May Podcast Guest: Brent Wathke
Meet Brent Wathke: Teacher, Coach, Speedster and Eau Claire Marathon’s 2025 Charity Chaser
Race weekend brings out the very best of the Eau Claire running community. At the 2025 Eau Claire Marathon Expo, podcast hosts Emily Wermund and Adam Ludwig recorded the first live episode of Running on Air and welcomed a special guest who embodies the spirit of the event. Brent Wathke, Eau Claire native, longtime runner, educator, and coach, joined them on stage as this year’s Charity Chaser. His energy, humility, and passion for helping runners made him the perfect voice for a live audience buzzing with pre-race excitement.
As the Charity Chaser, Brent will start Sunday’s half marathon as the very last runner to cross the start line. For every person he passes, the Eau Claire Marathon will donate one dollar to the charities he selected. Brent chose Power of Perception, a youth mentoring organization he supports through his work in the Eau Claire Area School District, and Bob’s House for Dogs, a local rescue he loves as a devoted animal owner. He hopes to contribute meaningful support to both groups through every athlete he reels in on race day.
Brent shared how he first found running more than fourteen years ago. His high school hockey coach nudged him into cross-country after a questionable decision, and the sport stuck. His mother was also a runner, and he remembers watching her at Grandma’s Marathon and thinking she was a little crazy for enjoying such long distances. After high school, he looked for something to help him stay in shape and went out for a run behind the very building where the podcast was recorded. It was cold, snowy, and miserable, but he felt great when he finished. That feeling pulled him back again and again.
Brent often tells new runners that they will rarely feel motivated at the beginning of a run. He urges them to give themselves the chance to feel good because the reward comes after the effort. He believes consistency is the foundation of progress. Even on hard days, he encourages runners to show up so they keep momentum alive.
This weekend’s Charity Chaser role adds a new kind of challenge. Brent knows the race will force him to start slowly and weave through crowds during the early miles. He compares it to the packed starts at Boston or Chicago, but this time he feels a little extra pressure. He laughs about how motivating it is to want to pass as many runners as possible. Once he reaches North Crossing, he hopes to open up his stride and chase down as many people as he can.
Balancing training with work and family has grown more complicated as his children get older. Brent wakes up extremely early to fit in miles, sometimes even beginning long runs at 1:30 or 2:00 in the morning before a full day of teaching and family commitments. Recently he has tried to rethink that schedule so he can get more rest. He knows better sleep helps him show up well for his students, runners, and family.
Brent also coaches a wide range of athletes. His philosophy centers on meeting people where they are. He recognizes that running takes time and energy from other parts of life and asks his athletes to reflect on how committed they want to be. He focuses on consistency, growth, and belief. He loves watching runners surprise themselves when their splits improve or they hit a new milestone. He remembers the moment his own mindset shifted from simply trying to qualify for Boston to pushing himself to become truly fast. That change came from training with people who pushed him to dream bigger.
As the episode wrapped up, Brent offered advice for all runners heading into race weekend. First, have fun. Second, embrace discomfort because every runner faces tough moments. He believes the final stretch of a race reveals who you are becoming, and crossing the finish line always provides a chance to grow.
Brent’s story captures the heart of the Eau Claire Marathon: a community that supports, encourages, and celebrates every runner on the course. This weekend, thousands will race, cheer, and volunteer, and Brent will be out there passing runners, supporting local charities, and showing what dedication looks like.
Listen to the full April “Running on Air” episode here: Running on Air w/ the Eau Claire Marathon #5 The Charity Chaser - Eau Claire Hometown Media | Podcast on Spotify
