<p>Who better to talk to in a lead-up to the Boston Marathon than Bronson Venable? This native New England-er set his marathon PR of 2:37 in the brutal 2018 race (finishing 84th) and has experienced everything that running in this area has to offer. In this episode he provides great tips for anyone looking to do well in Boston.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Bronson's other PR's, 5k (Road) = 14:48, 5k (Track) - 14:28, 5 Miles = 24:54, and 13.1 = 1:10:19, illustrate the just how well-rounded he has become in recent years. Not only that, New Balance recently made plastered his face on billboards all along the course. I've gotten to know Bronson well over the years, as we've raced together over a dozen times, and I truly appreciate his wonderful perspective on the sport he loves.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Susan Loken is who I want to be when I grow-up. Susan started running at the age of 35, after having three kids, and was striving for the Olympic Trials just a few years later. Not bad for someone who used to skip gym class. She has now qualified for the Olympic Trials three times and is a four time masters champion. With that said, she is far from done setting and achieving goals. Susan is currently aiming for the World Marathon Major’s Age Group World Championship in the 55-59 division. With a recent 2:55 at the Los Angeles Marathon, she is well on her way.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>The Funny Running Stories are back! My co-host for this episode is Colleen Quigley. Colleen is a 2016 Olympian in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and the reigning U.S Indoor Track Champion in the mile. We read through dozens of hilarious stories (a big thank you to everyone who submitted one) before providing our commentary on the best of the bunch while also sharing some of our own experiences.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Laura Pierce is back and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Laura just smashed her long-standing goal of breaking 90 minutes in the half marathon and was willing to discuss every aspect of the preceding 16 months that led to this performance. Laura transitioned from a burnt out runner in need of recovery to an athlete who is no longer beholden to positive workouts and races in order to appreciate the sport the loves. Along the way she started working with a therapist who helped her manage the anxiety that held her back in the past. We also discussed the benefits of leaving the typical spring marathon training cycle and opting to make the half marathon her “A” race. Laura talks about all of this, and more, with her fabulous humor and insight. You can learn more about Laura at www.instagram.com/nebraskarunner.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Tamarynn Bennett is one of the most requested guests we‘ve ever had, and she exceeded even those lofty expectations. Tam has PR’d both the marathon and the 10k this year, but that isn‘t what makes her story remarkable. It was the twists and turns that led to those performances, coupled with her amazing spirit, that makes her success story so much fun to dive into.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>The title of this episode says It all: 7 days, 7 marathons, 7 continents. Eric Tozer conquered the amazingly difficult World Marathon Challenge, a historic feat under any circumstances, while managing his type 1 diabetes. Eric‘s story is filled with inspiration, achievement, and the understanding that our potential is far greater than we imagine. Learn more about Eric at www.erictozer.com</p> <p><br></p>

<p>If you have consumed any running-related content in the last three years then you probably know Chris Chavez. An elite running and track writer for Sports Illustrated, co-creator of Citius Mag, host of the Citius Mag podcast, and co-host of the Runners of New York City podcast, Chris is literally everywhere in the running community. Not only that, he just set a marathon PR of 3:16 at Tokyo while earning his sixth, and final, Abbott World Marathon Major star. We talk about all of this, and plenty more, in this wide-ranging episode.</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p>

<p>Mary Wright is a mother, run-lover, and co-founder &amp; director of Arete Women’s Running Club: an all-women’s running team geared toward intermediate and advanced runners, with chapters all over the country. She’s a 2:57 marathoner with aspirations of getting faster while having fun and spreading her love of women’s running community near and far. In this episode we talk about creating and maintaining culture, the benefits of community for runners, and the entrepreneurial spirit she, and her co-founder, have used to grow Arete. You can learn more at www.runarete.com.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>David Roche is the Renaissance man of the running world. An elite runner, writer, and coach, David has a wealth of knowledge on nearly every area of the sport. The running community/coaching business that he formed with his wife Megan, called “Some Work, All Play,” is the home of elite athletes, and everyday runners, looking to perform at a high level while also improving their lives. In this episode we discuss achieving happiness and high performance simultaneously, why belief is the most important thing a runner can have, Big Harry Audacious Goals, understanding what talent is and is not, mental health, and many other fascinating topics.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Stefanie Flippin is back on the show, and back with a vengeance. This amazing runner just rocked a 36:32 in the rain at the Birmingham Wine 10k. Her effort helped &nbsp;McKirdy Trained to a team title. This huge PR came in the midst of a huge Boston Marathon training block that has brought her running to new levels. We also discussed her years of training that set the stage for her recent success. If you want to learn more about Stefanie check out episode #101 and www.instagam.com/stefanieannflippin.</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p>

<p>In this episode of the podcast I had the privilege of speaking with mental health professional, runner, and mother of quadruplets, Sherri Armitage. Sherri has personally dealt with eating disorders after developing one early in her teenage years. All told, she is able to speak on this important topic in a way that few can. This was one of the most impactful episodes we’ve done in the show’s history. You can follow Sherri at www.instagram.com/quadmom.running.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>I was honored to have 2:30 marathoner, OTQ hopeful, and Rabbit Elite team member Nick Klastava on the show. In spite of his blazing speed, Nick and I dove into topics on mindset, mental and emotional framing, and effort-focused training with an openness and relatability that can be appreciated by runners of all abilities. You can learn more about wonderful guy at www.instagram.com/nklastava.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Connie Shieh’s childhood introduction to running wasn‘t what you’d expect for a 2:58 “hobby jogger” who balances running with being the mother of two and working a full-time job. Her parents, who came to the U.S, from Taiwan for graduate school, discouraged Connie from pursuing athletics. Sports were seen as such a luxury and her parent’s emphasis was on education to a profitable career path. She was told to, at most, do dance and that running would ruin her muscles, bones, and give her muscle tone that would make her look unattractive. Connie managed to find joy in running and continues to do so 15 years later. In this episode we also discuss her level-headed approach to training, the importance of community, and cultivating a joyful hobby while also pursuing goals. You can follow her at www.instagram.com/connosaurusrex.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Last year Kimberlie McBride came on the show after the Fargo Marathon. She had an almost perfect build-up and was ready to roll. Then, it all came crumbling down in disappointment. The following five months were chock full of doctor’s visits and dreams deferred. Then, Kimberlie was finally able to get back at it and she sure made the most of it. She rocked a marathon best at the Phoenix Marathon in a fantastic comeback story. You can follow her at www.instagram.com/my.runstagram.life.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>In this episode we flip the script. I have a pre-race conversation with a runner I am coaching. Seth Baird is a gifted athlete with an effervescent personality. We discuss his race strategy heading into the Charlotte 10 miler with a focus on uphill racing, starting under control, and settling into threshold pace. At the end of the episode I give a race recap of what Seth was able to do. Follow Seth’s journey at www.instagram.com/mindfulrunz.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Years ago Tyler Mayforth worked his way up from an average, at best, high school runner to a division one runner at Delaware. After a significant post-college hiatus, he re-ignited that drive for running success in his current mission to break 2:30 in the marathon, and beyond. You can follow his journey at www.instagram.com/tyler_runs_lifts.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Christie Aschwanden is the lead science writer at FiveThirtyEight, a former health columnist for the <em>Washington Post</em>, and a dedicated endurance athlete. In this episode we discuss her fantastic new book Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery which addresses nutrition-timing, inflammation, recovery drinks, placebo effect, sleep, and decades of fads.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>After years of marathoning, United States Air Force Marathon Team member Amy Natalini was struggling to break into the 3:10’s and questioning if she’d ever get faster. She ran eight marathons in 2018 and the last four were the highlight of her running career - with three of them going sub-3:00. I’m this episode we dive into the making of an incredible year. You can follow her at www.instagram.com/af_amy_runs.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>It was a privilege to have Alison Staples on the show this week. Alison has made herself a fixture in the Baltimore running scene as the co-leader of Riot Squad Running and as an ambassador for Run4AllWomen. Her relentless positivity can also be seen in her work with spinal cord patients who are re-learning how to use their limbs after catastrophic injury. You can learn more about this amazing woman at www.instagram.com/alioop_0_o_runs.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Brendan Carpenter finally decided that he had had enough. At 350 lbs. he was no longer content with the life he was living. He decided to change and did just that. This amazing Canadian eventually started running and now has PR’s of 19:16 in the 5k, 39:55 in the 10k, and 1:29 in the half marathon. You can follow him at www.instagram.com/brecarperuns.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>15 months ago Julie Hartenbach ran a 3:07 marathon and was elated by her new PR and remarkable improvement. Little did she know, that was just the beginning. This past weekend she rebounded from a disappointing NYC marathon to run a scorching 2:48 at the Houston Marathon. In this episode we talk about that big &nbsp;improvement, the pressures she faced as a college runner that caused her to quit the sport, and the mental and physical approach she now takes to reach her potential. You can follow Julie at www.instagram.com/hbach22.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>2018 started with disappointment for Kenny Ademolu. He failed to PR in his A race, the London Marathon, the DNF’d six weeks later at the Stockholm Marathon. Then he got on a serious roll. Kenny proceeded to PR at every distance over the rest of the year - including a 2:55 at the Chicago Marathon. It was an amazing year for the IT specialist from the U.K. who started running in 2012 in an effort to lose weight from his 220 lb. frame. You can follow him at www.instagram.com/kenny_runz.</p> <p><br></p>

<p>Three weeks ago Paula Dubovoy was planning for a robust 2019. Then, in a freak accident, she fully ruptured her achilles tendon. Instead of waiting until her comeback is complete, Paula has agreed to document her journey in real-time as she faces months is PT, challenges, and potential hurdles. She is a fitness professional who runs the three fitness centers at the LinkedIn headquarter, a former college track athlete, and a fixture in her community athletic scene. You can follow her at www.instagram.com/eat_lift_bemarried.&nbsp;</p> <p><br></p>

<p>In 2018 Julie Rembold set personal bests at every distance, including a 3:01 in the marathon. Sounds like a dream, right? Not quite. A year earlier Julie, and her five young children, learned that her husband Dan had leukemia. Within days he was bed ridden for months. Thankfully, by the end of the year he was back to full strength. At that point Julie felt incredibly blessed and significantly out of shape. Then, within weeks of getting back to running she dropped an incredible 1:34 at the Dallas Half Marathon and took off from there. You can learn more about Julie at www.instagram.com/txrunningmomof5.</p>