The Spewak Training Podcast
Everyone’s running story is personal. On the Spewak Training Podcast, we interview incredible runners and talented coaches from our Spewak team and community to hear their stories of challenge, perseverance and joy.
Listen & watch on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Episode 06: The Bigger Picture: Carter Jensen’s First Marathon Success with Coach Jill Finklang
Host Mark Spewak welcomes Spewak Training coach Jill Finklang and athlete Carter Jensen for their first podcast appearances to highlight their athlete-coach relationship, which began in July/August 2023 after Carter’s wedding while he was in law school.
Episode 05: A Decade of Progress: Carlos Briseño’s Sub-90 Quest, Go! St. Louis Breakthrough, and Strength-Fueled PRs
Carlos recounts early PRs, lessons learned from races like Cowbell, and his breakthrough at the 2018 Go! St. Louis Half Marathon, where he ran 1:27:02 after years chasing sub-90.
Episode 04: Patience, Resilience, and Marathon PRs: Emily Shor’s Comeback with Coach Kaitlyn Donahue
Emily shares how she initially felt terrified and vulnerable reaching out for coaching, and how Coach Kaitlyn’s supportive, flexible approach helped her get faster while prioritizing safety and work-life balance.
Episode 03: Overcoming Strokes and Racing Towards Marathon Goals
Mark Spewak shares his personal experience with suffering two strokes and how it inspired him to speak publicly for the first time.
Episode 02: Tim Oh's Journey to Boston with Coach Julia Griffey
Mark Spewak is joined by Coach Julia Griffey and athlete Tim Oh. They discuss Tim's path from a high school runner to a Boston Marathon qualifier under Julia's guidance.
Episode 01: From Hospital Bed to Marathon Success with Nicole Shepherds
In this inaugural episode of the Spewak Training Podcast, host Mark Spewak interviews Nicole Shepherds, a dog groomer, yogi & inspiring athlete, and her Spewak Training Coach Dan Staples.