Sophie Novak is an NCAA superstar and one of the fastest steeplechasers in the world.

In 2024, she won the ACC Championship in the women’s 3K steeplechase and competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

In 2025, she elevated her game even further, winning the Drake Relays steeple in a meet-record 9:28 and later running a world-class personal best of 9:23.

Now, with one outdoor season left at Notre Dame, Sophie is aiming even higher. Her sights are set on big goals in 2026, including the Fighting Irish program record of 9:17.

In this episode, we break down her incredible career thus far and talk about the promising future that lies ahead.

If you’re a runner who loves to learn how elite student-athletes operate, this episode is for you!

Hosted by Will Loggia

Ronnie Melao is one of the most consistent and quietly driven runners you’ll ever meet. In this episode, we break down how he’s improved little by little over the years, most recently running a 2:34 marathon.

We discuss the decade-long arc of his development: the habits that kept him improving year after year, the accountability required to juggle full-time work with 80–90 mile training weeks, and the mindset that allowed him to continue improving even after his collegiate career ended.

We talk about his recent top-50 performance at the Philadelphia Marathon, his accomplishments representing the Stevens Institute of Technology, and his humble high school running beginnings.

If you’re a runner who loves stories of long-term growth, discipline, and sustained improvement well beyond college, this episode is for you.

Hosted by Will Loggia

#marathon #running

Tucker Bowerfind trains harder than almost anyone in the NCAA.

In this episode, we discuss his high mileage and high standards.Boston University senior Tucker Bowerfind joins The Kick to break down what it actually takes to sustain 100-mile weeks while competing at the highest level of collegiate distance running. We talk about the discipline, recovery, and mental resilience behind his training, along with the common misconceptions about high-volume.

Tucker reflects on his strong cross country season, and the goals he’s chasing as he enters the final stretch of his NCAA career.

If you’re a runner who loves training talk, process talk, and hearing from athletes who do things at the highest level, this episode is for you.

Hosted by Will Loggia.