Back of the Pack Podcast

We sit down with Randy Taylor—runner, coach, and creator of Team 816 Run Club—for our ten-question Runner Stories spotlight. Randy traces his pivot from the wrestling mat to the roads and trails, and how that competitive grit shaped a coaching style built on consistency, community, and smart stress. He opens up about chasing speed later in life, including a 4:57 mile at age 39 and a 2:40 marathon at Chicago, and how those lessons translate for everyday runners. We dig into the ultra toolbox too: fueling, pacing, and mental resets from a 14:29 hundred at Tunnel Hill and a scorching 3:35 50K on gravel. Randy shares what he looks for when writing plans, the red flags he shuts down early, and the simple cues he gives athletes on workout days vs. easy days. We talk Team 816’s origin story, why group culture beats lone-wolf heroics, and how to welcome first-timers without scaring them off. Most of all, this is a conversation about building durable joy in the sport, whether you’re gunning for a PR or finishing with friends.