Running The Race

Hello, my people!

I’ve got a few updates and some things on my mind, so let’s jump right in.

US Road Mile

Earlier this season, I mentioned kicking things off with an 800m before heading into the US Road Mile Championships. Unfortunately, the mile did not go well. For one of the first times in my career, it felt like my legs might not carry me to the finish—I was practically “crawling” the last 100 meters. It was rough, the last time that happened was my junior year of college in the 800m when I ran the first 400 meters in 50 seconds, then the second lap in 60 seconds (college PR of 1:50 in that race LOL)… After the race I thought about this book I have been reading: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink. When things don’t go your way, you own it. No blaming others or outside factors. So I looked inward and took it on the chin. The truth is, my training hadn’t been consistent—I’d been slacking on PT and skipping the weight room. That poor performance was the result of poor preparation. But that race lit a fire under me. I got back to work and immediately booked my flight to LA for the 1500m.

Nationals for the Tigers

Two weeks ago, the Tigers took the track at the National Meet in Pueblo, Colorado, while I traveled to LA for my season opener in the 1500m. There were some great highlights from our squad! Nolan Churchman, our legendary multi, wrapped up his career with a big personal best and a 5th-place finish. Emily Diercks placed 9th in just her second-ever 10,000m, after qualifying only a week prior. It’s incredibly tough to bounce back from a 10k and then perform that well at altitude just a week later. She’s got a bright future in the 10k and maybe even the marathon, if she chooses to keep going post-college. Several other athletes from our squad performed well in the pole vault and discus! 

And then there’s Kelly’s 4x100m relay squad, who broke the school record in the prelims and went on to finish 7th in the final! Hayden Albright, Toby Wahlmeier, Avery Albright, and Drew Tolar—four Kansas kids raised on hard work and top-notch KS beef—took down Coach Weber’s 2002 school record, which was also held by four Kansas natives who won the national title that year. That’s a full-circle moment and a really special achievement! 

LA Season Opener / OKC Mile

My season opener in the 1500m went really well! Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought I might run 3:37 and take the win—or I could blow up and run 3:45. My main goal going in was just to compete. We went out fairly conservatively—1:59 through 800m, 2:58 through 1200m—and then closed hard. I ended up finishing 5th in 3:39, just three seconds off my PR, and I was extremely happy with both the result and how I felt. My legs didn’t tighten up, and to be honest, I felt like I was holding back quite a bit. Now I can’t wait to really let loose in Portland on June 15! 

To add to the travel, Kelly, JJ, and I headed down to OKC for another race this past Friday—and this trip is definitely going down as a core memory for our little family. We stayed in a somewhat sketchy Airbnb, ate some amazing food, caught up with one of my athletes, watched Judah eat rocks (classic), Kelly made me feed a stingray 🫠, I broke 4:00 in the mile, and we wrapped it all up by catching some of the state track meet.

I ran a 3:58 mile to finish second at a high-energy high school postseason meet. The atmosphere was electric—fans were literally packed into lane two, close enough to high-five mid-race. It was also the first time Judah got to watch from the track, which made breaking 4 minutes for the 13th time in my career extra special. What made it even more meaningful was Dylan Sprecker from Salina, KS, breaking 4:00 for the first time, as well, in this race. Sharing that moment with him as he continues to elevate his game was something I won’t forget.

The whole trip was an absolute blast—and definitely exhausting! We ended it by being spectators at the Kansas State Track Meet, scouting some recruits and just soaking in the sport we love from the stands.

Hold Fast Running Camp - June 23-25

Kelly and I will be hosting our Hold Fast Running Camp right here in Hays from June 23–25. If you know of any kids who might be interested, we’d love to have them join us! And if cost is a concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to cover the fee for any athlete who wants to be there but may not be able to afford it. Sign Up Form 

Unreasonable Hospitality

Over the past few months, I’ve really enjoyed my role in Student Engagement at Fort Hays State! Getting to work alongside college students and colleagues who are passionate about making an impact has been incredibly motivating. I recently read an incredible book called Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. The core message is that simply serving people isn’t enough anymore—we need to go above and beyond in creating meaningful, lasting experiences. At Fort Hays, that means more than just planning events or showing up—it means truly listening, getting to know our students, remembering their names, and most importantly, creating memories that last a lifetime.

While it’s not a faith-based book, it reminded me of biblical principles. One verse that came to mind is Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

And if you’ve made it this far—surprise! I’ve officially accepted the position as Director of Student Engagement at FHSU. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to apply what I’ve learned from so many amazing leaders. One of my first purchases in the new role? A giant inflatable obstacle course. Let’s just say… we like to have fun around here. Go Tigers!

Whew—we’ve got a lot going on! Thanks for hanging in there and letting me “chat,” as the kids say.

Hold Fast to the Good News,
Brett, Kell, and Judah