63. Cole Streich: Does a Mullet Make You Faster?

In episode #63 of the podcast, Dr. Kate and Dr. Kacy interview semi-professional runner and co-founder of the Wild Ox Elite Running Club, Cole Streich. Cole is a former Division One cross country and track & field athlete, who began his running career at South Dakota, finishing out his collegiate career at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. Cole is a data analytics engineer and a passionate advocate for running community and culture. He has raced various distances throughout his career but excels and expresses the greatest passion for track events from 5k races to steeple chase.

During the interview Cole talks about his passion for running and the vision that led to starting Wild Ox Track Club in 2022. He also discusses some of the factors that he feels have been important to his competitive career, including a holistic view of health and seeking out guidance from trained professionals such as physical therapists and strength coaches and the value that programs such as RUNSource from Wild Ox partner, Fast Bananas, can offer such as runner-specific health resources including strength workouts, recovery practice, and nutrition advice. Cole also discusses some of his training cycles and what he has found most beneficial in his own evolution as a runner including diversifying his movement practices by playing other sports growing up. As he says, “I definitely am a proponent of and would really recommend playing other sports and engaging different muscle groups and engaging different mental side of sports.”

Cole discusses how running has been an important thread not only throughout his athletic career but also as a foundation of his family and friend relationships. He talks about the bonding that has taken place between he and his brother in both running with Wild Ox and also the communities that he has found in diverse parts of the country within running club communities. Part of this magic is what inspired him to start Wild Ox and the support and comradery it has cultivated in the short time it has been around is truly special!

This episode is full of laughs as you hear about how hairstyles like the mullet could make you faster?! And the reason that 15-20 elite runners were cruising around in banana costumes earlier this year! You will definitely want to give this whole episode a listen…because even though it starts off with some running community love and training tips, it’s business in the front and party in the back ya’ll! Enjoy!