The Rambling Runner Podcast

It is my pleasure to welcome the amazing Melissa Becker back to the show. This past weekend Mel dropped a 12 minute PR by running a 3:07. Not only that, her second half was only 10 seconds slower than her half marathon PR. This accomplishment came after working through serious health issues at a few points in 2018 and before. If you want to learn more about Mel you can listen to episode #31 and follow her www.instagram.com/motherrunnermel. This episode is brought to you by Run4Prs Coaching. If you want to reach your running potential you can learn more at www.run4prs.co and mention the Rambling Runner Podcast in the “how did you hear about us” section in online questionnaire. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For most people, their first marathon is a learning experience. For Rachel Schilkowsky it was a payday. She won the Hartford Marathon in a scorching 2:41 in her amazing debut. In this episode we dive into her All-American steeplechase background, training while holding a full-time engineering job, her pre-race body image hardship, and her open and candid approach to social media. You can follow her at www.instagram.com/rachelandherlaces. This episode is brought to you by the Citizenry. They bring handcrafted furniture and décor from around the world into your home. They partner with artisans in over a dozen countries like Mexico and Peru to create each unique collection. You can get a $50 voucher on purchases of $200 or more if you go to www.citizenrypodcast.com/Runner and use code RUNNER. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Who doesn’t love a comeback story? In 2018 Rhandi Orme created a great one. In this episode, we dive into how she was able to bounce back from some physical challenges that forced her into her first DNF and had her searching for answers. Not only did she bounce back, she achieved new levels of fitness. In October she recaptured her trademark energy and set a new half-marathon PR in a scorching 1:23:50. You can follow Rhandi at www.instagram.com/run_rhandi_run. This episode is brought to you by Run4Prs Coaching. If you want to reach your running potential you can learn more at www.run4prs.co and mention the Rambling Runner Podcast in the “how did you hear about us” section in online questionnaire. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

“If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.” - Samuel Johnson. How badass is Crystal Seaver? She recently climbed up Stratton Mointain 17 times in less than 24 hours, the equivalent of climbing of Mount Everest, and it’s not even the hardest thing she has ever done. In this episode, we talk about this amazing challenge, how lifting has influenced her running, and why she challenges herself so completely. You can learn more about Crystal at www.instagram.com/crystalseaver This episode is brought to you by Mercury Mile. You can get a box of apparel and goodies that all runners will love at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code “ramblingrunner10” at checkout. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

All you need to know about Thomas Paquette is that he is just starting to scratch the surface of his immense potential. A strong, if unspectacular, Division III runner, Thomas has improved year-after-year since he graduated from Keene State. Over the last three years he has improved his marathon time from 3:07 to 2:36 and there is plenty more where that came from. In this episode, we talk about the mental shift that he made five years ago, how his training has changed, what it was like to run next to some of the elite women at the Chicago Marathon, and his hopes for running in the next Olympic Games for Paraguay. You can learn more about Thomas at www.instagram.com/thomaspaquette. This episode is brought to you by Run4Prs Coaching. If you want to reach your running potential you can learn more at www.run4prs.co and mention the Rambling Runner Podcast in the “how did you hear about us” section in online questionnaire. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Erin Strout is one of the best journalists in the running world and can be found writing for Runner’s World and Outside. In this episode, we discuss the state of elite women’s and men’s running in the U.S., it’s impact on younger runners, and how social media is changing the relationship between professionals and their fans. We also take a deep dive into her article detailing the state of female coaches in the NCAA and professional running. Here is a link to this important article: https://www.outsideonline.com/2342711/why-we-need-more-female-coaches. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Brian Reynolds is the marathon world record holder for bilateral below knee amputees and owns a personal record of 3:03:22. Despite those remarkable achievements already, Brian is not resting on his laurels. He is driven to break the three hour marathon barrier and was on the cusp of doing just that at the 2018 Chicago Marathon before disaster struck at mile 22. Learn all about that experience and what drives this incredible athlete in this episode of the podcast. This episode is brought to you by Run4Prs Coaching. If you want to reach your running potential you can learn more at www.run4prs.co and mention the Rambling Runner Podcast in the “how did you hear about us” section on the registration form. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

“You’re done. You’re done with running.” When Hollie Hughes learned of her Addisons diagnosis she was confronted with these words. A couple years later this incredibly strong, and strong-willed, person ran a 3:08 at the Wineglass Marathon. Not only that, she did so while pushing her son Jonah. Jonah’s Journey began on September 2, 2010, when he was delivered prematurely at 29 weeks following a placental abruption. As a result, Jonah suffered a stroke and subsequent oxygen deprivation ultimately leading to multiple CNS malformations. Due to these malformations, Jonah has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, medically refractory epilepsy, and cognitive visual impairment, CSWS/ESES. He also has a contagious positive attitude and an intense passion to run. This amazing episode is one of a kind and Hollie is one of the most incredible people to appear on the podcast. This episode is brought to you by Megaton Coffee. Megaton makes great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine. It’s what fuels the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Hearing great people talk about how they reached an important stretch goal is one of the joys of this show. Janae Baron has spent years dreaming, writing, and talking about running a sub-3:00 marathon. Then, at the St. George Marathon, she finally turned her dream into reality. Janae has one of the most popular running blogs in the country, www.hungryrunnergirl.com, and she has written countless words about the trials that can impede a runner’s progress. In this episode, we take a deep dive into her marathon triumph, her nine months of training after the birth of her daughter, her doubts about this marathon effort, and so much more. This episode is brought to you by Run4Prs. If you want to reach your running potential you can learn more at www.run4prs.co and mention the Rambling Runner Podcast in the “how did you hear about us” section on the registration form. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

What a pleasure it was to talk with my professional role model, and amazing person, Lindsey Hein. Lindsey is the host of the I’ll Have Another podcast - one of the most popular and inspiring running podcasts in the country. She is also a talented runner who just gave birth to her fourth boy in six years. We take a deep dive into how she is feeling, getting back into running, future running goals, and all things podcast related. You can learn more about Lindsey and get links to her social media pages and podcasts at www.lindseyhein.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Heather Jenson dives into how she worked her butt off to go from a 4:35 marathoner to a six time Ironman finisher and 17 time marathoner. There were plenty of hurdles along the way, including a near miss for the Boston Marathon that left her heartbroken days before the St. George Marathon. How did she respond? With the race of her life. We also talk about her appearance on Quest for Kona 2017, forming a tight-knit training/racing group, and setting huge goals. You can follow her athletic journey at www.instagram.com/triandrungirl. This episode is brought to you by Run4Prs. If you want to reach your running potential you can learn more at www.run4prs.co and mention the Rambling Runner Podcast in the “how did you hear about us” section on the registration form. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This edition of the Coach’s Corner segment with my coach, James McKirdy, touches on a broad range of topics. We discuss how sickness can affect race performance, the drive and dedication necessary to reach your athletic potential, the new Boston Marathon qualifying standards, and James’s strong opinion in banking time in the marathon. A big thank you to Megaton Coffee for making great tasting coffee with twice the caffeine and fueling the Rambling Runner Podcast. Learn more at www.megatoncoffee.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Like many of you, I had heard of Tony Post’s exploits long before I knew his name. Specifically, that he ran both the NYC and London Marathons in dress shoes (in 2:47, to boot!). In this episode we discuss what it was like to see his story chronicled in the famous book “Born to Run,” his college conversion from scholarship golfer to runner, his experience in the Boston-area during the running boom, working in the show industry at Rockport and Vibram before founding Topo Athletic, and pursuing a career in a field that you are passionate about. This episode is brought to you by Mercury Mile. You can get a box of apparel and goodies that any runner will love at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code “ramblingrunner10” at checkout. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

“When you know your why you can bear any how.” With those words Stefanie Flippin sets the stage for how she, or anybody, achieves remarkable running success. On September 15 she ran a 50 mile trail race through tough terrain. A week later she set ran a 1:30 half marathon in the wind and rain - a new PR. This amazing double header was after a year of nonstop racing. Not only that, she is also a foot and ankle surgeon. In this episode, we dive into those topics, how she went from a 3:50 to 3:25 marathon in one training cycle, and the differences between the ultra and road racing communities. You can follow Stefanie at www.instagram.com/stefanieannflippin. This episode is brought to you by Run4Prs. If you want to reach your running potential you can learn more at www.run4prs.co and mention the Rambling Runner Podcast in the “how did you hear about us” section on the registration form. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

100 episodes. Can you believe it? I am truly grateful for the amazing guests who have come on the show. They have imparted countless pointers and lessons and in this episode I dive into the most impactful. These six have made an impression on me and I’m excited to share them. Here’s to another 100! This episode is brought to you by Mercury Mile. You can get a box of apparel and goodies that any runner will love at www.mercurymile.com and save $10 by using promo code “ramblingrunner10” at checkout. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app