252: Bryan Green and Jon Rankin - Fuel The Pursuit

Meet Gracie Morris: A Puma professional runner, TCU track legend, and brand-new National Champion. During her collegiate career at Texas Christian University, Gracie shattered seven school records and just claimed her first national title at the USATF 2K XC Championships, and she's taking us inside every thrilling moment of that championship run. From the spikes on her feet to the mental battles in her head to the pure joy of her victory celebration, Gracie reveals what it really takes to win at the highest level. But she's not stopping there. Next, she'll pull on the USA jersey to compete as part of a four-person co-ed relay team at the World XC Championships. Beyond the podium, Gracie opens up about her Texas roots and how she fell in love with running, what it's like having a twin brother who's also a professional runner and what she loves to do when she's not logging miles. Gracie's warm personality and infectious laugh will have you lacing up your shoes and ready to chase your own finish line.

Sara Hall is the definition of a mother-runner. She’s the only athlete to snag 10 U.S. Championship titles across distances from the mile all the way to the marathon, and she’s currently training for the California International Marathon to go after another. When she’s not chasing PRs, she’s raising four daughters and planning a tour for her new book For The Love of the Grind coming this spring, a candid look at how she’s navigated record-breaking running while balancing life as a mom.

Keira D’Amato is back on C Tolle Run and we couldn’t be more excited! You know her as a pro runner, mom, motivational speaker, race analyst, and even a real estate agent… and now she’s added “author” to the list. Her new book, Don’t Call It a Comeback, just hit the shelves, and trust us, it’s a good one. Keira gives us the scoop on her prep for the Valencia Marathon, her goals, her new adventure as a race analyst, and everything happening in her world right now. Plus, with Thanksgiving in the air, she and Carrie share what they’re thankful for this year.

Minnesota Distance Elite holds a special place in C Tolle Run’s heart, so we’re thrilled to bring you this live show recorded at Summit Brewing in Saint Paul, Minnesota, featuring close friends and family of the program. We hear directly from the athletes as they share fun facts about themselves, highlight their standout moments from 2025, and talk about what they’re excited for in 2026.Carrie also pulls aside the athletes who recently raced the TCS New York City Marathon to celebrate their achievements. Joel Riechow was the top American on the men's side, while Annie Frisbie finished as the second American and Elena Hayday placed 12th overall in the women's race. Joel, Annie, and Elena reflect on their inspiring performances and share the lessons they hope to pass along.

3x U.S. Champion Annie Rodenfels returns to C Tolle Run fresh off her third victory at the Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K presented by NYRR! Annie takes us inside her race-day mindset: from the patient pacing that set her up for success to the powerful final surge that sealed the win. She shares how she prepared for the race, every thought she had during those key moments, and even how she celebrated afterward. Annie also talks about why she and her coach made the jump to a new training group, Meridia, and what keeps her returning to the same races year after year. Plus, she gives us a look at her future goals and what drives her both on and off the track. Whether you’re a new runner or chasing your next 5K PR, Annie’s energy, honesty, and determination will leave you inspired and ready to run!

It’s a week of debuts for Brooks professional runner and USATF National Champion Amanda Vestri! She just made her marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon, racing alongside some of the greatest runners in the world. She finished 9th overall, running an incredible 2:25:40, the 4th-fastest debut marathon by an American woman in history. Now, she’s making another debut - joining C Tolle Run! In this episode, we dig into Amanda’s journey as a runner, her NYC Marathon build, what it felt like to compete in her home state on one of the sport’s biggest stages, and what’s next for her. From training insights to race-day reflections, nothing is off limits!

Just ahead of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon, elite runner Biya Simbassa returns to C Tolle Run to catch up on life, training, and racing. Biya is coming off a strong 2nd-place finish at the Twin Cities Ten Mile and is deep into preparations for one of the most competitive marathon fields Carrie has ever seen. In this episode, we talk about the power of patience: in training, in racing, and in life. Biya had an incredible 2024, finishing as the fastest American marathoner of the year. He’s now the 5th-fastest American marathoner of all time, and in 2025, he broke a 40-year-old American road 10K record. He’s also a 5-time US Champion, quiet yet fiercely driven, currently living and training in Flagstaff, AZ. We chat about what it’s like to be mentioned alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, his mindset heading into NYC, and how life off the track is shaping who he is today. If you missed his first appearance on C Tolle Run, this is the perfect time to get to know one of the kindest and most inspiring runners I know. By the end of the episode, we're sure you’ll agree!

Kelly McLay is a mom, wife, marathoner, author, keynote speaker, traveler, and founder of Fitness International Travel. Carrie met Kelly just after she finished her 100th marathon(!!) which also happened to be her wedding anniversary weekend at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. In this episode, they explore Kelly’s journey as a runner and entrepreneur, from life on the road while parenting to overcoming health challenges and building a business that plans full-service race travel experiences, including guaranteed entries, lodging, meals, transportation, and even costumes. Kelly’s story is inspiring, energetic, and purpose-driven, and she just might have Carrie’s dream job for the next phase of her career.

Kelly McLay is a mom, wife, marathoner, author, keynote speaker, traveler, and founder of Fitness International Travel. Carrie met Kelly just after she finished her 100th marathon(!!) which also happened to be her wedding anniversary weekend at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. In this episode, they explore Kelly’s journey as a runner and entrepreneur, from life on the road while parenting to overcoming health challenges and building a business that plans full-service race travel experiences, including guaranteed entries, lodging, meals, transportation, and even costumes. Kelly’s story is inspiring, energetic, and purpose-driven, and she just might have Carrie’s dream job for the next phase of her career.

Fresh off the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Carrie sits down with two standout American runners who turned heads with their incredible performances. Conner Mantz finished fourth overall, smashing a 23-year-old American record with a time of 2:04:43. Natosha Rogers was sixth overall and claimed top American honors on the women’s side, setting a personal best of 2:23:38. In this episode, Conner and Natosha take us inside their unforgettable performances, and, of course, share how they celebrated after crossing the finish line.