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    THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

    THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST

    About

    The Running Effect tells the best stories in running—and turns them into insight, inspiration, and tools to help competitive runners become greater. Every week, host Dominic Schlueter sits down with the fastest, smartest, and most inspiring people in the sport—from Olympic medalists to breakthrough athletes—to unpack the stories, lessons, and mindset behind elite performance. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or looking to understand how greatness is built, The Running Effect will make you a deeper fan of the sport—and a better runner.

    Hosted By

    Dominic Schlueter

    She Almost Hung Up the Spikes. Then Everything Changed. Notre Dame Hurdler Reese Sanders on Comeback, Confidence, and Running for No One but Herself

    She Almost Hung Up the Spikes. Then Everything Changed. Notre Dame Hurdler Reese Sanders on Comeback, Confidence, and Running for No One but Herself

    July 8, 2026
    45m

    Reese Sanders ran a 57.3 and realized she wasn't done.


    Coming off her final season at Notre Dame, Sanders—a four-time Indiana state champion and one of the top 400m hurdlers in Fighting Irish history—was closer to walking away from the sport than sticking with it long term. What changed wasn't a grand plan. It was momentum: a fast race at ACCs, another personal best at regionals, and a quiet afternoon running unattached at a meet in Duke where it finally felt like she was running for herself.


    That shift changed everything. In this episode, Reese walks Dominic through the last 30 to 90 days that rerouted her entire post-college trajectory. From near-retirement, to staying in South Bend as an assistant coach under Coach Rodney Zurich—all while training toward the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials.


    She talks about what it actually took to believe she could keep getting better: journaling with God before races, learning to check out from track in order to get better at it, and finally letting go of the pressure she put on herself the moment she stepped on campus as a recruit.


    The conversation covers her athletic family roots, growing up watching siblings Olivia and Luke run state, building a social media following of 62,000 from her dorm room, co-hosting the Golden Ticket Podcast, and what it felt like to get recognized by a Nebraska thrower at a random track meet. She's self-aware, wide open, and genuinely funny—and she's just getting started.


    The road to 2028 has commenced. Follow along.


    Tap into the Reese Sanders Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it.


    S H O W N O T E S


    -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs


    -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run


    -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ


    -My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en


    -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz


    Behind the scenes of The Running Effect: https://youtube.com/@Dominicschlueter?si=PM9FjPc92eFUFEZL


    Luminary Threads: luminarythreads.shop


    Instagram: @reese.e.sanders


    TikTok: @reese.e.sanders


    X: @reese_saa

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