Strong Runner Chick Radio – Megan Flanagan

SRC Radio by Strong Runner Chicks

Latest Episodes:

Episode 143: Alya Alghamdi on Overcoming Cultural Restrictions, Going After Your Goals, and More Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Alya Alghamdi is a professional athlete, originally from Saudi Arabia, living and training fiercely, both in Dallas, TX and Los Angeles, CA. Her mission is to become an international track and field athlete as she competes for Saudi Arabia at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Questions we ask Alya include: Growing up in Saudi Arabia, how did you initially get started in running? What initially drew you to the sport of running? How did early experiences inform your decision to move outside of your country and pursue running elsewhere? You are going after breaking some major records, including your country’s record for track’s three main events – the 60-meter dash, the 100-meter dash, and the 200-meter dash. What are some challenges you have faced during this process, both in terms of cultural restrictions and as a female athlete? What has your experience been like with diversity and representation in sports, particularly having lived and trained in various countries? What does your life currently look like with changes in the Olympics? How have you found ways to adapt and continue to stay focused on your goals? One of your many accomplishments includes climbing Mount Everest! Tell us more about the highlights and challenges of this experience. You mention that cooking is a form of self-care. What are a few recipes you enjoy cooking up most? Any other activities you enjoy for self-care? How do you hope to shift the narrative for Saudi women runners? Any advice you would give to them, or ways you hope to change their future? What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you?

Episode 142: Annie Rodenfels on Body Image in Elite Running, Gender in Sport, and Balancing Health with Performance Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Annie Rodenfels is a professional runner for ASICS Greenville Track Club-Elite in Greenville, SC. She's a 3x Division 3 national champion and d3 record holder in the steeplechase. She graduated from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky with a psychology degree and minor in gender studies--both which greatly inform and influence her experience as a professional runner. Outside of racing on the track, Annie is a high school cross country and track and field coach, and a corporate wellness coordinator for Joy Real Estate. She is passionate about running, obviously, but also intersectional feminism and social justice issues, reading and writing, coffee, and being able to do 5 consecutive pull-ups at once.

Topics we discuss with Annie include:

Her background in running
Collegiate experience at Centre College
Her psychology degree and minor in gender studies--both which greatly inform and influence her experience as a professional runner
Recent IG post about not identifying as an elite runner and the role body image plays in the sport: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEj7ot2Hayc/
Life outside of work
Doing pull-ups and the role that strength training plays in her training

Episode 141: Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel on Running as a Platform for Advocacy, Finding your Voice + Passion, and Intersectionality in Social Justice Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

About Jordan: Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel is a member of the Kul Wicasa (wee-chah-shah) Lakota and a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. She is an advocate for Indian Country and all people. Jordan is the founder and organizer of Rising Hearts, an Indigenous led grassroots group designed to elevate awareness of Indigenous issues, and the intersectionality of all movements impacting brown, black and Indigenous communities. The group helps to uplift and center Indigenous voices and efforts, while building collaborative partnerships to accomplish equitable and just treatment of all people and the Earth through targeted organizing and advocacy. Currently, Jordan is using her running platform to help raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives by dedicating the miles she runs to a missing or murdered Indigenous person, with the #RunningForJustice, and is now intersecting this effort and prayers for Black Lives Matter and calling an end to police brutality. Recently, she climbed the highest peak in the lower 48, carrying 22 names in prayer for missing and murdered Indigenious women (MMIW) for 22 miles. She is among many Indigenous people working to elevate this crisis and to bring justice to the families and victims. Jordan has launched Mitakuye Oyasin (Mee- tah-koo-yay Oy-yah-seen)(which means We Are All Related), a COVID19 relief program for Indigenous communities, to send masks to Indigenous relatives and communities in order to help protect and keep the communities safe. She is sponsored by Altra Team Elite and is an ambassador for Ultimate Direction.
Questions asked in this episode:
• What's been going on lately -you just wrapped up the Indigenous Peoples Day Virtual Race series and also recently hosted the Running for the Health of All Nations virtual 5k to raise money for COVID relief efforts for Indigenous people.

• Your family has a deep history of running, how did your family influence your start in running?
• Your passion in life is an activist and advocate for Native people, the earth, climate, and future generations--how did you become involved and find your voice to bring awareness to these areas?
• “Running is my art form. Running is my way to give back. Running is how I offer what I have to give to something that I believe in.” - Jordan Marie Daniel (Popsugar article) Through these words running is much more powerful than the simple act of placing one foot in front of the other. How does running serve as your art form and provide greater meaning to the work you do?
• November is Native American Heritage Month and in honor of the month one event your organization, Rising Hearts, is organizing is Indigenous Wellness Through Movement. What do you hope to shed light on through this event?
• What advice would you give to others who are searching for their passion and finding something to commit to in life?
• You refer to the work you do as heart work, this shares such a special connection to your mind/body/spirit and the work you’re doing. How does this connection help to ground you during emotionally heavy times?
• What is your vision for the future in terms of running becoming a more inclusive space and community for all as well as a platform for advocacy?
• What has been bringing you joy lately?
• What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you?
Connect with Jordan:
Website:www.jordanmariedaniel.com
Instagram: @nativein_LA
Support Jordan + Her Heart Work:
https://www.jordanmariedaniel.com/wellness

Mentioned in the episode: Alison Desir @alisonmdesir

Episode 140: Kathleen Ralls, PhD, on Empowering Girls and Women Through Girls Gotta Run Foundation Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

Kathleen Ralls is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (BA), American University (MAT), and the University of Massachusetts Lowell (PhD). She is an award-winning public educator with 15 years experience in multiple states and countries including Norway, where she was a Fulbright Foundation Roving Scholar of American Studies. Prior to teaching, Kathleen was a sports writer for a local newspaper. She has coached a variety of sports including field hockey, basketball, softball, and track & field. Kathleen lives in Massachusetts with her husband and cat, where she is the slowest runner in her household.

How did you get your start in running?

Foundation for everything that she did
Soccer, as well
Running and keeping herself in shape was the key to her success
20s-30s - about herself and clearing her head

SRC Run Series

Set some goals for the summer
Running with family
Amazing
- That people are just getting out and running

-How did you get involved in GGR and what has this experience been like for you?

Reached out to former director
Through her doctoral program
Passion project

-Tell us more about your unique career path! What inspired you to pursue your many degrees and a career in education?

Doctorate - limitless in education
What will set her apart?
UMass Lowell - had a program
Very involved in voting
Civics education
Gender equity issues in international countries
- Sports, girls, women’s equity

-I see the world through gender

Personal and research level
Men have the advantage in sports...this angered her
Publicity and attention of male athletes
- What about the females?

-Her work with GGR and research

Wilder Retreat
Wanted to continue running
Academic writing...not sure what she wanted to do
- Had to sit with it for about 6 months
Kept field notes and
Applied to over 100 jobs
- Instead, what could she do with this research?
Novel about Ethiopian girl runners
“How could we ever forget?” - minute 23 - quote for Instagram
New theory on creating voice and empowerment
- Creating a curriculum to have girls reflect on their voice
  - What are the skills that they are developing as athletes

Sport - ticket to having a voice and confidence

-When did you get involved in coaching and what has been your favorite sport to coach?

High school sports
Spent time writing at the local paper

-What advice would you give to your younger self?

Do not take yourself so seriously
Value in learning
Avoiding perfectionism

What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you?

“I think for me it means walking out my backdoor every morning to go for a run.”
Get back, get moving consistently - for mental and physical health

Episode 139: Natalie Mitchell, 3:05 Marathoner on Balancing Motherhood, Embracing Community and Inclusivity Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

Natalie Mitchell is a Los Angeles based running coach, 12 time marathoner and mom to three athletic and zany kids. When she is not working with a client or chasing after her kids, you'll find her running on the roads or high up in the mountains near her home. Natalie also loves to cook healthy meals, bake and read in her spare time. Questions we ask Natalie include: How did you get your start in running? You've accomplished quite a bit -- from running over 12 marathons to coaching countless runners! What inspired you to start sharing your journey through blogging and eventually get into coaching? Having suffered from complications during pregnancy (covered in a Runner's World article back in 2014), how did you overcome this challenge, stay positive, and eventually return to running? Any tips for new mothers or those who are pregnant on continuing their running? You've been active in the running community for quite some time and spoken out about topics that matter, both to you and the running community. How have you seen (or have you seen) a shift in the running community addressing BLM over the past several months? What is your vision for the future in terms of running becoming a more inclusive space for all, and also for girls and women? What advice would you give to your younger self? What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you? Connect with Natalie: @natrunsfar (IG) natrunsfar.com (website)

Episode 138: Erin Teschuk on Lasting Happiness and Health as Keys to Professional Running Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

"The greatest way to find lasting success is to find happiness and health in all areas of your life." - Erin Teschuk

Erin Teschuk is a professional Canadian runner, 2016 Olympian in the steeplechase and former North Dakota State University DI athlete. She was featured in our "How the Pros Fuel" series on the blog and has been up to quite a bit since then!

Questions we ask Erin include:

How did you get started in running?

What was growing up in Canada like? Differences in racing/training there versus in the states?

Experience running in college -- how did you choose your university? What was running in North Dakota like?

Since graduating, how have you navigated the post-collegiate running world? What does life look like in and outside of running?

You are a 7x NCAA First Team All American and represented your country in the Steeplechase in the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro -- very impressive! To someone with big goals like these, what would you say are a few factors that helped you achieve these goals?

What were a few of your biggest lessons learned along the way?

Have you ever been injured (short or long term) and if so, how did you handle these setbacks?

We featured you on SRC in our “How the Pros Fuel” series, where you spoke about body image. From comparison to disordered eating and RED-S, these are all-too rampant in the running world. Is this something you have ever struggled with?

Where are you finding silver linings right now and/or motivation to keep going?

Advice you would give to your younger self?* 29 min

What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you?

Episode 137: Adrienne Langelier on Body Image, Mindset, and More Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

Today we bring back on Adrienne Langelier, LPC, MA, and mental performance professional to discuss important topics: body image, mindset, and more!

Episode 136: Rebecca Mehra on Running for Oiselle, Political Activism, and Life Outside of Sport Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

Rebecca Mehra is a Pro runner for @oiselle & @runlittlewing 🏃🏻‍♀, Public policy nerd 🤓, Stanford Alum🌲, and lives in📍Bend, OR.

“Because as a running community we seem to be far more comfortable talking about races rather than race.” - Quote from Rebecca

Questions we ask Rebecca include:

We just wrapped up the Oiselle Womxn Run the Vote! Tell us a bit more about this and what you’re up to!
How did you get your start in running?
You shared in a recent podcast with Ali (Ali on the Run) that you thrive when having multiple tasks to be involved with rather than solely just running because you experienced a few injuries during college. Could you share with us more about the importance of finding other activities other than running?
What sparked your interest in studying international relations and communications?
What have been some of the most rewarding projects you’ve been involved with during your career?
How have you been adapting to training without having many (if any) races on the calendar and stayed motivated?
What do you hope to share with other female identifying runners who see you running in the spotlight and hopefully soon -- the Olympics?
What does being a Strong Runner Chick mean to you?

Listener questions:

Favorite pre/post race meal?
Favorite time of day to train?
What suggestions do you have for those looking to get involved in BLM, social justice, and/or activism in their communities?

Episode 135: Coach Denise Sauriol, the Marathon Whisperer, on Marathon Training, Coaching, and Community Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Coach/Athlete/Motivational Speaker- Denise Sauriol

Coach Denise, aka, the Marathon Whisperer™ has been coaching runners of all abilities since 2010. She started coaching after surviving a near fatal car accident. It was her way of giving back to running for what it has given and continues to give to her. She is a certified running coach through USATF & Road Runners Club of America. Denise has been running since the 4th grade and is still best friends with the sport. Back in 1994, she ran her first marathon.

That finish line turned the “I Can’t!” into “What else can I do?!” It led her to do other things that she was SCITED (Scared + Excited) about. This includes but is not limited to completing 2 Ironman races when she is still deathly afraid of open water, skydiving and bungee jumping even though she is afraid of heights, taking improv classes to get over her fear of public speaking and most recently, she left her 26-year career in accounting to coach full-time. This life-igniting feeling generated from doing something she did not think she could do is what she aims to share with runners and future runners. Helping someone do something that they did not think they could do ignites her soul!

To date, she has run 118 Marathons (including 12 Boston Marathons), Back to Back Comrades, 2 Ironman and 2 100-milers. She has completed the Abbott World Marathon Majors twice. After completing the Mt. Everest Marathon and the Patagonia Marathon in 2019, Denise became a member of the Seven Continents Club. In 2018, she published her first book, “Me, You & 26.2 – Coach Denise’s Guide to Get YOU to YOUR first marathon”

Personal Achievements:

25 X Chicago Marathon Finisher
118 X Marathon Finisher (First Marathon 4:28, Personal Best 3:15)
32 X Boston Marathon Qualifier
2008 Chicago Marathon Woman's Illinois Masters Champion
2008 Antarctica Marathon - 3rd Place Female
Co-Founder Girls on the Run Chicago
Grand Canyon Rim2Rim2Rim Finisher
Completed 300+ road races to date
Comrades Back to Back Finisher

Connect with Denise:

Email: deesauriol@hotmail.com

Website: https://www.run-for-change.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marathonwhisperer/

Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/runforchangechicago/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1819736768312025/?epa=SEARCH_BOX

Episode 134: All Things Trail, Ultra, and Obstacle Course Racing with Megan and Kelsey Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Kelsey interviews Megan Flanagan, Founder of Strong Runner Chicks, avid trail/OCR runner and strength/running coach. They cover obstacle course racing and trail running in more depth, including:

Differences between trail, ultra, and obstacle course races -- and how to train for each
How to start trail running
Beginner-friendly trails in Portland, OR
Gear for trail and ultra running
Strength training and how to incorporate it into your routine
And much more!

Big thanks to our friends at @FEMProtein for their support. Use code "SRC15" for 15% off!

You can also check out Crafted Energy's new Runner Bars and save 30% with code "STRONGRUNNERCHICKS30"!

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