trends. Episodes frequently feature elite athletes, coaches, authors, and industry insiders who share practical coaching insights, race strategy, wellness, sponsorship dynamics, and the evolving ecosystem around mass participation events. Highlights include deep dives into training theories, race-day psychology, footwear tech, and the sport's governance and grassroots communities, making it useful for listeners who want actionable takeaways whether they're chasing personal bests or shaping running-focused brands and partnerships.

Where can I find podcast stats for Running--State of the Sport?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Running--State of the Sport. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Running--State of the Sport and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Running--State of the Sport get?

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How many subscribers and views does Running--State of the Sport have?

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How many episodes of Running--State of the Sport are there?

Running--State of the Sport launched 3 years ago and published 72 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Running--State of the Sport?

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What guests have appeared on Running--State of the Sport?

Recent guests on Running--State of the Sport include:

1. Bill Rodgers
2. Dan Schlesinger
3. Hermán Silva
4. Rod Dixon
5. Pete Pfitzinger
6. Paul Gompers
7. Bob Bickel
8. Paula Radcliffe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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