The Rambling Runner Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#442 - Regina Lopez: Excelling While Following Her Curiosity Jun 03, 2022

Show notes

Regina Lopez is a rare professional athlete. She started taking running seriously at the age of 17 - far later than almost all of her peers. After graduating from Cal Poly Pomona, where she ran competitively, she qualified for and competed in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. After that day she spontaneously pivoted to trail running. Shortly thereafter she tried her hand at ultra running.

And she excelled at all of them. She is a Spartan Trail Champ, finished 2nd at the USATF 50k, and at the 3rd USATF 100k.

In this episode Regina talks all about the winding path her career has taken, why she has made the choices that have defined her running life, and what she is doing to maximize her ability as she embraces new challenges.

You can follow Regina at www.instagram.com/getfitwithreginalopez.

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#441 - Andy Wacker: Evolution of one of the U.S.'s Top Trail Runners May 31, 2022

Show notes

Andy Wacker is on the show today and it was an honor to talk to one of America's best runners. Andy's resume speaks for itself (his 2021 accolades are listed below and they career's worth of achievements) and easily puts him in the top tier of the country’s best trail runners.

Andy wasn't always the top of his class, however, He was a walk-on at University of Colorado during some of the school’s prime running years. His time in Boulder had some high points but also some struggles. During those down periods he learned to head to the trails. Those forays away from the team would lead to a paradigm shift as a runner that continues to serve him well today.

2021 was an encapsulation of that journey. Here is how Andy wrote about it in an end of the year post on his Instagram feed:

"2021 has been “A JOURNEY”. If I have learned anything, it is to be grateful for the good days. Be optimistic. Positive thinking can take you so far! BELIEVE. You can and will get through even the darkest days. And after all, 2021 was another great year of running!

I represented USA and placed 2nd in the XTERRA Trail World Championships. I placed third at Birkie Trail Half, Broken Arrow 26k and the Golden Gate Trail Classic. I raced some of the best downhills of my life. Ran my first cirque series race. Doubled at GoPro games and won a race at 10,000ft. I ran one of my fastest times for 15k (45:25) on a windy day. 🏃

I set 14 FKTs: Murphey Loop, Syncline Loop, North Table Mountain, Guana Loop, Marin Headlands, Ralston Creek Trail (out and back), Plymouth Mountain, Mt Audubon, Peak 1, Mount Baldy, Bergen Peak (up and down), Needles Grand Tour.

I ran 28 miles in 6:00 pace at 5,500ft elevation!

But, It hasn’t been all sunshine & rainbows.

I also dealt with pain, injury, frustration, balancing work, race cancellations, sickness and more.

I spent four months without running.

I found new joy biking up mountain roads in Colorado.

So, take nothing for granted. Never give up."

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#440 - Dr. Jess Mena, DPT: Running Groups, Fighting Harassment, and Strength Training May 27, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Jess Mena DPT is here for our monthly collaboration and, as always, she is bringing loads of energy and fire.

In this episode we discuss a couple big topics for runners. First we cover Jess's new running group that she started in the Valley just north of Los Angeles. Jess organized the group after she finally had enough of driving 90 minutes to workouts only to be harassed on the streets while running. We talk about that and what it's like for folks who are interested in joining a running group but may be reticent to giving it a go.

In the second half of the episode we take a deep dive into the important of strength training for runners and what exercises benefit novices and experts alike.

Follow Jess at www.instagram.com/tempo_with_jess.

Follow Matt:

Instagram - @rambling_runner
Twitter - @rambling_runner
YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA

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#439 - Shayla Manitowabi-Huebner: When Running is About More Than Running May 23, 2022

Show notes

Shayla Manitowabi-Huebner is on the show and she's got a great story to tell.

Last month at the Boston Marathon, Shayla ran 26.2 miles in prayer. She only had eight weeks to prepare her body and spirit for this distance after she was selected to run the race to represent Native Women Running.

She carried sacred medicine and prayed for healing—for all of her relations. Shayla placed cedar in my shoes and prepared asemaa (a tobacco tie) that she carried on her left shoulder. The prayer and medicine was powerful. Going into the race, she knew it was going to be a lot more than physical. She would bring in mental, emotional, and spiritual directions to create balance in her running. Shayla felt good, ran steady, and kept her spirit and thoughts positive. Shayla ran the entire race without stopping, resulting in a Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3:25:25.

In this episode we discuss Boston but also so much more. Shayla talks about how she grew to fully embrace being Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong First Nation after being a child of adoption. We also take a deep dive into her athletic background. Shayla was an All-American middle distance track athlete in college and took the unique path of attempting her first marathon shortly after graduation.

You can follow Shayla at www.instagram.com/shaylaraemh.

Sponsor:

Thank you to Tanri - sunscreen for runners, by runners. Tanri protects you from the sun while staying impervious to sweat. Visit www.tanri.com and use code RAMBLING to save 10%

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#438 - Tommie Runz: Choosing Carbon Plated Racers May 20, 2022

Show notes

Our new monthly running shoe episodes with Tommie Runz have arrived and we are starting with a bang - choosing a carbon plated racer!

We take a deep dive into almost ten different popular plated racing options and choose the best ones for each of us at the marathon distance.

We also do a segment on Tommie's Boston Marathon experience and PR Project. Specifically, how Tommie approached the final month of training and race day when an injury popped up and derailed his training. It was a common question that many of us have experienced - how/if we run our goal race when we aren't at healthy but can complete the distance despite not being at our best.

Tommie Runz is making big moves within the broader running community. Several years back Tommie was the picture of ill-health. He had an alcohol problem, was eating poorly, and was doing little exercise. They one-by-one he addressed all of these issues until he became the man and runner he is today - fast, fit, vegan, host of the Run Eat Sleep Show, and owner of Chip Time Running. A truly magnificent transformation for a man who's an even better person than he is a runner.

Follow Tommie -www.instagram.com/tommie_runz

Chip Time Running and Run Eat Sleep Show - https://linktr.ee/ChipTimeRunning

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#437 - 360 Degree Analysis: Diane Neubauer and James McKirdy May 16, 2022

Show notes

Today on podcast the we are trying a new format that I am really excited about - a 360 degree review of an athlete's improvement. First we speak with Diane Neubauer, and then her coach James McKirdy, about her remarkable improvement over the last three years.

Diane is a fantastic runner, incredibly hard worker, military wife, and mother of two.

She ran her first marathon in 2013, finishing in 3:50. Three years later, she ran a 3:36 in Boston. Four years after that, with a 3:07 marathon PR and her sights set on breaking 3:00, she started working with coach James McKirdy. She had been self-coached to that point, and nobody would argue that she had seen some amazing progress.

In fact, with a 3:50 debut seven years prior, many people would probably think that she had squeezed out all of her potential - that squeaking under 3:00 might be the best she could hope for. Maybe some would think even that was a little greedy. How often do we hear that we should “chip away at it” rather than take a big swing?

But instead of focusing on the end goal, they focused on the process. They focused on development. Day by day, week by week.

A year later, at the McKirdy Micro Michigan marathon, Diane won in a time of 2:45:42. We went back to work. Same methodology. Trust the process, let the fitness develop. She ran a 1:15 half marathon in Phoenix Mesa and finished the season with a 2:44 in Boston.

It's clear there's even more improvement ahead for Diane. Learn how this has all come about and what the plans are for the future in this new format.

You can follow Diane at www.instagram.com/diane_neubauer_.

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#436 - OTQ Evolution Panel Discussion with Jenny Grimshaw, Carly Gill Larios, and Theresa Hailey May 13, 2022

Show notes

Today we bring you a live show recording from the Eugene Marathon with Jenny Grimshaw, Carly Gill Larios, Theresa Hailey. All three of these amazing women have been on the show before and were three of our most popular guests.

In this panel discussion, Jenny, Carly, and Theresa reflect on their participation in the Olympic Trials Marathon and how they are approaching the new 2024 standard of 2:37. Their first OTQ experience was something they will never forget. Not just the race, but the entire qualification process. They take a deep dive into that and how that experience informed their reaction to the new marathon trials standard and how they feel now with some time and momentum on their side.

Follow Jenny: www.instagram.com/jenny_gshaw.

Follow Carly: www.instagram.com/carlysheree.

Follow Theresa: www.instagram.com/runninggingerly.

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#435 - For the Love of the Run with Carolyn Su May 10, 2022

Show notes

I am excited to announce a new monthly feature on the Rambling Runner Podcast - For the Love of The Run with Carolyn Su.

Carolyn has established herself as a change maker, resource, advocate, and megaphone within the world of running. Her desire to lift up people and stories of all kinds has made a tangible impact on many throughout the world. Ever since she started the DiverseWeRun Instagram account her work has been featured across running media over and over again. She even graced the cover of Runner's World!

Now, Carolyn will be joining the show as a co-host the second week of every month to talk about running, goals, family, and to highlight a runner from the DiverseWeRun account.

In our inaugural episode we discuss:

Matt's marathon recap - digesting a bitter pill
Carolyn's marathon preview!!!
Post-Boston story/reflection that will stay with us for a long time
DiverseWeRun shout-out featuring Serghino Rene
Family Jam!!!! Funny/entertaining/frustrating/difficult (or all of the above) family story from the last month. I thought family jam could be a good name since jam could be a positive (THIS SONG IS MY JAM!) or negative (being caught in jam) or sweet (self explanatory).

For the Love of the Run is presented by Tracksmith. Both Carolyn and I been wearing and loving Tracksmith for years and we couldn't think of a better brand to partner with on this endeavor. They have incredible running attire that fits great and can last for years, even in tough New England weather. You can visit our link at www.Tracksmith.com/loveoftherun to see their new arrivals and use code LOVEOFTHERUN to receive free shipping. Also, 5% of proceeds from the use of the code will go to our charity partner the Asian Mental Health Collective - www.asianmhc.org.

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#434 - Meaghan Murray-Neuberger: Leveling Up to a New Goal After a Breakthrough May 09, 2022

Show notes

Meaghan Murray-Neuberger is back on the show and for good reason.

Have you ever had a goal that you worked for years to accomplish only to fall short by the slimmest of margins time and time again? It takes a strong person with a sense of mission to keep getting up and striving for that goal instead of giving in. That is exactly what Meaghan Murray-Neuberger did when she broke the 3:00 at the Woodlands Marathon two weeks ago. Meaghan is a three-time marathon winner with a previous marathon PR of 3:00:19. At Woodlands she ran a blistering fast 2:56:33 - 6:44 pace per mile.

What comes next after you finally achieve a huge goal? That's exactly what we cover in this episode. In the year since her breakthrough at the Woodlands Marathon, Meaghan has continued to improve a remarkable rate culminating in a 2:48:34 at the 2022 Boston Marathon. On the podcast Meaghan talks about what she learned from her first breakthrough and continues to use today, how she re-focused on a new goal, going for it when raceday provides unexpected challenges, and much more.

Besides being as tough as leather, Meaghan is also an extraordinary business woman and entrepreneur. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Big Run Media and Believe in the Run.

You can hear Meaghan's first appearance on the show in episode 317.

You can visit Believe in the Run at www.believeintherun.com.

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#433 - Heather Knight Pech: Boston Marathon Course Record at Age 60 May 02, 2022

Show notes

”If all we did was acknowledge the time on the clock... we'd be giving a standing ovation.

If all we did was acknowledge that a record was broken and that the impossible had been accomplished... we'd be celebrating for weeks and then life would move forward as it does.

But the reality is that what Heather Knight Pech accomplished in the Boston Marathon is far more than her finish time of 3:03:47. It's far more than winning the division (60-64). And it's certainly far more than breaking the record held by Joan Benoit Samuelson.

It's been 3 years since since Heather last finished Boston - a race that lives in her soul. It's been a bit over 1.5 years of injury that left Heather wondering if the best was behind her.

But the success Heather found on Monday isn't found in the result... it's the in-between time where the story is truly told. The injury. The heartbreak. The self doubt. The loneliness of not being able to do what she is so clearly meant to.

But to know Heather is to know what it means to not give up. To know what it means to demand the very best. To know what it means to love with all that you are.

Heather fought her way through this hard time - but she wasn't alone. She found the best doctors for therapy. She found shoulders to lean on with her family and friends. She found inspiration from her athletes while self doubt crept in. She surrounded herself with believers leaving her no choice but to believe in herself.

When Heather stepped on the starting line she left all the self doubt behind her. She knew what she could do... she was patient... and she ran the race of her life!”

-These show notes were written about Heather by her coach and friend James McKirdy after she ran Boston. They are perfect so I’ve inserted them here.

Follow Heather at https://instagram.com/_knighttraining

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