The Rambling Runner Podcast

Trail running legend Rachel Drake joins Matt Chittim and Peter Bromka for an in-person race recap after the California International Marathon. Rachel, who has seven European trail race victories to her name, ran a perfectly executed race to finish 5th and earn her second consecutive OTQ. Last cycle she ran a 2:40 at Grandma's before finishing 59th in a time to 2:41 in the Atlanta Trials. Chapters 1:17 - Race Strategy 2:15 - Training and Time Goals 3:41 - Transition from Trail to Road Running 4:39 - Race Selection and Training Decisions 6:29 - Positioning and Passing Other Runners 9:40 - Awareness of Race Position 10:07 - Confidence and Uncertainty 12:24 - Approaching the Finish Line 13:46 - Focus and Determination 15:41 - Interactions with Other Runners 17:34 - Balancing Running with Work and Family 19:28 - Flag Presentation Sponsors V.02 - Become a faster runner and/or better coach in 2024 with V.O2. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vdoto2.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about leveraging the world-renowned VDOT training paces in your running. Use code "rambling" to get 20% off the product of your choice and get a free trial Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tammy Hsieh shares her experience of qualifying for the Olympic Trials at the California International Marathon. She recounts the intense moments leading up to the finish line and the uncertainty that followed after she crossed the finish line with a gun time 2:37:03... but a chip time of 2:37:00. Tammy also discusses her running background and how she got into the sport. Her journey is a testament to the latent running talent that are within so many and how to explore that ability to achieve remarkable results. Chapters 2:20 - Introduction and Witnessing History 3:20 - Approaching the CIM Finish Line 8:25 - OTQ Time and Chip Time 11:20 - Uncertainty at the Finish Line 12:15 - Confirmation of Qualification 16:30 - Previous Close Call 18:30 - Race Strategy and Pacing 23:00 - Running Background and Journey Sponsors V.02 - Become a faster runner and/or better coach in 2024 with V.O2. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vdoto2.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about leveraging the world-renowned VDOT training paces in your running. Use code "rambling" to get 20% off the product of your choice and get a free trial Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let the post-California International Marathon fun begin!!! We had another historic weekend at CIM and I'm excited to bring you a boat load of episode over the next two weeks. In this episode we have two pre-race live shows. The first was an interview that I did with Peter Bromka of CJ Albertson. CJ went on to win CIM in his third attempt by taking the lead with just two miles to go. In this conversation, CJ talk abouts his training leading into the race, his race selection this fall/winter, how it was impacted by the birth of his second child, and much more. The second part of this episode is with Lift, Run, Perform founder Mary Johnson. We discuss the power of the group training programs she's created for people looking to achieve big stretch goals and the characteristics of high-achieving groups and runners. Mary also talks about her multi-year recovery from injury. Mary battled for years to find the right doctors and a path forward. She entered CIM with a conservative mindset after years of struggle but ended up having a dream day. Sponsors V.02 - Become a faster runner and/or better coach in 2024 with V.O2. Download V.O2 in the app stores or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vdoto2.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about leveraging the world-renowned VDOT training paces in your running. Use code "rambling" to get 20% off the product of your choice and get a free trial Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allie Caminiti is back on the podcast with some important information for runners of all abilities who are having trouble reaching their potential. In this episode, she provides valuable information what is "micro-quitting," how to recognize if it affecting us, why we can all be susceptible to this form of self-sabotage, and how we can stop ourselves from falling to a pattern of micro-quitting. Allie has been running for over 20 years, both competitively and recreationally. She is a sub-3 hour marathoner and her first marathon was the TCS NYC Marathon in 2014 where she unexpectedly qualified for Boston. She has completed 12 marathons ranging from large city races to small town courses with small fields and few spectators. She has run five of the six World Marathon Majors, including NYC, Boston, Chicago, Tokyo, and Berlin. You can follow Allie at www.instagram.com/tinybutmightyrunner and visit her website at www.mindrunnercoaching.com. Sponsors: Oladance - Save 20% on the OWS2 open-ear headphones with superior sound and 19 hours of battery life at www.oladance.com/rambling with code "rambling" Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year and a half ago Paul Johnson accepted an invitation to run the Marine Corps Marathon. Since making that fateful decision Paul has run UTMB, Canyons 100, PR'd the marathon in 2:46, and done much more. It's been a whirlwind that few people could have pulled-off and there is much more to come. In this episode we learn all about Paul's amazing journey and his preparation for a world record attempt of running from Los Angeles to New York beginning in March 2024. Paul also talk about his extensive training while also being a full-time Naval officer. You can follow Paul at www.instagram.com/pauijohnson . Sponsors: Oladance - Save 20% on the OWS2 open-ear headphones with superior sound and 19 hours of battery life at www.oladance.com/rambling with code "rambling" Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second of a two episode partnership with the California International Marathon, we are diving into all-things raceday. In this episode, Tamara Torlakson does a deep dive into the granular details of the race course, the pre-race day logistics, great spots for pre and post-race grub, and all things Sacramento. Tamara is the President of SRA the Sacramento Running Association, the organization that puts on CIM. She’s been on the board since 2015, run 12 marathons, six of them being CIM, with a PR of 2:57:57 run at CIM in 2021. Tamara works for herself as an event planner and is also a mother of two. You can follow Tamara at www.instagram.com/tamaratorlakson. Sponsors: Oladance - Black Friday sales start now! Get up to 25% off on Oladance OWS Series headphones! OWS Pro: Stylish and adaptable for workouts and the daily grind. OWS2: Extended battery life for uninterrupted music on the go. OWS1: Budget-friendly option without compromising quality. All at www.oladance.com/rambling. Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode I speak with a longtime friend who morphed into the one of the most consistent and best masters runners I know. Mike Carroll and I played at rival high schools yet bonded over off-season hoops. 20 years later he decided to dip his toe into endurance running. Then, the week of his father's passing, he made a promise to his Dad that he'd run the Boston Marathon in his honor. Since that day Mike has been on a mission. That mission culminated in a 3:18 marathon, and a BQ, at the Steamtown Marathon this fall. In this episode Mike talks all about that journey, his relationship to his father (who I also knew fairly well as a youngster), his lower mileage training routine, and how he approaches his kid's athletic pursuits in a balanced way (the same way his father did). You can follow Mike at www.instagram.com/mcarroll55. Sponsors: Oladance - Save 20% on the OWS2 open-ear headphones with superior sound and 19 hours of battery life at www.oladance.com/rambling with code "rambling" Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this far-ranging conversation, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) TV host Megan Connolly Morant talks about it all. We made sure to discuss her recent 3:02 NYC Marathon a few months removed from being a living kidney donor, and the domino effort of that donation. We also talked about: Growing up with big running dreams Balancing elite college running with new goals/priorities Her shifting relationship with running post-college Connecting within local running communities Going after big running goals, again The brilliance of her coach, the amazing Heather Pech And so much more! You can follow Megan at www.instagram.com/meganmorantwwe. Sponsors: Oladance - Save 20% on the OWS2 open-ear headphones with superior sound and 19 hours of battery life at www.oladance.com/rambling with code "rambling" Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first of a two episode partnership with the California International Marathon, we are exploring the famous CIM Olympic Trials qualifying pace groups. In 2019 Katrina Spratford-Sterling and Henry Sterling made their marathon debuts at CIM with the dream of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Trials. Their 2019 experiences were very different but they both reached their goals. In this episode, Katrina and Henry do a deep dive into every logistical and running related decision of the weekend and how they managed the course and the pace groups to achieve their dreams. Sponsors: Oladance - Save 20% on the OWS2 open-ear headphones with superior sound and 19 hours of battery life at www.oladance.com/rambling with code "rambling" Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabi Rooker has made one of the most unique athletic transformations at the top of the American women's marathoning field - All-American college gymnast to elite marathoner. Gabi eased into running post-college while she tried a handful of other sports. Her talent and hard work soon elevated her to high-level local runner in Minnesota. Her potential started to become apparent with a 2:56 debut marathon at Grandma's in 2021! But, she was still 32 minutes away from her amazing PR of 2:24 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Not only that, Gabi as able to catapult into the upper echelon of American running while also working full-time at a hospital as a physician assistant. In this episode, Gabi takes us through her athletic transformation, the mental challenges along the way, and how runners of all abilities can harness their potential. Sponsors: Oladance - Save 20% on the OWS2 open-ear headphones with superior sound and 19 hours of battery life at www.oladance.com/rambling with code "rambling" Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jereny Rivera is back on Road to the Trials and she has an important story to share. At the beginning of this year Jereny was experiencing significant physical symptoms that were impacting her training and her life. Extreme fatigue, hair loss, brittle finger nails, and loss of motivation were among them. These physical symptoms soon began weighing on her mental and emotional wellbeing. After months of searching for an answer she finally found one - low ferritin. In this episode, Jereny details the process she went through, why runners (especially female runners) can be prone to low ferritin/iron levels, how she is rebounding, and much more. We also talk about here journey back to racing and what she may have up her sleeve for the California International Marathon next month. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In another evergreen coaching episode we talk about how best to race a marathon in the heat. We recorded this episode because this the Marine Corps Marathon will be held this weekend in less than desirable conditions and we want everyone to be at their best on race day! In this episode we cover pacing adjustments, cooling strategies, and nutrition recommendations. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polly Moody is one badass runner. The full-time teacher and mother of two suffered a massive knee injury two years tearing her ACL and meniscus. The surgery to repair both left her wondering how she'd rebound from a serious surgery as a masters runner. Little did she know that she'd return better than ever! Polly just ran a huge PR of 2:46 at the Chicago Marathon, placing 9th in the 40-44 age group in one of the most competitive marathons in the world. You can follow Polly at www.instagram.com/mommytosubthree. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last weekend I had the immense privilege of watching nearly 40 athletes earn an OTQ marathon time at the McKirdy Micro Marathon. One of those athletes was Alex Burks. In one of the most insightful and powerful conversations we've ever had on this this, Alex describes the last four years in which he persevered through challenges, worked is butt off, fell short many times, and eventually earned his lofty goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Below is the text from an Instagram post that Alex wrote after the experience that touches on the emotions of the day: "2:17:13 I don't know if there's an adequate way to put into words what today feels like and means to me. As I'm sure you all know by now I've taken several attempts at qualifying for the Olympic Trials, and have failed each time. [The day before the race], I woke up with a tight chest and fever. My 4 mile shakeout at 7:20 pace felt miserable. I called up my coach and we talked about other race options, but after that conversation was over, it was all business with still making the most out of race day. I've grown so accustomed to disappointment. I've considered giving up and throwing in the towel too many times in the past year and a half. However, and I genuinely don't think I can express this enough, I am beyond blessed to have SO MANY people in my life that continue to believe in me, support me, and give me the strength to carry on. [Raceday] was a test of belief in myself. I had the fitness to run an OTQ, I just needed to keep calm, and not let what was in between the ears be my downfall. And it wasn't. I don't think I changed pace by more than 2-3 seconds for every lap of the course. Even the last 3 miles I didn't even consider speeding up. "Just don't slow down, stay calm and patient". Then I crossed the line. Every time I failed, every time I felt not good enough, every time I considered giving up, it all washed away - and I cried. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love and appreciate you all. You make this worth it. You make this mean something. Never give up on that dream, ever." You can follow Alex at www.instagram.com/alexander.burks. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a honor (and a blast!) to have Danni McNeilly on the show! She became the 31st U.S. born African-American women to break 3:00 in the marathon at Chicago two weeks ago. It was a result ten years in the making and one that put her in the history books. She also became the fourth women in the Black Roses running club to make The List - an incredible achievement for a single club. Here is a what that day meant to Danni in her own words (via her Instagram): "I’ve been struggling to find the words to express the feelings I have about yesterday. In my second favorite city. In the year of our Jordan (phrase coined by Tim). On the 45th running of the Chicago Marathon (Jordan’s other number). After 10 years of marathoning parallel to the 10 years I been repping Roses. I ran my first sub 3 marathon and made The List. It was my time. It wasn’t supposed to happen any other way. To know me is to know that I train hard so performance is never really a surprise. However, I also run heavily on vibes and that will always dictate how my race goes. Times be damned. If I want it, I’ll get after it. If not, well that’s that. I’ve said before that sub 3 was never an earnest goal but this time I changed my tune. I stopped introducing hypotheticals. No trying, no attempts. I said I was going to break 3 in Chi. I didn’t give life to failure. I spoke this win into existence. Words have power and mean things. It’s been a hard cycle during which I pushed my body to unseen limits. At some points I felt unsure but in the last phase of training squad held me down and made it apparent that I was more than capable. Everyone said I was ready. Knox [Robinson] said it was my day, and it was. The job is done and now we rest." You can follow Danni on Instagram at www.instagram.com/vexyspice. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Bridget Chamberlin ran her first two marathons in her early 20's she was confident that there were two types of runners: The fast runners (which included her college running friends) and slower runners (like her). She was happy and content with that segmentation and loved running for what it was and how it made her feel. However, over the next decade her ability and preconceived notions of what was possible started to change. Her marathon times, her race of choice, started to get faster and faster. From 6:30, to a 5:30, then into the high 4:00's, and finally into the 4:10 range. With that progression came a concurrent increase in her love for the sport, training, and the formerly dreaded speedwork. Then, two years ago, after becoming a mom of two and battling injuries, Bridget decided to go for it! In this episode Bridget details the entire journey and shows us all what is possible. You can follow Bridget on Instagram at www.instagram.com/brichamberlin. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Obara is a tough and fast masters runner who has run over 20 marathons in the last seven years and a number of ultramarathons. He also has type 1 diabetes. Mike was diagnosed when he was a college soccer player who suddenly lost 25 without explanation. Since then Mike has learned to manage his disease, become an endurance runner around the age of 40, learn how to manage the tricky fueling process, and power his way to some extraordinary results. The first 15 minutes of the episode Mike describes his condition then we dive into his training and racing. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this coaching minisode I dive into the factors necessary to run your best marathon, the "dream day" fallacy, and what is the biggest hurdle to racing up to your fitness and potential on race day. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel, that includes a five year guarantee, with code “rambling” at www.janji.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Omar Stanley Posadas started running three years ago as a masters runner. In that very short time he went from novice to a 3:01 marathoner! I couldn’t wait to get Omar on the show to talk all about his incredible improvement, love for the sport, and lessons he’s learned along the way. You can follow Omar on Instagram at www.instagram.com/omar.runs.napa. Sponsor: Janji - Save 15% on the best running apparel with code “rambling” at www.janji.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I am joined by Laura Galeazzo to talk about how athletes can handle the Boston Marathon qualifying process. This evergreen episode is for athletes who failed to reach the qualifying standard, those who met that standard but were not accepted into the race, and those who qualified were accepted to run Boston. This year we saw the second largest qualifying buffer ever - 5:29. Over 22,000 runners were accepted into the race and just over 11,000 qualifiers were denied admission. When the news broke on Friday, September 29 it was the news of the running world and I'm thankful that Laura, a sub-elite runner and running coach at McKirdy Trained, shared her insight to help runners in all three categories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Road to the Trials series is back with Sara Vaughn! Sara will be running the Chicago Marathon where she finished 7th with a marathon PR of 2:26 last year. The Chicago elite field is absolutely LOADED and it's sure to be one heck of a race. We also talk about her recent coaching change, the differences in this marathon cycle, her reaction to the new women's marathon world record, and her thoughts about the amazing accomplishments of Faith Kipyegon and Sifan Hassan over the summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the podcast we are joined by two legends: Megan Roche, M.D. and Jacob Puzey. In this episode we discuss what marathoners can learn from ultra runners and what closely held beliefs in the marathon road running community aren’t necessarily gospel in the ultra world. Here are some topics we discuss: Running on pavement versus various types of trail Lengths of long runs and/or weekend doubles Embracing fun and exciting challenges Effort focused versus time/pace focused Nutrition on the run Megan Roche, M.D.: Megan was the 2016 USATF Trail Runner of the Year at the ultra and sub-ultra distances. She is a five-time national champion, a North American Mountain Running Champion, and a six-time member of Team USA. She graduated from Duke University with a degree in Neuroscience and received her M.D. from Stanford Medical School. Megan and her husband, David Roche, created the Some Work All Play Adventure Team where they coach some of the best athletes in the world and dedicated amateur runners. Jacob Puzey: Jacob coaches runners from all over the world of all ages and abilities — from newbies to national champions — and loves helping his athletes reach new heights in their running performance. Jacob is revered for his unique ability to understand family and work demands and address those challenges within a training cycle. Jacob is just as accomplished as a runner. As part of a marathon buildup in 2011, Jacob signed up for a trail 50K, accidentally won that race, and has since set numerous course records on both road and trail courses throughout North America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Nell Rojas finished the Boston Marathon her running life has been a whirlwind. In this episode, she bring her trademark honesty and dives into all of it: Getting back to top fitness after Boston, investing in her health by working with nutritionist and upping her carb intake, and the onset of a stress fracture in her foot that altered her plans and left her with plenty of uncertainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we dive into the incredible journey of Ryan Gehman, a 30-year-old post-collegiate runner and the 103rd finisher at the 2023 Boston Marathon, with an impressive time of 2:27 (an 11 minute PR). Ryan describes in detail how running helps him navigate life on the autistic spectrum and is propelling him pursue his dream of qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the marathon. Beyond personal achievement, Ryan uses running to navigate life and inspire hope for other neurodiverse individuals. Join us as we rewind the clock to Ryan's formative years, from being nonverbal to thriving with the support of his parents. We also explore the impact of Peter Bromka's written pieces on Ryan's Boston Marathon preparation, leading to his extraordinary PR. Mental Endurance Training Course The mental aspect of training is more important than every other aspect of training combined. Your mind is the greatest performance enhancer, or performance restrictor, depending on how you utilize it. We tend to spend a lot of time focusing on the tangible things that we feel give us a great deal of control, and little time focusing on the intangible recesses of our mind, that ultimately give us the most power and strength to endure. Strengthen your mental game and join me in Allie Caminiti's Mental Endurance Group Training Course here: www.mindrunnercoaching.com/mental-endurance-course Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dani Moreno continues her Road to the Trials mini-series as she prepares for the biggest 50k in the world - OCC during UTMB weekend. Last year Dani finished third at this iconic race to cap off a fantastic summer. In this episode we talk about where her fitness is compared to last year, the historic field of women who will be at the starting line (including an amazing group of American women), and a short race course breakdown. Finally, Dani shares some thoughts about who she is excited to watch during UTMB and some of the storylines that surround this runners. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! Take their two minute quiz and learn which pillow is perfect for you and the way you sleep at https://lagoonsleep.com/rambling and save 15% by using code RAMBLING at checkout. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacquie Mannhard didn't just win the 2023 Leadville 100, she put on a historic performance that very few saw coming. Jacquie, the quintessential dedicated amateur runner, won this iconic race by two hours and did so with the kind of joy that we can all aspire to. Jacquie's journey to the start line was filled with many challenges over the past 20 years. In fact, over the last two years she encountered back-to-back stress fractures in her femur! With the help of her coach, David Roche, she devised a lower mileage plan to keep her healthy without sacrificing the kind of training (typically 45-55 miles per week) that would allow her to dream big. It's a difficult needle to thread but she did it beautifully. And now, she's the champ! In this episode we talk about that journey, training on lower mileage for ultra races, energy availability, and shooting your shot when the opportunity arises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Championships are almost here and Nico Montañez is ready. In his fifth appearance in the Road to the Trials series, Nico provides a full download on all things World Champs. First we talk about the selection process and his reason for accepting the offer after turning it down in 2019. Nico provides some context to how decisions like this can get tricky when weighed against the possibility of potentially larger paydays at other marathons. Then we go into full training and racing talk highlighted by a full breakdown of the "marathon concentration workouts" that were featured in the fantastic new video on Citius Mag YouTube channel that followed him on one of those strong efforts. This three workout progression provides him with the physical and mental stamina for race-day and his description of them was illuminating. Nico then shares his full mid-run nutrition program and why it has changed over time. Lastly, we talk about logistics for the World Championships. As always, Nico's openness and thoughtfulness are one-of-a-kind. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! Take their two minute quiz and learn which pillow is perfect for you and the way you sleep at https://lagoonsleep.com/rambling and save 15% by using code RAMBLING at checkout. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My good friends Tina Muir and Zoë Rom are back on the podcast to help all of us improve our running performance for the longterm, improve our personal communities, and our planet. This week their new book Becoming a Sustainable Runner is launching and it is EXCELLENT. This approachable book contains training tips and takeaways for beginner runners and elites alike, teaching them how to approach their own practice in a more sustainable way. It also serves as a useful guide to help runners take meaningful and effective action on climate justice. Weaving together personal stories, research, and expert input, Tina and Zoë illustrate how every runner can better support their own endurance journey, and how they can extend those lessons into meaningful environmental action. Becoming a Sustainable Runner makes a compelling case not just for the “how” of environmental stewardship, but the “why,” so that every athlete can connect their love of running to the landscapes that nourish that love. You can order their new book at https://becomingasustainablerunner.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show we have an intellectual powerhouse - Dr. Kevin Stone. The episode is on the shorter side for this podcast but it is jam packed with high level expertise that you won't want to miss. Dr. Stone of The Stone Clinic is a leading orthopedic surgeons, Ted Talk Speaker, founder of the Stone Research Foundation, and author of Play Forever: How to Recover from Injury and Thrive. He’s been featured in The New York Times, Triathlete Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Well + Good and many others. Dr. Stone regularly works with weekend warriors to elite endurance athletes showing patients how injuries can lead to a lifetime of high-performance fitness and athleticism. Dr. Stone is an expert in a wide range of topics and is particularly passionate about the advancements of regenerative medicine, Biologic Intelligence, and is one of the world’s leading experts in meniscus transplantation. Dr. Stone also discusses fascinating patient case studies that prove you can thrive after injury. In particular, the one patient ran 3,200 miles across America over three months (that's over 40 miles a day) after two partial knee replacements. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! In addition, come join the 8x8x8 Challenge! We are inviting you to run 8 miles each day and be in bed 8 hours each night, for 8 consecutive days. The challenge will begin on 8/8 and run through the morning of 8/16. Everyone that finishes and documents their journey will get prizes from Lagoon and you can save 10% on purchases just by registering at https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/8x8x8-challenge. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Tommy Martin. Tommy, who first appeared on the show in episode 235, is a doctor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, a husband to a fellow endurance athlete and doctor, and a father to Oliver, who has rare condition called Lamb Shaffer Syndrome. I invited Tommy back on the show to talk about how he balances and organizes he crazy life, going after big endurance goals on a busy schedule, how his power lifting goals work alongside his running/triathlon goals, foundations for a worthwhile life, and fatherhood. You can follow Tommy at www.instagram.com/dr.tommymartin. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! In addition, come join the 8x8x8 Challenge! We are inviting you to run 8 miles each day and be in bed 8 hours each night, for 8 consecutive days. The challenge will begin on 8/8 and run through the morning of 8/16. Everyone that finishes and documents their journey will get prizes from Lagoon and you can save 10% on purchases just by registering at https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/8x8x8-challenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erica Weitz is on her third Olympic Trials Qualifying cycle - a remarkable goal/achievement for a dedicated amateur runner. Her first attempt in 2016 fell short by the slimmest of margins. She was able to reach her dream goal in 2019 in a remarkable performance after a year of injuries. Now, she is working her tail off in order to try and go under 2:37. She's doing all of this with her trademark high-energy style. I've wanted to get Erica on the podcast for a long time and the wait was certainly worth it. Erica also discusses the Orlando OTQ course and noon start time from the perspective of an Orlando resident. You can learn more about Erica at www.instagram.com/exclusiveerica. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! In addition, come join the 8x8x8 Challenge! We are inviting you to run 8 miles each day and be in bed 8 hours each night, for 8 consecutive days. The challenge will begin on 8/8 and run through the morning of 8/16. Everyone that finishes and documents their journey will get prizes from Lagoon and you can save 10% on purchases just by registering at https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/8x8x8-challenge. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wow! Six years since the start of the Rambling Runner Podcast. Thank you to everyone for listening to the show - it means more than I can express. In this episode, I do an Ask Me Anything to a bunch of questions that were submitted on Instagram. The questions focused on the motivations behind the show, how it started, what's changed in the industry, lessons learned, and so much more! Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carmen Graves returns to Road to the Trials to detail her exciting summer. Carmen locked down a new sponsor (Oiselle), made a emotionanal decision to enter a meet and hurt her foot in the process, limited her training, and ran a PR in the 3000m steeplechase at USA's. An eventful three months, that's for sure! You can follow Carmen at www.instagram.com/carmenpelar and read her writing on her website https://carmenpelar.com/. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! In addition, come join the 8x8x8 Challenge! We are inviting you to run 8 miles each day and be in bed 8 hours each night, for 8 consecutive days. The challenge will begin on 8/8 and run through the morning of 8/16. Everyone that finishes and documents their journey will get prizes from Lagoon and you can save 10% on purchases just by registering at https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/8x8x8-challenge. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jess Mena, doctor of physical therapy, coach at Lift, Run, Perform, and longtime podcast favorite, is back! In this episode, Jess and I talk about the "Good Enough" zone. First we discuss what it is, how it's different for each person, and how it can change over time. Then the podcast is broken into two parts: When to embrace "good enough" and when to strive for more. Follow Jess at www.instagram.com/tempo_with_jess. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ramiro "DJ Curly" Guillen is back for his latest installment in the Road to the Trials series. Last month Ramiro and his amazing wife Melissa welcomed a baby girl into the world! We dive into the specifics of how that went for him and Melissa before diving into training talk. The birth of their daughter led to Curly cancelling his Grandma's Marathon experience and altering his summer training and racing plans. As he continues to build and gain fitness, Ramiro is showing signs that he is close to top form in a recent four mile time trial - a fantastic feet for a masters runner. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! In addition, come join the 8x8x8 Challenge! We are inviting you to run 8 miles each day and be in bed 8 hours each night, for 8 consecutive days. The challenge will begin on 8/8 and run through the morning of 8/16. Everyone that finishes and documents their journey will get prizes from Lagoon and you can save 10% on purchases just by registering at https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/8x8x8-challenge. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Levitt is back on the show and it couldn't have come at a better time. Over the last year Jon experienced significant lows in his high running life. He battled back from them by stepping away from hard core training and it made all the difference. Now, Jon is revitalized, back training at a high level, and about to embark on a wild summer of racing and pacing that fits him perfectly. In this episode Jon details all of it with his trademark candor and thoughtfulness. You can listen to Jon's podcast, For the Long Run, here: https://forthelong.run. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. Get 6 free Edge energy gels at https://ucan.co/rambling. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dani Moreno is back on the show to continue the Road to the Trials series. Last time we spoke with Dani she was fresh off her Boston Marathon experience. In the subsequent months her life has changed in many ways. She got married, left her job, pulled out of a major race, crewed a teammate at Western States, and is now preparing to run OCC (one of the two most competitive 50k's in the world). You can listen to Dani's podcast, The Sub Hub, detailing the sub-ultra trail space here. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! In addition, come join the 8x8x8 Challenge! We are inviting you to run 8 miles each day and be in bed 8 hours each night, for 8 consecutive days. The challenge will begin on 8/8 and run through the morning of 8/16. Everyone that finishes and documents their journey will get prizes from Lagoon and you can save 10% on purchases just by registering at https://lagoonsleep.com/pages/8x8x8-challenge. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the podcast today we have Dr. Justin Ross, a clinical psychologist who works with athletes and teams to help them optimize their performance. He is also a dedicated amateur athlete, having qualified for the Boston Marathon six times. Dr. Ross has also competed in two Ironman 70.3 distance races and the Leadville 100-mile mountain bike race. Our discussion today focuses on getting over a tough performance in your A race (especially a marathon when you have to wait a long time to race again), making the most of a workout that isn't meeting your expectations, and his thoughts on the Big Hairy Audacious Goal (good vs bad, best way to approach/design them). You can learn more about Justin at www.drjustinross.com. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. Get 6 free Edge energy gels at https://ucan.co/rambling. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi folks, big announcement - as of today I am merging the Road to the Trials podcast feed with Rambling Runner. After polling the audience, and seeing that 98% of you wanted all the shows on one feed, this was a complete no-brainer. In today's episode we catch-up with Jereny Rivera. Jereny has been focusing on shorter races and building her base before a big marathon block that will start in a month, or so. Jereny discusses that process and also breaks down how she is able to focus on effort-based pacing while living in Florida. Many her of runs are done in temperatures about 90 degrees so her advice on this topic is helpful for all of as we progress through the summer months. Also, Jereny discusses something that's quite personal that could help many runners. Last year she stopped getting her period. Jereny immediately took action to rectify her health and she shares the steps she took. This is a topic that needs more mainstream discussion and I'm grateful to Jereny for brining it up and talking about her experience in an open and honest fashion. You can follow Jereny at www.instagram.com/lolspacemonkey. Sponsors: Thank you to Lagoon for sponsoring this episode and for their truly amazing pillows! Take their two minute quiz and learn which pillow is perfect for you and the way you sleep at https://lagoonsleep.com/rambling and save 15% by using code RAMBLING at checkout. Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is a group chat with Tommie Runz, Peter Bromka, and Marcus Brown that was originally published on Relay. In this conversation we talked all about Keira D'Amato setting a new American record in the half marathon and how that record has evolved over time. We also did some training talk by discussing the ways in which we've approached training in the heat and humidity (good god the humidity/dew point is high!!!). Peter's method was easily the funniest! You can explore Relay and get a 7 day free trial at www.patreon.com/relay. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. Get 6 free Edge energy gels at https://ucan.co/rambling. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is great to get professional triathlete, OTQ marathoner, and accomplished coach Sarah Bishop back on the show for Coach's Corner. Sarah and I talk about the importance of racing, practicing that skill set, how to approach the starting line and pacing plan with control and excitement, and an open discussion about the long layoff from races that most people have had and how it could affect them in their fall racing. Sarah joined the McKirdy Trained staff in 2018 and has been helping runners and mothers like herself reach their running goals ever since. As a wife and mother of four young children, she understands how overwhelming life can be, and the importance of making time for yourself. Channeling this stress into daily running and training goals not only made her a better mother, wife, and coach, but also led to her to accomplishing things she never thought possible. If you're looking to reach your potential with a high-level running coach, visit McKirdy Trained - www.mckirdytrained.com. Sponsors: SAYSKY was established in Copenhagen by Lars Pedersen, whom as a former pro windsurfer decided to take the relaxed and fun attitude of that sport into the running world. This attitude, together with its focus on high performance and quality together with a clean, Scandinavian, and streetwear-inspired prints, became SAYSKY’s mission in a time when the market was dulled by the giants in the running apparel industry. What makes SAYSKY different from other brands is our will to support sub-elite athletes; those whom we call “everyday heroes” – people who are joggling work, friends, and family, but still have the time and dedication to train hard and have fun along the way. This mentality is what SAYSKY celebrates and something our community can relate to. Go to www.saysky.us and use code RR15 to say 15% on your order! Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Natalie Mitchell is proving that even long-term dedicated amateur runners can get faster, even into their 50's. She's a shining example of what's possible. In fact, she just finished 27th in her age group at the Boston Marathon despite not hitting her goals on the day. That sentence is flat out bonkers, and amazingly inspiring. In this episode Natalie gives us the full breakdown of how she made this her running reality and how she has helped cultivate a love of running in teenagers in her community. You can learn more about Natalie at www.instagram.com/natrunsfar. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. Get 6 free Edge energy gels at https://ucan.co/rambling. We are also sponsored by Running Warehouse! This is the go-to website for running shoes, gear, nutrition, and much more. Click this link to visit Running Warehouse and get all of the items for your running journey. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last fifty years, women have made extraordinary advances in athletics. More women than ever are playing sports and staying active longer. Whether they’re elite athletes looking for an edge or enthusiastic amateurs, women deserve a culture of sports that helps them thrive: training programs and equipment designed to work with their bodies, as well as guidelines for nutrition and injury prevention that are based in science and tailored to their lived experience. Yet too often the guidance women receive is based on research that fails to consider their experiences or their bodies. So much of what we take as gospel about exercise and sports science is based solely on studies of men. The good news is, this is finally changing. Researchers are creating more inclusive studies to close the gender data gap. They’re examining the ways women can boost athletic performance, reduce injury, and stay healthy. Sports and health journalist Christine Yu disentangles myth and gender bias from real science, making the case for new approaches that can help women athletes excel at every stage of life, from adolescence to adulthood, through pregnancy, menopause, and beyond. She explains the latest research and celebrates the researchers, athletes, and advocates pushing back against the status quo and proposing better solutions to improve the active and athletic lives of women and girls. You can buy Christine's amazing book here. Sponsors: SAYSKY was established in Copenhagen by Lars Pedersen, whom as a former pro windsurfer decided to take the relaxed and fun attitude of that sport into the running world. This attitude, together with its focus on high performance and quality together with a clean, Scandinavian, and streetwear-inspired prints, became SAYSKY’s mission in a time when the market was dulled by the giants in the running apparel industry. What makes SAYSKY different from other brands is our will to support sub-elite athletes; those whom we call “everyday heroes” – people who are joggling work, friends, and family, but still have the time and dedication to train hard and have fun along the way. This mentality is what SAYSKY celebrates and something our community can relate to. Go to www.saysky.us and use code RR15 to say 15% on your order! Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friend Cody Jett is on the podcast today. Cody played college baseball and was averse to running in his younger days. When 2020 hit he decided to take up running on the treadmill during quarantine. From there he dove all in! In fact, he progressed non-runner, to occasional runner, to ultra runner. In addition, he's now started a YouTube channel and podcast to explore his passion for running and all the running shoes and gear that go along with it. You can learn more about Cody at www.instagram.com/ur_avg_jett. We have a new segment called "5 Running Questions presented by Running Warehouse." Here are links to the shoes Cody mentioned: HOKA Mach 5 Atreyu Base Trail HOKA Rocket X 2 Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. We are also sponsored by Running Warehouse! This is the go-to website for running shoes, gear, nutrition, and much more. Click this link to visit Running Warehouse and get all of the items for your running journey. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Hurley is today's guest and he has a great story to tell. Ryan was a collegiate swimmer at the University of Virginia - an extremely competitive program and one of the most challenging universities in the world. Today he is marathoner, trail and ultra runner, and has founded his own company, Lagoon, after working at NBC sports. In this episode we take a deep dive (pun intended) into Ryan's history as a swimmer, the wild hours that sports demands of young athletes, how that built his aerobic capacity, and how he was able to transition from the pool to triathlon and then to endurance running. You can learn more about Ryan's Company, Lagoon, at https://lagoonsleep.com/rambling (and save 15%). Sponsors: SAYSKY was established in Copenhagen by Lars Pedersen, whom as a former pro windsurfer decided to take the relaxed and fun attitude of that sport into the running world. This attitude, together with its focus on high performance and quality together with a clean, Scandinavian, and streetwear-inspired prints, became SAYSKY’s mission in a time when the market was dulled by the giants in the running apparel industry. What makes SAYSKY different from other brands is our will to support sub-elite athletes; those whom we call “everyday heroes” – people who are joggling work, friends, and family, but still have the time and dedication to train hard and have fun along the way. This mentality is what SAYSKY celebrates and something our community can relate to. Go to www.saysky.us and use code RR15 to say 15% on your order! Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(*unfortunately an unexpected fluke in the recording software caused Robbe’s audio to be less than our standard quality. Please excuse this flaw - Robbe’s worth it!!) We are back with a Shoe Talk episode and in this conversation we are joined by one of the best - Robbe Reddinger. You probably already know Robbe from his extensive work at Believe in the Run where he is often reviewing shoes on their YouTube channel, contributing to www.believeintherun.com, and writing their weekly newsletter. In this episode we take a deep dive into one of Robbe's favorite shoe genres, "performance daily trainers." These are the super lightweight running shoes that have a ton of versatility without having a max stack height. Shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Speed, adidas Takumi Sen, New Balance Rebel, and many more. We have a new segment called "5 Questions presented by Running Warehouse." Here are links to the shoes Robbe mentioned: Skechers Go Run Ride 11 On Cloudsurfer HOKA Rocket X 2 Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. We are also sponsored by Running Warehouse! This is the go-to website for running shoes, gear, nutrition, and much more. Click this link to visit Running Warehouse and get all of the items for your running journey. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maurice "The Marathon Panda" Lowman is back on the show which means the positive vibes were flowing! The master of mindset and positivity agreed to sit down and talk about a couple of topics are aren't inherently positive - working through plateau's and handling race day disappointment. There are two topics that every runner faces and I couldn't think of a better person to learn from, and get inspired by when talking these out, than Mo. This is a man who has battled addiction and come out the other side to put together over 2,700 consecutive running days, hundreds of races, and dozens of marathons/ultramarathons. You can follow Maurice's journey of miles and positive vibes at www.instagram.com/marathonpandamaurice. We have a new segment called "5 Questions presented by Running Warehouse." Here are links to the shoes Mo mentioned: HOKA Clifton 9 Nike Zoom Fly 5 Nike Vaporfly NEXT% 3 ASICS Metaspeed Sky + Sponsors: SAYSKY was established in Copenhagen by Lars Pedersen, whom as a former pro windsurfer decided to take the relaxed and fun attitude of that sport into the running world. This attitude, together with its focus on high performance and quality together with a clean, Scandinavian, and streetwear-inspired prints, became SAYSKY’s mission in a time when the market was dulled by the giants in the running apparel industry. What makes SAYSKY different from other brands is our will to support sub-elite athletes; those whom we call “everyday heroes” – people who are joggling work, friends, and family, but still have the time and dedication to train hard and have fun along the way. This mentality is what SAYSKY celebrates and something our community can relate to. Go to www.saysky.us and use code RR15 to say 15% on your order! Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leah Yingling is an ultrarunner based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Leah started racing ultras in 2015 and most recently was ranked #9 in the UltraRunning Magazine Ultrarunner of the Year rankings. In 2022, she finished 6th (and top American) at the Western States Endurance Run, 2nd at the Canyons 100k, and competed for Team USA at the Trail World Championships in the 80k. With that amazing resume it would be reasonable to assume that Leah has been steeped in elite running since she was a teenager. While reasonable, that assumption would be wildly incorrect. In fact, Leah still holds down an amazingly complex job at the intersection of healthcare and tech that requires her to run at night and fit her training around a hectic and shifting schedule. In this conversation Leah breaks down her start in running and how she has reached the top of the sport despite not devoting herself entirely too it. In addition, Leah also discusses being sexually assaulted on a trail run at age 19 and how she overcame that horrific experience. Two weeks ago Lululemon altered the face of women's running by announcing their Further initiative and ten new Global Ambassadors that include some of the best and most interesting women in the running community, including Leah. We breakdown everything about this partnership, how it came about, what it means for the running community, and Leah will work with them to increase the amount of females in trail ultramarathons. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. We are also sponsored by Running Warehouse! This is the go-to website for running shoes, gear, nutrition, and much more. Click this link to visit Running Warehouse and get all of the items for your running journey. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the pod we have a fun and interesting topic to explore with my friend and PT, Duane Scotti: Running injuries that you can run through! Dr. Duane Scotti, DPT, PhD, OCS is a running physical therapist, run coach, host of the Healthy Runner podcast, and founder of Spark Healthy Runner and has been a leader in the rehab and running community for 20+ years. He is truly living his passion educating the running community that they don’t need to stop running to get over a running injury. Through his signature 1:1 coaching program, weekly videos, and podcast episodes, he empowers runners to get stronger, run faster, and enjoy lifelong injury free running. Through strength and run specific training you can build your body to have a strong mind, strong body, and just keep running! Learn more about how Duane became a healthy runner here! We have a new segment called "5 Questions presented by Running Warehouse." Here are links to a few of the shoes Duane mentioned: HOKA Mach 5 ASICS Cumulus 25 Saucony Endorphin Elite Sponsors: SAYSKY was established in Copenhagen by Lars Pedersen, whom as a former pro windsurfer decided to take the relaxed and fun attitude of that sport into the running world. This attitude, together with its focus on high performance and quality together with a clean, Scandinavian, and streetwear-inspired prints, became SAYSKY’s mission in a time when the market was dulled by the giants in the running apparel industry. What makes SAYSKY different from other brands is our will to support sub-elite athletes; those whom we call “everyday heroes” – people who are joggling work, friends, and family, but still have the time and dedication to train hard and have fun along the way. This mentality is what SAYSKY celebrates and something our community can relate to. Go to www.saysky.us and use code RR15 to say 15% on your order! Vacation Races is a running and travel company that helps people explore and enjoy the most scenic places on earth. They host half marathons, ultramarathons and trail running festivals at national parks around the country and multi-day running adventures all over the world! Use our codes to save serious money at www.vacationraces.com on these incredible adventures: rambling15 - New customers can use this code for 15% off any half marathon or ultra marathon that is not currently sold out (excludes Trailfest events and Global Adventures). rambling200 - New customers can use this code for $200 off any Global Adventures trip that is not currently sold out (code is only good for Global Adventures events and cannot be used toward half marathons, ultra marathons or Trailfest events) --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ten years ago, Martinus Evans got some stern advice from his doctor: “Lose weight or die.” First defensive, but then defiant, Evans vowed that day to run a marathon, though his doctor thought he was crazy. Since then, Evans has run eight marathons and hundreds of other distances in his 300-something pound body, created his own devoted running community, and has been featured on the cover of Runner’s World. His book, The Slow AF Run Club, is a blueprint for those who may not fit the image of a “traditional” runner—that is, someone who is larger in size, less athletic, out of shape, or dealing with any kind of health issue that slows them down—to feel empowered to lace up their shoes and embrace the body they have right now. As Evans says, the incredible benefits of running—better sleep, strong muscles and bones, better cardiovascular and mental health, and a sense of community—can and should be available to all of us. This practical handbook contains specialized advice to make getting started less intimidating, covering everything from gear and nutrition to training schedules, recovery tips, races (it’s okay to come in DFL! [i.e., dead f*cking last]), and finding a running group. Full of essential advice and humor from a former newbie who fell off a treadmill on his first run (literally), The Slow AF Run Club is for anyone who wants to pick up running for the sheer joy of it. We have a new segment called "5 Questions presented by Running Warehouse." Here are links to a few of the shoes Martinus mentioned: Brooks Hyperion Max HOKA Clifton 9 adidas Adios Pro ASICS Nimbus 25 You can visit Martinus's website at https://slowafrunclub.com. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by UCAN nutrition which is powered to deliver steady, long lasting energy without the spike and crash. Add in UCAN Hydrate to get those electrolytes that you need to stay hydrated. Finally, you've got to try the award winning Edge energy gels - they are my go-to on the run. You will get 20% of all of your orders at ucan.co with code RAMBLING. _ _ _ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices