The Running for Real Podcast

Think back to the first time you tried something new. Were you scared? Nervous that you may embarrass yourself or even fail? Or did you feel like maybe you didn't belong there? Any one of these thoughts would be a perfectly natural response to trying something new. However, changing our mindset from fear and nervousness to confidence in our abilities and believing in ourselves can help us eliminate doubt from our minds and allow us to put forth our best effort. Molly Seidel, did just that! In her first ever marathon, after an ongoing battle with eating disorders and hampered with multiple serious injuries throughout her running career, Molly finished second at the 2020 Women's Olympic Marathon Trial, earning herself the opportunity to represent the United States of America at the 2021 Olympics. Cultivating Early Potential When we think of running for our high school team, we often envision there actually being a team, as well as being surrounded by training partners that will push you and motivate you to train. This was not the case for Molly. Beginning in her freshman year, Molly was the only member of her high school cross country team. She had to learn to be self-driven and self-sufficient in order to further her fitness and compete at a high level. Beginning in her freshman year and ending in her senior year, Molly had won each state championship, as well as the 1600-meter and 3200-meter track races. Molly then went on to compete at the Footlocker National Cross-Country race, which she also won. Molly fell in love with running because it wasn't something anyone was forcing or pressuring her to do. She, like many of us, developed her own personal relationship with the sport. But that doesn't mean there weren't challenges along the way. Recruited out of high school to run at Notre Dame on a full ride scholarship brought new and difficult experiences. While she did win Division 1 NCAA titles in Cross Country, as well as the Indoor 3k, 5k, and 10k, it took a lot of work. She went from being first in the nation to 5th, 6th, or 7thon her team. Not only was she struggling physically, she struggled mentally with her body image and the shame put on her by her first Notre Dame coach. Dealing with negativity and being told she wasn't good enough and a waste of a scholarship throughout her first two years damaged her and left her feeling like she had no control of her own life. Finding Control in the Wrong Places Recognizing that women and men mature differently, especially as they work their way through high school and into college sports is an important thing to understand. You can't treat men and women the same or tell them to just get over it and expect them too. Molly found that there was little room to accept women growing into their bodies at the collegiate level. This added to the anxiety that Molly was already feeling. As a control mechanism to this anxiety, Molly turned to an eating disorder to garner some form of control over her own life. Focusing on calories and how much she could eat to provide her with just enough fuel to get through workouts became her life. This lead to malnourishment, low bone density, and lead to multiple injuries. Confiding in her second coach at Notre Dame, Molly realized she needed to change her way of thinking and entered eating disorder targeted treatment for 4 months, followed by two years in therapy. This helped her to identify that the root problem wasn't just body image, but anxiety and the need to feel like she was in control of one aspect of her life. If you are dealing with an eating disorder, it is best to address it early so that you can get through it without becoming a statistic. Approximately 1/3 of people will die from the disorder, 1/3 will recover, and 1/3 will deal with it for the rest of their life. Realize you are not alone in this battle and know that overcoming this without a support system and targeted therapy may be impossible. It is ok to ask for help to get better. The Power of Positivity Having a positive influence in our lives not only steers us in the right direction, but sometimes even carries us when we are unable to walk. As Molly began to deal with her eating disorder she came to terms with the necessity of a healthy relationship with eating. You are unable to perform at high levels and sustain a long career without properly fueling your body. However, the toll that this disorder took on her body hindered her abilities moving forward. Molly became so obsessed with running at the 2016 Olympic Trials that she made this her sole focus, holding on to this dream tight. So tight, that she broke herself physically, resulting in her being sidelined during the 2016 Olympic Trials. She continued to battle serious injuries, leading her to wonder if she'd ever run again. For one year, Molly ran on a broken hip. Eventually she had surgery, causing her to take six months off. Following that six month period she felt like she was ready to go, only to reinjure her hip. Negative thoughts began to creep into her mind, wondering if this was it. This is a common theme found in many runners. Stress fractures, pulled muscles, tendonitis, or plantar fasciitis flare ups can cause many runners to question if they will ever run again. But, as runners, we know there is something off in our brains, and that we are too stubborn and too dumb to give up running. Molly called her coach from Notre Dame who told her to do what she always does: get through this, be patient, and know that you can do this! The positivity from her coach was like a rope being thrown to someone stuck in a well. Sometimes, that's all it takes, is someone to tell you everything is going to be ok and to pull you out of the hole. 2020 Olympic Trials As Molly entered the 2020 Women's Olympic Trials she did so without a whole lot of ego involved. The past four years had been injury ridden and painstaking. However, running in the trials was something she had reamed about for many years and she was not going to let the opportunity pass. Molly had been waiting for this moment for many years and said she had prepared herself mentally for this to be the worst and most painful experience in her life. Having never run a marathon, and having to start not on the front line, but in the third wave, recognizing many of the incredible runners around her, Molly began the most important race of her life. She recalled passing through mile 18 and feeling the pain in her legs but knew she could still do this. At mile 20 she began to worry, recognizing she was ahead of a lot of the other elite runners, she decided to maintain her pace, hoping to hold on to her spot. The next six miles were extremely painful but focusing on all the hard work and dedication she had put into running throughout her life, she pushed through. Running on the shoulder of Aliphine Tuliamuk and aided by her positive words to stick with her, Molly and Aliphine worked towards the common goal of making the U.S.A. Olympic Team. Molly Seidel finished her first marathon in 2:27:31, taking second place and earning herself a spot on the Olympic team. Throughout her career Molly has experienced incredible lows and remarkable highs. No matter what you do in running, whether you have a great race or a bad day on the course, it is important to remember that running does not define you and that you are a person outside of the sport. Regardless of what stage of life you are in, continue to find joy and establish healthy relationships with what you do, whether that be running, eating, or anything else. Trust the process and do the best you can, that's all anyone can really ask. Resources: *Note* If you or someone you know is struggling from an eating disorder, it is time to talk to someone about it, it can make all the difference in the world.. Contact the National Eating Disorder Hotline at (800) 931-2237 or visit the NEDA website. Molly's Instagram Molly's Twitter Sarah Canney R4R Episode Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani R4R Episode Jessi Haggerty and Meg Steffey-Schrier R4R Episode Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Tracksmith, Altra, and Athletic Greens for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. I am thrilled to announce my exciting partnership with Altra, as an athlete and a sponsorship, I have loved their shoes as well as what this company stands for. So as a special treat to Running4Real listeners they are going to give away a pair of shoes every month this year! Go HERE to enter to be a winner a free pair of shoes. And once you have entered once you will be entered for the entire year. Athletic Greensis a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients. Just to help my immune system be stronger and greater! It is so simple to do and it taste good as well. Now you can get a free travel pack with 20 servings with your first purchase, Visit here to learn more! Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Molly, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

The declaration of Independence for the United States of America was formally declared on July 2, 1776, and signed on July 4, 1776. However, it was not for another 144 years that Congress passed the 19thAmendment and ratified it, granting women the right to vote. It was not until nearly 70 years ago when the United Nations declared that women's rights are fundamental human rights, and that women should have the right to live free from violence, slavery, discrimination, to be educated, to own property, to vote, and to earn a fair and equal wage. This issue is not isolated to one country, but is a worldwide problem. Women have been fighting a war for years to obtain the same rights which are granted to men. One powerful voice that is advocating for these females, specifically female athletes, is Lindsay Crouse. Lindsay is a journalist for the New York Times, an editor, producer, and competitive amateur marathon runner that is utilizing her position as a tool to bring inequality to the forefronts of our minds. Issues Facing Female Athletes There are multiple issues facing female athletes that are in plain sight of the general public that we should be concerned about. These issues include but are not limited to pregnancy, bullying, emotional abuse, and pay equality. Lindsay worked with top tier female runners over the course of a year to help tell their story and bring to light issues that may not be considered illegal, but that should be seen as unethical. Female athletes have lost money, sponsorship and some even their career, simply because of gender inequality. In a series of opinion articles written for the New York Times, Lindsay highlighted some of these incredible athletes and the struggles they faced while running and competing for large sponsors. Mary Cain was one of the fastest women of our generation, and the youngest American track and field athlete to make a World Championship. After signing with Nike's Oregon Project she was beaten down by the win-at-all-cost culture and was forced to lose more and more weight until her body eventually broke down and she became damaged goods. Allyson Felix, a USA Olympian who won nine Olympic medals in track, was arguably one of Nike's most marketed female athletes. Allyson, along with two of her Nike teammates, Alysia Montano and Kara Goucher, had dreams of being great runners and mothers. However, becoming pregnant and having children caused them to experience pay cuts and risk losing their contracts, simply for wanting to have children. Lindsay, and several brave female athletes helped bring these issues to the forefront of our minds and due to their courage, many top tier sponsors have made changes to their contracts proving these female athletes with guaranteed payments while they for the year and a half surrounding their pregnancies. Without these valiant women being willing to share their stores, future female athletes would be dealing with the same issues for many years to come. Permission to Rebrand Yourself We are living in an exciting time for women's sports and American women should thrilled about what is happening right now. The elite and sub-elite women are running well and are giving strength and courage to women everywhere. These women are not just athletes but have other important roles in their lives such as mothers and full time jobs. Women all over the world can relate and identify with these athletes and should be empowered by them. For Lindsay, she continues to get older but has not let that limit her abilities as a runner. As she is getting older, she is becoming faster than she ever thought she could be. But as she continues to accomplish what she believed to be impossible she has realized that no one should be able to brand you. You have permission to rebrand yourself and be what others don't think you can be. You don't need permission from anybody but yourself to go out and accomplish amazing goals. One person, giving permission in their own life to rebrand themselves, is enough to potentially inspire everyone else in their own lives. Creating Opportunities for Women If you want something to change, don't wait for the system to accommodate you. Make whatever system you are in work for you. There will always be disadvantages, but you can turn those into advantages if you look for it. Many women are accomplishing fantastic things in the workplace, but this is not enough. Think about why you want to do something, and if why you want to do it is really important to you, go get it! Once you've got it, find ways to fix it for other people. You may not always be able to change the system but find different ways to bring other women with you. Women always are made to feel as though they are competing for positions. It seems like there are a limited number of slots for women in the workplace, whereas men don't typically feel as though they have to compete for positions. But remember, if you put the work in, you can get there. You can do whatever you want to do as long as you've prepared yourself. And when the opportunity presents itself, the time and effort you've put into it will be obvious. It is not a matter of being perfect, but of being brave. Change your mindset and be the change that you want to see! While we have come a long way, we still have a long way to go. This is a battle that is being fought every day. We have two choices: act like it doesn't exist and do nothing or find ways to get involved. This is not about women being greater than men, but about women being equal to men. There are incredible female athletes working hard every day to get their chance to shine. It is up to each and every one of us to make sure these incredible people are given every opportunity to succeed, to eliminate the stigma, and to perpetuate the cause. Resources: New York Times articles: Mary Cain Allyson Felix Alysia Montano Lindsay's Twitter Lindsay's Instagram (Book) Brave Not Perfect Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Tracksmith and Athletic Greens for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. Athletic Greens is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients. Just to help my immune system be stronger and greater! It is so simple to do and it taste good as well. Now you can get a free travel pack with 20 servings with your first purchase, Visit here to learn more! I am now taking 3 months off to take some time to get to know my new baby, there is only ONE thing I will be continuing to work on while I am away, and that is my newsletter. I send it out once a week with just my thoughts, any updates, something I am appreciating, and it is just a way for me to stay connected with you all. :) If you want to join go here to sign up! Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Lindsay, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

We have all experienced moments of grief. It is devastating and life changing. It is emotional, but very physical. It is heavy and comes with aches and pains. But it has also been said that grief does not change us, it reveals us. Katie Arnold, author of Running Home: A Memoir, and winner of the 2018 Leadville 100, is no stranger to grief. She experienced a devastating loss when her father passed away from cancer. While she struggled with it for nearly 18 months, Katie was able to move through her grief using running and writing as a conduit to healing. No Timeline for Grief Far too often when we lose someone, we are given a timeline as to how long we can grieve their loss. Some people believe a few months is enough time, while others believe a year may be an appropriate amount of time to grieve. This should not be the case. There is no timeline or finish line. Grief doesn't go away; it just changes form. Grief not going away can be a beautiful thing because it means the person you miss and love is still there. But, at the same time, it can make you feel as though you are trapped in a bubble of fog. You may feel lost, depressed, or just weighted down, but that is ok if you cannot see forward or have yet to discover a way out. You won't escape the fog all at once. What you can do is continue to do important things for yourself that can help you move forward, step by step, that will help you feel a better, little by little. Katie found running to be a good release for her. It gave her an opportunity to get out in nature, find her rhythm, and get lost in her thoughts. It is important to listen to that intuitive voice that tells you what you need to do today. If that voice tells you to go for a walk, or listen to music, or read a book, do it. You do not need a plan for any of it. Just be present, live in that moment, and allow the moment to lead you from one thing to the next, and eventually you'll emerge from the fog in a different and better place. Allow Running to Bring Intrinsic Joy Running can bring a lot of internal joy, especially as we remember the reasons why we began to run. Most of us began running not for medals or for personal records, but to lose weight, relieve stress, and to achieve goals we never dreamed possible. Unfortunately, races are being cancelled due to COVID-19, but that doesn't mean we need to stop running. Competition tends to throw our balance off. Our egos love to win, improve times, and do well. Egos want to latch on to PR's. However, this can put us at risk of losing the deeper reason as to why we run. When we run, we need to stop concerning ourselves with how other people view us and how our times stack up against the competition. Allow running to be a creative process and a spiritual practice. Through training, we can develop a relationship and intimacy with our surroundings, regardless of where we live or what our circumstances might be. There is no need to wish we were running in the mountains when all we have is the city. Create a loop to run, develop a relationship with that loop, and be present to it. It will amaze you the things you will notice that can bring you joy. Somedays you may not feel like running and you'll develop a resistance to it through negative self-talk. If you only pay attention to these negative thoughts, you'll develop an intimate relationship with them. Running should be liberating! We have so much freedom to explore our world. So, develop that relationship with where you are, make it a daily thing, and stick with it. Maintain the Current Practices You are Developing There will come a time when the world of seclusion and social distancing we live in now will return to the world we lived in previously. However, when the real world starts up again, hold on to the practices and habits you have developed through this quieter time. Engage in meditation, run without a watch, continue to play with your children outside. Maintain some of the practices you have started right now to keep you from getting sucked back into old habits. While we have been forced into our current position, find relief in it. This time provides us a time to reflect. Some runners become super motivated by races, while others are stressed by them. This time in our life can provide us with more room in our lives to express running in our own true ways. So, find the practices you are doing now, and if you enjoy them and they are serving you, continue to do them once life returns to normal. Change will remain constant in our life; we cannot always predict the future, but what we do now will lead us to the next part of life. It is all part of the process. Use it and come out strong on the other side! Resources: (Book)Running Home: A Memoir Katie's Instagram Katie's Twitter Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. I am now taking 3 months off to take some time to get to know my new baby, there is only ONE thing I will be continuing to work on while I am away, and that is my newsletter. I send it out once a week with just my thoughts, any updates, something I am appreciating, and it is just a way for me to stay connected with you all. :) If you want to join go here to sign up! Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Katie, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

What has been your personal timeline coming back from pregnancy? Were you anxious to get back out on the road or into the workplace? Or did you feel like you could have been happy never leaving the house again? Did you feel pressure to do things that weren't "just being a mom?" Or did you have mother's guilt as soon as you left your child in the care of someone else? However you felt, and whatever you ultimately decided to do, it was perfectly okay. As we have seen in the past, many elite mother-runners receive a lot of pressure to get back to running as soon as the baby leaves the womb. This isn't anything odd for any mother in the United States where women receive less paid time off for maternity leave than any of the other 40+ richest countries in the world. In fact, companies in the US are required to give mothers exactly zero paid time off after becoming mothers. The lowest country after the US? 8 weeks. This can be a difficult culture and corresponding mindset to overcome when returning to life after pregnancy. The fact of the matter is, you aren't returning to who you used to be after you've had a baby. Once you've had a child, you are a completely new person. This is something Neely Spence has reiterated as an elite runner who has competed on a national level before and after having her son Athens. Neely started running in 8thgrade and didn't stop until she became pregnant with Athens. After her pregnancy, Neely managed to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Trials, but her course back to elite running wasn't without bumps. Read on to learn about Neely's journey. You Are a New Person When Neely decided to begin running after having Athens, she built up very slowly. Her first workout was ten reps of walking for one minute, running for one minute. Later she started running two minutes for every minute of walking. Neely also avoided doing any workouts for the first six months, taking her progress slow enough to "never hate running." Eventually she was running without breaks and preparing for races. Still, she says she could have taken things slower. This being her first child, the only thing she could compare her hiatus from running to was previous injuries. Seems to make sense, right? Both require you to stop running for some time, and both affect your body. But childbirth is completely different than a running injury. "When you come back from an injury, you're still your same person," says Neely, "When you come back after having a baby, you are not the same at all. You are a completely different person. Learning what that person needs and how that looks is much more challenging because it's different to each individual." Not only does your body change, but your entire life changes. As soon as Neely began doing speed workouts, Athens began teething. He went from sleeping like a baby, to, well, sleeping like a baby. Neely felt great building up to those workouts, but the added intensity combined with less sleep wasn't the best combo. Not long after Neely suffered from shin splints, an injury she hadn't had since high school, which is common after pregnancy because of the balance shift from carrying a baby. Then shortly after that Neely fractured her femoral neck (the top part of the femur that connects to the hip). This was another reset that Neely went through due to her pregnancy. In the end it took Neely well over a year after having a baby to get back to the type of training she hoped for. Getting back to running turned out to be a completely new experience, something Neely 2.0 had to learn from ground zero. Be Confident in Your Journey When asked about her plans to grow her family, Neely confidently reported that she is not planning on having another baby until she accomplishes her running goals. Of course, she loves Athens and can't imagine life without him, but she also knows what is best for her. Returning to running after pregnancy taught Neely that everyone has a unique path, one that they should be proud of. Whatever your story, be confident in your journey. No one is quite like you. No one has had the experiences you have. Find your path and take each step forward with certainty. Resources: Neely's Website Neely on Twitter Neely on Instagram Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Tracksmith, Generation UCAN, and Athletic Greens for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. Generation UCAN has been with me through a lot of my races and in my every day life. This product has been my go to nutritional product for marathon training and racing when I was getting all of my best times. It gives you a steady energy without the sugar, so there are no sugar high or crashes! Use code TINAMUIR25 for 25% off. Athletic Greens is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients. Just to help my immune system be stronger and greater! It is so simple to do and it taste good as well. Now you can get a free travel pack with 20 servings with your first purchase, Visit here to learn more! Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Neely, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

We talk about motherhood a lot on this show. It's probably second only to running itself, and for good reason. Since starting this podcast, our fearless host, Tina Muir, has been pregnant twice, and given birth to her beautiful daughter Bailey. Not only that, but Tina first stepped away from professional running to get healthy and start a family. Here we talk about what it's like to be a mother and to be a runner. From professionals like Alysia Montano who competed professionally while pregnant (once when eight months pregnant!), to discussing how quickly to get back into running after pregnancy, to brands that support mothers, we love to talk about running and motherhood. Today we're welcoming back another mother-to-be, Sarah Crouch. Sarah is a familiar voice for those longtime listeners. She is an incredibly fast runner, who has qualified for the US Olympic qualifiers three separate times. She is also a running coach, a birth doula, an entrepreneur, and has a knack for interviewing the interviewer, often getting the best out of Tina. For those that don't know Sarah well yet, you will get your chance as she will be a guest host on the Running for Real podcast for four episodes, as Tina welcomes her second child into the world. Sarah is a natural interviewer and will be speaking with four people she knows during her substitution. Today Tina spoke with Sarah, discussing Sarah's journey over the last year, from running her best times in her life, to fracturing her femur, to deciding to start a family. Listen along and get to know our new host! Just Go for It Last time Sarah was on the show, she had just hit her first PR in four years of running. It was a tough four years, but worth it. Sarah was learning and relearning the reasons you work hard to accomplish a goal, and understanding that the doing has to outweigh the end results for you to be happy. After finishing the Chicago Marathon in 2018, she took three days off and started intense training for the next race. In hindsight, she would have decided to take a longer recovery period. Sometimes the best training you can do is to not train at all. The body needs to recovery before it can perform at its peak. Sarah went on, and in April 2019 she ran the Boston Marathon. Prior to the race, she found out that she had a stress reaction near her knee at the end of her femur. Deciding to run the Boston Marathon still wasn't a simple one. She was in great shape otherwise, running some of the best times ever, and if she did well in this race, she would qualify for the 2020 Olympic trials before the competition peaked in the fall. She also had sponsorships to think about, missing out on a paycheck if she didn't run or didn't finish. Running Boston would be a risk, and in the end, one Sarah would take. During the race, Sarah's femur fractured. She finished the race well behind her goals and her projected finish position and time. Going into the race, she knew that if it fractured, it would mean six months of recovery, still, she stands by her decision. "I will always be a risk taker," says Sarah. She emphasizes that she wasn't advocating that when you are sick, you should go out and play, but for her she was doing her job and doing her best to overcome a challenge. The risk-reward was worth it, and 100 times out of 100, she said she would do it again. In the end, people will have opinions about what you decide to do. Some will always be supportive, some never will. The best thing to do is be confident in yourself and accepting of the consequences, good or bad. We know that we can't please everyone, so do your best to be happy with your own decisions regardless. Sarah Crouch We are over the moon about having Sarah as a guest host on the show. She will no doubt bring a smile to your face as you listen to her for four episodes this summer. See you then! Resources: Sarah on Twitter Sarah on Instagram Hypno Babies Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Altra and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. I am thrilled to announce my exciting partnership with Altra, as an athlete and a sponsorship, I have loved their shoes as well as what this company stands for. So as a special treat to Running4Real listeners they are going to give away a pair of shoes every month this year! Go HERE to enter to be a winner a free pair of shoes. And once you have entered once you will be entered for the entire year. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. I am now taking 3 months off to take some time to get to know my new baby, there is only ONE thing I will be continuing to work on while I am away, and that is my newsletter. I send it out once a week with just my thoughts, any updates, something I am appreciating, and it is just a way for me to stay connected with you all. :) If you want to join go here to sign up! Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Sarah, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

You went out for another run this morning. It's habitual, religious almost. Running is more than exercise to you. You often crave it (though sometimes you curse it). It can be difficult to explain to a non-runner how you feel—watching the sun peak over the horizon, listening to your steady breath or footfalls, inhaling the clean air just outside the city, along the beach, or in the mountains. How can you explain it? You love the competition, though you aren't pursuing an elite position. Competing with just yourself is often enough for you. It's addictive. When you travel to a new place, you excitably look up running routes and then take off eagerly looking to see what's around the next city block corner or bend in the path. Yes, you run, but you're also a runner. If that sounds something like you, then you are the group that Matt Taylor was looking to serve. The running community is expansive and accepting, but we all go out running for different reasons. For those that breathe running, and use it as a tool to become better, then Tracksmith might be the brand you've been looking for. Matt is the CEO and co-founder of Tracksmith—the "Champion for the running class." Their website says this running class is "the non-professional yet competitive runners dedicated to the pursuit of personal excellence." Matt got his start running at Yale and has since been around some of the greatest runners and brands in history. When working as the head of marketing at Puma, he met and worked with Usain Bolt, the fastest man ever. He told us his story of his work leading up to starting Tracksmith, how his parents had an influence on his entrepreneurial spirit, Tracksmith history, and where Tracksmith is headed now. Listen along as you hit the track, treadmill, or trail today. Middle of the Spectrum When looking for the market gaps that Tracksmith would eventually fill, Matt mentions two things. "The landscape was very bright and neon," says Matt. He mentions that if you took a look at the clothes in your closet, the ones you wore every day, they differed drastically from what you had in running options. Stylistically, they wanted to create something more understated, it "wasn't about standing out," he says. Next was the message they wanted to send. "The industry went to the end of the spectrum" says Matt. Many brands were either targeting those who were beginning runners, or those that were looking to qualify for the Olympics. Tracksmith wanted to feel like a home to those that weren't beginners or Olympians, but still had a desire to compete and improve. Lastly, Tracksmith wanted to cut out the middleman so they could save money to use the best materials available. They discovered that there were some really great fabrics and textiles out there, but big brands were unwilling to use them because of the high cost. Tracksmith works with North American, European, and Asian companies to source their materials, making the best of the best. For the Committed Runner Initially Tracksmith seemed to only be a brand for the really fast; they even had a top that they only sold to Boston qualifiers. But today, they are much more about the mentality of the runner. "We aren't for everyone, and we're okay with that," says Matt, "We are for anyone that is committed to running and wants to get better." To date, they are working on additional sizes for all their gear as well, making sure that they are open to anyone who defines themselves as a runner. At their Flagstaff retail store, Tracksmith has an entire floor dedicated to the committed runner. There you can watch races on their big screen TV, throw your work clothes in a locker before going for a run, grab a coffee post Saturday morning run, make an appointment with a specialist, or grab a few foam rollers to work on those muscles. They are committed to the committed runner. If you find yourself in Boston, check out the Tracksmith store, they are sure to welcome you in. Here at Running for Real, we know that we are more than just runners, but that part of our DNA won't drift away. We are runners, and we are enough. Resources: Tracksmith Tracksmith on Instagram Tracksmith on Twitter Smart Passive Income Podcast The Speed Project 15% Off Your First Tracksmith Order Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. Hey friends, I know it has been a tough year, so much we can not control so much going on and we can't see the end in sight. If you are someone who is needing a guide into the job world, if you have a fear of losing your job, lost your job, or don't know where to start in finding a job, I have created a job guide for runners. Giving away a lot of advice, 20 pages worth, along with a bonus episode on the podcast which you can listen to here. I also have incredible advice for small businesses, if you want to check those guides out click below. Job Guide Small Business Guide Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Matt, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

We don't often talk about track and field events that aren't strictly running here, but this episode we took a slight metaphorical deviation. Hurdles: the thin barrier that stands somewhere between two and four feet tall, intentionally placed in between you and your next step around the track. It's a perfect addition to the running analogy, something we need to overcome,that stands between us as the finish line. Today's guest is Emily Abbate, host of her own podcast titled "Hurdle." There she interviews a host of impressive people, all of which have used wellness to overcome their own personal obstacle or hurdle on their journey. Emily gave us some insight into how she got started with the Hurdle podcast, some of her most favorite guests to date, and of course, all about running in her life. Overcoming Your Hurdles Each of us deal with unique hurdles, including (and often especially) those who seem to have the most success in life. We've learned on this podcast that failure and trials are a necessary part of success, and that if we learn from those trying times, we come out stronger. It's not easy to keep a positive attitude in the face of difficulty, but taking the next step forward is what it takes to end up where we want to be. Emily recommends trying to understand what is fact and what is feeling when we approach our own hurdles. Say to yourself, "I feel overwhelmed," instead of "I am overwhelmed," she says. Recognizing that small, yet profound difference takes us from a state of ruin, to a place of understanding. It's okay to feel scared, or anxious, or even defeated, but if you know that it's just a passing state of emotion rather than an unchangeable personal attribute, you can find ways to keep going. Take the Next Step When we do feel overwhelmed, Emily says we have two options. We can either let our feelings and thoughts take over, or we can make a shift. Recognizing that feeling is the best way to make a shift. We can discern our feelings from our environment by slowing down. "The best piece of advice that I would offer is to take a step back and breath," says Emily, "sometimes you just need time to process and remove the emotion from it. Sometimes passion can blind us form a logical next step or a logical explanation of how to move forward." Give it that time, whether it's an hour, a day, or a week and look for that new perspective. Once you are ready, take the next step. Sometimes the easiest way to get through something is to put your head down, look at your feet, and just watch yourself take one step forward. Whatever you are working through, there are small actionable items that you can take to get where you want to be. Break it down enough so that each step feels in your control and completely doable. Get Comfortable with Uncomfortable Like many, Emily started running to lose weight. She tells the story of one summer during college when she made up her mind to get out the door and start running every day. She ran what she thought was a mile which would take her about 14 minutes to complete. Later she found out that she was actually only running a half mile. Unlike many might be, Emily was not discouraged by this realization. Looking back, she was grateful for that moment because it's when she learned to love running. Now she has run eight marathons and has no intention to stop. If you learn to love running, you will want to run for the rest of your life. Remember that as you decide when to run, how fast, how far, and with whom. Learn to love running, and it will carry you through your hurdles. Emily likes to say that she decided to "get comfortable with the uncomfortable" when she first stepped out the door to go running. And now that she is, she knows what to do with the hurdles that come her way. You can too. Resources: Emily on Twitter Emily on Instagram Hurdle Podcast Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Tracksmith and Athletic Greens for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. Athletic Greens is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients. Just to help my immune system be stronger and greater! It is so simple to do and it taste good as well. Now you can get a free travel pack with 20 servings with your first purchase, Visit here to learn more! I am now taking 3 months off to take some time to get to know my new baby, there is only ONE thing I will be continuing to work on while I am away, and that is my newsletter. I send it out once a week with just my thoughts, any updates, something I am appreciating, and it is just a way for me to stay connected with you all. :) If you want to join go here to sign up! Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Emily, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

In the running world we have witnessed some really heart-wrenching events. When you work for years to come seconds short of a podium position, the contention and controversy can quickly rise. Running is a beautiful sport, but it's not always pretty. It's simple, instinctive, and accessible; but it's also competitive, agonizing, and at times, mercenary. Athletes such as Kara Goucher have faced the media and brands head-on in an attempt to play by the rules and work hard. Dealing with doping, fame, and money has made the sport of running occasionally cringeworthy. Shanna Burnette has seen firsthand everything that comes with the pressure to be great, to stay clean, and to work with the right brands. She is a longtime friend of Kara Goucher and also represents her as her agent. Shanna keeps herself extremely busy between being a wife and mother of three, running her own PR agency, and leading her non-profit, Clean Sport. A successful runner herself, Shanna has been in the game a long time, and today she is working hard to pull running back home to its innocent and exciting state. Take the Right Path Together, Shanna and Kara co-host the podcast for Clean Sport, along with Chris McClung. Clean Sport's mission is to encourage athletes around the world to compete fairly. They work with pro athletes and brands to raise awareness and share stories that are positive. This podcast and non-profit helps runners feel confident in choosing the right path, knowing that there are others just like them and a whole slew of fans and consumers who value their values. Shanna feels like she has always been a bit unconventional. Both her and Kara haven't taken the easy or most widely accepted routes. She has seen Kara make difficult decisions that affect her income and her image, but she has also seen the incredible amount of peace that comes with it. Shanna shares just how much Kara was shouldering before she decided to leave Nike. "She made this giant leap, to go to this company whose values she believed in" says Shanna, "I had so much admiration for her for that. The weight off her shoulders was so palpable, [and] we really didn't realize what a strain and a toll that was." Being true to yourself is always worth it. You too may be faced with difficult decisions, ones that may turn your life upside down. In the end, the regret is never about taking the right, although difficult, path. Gain Ownership of Your Running Being true to your own version of running is also important. Shanna has had a complex relationship with running, but it's been positive when she has taken control of what running is supposed to be for her. Growing up, Shanna was a great runner from the beginning. She was one of the best in middle and high school, and was expected to turn it into a career after college. Things changed drastically when she suffered six stress fractures during college. Even worse was when her mother knocked on her university housing door to let her know her father died while running. For a time, Shanna loathed running. It had taken her dad and given her injuries and disappointments. It wasn't until later, when she used running to support her, that she began to appreciate it again. "I would be able to go on a run and just cry my head off," she says, "to be angry and go fast, or go really slow and walk and jog and cry. I think that's what's so beautiful about running." Play the Long Game When it comes to deciding how you want to run, or what brands you want to support, Sharra recommends playing the long game. One run, or one purchase may not seem like a big deal, but a lifetime of runs and a collective effort to support clean sport makes a huge difference. Choose the best path, whether or not that seems like the popular or simple or easy route. Be true to yourself, and be true to your running. The more of us that choose the best path, the easier and more rewarding it will become. Resources: Shanna on Instagram Shanna on Twitter Clean Sport Collective Altra Running Shoes Kara Goucher's Website Modcraft Thank you to my wonderful sponsor Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. I am now taking 3 months off to take some time to get to know my new baby, there is only ONE thing I will be continuing to work on while I am away, and that is my newsletter. I send it out once a week with just my thoughts, any updates, something I am appreciating, and it is just a way for me to stay connected with you all. :) If you want to join go here to sign up! Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Shanna, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

If there's one message that I could get across to athletes at every level, it's simply the idea of "You are enough." It's a beautiful message because it applies to you no matter how many awards you've received, your age, your goals—really anything. If you are a person that has experienced a fairly trial-less life, maybe you consider yourself lucky or a natural, it may feel like you areyour accomplishments. On the other hand, maybe you feel like your life is going from one trial to another, none of which seem to make life any better, but you aren't your failures either. Most all of us are somewhere in the middle. We've had our share of positive experiences and setbacks. Learning how to use the failures to our advantage takes practice, and so does realizing that we are more than our greatest accomplishments. It takes a mature person to understand their self-worth, something that young runner Grayson Murphy has done early in her career. Grayson Murphy Grayson grew playing many sports, but navigated toward soccer as she grew older. She had the opportunity to play on a college team her freshman year. When she switched schools the following year, she decided not to play soccer but still wanted to join a team. She knew that she loved being a part of a team and decided that running wasn't too far of a stretch from playing soccer. Turns out she was right. For the next three years it was an anomaly when Grayson didn't PR not only in an event, but in all her training sessions. She transferred schools once again to take advantage of her new found skills and received a scholarship at the University of Utah. She finished her degree in civil engineering as a 5x All-American and signed with NAZ Elite. Believe in Your Personal Journey To this point, Grayson was enjoying everything that came with her running career. She loved the comradery of her team, being in the running community, and the act of running itself. It was after she started training with the NAZ Elite in Flagstaff, Arizona when things starting feeling different for her. "I told everyone I felt like a puzzle piece, that was almost the right piece," says Grayson, "I needed community and I needed family. Flagstaff felt like an extended training camp. It wasn't a home." After one year of training as a professional runner in Flagstaff, Grayson decided to call it quits and head back home to Salt Lake City. "I decided I wanted to build my life how I wanted it to be from the ground up," she says. Of course, this was not an easy task. She was anxious about how people would look at her. From an outside perspective, it looked like she was giving up a wonderful opportunity, doing something she enjoyed and was good at. Not only that, but she would be losing out on her sponsorships, heading home to no job or income. Grayson showed incredible maturity in this decision. She chose to do what she knew was best for her. During this time, she continued to run and realized that it was being out in nature that made her happy. She picked up trail running and three months later, won the Mountain Running Championship. Six months after being home she signed with Saucony. She believed she could be a good rep for any running sponsor; she just needed to keep believing that and the time would come. Now she looks back at these six trying months, and considers them a funny story. The relatively short stressful time, made it all worth it. Follow Your Heart "Success is never final; failure is never fatal." This quote belongs to NCAA basketball coach legend, John Wooden. He understood that showing up every day, after every win or loss, had more to do with the person performing the acts than the failures and the successes themselves. Remember, you are enough. You are more than what things you do or what things happen to you. Follow the path that is true to you, not necessarily the one that will give you the most accomplishments or please the most people. In Grayson's words, "If you follow your heart, you will end up with the days you have day dreamed about." Resources: Grayson on Twitter Grayson on Instagram Grayson's Website Thank you to my wonderful sponsors Athletic Greens and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. Athletic Greens is a simple and easy way to get 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food source ingredients. Just to help my immune system be stronger and greater! It is so simple to do and it taste good as well. Now you can get a free travel pack with 20 servings with your first purchase, Visit here to learn more! Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. Hey friends, I know it has been a tough year, so much we can not control so much going on and we can't see the end in sight. If you are someone who is needing a guide into the job world, if you have a fear of losing your job, lost your job, or don't know where to start in finding a job, I have created a job guide for runners. Giving away a lot of advice, 20 pages worth, along with a bonus episode on the podcast which you can listen to here. I also have incredible advice for small businesses, if you want to check those guides out click below. Job Guide Small Business Guide Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Grayson, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.

Mindfulness. Meditation. Being present. Enjoying the journey. These are the trending approaches to everyday life, and for good reason. We don't live on the podium; we live on the street, the trails, the concrete, the pavement. If life is to be enjoyed, shouldn't we try to enjoy as much of it as possible? I'll Be Happy When... Have you noticed that life can often be a string of when's and what if's? For example, "I'll be happy when I get my driver's license," turns into "I'll be happy when I graduate." From there it's, "I'll be happy when I graduate," or get married, or have kids, or when my kids leave the house. Most likely, we don't notice all these thoughts, and so we live from podium to podium and miss out on so many joyous moments. Not to mention, what if the podium moments don't come? Living from disappoint to disappoint is that much worse. But if we learn to enjoy the journey, the end results have less weight, and the we can soak up the process. This doesn't mean we ought to do away with goals. In fact, it's the working toward each goal that can bring so much joy. The direction we head is still important, even if the destination itself is trivial. The daily effort to get there probably brings you more joy than you realize, so let's tune into it. Tyler McCandless This week's podcast guest is a fabulous example of setting big goals and enjoying the journey. Tyler McCandless has had his fair share of podium moments—finishing second in the 2017 USA Marathon Championships and winning several national marathons. He is also a Meteorology PhD Scientist, a husband, and a father. However, the accolades don't do it for Tyler, it's the work in achieving the goal that brings him joy. Sharing Your Goals Tyler is an advocate of letting others know about your goals and dreams, even ones that seem impossible to achieve. Joy comes not only from working toward your goals, but sharing them with others. Making your goals known is not a popular suggestion. In fact, you can find many opinions that tell you to keep your goals to yourself. There is some reasoning behind it such as avoiding negative comments you may hear if you share your goals. This negativity can definitely dissuade you from going after your dreams. So why should you consider sharing your goals? And if you do, how should you go about it? Think about the people you consider your friends and peers. If they told you about their goals, would you support them? If they struggled through them, would you give words of encouragement? I assume the answer is yes. On top of that, think about someone you consider an equal. If that person achieved something great, how much more would you believe in yourself, knowing that you could do great things as well? That's one of the biggest advantages of sharing. You can inspire the people around you. "You can set internal goals and never share them, but I personally believe that's a little bit cowardly," says Tyler, "You want to share to inspire people [and] to have people hold you accountable." It's important to understand that the people you inspire will be different from the people your parent inspires, or a professional athlete inspires, or your child inspires. We all have people we look up to, and we all have people that are watching us. Simply sharing, whatever your level of influence or achievement you believe you have, will inspire others and keep you accountable to your goals. When You Fail If you are working your hardest, it's not a matter of if you fail, it's a matter of when. You don't find your potential until you go over the edge, and failing teaches you much more than winning. Tyler learned this from his coach shortly after setting a PR. "I think you are missing the boat," his coach said at their first meeting after his PR. At that time, everything Tyler was doing, he was succeeding at, including every single training. His coach wanted to see him push himself to the limit. Embrace failure, share your goals, and enjoy the journey. Each one of these will pull you to new levels, inspire others, and put a smile on your face. Resources: Tyler on Instagram Tyler on Twitter Altra Running Steve Jones: RFR Episode 20 Tyler's Favorite Altra Shoes: Superior 4.0 Escalante Vanish Escalante Racer Solstice Thank you to my wonderful sponsors Altra, Generation UCAN, and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode of the Running for Real Podcast. I am thrilled to announce my exciting partnership with Altra, as an athlete and a sponsorship, I have loved their shoes as well as what this company stands for. So as a special treat to Running4Real listeners they are going to give away a pair of shoes every month this year! Go HERE to enter to be a winner a free pair of shoes. And once you have entered once you will be entered for the entire year. Generation UCAN has been with me through a lot of my races and in my every day life. This product has been my go to nutritional product for marathon training and racing when I was getting all of my best times. It gives you a steady energy without the sugar, so there are no sugar high or crashes! Use code TINAMUIR25 for 25% off. Tracksmith is a Boston based running clothing company that truly cares about the quality and care of their running clothes. Running can be a demanding lifestyle for our clothes, they definitely go through the wear and tear to where we may be purchasing new clothes constantly. Tracksmith designers truly work with the finest materials and think of you as a runner in mind with spots for your keys, phone, and fuel. You can get 15% off your first purchase, click here and enter code TINA. Thanks for Listening! I hope you enjoyed today's episode. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Join the Running for Real Facebook Group and share your thoughts on the episode (or future guests you would like to hear from) Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews will really help me climb up the iTunes rankings and I promise, I read every single one. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe, you can find out here. Thank you to Tyler, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.