Steep Ravine...Deep Thoughts About Running

Two old friends and former college runners talk about what’s happening in the world of distance running.

Episode 79: NCAA Cross-Country Championships and California High School State Meet

Hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank break down the latest cross-country moments: comprehensive NCAA championship coverage (D1–D3), standout individual runs, and a thrilling women’s duel between Doris Lemongole and freshman Jane Hedengren. They highlight team results, surprising finishes, and notable performances across the men’s and women’s fields. The episode also covers the California State high school championships—including team and individual winners and combined-region implications for NXN—plus course-building talk for NXN/USAs, and travel anecdotes from the Gans Creek trip.

11-30
01:10:02

Episode 78: High School and NCAA Regional XC Updates

Matt and Dave recap the excitement from Oregon state meets, share coaching stories and standout performances, and discuss how athletes fared at regional Nike and NCAA qualifying races. They also break down key college regionals, at-large bids, and individual standouts while previewing the upcoming national championships and what to watch next week.

11-17
01:05:53

Episode 77: Three Ivy League Standouts Raise the Steep Ravine IQ

Hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank talk with three top collegiate runners — Connor Foley (Dartmouth), Hayden Boaz (Princeton) and Ben Bouie (Harvard) — about recent races, transitioning from high school to college running, and balancing Ivy League academics with elite training.

11-10
53:03

Episode 76: Deep in the Heart of Cross Country Season

Matt and Dave catch up on listener shout-outs and Lyle Smith’s NIWOT connection, plus reflections on Van Cortland and college conference races. They cover major storylines: Iowa State issues, Jane Hedendren’s dominant performance, Ivy League highlights, and the New York City Marathon’s dramatic photo finish. They finish with local high school district results, personal coaching updates, and reactions to an unforgettable World Series.

11-03
01:02:25

Episode 75: Connor Mantz Rules! And a ton of Cross Country Updates

Matt and Dave unpack a massive weekend in running: standout freshman performances at Princeton and Nuttycombe, BYU’s dominant showing at Pre-Nationals, and strong NCAA meet results. They discuss team dynamics, course differences, and the nuances behind fast cross-country times. They also dive into the Chicago Marathon, highlighting record-pace efforts and impressive pros like Connor and Galen, then wrap with local high school updates and personal coaching stories.

10-20
01:07:36

Episode 74: Blood, Sweat, and Spikes: Inside Bernardsville’s Running Dynasty with Lyle Smith

On this episode of The Steep Ravine Podcast, Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank interview Lyle Smith about his book Blood, Sweat, and Spikes, the rise of Bernardsville’s legendary running program, and the coaching influence of Ed Mather and Mark Wetmore. Lyle shares behind-the-scenes stories of youth clubs, the Lydiard-inspired training, national meets, and how that culture followed athletes from a tiny New Jersey town to Boulder’s elite teams; the book is available in bookstores and on Audible.

10-10
01:10:48

Episode 73: World Champs Shockers & Hocker’s Last-Lap Miracle

Hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank break down highlights from the World Athletics Championships, including dramatic finishes, surprise medalists, and standout performances from athletes like Cole Hocker, Faith Kipyegon, Isaac Nader, and more. They mix race analysis with personal stories from a UC Davis gathering, a Heidelberg beer anecdote, notes on live scoring in the multis, and a look ahead to the cross-country season.

09-26
48:45

Episode 72: Geordie Beamish is a Steeplechaser's Steeplechaser! Cole Hocker drama!

Live reactions and analysis from the World Championships: 1500m semis filled with falls and a controversial move by Cole Hawker under review, Ethan Strand’s agonizing near‑miss, and dramatic steeplechase and field event finishes. ESPN keeps calling Dave to see if he's available to announce next year's Prefontaine meet.

09-15
34:39

Episode 71: Bring on Cross Country Season!!

In this episode of the Steep Ravine podcast, Matt and Dave recap the Fifth Avenue Mile, kick off the 2025 Cross Country banter, and gear up for the World Track and Field Championships.

09-08
55:07

Episode 70: From Gilligan’s Island to Running Warehouse: Joe Rubio’s Miles and Merch

Matt and Dave welcome former collegiate standout and Running Warehouse co-founder Joe Rubio to discuss his running journey — from high school cross country to two Olympic Trials — and the training habits that shaped him.

08-27
01:09:41

Episode 69: Dave Crushes a Hole in Two, Rod Berry Cycles Strong, and Complete Coverage of USA's

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank as they cover unforgettable highlights of the recent USA Outdoor National Championships!

08-11
01:15:40

Episode 68 - USA Outdoor Championships Preview

In this episode of Steep Ravine, Dave shares the secrets to leading an effective high school XC Training Camp. Then Matt and Dave preview the upcoming USA Outdoor Championships. There are a ton of Americans running fast and this meet is going to be red hot!

07-29
01:01:04

Episode 67: Dave and Matt Cover the Pre Classic, Monaco, Sound Running, Ed Murphey

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank in the latest episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast as they catch you up on the latest outdoor season events. Things are really heating up!

07-14
58:45

Episode 66: A Visit with Sam Whitmarsh

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast! Join Matt Wilkinson and his good friend Dave Frank in conversation with 2025 NCAA 800 meter champion, Sam Whitmarsh. Sam speaks about his remarkable career, personal challenges, and the inspiring outlook that has guided him to success. After the visit with Sam, Dave and Matt round out their coverage of the NCAA championships.

07-03
01:18:40

Episode 65: The NCAA Championships are Very Fun - Part 1

Join Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank on the Steep Ravine Podcast as they delve into the exciting world of track and field. In this episode, they begin to recount their experiences at the NCAA Division 1 Track and Field Championships, including placing fun $1 bets on race outcomes, mingling with fellow track enthusiasts, and witnessing outstanding athletic performances. This episode covers the women's results.   

06-20
53:48

Episode 64: Bring on the NCAA D1 Championships!!

Join Matt and Dave on this episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast as the duo discusses the highly anticipated NCAA Nationals, providing in-depth analysis of the distance races. The episode captures the excitement of record-breaking performances from high school phenoms and collegiate stars. With predictions and insights, Matt and Dave prepare listeners for what promises to be an exhilarating competition. Don't miss out on their humorous banter and thoughtful commentary as they raise the bar for track and field podcasts.

06-09
01:03:52

Episode 63: Unpacking the Oregon and California State Track and Field Meets

Join us for an exciting episode of the Steep Revee Podcast as hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank, along with returning guest Jim Scatini, dive into the highlights and controversies surrounding the Oregon and California State Track and Field Meets. From spectacular performances and record-breaking feats to unexpected disqualifications and impassioned rants, we cover the thrilling events that unfolded. 

06-03
01:11:49

Episode 62: Bill Gregg is a Really Cool Guy

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank in this insightful episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast, where they are joined by special guest Bill Gregg from Davis High School. Dive into a rich discussion about the dynamics of coaching, the evolution of running programs, and the introduction of promising young athletes. Reminisce about the '80s with recollections of coaching cross country at UC Davis and the influence of renowned coaches. Listen as Bill Gregg shares his journey from Chico High School to becoming an influential coach at Davis High, mentoring both his own children and other successful runners.

05-26
01:14:33

Episode 61: NCAA Conference Madness

Join hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank in this energetic episode of Steep Ravine, where they dive into tales of resilience, global adventures, and the relentless spirit of runners. From busy travel schedules and unexpected illnesses to thrilling high school meets and college conference championships, they cover it all.

05-19
40:22

Episode 60: Warriors Advance, Mountainside Runners on Track, and Scattini goes under 2:50

Join Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank in this episode of the Steep Ravine Podcast as they opine on great NBA coaches and the Golden State Warriors victory over Houston, before moving on to outstanding track performances from Mountainside High's stand-out athletes to the Pros.

05-06
01:03:36

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