The Running for Real Podcast

Have you ever wondered what a podcast guest has been up to since you heard them interviewed? We have, and so Running Reunion was born. This week we're catching up with Amelia Gapin. Amelia says that she was "quote, unquote 'famous,' for like 10 seconds," but she's actually a groundbreaker. In 2016, she was on the cover of Women's Running magazine, making her, as she says, "the first out transgender woman on the cover of a woman's fitness magazine." Amelia is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community, and encourages others to speak up, as well. She suggests following Chase Strangio and Chris Mosier on Twitter. They tweet out all the information you need to voice your support for people who, as Amelia says, "really, really need your help and support. We're just the people who are hanging out, doing our thing, living our lives, just like you are." You can follow Amelia on Twitter and Instagram. To hear Amelia's original episode from June 2018, you can go here. Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring RUNNING REUNION! UCAN uses a one-of-a-kind carbohydrate to provide a steady release of glucose over several hours that's easy on your stomach and doesn't cause a sugar crash. It comes in powders, bars, and gels, and they actually taste good! Their gel, UCAN Edge, was voted by Runner's World as one of the best foods to eat during a run. Tina has been a fan of UCAN for years and uses it exclusively for fueling when she's training and racing. Go here and use code TINAUCAN for 20% off your order! Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running Reunion. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Amelia. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Join Tina and Tommie Runz for a shakeout from the Tracksmith Trackhouse the day before the Boston Marathon. Tina begins the run with a casual jog up to the Trackhouse, followed by the meditative aspects of our Together Runs through a sit down on a bench with Tommie, who takes us through a body scan and senses check in. Then Tina and Tommie lead off the 250+ people shakeout run where Tina interviews muliple runners with wonderful, unique, beautiful stories of courage and strength with the running community. This shakeout is like no other, come join us! Tina mentioned Tommie Runz Tracksmith Kyle Robidoux (for tracking, Kyle's number is 7668. No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Evie Serventi was Tina's sports psychologist during her elite career and is a very close friend. Her "lightbulb moment" about sport came when she observed her father using exercise to counter high levels of work-related stress and recognized the positive effects that physical activity can have on all aspects of life. This is her fourth time on the Running for Real podcast - a record for a guest! In this episode, Evie and Tina talk about something that we all seem to struggle with in our increasingly busy lives - managing our time and the stress that creates. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode295. Thank you to Athletic Greens, InsideTracker, and Boulderthon for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Race in the happiest city in America! On Oct 9, 2022, the 2nd annual Boulderthon will take place in Boulder, CO, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and Kids Run. With an epic downtown finish in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, it's sure to be an incredible event! Visit their website and use code TINA for $20 off the full or half marathon. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Evie. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Have you ever wondered what a podcast guest has been up to since you heard them interviewed? We have, and so Running Reunion was born. This week's guest is Grayson Murphy. Grayson is a world champion runner who was named the 2021 USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Runner of the Year in the open female division, but there's so much more to her than her running career. She's passionate about sustainability and environmentalism, and is getting her master's degree in sustainable natural resources. Grayson has been busy since she was on the Running for Real podcast, and she has big plans for the future. One of her projects is the Racin' Grayson Training Log + Planner, which the editor-in-chief of Trail Runner magazine says is the one piece of gear that she uses every day. You can keep up with Grayson on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To hear Grayson's original episode from May 2020, you can go here. Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring RUNNING REUNION! UCAN uses a one-of-a-kind carbohydrate to provide a steady release of glucose over several hours that's easy on your stomach and doesn't cause a sugar crash. It comes in powders, bars, and gels, and they actually taste good! Their gel, UCAN Edge, was voted by Runner's World as one of the best foods to eat during a run. Tina has been a fan of UCAN for years and uses it exclusively for fueling when she's training and racing. Go here and use code TINAUCAN for 20% off your order! Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running Reunion. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Grayson. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Another week, another Together Run. After almost a years worth of Together Runs, it has been fun to enjoy these runs alongside friends from the community, and if you are needing motivation, companionship, or running friends in your life, these guided runs are as close as we can come...without being in person to run together. Part meditation, part reflection, part conversation, all Tina. Come join us Tina mentioned Come join the Together22 meetup tomorrow at either at 8pm EST. Sign up for the newsletter here and join us here. Register for the Tracksmith shakeout run with Tina and Tommie Runz Come join the Boston watch along Check out episode one of Running Reunion with Aaron and Joshua Potts No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

When Melissa Corley Carter was in 5th grade, an astronaut came and talked to her class. She knew then that she wanted to travel into space herself. She became a rocket scientist, but she wasn't able to realize her astronaut dream. She did achieve another audacious goal, though; she ran a marathon on all seven continents. She wrote Running the World: Marathon Memoirs from the Seven Continents about her outer marathon journey and her inner journey of creating a more powerful and purposeful life. As she says, "Running has such a capacity to connect us to our bodies, to the rhythm of the earth, to our own nature." In this conversation, she shares what she learned from both journeys. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode294. Thank you to Tracksmith, InsideTracker, and Boulderthon for sponsoring this episode. Tracksmith is a Boston-based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers work with the finest materials and keep you in mind as a runner, with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can go here to check out my favorites! Go here and use the code TINA15. You'll get free shipping and Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase to Runners for Public Lands! Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Race in the happiest city in America! On Oct 9, 2022, the 2nd annual Boulderthon will take place in Boulder, CO, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and Kids Run. With an epic downtown finish in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, it's sure to be an incredible event! Visit their website and use code TINA for $20 off the full or half marathon. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Melissa. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Have you ever wondered what a podcast guest has been up to since you heard them interviewed? We have, and so Running Reunion was born. On this week's episode, Tina catches up with brothers Aaron and Joshua Potts. They're the co-founders and co-hosts of Running Report and 2 Black Runners, a YouTube channel and podcast "produced for the culture and by the culture." They have a deep knowledge and love of running, and they're using their voices to create positive change in the running community. The 2 Black Runners podcast is available on all of the major podcast platforms, and their Running Report videos are on YouTube. You can follow Running Report on Twitter and Instagram, and keep up with the latest from 2 Black Runners on their Instagram. You can listen to Aaron and Joshua's original episode here. Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring RUNNING REUNION! UCAN uses a one-of-a-kind carbohydrate to provide a steady release of glucose over several hours that's easy on your stomach and doesn't cause a sugar crash. It comes in powders, bars, and gels, and they actually taste good! Their gel, UCAN Edge, was voted by Runner's World as one of the best foods to eat during a run. Tina has been a fan of UCAN for years and uses it exclusively for fueling when she's training and racing. Go here and use code TINAUCAN for 20% off your order! Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running Reunion. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Aaron and Joshua. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Come join Tina for a half marathon race around St Louis, a first for Together Runs! Tina takes you on a Together Run through the iconic parts of St Louis in this more upbeat, exciting run than most calming and meditative Together Runs. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun47 Tina mentioned Come join the Together22 TOMORROW April 5th, 8pm EST. Sign up for the newsletter here and you will be sent the links Register for the Tracksmith shakeout run with Tina and Tommie Runz No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

The name of Adam Merry's coaching company, "Run Merry," is a play on his surname, but it also describes his philosophy. He follows the advice of his coach, David Roche, to "smile as much as you can and try to be as uplifting to others as possible because it comes back to you." His belief that having fun should be at the center of everything has served him well as a professional ultrarunner. In his three races last year, he finished first overall in the Run the Rock 50 miler, and second overall in the Sage Burner 50K and the Never Summer 100K. As a coach, he shares what he's learned on his running journey with clients all around the world. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode293. Thank you to InsideTracker, Allbirds, and Boulderthon for sponsoring this episode. Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Allbirds is all about doing things better, like collaborating with Adidas to create a performance running shoe, the FOOTPRINT.FUTURECRAFT, with only 2.94kg CO2 per pair. Their products are made from natural and recycled materials, and best of all, they know who they are. They are confident in what they do, and are changing the entire running industry before our eyes. You can see their entire collection on their website, and since the FOOTPRINT.FUTURECRAFT is still in limited supply, you can subscribe to our weekly newsletter and we'll let you know when they become more widely available. Race in the happiest city in America! On Oct 9, 2022, the 2nd annual Boulderthon will take place in Boulder, CO, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and Kids Run. With an epic downtown finish in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, it's sure to be an incredible event! Visit their website and use code TINA for $20 off the full or half marathon. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Adam. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Tina has bronchitis and has been unable to record a Together Run, so we have another fabulous guest host. Today, Mike takes us on a run and will take you through all the usual Together Run favorite parts- beginning with a check in with nature, followed by a body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and will go on to share about his own running journey. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Mike for #togetherrun46 Tina mentioned If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Patti Castalano Dillon was the greatest female distance runner in the United States in the late 1970s - early 1980s. She won her first race, the 1976 Ocean State Marathon, only six months after she started running, earning a BQ. She set world records in the 5 mile, 20k, 30k, and half marathon; American records in the 10k and 15k; and was the first American woman to break 2:30 in the marathon. As one of the first female runners to sign a professional contract with a sponsor, she was a pioneer in women's distance running. Her successes came at a cost, however, which she talks about frankly in this episode. She's risen above the obstacles that she's faced over the years, and her story can serve as an inspiration to us all. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode292. Thank you to Tracksmith and InsideTracker for sponsoring this episode. Tracksmith is a Boston-based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers work with the finest materials and keep you in mind as a runner, with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can go here to check out my favorites! Go here and use the code TINA15, and Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase to Runners for Public Lands, and you'll get free shipping! Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Patti. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Our first LONG Together Run, and today, hosted by Darius. Darius takes us on a run over two hours, he can become the perfect companion to your upcoming long run. Darius will begin with the usual check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and go on to share about his running background, educational background, mental health, and his running dreams. Join Darius in this very Running For Real run as he takes a wrong turn, attempts to fuel while recording (another first in Together Runs), and offers 30, 60, 90 and 120 minute options for runners to enjoy. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Darius for #togetherrun45 Tina mentioned If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Journalist Tonya Russell has written for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Self, The Atlantic, and Marie Claire. She's also a runner, coming back from a series of injuries. In this episode, she talks honestly about being a Type A runner, toxic positivity, and the emotions that being injured evoke. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode291. Thank you to Athletic Greens, Allbirds, and InsideTracker for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. Allbirds is all about doing things better, like collaborating with Adidas to create a performance running shoe, the FOOTPRINT.FUTURECRAFT, with only 2.94kg CO2 per pair. Their products are made from natural and recycled materials, and best of all, they know who they are. They are confident in what they do, and are changing the entire running industry before our eyes. You can see their entire collection on their website, and since the FOOTPRINT.FUTURECRAFT is still in limited supply, you can subscribe to our weekly newsletter and we'll let you know when they become more widely available. Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Tonya. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Come join Tina for a run with a friend, even if you are on your own for every run. Tina takes you on a Together Run around St Louis in this meditative, calming, reflective run. Each run begins with a body scan and senses check in, then Tina asks how you are, really, and then chats with you as if you were by her side. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun44 Tina mentioned Come join the Together22 Brave space meetup tomorrow at either 1pm or 8pm EST. Sign up for the newsletter here and you will be sent the links Register for the Tracksmith shakeout run with Tina and Tommie Runz No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Yassine Diboun is a champion ultrarunner, routinely finishing near the top in some of the world's most demanding and prestigious races. He won and set the course record at the Leona Divide 50K in 2013 and was a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. team at the IAU World Trail Championships in 2015. What people may not know is that he can be found not only running the trails, but manning race aid stations dressed as a cowboy… or an astronaut. As owner of Wy'east Wolfpack in Portland, Oregon, he connects people to the joys of health and wellness through movement. Today he and Tina talk about his journey to becoming a top ultrarunner, connecting to nature, and why he's known for the fun that he brings to volunteering. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode290. Thank you to Tracksmith and InsideTracker for sponsoring this episode. Tracksmith is a Boston-based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers work with the finest materials and keep you in mind as a runner, with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can go here to check out my favorites! Go here and use the code TINA15, and Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase to Runners for Public Lands, and you'll get free shipping! Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Yassine. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Run with a friend without physically running with someone else. Join Tina for a Together Run around St Louis. It will feel like you are with her in this run that begins with a body scan and senses check in, asks how you are, really, and then chats with you conversationally. In this run, you will even get to meet a special friend in Tina's life. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun43 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Neely Spence Gracey and Cindy Kuzma know a thing or two about setting and achieving goals. Neely is a three-time Olympic Trials qualifier and has her sights set on qualifying for the Trials in 2024. She was the top American at the 2016 Boston Marathon and has broken 70 minutes in the half. Cindy is a writer, author and podcaster who has helped countless athletes come back from injury with her book Rebound and her Injured Athletes Club podcast. They've teamed up to write Breakthrough Women's Running: Dream Big and Train Smart, drawing on their personal experiences and those of the successful women runners they interviewed. Their objective is to help women achieve their running goals and to recognize the ways that those goals can - and should - change throughout their lives. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode289. Thank you to Athletic Greens, Allbirds, and InsideTracker for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. Allbirds is all about doing things better, like collaborating with Adidas to create a performance running shoe, the FOOTPRINT.FUTURECRAFT, with only 2.94kg CO2 per pair. Their products are made from natural and recycled materials, and best of all, they know who they are. They are confident in what they do, and are changing the entire running industry before our eyes. You can see their entire collection on their website, and since the FOOTPRINT.FUTURECRAFT is still in limited supply, you can subscribe to our weekly newsletter and we'll let you know when they become more widely available. Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here. "Thank you" to Neely and Cindy. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

It's Together Run Monday, but for the second week in a row, there is no Together Run to join. Tina talks about compassion and empathy towards ourselves in moments where things don't turn out as planned. Find the rest of the 42 previous Together Runs here. Oh, and it is the FINAL WEEK to vote for Running For Real as Best Fitness Podcast for Sports Podcast Award! We are competing for the win, help us win! Tina mentioned Vote for Running For Real as Best Fitness Podcast for Sports Podcast Award No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Callan Porter-Romero is a mixed media artist and muralist, a flavor chemist, and an aspiring marathoner. She tells the stories of her multicultural community through her artwork, particularly her paintings of hands. "The way that I've approached art is about giving room for those stories and making people acknowledge that they exist." Callan is of Black, Japanese, and Mexican heritage, which she shares at the very top of her website. That multicultural background isn't unusual in her hometown of Oakland, CA, but the area is changing, which in some ways has been detrimental to the community. As she explains, the "exchange of cultures is really critical and crucial to the community of Oakland. And so I put that out there as a way of reminding that people like me still exist in this community." Oakland has evolved because of the cultural exchanges there, and her artwork is about giving a voice to the voiceless by reflecting their narratives and making sure that their contributions are recognized. "My philosophy is that there should be art everywhere." Callan has always been interested in art, but, she says, "my city has a history of gutting the arts programs. And so my experience with art, my relationship with artists, has been really limited. And so I'm really passionate about accessibility to art." She had time away from the chemistry lab during the first part of the pandemic, which allowed her to really think about what was important to her. She realized that she wanted to create public art, so she reached out to a non-profit, Three Thirty Three Arts, that coordinates with artists in the Bay area who paint murals for free. "It's a good reminder that the community is there and hungry for connection." Although municipalities often raise barriers to installing public art, the reaction from individuals is overwhelmingly positive. When Callan is painting her murals, people will come up and tell her, "We need this; we've always wanted a mural here." Being a part of 333 has enabled her "to fulfill that dream and be more ingrained and a part of the community which is really, really important, particularly during the pandemic when everyone has been so far apart." "I think there's a lot of stories you can tell from someone's hands." Besides public art, Callan's other current focus is on painting hands. "There's a lot of hidden labor in people's hands and you know what they've gone through in life, what they've been exposed to or how they feel in a situation," she explains. "The reason why I think hands are beautiful is because you can show age through them. You can show frustration. You can show personality." "What's important to me is that the hand is getting its say." She doesn't try to make her hands realistic; it's the story they tell that's important. That story is often of untold labor. The recycled materials that she uses are "a commentary on the fact that a lot of people who are doing these hidden labor jobs are being used as a replaceable product, where the humanity is stripped from people who are in those positions. And I use these types of materials to comment on that. And in a way, to show that despite the way that society views people like me or people who are in those circumstances, they're still going about their lives." By using recycled materials, she also helps in a small way to cut down on waste. "I'm trying to use those materials that would go to landfill and incorporate them into my art," she says, so she uses cardboard, packaging materials, and fabric from discarded clothing in her pieces. "It allowed me to, in my head, go on an adventure and really feel like I could do whatever, I could be whoever." Callan played soccer competitively in high school and college, so she ran as part of that, but didn't really start running for its own sake until she moved to Santa Cruz after graduating. She remembers that "running through the neighborhood felt like I had more control of my situation and I didn't feel alone and it also allowed me to explore." When she ran her first 10k, it was the first time that she'd run that far and she won first place in her age group! Now she's working towards her next goal, completing a marathon. "Don't have any zero days." As runners, we can use running as an analogy for just about anything. Callan can compare it to creating art. If she tries something and isn't satisfied, she can always paint over it. She believes that "doing it is what matters; it's like, at least I tried something." For her running, "it's remembering that I might not do the distance that I had wanted to do that day, but at least I did something." She got that perspective from her brother, who told her, "Don't have any zero days." That doesn't mean going out and doing something crazy; "it just means at least you tried something that day and you feel proud of yourself for at least doing one thing." "Don't put pressure on yourself to feel like you need to be something or you need to be acting a certain way.

This is not the podcast episode that it was originally intended to be. That was going to be a full-length conversation with Sidney Baptista, founder of PIONEERS Run Crew in Boston, the PYNRS performance streetwear brand, and the coach for the PACE online coaching platform. That episode sadly was lost. But a situation that could be regarded as a failure became an opportunity to reflect on making mistakes, practicing self-compassion, and the importance of a supportive environment. If you've ever made a mistake in your life, this episode is for you. And if you're a perfect human being who has never committed an error, it's still for you, because you'll have the pleasure of meeting Sid for a brief conversation. He'll be back for a longer talk in the future. "I wanted to reach out and say it was someone else's fault other than my own, knowing full well that it was my fault and it's okay to make a mistake." After an anxiety-filled night thinking about all of the things that can go wrong when you're an entrepreneur, Tina awoke in the morning to find out that one of them had. She was told by her editor that the podcast file that she'd sent him didn't contain any audio. Somehow the interview hadn't been recorded. After the initial shock wore off, she decided to record an episode about making mistakes and reached out to tell the Running for Real team about it. "Admitting mistakes is easier when we are surrounded by a safe community of people." She knew that her team wouldn't think any less of her for making a mistake, and she also trusted that her listeners wouldn't be judgmental. For Tina, the Running for Real community is a "safe, encouraging, supportive environment, where I feel like I can share and can admit my mistakes and can talk about these things." Especially at this time in history, when there's so much blaming and shaming, and people are afraid that anything they say or do may be used against them, that safe space is something that everyone needs. If you feel as though you wouldn't feel comfortable speaking out if you made a mistake, think about how you can create a supportive environment. "If we don't allow ourselves the opportunity to make mistakes and to admit a mistake, we are also losing opportunities to be able to fix it, to be able to learn from it, to grow." When you tell someone about a mistake that you made, they may have advice for how to turn it into something positive, or at least less negative. It also gives you an opportunity to connect more deeply with that person, and helps them to feel that they can share their mistakes. It's only by acknowledging a mistake that we can move forward. And never underestimate the positive outcome that may result from it… Post-It Notes were created when their inventor failed to make the strong adhesive he was trying to develop! "Shame thrives on silence, judgment, and secrecy, and by bringing that out into the light I didn't allow it to take over my mind." Tina posted about what had happened on Instagram, and reached out to Sid to apologize and to ask if he would talk about it. Not only was he not angry, he thought "people will really enjoy this, and taking something that didn't work out and making it kind of a teaching moment and a learning moment is really cool." He could relate; it was a failure in his concert-promoting business that led him to running. That, however, is a story for a future episode… Resources: Sidney's Instagram PYNRS TikTok Stay on PACE w/Coach Sid #Running4Real Superstars Running for Real Newsletter Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Thank you to Tracksmith and InsideTracker for sponsoring this episode. Tracksmith is a Boston-based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers work with the finest materials and keep you in mind as a runner, with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can go here to check out my favorites! Go here and use the code TINA15, and Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase to Runners for Public Lands, and you'll get free shipping! Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, In

In this chilly #TogetherRun, Tina takes us on a run in St Louis beginning as always, with a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally. Before going into the conversation part of the run. This week, Tina talks about the relationship we have with our past selves. How do we learn to love and respect choices that now we would never have made. How do we come to peace with the behaviors of ours that we might not be too proud to show. We tlak through this, in this week's together run 42. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun42 Tina mentioned Vote for Running For Real as Best Fitness Podcast for Sports Podcast Award No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

In the summer of 2018, James Ro mentioned to some friends in their group chat that he wanted to start a running group. He posted an Instagram story and invited other people to join them. That informal gathering evolved into the Atlanta Run Club (A.R.C.), with a mission to change their community through love, solidarity, and running. Their vision caught the attention of big names in the fitness industry, which has enabled A.R.C. to produce countless weekly runs, global campaigns, social functions, and organized races. Today their ethos of inclusivity and the experiences they provide reach far beyond their home city. "Running communicates such a strong parallel in life; the sport of just moving forward and overcoming hurdles and testing your endurance and perseverance." James hasn't always been a runner; as a matter of fact, his earliest memory of running was "not actually a pleasant one." In elementary school, he recalls," I felt like I was always behind other kids doing mile tests and different physical exams and ironically,I learned to fall in love with it more so because of the benefits and the reward that you get from practicing it and continuing to do it." But, he says, "as I continued to evolve through different seasons and stages of my life, running became my ally in really just overcoming different hurdles and challenges in my personal life." "The entryway into that sport should be welcoming, should be all-embracing and inclusive." He wanted to share the benefits that he derived from running with others, and create a "space of community for others to feel included and to be able to conquer their own journeys through running." He and his friend Christian Haahs, now the creative director of A.R.C., started tossing ideas around. Their intention from the beginning was that A.R.C. would be a community of "social athletes, people that kind of come out and their primary reason of wanting to run is to simply interact socially with others, and fitness just happens to be something that we all know we have to do because it's good for our health. But first and foremost prioritizing that human connection element." "The best way to, I think, engage in diversity and inclusion is to simply walk alongside and symbolically and metaphorically and literally run alongside people in life." As an Asian-American, the son of Korean immigrants, James is no stranger to racism and discrimination. His goal, however, isn't to "all get on the same page," but rather to "appreciate that we're on different pages and still be able to run in the same direction." That, he says, is "when you'll find the synergy in understanding each other and appreciating each other's differences." A.R.C. has allowed him to "manifest and live out what we've always dreamed of, which is a space of inclusivity that is not mono-cultural, that is not exclusive in any sense." "Running can also be a metaphorical vehicle to communicate a larger message to the world." James has found that "when people are running towards something together, it kind of just draws attention to 'What are they like? What is the 'why' behind their miles? What is the reason why they're running?'" By exploring that, and getting "creative with how you use it in the community, it can scale out to something as big as getting people to stand behind and rally behind a message and make an impact on not just your community, but different communities around you too." "It's not that I really enjoy the process of running, but I love how I feel after it." It's the "benefits and rewards" of running that he embraces. "I love the discipline that it brings," he says. "I love the just the feeling of accomplishment and completion, and being able to deal with others and create goals and accomplish goals and track goals, and I think when you take such a multi-dimensional platform like running that can really touch different areas of your life, you can make it to be anything you want." "For me, the journey of holistic health and wellness has always started with the mind." Running and working out have always been "a form of therapy" for him. He believes in using "physical activity as vessels to strengthen the mind," and being outdoors is part of that too. "I love running out on the trails every now and then, and there's just something about being able to connect with nature and being in tune with your outdoor environment, and in those moments and experiences, it grants me such a feeling of inner peace and reflection." Just as he wants others to enjoy the benefits of running, he wants them to be able to experience the therapeutic effect of being in nature. He's become actively involved in fighting climate change, partly by joining the Allbirds Allgood Collective, "a collective of people coming together to make the world and our local spaces friendlier, more accessible, more inclusive and just better overall." "My approach and perspective is everyone has their source of inner peace and just learning to apprec

It has been a snow filled, bitterly cold week in St Louis, Jennifer took us on a run through a beautiful trail in Asheville for this #togetherrun. Jennifer takes us through the usual check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation where we can get to know her and feel like we are running with a new friend for the first time. Join this fun run in the woods for something different on your next run. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Jennifer for #togetherrun41 Tina mentioned If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Wyn Wiley, a.k.a. Pattie Gonia, and Ryan Montgomery are a couple with a shared mission. As Wyn says, "we are really open to learning new things and messing with systems and trying to change this world." Pattie describes themself as a "professional homsexual, queer environmentalist, and drag queen, building community for queer people, allies and our planet." Ryan is a record-setting pro ultra-runner who will be competing in the 2022 Western States on a Golden Ticket. Pattie is a founder and Ryan is a founding member of The Outdoorist Oath, an organization committed to taking action on climate change, actively working to ally all people in the outdoor community, and supporting a connection to the outdoors for everyone. Wyn: "We remind each other all the time that life isn't just the work you do or the sport you do, but it's having a person to spend time with." Looking back on the backpacking trips he's done, Wyn has realized that "it's never about the mileage, it's never about all this s*** that I think it is, it's about the people and the love of a thing." Ryan has the same perspective on running, which is rare, although as Wyn points out, that may be because "he's fast, so he can run in the daylight while everyone is running in the night time most of the time." Wyn: "I really look for North Star people in my life." Wyn credits his chosen family with teaching him about slowing down and enjoying life. His emotionally-invested friendships have made Ryan examine his own relationships and recognize that in the running community, "oftentimes we have friends that are just our running acquaintances and we only meet up to run and perhaps there's not actually a ton of depth there." But he's also come to the conclusion that that can be okay: "you served a purpose in my life and I've learned something and now there's another set of people in my life that have other purposes." Ryan: "I approached Javelina as a way of just celebrating who I am and just having fun with my crew and the people around me." The Javelina Jundred bills itself as "the original 100 mile trail run party" and as such, Ryan says, "it becomes this big celebration of diversity and uniqueness of expression. As someone who identifies as a queer trail runner who, you know, likes to paint his nails and maybe occasionally wears a crop top when I run, I loved the energy there." That energy and the support of his friends helped him to a second place finish with a time of 13:33:52, and secured him a Golden Ticket to the 2022 Western States. Ryan: "Running is a lifestyle for me and second is competition and performance, and I think making sure that I have that mindset as I approach my sport has been fundamental." Ryan has seen so many runners who jump into the sport and quickly get burned out because of the pressure from their sponsors to produce results. He believes that you need to ask yourself why it is that you're running; it shouldn't be just to win a race. Making it a lifestyle is key to longevity. "I want to be a 50 year old, a 60 year old, a 70 year old running races still," he says, "and having that mindset is going to make my sport and myself so much more sustainable." Wyn: "Never for a day underestimate the ability that all of us have to be a voice that other people listen to." The current running industry model, they both agree, is antiquated and needs to change. "The day and age of just sponsoring athletes is done," Wyn says. "I'm going to push for dollars to be put behind people who aren't just serving themselves but are serving their communities." He also encourages people to take action themselves. "I thought that allyship or advocacy or being a community voice was reserved for people only if they had a million followers or only if they had a blue checkmark by their name or only if they went to school for this stuff. What I'm seeing allyship and action actually look like is people taking their privileges and talents and skills and unique access to communities and people and truly making change happen." To that end, Wyn has founded The Outdoorist Oath, a non-profit that will provide free education on how to activate as an ally and create a community that can help shape the future of the outdoors. Ryan: "If you're passionate about something, you've just got to go ahead and do it yourself and tap the people in your circle that are also passionate about that." That means using the tools at your disposal, which for many people can mean the privilege that they were born with. Privilege is often regarded as a bad thing, but Wyn says, "it just means there's a lot less obstacles in my way than another person's way and so what can I do with that?" Wyn: "Look for opportunities to collaborate, to learn from other people." There's so much that we can learn from others, especially if we're open to diverse voices. As Wyn points out, "If you read different history books when you grew up, would you maybe understand different perspectives about the world?" Ryan'

Join Tina for a tired run around St Louis where she shares which races she will be doing and why she was torn as to which ones to to. Tina also shares some things that have been weighing on her mind, and asks listeners to forgive thesmelves for things they have not been doing as well as they hoped either. Join us for a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun40 Tina mentioned Vote for Running For Real as Best Fitness Podcast for Sports Podcast Award No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Brittany Charboneau's Instagram handle is @funnyrunner26.2. Once you know that, it's not surprising to learn that she chose to race at Disney World this month in costume - four costumes, actually. She was competing in the Dopey Challenge, which consists of a 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon on four consecutive days. Her goal was to have fun, which she did, but she accomplished more than that - she won all four races, becoming the first person in the series' 29-year history to do so. "The beauty of this whole race experience was I got to do exactly what I wanted to, which was race in costume." When Brittany pitched her coach on the idea of running the Dopey Challenge, she explained that it was "about keeping the joy and the fun with all of it." Her coach supported the plan, providing that she upped her costume game, which she did, running as Elsa from Frozen 2, Bing Bong and Joy from Inside Out, and breaking the marathon tape as Cruella de Ville. "I'm such a big believer of everything happens for a reason and hindsight; you get so many golden nuggets of things that are like, oh, you are on the right path." It was a freak accident that led to her running the Dopey Challenge. She was 10 days out from the Boston Marathon and crushing her training when she was knocked down by an off-leash dog while on a run. She suffered a concussion and injured her back, but was determined to power through the race. But by mile 15, she had to start walking, and she ultimately dropped out at mile 18. She took a week off and started thinking, "what do I want to do that's gonna bring me joy? How can I still use this fitness, but just go play and kick off the year in a different way because my 2021 ended this way; how can I kick off 2022?" Brittany runs with different themes for different days, and on the day that the dog collided with her, the theme was Disney. Looking back, she says, "I take it as it was putting me on my right path, because if I had run Boston, I would never have run Disney." "There are lots of roses but there's a lot of weeds too, that are part of this whole story and whole journey." When she first started racing as an elite, Brittany didn't anticipate all of the pressure that would go along with it, even though she acknowledges that in her case, much of it is self-imposed. She struggled with imposter syndrome after she got a contract with North Face, asking herself, "Do I deserve this? Like, why me? There's a lot of other fast people; was this a fluke?" "I have a lot more to offer as a person and what I can do vs. just my times or just winning certain races." In her moments of doubt, she reminds herself that "people get invested in different athletes just for who they are. Like my favorite athletes, if they have a bad race, it's like, yeah, but overall she's a badass and I think she's amazing and she's funny or something like that." She finds it hard to believe that people feel the same way about her, though. At Boston, she was sure that "the cameras are going to be on me as I'm sobbing on the sidelines." They weren't, and she realized that nobody cared except to reach out and make sure that she was all right. "It wasn't this whole dramatic thing that I had played out in my head of this big story of 'breaking news' that I dropped out of Boston." "When I started racing elite, I thought if I can just look like everyone else, I will race like everyone else. And for me, that meant being severely under-fueled." Dealing with imposter syndrome hasn't been Brittany's only struggle. For years she was determined to maintain a shredded physique, even though it was detrimental to her running and her health. She finally started working with a dietician, who has helped her change the way that she thinks about food. She recalls, "I had to print out this mantra for myself and I put it on my fridge when I first started working on fueling, that said, 'do you want to look like an elite athlete or perform like one?' because there's a big difference." She knows that she'll probably never conquer her feelings about food, but she won't let them control her. Instead she tells them, "you're gonna sit in the back seat, you're gonna be on this ride, you don't ever get to drive, but you're probably just going to be here and I acknowledge that." "It's not been like running on a rainbow and I'm just shooting glitter out of everywhere and I'm just like 'this is so easy, this is wonderful.'" Brittany's goal is to have fun with her running, and not allow her intensity to take the joy out of it, but that isn't always easy. She explains, "if you think about an artist, as they're creating different pieces, they're having to put a lot of intention and thought behind the pieces that they're creating and I feel like it's the same for my running." However, she says, "the fun is work, but like anything that is really hard work, it's so much more worth it if you can just stick it out and stick through it." " I hope [the listeners] chase their own jo

It has been very cold in St Louis this week, and today we have our third guest hosted #togetherrun. Join Superstar and community member Brendan for a run. Brendan takes us through a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation where we can get to know him, and talk through some of the things on his mind. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Brendan for #togetherrun36 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Fans of track and field know Dawn Harper-Nelson as the gold medalist in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2008 Olympic Beijing Games and as the silver medalist in London four years later and at the 2017 World Championships. In 2018 she announced that she was retiring to start a family, but was back on the track a month after giving birth to her daughter, Harper. Dawn is an inspiration not only to mother runners, but to all women who want to pursue their dreams. Her bid to make the Olympic team one more time is chronicled in the new documentary, Hi I'm Dawn Harper-Nelson. "When I was pregnant with my daughter, I just had this moment when I thought, when she sees these interviews, I do not want her to say, 'oh, so wait, all of mom's dreams had to stop because she was gonna have me.'" It wasn't long after Dawn announced her retirement that she realized that "I still have a desire and I'm fine physically; I'm capable; I'm actually gonna go back." It wasn't just about her aspiration to keep competing, she remembered conversations that she and her friends had about how their own mothers had stopped pursuing their goals after their children were born. She didn't want her daughter to feel that she bore that responsibility. "I'm going to chase this dream, you know, and we'll see where it goes." Dawn resumed her training after Harper's birth in pursuit of a spot on the 2020 Olympic team. She says, "I'm happy that now we will forever have Hi I'm Dawn Harper-Nelson, where she can look at that and see herself and see me and know I included you in every part of it; even when I was at track practice, mama was thinking of you… so she knows,' oh, I was loved,' even when she's not in my presence." "I just feel like now it's an outpouring of support because women are like, 'I don't know if you have someone to support you, and I don't know you, but I'll support you.'" Something that helped Dawn as she returned to competition was the support she got from other women. She's always made a point of being supportive herself, reaching out to help other women, and sharing with them what she's learned. That mentality has allowed her to establish "amazing relationships," even with the women she defeated on the track. After a race, her competitors would come to her, wanting to talk about what had happened. "It was weird," she acknowledges, "but I was like, I'm doing something right where I'm leaving the door open. I'm not cocky about the win." "I love track and field… I just love to see the guts and glory that's been poured out, you know? So yeah, I'm going to be involved in track and field." Whenever Dawn really does retire from running, she knows that track will still be part of her life. After years of being interviewed, she may take her place on the other side of the microphone: "I've had some discussions with people about being in front of a camera and so I'm excited, because that means I'll interact more with my community." She recognizes that "I've been blessed with other gifts that I did not nourish;I did not feed. And so now it's exciting to feed those things and really step out on a limb." "Whatever your dreams are, whatever your goals are, they're valuable; they're worth it. Most importantly, you're worth it." Resources: Running Realized episode with Dawn Hi I'm Dawn Harper Nelson Dawn's Instagram Dawn's Twitter Thank you to Athletic Greens, UCAN, and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. Thank you, UCAN. I have been talking about them for years and they are my ONLY source for fueling while I am training and racing. And without fail, I have a product of UCAN every day, whether it is a Peanut Butter Chocolate Bar or their delicious Cookies and Cream Protein Powder. I am also excited to share with you a NEW product, a gel! It's fueled with Superstarch and ready to go wherever you are headed. Go here and use the code TINAUCAN for 20% off your order! Tracksmith is a Boston based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers work with the finest materials and keep you in mind as a runner, with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can go here to check out my favorites! Go here and use the code TINA15, and Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase to Runners for Public Lands, and you'll get free shipping! Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, fa

Tina is back to running from her home in St Louis, reflecting on her trip home to England, why we need to make diffituclt choices that not everyone can understnad, and how she continues to follow her heart. Join us for a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun38 Tina mentioned Vote for Running For Real as Best Fitness Podcast for Sports Podcast Award No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

This is the time when a lot of us are thinking about our running goals for the new year. Maybe you have a big race in mind, or you want to be more consistent in your training. Maybe you're struggling because you feel as though you "should" have a goal, but don't. Steve Picucci has coached hundreds of runners, many of whom have won championship titles and achieved their personal bests under his guidance - including Tina, who also happens to be his wife. In this episode they share their thoughts on setting goals, the way they shift over time, and how they might not always be what you imagine. Tina: "...those of you who say, 'I have this really big goal that I want to accomplish,' or 'I really want to make this year count,' or 'this has to be the year I do X, Y, Z,' whatever that may be, when we think of our running in those terms, we're kind of setting ourselves up for failure." For one thing, she says, "the fun is sucked right out of it." Unless you're a professional runner, by putting those pressures on yourself, you're taking something that should be an escape and a joy and making it one more stressor in your life. When you place a time limit on achieving something, or take the Eminem-like approach that a particular race is your "one shot," you're putting yourself in a position where it's unlikely that you'll reach your goal, and even if you do, you'll have missed out on so much along the way. As Tina says, "We already walk the line between commitment and obsession as runners, and I really think that having that need to commit pushes us over into the part of obsession." Steve: "I always tell the athletes I work with that a lot of the stuff we do outside of the running is just as important or more important than the actual running you do." The obsession with achieving a goal leads many runners to get so wrapped up in specific aspects of training that they neglect other parts. They get injured or don't recover sufficiently to reap the benefit of their workouts because they're overtraining, and as Steve observes, "people just kind of miss the fact that one of the most important things is you've got to be consistent and you're never going to be consistent if you're overtraining." Steve: "It's okay to have that big, top-step goal, but you've got to focus on the little goals, the intermediate steps, to get to that big goal." Runners often focus so narrowly on one big goal that they don't appreciate the smaller steps along the way and give themselves credit for accomplishing them. Those steps don't have to be time goals; they could be remaining consistent with your strength training or foam rolling. A goal doesn't always have to be a number. Steve: "You've got to figure out where your passions are and what you want to do and then also evaluate where your commitment is." One key element to achieving a big goal is being realistic about it. You have to be honest with yourself not only in terms of if you have the physical ability, but if you have the resources. Do you have the time to devote to it? Steve: "I think modifying [a goal] is a little bit of a hard thing because you want to keep that big dream goal, but I think it's okay to have a different route you can take, as well." Maybe your goal is to qualify for Boston, but you can't quite meet the standard. Might you be able to do it in a couple of years when you're in a new age group, or in a better position to do the necessary training? Maybe you're a masters runner and your fastest times are behind you. You have to "not forget the past, but not compare to it, just like you don't want to compare yourself to every elite athlete or every high-level Olympian." Steve also points out that "a goal doesn't have to be tied to a time or even a race." It doesn't have to be something that's obvious to other people; it just has to mean something to you. Goals aren't the only things that might need to be modified. When you know what you should be doing to achieve your goals but you're not doing it, Steve recommends asking yourself, "What's the one thing I can do today to help me down the path to get back to that?". Most importantly, "If you don't get everything right, don't beat yourself up about it." Tina: "I just want to remind you that even if things seem to be falling apart right now, even if you're not managing to do what you want to do and it's looking like once again you're letting yourself and everyone else down, you are not. You're out there doing it, even if it's not as much as you'd like. You are doing something that most of the population is not, and accomplishments and successes don't make you who you are." Resources: Tina's interview with Mary Cain Mile 20 Mental Training Course #Together22Goals Thank you to Athletic Greens and Zencastr for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's

Another special episode this week. Join podcast host (and podcast guest) and all round runner inspiration, Marcus Brownwith Tina for this week's together run. Tina and Marcus went for a sunrise New Years Day run along one of Tina's favorite loops in St Albans. Hear the two friends go through a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and go onto a conversation. Tina and Marcus discuss the "new year, new you" hype that appears this time of year. Instead, Marcus asks the listeners to consider loving, forgiving, embracing, you, in this moment. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Marcus and Tina for #togetherrun37 Tina mentioned Running Realized As always, no sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

We have our second guest hosted #togetherrun this week. Join Superstar and community member Camilla for a run around Venice in the early morning. Camilla takes us through a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation where we can get to know her, and talk through some of the things on her mind. Camilla starts the run at San Bortolo near Rialto, then takes us through Venice passing all of these famous sites: San Marco Santo Stefano Academia bridge Punta salute Along zattere Santa margherita San toma The photo of Camilla is from San Marco Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Camilla for #togetherrun36 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

We have our second guest hosted #togetherrun this week. Join Superstar and community member Camilla for a run around Venice in the early morning. Camilla takes us through a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation where we can get to know her, and talk through some of the things on her mind. Camilla starts the run at San Bortolo near Rialto, then takes us through Venice passing all of these famous sites: San Marco Santo Stefano Academia bridge Punta salute Along zattere Santa margherita San toma The photo of Camilla is from San Marco Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Camilla for #togetherrun36 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

2021 has been an exciting year for Running for Real. We've changed direction a little bit, but one thing that remains constant is our sense of community and our desire to make everyone feel included and welcome. Our theme for the new year is #Together22, and we're looking forward to getting to know you all better. Another change is that the Running for Real team has grown. To help you get to know us better, the team members have chosen podcast episodes from the past year that especially resonated with them. We hope that you enjoyed - or will enjoy - them as much as we did! These are the episodes that we selected. To read each team member's comments, please visit the show notes page on the Running for Real website From Kat Mackay, Community Manager: Special Edition NYC Together Run 29 Jon Green: Green is the New Bronze - R4R 264 From Maria Vargas, Strategy and Philosophy: Running Realized Episode Three: The Inner Disconnect (Shaun Martin segment) From Kelsey Wang, Head of Design and Sandy Guiterrez, Creative Content: Mishka Shubaly: We're Here Because We're Not All There - R4R 267 From Stacey Saunders, Events Manager: Kayleigh Williamson: Don't Let Somebody Else Tell You What You Can and Cannot Do - R4R 270 From Jeremy Noessel, Podcast Editor and Audio Consultant: Malcolm Gladwell: A Little Focus Goes a Long Way - R4R 258 From Erica De Los Santos, Inclusion Manager: Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel: Running for Cause - R4R 225 From Sally Pontarelli, Content and Operations Manager: Tommie Runz: You Can Only Control You at this Moment - R4R 262 A big "thank you" to all of Running for Real's podcast guests, listeners, and partners this year! Resources: Sign up for the Running for Real Newsletter Running Realized podcast Tina's Together Run in St. Albans Maria's blog, It's Your World Kat's Instagram Thank you to Athletic Greens, Zencastr and goodr for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. Zencastr is an all in one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. I've tried all different platforms, I've tried all different types of things and I am obsessed with Zencastr. I love it. I encourage everyone I know to use it because it is just so easy. Go here to get 30% off your first three months. I have been a fan of goodr for YEARS and I literally have their sunglasses all over my house. The design behind these sunglasses really takes into consideration look and comfort. They are 100% carbon neutral and a part of 1% for the Planet. Go here and use the code TINA for 15% off your order. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here.

What a special treat! Today you can join Tina for a run through the English countryside. Run amongst sheep (literally!), squelch in mud, go through kissing gates, and even check out a red phone booth. This run is through the Shropshire hills and will be as close as you can get to running through West of England Join us for a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun35 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Josh Lifrak was the director of the Chicago Cubs' Mental Skills Program when they won the 2016 World Series, ending a 108-year championship drought. He was the Mental Performance Coach for the New York Mets, and now he helps even more people optimize their performance through his work with Limitless Minds. The Covid-19 pandemic has made the past couple of years hard for a lot of us. Today Josh shares his advice on how to work through these difficult times. "I was realizing that I could have a bigger reach, a bigger scope of contribution in the world, if I were to move away from sports." The work that Josh did with sports teams had a huge impact on them, but he felt that his direct sphere of influence was tiny. He'd also been working with different companies, and says that he "was seeing how what we teach in sports has this incredible reach into the corporate world." He realized that one of his biggest values was in terms of workers' contribution. Even though his position in major league baseball seemed to be a dream job, he left it in order to reach more people and to "have them have these moments of 'aha!' and these moments where their lives were getting impacted." "[Team manager] Joe Maddon…always used to say, 'be present, not perfect.'" Changing his career was stressful, but when he's faced with a situation that could seem overwhelming, Josh reminds himself that "the attempt to be perfect…it's not realistic. And I think once you accept that, then you can kind of move past it in a lot of ways." "A lot of times we hear, 'Gotta be positive. Be positive, be positive.' Well, the reality is there's things to not be positive about." Instead of trying to find the positive in everything, he accepts the negative aspects of a situation and then figures out how to move forward. As he explains, "You can't change what's already happened, but your actions can change what happens in the future. The past is not predictive of the future, but what you're doing in the present is." "The biggest thing is making a conscious decision for our own direction in our own minds and deciding how we want to be on a daily basis." Being intentional in his actions is a big part of Josh's philosophy. That means doing things "with purpose, on purpose." You have to establish your own values, rather than simply accepting someone else's agenda. " When you decide who you're going to be, then your actions kind of align with that," he explains. "When you're in something that you don't really like, what that really is doing is giving you an opportunity to see what you do want." The past couple of years have been hard for a lot of people, but Josh sees the other side. He offers some advice for 2022: "If there were things you didn't like or if it was a tough year for you in 2021, take stock of that and go, 'Okay. Well, what would the flip of that be? This is what I don't want; I'm pretty clear about that. What could I do to flip that on its head? And what does that look like if it was 180° the other way?'" Resources: Josh's previous interview on Running for Real Josh's Twitter Josh's LinkedIn Limitless Minds' website Thank you to InsideTracker, Athletic Greens, and Zencastr for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. Zencastr is an all in one podcast production suite that gives you studio quality audio and video without needing all the technical know-how. I've tried all different platforms, I've tried all different types of things and I am obsessed with Zencastr. I love it. I encourage everyone I know to use it because it is just so easy. Go here to get 30% off your first three months. Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off site wide. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone. Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You ca

Tina is back home in St Albans, England, and takes us through a together run along one of her favorite loops. Sharing memories, experiences, and moments that made her the person she is today. Join us for a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun34 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Exactly a month after they ran ten miles of the New York City Marathon together, Tina and Elyse Kopecky connected to talk about eating to support your running, how "healthy" eating can become unhealthy, dealing with a picky eater, and how to set the tone for your entire day. Elyse is a mom, a trail runner, and with her co-author, elite runner Shalane Flanagan, a three-time New York Timesbestselling author. "I did want to run a marathon at one point in my life, just to experience it." Elyse was a competitive runner in college, but she suffered from low bone density and stress fractures, amenorrhea, compartment syndrome, and I.B.S. By the time she graduated, she was burned out on racing and had no desire to get back on a starting line. "I still had a love for running and got really into trail running," she says, "but just running casually, like going for five mile runs with friends at a slow pace." As time went on though, she wanted to run a marathon. It happened that her 40th birthday coincided with the New York City Marathon's 50th anniversary and her friend Shalane Flanagan completing the six world marathon majors in six weeks, finishing in New York. Clearly it was the race that she had to do. "I wanted to prove to myself that all the nutrition advice that I was giving everyone else would work for myself." She was nervous going into training: "If I ended up with a stress fracture while marathon training, I would think I was a fraud, like none of my nutrition was working." But it did work; she ran the entire 26.2 miles without ever hitting a wall. She used to think that she couldn't eat before running because she has a sensitive stomach, but training for the marathon taught her that eating before a run actually helps her. "When I'm marathon training, I'm like a grizzly bear." Elyse says that people would be surprised if they saw how much she ate when she was marathon training. It wasn't easy because I.B.S. limits the foods that she can tolerate. She had to cook constantly, which was the hardest part of training. "The miles are the easy part; that doesn't take up as much time," she says. That doesn't mean that she only eats "healthy" foods. During training, she found that she needed gels and sports drinks, because "sometimes foods that seem less healthy are the ones that are going to fuel me the best." Everyone has to find what works for them, but the important thing is to take in enough fuel. Elyse observes, "I used to think that I wasn't a long distance runner because I never felt good past five miles, but now I realize that it was because I wasn't eating enough beforehand to feel good past five miles." "I think I was meant to have a picky kid so that I could relate more to parents and who knows, maybe this will result in a book down the road." Some people, like Elyse, can't eat certain things because of health issues. Others, like her son, just don't like them. Her daughter will try anything and has "an incredible palate." Elyse says that "with her being my first kid, I was like, I don't understand what's wrong with parents, like why they can't figure out how to feed children." Her son is a different story. She's figured out what he will eat, and makes sure that he has healthy, balanced meals, even if that means preparing the same dishes over and over. "They're not vegetables," she acknowledges, "but I think parents get caught up that it has to be vegetables. There are a lot of nutritious foods that are not vegetables." "I think I need to put it out there more on social that I do eat normal. Like my family does go out for tacos, we do get pizza take-out on Fridays." There are a lot of Run Fast. Eat Slow fans in Bend, OR, where Elyse lives, and they frequently stop to talk to her at the supermarket. She jokes with Shalane, "I don't want them looking at my cart because I have tortilla chips in there, and ice cream, and beer." She emphasizes though, that it is a joke. "I want people to know if you think you're eating perfectly, you probably aren't. If you're stressing that much to where your diet is perfect every single day, then maybe you're not enjoying food, and it gets to a point where it's unhealthy to eat overly healthy." "The more you restrict yourself, the more you're going to want that food." Because she allows herself to enjoy all foods, Elyse doesn't develop a craving for something because she's been depriving herself of it. That allows her to easily avoid overindulging over the holidays, which is a pitfall for so many people. She likes having something sweet every day, but she tries to make sure that it's something healthy, like homemade muffins or cookies made with butter. "I think that food is meant to be enjoyed and everything should taste delicious," she says, "even healthy food." "We believe that how you start your day impacts your whole day." Elyse and Shalane's new book, Rise and Run, is subtitled, Recipes, Rituals, and Runs to Fuel Your Day. The title reflects their belief that, as Elyse

Tina hoped to share a Together Run through Boston before flying to the UK, but rain meant this was not possible. Instead, Cynthia leads us through a guided run with a special twist. As a runner pianist who balances between these two disciplines, Cynthia gives us something unique and enjoyable to try for this run Join us for a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation. This week, Tina discusses Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun33 -- No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Apple (iTunes) Podcast | Sticher | Castbox | Overcast | Spotify | Google Play | iHeartradio | Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Although she's only 25, Lucy Bartholomew has been competing in ultras for a decade. She ran her first, the Surf Coast Century 100k, alongside her father, and the successes kept coming. In 2017 she raced in fifteen ultras and was the first place female in eight of them. The following year she ran her first 100 mile race, Western States, and finished third in the women's race. All of those medals came at a cost, however, and for a time she lost her love of running. Today she talks about how she regained her joy in the sport and now appreciates it more fully than she ever did before. "People asked what happened when the numbers went up, but when the numbers were so low that I was clearly unwell, no one asked any questions. In fact I was put on a pedestal." Lucy participated in a project at a heart institute in 2018, the year she triumphed at Western States. Her numbers were incredibly low - body fat under 12% and a heart rate so slow that it didn't register on the lab's equipment. The doctors were amazed and impressed; it was "like a hall of fame moment," she recalls. But those levels were impossible to maintain, and when she went back a year later, the numbers were all higher. She was stronger and healthier, but the reaction was, "oh, you're out of that elite athlete percentile and you're like, normal, God forbid." " I remember sitting there," she says, "and just being like, my photo's just gone off the wall of fame, and I'm now this normal human, which is just not good enough for their standards." "Overnight I gained 50,000 followers on Instagram. So 50,000 people started following me and they started following a version of Lucy that was not sustainable." After Lucy crossed the Western States' finish line in 2018, she suddenly had tens of thousands of new followers, who only knew her at her thinnest. When she gained weight after the race, people's comments made her start to question herself. "It just puts a grain of sand into your mind, just kind of like, am I doing everything wrong?" By the end of 2019, that grain of sand had become a sandcastle. "I think that I had lost the race of Western States before I had even begun." Running Western States in 2018 had been a joyful experience. She remembers an article that was written about her, saying how super-stoked she was. "And I was," she says, "I was just like, oh my God, I can't believe I'm in this position. I didn't come here to lead the race. I'm in front of Courtney freaking Dauwalter, like what is going on?" When she ran it again the next year, everything had changed. She was in the worst headspace of her life, and says, "if I have one regret in my running career - I don't use the word regret - but I disrespected that race. I ran it, but I didn't love it. I despised the fact that I was out there. I endured it, which the previous year, I enjoyed it, not endured." She hadn't looked at her watch for the first nine hours of the 2018 race because she was loving it so much. But in 2019, she says, "I looked at my watch for the first time probably a mile in and went, 'is that all we've done?'" "I don't love this anymore, and I've always said that I would stop the moment that I outrun my love for running." In retrospect, she knew that she should have rested after the 2018 Western States, but she kept racing. "Then the Christmas season I chilled out a little bit," she says, "had my three days off for the year, God forbid." She resumed her schedule of back-to-back ultras in the new year. Thinking about her racing calendar, she says, "I'm like, you are an absolute goose, Lucy. Who do you think you are, standing on all those start lines and doing that to your body?" "I learned from Western States that I won't stand on the start line if my head and heart aren't in it." Lucy had raced the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) seven times and loved it, but when she arrived in Chamonix in 2019, she says, "I was like, I really just want to sit at a cafe and chill out, and sit in the river and do something else. I just want to get the chairlift up. Like, do we have to run?" "To be a great runner, you have to have the ability to run but then also to be able to cheer on others." She dropped out of the UTMB, but instead of sulking because "this was just turning into the absolute crumble of the year," she decided to support the people who were racing. She explains that when she was younger and would spectate as her dad raced, "I started to realize that you can be on the sideline and you can just be miserable about the fact that you're not in the race or you can be on the sideline and you can make people's day." She left Chamonix feeling proud that she'd respected herself enough to pull out of the race, and happy that "I was able to still be a part of the sport that I love, because whilst I wasn't loving the act of running, I love the philosophy and the community of running, and that's more important to me than any race ever." "It was just the most beautiful experience that put me in

Join Tina for one of her first runs post covid, and while she still feels tired, the conversation is still strong. This is another good example of giving yourself compassion during physically stressful times. Join us for a check in with nature, body scan, senses check in, check in mentally and emotionally and onto a conversation. This week, Tina discusses what it is like to have you the listener know so much about her while knowing very little about you. She discusses the good and bad of this situation Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun32 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Apple (iTunes) Podcast | Sticher | Castbox | Overcast | Spotify | Google Play | iHeartradio | Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

What is the world's longest footrace? The answer might surprise you. It doesn't cross the Sahara desert, or follow the Iditarod trail. It takes place in Queens, NY, and covers only a tiny portion of that borough - one 883m block, to be precise. The Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race circles that block 5,649 times, and runners have 52 days in which to complete it. That's the equivalent of running two marathons every day for 7 ½ weeks. Harita Davies has completed it three times, only the second woman to achieve that feat, finishing it this year in 50 days, 13 hours, 23 minutes and 14 seconds. "After I had that physical movement and the kind of adrenaline and everything that the team sport and just the movement brings, I would feel great, you know?" Harita struggled with depression as a teenager, but found relief in sports. There were times that she'd stay in bed all day, then drag herself to a 5:00 p.m. water polo match in her pajamas, thinking "God, we have to play water polo," but within a few minutes of playing, her depression would lift. "I always remember," she says, "how that to me was like a miracle." "Having this goal is so incredibly rewarding when you achieve it." Doing an Outward Bound course in her native New Zealand when she was 18 was a "huge influence" in Harita's life. Learning how to do new things and working with others helped her find something strong within herself. The course culminated in a half marathon, and she was worried that she wouldn't be able to complete it. When she did, "it wasn't that I thought 'I'm going to become a runner now,' but I was like, 'wow, that was an accomplishment.'" "It was kind of a no brainer; it was like you start meditating and you start running." A couple of years later,she went to a meditation class that followed the philosophy of Sri Chinmoy. He advocated athleticism, and the combination of meditation and exercise resonated with her. "I just started meditating and I started running," she recalls, "and the two of them have been the solid points in my life… from then on, I've never had the one without the other." "I really couldn't run for more than a couple of miles for quite a few years. I would just be exhausted. And so that was a really, really challenging time for me because running had always been such an important part of my happiness and my peace and my identity." By 2007, Harita was running ultramarathons. After one multi-day race, she didn't recover well, and the endometriosis from which she'd suffered for years became much worse. She was unable to run for five years, but it led to an unexpected discovery. Since she couldn't run, she had to walk. "I was always like, I hate walking, you know, I'm someone who runs and I don't like walking," she says, but she realized that "yeah, well maybe you need to learn to like walking." She wound up not just liking it, but loving it. "We limit ourselves so much by the way we define ourselves without even really thinking that much about it." The mental shift that came about when she had to stop running made her realize how "we so often put ourselves into a cage in the way that we define our happiness and what we need in our lives." Despite her health issues, Harita decided to do the Sri Chinmoy Oneness Home Peace Run, the world's largest peace torch relay. She spent three months running around the United States, and by the end of it, the endometriosis had gone away. "It really all came down to being happy and following my heart and following my inspiration and not being bound by what I felt like I should do or what was the right thing to do." After the Peace Run, she no longer saw running as something that she needed to do, but as a blessing. In 2017, following her heart and inspiration led her to enter the 3100 Mile Race. At the start line, she thought, "this is outrageous; I can't believe it's me who's standing here," and says, "I was surprisingly surrendered to just having a disastrous experience my first time." Not only was it not a disaster, she completed it and did better than she had ever imagined she would. More importantly, it made her realize that by running it, she was part of something bigger. It takes a huge village to put on the race, and the runner's role, obviously, is to run. But as Harita points out, "there's no way you'd be able to do it without all these other people playing their role. And in the end that is just such a beautiful thing and that's a huge part of the beauty of this race is that we all play our roles and in the end it creates something." "I felt like this in a way added almost responsibility to womankind to do my best." The second and third times that Harita ran the race, she was the only woman and felt an added obligation to excel. She'd come to realize that as a woman there were elements that were very different than they were for men, but she couldn't really identify what they were. She contacted Dr. Stacy Sims, an expert in human performance, particuarly sex diff

No together run today. I explain why, and give you a few important updates I think we all need to keep in mind as we go into the holiday season. As always, honest, unedited, and real. Links I mentioned: Together runs archives Partners discount codes Gift guide with non traditional ideas

Accept where you are now to get to where you want to be. Long-term fulfillment is more valuable than short-term gain. Progress is nonlinear. Those are valuable principles for runners to follow, but they're relevant to every aspect of your life, as Brad Stulberg explains in his new book, The Practice of Groundedness. Everyone could benefit from practicing groundedness, but Brad's model for success is especially pertinent for driven, type-A people, which describes many runners. Following his advice will help you become a better runner and person. "Many people these days… are feeling a constant coming up short in a sense of never enoughness. I call this heroic individualism and I define it as a game of one-upmanship against self and others." So many people feel as though they always need to do more, achieve more. That could mean breaking a goal time in a race or getting a promotion, but whatever it is, it's accompanied by the belief that once you achieve it, you'll feel fulfilled. The solution to that arrival fallacy, Brad says, is what he calls "groundedness, which is a sense of strength and stability from where you are." "Groundedness does not eliminate goal setting or striving or even ambition, but what it does is, it situates it so that it's more durable and sturdy because it comes from a place of enoughness." Brad points to research that says that "if you play not to lose, you tend not to perform as well as playing to win... When we are feeling unmoored or frantic or like we need to do something and then we'll finally be content, generally you do that from a place of playing not to lose." If instead you feel as though where you are right now is enough but you want to get better, then you start playing to win. That's more likely to lead to a flow state or being in the zone, and is associated with more sustainable peak performance. "We often confuse excitement and ease, even though they're very different things." Excitement, Brad explains, is "feeling that rush in your body of how great it's going to feel if you nail that workout in two weeks, or you PR that race... Ease, on the other hand, is what you get when you're present in the middle of a workout and your sense of self just kind of melts away because you're just flowing into the run." "Excitement, if you actually feel physiologically what that's like, is a lot closer to anxiety than to happiness, whereas ease is a lot closer to happiness than anxiety." Excitable runners believe that if they nail a workout, they'll be happy all day, and they're filled with self-doubt if they miss a workout or don't hit their paces. A more easeful runner, Brad says, "is someone who can look at the entire process of improvement, of self discovery, of learning about themselves as a person, as an athlete, and kind of settle into the training." He offers Eliud Kipchoge as "the ultimate embodiment of ease." "Yeah, you're faster when you're lighter, but you're slower when you're on the couch with a stress fracture." Being an easeful, rather than an excitable, runner can mean the difference between long-term success and burnout. The excitable approach may work for a few training cycles, but it will be unsustainable in the long term. "Those hits of excitement are really powerful. But if you do those things over and over and over again, you start to feel like crap." Whether it's in running or other aspects of your life, you need to learn how to not give in to the craving for excitement. Outside of running, that might mean ignoring the urge to check your phone to see if you've gotten an email or a "like" on your social media. Instead, work on staying grounded and present in the moment, and not allowing yourself to be distracted by the momentary high of an affirmation online. That doesn't mean that you have to disconnect entirely. Brad believes that "trying to have a goal of just being present always… is really hard in the 21st century and I think you set yourself up for a lot of failure and then a lot of self judgment if you have such a goal." Instead, set aside blocks of time when you want to be fully present, and eventually you'll find that those blocks can get longer and longer. It may not be easy at first, but it will be worth it. As Brad says, "No one ever looks back and says a really happy moment was having a viral post. So I think it's really important to remember this." resources: Brad's website The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds--Not Crushes--Your Soul Brad's Twitter Thank you to Insidetracker, Athletic Greens, and Zencastr for sponsoring this episode. Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get $200 off Ultimate + Free

Join Tina for a unique together walk (while you run) as she takes her time off running and is unable to compete in her 50k due to her children having Covid 19 (and now Tina has it too). You become Tina's therapist in this raw, vulnerable, open time together as she works through her feelings about missing her goal race becuase of her kids being sick. If this is your first together run, one of the others would be a better fit, but if you are a regular listener, or have learned to care about Tina and her journey, this together walk will be a way to connect. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun31 Tina mentioned No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Apple (iTunes) Podcast | Sticher | Castbox | Overcast | Spotify | Google Play | iHeartradio | Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Guarina Lopez is a storyteller who uses not only words but also images to share stories of the land and indigenous communities. A member of the Pascua Yaqui tribe of Tucson, AZ, she currently resides on the present and ancestral lands of the Piscataway and Nacotchtank in Washington, D.C. She's a runner; the founder of Native Women Ride; a writer, photographer and filmmaker; and our guest on today's episode. "There's always storytelling; it's all over, you just have to listen for it." As Guarina explains, "we come from storytelling traditions because a lot of times our languages weren't translated into English for the wider populace." When she wanted information about her heritage, she had to ask somebody, and then, she says, "I never just got an answer, I got a story." Her father was a great storyteller, which, she believes, "really kind of broadened the way that I heard the words. So when I think of storytelling and language, before I write things down, oftentimes on my run I will hear the way words sound, like these words sound beautiful together, or it'll just appear in my mind." "I think that I was photographing a lot of things I was trying to understand, or things that I was passionate about." Guarina was already drawing and writing stories as a child, and then at age 12, she picked up a camera. Her mother was homeless for a long time, and she began taking pictures of unhoused people, "capturing stories that I was trying to figure out that ended up being related to my life." She started by shooting in 35mm, but eventually switched to a heavier, medium format camera. Photographing people was harder, and she had to think about composition in a different way, so she started to photograph the land. A pivotal moment occurred when she was on a road trip through the Pacific Northwest. "That's when I really made the shift of the way that I think about land, and how we use it and how we see it and perceive it is different." While driving through Oregon, she pulled over and "there was an abandoned lumberyard and it almost brought me to tears because I I saw all of these trees that had been killed for nothing, but they were stacked up in all these beautiful, like modern kinds of ways, just slats over slat over slat. And so there were all these gorgeous lines. And so I was at once mesmerized by the beauty of the natural shapes, and then angered, because why would you do this?" "It just stopped me in my tracks and I thought, this is the land fighting back. These are the trees saying, you know, 'this is our place.'" Guarina moved to Washington, D.C. and was overwhelmed by the greenery and the resurgence of life of the plants there. When she goes running and comes across a tree breaking through the sidewalk, she says, "I'm just like, 'yes!' because that is what you do'" - even though she knows it will probably trip her up on her next run. In her daily life, she tries to create a relationship, "whether it's with the land, or the waters, or the animals." "You can't just completely erase everything. That's not how Mother Nature works." The U.S. and much of the world has become accustomed to extracting as much as possible from the earth. Indigenous peoples, on the other hand, believe that you "only take what you need, and then you see the natural resurgence and natural growth processes of animals and plants and the entire ecosystem." "I want to tell stories and I think the stories that need to be told are the ones that have never been told." Stories are told about people who have done amazing things, but as Guarina says, "if that's the only person that's representing their particular community, it's really not representative." We need to recognize that everyone has a unique story, that "we're all just ordinary people, but you never know what stories people have." It's worthwhile to learn them. That, she says, "is where you'll find the thing you don't know." Guarina finds much of her inspiration when she's out for a run. After the first two miles or so, she says, "stories come to mind. I start thinking about what I want to teach, what I want to write about, what I don't know about." "Nature will always provide no matter where you are, and nature will never fail. You know, I will never know enough. I will never know it all. And it changes from day to day. And so my process when I go out there and run is to think about how can I make my day better, and the run, the run itself always does that for me." Resources: Guarina's Instagram accounts: Guarina Paloma Lopez Yaqui Rain Runner This Native Land Modern Natives' Personal Regalia Native Women Ride Call Me By My Name Project Thank you to Tracksmith, Athletic Greens, and goodr for sponsoring this episode. Tracksmith is a Boston-based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers work with the finest

Join Tina for a very tired #togetherrun as she recovers post NYC marathon before her 50k next weekend. After connecting in with nature to start the run, join Tina for a body scan, senses check in, and conversation for this week's together run. While there is only one option for the run, it means we are all doing the same thing. Tina discusses the importance of recognizing when you are tired, and knowing it is okay to admit things are tough. Part meditation, part reflection, part check-in, join Tina for #togetherrun30 Tina mentioned Running Realized No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Listen to the Running for Real Podcast here: Apple (iTunes) Podcast | Sticher | Castbox | Overcast | Spotify | Google Play | iHeartradio | Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Fernanda Maciel uses ultrarunning to draw attention to environmental and social issues around the world. She's completed the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) nine times, earning a spot on the podium four times and winning once; is an Ultra-Trail World Tour champion; and among other feats, holds the World Female Record for running up and down Mount Kilimanjaro. "In Brazil, I was always running on the trail. So my love for the waterfalls and the rivers and for the nature there was giant, so that was part of myself." Fernanda studied law at university because it was her dream to become an environmental lawyer and protect nature in her home state in Brazil. She practiced law for a time, but was dismayed by the role that politics play in determining environmental policy. "Maybe I can do something for the environment, but being outside, being outdoors… just inspire people to be a little bit more aware about what's going on." She decided that she could make a greater impact by committing herself to ultrarunning full time and bringing attention to environmental and social issues in the places where she runs. The White Flow project was born, and began with her becoming the first woman to run the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (860km in ten days), which she did to raise funds for children with cancer in Spain and Brazil. "I did this project in Aconcagua, running up and down the highest mountain in America, and then part of the project was also about the environment and how they recycle their rubbish in the park." Fernanda had dreamed of running up and down Aconcagua, in Argentina, and in 2016 became the first woman to do so. She used the feat to learn about and share how a huge national park can manage the garbage left by visitors. "I think more than the win, is for me just to finish. You suffer, you learn so much, you know, when you suffer, and during this race, you learn a lot." Fernanda has taken on a new challenge every year, but there's one that she's done multiple times - the UTMB. It starts and finishes in Chamonix, in the French Alps, and covers around 170 kilometers (106 miles), circumnavigating Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. Although she lives in Chamonix now, the cold conditions are still a challenge for her; as she says, "I think because I'm from Brazil, I need to train three times more than European people." Although she's been victorious there, there have also been times when she hasn't finished, but she doesn't regret them. "The victory is cool," she says, "but I think I learned so much when I couldn't finish." This year Fernanda has had to forgo races and record-setting after suffering a brain injury in February, while belaying her boyfriend rock climbing. She's on her way to a full recovery, and says that as a result of the accident, "I'm really connected right now much more to the universe than I was before." "Just be grateful for where you are right now. I think the simple life is the most beautiful one and I wish the best for everybody. And yeah, just enjoy the mountains and the trails because this is a beautiful gift that you have." Resources: Fernanda's website Fernanda's Facebook Fernanda's Instagram Fernanda's Twitter Running Realized: Running and Climate Change with the UN Humanitarian Office Running Realized: The Sustainable Road Race Fernanda's video for the UN's World Humanitarian Day Thank you to Athletic Greens, goodr, and Insidetracker for sponsoring this episode. AG1 is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients to help strengthen your immune system. It's simple to make and it tastes good! Go here to get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D and five FREE travel packs with your subscription. I have been a fan of goodr for YEARS and I literally have their sunglasses all over my house. I recently had an episode with co-founder Stephen Lease where he talks about the true and real story behind his company and I appreciate him being honest with me about it. The design behind these sunglasses really takes into consideration look and comfort. They are 100% carbon neutral and a part of 1% for the Planet. Go here and use the code TINA for 15% off your order. Have you not been feeling yourself lately? Gone down a lot of avenues but haven't really found clear solutions? That is where InsideTracker can come in for you. I have trusted this company for years to show me where I may be lacking and if I need a few tweaks here and there. I count on InsideTracker to help me decipher the science behind it all. Go here to get 25% off as a special for Running for Real listeners on their ENTIRE store. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that t

A different take on together runs today, but equally as enjoyable. Join Tina and other runners from the community in New York as they complete a together run in Central Park the day before the TCS NYC marathon! Tina interviewed some runners in the community to have them share their story and inspire us with their journey. Feel the energy and buzz from the excitement and anticipation, and use it to rev up your run into something special. So join us for #togetherrun29 in New York Tina mentioned Running Realized No sponsors today, trying to keep this authentic and like really running with a friend. If you want to support Tina and the Running For Real team: Through a monthly donation on Patreon. To sign up, click here. You can share on social media and let others know about what you are loving in these together runs. You can leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could be listening to, but we are honored you have chosen Running For Real. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that topic will relate to them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you for joining, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Sonya Looney describes herself as a normal person who has been able to achieve extraordinary things through hard work, self-belief, determination, moxie, and grit. That includes being a World Champion mountain bike racer who has competed in over 25 countries, in places like the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, and the Mongolian steppes. She's also a runner, a TEDx speaker, an entrepreneur, and host of her own podcast, The Sonya Looney Show. "I love the ultra endurance stuff just because I feel like you really get to know who you are as a person." Sonya's mountain bike races are usually 50 - 100 miles or 24-hour races. She loves the endurance aspect, and also that "you have a lot of time out there and it's so mental, and the range of emotions that you experience in the course of a day is so diverse, and you wouldn't necessarily feel those in your daily life." "If I can safely push through this thing, then that builds my confidence and my self- belief for the next time." The obstacles in endurance mountain bike racing require the rider to make a choice: do I go on, or do I quit? Life, of course, is the same. As Sonya says, "you learn over time that giving up makes you give up more," so she chooses to take on the challenges. You can look back on the hard things that you did and got through, and then "you can remember that and then you just keep going and going." "Optimism is accepting the difficult things as they come up, but knowing that with effort and maybe a little bit of grit that they can get even better." Sonya believes that to do those hard things, you need to train optimism. That doesn't mean "just blindly thinking that everything is going to be fine and ignoring all the difficult things." You need to be aware of your negative thoughts, but instead of giving into them, you can work on confronting and overcoming them. "The outcome isn't the most important thing about what you're doing." One of the greatest fears that people have is failing to meet the expectations of others, or even harder, of ourselves. Sonya emphasizes the importance of being focused on the process, because "you're not entitled to the outcome. Like you might think, "I deserve to win' or 'I deserve this,' but so does everybody else out there that's working just as hard as you, or maybe even harder than you. So really it's about being proud of your effort at the end of the day." "Our lives get over complicated, focusing on all these things that we think that we need to feel good." One thing that Sonya has learned through her travels in other countries is that "you don't really need that much to be happy." There are places where people live very simply, but they've found a way to make it work for them. Seeing that has made her ask herself what she really needs to feel fulfilled, and to appreciate all "the basic things we take for granted." "Ask yourself, what are the consequences if I don't speak up and will I regret it if I don't speak up or do the thing?" Sonya has chosen to compete in some smaller races in other countries because it's important to her "to have a different lens on life," even if that means passing up more prestigious races that could get her bigger sponsorships or more media coverage. She's found that when you don't follow your heart, "a lot of times you do regret it if you don't do it, and that's because it's clashing with something that you fundamentally believe in." "I think a lot of us do feel like people will love us more if you achieve more." Following your own path can be difficult, especially if it means doing something that you're afraid you might not be good at, or that other people won't approve of or understand. But Sonya believes that "if you have the courage to explore that curiosity, to just open a door or to try an opportunity that comes your way that sounds interesting, you're going to learn so much." As she says, "it's not my quote, but be brave enough to suck at something new." "Just focus on the joy of getting better, because there is a lot of fun in getting better at something, but it requires getting started, even if you're bad at it." Resources: Sonya's website The Sonya Looney Show Tina's interview on Sonya's podcast Sonya's TEDx Talk Sonya's Instagram Sonya's Facebook Running for Real NYC Marathon Watch-Along Thank you to Tracksmith and Generation UCAN for sponsoring this episode. Tracksmith is a Boston based company that truly cares about the quality of their running clothes. Running can be demanding on our clothes; they definitely go through wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers work with the finest materials and keep you in mind as a runner, with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can go here to check out my favorites! Go here and use the code TINA15, and Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase to Runners for Public Lands, and you'll get free shipping! Thank you, Generation UCAN. I have been talking about them for years and they are