Back to Race Reviews!
From Back of the Pack Podcast by Kyle Walker
May 4, 2026 · 39 min · Season 4 · Episode 55
About this episode
Kyle Walker returns to race reviews, discussing the CCVI Trolley Run and Top City Half Marathon while exploring pacing strategies and marathon training.
This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we finally get back to race reviews after several weeks of tackling some of the running world’s heavier topics. Kyle recaps the always-popular CCVI Trolley Run in Kansas City, a fast and fun four-mile race supporting children with visual impairments, complete with beautiful spring weather, packed streets, and one pacing mistake that somehow still ended in a PR. The episode also revisits the “Too Slow for Boston” Marathon situation and what the future may hold as the chase toward completing the World Marathon Majors continues. Then it’s off to Topeka for the newly revived Top City Half Marathon, now under new management, where Kyle breaks down the course changes, race atmosphere, and a few things that caught runners by surprise along the way. Along the way, there’s discussion about race-day strategy, rebuilding fitness after time off, the mental side of pacing, and why one particular race medal sparked a surprisingly passionate rant. It’s a lighter, funnier return to classic Back of the Pack storytelling with plenty of Midwest running chaos mixed in. Plus, with Sydney Marathon training officially about to begin, the next big chapter of…
People in this episode
Host: Kyle Walker
Topics covered
- race reviews
- running events
- marathon training
- fitness
- pacing strategy
- mental fitness
Keywords
- CCVI Trolley Run
- Top City Half Marathon
- Boston Marathon
- World Marathon Majors
- pacing strategy
- fitness
- running events
- race reviews
Mentioned in this episode
Products: race medal
Places: Kansas City, Topeka
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