Helen Schlachtenhaufen talks to host Sarah Lorge Butler about walking on to the cross country team at Dartmouth, having a big breakthrough her senior year, and becoming a professional runner.

Helen is now eight years into her pro career, and despite running her fastest times ever last year, she found herself without a sponsor this season. Her 2025 track season was off to a promising start when an unavoidable fall at the USATF Outdoor Championships took her out for most of the rest of her season.

Earlier this week, she was able to run one final race to end the season, and she pulled off a win.

Helen also discusses the fact that speed runs in her family. In the 1920s, her maternal great-grandmother was one of the best 220 yard runners in the world.

Cindy Kuzma's Runner's World article about Helen and her husband, Brian Shrader: https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a62573906/brian-shrader-helen-schlachtenhaufen-chicago-marathon/

Helen Schlachtenhaufen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenschlach/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Professional distance runner Josette Andrews recently qualified to represent the U.S. in the 5,000m at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. A few days before heading to the event, Josette caught up with Sarah Lorge Butler to discuss her season so far, her non-linear path to professional running, the injury that she dealt with last year, and the training that has been working well for her.

Josette Andrews on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josettenorris/

Josette and Robby Andrews' coaching business: https://www.milestogocoaching.com/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Sarah Lorge Butler talks to Olympian Kate Grace about her recent retirement after 12 years as a pro track & field athlete. Kate recently transitioned into a career in investment consulting, and she discussed some strategies that could help set pro runners up to have more flexibility when they retire from the sport. She also shared her advice for young runners, as well as her thoughts on pro training groups.

This episode was recorded August 5.

Kate Grace on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastkate/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Sarah Lorge Butler talks to Hawi Keflezighi about celebrating 20 years as a track & field agent. He discusses how he got his start, whether he ever doubted the agency would make it, and some of the highs and lows he's dealt with over the years.

Hawi also discusses the role agents play in combating doping, whether some agents have too many clients, and agents who promise more than they can deliver.

HAWI Management on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawimanagement/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Sarah Lorge Butler talks to Courtney Frerichs, 2021 Olympic silver medalist and the American record holder in the steeplechase. In April 2024, Courtney tore her ACL and both her medial and lateral menisci while going over a water barrier during practice.

She thought that might be the end of her professional running career, but over the past year, she has worked her way back. In May, she finished third at the USATF 5K Championships in 15:18. Courtney talked about considering retiring, working her way back, whether she'll run the steeplechase again, and some of her other goals for the future.

Courtney Frerichs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneyfrerichs/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Sarah Lorge Butler talks to Kenya's Sharon Lokedi, who recently won the Boston Marathon in a course record of 2:17:22. Sharon came to the U.S. for college, and became 10-time All-American and the 2018 NCAA 10,000m champion for the University of Kansas.

She signed with her current sponsor, Under Armour, right out of college and learned that she really excels on the roads, particularly in the marathon. In her debut at the distance, she pulled off a surprise win at the 2022 New York City Marathon.

Sharon has built a stellar marathon resume, so many people were surprised when she was only selected as the alternate for Kenya's Olympic marathon team. But six weeks out, she was informed that she was being called up to race. She quickly switched into marathon training mode, and on a tough course in Paris, she managed to finish fourth in a four-way sprint finish.

Next up, Sharon will race Saturday's New York Mini 10K.

Sharon Lokedi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shazrine/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Drew Hunter was 18 when he signed his first pro running contract, and now, at 27, he's already a seasoned veteran. He talked to Sarah Lorge Butler about what his parents did right in supporting him as a young runner, being coached by his mom as a pro, NIL and the business side of the sport, switching from Adidas to Asics, becoming a parent, and his stroller sponsorship.

After thinking it might be his final year as a professional runner, Drew had a breakthrough year in 2024, running personal bests in the 1500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m, and finishing fourth in the latter at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

This episode was recorded on May 21. The following day, Drew published a newsletter about his departure from Tinman Elite: https://drews-newsletter-3d1534.beehiiv.com/p/not-with-a-bang-but-a-whimper

Watch Drew's stroller running tips video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHTr2VaO6m3/

Drew Hunter on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewhunter00/

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!

Big changes are coming to the NCAA and Sarah Lorge Butler spoke with Victoria Jackson to help make sense of it all. Jackson was the 2006 NCAA champion in the 10,000m and she went on to run professionally. Now she's a sports historian and clinical associate professor of history at Arizona State University.

Jackson discusses how we got here, what changes are likely coming, and why they aren't all bad. And she encourages cross country and track & field coaches to think creatively.

Watch the Great Game Lab Set Piece with Des Linden: https://greatgamelab.asu.edu/set-pieces/des-linden

Victoria Jackson on X: https://x.com/historyrunner

Sarah Lorge Butler on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/slorgebutler.bsky.social

Fast Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastwomen/

Fast Women on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fastwomen.bsky.social

Subscribe to the Fast Women newsletter: https://fastwomen.substack.com/

Thanks for being one of the original listeners of the Fast People podcast!