Ed Eyestone: Olympian, Olympic Coach & Architect of the BYU Distance Dynasty

What does it really take to build an Olympic marathoner?

In this episode of the Easy Double Podcast, we're joined by legendary coach Ed Eyestone—two-time Olympian, NCAA champion, and the architect behind one of the most successful collegiate distance running programs in the world. Having coached Olympic marathoners Connor Mantz and Clayton Young, along with Olympic silver medallist Kenneth Rooks, Ed shares the principles that have shaped decades of success at BYU.

Joining Ryan and Dean is coach, Raf , who brings a unique coach-to-coach perspective throughout the conversation. Raf's experience as both an elite athlete and long-time coach allows the discussion to go beyond the usual interview, diving deeper into training methodology, athlete development, the balance between talent and hard work, and the finer details of coaching at the highest level.

Together, we explore Ed's journey from Olympian to one of the most respected coaches in world distance running, discussing his own career, the evolution of his coaching philosophy, lessons from training alongside some of the world's best marathoners, and the mindset required to consistently develop athletes capable of competing on the biggest stage.

In this episode we discuss:

• Ed's journey from athlete to Olympic coach

• Building the BYU distance dynasty

• Coaching Connor Mantz, Clayton Young & Kenneth Rooks

• Talent vs trainability

• Marathon training philosophy

• The importance of belief, culture and consistency

• What everyday runners can learn from elite performers

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