Steep Ravine...Deep Thoughts About Running

Episode 94: Beyond Winning - Gary Walton on Coaching, Running and a Life of Purpose

Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank sit down with Gary Walton to trace his journey from high‑school runner to UC Davis coach and founding dean of the Graduate School of Management. They discuss Walton’s coaching philosophy, the Sage's 10‑mile tradition, his 88‑mile endurance run, a dramatic Achilles injury and comeback, and later life passions like jazz saxophone and mentoring in Prague.
The episode highlights themes of leadership, balance, and the lasting impact a coach can have on athletes’ lives, showing how athletics can shape character and lifelong success.

Episode 93: Boston Marathon Drama and Collegiate Breakouts

Matt and Dave recap a packed weekend of track and field: the Boston Marathon’s thrilling finishes, standout American performances, and veteran runners making headlines.They also cover major collegiate meets including the Brian Clay Invitational and Mt. SAC, highlight record-breaking efforts and emerging NCAA stars, and share personal stories from past races and coaching updates.

Episode 92: Arcadia Breakthroughs & Local PRs: High School Track on Fire

Matt and Dave trade stories from the high school track circuit — weather, PRs, coaching tweaks, and standout performances at local meets.
They chat about some Arcadia Invitational highlights, review the Australian national championships, spotlight a rising Australian sprint star, and tease ideas for the podcast's 100th episode.

Episode 91: Dave and Matt's Top Pick Performances from the Past Month

Hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank catch up on life in Napa—Matt describes swapping Roundup for sheep, cultivating and rolling the vineyard, and shares small‑town farming stories.
They also break down recent track & field highlights: Shelby Hillahan’s 10K attempt, Kai Robinson and Woody Kincaid’s duel, Jane Hedengren’s NCAA‑level 10K, Cooper Lutkenhaus’s 800m world indoor win at 17, Stanford meet breakouts, college and high‑school results, coaching updates, and upcoming meets.

Episode 90: This Dynasty is the Real Deal: 30 Years with Gary Towne

Matt and Dave interview Gary Towne, longtime Chico State cross country and track coach, about his 30-year career building a nationally competitive distance program and the culture behind sustained success.Gary discusses recruiting, athlete development, training philosophy, memorable races, alumni support, and the programs remarkable consistency, including a decades-long streak of conference 5K winners.

Episode 89: 26.2 to Life - Inside San Quentin’s Thousand Mile Club with Peter Goldmacher

In this episode Matt and Dave speak with Peter Goldmacher about the Thousand Mile Club, a running program at San Quentin where incarcerated men train to run a marathon and find purpose, community, and rehabilitation.They discuss the club’s impact, coaching practices, the documentary 26.2 to Life, sponsor support, and how running helps transform lives both inside and beyond the prison walls.

Episode 88: There's Altitude Trainers, Sea Level Trainers, and Brad Barquist, the Atlanta Summer Afternoon Trainer

Episode 88 of the Steep Ravine Podcast features Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank talking with Brad Barquist about his running journey from Bellevue and Interlake High School to the University of Michigan and a professional career with Mizuno. They cover his rapid rise in high school and college, coaching relationships, and memorable PRs and All‑American performances.
The conversation culminates with Brad’s dramatic making of the 1996 U.S. Olympic 10,000m team — training in Georgia’s heat, battling Achilles issues, and rallying through the trials.

Episode 87: Pat Tyson, From Pre's Roommate to a Coaching Legend

On this episode of Steep Ravine, hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank sit down with legendary coach and former University of Oregon runner Pat Tyson. They cover his time as a teammate and roommate of Steve Prefontaine, the famous "Oregon system" of training, and stories from NCAA cross-country championships.
The conversation also explores Tyson’s coaching career — building exceptional high school programs at Shoreline and Mead, his long-term philosophy of consistency and belief, and his current work developing talent at Gonzaga as the team prepares for the track season and new conference challenges.

Episode 86: 31 Years, 21 State Titles, Inside a High School Coaching Dynasty with Chris Johnson

Hosts Matt Wilkinson and Dave Frank welcome coach Chris Johnson of Siuslaw High School to discuss his 31-year career, the program’s state championship success, and memorable local stories from Florence, Oregon.
The episode also covers major track news: Keely Hodgkinson’s World Record 1:54.87 indoor 800m, Tshepiso Masalela’s controversial 1500m disqualification, youngster Sam Ruthe's U20 dominance in his native Australia, Ethan Shuley's outta-nowhere 2:07 Osaka Marathon finish, fast college DMRs, and standout meets from Boston to Arkansas.

Episode 85: The Indoor Season is Red Hot

Matt Wilkinson and Dave Friend break down a whirlwind of indoor track action since the Millrose Games, covering standout meets at the Husky Classic, JDL Sound Running and Boston University’s Valentine's Day Invitational.
Highlights include Femke Bol’s surprise sub-2:00 800 debut, multiple collegiate PRs and record attempts, fast pro miles (including a 3:45 American indoor run), and grassroots racing stories that show rising talent and deep fields across events.