The Blue Water Running Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

As 2025 wraps up and we finish another incredible year of local athletics, let's take a moment to look back on the highlights and achievements of the Blue Water Area and how athletes have shown us what it means to push limits, break barriers, and strive for greatness.  We'll be shining the spotlight on the standout performances, record-breaking moments, and inspiring stories from cross country and track and field in our community this year.

So, lace up your shoes, get ready to sprint into the new year, and join me as we celebrate the best of Blue Water Running from 2025.  

Once again, thank you so much for tuning into the Blue Water Running podcast.  It has been an extreme joy and privilege to be a part of such amazing accomplishments across our area this year.  If you would like to listen to more of the athlete interviews featured in this episode, you can tune in to prior episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

A very special thank you to this year’s sponsors, Elite Feet of Port Huron and Verlinde Insurance, who have helped make coverage possible.  Thank you also to each and every one of you for listening, reading, and subscribing: you are the reason Blue Water Running exists.  I wish you a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing what 2026 brings!

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Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

GVSU runner Abby Vanderkooi is back for another episode of the pod and has a great perspective to share. If you haven’t heard her first interview, I highly encourage you to take a listen, as she details her incredibly inspiring story of recovering from disordered eating.  Abby was a cross country state champion for Muskegon Western Christian High School all four years of high school, with a 5K best of 16:48, and on the track had bests of 10:29 in the 3200, 4:57 in 1600, and placed third in the nation at the 2018 Foot Locker National XC Meet.  However, despite her amazing successes, Abby struggled through some very dark years as she battled an eating disorder and the recurrent injuries that plagued her throughout the majority of her collegiate career.  She firmly believes the most important thing in life isn’t JUST running - it’s being a healthy, balanced person with running as a part of her life.  She is an outspoken advocate for transparency surrounding the stigma of eating disorders and recovery for people struggling with the same issues, particularly through her Instagram account, Running on Ice Cream.  You can take a listen to her story on Season 1, Episode 20.

After working hard at staying mentally and physically healthy, Abby has had her best year yet: she recently wrapped up her collegiate cross country career at the Division 2 National meet in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on November 22, where she placed sixth in 20:25 for the 6K distance, earning All-American honors and leading the Lakers to a D2 team title, edging out Colorado School of Mines by four points. She just opened her indoor track season at the GVSU Holiday Open, where she ran a 16:28 to take fifth, also a PR.  

We will catch up with Abby, hear her perspective on her latest accomplishments, and discuss what goals she has in mind for the future.  She will also remind you to stay consistent and healthy, keep your love for the sport, don’t compare yourself to others, and believe that you are strong and capable, no matter where you are in your sports journey.

IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU CARE ABOUT IS STRUGGLING WITH AN EATING DISORDER, PLEASE REACH OUT AND GET THE HELP YOU NEED.  Talk to a trusted friend, teammate, coach, doctor, or anyone who can point you in the right direction to begin your journey back to physical AND mental health.  You can also find resources through the National Eating Disorders Association website.  https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help/.  You deserve to be the best version of yourself you can be, for now and in the future.

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Our episode guest is Madelyn Barkley, a sophomore at Cros-Lex High School. Madelyn had a great freshman season for the Pioneers last fall, dropping from a 23:01 to a 21:08 by the end of her first high school season.  She was part of her team’s top five scorers, helping them earn a team regional qualification to the D2 state finals.  Madelyn recently won the Skippers Invitational at Goodells Park over Labor Day weekend in a time of 21:13, then dropped her PR again at the Algonac Muskrat Classic on Sept. 6, placing sixth in another PR of 20:44.  She also dropped her mile and two-mile times significantly during the track season, along with running a relay leg on the 3200-meter relay team, which won the Reese Invite and the BWAC League Meet.  Madelyn’s favorite quote is by Mica Wood: “Be consistent. A lot of people are looking for the secret thing to get them better, and I think that the best thing to get you where you want to be is by showing up every day.” 

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  

You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is also a supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. 

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Samantha Langolf, a senior at Port Huron Northern High School.  Sam had a breakout season for the Huskies last fall, dropping from a 21:23 in her first meet to a 19:17 PR at the state finals to become the fifth-fastest girl in school history; she returns this season with the second-fastest time from 2024 in the Blue Water Area.  Langolf and her teammate Haley Sharp also helped lead PHN to a second-place finish in the MAC Division Championships. Sam also ran PRs in the 800, 1600, and 3200 during the spring track season, and was runner-up in both the mile and two-mile at the Blue Water Meet of Champions. 

Samantha’s accomplishments are noteworthy in and of themselves, but are all the more impressive when you realize she left her first official high school cross country practice as a freshman in an ambulance.  She passed out, and after the initial assumption that she’d had a seizure, she was unable to run until doctors ran tests and figured out what was going on medically.  A University of Michigan heart specialist diagnosed her with POTS, which stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a condition where the heart rate increases excessively when standing.  It's more common in women, especially between the ages of 15 and 50. While the exact causes are still being researched, POTS can sometimes develop after viral infections, surgery, or trauma: experts aren’t sure what causes it. POTS is a form of dysautonomia, which means it's a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, the part of your nervous system that controls involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. The body has trouble regulating blood pressure and heart rate from lying down to standing, which can lead to a significant increase in heart rate without a corresponding drop in blood pressure. Some of the symptoms include lightheadedness or dizziness, fainting or near-fainting, fatigue, heart palpitations, nausea, headaches, brain fog, exercise intolerance, gastrointestinal issues, and more, so you can see how challenging this disorder would be for anyone, let alone a distance runner.

Samantha will share her experiences in running, her perspective on this disorder, how she maintains her health and focus in competition, and what her goals are for this season as a Blue Water Area athlete.

You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. 

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features Reese Powers, a 2022 Marysville High School grad and recent Michigan State University cross country/track athlete.  Reese is a very accomplished runner: in high school, she was the 2021 Division 2 state champion in the 400-meter dash with a PR of 57.71, was all-state in the 400, 4x200, and 4x400 several times over her career, along with going four-for-four as regional champion her junior year in the 400, 800, 4x200, and 4x400 and undefeated in any event she entered in the region, MAC Gold, and the Blue Water Meet of Champs.  During her time as a Spartan, she dropped her high school 800 best from 2:18 to 2:12, ran a 5:00 flat indoor mile, and took a cross country PR of 19:37 to a 5K best of 17:54.  

Reese is here to give us a perspective into life as a D1 athlete in a Big Ten program, her point of view on the implications of the new NCAA roster cap rules following the House v. NCAA settlement, how it has affected her personally, and give us insight into her personal life as a Blue Water Area runner.

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  

You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. 

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Leo Bearrs, a senior at Yale High School.  While local Blue Water Area athletes might recognize Leo from around the BWAC conference meets, what they might not know is that Leo is also a racewalker and steeplechaser. Leo recently won the Michigan USATF Junior Olympic Championships 3000-meter racewalk and 2K steeplechase in Olivet on June 21. He also won the regional championship in both events in Louisville, Kentucky, in July, qualifying for the USATF Junior Olympics National Meet at Savannah State University in Georgia.  Before the heat index of 110 degrees-plus suspended the meet due to a heat delay for other athletes, Leo was able to finish 16th in the steeplechase and 4th in the racewalk. His PR in the racewalk is 19:37, and in the steeplechase, it’s 7:29. We’ll learn what racewalking and steeplechasing are all about, how they differ from running, and interesting and unique facts about these events.  We’ll also get to know Leo personally as an athlete, as well. 

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  

You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. 

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

"The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.“ ~ Fyoder Dostoevsky

Our guest is Luke Bowman, a recent graduate of Anchor Bay High School. Luke is an accomplished adaptive athlete, competing in track and field at a very competitive level, winning D1 state championships in the 400 meters and shotput for two straight years: he even wheeled a full 5K in 19 minutes at the Macomb County Championships.  Since 2023, Luke has been a fixture at MAC Red meets and an advocate for bringing awareness and opportunities to adaptive athletes.  

For reference, wheelchair athletes participate in seated throws, racing events in specialized chairs, and other adapted field events.  In comparison, ambulatory athletes can compete in events like running, jumping, and throwing, potentially using assistive devices as needed; for example, a visually-impaired athlete may have a guide runner.

Some of Luke’s accolades include being named the 2024 Sports and Spokes Junior Athlete of the Year, being featured as the Channel 4 WDIV Brag Book Athlete of the Week, and he is an honor roll student, musician, and community volunteer. He’s heading to U of M in the fall as a dual sport athlete for wheelchair basketball and adaptive track & field. Luke will talk to us about his athletic preparation, competition, and advocacy for athletes of all abilities.

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission. You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask your smart speaker to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  

You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can email Noah@verlindeinsurance.com for more information.

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Today's episode features a repeat guest, Noah Verlinde.  Noah first came on the pod last December in episode #30 to talk about his cross country and track experiences at Saginaw Valley State University and his trip to California to race in the NCAA D2 championship event for the first time.  Since then, Noah graduated from SVSU this spring, joined his father in the family business at Verlinde Insurance Agency, and turned his running pursuits to further distances, tackling his first 26.2 miler at the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City over Memorial weekend.  Not only did he finish, but he was the runner-up, taking second in a blistering time of 2:21:30, which is a 5:23-per-mile pace, and easily hit the Boston Marathon qualifying time of 2:55. The winner of the Bayshore Marathon is a pro runner for Gazelle Sports Elite, so Noah has dipped his toes into elite territory, only five minutes off an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time in his first-ever attempt at the distance. Noah also won the Volkslaufe half-marathon in Frankenmuth by ten minutes, taking first in 1:09:12.  We will chat with Noah about his transition from collegiate runner to marathoner and what his long-distance running future holds.

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can even ask your smart speaker to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  

You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can email noah@verlindeinsurance.com for more information.

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features Algonac High School senior Kate Bennett.  Kate’s outdoor track and field career just ended in the best way possible: on May 31 at the D3 state finals at Kent City High School, she dropped a massive personal best in the 800, running 2:22.91 to finish sixth and earn All-State honors, her first trip ever to the podium.  Kate’s no stranger to the state meet: she is a three-time regional champ and state qualifier in the 800, but her times kept dropping all spring into uncharted territory.  Her prior 800 best last year was a 2:34, and in the 1600 her sophomore year it was a 6:26.  This year? She ran a 5:42 mile at the Muskrat Classic and claimed the Blue Water Meet of Champions title in the 800 in 2:26, her fastest before the state finals.  She also had a successful fall cross-country campaign, taking last year’s PR of 21:40 to a 20:34 and qualifying for the state meet at MIS.  Kate will head to SC4 this fall to continue her collegiate running career.

Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email Noah@Verlindeinsurance.com for more information.    

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Eli Bickel, a North Branch High School junior, joins me to discuss his accomplishments this year in the shot put and discus.  Eli earned All-State in the discus by finishing as the runner-up at the D2 state finals on May 31 with a new personal best of 180'-9" and also finished tenth in the shot put in 52’-2.25”. He has had a season of massive improvements: last year, his bests were 47'-11" and 149’, so he’s throwing significantly farther than he did as a sophomore.  His shot put best stands at 56’-2” after this season.  Eli now holds North Branch school records in both the shot and disc, as well as the Blue Water Area Conference records.  

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” - Tim Notke
“Failure to train is training to fail.” - unknown

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.

Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.

Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email Noah@Verlindeinsurance.com for more information.    

Send Blue Water Running a Message

https://www.bluewaterrunning.org/
https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.com

• Instagram and X @bluewaterrun
• Facebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning