Zack Telander on Discipline, Longevity, and Why He’s Running a Mile Or More Every Day With No Background In Running

Part coach, part storyteller, and part entertainer, Zack Telander shows that serious training doesn’t have to be boring—or stuck in one lane. A former Division I lacrosse player at the University of Vermont (2011–2013), Zack built his athletic base in a team sport before transitioning into Olympic weightlifting as both an athlete and coach. But recently, his followers have been watching a different kind of streak: he’s running a mile every single day—and documenting it on Instagram. (As of recording this, he’s on day 79.) What started as a personal challenge has become a running narrative (pun intended) on his feed, showing how a committed weightlifter can integrate daily running without losing strength or swagger. His posts blend mileage updates with reflections on training discipline, recovery, and mindset. On YouTube, where he has about 245K subscribers as of August 2025, Zack’s content mixes deep coaching insights, technical breakdowns, and the occasional cultural hot take—plus personality-driven pieces like his snatch session with Alec Blenis. Off-camera, he’s USAW Level 1 & 2 and NSCA-CSCS certified, with coaching stints at Texas A&M (Rugby S&C; Weightlifting Club) and experience training everyone from beginners to national-level lifters. We’ll dig into how his daily runs fit into a strength athlete’s world, how running and lifting can sharpen each other, and why Zack believes community and healthy skepticism are key to long-term athletic growth. In today's conversation, Zack dives deep into his running journey, thoughts on how runners can get the most out of their life and running pursuits, where he wants to take his running, his unorthodox beginnings in the sport, and so much more. This one is fun, but also deep. The perfect mix for your next run. Tap into the Zack Telander 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. Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run -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