UNC’s Ethan Strand After Running 7:30.15 To Break NCAA 3000m Record | On His Breakout Season, Training With Parker Wolfe + Growing Up In The Sport
The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show
CITIUS MAG
4.9 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 13 December 2024
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
“What we're doing is working. Let's continue, let's be consistent, and let's not go overboard. How we got to running 7:30 is how we're going to try to win a national championship in three months. There's no reason to change anything. It's just keep on staying steady.”
My guest for today's episode is Ethan Strand, a senior at UNC. Just last weekend, Ethan ran a stunning 7:30.15 in the 3000m at the Sharon Colyear-Danville season opener at Boston University – not only smashing the NCAA record but also vaulting him to No. 4 on the all-time U.S. list. Ethan now sits alongside legends like Grant Fisher, Yared Nuguse, and Bernard Lagat.
His journey from being a 201st place finisher at his first NCAA Cross Country Championship to an Olympic Trials finalist in the 1500m and NCAA top-eight finisher just a few weeks ago in Madison, and now the fastest collegiate 3000m runner in history, is fascinating to unpack in today's episode.
We dive into his race in Boston, his dynamic training partnership with Parker Wolfe, and what's next for him as he gears up for an exciting 2025 season.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Ethan Strand | @ethan_strand
Time stamps:
3:39 - Reflections from setting the collegiate 3000m record
4:53 - Thoughts on competing over chasing times
5:40 - Training with teammate Parker Wolfe
7:08 - His relationship with Coach Chris Miltenberg
10:59 - Rebounding from outdoor season
12:40 - Learning from Coach Milt’s former athletes, like Grant Fisher
15:57 - Growing up in a running family
17:10 - How he got his start in running
20:43 - His training structure dating back to high school
21:37 - His mileage progression
26:00 - Breaking down his 3000m collegiate record
32:00 - Being among the big names of American distance running
35:56 - What’s next for indoor season
37:31 - Looking ahead to goals for next summer
39:01 - UNC’s team culture
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Transcript
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| 0:27.7 | Hello everybody and welcome to the City of Smack Podcast. I'm Chris Chavez, and this is my show where I chat with some of the biggest names on the track, on the roads, within the coaching ranks, and across the running industry. |
| 0:37.0 | Our guests sit down and open up in depth to share their experiences, brilliant insights, |
| 0:41.4 | and vivid snapshots from their professional and personal accomplishments in the sport. |
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