Ep. 172 - Excellence is Boring Before It's Impressive: Winter Training 2026, High Mileage, The Last Chance

December doesn’t reward you right away.No races.No crowds.No proof that the work is doing anything at all.In this solo episode, I walk through how I’m approaching winter training — not just the mileage, but the mindset behind it. Why winter is my favorite season. Why PRs are made long before spikes ever hit the track. And why patience, not excitement, is the real competitive advantage.I break down my winter mileage plan, how I’m building gradually toward 55–60 miles per week, and what I believe actually defines a breakout junior track season. Not just times — but composure, durability, and the ability to show up when discomfort hits.We talk about being “due” for a breakout without feeling entitled. About trusting inputs when outcomes are still invisible. And about why spring doesn’t create fitness — it reveals it.This episode is for anyone willing to do the work when no one’s watching.Because winter always tells the truth.I hope you enjoy this episode of The Sunday Shakeout!Please consider leaving a follow and a five-star review!

In 2025, South Eugene’s Yosuke Shibata quietly put together one of the strongest junior seasons in the nation.He started the fall with a win at the Oregon City XC Invite, dropping 14:53.8 and showing early signs that he was ready for more. Two weeks later, he went 14:38.2 at Nike Portland XC — a race that didn’t just give him a PR, it put him on everyone’s radar across the region.From there, he kept leveling up. He won his first OSAA 6A state title in 15:01.1, closing hard against some of Oregon’s best seniors. At NXR Northwest, he held his ground in one of the most aggressive regional races we’ve seen in years, finishing fourth in 14:45.0 to earn his spot at NXN.And on the national stage, he delivered again — 23rd at Nike Cross Nationals, just outside All-American, but fully inside the conversation of who belongs up front.What stands out about Yosuke isn’t just the times. It’s the way he carries himself. Steady. Composed. A kid who built confidence race by race until the belief finally caught up with the ability.As he heads toward track and the rest of his junior year, his trajectory feels less like a breakout and more like the start of someone settling into who he really is as a star on the national scene.Tap into the Yosuke Shibata Special.Please consider leaving a follow and a five-star review!

In 2025, Spokane’s Miro Parr-Coffin became the freshman every Northwest distance fan had to watch.The Gonzaga Prep standout opened his high-school career by dropping a 14:29.6 at The Mook XC Invitational, finishing second in a field loaded with upperclassmen. Two weeks later, he backed it up with another runner-up finish at the Battle of the 509, proving the breakout wasn’t a one-off.His momentum carried into championship season. He placed fifth at the Washington 4A State Meet, then delivered a strong 32nd-place, 15:17 performance at NXR Northwest — the biggest race of his life, on a course only a handful of athletes had previewed.Off the cross-country course, Parr-Coffin showed an even wider range. In July, he swept the 16U national titles in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, earning USA Wrestling’s Athlete of the Week honors. The combination of endurance, power, discipline, and composure made him one of the most versatile young athletes in the country.Balancing high-stakes wrestling with high-level running, the 2029 freshman built a season defined by conviction and consistency. His progression, from breakout invitational performer to state contender to national-championship wrestler, reveals a rare competitive engine for someone this young.With three years still ahead of him, Parr-Coffin’s ceiling stretches far beyond the already massive results he’s produced. Whether sharpening his craft on the mat or chasing new benchmarks on the grass, his next chapters promise even more leaps forward.Tap into the Miro Parr-Coffin Special.If you enjoy The Sunday Shakeout, please follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a five-star review. It helps the podcast grow and reach more listeners.

In 2025, Camas senior Cohen Butler became one of the most composed and dangerous distance runners in the Pacific Northwest.Cohen opened his fall with a fourth-place finish at Nike Portland XC (14:40.8). That September weekend turned some heads, but it was nothing that warned people what was coming. Two weeks later, he took control of the field at Hole in the Wall, running 14:36 for a course record and instantly redefining his ceiling.At the Washington 4A State Championships in Pasco, Butler controlled the race with that same icy calm, going gun-to-tape and winning with authority in a time of 14:47. Then at Nike Cross Regionals Northwest, he did it again. Cohen took off in the last 1K and matched that 14:36 to win the regional crown and punch his ticket to Nike Cross Nationals as a legitimate threat.What sets him apart isn’t just the times, it’s the way he gets them. Butler trains with a surprisingly mature double-threshold, mileage, and race-pace sessions, having that patience and discipline that serve him in championship season. Despite the dominance, he carries himself like the quiet guy in the back of the room: low-key, poised, never loud about the work, just steady enough to let the results talk.By the time he toes the line at nationals, he’ll enter as the definition of Northwest toughness: disciplined, grounded, and built for long races that require patience and guts.If you enjoy the episode, follow The Sunday Shakeout on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and consider leaving a five-star review.

This week on the podcast, I'm doing a solo episode. Going into my junior year, my confidence was sky-high after the summer training block of my life. As I have documented on the show, I got hit with major adversity and sickness multiple times throughout September and October.While I didn't realize it at the time, I had it in my head that my performance would be the deciding factor in how the team performs in the postseason. And while this could have been true, that mindset created a toxic, self-centric mental outlook. I tried to take so much control, refusing to surrender to my body and the season, that I fell. Multiple times. It was only after we won Metro for the program's 4th-straight time that I truly internalized and shifted my mindset from myself to the team.Not only did this take pressure off slightly, but I oddly enjoyed the process of training and racing so much more. No longer was I working out and racing to hit splits and run a major time. I was executing the training and racing to drag my teammates along and chase greatness collectively. Varsity racing teaches you so much. I tell of that lesson and many others on the show today.

250 meters to go. One move left. The underdog from Portsmouth finally takes his shot.Rhode Island’s Sean Gray has spent years quietly sharpening his tools, building speed, endurance, and belief from the ground up.The Portsmouth High School senior has been unstoppable this fall, going undefeated and capturing two major titles. At the Rhode Island State Championships, Sean delivered one of the most thrilling finishes in meet history, surging past Hendricken’s Colby Flynn in the final 250 meters to win in 15:16.1 and become the first boy from Portsmouth to ever claim the individual title.Just a week later, he followed it up with another win at the New England Interscholastic Championships, clocking 15:53.1 against some of the best runners in the Northeast.But Sean’s rise wasn’t effortless. After missing time with achilles tendinitis last year, he rebuilt from the ground up, learning patience, trust, and precision. With personal bests of 8:27 for 3K, 14:36 for 5K on the track, and 14:55 for 5K in cross country, along with Rhode Island state records in both the indoor and outdoor 5K, Sean has proven that steady, deliberate work can create something special.In this episode, we unpack the mindset, strategy, and quiet fire that turned Sean Gray from a calculated racer into a state champion and a potential national contender.If you enjoy the podcast, follow The Sunday Shakeout on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review.

What happens when patience finally pays off?Sean Fries isn’t just another name on a leaderboard. He’s a senior out of Minnetonka High School — the newly crowned Minnesota state champion, Stanford commit, and the #2-ranked runner in the nation. Just yesterday, he won his first state title in 14:50 on grass, breaking the meet record and finally claiming the race that had eluded him for years.But what makes Sean’s story special isn’t the time, it’s the journey. Missing NXN last fall. Swimming through an entire winter instead of doing the traditional grind. Learning that you don’t have to be great at something to grow from it. And slowly, quietly, trusting that consistency would do its work.In this episode, we dig into the mindset behind his breakout year: how pain became perspective, how patience became power, and how staying true to himself led to the biggest win of his career.Tap in. Please consider leaving a follow and a five-star review!

What do you do when the race that broke you is now the opportunity to cement your legacy?Kellen Williams, a senior at Jesuit High School in Portland, has lived both sides of greatness. Two years ago, as a sophomore, he watched his team’s NXN dreams slip away in the final kilometer. Today, he’s the #1 guy on the #2 team in the nation, leading Jesuit’s chase for a national title.We unpack Kellen’s rise to stardom over the last 12 months, including a victory at the Oregon Relays Mile, two 2nd-place finishes at the Oregon State Meet, and a stunning breakout win at the Mook Invitational, beating top regional contenders, and shattering the course record in a time of 14:28.We also dive deep into how Kellen rebuilt himself after hitting rock bottom due to irony deficiency, and what it took to move from shame to self-belief, failure to a final dance.Finally, Kellen and I explore what it means to lead a powerhouse team without losing yourself in the rankings — to chase history while staying grounded with your boys.So many nuggets of wisdom. So many stories. Worth your listen.Leave a follow and five-star rating.

Today on the podcast is Lily Alder.Lily is a senior out of Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, and is committed to run for the legendary BYU Cougars in 2026. One of the most decorated high school athletes to come on the show, Lily has put together an incredible resume over the past year—she’s the Nike Outdoor Nationals Mile Champion, Brooks PR Mile Champion, Utah State Champion in the 800, and the 44th Woodbridge Invitational XC Champion. As we head into November, Lily stands as one of the top contenders not only in Utah, but on the national stage.In this episode, Lily and I go deep on her training philosophy, which focuses on longevity and long-term development. Interestingly, she splits her workload evenly between running and cross-training, a balance that’s helped her stay healthy and perform consistently at the highest level. We also dive into her breakout spring season, how she handles pressure in championship moments, and what’s next as she gears up for the biggest races of her senior year.Lily brings an incredible mindset and maturity to the sport, and her story is one that every young athlete can learn from.Please consider leaving a follow and a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. I hope you enjoy this episode of The Sunday Shakeout with Lily Alder.

The October Rundown.This week, I did not plan for a guest. I have been wanting to do a genuine solo episode for a while now.To put it lightly, my junior cross-country season has not gone to plan. Today, I reflect upon my season so far, and the challenges and unexpected turns so far this fall.Historically in my running career, when I don’t run well, I can usually pinpoint injury or illness as the culprit, causing either a decline in fitness or reduced performance. For the first time in my career, I am not running well, but cannot pinpoint a specific reason. Nothing is making sense right now. Sometimes, this sport doesn’t make sense. Running is hard, but that’s what makes it rewarding. You have to stay self-aware and keep believing and persevering through tough times. Because, ultimately, championship season is what truly matters. The greats in every walk of life face slumps; it’s part of the process. That’s what I have to remind myself during the struggle.Takeaways:Embrace the journey, even when it doesn't go as planned.Mental focus is key to overcoming physical challenges.Every athlete faces slumps; it's part of the process.Trust in your training and preparation.Learn from past experiences to improve future performances.The importance of self-awareness in sports.Championship season is what truly matters.Keep believing and persevering through tough times.Adjusting race strategies can lead to better outcomes.Running is hard, but that's what makes it rewarding.I hope you enjoy this episode of The Sunday Shakeout!Shoutout to the team at the Battle of 509 who told me they are fans of the podcast. Y’all are real ones.Please consider leaving a follow and a five-star review.