Stay ConnectedListen as Dana Giordano, a professional middle-distance runner, sits down and talks with some of the most inspirational and insightful women in running. Whether they’re doing amazing things on the track or working tirelessly to promote the sport as industry leaders and entrepreneurs, hear how they’ve found success.
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Copyright: © CITIUS MAG
Why hello, my friends. I missed you! As it turns out moving across the country takes a moment and I've been cooking up something special for this fall for the podcast. Stay tuned1
In the meantime here is a special episode of More Than Running with Courtney Wayment. Courtney recently placed 3rd at the USA National Championships to secure her spot on the Steeplechase team. Courtney is just the best source of energy and light and I know her stories will brighten up your day like they did mine! Courtney takes on an International Field at the London Diamond League on July 23rd. Let's go!
This episode is sponsored by COROS, the company that supports World Record Holders to anyone who lives an active lifestyle. I love my COROS Apex 2 running watch and use the sleep tracking and the numerous activities to track my life on the go. Use code DANA for a free accessory at check out.
Angel Piccirillo graduated from Villanova University with a clear plan in mind: run fast, secure a contract, join a training group, represent national teams, and repeat the process. However, little did she expect that, despite being a 9-time All-American and graduating in 2017, she would find herself on her fourth training group in just six years, finally hitting her stride as a professional athlete in 2023 setting a personal best in the 1500 in 4:07 this past April.
In this episode of More Than Running, we delve into Angel's remarkable journey, beginning with her training in Philadelphia alongside Ajee Wilson and Raeyvn Rodgers. From there, she transitioned to the Oiselle Little Wing Group under the guidance of coach Lauren Fleshman, followed by a stint with the Oregon Track Club in Eugene, Oregon. Now, she finds herself in North Carolina, training with the Puma Elite Training group under the coaching of Alistair and Amy Cragg. This journey would have tested even the most resilient of athletes, requiring immense persistence and the challenge of maintaining a long-distance relationship with her husband, Australian Olympian Patrick Tiernan. Through it all, Angel's unwavering self-belief in her own potential has been a driving force.
More Than Running is supported by COROS! Use code DANA for a free accessory
The new COROS Update brings a redesigned app and significant upgrades to the entire COROS training solution with an all-new running fitness system, improved EvoLab, brand-new Explore page, location and map manager, and many more improvements. Whether you're training for a goal or exploring outdoors, the ultimate GPS watch just got even better.
More Than Running is edited by Mike Zurzolo.
"It’s really amazing because I’m 27 years old. I’ve made an Olympic team. I’ve made an Olympic final. I’m an indoor national champion. I have all these accolades and I finally have a contract. It’s really cool because it’s just confirmation that I’m not an imposter. I deserve this kit. Now, I finally have it. I am so happy that it’s Nike."
Join us on this episode of More Than Running as we hear from Valerie Constien, a professional track athlete who made the 2021 Tokyo Olympics team in the steeplechase. Valerie discusses her experiences in the years since the Olympics and how she has continued to support her track career through a full-time job in tech and volunteering with the University of Colorado Boulder teams.
In this conversation, Valerie shares her tenaciousness, self-belief, and sincerity that have helped her succeed in her athletic pursuits. She talks about the challenges of being an unattached athlete and how she has overcome them with determination and a positive attitude.
But the biggest news of all is that Valerie has recently signed with Nike Running to continue her career! She will debut in the Doha Diamond League on May 8th, sporting her new green kit. Don't miss this exciting announcement from a true athlete who embodies the spirit of More Than Running.
More Than Running is hosted on the CITIUS MAG Podcast Network and is edited by Mike Zurzolo.
Congratulations to Emma Bates for placing 5th in the Boston Marathon TODAY in 2:22:10. Listen to her immediate post-race thoughts on More Than Running with Dana.
Have you ever wondered why it seems like specific runners online keep getting free gear, trips, and race entries? Why are these people sometimes elites and sometimes everyday athletes? In this episode of More Than Running - Erin Bailey, founder of Momentum Management a talented agency for active creators, and Cait Keen, an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and creator, and I have a round table discussion on the current state of the running economy. Stay tuned for our reasons why we create, running with a phone, our pet peeves and more!
In this episode of More Than Running, I FINALLY sat down with Lauren Fleshman to discuss her new book Good For a Girl. I believe this book should be mandatory reading for anyone who coaches female athletes, is an athlete, or cares about improving the sporting landscape for all. Lauren's experience as an athlete competing at the highest professional level is unique, but her overall experience as a female athlete facing issues of body image, anxiety, and self-doubt is not. I hope you enjoy this episode and can read Good for a Girl!
This episode is supported by COROS use code DANA for a free watch acessory at checkout. COROS is a performance sports technology company that helps athletes train to be their best.For COROS, it’s all about the outdoors, mountains, and a passionate, active lifestyle. When you use a COROS product, you know you are getting a tool that has been designed, tested, and perfected for the athlete by the athlete. COROS users have set World Records and been to the highest point on earth, pushing products to the extremes.
This episode is also supported by equip.health eating disorder treatment that works. Supported by many insurance providers in over 50 states.
More Than Running is a CITIUS Mag podcast and is edited and produced by Mike Zurzolo.
Welcome back to more than running with Dana. I’m your host Dana Giordano, and on this show, I talk to the women in and around the running community who inspire me daily. I started this podcast when I was running professionally and I felt like the deeper stories of women were not being amplified. Stay for real conversations about confidence, mental health, body image, motivation, and of course, running.
This episode of More Than Running is supported by New Balance. This is a mini-series featuring New Balance’s Stolen Starts ambassadors and Team New Balance athletes. This episode was recorded back in December but was postponed due to personal events for our guests.
I have often felt like the ends of our running community have felt so separate and what better way to celebrate women in running by round table conversations with the women making change within their communities and reaching new heights on the professional track circuit.
On the community end of the spectrum are the women of The Stolen Starts, a women’s running collective started in 2021. 10 ambassadors make up The Stolen Starts and include women from London, South Korea, Berlin, LA, Paris, and more. Each woman in the collective was selected because they are each powerful advocates for specific causes in their respective communities. In this episode, we meet Elodie Watrin a talented musician from Paris who uses her platform to promote sustainable practices.
On the other end of the running spectrum and the world, we met Emma Coburn, Olympic Bronze medalist and 10x USA National Champion in the Steeplechase. Emma Coburn is also highly passionate about sustainability and shares her outlook on how to be connected to her own environment.
Over the next 45 minutes, you will hear an incredible conversation about sustainability, running, community, and more. It’s like going on a run with your favorite people. Elodie and Emma are both more than running, and I hope you enjoy this series!
MTR is a CITIUS Mag podcast and is edited by Mike Zurolo.
On this episode of More Than Running, I take a moment to chat about the WHY for the podcast and where it goes from here. When your relationship with running changes, it can be hard to see how it fits into your life, but you know you need it there. Stripped back this 15 minute mini-episode grounds the 2023 year and the upcoming conversations on the podcast. Cheers and let me know what you think! - Dana
Welcome back to more than running with Dana. I’m your host Dana Giordano, and on this show, I talk to the women in and around the running community who inspire me daily. I started this podcast while running professionally and felt like the deeper stories of women were not being amplified. Stay for real conversations about confidence, mental health, body image, motivation, and running.
This episode of More Than Running is supported by New Balance. This is a mini-series featuring New Balance’s Stolen Starts ambassadors and Team New Balance athletes.
I have often felt like the ends of our running community have felt so separate and what better way to celebrate women in running than round table conversations with the women making change within their communities and reaching new heights on the professional track circuit.
On the community end of the spectrum are the women of The Stolen Starts, a women’s running collective started in 2021. 10 ambassadors make up The Stolen Starts and include women from London, South Korea, Berlin, LA, Paris, and more. Each woman in the collective was selected because they are each powerful advocates for specific causes in their respective communities. In this episode, we meet Vanessa One a Los Angeles-based graphic designer and marathoner r championing fundraising for athletic-based youth organizations in LA.
On the other end of the running spectrum and the world, we met Gabby Thomas, USA 200m Olympian. Gabby graduated from Harvard and is now pursuing her Masters in Epidemiology at the University of Texas in Austin. Gabby is also a vocal advocate for athletes' mental health. I can't wait to see what she does this season.
Over the next 45 minutes, you will hear an incredible conversation about mental health, motivation, community, and more. It’s like going on a run with your favorite people. Heather and Harky are both more than running, and I hope you enjoy this series!
MTR is a CITIUS Mag podcast and is edited by Mike Zurzolo.
Welcome back to more than running with Dana. I’m your host Dana Giordano, and on this show, I talk to the women in and around the running community who inspire me daily. I started this podcast when I was running professionally and I felt like the deeper stories of women were not being amplified. Stay for real conversations about confidence, mental health, body image, motivation, and of course, running.
This episode of More Than Running is supported by New Balance. This is a mini-series featuring New Balance’s Stolen Starts ambassadors and Team New Balance athletes.
I have often felt like the ends of our running community have felt so separate and what better way to celebrate women in running by round table conversations with the women making change within their communities and reaching new heights on the professional track circuit.
On the community end of the spectrum are the women of The Stolen Starts, a women’s running collective started in 2021. 10 ambassadors make up The Stolen Starts and include women from London, South Korea, Berlin, LA, Paris, and more. Each woman in the collective was selected because they are each powerful advocates for specific causes in their respective communities. In this episode, we meet Harky Kalsi a London-based artist and multi-time marathoner championing conversations about mental health in running.
On the other end of the running spectrum and the world, we met Heather MacLean, USA 1500m Olympian and also my best friend! Heather had a challenging year with health and mental health struggles, and her honesty is essential to what the sport needs to grow and be more inclusive for all!
Over the next 45 minutes, you will hear an incredible conversation about mental health, motivation, community, and more. It’s like going on a run with your favorite people. Heather and Harky are both more than running, and I hope you enjoy this series!
MTR is a CITIUS Mag podcast and is edited by Mike Zurolo.
Welcome back to more than running with Dana. I’m your host Dana Giordano and on this show I talk to the women in and around the running community who inspire me daily. I started this podcast when I was running professionally and I felt like the deeper stories of women were not being amplified. Stay for real conversations about confidence, mental health, body image, motivation and of course running.
This episode of More Than Running is supported by New Balance. This is a mini-series featuring New Balance’s Stolen Starts ambassadors and Team New balance athletes.
I have often felt like the ends of our running community have felt so separate and what better way to celebrate women in running by round table conversations with the women making change within their communities and reaching new heights on the professional track circuit.
On the community end of the spectrum are the women of The Stolen Starts a women’s running collective started in 2021. 10 ambassadors make up The Stolen Starts and include women from London, South Korea, Berlin, LA, Paris and more. Each woman in the collective was selected because they are each powerful advocates for specific causes in their respective communities. On this episode we meet Tammy Salazar-Andurand a NYC based running coach and founder of an all-female run crew that strives to amplify marginalized voices in the fitness and wellness community.
On the other end of the running spectrum and world we met Femke Bol, Dutch sprinting sensation in the 400/400mH. Olympic bronze, world championship silver , double European titles and a Diamond league title are a few of the accomplishments of the 22 year old sensation. Femke is as driven as she is down to earth and shared her gratitude in this episode for her training partners and mentors.
Over the next 45 minutes you will hear an incredible conversation about sport, motivation, community and more. It’s like going on a run with your favorite people. Tammy and Femke are both more than running and I hope you enjoy this series!
MTR is a CITIUS Mag podcast and is edited by Mike Zurolo.
"It doesn't happen immediately for a lot of people. And I think just sticking it out and doing it. And then you also see a lot of women that leave the sport for a long time after college and they come back and they still crush it. And I think that everybody's timeline's a little bit different. And I think it's just if you come back to running or come to whatever you wanna do in life." - Maggie Montoya
On this episode of More Than Running, I welcome Maggie Montoya, a Boulder, Colorado-based athlete making waves on the road. Last year Maggie ran the Houston half marathon in a spicy 71:21 which qualified her for the World Half Marathon championships (sadly cancelled due to covid). Maggie's life changed in an instant on March 22, 20221 when she was working as a phramacy tech at King Soopers grocery store in Boulder when a shooter attacked. Maggie is now a fierce advocate for gun restrictions and has been open to sharing her story in the news about the tragedy she was apart of. Maggie also qualified for the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 10,000m but sadly had to miss the race due to injury.
Maggie overcame her challenging 2021 with a top 10 finish at the Chicago Marathon placing 8th in 2.28:07. She is also pursuing a masters in public health and signed her first professional contract with Salomon running this year! I hope you learn a little more about Maggie and I can't wait to watch her career rise even higher.
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Salomon was born in the French Alps in 1947 and has an incredible lineup of road and trail running footwear & hydration gear – perfect for any runner, on any terrain – no matter the challenge. They are alchemists, creating magic with a “why not” spirit. From trail running to snowboarding, their goal is to make gear that transforms sports experiences. #TomorrowIsYours
Check out www.salomon.com to try out Salomon's newest line of road and trail shoes
On this episode of More Than Running, I had a great conversation with Duke senior athlete Emily Cole. Emily competes in the steeplechase, and this year she placed 7th at the NCAA Championships and qualified for the USA Championship. Emily is most well known for her social media presence on TikTok and Instagram where she shares daily training, motivation, and her life as a student-athlete. She has been successful in the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) space as well working with brands and monetizing her social media.
Our conversation is focused on Emily's launch of her book The Player's Plate this week! She will be the first student-athlete to monetize a book published while in university. The Player's Plate was designed to share real practical information for athletes who are aiming to fuel their bodies and minds. Emily was inspired to write the book after she struggled with her own nutrition in high school leading her to a coma due to over hyrdation and low sodium levels.
Emily is a breath of fresh air and a very inspirational to athletes who are aiming to take ownership over their own nutrition. Enjoy!
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▶ Follow Emily: Twitter | Instagram | TikTok - The Player's Plate
" I would love to win a overall World Title again.. To me, that's kind of the, the ultimate goal. So it takes stamina and planning over an entire season. I think it's, it's one of those reach goals where if everything lines up, we have a shot and making this happen." - Jessie Diggins
Three-time Olympian and three-time Olympic Medalist Gold (2018), Silver (2022), Bronze (2022) cross-country skier Jessie Diggins joins me on the More Than Running podcast. Jessie and I have crossed paths a few times, but this was my first opportunity to dig into the person who Jessie is outside of competition. Jessie uses running to strengthen her base for long seasons of competition in Europe.
Jessie is a fierce advocate for eating disorder treatment after overcoming her own battles in her early career. She also is an advocate against climate change and travels annually to lobby for climate protective measures in Washington, D.C. Jessie's positive message, infectious personality and grit to win are so unique and I hope you all enjoy this episode sharing a little more about who she is outside of competition.
Support our sponsors:
Salomon was born in the French Alps in 1947 and has an incredible lineup of road and trail running footwear & hydration gear – perfect for any runner, on any terrain – no matter the challenge. They are alchemists, creating magic with a “why not” spirit. From trail running to snowboarding, their goal is to make gear that transforms sports experiences. #TomorrowIsYours
Check out www.salomon.com to try out Salomon's newest line of road and trail shoes
Summertime is over, folks! And we are kicking off the 5th season of More Than Running with Dana. My life has changed significantly in the past year as I transitioned from professional track, moved across the country to SF, and worked several jobs. Over this past year, I've learned that joy is the truest source of success, and this season is focused on finding joy in passions, whether running or something off-piste on the trails or even other sports. Running connects us, and I am here to keep telling stories of women who inspire me daily.
Kicking off season 5 is the one and only Courtney Dauwalter. When you google search ultra running it is likely that an image of Courtney comes up. In this conversation, I fully admit to my lack of knowledge in the trail world and try to learn the basics from the best. Courtney is a UTMB winner and is closing the gender gap in sport as she is closing the time barrier of her male counterparts in races. Learn about Courtney's dream to continues smashing adventure project and potentially host her own race weekend (looking at you Salomon!)
Trails are not my first love of running but I'm growing to love them more and more every day and Courtney's experience running an ultramarathon with her mom may have almost inspired me to sign up for an ultra (only if it is with them of course. I'm partnering with Salomon for the first few episodes of More Than Running this season to celebrate the Salomon Women's Trail Half marathon in my backyard in Marin. It is my first trail race and I'm fully expecting to get wooped. Salomon is changing the standard in women's racing and is providing on-site childcare and lactation stations which is just the best thing ever. I can't wait to report how this race goes!
Support our sponsors:
Salomon was born in the French Alps in 1947 and has an incredible lineup of road and trail running footwear & hydration gear – perfect for any runner, on any terrain – no matter the challenge. They are alchemists, creating magic with a “why not” spirit. From trail running to snowboarding, their goal is to make gear that transforms sports experiences. #TomorrowIsYours
Check out www.salomon.com to try out Salomon's newest line of road and trail shoes
“ In fact, maybe the only way to get to where you want is to detour from that path that you had in mind originally, or that, you know, is the traditional path of doing things and, and trusting that those people in your support network will actually...Be excited about it”
Vanessa Fraser joins the More Than Running Podcast to discuss some big changes in her life. We recorded this in my living room in San Francisco, which will play a big role in her career moving forward.
For those who may not be as familiar, Vanessa joined the Nike Bowerman Track Club after graduating from Stanford in 2018 as a seven-time All-American. As a member of the Bowerman Track Club, Fraser set personal bests of 4:09.74 for 1500m, 4:37.33 for the mile, 8:53.11 for 3,000m (indoors), 14:48.51 for 5000m (indoors) and 31:52.11 for 10,000 meters.
She has decided to relocate to San Francisco for a new job with a VC firm but will still run under contract with Nike and be coached by Shalane Flanagan, who is an assistant coach with the Bowerman Track Club and just joined the University of Oregon track & field and cross country program as an assistant coach under Jerry Schumacher.
We touch on her career, her interests and so much more in this conversation.
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▶ Follow Vanessa: Instagram
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@HaywardMagic is the Instagram home for the true track & field diehards, dreamers and fans. They are sharing the magic of the sport and elevating the athletes that push it forward. Follow them on Instagram @HaywardMagic.
This episode is a long time coming. Fellow podcaster Ali Feller joins me on More Than Running podcast to catch up and share more about her "goals", dreams, and current life update. Ali is the host of the Ali on the Run Show which is now on its 550th episode! Ali is a beam of light in the running world and I loved picking her brain about how she thinks about her own training, her show, and her experience working behind the scenes at the World Championships.
I first time I "met" Ali was a guest on her podcast and I have been a huge fan ever since. Ali proves to me my favorite quote "there is room for all of us at the finish line". I hope in this episode you learn something new about Ali and enjoy a conversation between two women who share a love of running and all the positive parts of the community.
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@HaywardMagic is the Instagram home for the true track & field diehards, dreamers and fans. They are sharing the magic of the sport and elevating the athletes that push it forward. Follow them on Instagram @HaywardMagic.
"I'm getting emotional thinking about it. He picked her up and they stood there for six minutes hugging. It was so so sweet... Just to see those moments where it's a moment that nobody else got to witness...Her joy that I was able to be a part of making happen was super special." - Jessi Gabriel on the inside moments of Eugene 22
Wow, what a week it has been coming off the World Championships in Oregon. I spent a week in Eugene for the third time this year (Prefontaine Classic, USA Championships, and Worlds) working with the Citius Mag Team to amplify athlete stories. I am so proud of our team and believe we made a difference in highlighting the athletes on and off the track.
On this episode of More Than Running, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jessi Gabriel to digest the magic that was the World Championships in Eugene. Jessi is the communications director for the local organizing committee of the Oregon 22 World Championships. Previously, Jessi worked at Tracktown USA and has lived in Eugene for seven years with professional runner partner Ben Blankenship.
Get the complete inside scoop on what it takes to put on a World Championships in a small college town, what happens after the meet is over, and more! You might even find out who is Legend the Bigfoot the mascot of Eugene 22. Jessi gives a deep dive into the work that happens behind the scenes to bring the final product we see in the stands and on TV. The World Championships are our sport at its best but it doesn't happen without the work of so many individuals like Jessi Gabriel.
If you liked this episode please give me a review and subscribe! It helps keep telling amazing stories like Jessi's to the world that needs to deserve to hear them.
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@HaywardMagic is the Instagram home for the true track & field diehards, dreamers and fans. They are sharing the magic of the sport and elevating the athletes that push it forward. Follow them on Instagram @HaywardMagic.
"Yes, running is amazing. It's freedom, it's hard work, it's amazing. It's one of the best sports I think in the entire world, but there is so much to that when you learn who you are. When you learn who you are you can capitalize on the beauty of the sport... Learn who you are, love who you are and it will make the sport of running ten times more amazing."
Chloe Abbott is a 400m professional sprinter for On Running, BUT she is much more than running. Chloe is a multi-hyphenate (my new favorite word as you will find in this episode) athlete, musician, and actor. I met Chloe at the USA Track Championships, walking into the meet, and I was blown away when she sang the National Anthem.
In this episode of More Than Running, we talk about Chloe's collegiate experience at Purdue and the University of Kentucky, her first post-collegiate year, and her many, many passions off the track. Chloe lives and trains in LA with Allyson Felix and a star-studded training group.
Chloe is the epitome of More Than Running, and we are here for every step of her new journey as a professional in many areas!
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▶ Follow Chloe: Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
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Hayward Magic:
@HaywardMagic is the Instagram home for the true track & field diehards, dreamers and fans. They are sharing the magic of the sport and elevating the athletes that push it forward. Follow them on Instagram @HaywardMagic.
On this special bonus episode of More Than Running, I chat with 5x World Championship qualifier Molly Huddle about everything she is excited about for Eugene 22. We primarily cover women's distance events with a heavy bias toward the hometown, our team, Team USA! Molly competed in the World Championships in 2011 Daegu 5k, 2013 Moscow 5k, 2015 Beijing 10k, 2017 London 10k, and 2019 Doha 10k.
Molly's decade of dominance was briefly paused due to the birth of her first child Josephine this past April. Molly in her words is a "track nerd" and has been enjoying this season off the track by being a fan and providing insider knowledge on social media. In addition to new motherhood, Molly also launched a book this year How She Did It with Sara Slattery about 50 inspirational women in running, many of who are competing at the World Championships. Molly is also the host of the Keeping Track podcast and is an advocate for all things parity and equality in women's sports.
I am already calling myself out about the goof of missing the women's steeplechase smh. However, we are in good hands with Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs, and Courtney Wayment. Molly and I needed another hour to record! I hope you all enjoy this preview and are getting excited about the World Championships starting on FRIDAY.
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▶ Follow Molly: Twitter | Instagram |
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Hayward Magic:
@HaywardMagic is the Instagram home for the true track & field diehards, dreamers and fans. They are sharing the magic of the sport and elevating the athletes that push it forward. Follow them on Instagram @HaywardMagic.
You may know the Atlanta Track Club best from the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials BUT the team has been developing a dominance in the middle distance events under the coaching guidance of Amy and Andrew Begley. I had the opportunity to sit down in the Adidas house at the USA championship in this mini-episode to learn more about what magic is being developed down in Atlanta with Allie Wilson, Olivia Baker, and Yolanda Ngarambe.
Allie Wilson was a recent guest on More Than Running and I know Olivia Baker from way back when in NJ! Both Allie and Olivia competed in the 800m at USAs. Allie placed 4th in 1:58.35 and Olivia placed 5th in 1:58.63. Yolanda Ngarambe competes for Sweden and was acting as "coach" for the weekend to support her teammates.
Enjoy this short fun conversation (in-between rounds at USAs) where we get a sense of the ATL culture and some rapid-fire fun questions.
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▶ Follow Allie: Twitter | Instagram
▶ Follow Olivia: Twitter | Instagram
▶ Follow Yolanda: Twitter | Instagram
▶ Follow Atlanta Track Club: Twitter | Instagram
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Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets.
On this episode of More Than Running I spoke with my friend Emily Pritt. Emily and I share a lot of common ground within the running world as women who have held a lot hats within this space. Emily’s current titles include Athlete Services Manager at Flynn Sports Agency and Chief Operating Officer at Bowerman Track Club. She is a certified agent and travels to support Flynn Sports athletes at meets and other major events. In her role at Bowerman, Emily has grown the community youth program, launched a youth camp and creates/executes concepts to support athletes at all levels in the Bowerman organization.
Additionally, Emily is a graduate of North Carolina State University and ran in the 2017 World Cross Country Championship in Kampala, Uganda. Emily was recommended by Colleen Quigley a previous More Than Running guest. I hope you enjoy this episode all about women within the running world carving out space to lift each other up.
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▶ Follow Emily: Instagram
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Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets.
"More Than Running" needs more than distance runners it needs sprinters! This week’s guest is Kendall Ellis. You may remember Kendall from her viral 4x4 finish for USC back in 2018 where she walked down Georgia in the last 80 meters to win the NCAA title. Since 2019, Kendall has been a pro athlete for New Balance and ran at the Tokyo Olympics where she earned a bronze medal in the mixed relay.
I recently met Kendall at the Track at New Balance when she saved the day and flew across the country on a red-eye to run the 400m leg for the distance medley relay team that clocked a world's best in the event.
In this episode, we discuss Kendall’s heartbreaking 4th place at the Olympic Trials in the individual 400m and how she has reframed her mindset leading into this year running with happiness and gratitude. We also talk about Kendall’s love of reading, music and why she considers herself an introvert. Kendall is running this upcoming weekend at the USATF NYC Grand Prix her last stop before the US Championships!
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▶ Follow Kendall: Twitter | Instagram
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Kyoku is a creamy and delicious breakfast shake that uses 16 superfoods to fill you up without feeling too full. My personal favorite way is to mix it up with mango, bananas + a little bit of almond milk. It’s a soothing and tasty way to start your day. Learn more here: http://thefeed.com/morethanrunning
Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets.
"I don't know what that was. It was this narrow tunnel vision. I saw it slip away there for a second. It was this decision in my entire body that was like, 'No. I am going to take this spot.' It felt like something had taken over me."
This week Natosha Rogers of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project joins More Than Running to break down her third place finish at the USATF USA 10,000m Championship this past weekend at the Prefontaine Classic. Natosha outkicked Emily Infled narrowly 31:29.80 to 31:30.04 to qualify for the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon, which will be held in July.
Natosha’s running story dates back to 2012 when she placed second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 10,000m but was unable to be on the team due not having the qualifying standard. For a decade, Natosha has worked her way back – including taking time away from the sport – to make peace with Hayward Field and the 10,000 meters. Learn more about Natosha’s mindset, redemption arc and her passions off the track.
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▶ Follow Natosha: Instagram
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Kyoku is a creamy and delicious breakfast shake that uses 16 superfoods to fill you up without feeling too full. My personal favorite way is to mix it up with mango, bananas + a little bit of almond milk. It’s a soothing and tasty way to start your day. Learn more here: http://thefeed.com/morethanrunning
The Run Show is coming to Chicago June 4-5, this exciting new expo had been described as the Comic-Con for runners. They have incredible inspirational speakers such as Carl Lewis, Dean Karnazes, the Mirnavator, Sally McRae and lots more. What’s even better is we’ve been given 500 free tickets worth $15 each to give away – go to runshowusa.com to check out the full program and book tickets for yourself and your running pals with code MORETHAN.
Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets.
Welcome, Allie Wilson to More Than Running! Allie is a member of the Atlanta Track Club and a graduate of Monmouth University. This season Allie has been on a tear in the 800m recently running the World Championship Standard 1:58.18 at the Track Meet on May 12th. Allie gave everything she had a went a bit *viral* falling and winning over the finish line! Allie's positivity and team-oriented nature is infectious and this episode had me smiling the whole time. Allie's attitude toward running and recovering after multiple injuries is one we could all take some notes from.
"Our sport is so much biggest than the physical thing that we doing. There are so many incredible people you meet through this sport. Something I think about what we are doing and I think 'yeah do we have to be competitive with each other? Are we all trying to win? Are we all trying to make XYZ, yes but I think sometimes aren't we doing it together?' It feels like we are doing it together. It is so incredible to have the people around you pushing themselves to their limits simultaneously. Anyone who does this sport knows it's so much more than running!"
Follow Dana: ▶ Follow Dana: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok
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Kyoku is a creamy and delicious breakfast shake that uses 16 superfoods to fill you up without feeling too full. My personal favorite way is to mix it up with mango, bananas + a little bit of almond milk. It’s a soothing and tasty way to start your day. Learn more here: http://thefeed.com/morethanrunning
The Run Show is coming to Chicago June 4-5, this exciting new expo had been described as the Comic-Con for runners. They have incredible inspirational speakers such as Carl Lewis, Dean Karnazes, the Mirnavator, Sally McRae and lots more. What’s even better is we’ve been given 500 free tickets worth $15 each to give away – go to runshowusa.com to check out the full program and book tickets for yourself and your running pals with code MORETHAN.
Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets.
Join me and 2012 Olympian and Brooks Sports Marketing Manager, Julie Culley, for a special recording of the More Than Running Podcast. Over Boston Marathon weekend, I had the opportunity to sit down and share Julie’s incredible story from athlete to collegiate coach to mom and more! We laugh, we cry and hear what it means to Julie to be committed to her dreams. I highly recommend this episode if you want to hear from a woman who has never given up in the face of so many types of adversity. Other topics discussed - Professional coaching changes and track career ownership - Becoming a mother during the cross country season… twice! - Transitioning to sports marketing from coaching - Goals for the future ▶ Follow Dana: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Kyoku is a creamy and delicious breakfast shake that uses 16 superfoods to fill you up without feeling too full. My personal favorite way is to mix it up with mango, bananas + a little bit of almond milk. It's a soothing and tasty way to start your day. Learn more here: http://thefeed.com/morethanrunning The Run Show is coming to Chicago June 4-5, this exciting new expo had been described as the Comic-Con for runners. They have incredible inspirational speakers such as Carl Lewis, Dean Karnazes, the Mirnavator, Sally McRae and lots more. What’s even better is we’ve been given 500 free tickets worth $15 each to give away – go to runshowusa.com to check out the full program and book tickets for yourself and your running pals with code MORETHAN. Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets. Share your journey to it with #MakeItToHayward and tag @HaywardMagic – the Instagram home for the true track & field diehards, dreamers and fans. They’re sharing the magic of the sport and elevating the athletes that push it forward. Follow them on Instagram.
"I would tell them to stop having insignificant people have a significant impact on your life. I feel like that's what I would tell Nikki from a year ago. It's hard. I still tell myself that every day and it's a practice. I don't think there will ever be a time where a homophobic or transphobic comment doesn't hurt. It's practicing that over time. It's like 'Who is this person? They're so insignificant.' At the end of the day, that comment says more about them. Half the time, I just want to be like, 'Are you OK? It's 7 a.m.'"
Nikki has been on my mind to bring onto the podcast for a long time. We're close friends and now felt like the right time to have them on. Nikki made some big life changes by packing their things and moving to Flagstaff, Arizona with their girlfriend Emma Gee and their pet dog Scout. They are now being coached by Mike Smith and training alongside Elly Henes and Olympian Rachel Smith. We talk a lot about how Nikki views these changes in their life, goals for the upcoming 2022 season and their activist work within the LGBTQIA community to advocate for transgender kids.
▶ Follow Dana: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok
▶ Follow Nikki: Twitter | Instagram |
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
Kyoku is a creamy and delicious breakfast shake that uses 16 superfoods to fill you up without feeling too full. My personal favorite way is to mix it up with mango, bananas + a little bit of almond milk. It's a soothing and tasty way to start your day. Learn more here: http://thefeed.com/morethanrunning
The Run Show is coming to Chicago June 4-5, this exciting new expo had been described as the Comic-Con for runners. They have incredible inspirational speakers such as Carl Lewis, Dean Karnazes, the Mirnavator, Sally McRae and lots more. What’s even better is we’ve been given 500 free tickets worth $15 each to give away – go to runshowusa.com to check out the full program and book tickets for yourself and your running pals with code MORETHAN.
Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets.
This week's guest is Dani Aragon. She is a U.S. 800m and 1500m specialist who was a star at Notre Dame, a U.S. Olympic Trials finalist, an amazing human and so much more. At the beginning of the episode, you'll get a cameo from her current roommate and former Irish teammate Molly Seidel + coach Jon Green. In this episode, you'll hear a bit about what it's like being a pro runner at a training camp. She trains under coach John Trautmann and Tommy Nohilly with Empire Elite.
The reason why I wanted to bring Dani on the podcast is that her post-collegiate career has been one with trials and tribulations. She had her stint with injuries but persevered through it all due to her self-belief. Hopefully, this can resonate with other athletes as a lesson in developing your confidence in the midst of intense training.
▶ Follow Dana: Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok
▶ Follow Dani: Twitter | Instagram |
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
Kyoku is a creamy and delicious breakfast shake that uses 16 superfoods to fill you up without feeling too full. My personal favorite way is to mix it up with mango, bananas + a little bit of almond milk. It's a soothing and tasty way to start your day. Learn more here: http://thefeed.com/morethanrunning
The Run Show is coming to Chicago June 4-5, this exciting new expo had been described as the Comic-Con for runners. They have incredible inspirational speakers such as Carl Lewis, Dean Karnazes, the Mirnavator, Sally McRae and lots more. What’s even better is we’ve been given 500 free tickets worth $15 each to give away – go to runshowusa.com to check out the full program and book tickets for yourself and your running pals with code MORETHAN.
Summer of Hayward: Everyone knows how much all of us in the CITIUS MAG family love track & field, and how much we enjoy sharing that love with you all. Well, we’ve got a few big love-sharing ideas in the works and it all takes place in Eugene, Oregon this summer. Hayward Field will be the home to the Prefontaine Classic, the USATF Outdoor Championships and the World Athletics Championships. We’ll be there and you should be too. Visit https://citiusmag.com/summerofhayward/ for all the information on dates and tickets.
"I created another page where I was doing fashion reviews and rating outfits from red carpet events and fashion shows. That's completely not up my alley at all. I've grown up an athlete. All my friends are athletes. I had nothing to do with fashion. I just found it fun and the videos were doing incredibly well so I thought, 'I'll just roll with it.' I got into WNBA pre-game fits and that's kind of where it all started. People were like, 'Oh my gosh. Please do more of these.' I had no clue the outfits were so good but also that the WNBA was in-season. I did another one with the NWSL and the same comments were being put on my video. I took a second and realized I have grown up an athlete in three different sports, my friend group is all athletes but outside of that, there's nothing related to women's sports. We need voices for women's sports. Tiktok is the perfect platform because anybody can see your videos...I didn't expect it to be what it is now. But I'm incredibly grateful."
This week's guest is Logan Hackett also known as SportsWithLogs. If you follow this podcast, you know I love TikTok and probably annoy you by talking about it. But truly, what Logan is creating on TikTok by promoting women's sports embodies More Than Running. She is elevating stories about women in an interesting way. I've never been attuned to another place where I could have digestible pieces of content for women's sports. I get so excited when I see one of her new videos. We talk about Logan's history, what excites her about the work she's doing and her work as an advocate.
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Dana Giordano and Jasmine Todd discuss the different ways track and field athletes use social media, balancing it with their personal lives and the importance of representation across all events for female athletes. On social media, World Athletics' Michelle Sammet (a previous guest on the show) noted just how small of a fraction female athletes get in sports media but the numbers behind the sports media positions held by women are just as staggering.
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This week, we tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming U.S. Indoor National Championships in a very special crossover episode with Run Your Mouth with David Melly, our sibling podcast in the Citius Mag network.
This episode is essential listening before this weekend’s meet, and we cover it all - who’s been hot, who’s on the comeback train, and who’s not competing at all. We give you detailed insight and analysis into the meet, including our not-so-expert picks for every track and field event. D
ana also gives her expert perspective on the “straight final” format for the U.S. indoors, having competed in the mile and 2 mile at Staten Island in 2019.
We’d love to hear your feedback on our picks – good, bad, or somewhere in between – and let us know on Twitter and Instagram what events and storylines you’re most excited to see in Spokane this weekend. Enjoy the episode and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review both Run Your Mouth and More Than Running if you haven’t already. Thanks for listening!
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We're taking a small step out of the running realm and into the basketball space for a bit – although our guest did run in college. Hannah O'Flynn is an incredible content creator, video producer, social media manager, saxophone player, women's sports advocate so much more. She was also my freshman trip leader at Dartmouth so we've known each other for a long time. Our careers have paralleled as she's now at ESPN W creating content that's women's sports-focused. Her career is so interesting. Learn more about Hannah, how she balances her content creation personally with her profession, going viral and how she uses running to blow off steam. I've really been enjoying these conversations with guests who are running adjacent and I think Hannah has a great story. We can all learn something from how she wears so many different hats and is a really diverse-minded individual.
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Samantha Hanson is paving her own path in the sport of Track and Field. As the daughter of Kevin Hanson, one of the head coaches of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, Sam was essentially born and raised in track & field. After a collegiate career of her own at Michigan State and Oakland, Sam is now working with Hawi management as a certified track agent. In this episode, we discuss what it was like growing up in a track family, the challenges of being a female agent in a male-dominated space, and her goals for the future.
Listen to a young voice with big dreams in the sport and learn about what it takes to be an agent. Samantha was born into our sport. She saw her first cross country meet at 9 days old; her first of six Olympic Trials as a two-year-old. She has been to three Olympics, five World Championships & more than 40 World Marathon Majors. It makes me incredibly happy that these experiences were so positive that she wants to use her MBA in our sport.
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"Honestly, it was a dream come true. I can't tell you how much younger Anna would be freaking out right now like, 'Woah! You're a professional athlete!' Once it really hit me, I thought this is amazing. Not only that but with a brand that I absolutely love."
This week's guest is Anna Camp-Bennett. She just graduated from BYU and recently signed a professional contract with Adidas. She won the NCAA title in the women's 1,500 meters in June 2021. She also won an NCAA cross country team title in 2020. In this episode, she shares her interesting backstory of how she came from a small town in Utah to the highest levels of success in the sport. She brings a great perspective on discovering the sport while you're in it, ways to stay happy and healthy + what she's looking forward to in the future. I hope you all enjoy learning about a very talented, young athlete getting ready to step out onto the pro stage for the first time in the women's Wanamaker Mile at the upcoming Millrose Games (Jan. 29).
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"My immediate feeling afterward was a little bit of disappointment in myself. Now I think back on it and realize I created this goal at the trials. I was an underdog making it to the Olympics in the first place and I created this goal for myself after I qualified for the Olympic team. To think about how far I've come, it's hard to think about that right after the here and now. You think about it later down the road. I'm trying to remind myself now about all the things I overcame in order to make it to that point...It's good to reflect on all the things people have overcome in their lives because it puts your life into perspective. For me, it helps me get through the day-to-day and helps me be so grateful for all the opportunities I have now and what I want to achieve in the future."
New Balance Boston star and 2021 Olympian Heather MacLean rejoins the show to discuss how she's handled the post-Olympics comedown and the attention that came with it. She ran her personal best of 4:02.09 when she took third in the U.S. Olympic Trials, competed at the Monaco Diamond League and then reached the semifinals of the women's 1,500m at the Tokyo Olympics. Now, she's in Flagstaff preparing for another indoor season with her sights set on the women's Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games.
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"I never thought I would inspire anybody in life. I quit everything. I was never an inspiring person. To see me now, by just sharing my story of going from really sad to really glad and that being able to inspire somebody is a dream come true. I love making videos. I love sharing my story. I love oversharing, as my husband would say. The fact that it can help people is like, 'Are you kidding this is amazing?!" It is just more motivation to keep going, keep making videos and keep running because there are so many benefits that it's brought to me. Seeing the change that it brings other people is addicting and it never gets old."
We welcome back Erin Azar – also known as Mrs. Space Cadet. She’s a rapidly-growing social media star with 720,000 TikTok followers and 70,000 Instagram followers. She describes herself as an "expert struggle runner and struggle lifer making running more approachable for beginners." I first learned of her in Dec. 2020 when she was a guest on this podcast in Dec. 2020. She is one of the people who really picked up the sport during the pandemic and chronicled her journey on Tiktok to millions of viewers. The sport is growing right now and there are thousands of people like Erin. In this episode, we recap her experience in this running journey including running the NYC Marathon and also how we can get someone like her to connect with track and field since there’s typically that disconnect. This is a fun conversation and I hope you all enjoy it as we wrap up the year and start an epic 2022.
▶ Follow Erin: @immrsspacecadet
“I think the biggest thing is that I still love it. I’ve told myself after every season when you get tired toward the end and you don’t tend to love it as much, it’s OK if you want to walk away if the fire doesn’t come back. I’ll take a break and I’ll step away from the sport and I’ll always miss it pretty terribly like a few days later. I know it’s still there. I know I have more to give. The pure love for the sport is what keeps me coming back. If I set big goals and know what it takes to get there, then that keeps me on task and accountable.”
Sara Vaughn is traditionally known as a middle distance athlete who ran in the 2017 World Championships in the 1500m. Sara most recently won the California International Marathon in a huge jump in distance.
Sara is coached by her husband Brett and typically runs high mileage and balances her training, family life and her full-time job as a realtor. If you listened to last week’s episode you now know she is Kiera D’Amato’s new rival and I can’t wait to see these mother runners duke it out over the marathon distance one day.
At 35 years old and after her fourth baby she decided it was time to jump up in distance to the big 26.2 to keep her motivated after a disappointing U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. Sara recently won the California International Marathon in 2:26:53, which is the fifth-fastest debut by an American woman in history and she is only getting started.
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"Coming out of college, I tried running for a little bit and got injured. Then I gave up on myself. I let go of that dream and I forgave myself for not hitting those dreams. Then, I gave myself permission to try again and to dream of that again. To be able to come here – I’m just getting so emotional – what a ride. I’m just so happy and proud of myself that I allowed myself to give it another shot to see what I can do. To finally win this 25-year-old-plus goal of mine is just really emotional for me to think about.”
This week's guest is Keira D'Amato, who says running professionally is her "side hustle." One of America's fastest realtors, D'Amato just won her first national title at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in 1:07:55. Learn why this title was so special to Keira, why it's made her emotional this week and her plans for the future.
In this episode, Keira announces her next upcoming race. Hint...Hint...It's a marathon, but you'll have to stay tuned to find out which one. She also shares her goals for the track season, what her family means to her and much more. Keira really is kind of the essence of "More Than Running" so I was so happy to have this conversation.
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If you enjoy this podcast, women's sports or marketing, then Liz Dolan has maybe had some sort of impact on your life. She has worked as the Chief Marketing Office at NIKE, The Oprah Winfrey Network, National Geographic and Fox Sports International. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the World Athletics Championships Oregon22. She also serves as the co-host and co-creator of Satellite Sisters, which is a long-time show that she does with her sisters and is now published by Wondery/Amazon Music. In this episode, you'll hear about her professional experience while also getting her thoughts on how she's working to push the sport of track and field forward at this crucial time. She is an inspiration to me and someone I'd like to emulate in my lifetime.
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▶ Follow Liz: Twitter | Instagram | Listen to Satelite Sisters
This week's guest is Colleen Quigley for the first-ever "More Than Running" podcast live show at WHOOP's pop-up in New York City. We talked a lot about all of the recent changes in her life, which I related to a lot because I've made big changes and moved within the past year. We have a lot in common. She's so fun, honest and open talking about her injuries, the decision not to compete at the Olympic Trials, dealing with the disappointment, moving forward, getting healthy and setting lofty goals for 2022. I hope you all enjoy this conversation since it was super fun being in front of a live audience and I hope to do it again soon.
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"I feel like if we could parallel in sports with Paralympics and marathons and wheelchair racing, we can also help parallel disabilities in communities. A lot of our idols come from sports figures. We can really give back to our own communities and make sure people with disabilities have that chance to get an education and hold a job. A lot of athletes who compete in the Paralympics go home and try to get a job and they can't. That's not only a U.S. issue. It's a global issue. That's the important part. I feel like if we can make that change in sport, we can make that change in the community. It's an important responsibility, especially if you're a current athlete, to give back to the sport. Previous athletes, who were once my competitors but then retired, they did the same thing. They pushed the sport along the way."
I had the opportunity to record with Tatyana McFadden the day before she won her 24th major marathon at the Chicago Marathon. She got on a plane and headed to compete at the Boston Marathon, where she made the podium with a runner-up finish. In our pre-race conversation, we talked about all things Paralympics, her role as a producer and star in the Netflix documentary "Rising Phoenix" and her advocacy work to change the way people think about disability, diversity and human potential.
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"For as much as our pandemic has been focused on inaction and staying at home, I think with the changes that we're trying to make, we're actually trying to do things about them now that we're back out in the community and going."
This week's guest is Amy Horst. Amy is the head men’s and women’s cross country coach at Loyola and the head women’s track coach. We speak about Amy’s previous career as an engineer working on CT machines and what made her decide to switch to coaching. The real reason Amy and I connected originally was regarding her work as a member of the NCAA sport committee for track and cross country. Amy and her committee are the behind-the-scenes energy that makes NCAA championships work.
Amy also has been working to grow female announcing voices at the NCAA level. I loved this episode since there as great takeaways about following your passion, acknowledging your work even when it feels like nothing has been accomplished (hello pandemic!) and how to keep pushing for equality in the spaces you work in.
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"Having those people around that I can talk to in different phases of my emotions has helped balance keeping me inspired and excited about progression."
Raevyn Rogers put together one of the best seasons, which was capped by a 1:56.81 personal best that put her at No. 4 on the U.S. all-time list and earned her a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Dana Giordano had the chance to catch up with Raevyn in Chicago on what life has been like since etching her name in the history books. Raevyn discusses what it was like making a coaching change heading into 2020, how she’s refined her speed over the years and the importance of surrounding yourself with greatness and those who want it for you.
SPONSOR: The new season is powered by Nike. Finding the motivation to run during the pandemic has been challenging. Keep going with Nike Run Club App and check out the guided runs and training plans to find that motivation and ways to keep yourself accountable. For more info visit https://www.nike.com/running/run-fearless.
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"People who are winning medals are motivated by the people who are making the final. The people who are making the final are motivated by people who are making a threat to make the team. And if you can just continue to provide deeper resources, you're going to elevate the performance of everybody. So in my head, it makes so much sense. The wider spectrum of people that you're able to help in terms of delivering sport psychology services, You reduce stigma, you kind of help mental health. It just has this huge trickle-down effect."
This week’s guest is Lennie Waite. After competing at Rice University, Lennie had a successful professional track career for Great Britain and competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2017 world championships. Now Lennie’s second career is as a Ph.D. certified mental performance consultant working with the world’s top performers to “train your mind to get the most out of your body.” In our conversation, we discuss mental strategies for athletes who are struggling with a mental barrier, Lennie’s journey from athlete to Sports Psychologist, and her passion for the sport.
SPONSOR: The new season is powered by Nike. Finding the motivation to run during the pandemic has been challenging. Keep going with Nike Run Club App and check out the guided runs and training plans to find that motivation and ways to keep yourself accountable. For more info visit https://www.nike.com/running/run-fearless.
▶ Follow Lennie: Twitter | Instagram
"Taking it back to 2017, that's when the trials and tribulations started. I found out about some blood clots in my lungs in Jan. 2017 and it seemed like ever since then it was one thing after another. That same year, I found out I came back from those blood clots way too quickly and my body just shut down. In the summer of 2017, I had mono. 2017 was when I fractured my metatarsal for the first time. 2018 was when I fractured it again and ended up getting surgery. 2019 was just me just trying to come back from the foot surgery and that's when I made the decision to join OTC and really get some help with that foot injury. When COVID hit, I was like, 'Oh my gosh! I'm finally healthy!' and then in Nov. 2020 when I fractured it for the third time that's when I was like, 'I don't know if I can do this again.' Having a dream of being in that Olympic Trials final and giving myself a shot at making the team was what kept me going."
We catch up with Oregon Track Club's Chanelle Price on her season that included being injured in February to placing fifth in the women's 800 meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials + what comes next for her. Loved this interview because it was reflective of the true journey Chanelle has been on as an athlete and person since she first qualified for the Olympic Trials as a high schooler to today. Hope you enjoy and learn something from her about the power of perseverance and grit it takes to go through the ups and downs of a professional career.
SPONSOR: The new season is powered by Nike. Finding the motivation to run during the pandemic has been challenging. Keep going with Nike Run Club App and check out the guided runs and training plans to find that motivation and ways to keep yourself accountable. Watch how Ayanna Wilks of The Brownies has used the app to get into running and found ways to keep moving. For more info visit https://www.nike.com/running/run-fearless.
▶ Follow Chanelle: Twitter | Instagram
"Time moves forward. There is the next step and there is an action to be taken...It's no fun to have a disappointment but you fully control what happens next. Your decisions and actions can make whatever happens next...so why not make something good of it or at least try?"
We kick off the new season of 'More Than Running' with Kate Grace, who is coming off one of the best seasons of any American middle distance runner. After finishing seventh in the women's 800 meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, she picked herself back up to run four sub-1:58 performances in the event including a personal best of 1:57.20 (which puts her at No. 8 on the U.S. all-time list). She also finished second in the Diamond League final in Zurich.
In her conversation with Dana, they discuss how she overcame the disappointment and her lessons on how she makes herself feel the most powerful and confident version of herself on the starting line.
SPONSOR: The new season is powered by Nike. Finding the motivation to run during the pandemic has been challenging. Keep going with Nike Run Club App and check out the guided runs and training plans to find that motivation and ways to keep yourself accountable. Watch how Mariah Dyson of GirlGangCrazy has used the app to find community around the world. For more info visit https://www.nike.com/running/run-fearless.
▶ Follow Kate: Twitter | Instagram
To wrap up Season 2 of More Than Running, Dana Giordano sits down with producer Chris Chavez to breakdown the biggest lessons from speaking to this season's guests.
We featured: Michelle Sammet, Porscha Dobson, Bobbi Gibb, Katherine Burgess, Mrs. Space Cadet, Emma Abrahamson, Erika Kemp, Alexi Pappas, Erin Kinney, Nini Meyer, Emily Infeld, Taylor Tracey, Grayson Murphy and Courtney Wayment.
Dana provides an injury update after a foot issue sidelined her for much of the indoor season, plans for her upcoming training camp and racing before the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials kick off in Eugene, Oregon on June 18.
SPONSOR: Do you want to run further and faster and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you've ever felt before? You need to make a change and that's what InsideTracker is all about. Founded by leading scientists in aging, genetics and biometric data from MIT, Tufts and Harvard, InsideTracker is a personalized health and wellness platform like no other. They used a patented algorithm to analyze your body's data to paint a clear picture of what's going on inside you. They then give you a concrete, science-backed trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and feeling your best.
For a limited time, InsideTracker is offering the ultimate prize package giveaway to a lucky listener of More Than Running. One lucky winner will get more than $1,500 in InsideTracker value. To enter go to http://insidetracker.com/dana
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Courtney Wayment is a fifth-year senior at BYU and recently notched victories at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the DMR (won in the second-fastest time in NCAA history) and 3,000m (9:01.47).
She has a bubbly, sparkling personality and she speaks very highly of her team. There has been a lot in the media recently about unhealthy programs, challenges within the NCAA system and so I wanted to shed some light on a team that is having great success under a female coach, Coach Diljeet Taylor.
This podcast episode was really special to me because I think sometimes we are so used to sharing stories about negative things in the media and I really wanted to highlight what it means to come together as a sisterhood to rise up and focus on any given day.
Courtney is about to start her outdoor NCAA season. She’s definitely on fire right now so she’s one to watch. She is the first active collegiate star we have had on the podcast so give her a follow.
SPONSOR: Do you want to run further and faster and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you've ever felt before? You need to make a change and that's what InsideTracker is all about. Founded by leading scientists in aging, genetics and biometric data from MIT, Tufts and Harvard, InsideTracker is a personalized health and wellness platform like no other. They used a patented algorithm to analyze your body's data to paint a clear picture of what's going on inside you. They then give you a concrete, science-backed trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and feeling your best.
For a limited time, InsideTracker is offering the ultimate prize package giveaway to a lucky listener of More Than Running. One lucky winner will get more than $1,500 in InsideTracker value. To enter go to http://insidetracker.com/dana
▶ Follow Courtney: @courtsasport20
Grayson is a multi-talented athlete with success on the trails and track. She got started in soccer and currently does cross-country skiing on the side. After transitioning from being a collegiate soccer player at Santa Clara, she got more into running and found All-American success at Utah. The steeplechase was her event and she owns a 9:48.57 personal best in it. She signed a professional contract with NAZ Elite but then made a change and signed a contract with Saucony to explore the trail running scene. She lives and trains in Bozeman, Montana.
In this episode, we talk about how she manages her time while mostly training alone. She shares her interests outside of running and she sees those pairing with her running career in the future.
She just ran a 15:44.61 personal best for 5,000 meters at the Trials of Miles Texas Qualifier after not having access to a track in the brutal Montana winter.
SPONSOR: Do you want to run further and faster and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you've ever felt before? You need to make a change and that's what InsideTracker is all about. Founded by leading scientists in aging, genetics and biometric data from MIT, Tufts and Harvard, InsideTracker is a personalized health and wellness platform like no other. They used a patented algorithm to analyze your body's data to paint a clear picture of what's going on inside you. They then give you a concrete, science-backed trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and feeling your best.
For a limited time, InsideTracker is offering the ultimate prize package giveaway to a lucky listener of More Than Running. One lucky winner will get more than $1,500 in InsideTracker value. To enter go to http://insidetracker.com/dana
▶ Follow Grayson: @racin_grayson
Taylor Treacy is a former UNC volleyball athlete. After graduating, Taylor played volleyball professionally overseas where she developed several mental health struggles. Inspired by her own journey and wanting to help others she founded the Virago Project. "Virago" means female warrior and its mission is to provide empowerment tools for female athletes. I hope these resources are helpful to you or someone you love. I’ve been focusing on mental health this season of MTR because we all have unseen struggles.
SPONSOR: Do you want to run further and faster and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you've ever felt before? You need to make a change and that's what InsideTracker is all about. Founded by leading scientists in aging, genetics and biometric data from MIT, Tufts and Harvard, InsideTracker is a personalized health and wellness platform like no other. They used a patented algorithm to analyze your body's data to paint a clear picture of what's going on inside you. They then give you a concrete, science-backed trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and feeling your best.
For a limited time, InsideTracker is offering the ultimate prize package giveaway to a lucky listener of More Than Running. One lucky winner will get more than $1,500 in InsideTracker value. To enter go to http://insidetracker.com/dana
More resources:
Instagram: @theviragoproject
For more information visit: https://viragoproject.org/
▶ Follow Taylor: @TaylorATreacy
Emily Infeld is heading into her ninth year as a professional runner with the Bowerman Track Club. She's currently training with her team in Flagstaff, Arizona for an altitude camp. She recently ran her first outdoor track race since 2017 and will soon run her first outdoor 10,000m race since the 2017 world championships. In this episode, we discuss the highs and lows (including injuries) of her career, what she shares on social media, what her hopes are for the next phase of her professional career including the marathon. I respect Emily a lot for her honesty and candor in how she addresses mental health and how to keep yourself in the present moment while training, especially when you're on one of the best teams in the world and the urge to compare yourself to others can be high. It's always fun to interview women who I've looked up to from afar.
▶ Follow Emily: Twitter | Instagram
Nini Meyer is the founder and CEO of Positive Tracks an organization that engages youth socially and physically to “sweat for good."
I was connected with Positive Tracks while at Dartmouth during a summer internship back in 2014. Things have changed a lot since my time working with the organization but I'm proud to share how Nini and her powerful team have evolved to support the change-makers of the future. To date, they've helped 73,600 Positive Trackers turn 383,675 miles of athletic activity into advocacy, activism and $11.1 million for causes shaping our future.
The core of this podcast is running but it is essential to understand how running and movement can create so much good in our lives and the lives of others. Organizations like Positive Tracks almost seem too good to be true but are an available resource for anyone who wants to Sweat for Good.
Learn more about Positive Tracks. Visit positivetracks.org or checking out @postracks on Instagram
"I don't think that the mental aspect of nutrition gets enough attention and when we start to focus on the mental aspect, our energy, our mood, our hormones, how we feel and how we carry ourselves throughout the day are the things that get me fired up and I'm passionate about. It's showing people that there is no one-size-fits-all in finding your optimum nutrition lifestyle. It's integral to showing up as just a better person in every aspect of life."
Erin Kenney is a registered dietitian out of Boston who specializes in gastrointestinal disorders, sports nutrition and medicinal cannabis use who was featured on Season 1 of the show. I decided to get her back on the show since I frequently receive questions from listeners and followers on fueling and nutrition on TikTok so I decided to have an open discussion with Erin to address some of the questions.
▶ Follow Erin on Instagram here: @nutritionrewired | https://www.nutritionrewired.com/
"I learned from this doctor that I was injured in my brain and I could get better. That was an epiphany for me and it made me feel much calmer. I was like, 'OK. I'm just injured.' As athletes, we totally understand. Before that, I felt like whatever I was going through was my own fault and it was a choice. I just didn't understand that comparison because I didn't have the vocabulary."
This week's guest embodies the spirit of being more than running. Alexi Pappas is a fellow Dartmouth alumnus. In addition to her success as a distance runner at Dartmouth and Oregon, she went on to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and she's a talented writer, poet, filmmaker, Instagram celeb and actor. Alexi's first book of essays "BRAVEY" was just released. In the book, she shares her journey as a runner, her mental health struggles and much more. Alexi recently opened up about depression and her mother's suicide in a video op-doc with The New York Times. The strength and grace with which Alexi speaks to the issues are incredible. I hope you enjoy this episode between two friends.
Pick up a copy of BRAVEY here: https://amzn.to/3oIN5CG
▶ Follow Alexi on Instagram: @AlexiPappas
"I think I would like to see a wide recognition and acceptance that there is an infinite number of ways to be good. One of the things that irk me the most is when I see people and fans who are part of the same community and asking for very specific tips and tricks. 'How do I get fast?' or 'How do I do this?' and 'How do I do that?' I wish that everyone would recognize that every body is unique. Every backstory is unique. Everyone's personal life and circumstances are unique. Not everyone has the same support system or coaches. Feet! The same pair of shoes don't work for everyone. I totally understand that there are absolute basics that can apply to everyone like certain drills or foods that are known to be good on a tough stomach...but at the end of the day, I just wish there was more of a wider acknowledgment that there are a million ways to get to the starting line. Not everyone needs to be running the same amount of miles or doing the same workouts."
Thrilled to introduce my Boston Athletic Association teammate Erika Kemp. We are currently in Tallahassee, Fla. for a warm-weather training camp. Erika was the 2019 U.S. national champion in the 15K and also finished second at the 2018 U.S. 5K championships. She is a formally trained barista. She was a standout runner at NC State and attended high school in Mount Holly, N.J. She's got some interesting perspectives about how she views training, how she wants to improve and her goals for the future. Enjoy this candid conversation between me and my teammate. Hopefully, this gives you a little bit of an inside look at what training camp is like and how we keep ourselves entertained.
▶ Follow Erika on Instagram: @imtinyrik
So excited to welcome Emma Abrahamson onto the podcast. She's a full-time content creator with a popular food Instagram account titled One Crazed Foodie, a thriving YouTube channel and is constantly sharing her life's ups and downs in Portland, Ore. While attending the University of Oregon, she started vlogging the day in the life of a Ducks student-athlete. In this episode, we discuss the pressure that comes with a public social media presence, her pandemic mental health journey and how she's kicked off her New Year's resolution for 2021. I was definitely inspired by how she's growing the popularity of the sport in an authentic way.
▶ Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmaabrahamson
Subscribe to her YouTube Channel: Emma Abrahamson
SPONSOR: InsideTracker - As a professional runner, I use InsideTracker to help analyze my blood to help optimize my nutrition and overall energy levels through their expert recommendations and wellness strategies. Take control of your health with their best offer of the year.
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"I was in medical device marketing and I was trying to get into more into social media for that company. I'd always hear Gary Vee talk about TikTok. I thought, 'What is with this? Does he have stock in TikTok?' I never understood it. I thought I'd join it for fun and I made a video almost immediately. I'm the type of person who won't understand something unless I do it myself. I just put something up there. I didn't put a running video up until months later. I just let it go and forgot that I had TikTok. It was maybe the second running video that went viral almost had two million views. I was like, 'What? This is a video of me running with my fogged-up glasses.' There was no story behind it. Nothing. It went viral and I figured I'm onto something here. If this is what I'm doing anyway: I'm already trying to run. Maybe I can meet other people who are trying to run? Something about it seemed to be relatable to other people. That's how it took off. It's just luck."
In this episode, I welcome a TikTok star. I've been on the social media platform for about a year. At first, I spent a couple of months just observing and then I finally started making my own videos. It is addicting. One of the first people I followed in the running space on TikTok is Mrs. Space Cadet, also known as Erin. She has nearly 400K+ followers on TikTok. She'll take us through her learning experience from not being able to run a mile to completing her first marathon. She runs in a banana suit. She'll paint herself gold. She's just utterly authentic and amazing. I love being Erin's TikTok friend. Join us for a fun conversation where we bounce around her experience of becoming a marathoner, her goals for the future and how TikTok is her job. This is a fun episode and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
▶ Follow Erin: @immrsspacecadet
SPONSOR: InsideTracker - As a professional runner, I use InsideTracker to help analyze my blood to help optimize my nutrition and overall energy levels through their expert recommendations and wellness strategies. Take control of your health with their best offer of the year.
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This episode hits at the core of why I started this podcast. Women reportedly only receive 4% of all sports media coverage. When I learned of this statistic, it truly stuck with me for years. In September, I was scrolling on Instagram and a cool project popped up where it was the New York Times' sports section with all men's sports coverage cut out. There was occasionally a little picture in the corner but it was mostly empty. The visual representation gripped me and I wanted to know more about the person behind the project. Katherine Burgess is a runner and graphic designer based in Pittsburgh. Her project examining the New York Times' sports section is just one of many projects that she's put together. Her goal is to combine some of that passion for running with her creative energy and skills. She's multi-talented. In this episode, we discuss what got her interested in doing that project, her thoughts on the media coverage of women in sports, her background in Division II running and much more.
▶ Follow Katherine: @katherine_kart
SPONSOR: InsideTracker - As a professional runner, I use InsideTracker to help analyze my blood to help optimize my nutrition and overall energy levels through their expert recommendations and wellness strategies. Take control of your health with their best offer of the year. Get $200 off their ultimate plan, which is their most comprehensive package. All you have to do is use the code GIFTFROMDANA at checkout.
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“In that moment I thought like the world is never going the same again. A pivotal moment... I had open the gates of prison and let (women) out” – Roberta Gibb
If you know some of your women's running history, you might familiar with Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb. She was the first woman to complete the Boston Marathon. In 1966, she was 23 when he popped out of the bushes near the starting line of the race and joined the all-male field of runners. In this episode, you'll hear her tell that story and what it was like being in that pack as she made her way to the finish line. It was still a time when women were not accepted as official entrants but she took it upon herself to be a pioneer for future generations. It would not be until 192 that the Boston Marathon officially accepted female entrants.
Beyond running, you'll also get to know Bobbi's curiosities as a kid. You'll get an understanding of her free spirit that inspires her work as a contemporary artist and Renaissance woman.
SPONSOR: Inside Tracker - Go to info.insidetracker.com/earlyaccess to be the first to hear about InsideTracker’s BEST DEAL of the year.
You can check out Roberta's artwork at BobbiGibbArt.net.
Follow her on Twitter @bobbigibb. If you can't get enough of her story, she's also written two books Wind in the Fire and To Boston with Love.
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Super thrilled to bring on Porscha Dobson, who is the new director of Dartmouth’s track and field and cross country programs. She is making history as the first African American woman in Ivy League history to oversee the programs. Dartmouth is my alma mater and she takes over after Barry Harwick announced his retirement in August. Porscha served as an assistant coach and assistant head coach at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, we discuss her career as a coach, her hopes and expectations for the program, the importance of diversifying the community around her and much more more.
SPONSOR: Inside Tracker - Go to info.insidetracker.com/earlyaccess to be the first to hear about InsideTracker’s BEST DEAL of the year.
▶ Follow Porscha: https://www.instagram.com/coach.dobson/
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Welcome back to Season 2 of More Than Running with Dana. In this first episode, I sit down for a candid conversation with media extraordinaire Michelle Sammet.
Michelle wears many hats working with World Athletics at international events. She is a content creator by trade and has close relationships with many athletes who she assists with their own respective storytelling. As an announcer, social media expert and writer, Michelle works tirelessly to bring world-class coverage of athletics to life.
In our conversation, we talk about how Michelle got her start in the sport from her hometown in Germany to how she's using her work to elevates female voices. It’s only fitting that a podcast about sharing women’s stories in running kicks off its second season with an expert.
Welcome back and I hope you enjoy the conversation!
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A quick bonus episode of "More Than Running" as we're in-between seasons. We get to catch up with the inaugural guest and 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials runner-up Molly seidel as she gets ready to run the London Marathon. The race is typically held in April but was postponed until October and then scaled down into an Elite-only race involving 19 clockwise laps of a 2.15-kilometer course around St James’s Park and finishing on the Mall as per tradition. Seidel is one of three American women racing.
Molly tells us what it's been like living in the 40-acre biosphere where all elites, coaches and staff members have been quarantined ahead of the race to prevent any possible coronavirus outbreak or spread.
➡️ Follow Molly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bygolly.molly/
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"As athletes, we all have to address: Who are you if you are not racing and what do you represent to your community? What can you share? What can you give? I want to be a mentor to girls and women. I want to be inspiring. I want to tell my story. If my story isn't interesting when I'm not racing then that's a problem."
To put a bow on the first season of More Than Running, Dana Giordano sits down with producer Chris Chavez to unpack what she learned from speaking to 11 inspiring women in the first 11 episodes of her podcast. Plus...learn what Dana has in store for Season 2!
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We love to hear about the stories of athletes who always wanted to be Olympians since they were young but what about athletes who took a more circuitous route to success in the sport?
If you told Heather MacLean in high school that she would be running professionally and ranked in the top 40 in the world she would have looked at you with three heads.
Heather started running track at Peabody because her friend who drove her after school ride to work at a local grocery store was also doing track. The first in her family to graduate from college from UMass Amherst, Heather's story is one of resilience, drive, and grit.
As an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and cross country All-American, Heather’s collegiate success fell mostly under the radar of the general public. In 2019, Heather had a breakthrough year training in Boston under Mark Coogan with Team New Balance Boston and ran a massive PR in the 1500m of 4:05 and placing 7th at USAs. In a single season, Heather dropped 9 seconds from her personal best in the 1500m.
Currently living and training in Boston, Heather has big plans for the upcoming Olympic year. Her story can teach us all about what it means to fight for yourself and how anyone can make an impact on another’s life.
▶ Follow Heather: https://www.instagram.com/heather_maclean31/
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“I am definitely not the first person to write about the history of fitness but I will say I think I am one of the first people who is connecting fitness culture in America to bigger political and cultural questions and doing so in a kind of popular way...I draw on the work of amazing scholars who have been working on fitness and physical culture but their work has been more within the academy. That’s a real privilege to be doing real research and to help amplify the work of people who have come before. As to why people haven’t thought about this as a meaningful and historical topic, it’s interesting. A lot of times, there’s this irony that our nation is obsessed with fitness. It’s being pushed on us all the time. ‘Work out!’ ‘Buy this machine!’ ‘Join this gym!’
At the same time, we’re one of the least fit nations out there. The question that animates my research is: How did we become a country obsessed with exercise? That is a really new thing. But also, why are we not more fit? Why is access to fitness not a democratically assured right, if most people in America would tell you ‘Yeah, exercise is a good thing.’”
On More Than Running, I try to talk to women from all aspects of the sport of running and beyond in order to expand my own personal knowledge and learn from thought leaders in their respective fields. This week’s guest is no exception to that; Natalia Petrzela is a self-described “scholar, writer, teacher, and activist” and I will add mother, podcaster, fitness instructor, and runner to that impressive list.
After discovering Natalia on Twitter, I was drawn in by an interesting Jezebel article she wrote about the history of “working out from home.” Natalia is currently writing a book titled Fit Nation: How America Embraced Exercise as the Government Abandoned It, which tackles questions about fitness culture in America, access to fitness, and our fitness identity as a nation. Most recently, Natalia was featured on NPR’s Code Switch discussing the whiteness of Running and its historical origins dating back to Bill Bowerman’s 1977 book title Jogging which sparked the jogging boom for white America.
In this episode of the podcast, we bounce around and discuss Natalia’s own fitness identity, her goals as a historian, and her hopes for the future of fitness. Enjoy!
"I remember going through a pretty awful breakup and just mentally wasn't in a great place. Not knowing much about nutrition, I thought that I wanted to be a better athlete and I had this newfound sense of motivation. What ended up happening was developing this sense of putting a lot of pressure on myself. I just started doing Google searches like people do all the time. It was 'How to be a better athlete?' or 'How to be stronger?' or 'How to be leaner?' And what do you think the results are that came upas ? There are different fad diets, cutting out carbohydrates, only eat this or don't eat that or fruit. Gosh, I must have tried everything. I remember being so depleted at the end of some days. I thought, 'OK. This is just how it's supposed to be. They said this would happen. Just keep eating more protein or do things like that.' There was a point that I got to where I determined, 'This is not sustainable. My performance is now suffering. My mental health is suffering.' That's when I started learning actually and truly what nutrition means."
Erin Kenney is a registered dietitian out of Boston who specializes in gastrointestinal disorders, sports nutrition, medicinal cannabis use. The reason I wanted Erin on this podcast was because I thought that she would be super helpful in navigating many relevant topics about fueling by runners. A little bit over a year ago, I reached out to Erin to get some of her advice on how I should be approaching things as a professional athlete.
She is also the author of 'Rewire Your Gut' and hosts her own Nutrition Rewired podcast.
▶ Follow Erin on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/nutritionrewired/
Check out her website here: https://www.nutritionrewired.com/
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"I definitely felt very different from everyone else and that's definitely, to be honest, a huge reason why I don't really like cross country as much as track. I do feel like there are less people I can relate to or I can even talk to some people about some things I'm experiencing or feeling. I know when I was being recruited at Penn, there was a specific middle distance group that was a mix between 400-800-milers. Those people didn't necessarily run cross country. I was excited about coming into a group like that. When the coaches changed a bit, now I was a distance runner. I was running cross country and I was the only individual of color. I think that was a very different experience. To anyone who is listening, who is one of very few or maybe the only person of color on their team, you're supposed to be in that space. Just being in that space is doing a lot for not only you but the Black community at large. You're immersing people in your experiences and perspectives, even if you're not saying that much or anything about being Black. It's felt by everybody. Your presence is definitely felt and you're making an impact by doing that.
I've had some really great people in my circle outside of just my immediate training group that did a good job of telling me, "You're supposed to be here. You can do well here." I think that helped me have that degree of success that I had in cross country and prepared me well for track."
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Nia Akins joins Dana Giordano just days after signing a professional contract to run for the Brooks Beasts training group in Seattle, Washington. She just wrapped up an accomplished career at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a two-time NCAA runner-up in the 800 meters and boasts a 2:00.71 indoor personal best in the event. She also graduated with a degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. In this episode, they discuss her decision to turn pro amid a global pandemic, the accomplished final goals wiped away due to COVID-19, balancing her coursework at the No. 1 nursing school in the country, her conversations regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and what her hope is for society and sport moving forward.
In May, she opened up about an incident where a man yelled racial slurs at her while she was working out. She spoke about it on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3JUpSnfjg/ | She also wrote about it for Runner's World here: https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a32825698/nia-akins-ncaa-runner-racial-discrimination/
▶ Follow Nia on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/nia_akins/
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Jen Rhines is one of the most accomplished American distance runners in history. She's made 15 U.S. national teams including three Olympic teams. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she competed in the 10,000 meters. Four years later, she ran the marathon in Athens. In 2008, she dropped all the way back down to run the 5,000 meters in Beijing. Jen has been an Adidas athlete for more than 20 years. From her website, she boasts that she ranks in the top 10 all-time for the United States in the 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. We chat about her longevity in the sport and how most of her PRs came between the ages of 33 and 36. We'll also learn about her introduction to pro running, what she thinks has attributed to her successes, an inside look at her favorite Olympic memories and much more.
Jen currently lives and trains in San Diego, where she helps coach the Golden Coast Track Club alongside her husband Terrence Mahon.
For the first time, we have a co-host as Daniel Winn, a professional runner with the Brooklyn Track Club in New York City, joins the show. He was a former teammate of Jen's with the Boston Athletic Association.
▶ Follow Jen on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jenrhines/
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Imagine you are running a track race but instead of seeing your competitors and the clock you can only see blurred colors. You only know who you are racing based on their sponsor kit blur and the colors of the ponytails. When you cross the finish line you don’t know what place you came in or how many people you passed on the final straightaway. This is what racing was like for U.S. Olympian Marla Runyan.
On this episode of ‘More than Running with Dana Giordano’: We dive into Marla’s athletic story and her current work to champion for the rights of Para athletes. After losing her vision in elementary school, Marla found freedom in running. Through an unusual path, Marla was successful in many athletic disciplines including high jump, heptathlon, middle distance events and even the marathon.
Marla became the first woman to compete in both the Paralympics and Olympic Games. Her story is one of persistence and refusal to let her vision loss define her as a competitor. Marla is currently the Para Athlete manager at the Boston Athletic Association and recently created several new competitive Para Athlete divisions for future Boston Marathons.
Follow Marla on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marlaruns
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“I don’t really feel that I need to disprove the idea of burnout. But to me, it’s all a mental thing. The only reason you really walk away is because 1) You just come to hate it and you never really want to do it again or 2) You never come to terms with the fact that you might have to do it differently to get back there. As young women, you wake up, you drink a glass of water, you put your shoes on and you’re out the door. The older you get, maybe you need to stretch a little bit beforehand or do so some extra drills. It’s kind of understanding that’s OK and that your body is going to grow, change and adapt. The longer you’re in the sport, the more you’re going to create rhythms for yourself and knowing that being 24 is still young and there’s a lot of life as a runner and otherwise to live.”
Mary Cain joins Dana Giordano for a conversation just days after she announced that she is now a full-time employee of Tracksmith and will help oversee the company's New York City community engagement as a manager. Cain made headlines last fall when she came forward with allegations that she was "emotionally and physically abused" by coach Alberto Salazar as a member of the Nike Oregon Project. She has become one of the running's biggest advocates for women's sports and safe coaching practices as a result of sharing her story. Mary is still training at a professional level and is targeting the 2021 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in the 1,500 meters, 800 meters or 5,000 meters.
In this conversation, Dana and Mary discuss how Mary overcame her longest injury cycle, her drive growing up, tapering intensity, balancing the concept of burnout, how the New York Times op-doc came about and much more.
Subscribe and listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Anchor.
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“The more I ran, the more questions I started to ask about this space. When I would run, I never saw anyone who looked like me. I am an African American woman. I lived in a neighborhood that is not African-American and is a predominantly white and Latinx population. Running in the neighborhood I started to wonder, ‘Do black women run? Do other African American people run? Because I’m not seeing them. I knew I couldn’t be the only person to run. This kind of peaked my curiosity and the questions that I had about this space.”
Tiffany Chenault is a sociology professor at Salem State University and the Black Girls Run Boston chapter leader. She is also working on a book about race and its place in the running community.
Dana and Tiffany discuss how she found the sport and her initial reaction to seeing very few women like her on the starting line, what got her hooked (she's now run 46 half marathons in 46 states) and the changes/conversations that can take place to do better.
Note: This conversation was recorded before the death of Ahmaud Arbery sparked a greater conversation about diversity, race and representation in running.
Subscribe and listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google PodcastsandAnchor.
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Alison Wade used to operate fast-women.com from 2000 to 2006 and continued covering the sport but worked in other avenues of the running industry. In 2019, she resurrected her coverage in the form of a weekly newsletter that has become a hit within the running community. When she re-launched it, she said: “as a lifelong fan of women’s distance running, I’ve always wished that I could nerd out with more people over the latest news in the sport.” Dana and Alison geek out over Skype to peel back the curtain on how she follows the sport and amplifies the coverage of women in running.
On this episode, Dana and Alison discuss:
Subscribe to Alison's newsletter here: http://www.fast-women.org/
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“My biggest goal right now is making the Olympic team for 2020. I feel like that’s a start. Sometimes I get a little scared thinking about bigger goals for years and years down the road. I like to do incremental ones. I think I would want to be known as a tough runner. I feel like I’m not super glamorous but a little more blue collar – just getting the work done and being tough. I like to be a badass.”
On Feb. 9th, Elle Purrier broke a 37-year-old American record when she won the Millrose Games mile in 4:16.85. Her time took seven-tenths off Mary Slaney's time and now ranks as the second-fastest indoor mile in history. Before her breakout indoor season, Dana and Elle sit down during a high-altitude training stint in Flagstaff, Arizona to dive into some of her upbringings on a dairy farm in northern Vermont and what led to her success at the University of New Hampshire and post-collegiately. She now has her sights set on making her first U.S. Olympic team in 2021.
In 2019, Purrier qualified for her first national team and competed in the 5,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Doha. She finished 11th with a personal best of 14:58.17. She is one of 16 American women who have broken 15 minutes on the track for 5,000 meters. Her personal best of 4:02:34 for the 1,500 meters also makes her a contender for that squad to Tokyo.
On this episode, we touch on:
- Growing up on a farm in Montgomery, Vermont
- Brief basketball aspirations
- Experiencing a runner’s high
- Her favorite parts of training and some of the craziest workouts that she’s done
- Advice for a high school runner pursuing running at a higher level
- Envisioning her legacy within the sport as a competitor
- The 5th Avenue Mile finish: “That’s a classic example of not overthinking something and just competing. That’s when I think I have my best races. That’s definitely a good lesson.”
- And more...
➡️ Follow Elle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elleruns_4_her_life/
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Recommended read: Olympic hopefuls Gevvie Stone, Elle Purrier have very different paths ahead to Tokyo in 2021 (NBC Sports) | https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/03/25/tokyo-olympics-gevvie-stone-elle-purrier/
Photo for this episode's cover art by Kevin Morris | https://www.kevmofoto.com/
“How I would like people to see me is ‘She didn’t give up.’ I’ve had so many times where I’ve had to come back from injuries – even as recently as this past summer. I remember calling coach Sparks after I hurt my hip again and literally sobbing to him on the phone that my running career was over because I thought that was it. After my surgery two years ago, they had given me a 50% chance of being able to run competitively again. They didn’t know if the surgery was going to take. It’s really difficult having to deal with that and mentally realizing this is the thing I love the most in the world and I may never get to do this again. I don’t know if it’s because I’m too dumb to do anything else but it was just this thought that I can’t quit now because I feel like I haven’t done the things that I’ve wanted to do yet and this feeling that I’m leaving something on the table. I know that I’m capable of more but if I don’t sort everything in my life and get over this victim mentality or get through some of these things, I’m not going to get there. That’s why I feel like there’s never been another thing that I love as much as this. That’s why even though I couldn’t run for six months. I just keep coming back to it."
The first guest on 'More Than Running with Dana Giordano' is Molly Seidel. Just a few weeks after finishing second at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta, Dana and Molly sat down in her Fenway–Kenmore apartment to discuss how her much her life has changed since making her first U.S. Olympic team. The conversation was recorded before the coronavirus pandemic led to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021.
Topics touched upon in this episode include:
- The build-up to the biggest race of her life
- Putting us in her shoes for her marathon debut
- Speaking up in response to the criticism of her Olympic teammates Aliphine Tuliamuk and Sally Kipyego for being Kenyan-born Americans.
- The media’s coverage of her after the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and why she felt uneasy about it.
- Handling the spotlight since being a star as a high school
- How life changed after making the Olympic team
- Donuts, hot ham and rolls
- Seeking out a group and the perfect training set up with coach Jon Green
- What she and her coach expected that she would place at the Olympic trials
- What she wants to leave behind as her legacy within the sport
- Advice for younger generations of runners: Just because you fail doesn’t make you a failure.
- Showing off different bodies and diversity on the starting lines in the sport
- And much more...
➡️ Follow Molly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bygolly.molly/
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Recommended listen:
Molly on Running on Om with Julia Hanlon | https://runningonom.com/podcast-225/
Photo for this episode's cover art by Kevin Morris | https://www.kevmofoto.com/
Welcome to ' More Than Running with Dana Giordano.' This new show from the CITIUS MAG Podcast Network will give an inside look at women's running from all types of perspectives. The goal is to bring you a different side to the athletes, coaches and notable people from the sport that you may know. This is a podcast about just that – more than running.
The first season of guests will include 2020 U.S. Olympic marathon trials runner-up Molly Seidel, American indoor mile record holder Elle Purrier, Fast Women newsletter's Alison Wade, Nutrition Rewired's Erin Kenney and more.
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