From Underdog to NCAA Star: Margot Appleton on Winning by Feel, Racing with Heart & Breaking Records

THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

Dominic Schlueter

Running, Sports

4.8 • 686 Ratings

🗓️ 24 May 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Racing by feel and winning with heart.

Margot Appleton has emerged as one of the premier collegiate distance runners in the U.S., blending tactical brilliance, relentless drive, and a flair for dramatic finishes.

In 2019, as a high school junior, Appleton stunned the field at Boston's Mayor's Cup 5K, finishing second overall in 17:14—outpacing the reigning Foot Locker national champion. This performance marked a significant breakthrough in her running career.

Most recently, at the 2025 Penn Relays, Appleton delivered a sensational anchor leg in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR), clocking a 4:21.46 split. Overcoming a significant deficit, she surged past top competitors to secure Virginia's first women's DMR win at the event since 1982. Her 1500m time of 4:05.68 at the 2025 Raleigh Relays ranks as the fourth-fastest in collegiate history.

Appleton holds Virginia school records in the indoor mile (4:25.03), indoor 3000m (8:46.23), and outdoor 5000m (15:18.21). Appleton has earned First Team All-American honors in both the 1500m and 5000m events, including a 4th-place finish in the 5000m at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

In today's conversation, Margot takes me through her successful, consistent career at UVU, being a leader on the team, what it would mean to her to win an NCAA title, what her training looks like, training without a GPS watch, and so much more.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	I like running fast times, but for me, the most important thing is beating people.
0:05.3	And if I run a fast time in a race and don't win, I'm happy, but winning is probably the most important thing to me.
0:13.4	So winning an NCAA title is, it would be like the best way to go out.
0:22.2	That was Margo Appleton today on the Running Effect podcast.
0:25.0	Today I have the privilege of speaking with one of the fastest milers, not just in the NCAA this year, but in the NCAA all time.
0:33.0	So far this outdoor season, she ran a time of 405.68 at the 2025 Raleigh Relays, which ranks
0:39.5	her the fourth fastest in collegiate history. Another wild performance from this year was she clocked
0:45.3	a 421.46 mile split to close out the DMR and win a 2025 pen release title, win a wheel,
0:53.1	take one home for UVA. It was their first win in a DMR event
0:57.0	since 1982 and so she's been on fire she's contributing to UVA her legacy there the legacy of the
1:03.9	team and she's been very very good for many years now so I've known tomorrow's always going to come
1:08.8	on the podcast and it was a privilege to finally make this one happen. You guys are going to learn about insights from her training,
1:14.5	why she doesn't use a GPS watch being recruited to UVA, her relationship with Vin Lanana,
1:19.8	who's just a legend in the sport, her ambitions for her final NCAA outdoor championships
1:24.8	and her thoughts on the future and what she wants to do in this sport.
1:28.1	If you enjoy this one, please hit the follow or subscribe button wherever you're listening to this
1:31.9	so that you never miss another episode.
1:33.8	Give us a five-star review.
1:34.7	It takes five seconds and share the podcast with a friend, a family member, a teammate,
1:38.4	someone who you think would find value and benefit from it.
1:41.3	Without further ado, enjoy my conversation with one of the best runners in the NCAA,
1:46.1	right before she attacks history next month in Eugene, Margo Appleton.
	...

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