The Rambling Runner Podcast

At the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta, Roberta Groner was ready. She has just had completed the best running of her life, including a marathon PR and first American at the World Championships. Gone were the days of running conservatively while hoping for a negative split. In Atlanta Roberta planned on running at the front with her peers - the other top women in the field. Roberta was eager and anxious to shoot her shot. Then she stepped off the course at mile 17. It took a year and a half for Roberta to shrug off the heaviness of that day. All the expectations. All the effort. All of the sacrifices. And for what... her first DNF? In 2022, Roberta turned it all around when she joined the Central Park Track club as an athlete and coach. From that day forward she started to recapture the spontaneous joy that can come from training, racing, and communing with running friends. Over the next two years she not only embraced the love she had for the sport, she also raced with abandon. Roberta set four American masters records (8k, 10k, 10 mile, and half-marathon) and showed herself, and everyone paying attention, that she was far from done. Roberta arrived in Orlando for the 2024 Trials with redemption on her mind and in her heart. That drive was counterbalanced with joy, love, and a calm confidence. She left Orlando with a 24th place finish and the freedom that comes when a journey of redemption ends in success. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the podcast we have America's smartest men's marathoner, Dr. Duriel Hardy (that is me calling him that, Duriel is way to humble to even think that sort of thing!). Not only is Duriel brilliant, he has also qualified for the last two Olympic Marathon Trials and done so in his 30's while working an incredibly demanding job. He is also the husband of Christine Ramsey Hardy who has qualified for three Olympic Marathon Trials and helped Duriel jumpstart his marathon journey in 2019. Dr. Duriel Hardy is a pediatric neuroimmunologist in UT Health Austin Pediatric Neurosciences at Dell Children’s and an adult neurologist in UT Health Austin’s Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center within the Mulva Clinic for the Neurosciences. He specializes in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology and related inflammatory disorders. Additionally, Dr. Hardy is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Neurology. Dr. Hardy earned his bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Brown University and his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric neurology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, followed by a second fellowship in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology disorders at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. You can follow Duriel at www.instagram.com/doctorduriel_runs. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nathan Martin, arguably the most underrated American distance runner, just finished 7th at the Olympic Marathon Trials in an impressive 2:11:00. This was the third marathon trials that Nathan has run in and it was his best yet. His career has flown under the radar for nearly a decade. He set an NAIA record with a 2:19 marathon at the college national championships, finished on the podium at several USATF national championships, and even been top-10 at that NYC Marathon. Not only that, Nathan is the fastest US born African-American man to ever run the marathon! Follow Nathan at www.instagram.com/nim_i_am. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Olympic Marathon Trials are complete and what a day it was! W are kicking off the next 2-3 weeks of Trials coverage with an amazing person and story. Josh Kalapos was the last seed at the Trials with a quallifying time of 2:18:00. He qualified for the race without a second to space. Then Josh did the improbable - he finished 17th (only one spot behind returning champ Galen Rupp). Not only that, this former DIII runner called his shot, telling the D3 Glory Days podcast two weeks before the race that he'd being going out with the leaders in an effort to make the podium. In this episode we hear Josh detail this amazing story and hear his views on elevating unheralded college runners and being one of the few Asian-American runners in the field. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This conversation with James McKirdy and Peter Bromka explores the top three/top two conundrum in the men's Olympic Trials marathon. The discussion delves into the rules and regulations set by World Athletics, the governing body for the sport, and the impact on American athletes. The concept of unlocking spots for the Olympics is explained, along with the role of rankings and time standards. The conversation also highlights the disparity between American men and women in marathon performance and the need to focus on time rather than just racing. Overall, the conversation provides clarity on the complex qualification process for the Olympics. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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 For the Long Run - Listen to this amazing running podcast that explores the Why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on show we feature someone who has a story that we've never touched on before. At the age of 40, and after years of minor to medium hip and back pain, Carrie Bradshaw was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia. That meant that this 3:09 marathoner and mother of two young kids would need two hip replacement surgeries. Wow! This was an incredible gut punch to a dedicated amateur athlete who craved activity of all kinds. In this episode, Carrie details her athletic journey before and after the surgery, the rehab process, her ongoing return to racing, and words of encouragement for runners facing medical issues that they never saw coming. You can follow Carrie at www.instagram.com/bionicrunnerbabe. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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 For the Long Run - Listen to this amazing running podcast that explores the Why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Olympic Marathon Trials are right around the corner and Nico Montañez is ready for action! Nico details his experience at the 2023 World Championships Marathon in Budapest last August and the wide array of things he took from that experience (travel, prep time, etc.) that are helping him prepare for the trials. He also talks about how his training has changed this cycle, how he is approaching the race from a strategic perspective, the time he thinks he needs to get on the podium, and much more. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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 For the Long Run - Listen to this amazing running podcast that explores the Why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Olympic Marathon Trials are two weeks away and we are officially getting into Trials-mode here on the show! Our first Trials preview is with Sara Vaughn. Sara details her 2:23 finish at Chicago, her quick turnaround back into training, getting knocked down by the flu over Christmas, and her thoughts on race-day. Sara also details her daughter Kiki's commitment to perennial power Northern Arizona University. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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 For the Long Run - Listen to this amazing running podcast that explores the Why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pain is universal. Athletes in pursuit of performance are not strangers to pain—in fact they embrace it. But nothing derails training faster than nagging athletic pain and injury, which all too often land athletes in an endless cycle of physical therapy or leave them sidelined from sport altogether, awaiting surgery. "Pain & Performance" is a tour de force that explores compelling advances in pain science to reveal the shocking lack of evidence to support modern medicine’s approach to injury management. Co-author Ryan Whited shares how his own journey, as both an elite climber and a professional trainer, inspired his revolutionary Training as Treatment method for helping athletes bounce back from broken to achieve breakthrough performances. Ryan worked with argueably the most prolific author in the running world, Matt Fitzgerald, to craft this impactful book. This powerful new approach to musculoskeletal health will empower athletes to move through pain with confidence and control as they continue to chase big goals. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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 For the Long Run - Listen to this amazing running podcast that explores the Why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of the Rambling Runner Podcast we focus on the power of partnership. Running can feel like a solo endeavor for many of us but it can be so much more. This show is a wonderful example that we can lift each other up when the people we run with and care about are facing difficult situations. Hiruni Wijayaratne and Bethany Sachtleben are both incredibly talented runners but their journey together is even more compelling than their solo progressions. We dive into all of it in this can't-miss conversation. You can follow Bethany at www.instagram.com/bethany.sachtleben and Hiruni at www.instagram.com/hiruni_w. Sponsors ASICS - Check out my favorite footwear brand, and the NEW Novablast 4, at www.asics.com. 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 For the Long Run - Listen to this amazing running podcast that explores the Why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Matt Chittim and Peter Bromka interview Tim Rossi, who paced the women's OTQ group at the California International Marathon (CIM). They discuss Tim's experience as a pacer and the significance of being part of runners' OTQ journeys. We also talk about managing personal goals while pacing CIM and the challenges of the course. The conversation highlights the growing running community and the connection between runners chasing the OTQ standard. They discuss pacing strategies, the impact of weather, and the dynamics of the race. The episode concludes with a discussion on the gender breakdown and the supportive atmosphere among runners. The conversation covers various topics related to the California International Marathon (CIM) and marathon running in general. The chapters include discussions on etiquette and goals, letting women lead, supporting each other, expectations and results, weather and margins, witnessing the race, unofficial results, the OTQ group, the men's and women's races, the finish line, and the beauty of running. Chapters 03:05 - Managing Personal Goals and Pacing CIM 05:24 - Supporting Others' OTQ Journeys 09:25 - The Significance of CIM and the Growing Running Community 13:14 - The Connection and Growth of the OTQ Community 16:45 - Pacing Strategy and Course Challenges 22:59 - Jockeying for Position and Individual Strategies 27:26 - The Impact of Weather and Changing Dynamics 32:07 - The Pack Explodes and Individual Performances 38:23 - Gender Breakdown and Supportive Atmosphere 42:45 - Supporting Each Other 44:41 - Expectations and Results 45:38 - Weather and Margins 46:50 - Witnessing the Race 52:59 - The Finish Line 57:37 - The Beauty of Running 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

Adam Wood, a former college steeplechaser turned marathoner, discusses his transition to post-college running, narrowly missing an Olympic Trials Qualifying time, and the influence of his BYU program and teammates. Adam highlights the importance of the social aspect in running and the supportive running community in Utah. He shares his experiences at Grandma's Marathon, McKirdy Micro Marathon, and the California International Marathon discussing the challenges of racing less frequently and managing expectations. He also reflects on the impact of social media on his running journey and the lessons he has learned from his training cycles. Adam emphasizes the need for adjustments in training to balance work and running as a non-professional marathoner. In this conversation, Adam Wood discusses his transition from track to marathon running, the challenges he faced along the way, his excitement for future goals, including track races and road races. Chapters 5:56 - Transitioning to Post-College Running 10:16 - The Middle Ground of Post-College Running 12:23 - The Influence of BYU Program and Teammates 16:52 - Managing Expectations and Goals 20:50 - Approaching Race Selection 22:25 - The Challenges of Racing Less Frequently 27:15 - Connecting with the Larger OTQ Community 31:15 - Grandma's Marathon and Lessons Learned 33:45 - Navigating the Content Creation Aspect of Running 37:07 - The McKirdy Micro Marathon Experience 40:28 - Training Cycles and Adjustments for Future Races 44:20 - Transitioning from Track to Marathon 46:25 - Becoming a Balanced Runner 47:50 - Exciting Goals for the Future Adam Wood on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@AdamWoodRuns Adam Wood on IG: www.instagram.com/adammwoodd The Woods Runs on IG: www.instagram.com/thewoodsrun 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

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