RaceMob - Running Together Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kevin and Bertrand
Pop in those earbuds, and let's go running together! RaceMob is the social destination for endurance athletes searching for their next challenge. We're a community that will hold you accountable and cheer you to the finish line. Whether you’re looking to get off the couch and walk your first 5k, a casual runner who hits the trails to keep in shape, an elite athlete working towards a triathlon PR, or an ultra-marathoner looking for that distance endorphin rush - we’re here for you. Each week, your hosts Kevin Chang and Bertrand Newson will talk to industry experts including: coaches, trainers, nutritionists, social media icons, race directors, product specialists, travel guides, and "every day" people with inspirational stories. Together, we’ll discover tips on running technique, training plans, race day hacks, nutrition strategies, saving money, and running products. Plus, we’ll keep you informed on the best races throughout the country. Most of all, we’ll be working with you to build a community. Together we’ll be able to make new friends, share our race day experiences, cheer each other on, and cross the finish line together.
095 - In this episode of the RaceMob Podcast we are joined by Jimmy Q. If you're looking for some motivation, inspiration, and focus to help fight all those common excuses then this episode is for you.
Listen to JQ share his humorous and engaging personality. Lots of straight, no-nonsense talk on the building blocks that made him the athlete that he is today, and the art of optimizing strength training and running, fueling him to multiple marathon and ultra-marathon finishes.
He shares some of his most challenging moments in the midst of hundred-mile races and how CBD has helped him with performance and recovery.
He also opens up on the profound impact that man's best friend has had on his life, that's made him an avid canine runner, and how a youth football experience set the tone for his toughness and grit in the years to come.
094 - Hey RaceMob Family! We have a really special guest this week: Jason Fitzgerald is a running icon, and creator of Strength Running - consistently ranked one of the top running podcasts in the world - and has a thriving youtube channel and fantastic content.
In today's episode, we dive into the nitty gritty of training plan creation and strength training routines for runners, and find ways to personalize training for your specific goals. Plus - we get some of the behind-the-scenes when our Coach B roomed with Jason and Matt at a recent Endeavorun retreat.
Back by popular demand, coach Jay Ridgeway with PacWest endurance.
We listened to our loyal audience and this endurance expert, master running and triathlon coach, his first podcast is one of our most popular.
Father, husband accomplished athlete opens up and shares his inspiring journey, overcoming injury and illness that plagued them for most of the year.
He gives us more priceless insight and tips on how every athlete can elevate their fitness and overcome obstacles.
All the show notes can be found online. And if you want to reach out to coach J you can find them on Instagram or his website at http://pacwestendurance.com.
92 - Hey RaceMob Fam! We're excited to introduce the next thrilling saga to the adventures of Endorphin Dude. If you haven't already - check out episodes 39 and 40 - where we go into detail on Tony's incredible start. How he went from an overweight, pre-diabetic to conquering 52 marathons in 52 weeks - and became a hero to so many in the process.
When last we saw this caped crusader - he was about to embark on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race at Western States. Unfortunately, life doesn't always go to plan, and you'll hear about some of the heartbreak that Tony faced!
But did our hero sink into the depths of despair? Or did he rise to find a new challenge? And push his body way beyond what he thought was possible? Well, you'll just have to stay tuned to find out.
All of the show notes can be found online at RaceMob.com/podcast - and without further ado, here's our conversation.
91 - Jessica Schneier is a hardworking and passionate trail enthusiast who recently started her own coaching business, Smiles and Miles.
Jessica is also the inaugural grantee of the Coaches of Color Initiative, which we'll learn more about in this episode.
We have had the good fortune of working with Jessica over the last several months, and you are in for a treat.
And if you're looking to level up your hiking, elevation gain training, and all things outdoor fitness, Jessica is the coach for you.
90 - In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Ingrid Christiansen to the show.
Ingrid is an inspiring member of the RaceMob and Too Legit family.
It wasn't that long ago. In fact, it was 2019 that Ingrid weighed over 300 pounds, but she managed to take the first step in her fitness journey and joined a local kickboxing gym that fresh start fueled a transformation and helped her find her way into endurance sports. Now 150 pounds lighter and with a running streak approaching 900 days.
Ingrid is inspiring change and motivating others. Plus on race day, you'll actually see her running back out onto the course to support her teammates. This is a fun and inspiring episode that you won't want to miss.
89 - Kevin and Bertrand got together to give us an update on what is going on with the community, the Coaches of Color Initiative, all of our friends out there crushing PRs, and what is coming in the following weeks.
88 - On this episode of the RaceMob podcast, we talked to Brian Mister, creator, founder, and race director for the Around the Crown 10k, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Sometimes during a conversation, you build this immediate kinship and connection. Well, this is certainly one of those chats.
Brian is a fixture of the Charlotte running community. During this conversation, you're going to learn how he started and built one of the largest races in North Carolina in his late twenties, overcoming some major obstacles along the way.
You're going to learn about all the grassroot initiatives that he started inspiring and building up the running community and fostering diversity at his race.
You're also gonna learn about the thoughtfulness. They've put behind their sustainability initiatives and helping other races across the country be more mindful of the ways that we can help the environment.
This was an incredibly fun conversation and listeners can enjoy $5 off the Around the Crown 10k, and we're also going to be holding a members-only raffle. So check out the show notes online at http://RaceMob.com/podcast
87 - Hey there, RaceMob crew!
We've taken a little hiatus from the podcast. You know, I started a new job, had a baby, and all the normal things that go on in a year. But I think that you'll be happy to know that baby Gemma is doing amazing and Coach B's business has been thriving!
And behind the scenes, we've been working on a number of incredible initiatives for a RaceMob that we're going to be launching later this year.
But something has been missing in our lives, and that's getting back together and recording this podcast. There's so much magic that happens when we're able to hit that record button. So many incredible connections that we're able to make. And so many of you, our audience that we hope to help.
So pop in those headphones because the podcast is back, baby!
86 - This episode is part one of a three-part series recorded at the recent Endeavorun retreat. This conversation is from a live panel discussion between Matt Fitzgerald, Bertrand Newson Amanda Brooks, and Dr. Asher Henry hosted by Jake tuber and Hannah Hunstad.
The four panelists are all coaches, and in this episode, they answer three key questions.
- What do you wish more of your athletes knew?
- What will you not do as a coach?
- What do you wish more athletes would ask you as a coach?
If you like this conversation and want to be part of the next Endeavorun retreat in Boulder, Colorado, follow Endeavorun on Instagram.
Check out the, For the Long Run Podcast for part two and the 80/20 Endurance Podcast for part three of this. And as always keep on running.
Part 2 can be found here: For The Long Run Podcast
Part 3 can be found here: 80/20 Endurance Podcast
85 - In this episode, Coach Bertrand Newson shares some exciting happenings with what's on deck in the coming weeks and months for RaceMob.
84 - In this episode Coach Bertrand Newson will share 15 tips and tools to help you get your running mojo back on track.
For those of us who've been at it for a while, inevitably, there's a point when we hit a rut, we feel like we are lost, we are running out of mojo, we've plateaued, hit a wall and we feel like we're just not improving our ability to chase down those PRs.
Here are several tips and ways to help you reignite your passion and find your groove again.
83 - Happy new year team! Kevin and I really appreciate your support over the past two years.
It has been a fantastic experience. We have had the opportunity to speak to so many wonderful, interesting motivating guests, some really cool topics, and more of that in-store this year.
In this episode, Coach Bertrand Newson will share 10 tips to help you level up your running, from training intensity through rest and recovery, community, and more.
If you enjoy this episode, leave us a review.
82 - We have one of our most popular episodes as part of our RaceMob rewind series: 21 race day hacks, tips, and advice to crush your race day With live racing in full swing, there are lots of helpful time-tested tips and takeaways.
There's so much of our audience that is getting back into live racing, and this may be their first-ever live race, while there's a lot of our audience that have been doing races for years.
And yet there are still a couple of these nuggets that we've learned over the decades of running that we'd love to share with you.
Coach B has run over 300 races now, so he has a wealth of experience, and we can all tap into that to give you some practical advice, some things that you can use going forward.
81 - We’re so excited to welcome Paul Fukuma to the podcast. Paul’s a fourth-generation army veteran, who brought a friendly little month-long 100-mile competition - the Taji 100 - stateside. Paul's the chairman of the Taji 100 fitness challenge that takes place every year in February.
He was part of the event in its inception in 2010 at camp Taji. And under his leadership, this event has grown exponentially and has raised over $300,000 supporting military families.
Not only do we get into Paul’s background, and his experience - in camp Taji Iraq for the first-ever Taji 100 event. But we also talk about the inspiring stories of participants of the years, and the reason that Paul’s been doing the event year after year - spending hundreds of hours and not taking a cent.
We also dig into another topic, to understand Paul’s unique perspective. Paul is a public safety officer - which means that he wears three hats - as a police officer, fire fighter, and EMT.
And as you hopefully recognize - we’re currently in a critical moment in time. Political tensions are running high and the world may seem more divided than ever. There’s been a large focus on systemic racism and even calls to defund the police.
So I wanted to get Paul’s take. I didn’t give him any advanced notice - but his honest answers were refreshing and real - and I just appreciate him so much for it. You guys are going to love this conversation - and if you want to improve your health and raise money for an amazing cause - I encourage you to participate in the Taji 100 this February.
Hey RaceMob Crew! In this week's episode, we talk to Kaitlin Heck - Rock 'n' Roll's Marketing Manager for the West Coast. Many of you know about the incredible events that Rock 'n' Roll puts on across the country - In fact my first marathon was the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas - and the Rock 'n' roll San Jose goes by my house every year.
So, how does one end up working for one of the largest race series on the planet? How do large races attract participants year after year? And what does the outlook look like for 2021? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out.
79 - This week we welcome Jake Tuber - the founder of Endeavorun - a company that offers Premier Retreats & Camps for the Everyday Athletes.
During this episode, we talk about Jake's introduction to running and long-distance running. How he leveraged experts and a little social psychology to help stay motivated.
We dive deep into the way that Jake organizes his camps, to help facilitate group camaraderie while giving personalized attention. This is a fascinating discussion that leverages Jake's advanced degrees and vast experience in his professional life.
And we get to really discuss some of the upcoming retreats, including the one scheduled in February featuring our friends Matt Fitzgerald and our very own Coach B.
78 - What is resilience? Is it an inherited trait or a learned skill? And if it's learned - how do you build more of it? Well - why not ask the person that is literally researching it right now.
Dennis Relojo-Howell should know a ton about resilience. In fact, he grew up from meager beginnings in the Philippines - and through hard work, determination, and skill - was able to make his way out of poverty.
He's now living in England and is the founder of Psychreg - the world's first blog for psychologists.
This conversation really took some unexpected turns, but it was so much fun connecting with a fellow entrepreneur. What Dennis helped me realize is the importance of reflecting on your experiences. Whether that be through blogs, social media, podcasts, or video - the ability to reflect and share can help you build your resilience.
In 2022 - we're exploring many avenues to help you leverage RaceMob as your creative outlet. If you'd like to get involved - just reach out to me or Bertrand.
Unfortunately - Coach B couldn't make the conversation due to a scheduling conflict - but don't worry, we'll continue our normal format going forward.
77 - We are so thankful to be able to call Matt Fitgerald a mentor and friend. We've been working with this best-selling author and a true pillar of the endurance community for the past year. And he's helped us in so many aspects of our business.
In this episode, we talk about the creation of the 80/20 Foundation, and the Coaches of Color Initiative - a foundation that we're very closely tied to. We talk about the principles of 80/20 training - and its proliferation. We chat about Matt's latest book - a deep dive into the principles of pacing. We also chat about Long Haul Covid - a disease that has been absolutely devastating for Matt.
76 - We've got a very special episode today.
We have a lot to be thankful for this year. And so got an obviously good friend and cohost Coach "B" on the podcast this morning, as well as our producer Gabriel Caetano, live from Brazil.
We just wanted to come together to let you guys all know what we have been thankful for this 2021.
75 - In this episode - we talk to Jaime Lopez - an accomplished athlete, and one of our most ardent supporters.
Jaime's journey is profound. He has a willingness to dive into events head first - and he sets the bar high. It sets the stage for one of my favorite stories of all time - how Jaime met Coach B. Let's just say it involves a local race, some outlandish shorts, and time in the pain cave.
This conversation includes some sensitive subjects - you
This conversation also includes a sensitive subject. One that is extremely personal - but incredibly important. You see - Jaime was sexually abused as a child - something that's difficult for him to share. But he does so to help empower those that remain silent, to let other victims know that they're not alone, and to offer help and support.
In fact, Jaime serves on the board at Breaking the Silence - a non-profit dedicated to helping prevent child abuse and was part of the launch for their Walk for the Children Event.
I think that it's really incredible how endurance sports can be something different to different people and it can be something so incredibly meaningful. For Jaime - endurance sports was a way to connect with his sister, it was a way to escape the day today, it's been a motivational tool for the youth he works with, and a way to build lifelong friendships.
74 - Hello RaceMob crew! We've got another update episode this time around.
It's been a little while since we've updated the crew and we know that a ton has been happening behind the scenes. Let's catch up.
In this episode, we'll talk about the LA marathon, some personal challenges, our first marathon experiences, and lessons we picked up along the way.
And we have some shout outs too!
73 - Dr Dana Cohen has literally written the book on Hydration. And there's so much that most people get wrong!
Is it as simple as "drink more water?" No!
We'll get a little nerdy today on the importance of electrolytes, how vegetables, smoothies, and even chia seeds - might be critical to your race day hydration strategy, and why fascia, movement, and hydration are so closely linked.
And you're going to come away with some incredible and easy takeaways that can lead to immediate improvements to your life and activity.
If you want to reduce your risk of chronic disease, reduce brain fog, feel better, move better, and look better - then you won't want to miss this incredible episode with the one and only Dr Dana.
72 - At the start of the month, Kevin and Bertrand just had this amazing idea of picking some of the best moments from each interview with our Latine guests. And they figured since Gabriel Caetano, co-producer of the RaceMob Podcast is from Brazil, and therefore Latine too, they could select their favourite moments across the show.
This episode includes:
- Adam Duran
- Leo Rosales
- The Avalos Siblings
- Patrick Loera
- Devin Lopez
- Nando Gonzales
- Jasmine Sanchez
- Rebecca Hernandez
71 - When we said that we wanted to celebrate Latin Heritage Month - Bertrand's face immediately lit up. - I've got the perfect person - B said.
We really couldn't do any better than Fernanda Perdomo-Arciniegas, the head of diversity, inclusion, and equality at San Jose State University. At we're so lucky to book this busy community leader - still recovering from her bout with walking pneumonia.
Wow - this passionate runner also got her start later in life, after the passing of her mother in Colombia. We talk about the benefits of exercise for your mental health. The importance of community - not only for motivation, and the social aspects - but also for safety. And some coaching tips from the ultramarathoner and coach for San Jose Fit.
We also talk about the importance of diversity, inclusion, and equality in all of our communities - and the local event that Fernanda is putting on in San Jose. All of the show notes can be found online at racemob.com/podcast - including links to her event. You won't want to miss this fun conversation.
70 - 55.9 million. That's how many people in the U.S. are running.
So just imagine the impact run leaders, experts and coaches have on an entire industry.
But what happens when this group of industry leaders is made up of predominantly the same gender and the same race? What message does this send to others? What type of community does it attract?
Well - these are the questions that our next guest has been asking. As we continue our Latin Heritage Month Series - we're so excited to welcome Vanessa P. Mitchell.
Vanessa has Ecuadorian roots, grew up in New Jersey, and now resides in Philly. When she got involved in endurance sports - she was taken aback by the lack of coaches and industry experts that looked like her and talked like her. Instead of by standing - she's done something amazing about it!
She's started the Game Changers program! A program to help under-represented women get coaching certified, and find their footing in this competitive industry. Last year they welcomed 16 coaches with grants, mentors, and business coaching - and they're about to initiatie another 16 this year.
On top of that - Vanessa has a spring of energy - and is so incredibly passionate. You won't want to miss this incredible conversation.
69 - Hey there RaceMob crew. We're celebrating Latinx heritage month with some incredible guests. So stay tuned for some amazing stories over the next few weeks, but we'd be remiss to kick off the month if we didn't bring back one of our favorite episodes from this last year and one of the most popular from all of you.
68 - You know the feeling. You have exhausted every option within a 50-mile radius. Every year, it’s the same races and the same places. It always feels like you are running a marathon or half marathon. All those miles, all the hard work, seems like it deserves something more than a trip to your local park or recreation center. It is time for a new challenge with some new scenery.
There is no better way to do this than to reward yourself with a destination race and vacation.
Every year, millions of runners take their love for the sport to new heights with this combination. By simultaneously travelling and racing, runners have found a unique way to vacation along with a new way to feed their passion for running. We will take a look at this popular pastime and provide you with the best tips to have a great destination race.
67 - Patrick is a seasoned athlete, a licensed nutritionist, and the host of the popular Running Lean Podcast. He's helped all kinds of individuals lose weight through his one-on-one and group coaching programs.
In this episode, we dive into the big keys to weight loss, including what most athletes get wrong. We do a deep dive into how athletes can become fat-adapted, and what that does to performance. Plus we chat about the benefits of intermittent fasting and fasted training.
This is a wide-ranging conversation - so whether you're looking to drop a few pounds, maintain your physique, or you're looking for nutrition tips to boost your race day performance - this will be a fun episode for you.
66 - Hey RaceMob Crew! In today's episode, we have an entrepreneur and the founder of Vessel Athletics - Jasmine Sanchez. Jasmine is working on bringing an innovative new product to market - the Hydroshirt.
As endurance athletes, we all know the importance of staying hydrated during long activities, but many of today's solutions are cumbersome or can cause chaffing. Jasmine also saw this pain point and is doing something about it.
In this episode, we go behind the scenes on how this entrepreneur got her start, how she's taken the concept to prototype, and what she's learned along the way, plus - Jasmine gives us her best hydration tips - and tells us how we can support her endeavour.
65 - What can we say about Vanessa, this entrepreneurial bad-ass and Bay Area legend is here to tell it how it is. Her incredible introduction into running is quite literally the stuff that movies are made out of: an overweight, overworked 13-year-old Vanessa decided to change her life and ended up losing over 60 pounds.
And then just two years later, competing in and then winning a marathon. This was before most races even had a female entrance. The story highlights, the hard work and dedication that Vanessa just exudes, even though an Achilles injury derailed her running career, it didn't stop her from helping people as one of the most sought after personal trainers on the planet.
Vanessa has a long client list. And so many success stories that she's actually in the middle of publishing a book. After taking years away from the sport, she's back to dominating these long-distance runs. And she has so many tips for athletes nuggets, for those people looking to lose weight and tidbits for those looking for some extra motivation.
Heck, this driven entrepreneur even purchased a boxing gym during the middle of the pandemic. But she's the proudest of the charitable organization that she's founded that helps every single foster kid in Santa Clara.
64 - Hey, RaceMob crew on today's episode, we have Wonder Woman, Nicole Shehadi Varnell.
I met this mother of three a year ago at a Hammertime workout, and man, she just crushed me. Little did I know a year later she'd be hitting new PRS, participating in competitive triathlons, and placing in numerous races.
She's also going for the 50 marathons in 50 states challenge, and you'll be able to hear about it in this episode. She thanks Coach "B" for the guidance over the year. But in truth, we know Nicole has a motor that just won't quit.
But we're just so fortunate to really hear Nicole's heroine story. It's certainly an emotional one full of ups and downs, and we're just grateful to get to know her on a more personal level.
63 - In this episode, we wanted to circle back. It's been a little while since we've actually jumped on the podcast, talk to our audience, so much has happened since we started off the year.
Kevin's going to be a father in the next couple of months. Bertrand is rocking the community with Hammertime and our athletes are just flourishing right now.
62 - John Burton is an ultramarathoning badass! Not only is this ultra-fit speed demon from Michigan known to rock the speedo from time to time, but what really struck me is how humble and warm John really is.
Sure, he has so many race wins, podium finishes, and has absolutely crushed a number of different events. But John also highlights the numerous times that races didn't go his way.
We often talk about the GRIT needed to achieve your best, to dust yourself off when you fall, and become a better version of yourself. John has this in spades, and it's so evident throughought the conversation. Maybe it was highlighted the most when we talked in detail about his participation in the Barkley Marathon - a race known for being the most grueling on the planet!
Where only the most elite are invited, and after hearing his story - you'll understand why. Shortly after recording this episode - we found out that John suffered a fairly significant injury - so we want to wish him a speedy recovery.
We're also happy to announce that John will be a weekly RaceMob contributor! John will be answering your running questions in a weekly column on our site. So subscribe to our newsletter to ask questions and see John's answers.
61 - Hey, there RaceMob crew! Before we get into this episode, we wanted to let you know that we're running a hydration challenge through the end of this month. You're going to be eligible to win a hammer nutrition prize pack. Thanks to our good friend, Brian, who's featured in this episode.
As we talk about in this episode, the best thing that you can do to be hydrated on race date is to stay hydrated in your daily life. And for many of us that means drinking upwards of a hundred ounces a day. Now we don't want you to go from zero to a hundred right away.
But that's where this challenge is extremely important. All we want you to do is drink 16 ounces of water. When you wake up and start being mindful of your hydration strategy throughout the day. Go to RaceMob.com/hydration for your daily chance to win this prize pack.
Now into this episode where Brian really dives into his detailed race day, fueling and hydration strategy, Including what to do if you like the flavored water and what should you, if you don't like flavored water.
We dive into his recovery protocol and a recent sodium study that he says is a total game changer.
Plus there's a supplement that he's extremely excited about. And after chatting with Brian, I went directly to hammer to go try it myself. Plus got some for my dog.
What is the supplement? Well, you're just going to have to tune in, to find out!
60 - In this episode we're featuring Brian Frank, the founder and CEO of Hammer Nutrition.
Hammer is one of the most trusted brands in endurance sports. And Brian is one of the most knowledgeable guests that we've ever had. If you've never heard of hammer nutrition. Well, that might be by design.
Hammer focuses their marketing efforts on grassroots events, the very backbone that makes up our industry. They have a phone number where you can call them anytime and ask them questions and they focus on making quality products.
This conversation was so good, it went on for two hours. So we decided to split it up into two episodes.
In this episode, you're going to learn how an unorthodox childhood directly led to the start of hammer nutrition.
We'll talk about:
- the early days of hammer and how Brian started the company at the age of 20 in his apartment in San Francisco;
- the supplement stack that he recommends everybody take, regardless of their activity level;
- why the fueling philosophy he lives by is less is best, and;
- what this means for athletes, especially those looking for maximum performance on race day.
059 - We have a number of new episodes already recorded and ready for August and September. But we wanted to revisit one of our favorite conversations as we approach our 60th episode.
How apt as well - as we're launching two incredible challenges in August.
1st - If you're looking to join a small community that's going to focus on achieving a goal together - then join our August Commitment Challenge. You can get paired with new runners, those looking to lose weight, runners looking to run further, or those looking for a performance boost. Each group will be led by an incredible coach - with weekly zoom calls - and the challenge is free this month as we're alpha testing it. Join the challenge at https://racemob.com/challenge
2nd - We're going to be launch a fun hydration challenge towards the end of the month featuring Hammer Nutrition. We'll have daily hydration tips on social media. Simply drink 16 ounces of water as soon as you wake up, be mindful of your hydration, and interact with us for a daily chance to win a Hammer Nutrition prize pack. Follow us on Instagram our handle is @racemob, and join our Facebook community.
As we watch peak performers compete at the Olympics, it reminded coach B and me about this amazing conversation we had in September of 2020 with Will Turner. This world record setter was hospitalized during his first half-marathon due to poor hydration! But he came back strong, and finished over 100 Iron Man distance triathlons over the course of 2 years. On top of that, he's just a fantastic storyteller. You're going to love this amazing conversation with the one and only will turner.
Will Turner - is a Legend! Will loves to set Big Hairy Audacious goals. When he turned 50, he completed his first IronMan. When he turned 60 - he completed 60… in One year!!! Smashing the previous record of 44 - he averaged an IronMan every 6 days.
He continued that journey and ended up completing 105 IronMan distance triathlons over the course of two years. And it was only slightly derailed when his partner and Uber Sherpa was diagnosed with kidney cancer - and they took a few months for surgery and recovery!
This is a long way from his first race - a half-marathon where he ended up in the hospital from dehydration.
So what’s an ultra endurance athlete of this caliber like? Humble, warm, welcoming, awe-inspiring… A motivational speaker who talks to at school assemblies expounding the virtues of “Live Your Bold”. And a National Park lover who promotes conservation of the environment. This was an amazing all-encompassing conversation, and I really hope that you enjoy it.
We have heard some incredible stories over the past year, but this one just might take the cake.
There is a prestigious record that had stood for almost 40 years before Sandra came and completely crushed it.
In 1978 - Mavis Hutchinson set a new transcontinental record by running from Los Angeles to New York in a little over 69 days. It stood for 39 years, that's when Sandra set out on a longer and more difficult route (from San Francisco to New York) and completed it in only 54 days.
So is Sandra a track star with a pedigree of elite athletisism? No! In fact this humble, incredibly gracious athlete is a single mother who describes herself as overweight - and needed to make a change in 2013/2014...
Yeah - that's right! From starting a new workout routine in the treadmill of her local gym - to winning the Badwater Ultramarathon a few years later in 2017 - a race in 100+ degree heat, where one false step can literally melt the shoes off your feet. And then setting an impossible world record.
You're going to love this incredibly inspiring conversation holder with an incredible woman.
57 - One of my favorite parts of our podcast is being able to highlight incredible members of our community. When I met Patrick last year, he was a newlywed - preparing for his first marathon. A virtual event that he was able to complete thanks to the help of Coach B and Too Legit Fitness.
At the time, he was still learning about tapering, and what it meant to toe the line for 26.2 miles. Little did I know the incredible fitness journey that he's been on, and how he's lost nearly 70 pounds since 2018 in his late 30s.
In this episode, you'll learn how Patrick rekindled a love for physical activity after a long sedentary period. The advice for overweight runners that he wish he knew when he started. Why a chance encounter on a race course changed his fitness journey. And the benefits of having a running coach such as Coach B for hitting your goals.
56 - Irina is a rockstar physical therapist and a valued member of the RaceMob and Too Legit communities. Her nickname is Rocket - and she recently opened her own business - Rocket Physical Therapy.
On today's episode, we dive into Irina's start, and how she got into one of the most prestigious PT schools in the country. We dive into the lessons she's learned from years of running, and over a decade of working with other runners. She tells us the short daily routine that can help prevent injury, why dynamic warmups are so crucial, and the important post workout routine that speeds up recovery.
Plus - we dive into how this busy mother of two finds the time to train for Boston, and start a new practice in the midst of a pandemic.
55 - On today's episode, we break down all the latest news from RaceMob and the running world, including updates from our Cut the Crap Challenge with Tony Julian, our takeaways from the town hall Q&A featuring Kevin Vandy, life updates from Coach "B" and myself, recapping Western States, including how some of our podcast guests actually did during the event, and finally we recap the Olympic trials in Eugene
54 - On today's episode we have RaceMob and Too Legit Fitness member "The Professor" Jason Peevyhouse. We talk about Jason's introduction into running - which started only a couple of years ago in 2017.
Not only did he work off some unwanted weight, but he got involved in a thriving running community - and has really paid it forward.
We also treated much of this conversation as a coaching call. Jason has a goal of setting a new PR in the San Jose Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon this October. So we talked through his current training, and gave him advice to get him ready for the race. We'll be following his progression to see if he can break a 1:50 half-marathon.
If you're looking for some running advice - then reach out to us directly! Schedule a free call with Coach "B" by emailing him at Bertrand@racemob.com.
You can find all of the shownotes online at https://racemob.com/podcast - and without further ado, here's our conversation.
53 - Last time we left off with the essentials, and those were the things you absolutely needed just to even get started. This time we'll get into some of the more fun things that you may want to get to this Amazon prime day.
We welcome again Scott Strool, Head of Product at Racemob, to talk about watches and trackers, earbuds scales, products related to nutrition, hydration, recovery and more.
And don't forget to go to https://RaceMob.com/products to find out what the RaceMob community recommends, and to share your own recommendations.
52 - All right, RaceMob audience, we talked to awhile ago about products, the last Amazon prime day. We even had some gift guides on our YouTube channel, but we haven't really talked about products to our RaceMob podcast audience, and we know Amazon prime day is also the day that all of these other sites, announce discounts just for Amazon prime weekends.
So in this episode we invited Scott Strool, Head of Product at Racemob, to talk about shoes, socks, shirts, shorts and which products we all recommend in these categories.
We also got a very special, happy moment to share with all of you, so let's dive into this conversation
51 - Injury! It's just such a tough part of our sport.
And according to statistics between 65 and 80% of runners are going to suffer an injury this year that will cause them to miss time.
Now imagine if that injury doesn't just cause you to miss the sport that you love. But can also hurt your career. And that's what our next guest David Myers had to deal with as a physical therapist for the St. Louis Cardinals.
During this discussion, we're going to talk about the mental aspects of recovery and how it can be just as important as the physical action. Plus you all know how big of a baseball fan Coach "B" is, and he and David share much more than just the love of the sport in this conversation.
So let's dive into this really important chat about injury, recovery, and mindset.
50 - We're celebrating 50 episodes of the RaceMob podcast with a look back to our favorite moments from the past year.
From some of the funniest stories - featuring Becky Hernandez, Endorphin Dude, and Verity Breen. To the most inspiring athletes with Dean Karnazes and Veronique. To the inspirational stories of Leo Rosales and Jake McKluskey.
We're also celebrating the coaching wins of some of our athletes! And our biggest takeaways from the last year. Thank you to all of the loyal listeners to tune in to our humble show!
49 - We have a real icon of the running world on today's podcast. Not only is he a New York Times bestseller, but he's one of the few runners who has been able to transcend the sport into mainstream media. We're talking Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien, Kelly and Regis, Ted Talks, and he even had his own segment on the Stan Lee's Super Human tv show.
That's because Dean is actually super human - having conquered the worlds toughest races including Western States, Badwater, Spartathlon, and even a trek to the South Pole. Dean has been a true ambassador of the sport - as you'll hear in this discussion - inspiring countless runners during his 50 marathon in 50 states is 50 days, running across the U.S. twice, running a marathon on every continent twice, and running the silk road as a special state department athlete ambassador.
And honestly - his story was really a catalyst that inspired me to get into this sport over a decade ago.
He details some of these incredible stories and his return to the gruelling Western States 100 mile ultra in his latest book - A Runner's High. It's an incredible read that details Dean's mental mindset in such vivid detail. It's such a fun book that goes far beyond the trail, and he tells stories that all runners can relate to.
And without further ado - here's our conversation:
48 - One of the things that runners often neglect is working on their range of motion. Not only can this have an incredible impact on performance, but it can prevent injury and is extremely important for your body health.
Frances Taylor is an incredible yoga instructor, Pilates teacher and anatomy expert.
In this deep dive interview, Frances tells us how we can assess our range of motion. Which muscles runners should focus on. Specific drills to improve your range of motion and the workouts that will make you faster.
In addition, we talk about how Frances has pivoted her business, https://taylorfitwellness.com in the middle of the pandemic and what she's learned by bringing her practice online.
We're working with Frances to put together a live yoga for runners class. So if you're interested head over to https://racemob.com/yoga, to tell us your availability and get notified when this class happens.
47 - We had a great conversation this week with the Chief Endurance Officer of Negative split - Ryan Hite.
In this episode, your going to learn how he got into triathlons - a bit by accident. And why his third race was an IronMan - plus the lessons he learned through that experience.
You'll also learn how Ryan and his wife created a tremendously successful race organization that operates races throughout the Pacific Northwest, and actually around the world. How he was able to keep live races going during the pandemic. And, what changes he forsees for races going forward.
46 - On this episode, we have the one and only "Mr. Motivation" himself, Adam Duran from humble beginnings to a storied 30 year career as a law enforcement officer. Get ready for this motivational speaker to pump you up. You'll hear about Adam's incredible daily routine, how micro-commitments and atomic habits had fueled his longterm success.
His incredible drive to overcome difficult moments and the amazing ways that he's giving back to the community. Plus you can't help, but feel invigorated by the way, Adam attacks life. Get ready to bust through a wall and share this episode with those that might need a little pick me up.
45 - There's so much of our audience that is getting back into live racing, and this may be their first ever live race, while there's a lot of our audience that have been doing races for years.
And yet there's still a couple of these nuggets that we've learned over the decades of running that we'd love to share with you.
Coach B has run over 300 races now, so he has a wealth of experience, and we can all tap into that to give you some practical advice, some things that you can use going forward.
If you guys have any tips, any piece of advice that we've missed, we'd love for you to email us, let us know we're going to have an article, a blog posts online for everybody to share, and we're going to continue to add with that post over time as people share their advice with us.
44 - Sara Manderscheid is a beacon of the running community.
She has a bright, cheerful and warm personality that attracts runners from all around into her running groups. She has the coaching intellect from a decade of reading, training and networking with the top minds in our business, and she has that competitive edge that you know, is needed to hit PR times and inspire others to greatness.
Crazy enough, she decided to turn her hobby into a business at the beginning of the pandemic. So, how does she attract clients? What has she learned and what is she training for today? Well, you're just going to have to listen to find out.
All of the links can be found online at https://RaceMob.com/podcast, including information on Sara's upcoming runners retreat in Boulder, Colorado this July.
43 - Gerald was introduced to us by a previous podcast guest, Mr. Adam Welcome. And when an author, marathoner, and motivational speaker tells you that there's a story you have to hear, then you listen. And when you hear that he's been featured in Runner's World Magazine and Live! with Kelly and Ryan, then your ears perk up.
And of course, when you hear his unforgettable story of losing 150 pounds all while working a very challenging (and rewarding) job, you get inspired.
The road hasn't always been easy, but what I love about Gerald's story is that he just keeps getting back on the horse. This interview is full of matter-of-fact advice, useful takeaways, and an incredibly inspiring story.
42 - We asked our community:
"What do you want to hear from Coach "B" and me? What are you struggling with? What are the things that we could provide to you?"
And performance tips were number one.
There are so many things that we've learned over the decades that we could tell you about. And so what we wanted to do was really, reduce it down to the most important things that will help you!
And there's going to be several follow-on episodes to this as well.
At a very high level, when we talk about performance and helping you hit a new PR, we want to do is make sure that we understand what distance that PR should be at.
Is it at the 5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon, or other distance? And where are you physically today? At the end of the day, it will be the weakest link in your armor, that is going to be the thing that takes you down.
So, what we're going to do in this episode is really talk about body physiology, and how we incorporate training to help you improve those weak links.
In this episode we'll touch upon:
- The Cardiovascular System
- Muscular Composition
- Body Composition
- Flexibility and Pliability
- Running Form
- Energy Utilization
41 - This is a great conversation with a well respected, veteran podcasting crew. We met Tommy and India through a discussion we were invited to in September of 2020. That discussion brought together podcasters from around the world to discuss the importance of inclusion and diversity in our sport.
Before we get into the episode notes, I want to just take a few minutes to talk about something that's on my mind:
As an Asian American male, I've often felt uncomfortable speaking out on matters of inclusion and diversity. I'm still learning about the challenges and struggles that my partner and so many in the African American community have had to deal with due to systemic racism. My approach has been to listen, uncover the stories, and amplify them.
But recently, there has been an unsettling number of hate crimes towards Asians - including a recent incident in Atlanta. And there was a heinous crime in Boulder, Colorado just this week - in the same city where I went to college and a few blocks from where I lived. While the motives are unclear, what is obvious is that these violent crimes have become all too prevalent.
For too long, we've had powerful leaders, media outlets, and social media algorithms that have capitalized on hate. They amplify it and funnel it to fuel their own agenda.
That's why it's more important than ever to be intentional when building communities. We all have an obligation to be inclusive, to make sure our clubs, organizations, and teams are diverse. We're so fortunate as runners to be able to bond over a common love for the sport, and the appreciation for the hard work that it takes to get over the finish line. I'm so fortunate to partner with Bertrand - because you can see the diversity and enthusiasm that his group Too Legit naturally carries.
That's why at RaceMob, we're not so focused on bringing in "high ticket" sales or attracting "affluent" market segments. We're intent on inspiring health and fitness to everyone, but it's especially important that we bring health, wellness, and hope to those who need it. Especially those who don't know where to start.
We've seen how it's impacted our lives, not only our health, mental acuity, and confidence, but especially the emotional benefits of having a strong community.
Ok, thank you for listening to this important tangent, and now for the notes.
You're going to love this incredible conversation with the Run Duo Podcast.
We dive into the Publix Atlanta races - yes, real live races!
We chat about the importance of diversity and important steps that we're seeing towards inclusion, India breaks down her recent experience getting coaching certified and the unique program she's coaching with, plus dive into some podcasting tips from these industry veterans. All of the show notes can be found online at racemob.com/podcast
040 - In this episode, we talk about the goals that Tony set forth after completing his epic Titanium quest. And what's the natural progression? Well of course it's to conquer ultra marathons, and some of the most grueling races on the planet.
Tony knows that he can outwork almost anyone on the planet, but that didn't prevent a couple of devastating losses, especially early on in his ultra career. Fortunately, Tony learned from each and every endeavor - and he brings these lessons to an introspective, informative, and incredibly entertaining conversation.
Plus, check out some of our conversation with Becky Hernandez! She talks to us about her Taji100 adventure, and some of the upcoming virtual events that she's signed up for.
039 - It's a bird. It's a plane. Wait, could it be?!?! Yes! It's the one and only Endorphin Dude.
When this caped crusader traipsed into my life in 2011, I didn't realize the powerful impact his story would have. Sure with this goofy grin, infectious optimism, and hysterical personality, you might not realize just how mentally tough and superhuman Tony actually is.
In 2009 an overweight and unhealthy Tony collapsed in his apartment. Looking into his dog's eyes, he decided to make a change. What started with a 10-minute walk around the block, turned into a quest for a half-marathon, then a full marathon, and then an epic adventure to complete 52 marathons in 52 weeks.
I think that we often give too much credit to the "front-of-the-pack" athletes. Those who are naturally gifted with talent and can push the envelope. We don't give enough credit to the courageous "back-of-the-pack" runner who sacrifices so much just to get to the starting line.
Tony admits he's not a gifted athlete. In fact, during his quest, he had to purposefully search for marathons with extended cutoffs. We're talking seven, eight, or nine hours to complete a single marathon. Imagine working a full-time job, driving a long distance to participate in a marathon that you know you'll be one of the last finishers at. But then donning this cape and bringing an infectious smile that's ear to ear to the event.
In part one of the story you're going to hear about the origins of Endorphin Dude and his 52 marathons in 52 weeks. In part two, you're going to hear about his quest for belt buckles
We hope that you enjoy this belly busting conversation with the one and only endorphin dude.
38 - Our next podcast guest has coached tens of thousands of athletes over the years. He was named Men's Running Influencer of the Year in 2017. He has a thriving YouTube channel and hosts the incredibly popular Strength Running podcast. He is the one and only Jason Fitzgerald.
In this episode, we dive into his training philosophy and the fundamental advice he gives when developing a training plan. How we incorporate strength training and why it's so fundamental to his programs, the mental mindset required to improve your running and why most people aren't realizing their full potential, how he's grown one of the top running podcasts on the planet, plus we dive into some running form cues that will help you run more efficiently.
All of the show notes can be found online at racemob.com/podcast
37 - We always talk about the power of the race day experience. Sometimes that bond you form ends up becoming a lifelong friendship. Well, Nando met Bertrand a decade ago at a race - and is now one of his closest friends. You'll hear that story in this chat with the incredible Nando Gonzales.
You'll also learn about
- How this veteran continues to take on the Taji100 challenge with a passion and has helped it grow the event significantly over the years
- The incredible story of his 100 Mile Ultra-Marathon with Podcast Guest Coach Jake McCluskey
- His tips for staying motivated, running trails, and running with a dog
- Plus we dive into this beer aficionado's recommendations
All of the show notes can be found online at racemob.com/podcast
036 - Our next podcast, guest probably doesn't need an introduction. If you've spent any time on YouTube or Instagram, you've probably seen his incredible running videography detailed product reviews and relatable non-elite personality. Mike co is a down to earth runner with an incredible talent for video.
He's quickly grown into one of the top influencers in our industry.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How Mike found running and the unique sport he competed in while in college.
- His first marathon experience and why his dad left him in the dust.
- Why he's known as the Running YouTuber's Running YouTuber
- The different training methodologies that he's experimented with and how he's currently training.
Plus take a look behind the curtain of one of the most successful influencers in our industry. You're going to love this episode.
Check out the video clip here: https://youtu.be/O7JddVphFH4
035 - There are very few people on this planet like John. When you talk to him, you get this instant warmth and genuinely welcoming feeling. It's no wonder he was named RRCAs club president of the year.
He kind of has this boyish enthusiasm for the sport, and yet he clearly fosters a culture of care and community by embodying those principles.
In this episode, you'll learn about John's background. And I think he's the first collegiate steeple chaser that we've interviewed. We talk about the importance of community and family, especially when you're chasing big goals or when heartbreak happens.
We dive into what makes the San Francisco Roadrunner's club so successful. And there are some great takeaways for our own community. Plus we get to hear all about John's globe trotting adventures, including how he finished a marathon on every single continent. And yet that includes Antarctica.
34 - My guest today is a teacher, principal, author, motivational speaker, and long time runner. Pre-Covid he was travelling the country - inspiring teachers. And he would often draw on his running background to drive the point home.
In this episode - we talk about the race that changed Adam's life forever, the year he signed up for 12 marathons - and ended up finishing with 13 because he wanted to do a double marathon and oh yeah - completing a 100 miler 2 weeks later, the incredible lessons he's teaching his kids - and how he approaches parenting. Plus how his Vegan lifestyle has impacted his ability to recover.
This is a fun and energetic episode that you don't want to miss.
033 - Toni is such a fun and inspirational human being! She is an author, sports nutritionist, athlete, figure competitor, certified personal trainer, 6-time entrepreneur and was recognized with a Women of Influence Award from the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
More than just the budding accolades, or the successful protein foods business that she runs - Toni is genuinely amazing, warm, and incredibly in tune with her mind, body, and spirit.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The disheartening event that influenced Toni's transition to a healthy lifestyle
- How she competed in figure competitions at age 48, and won, beating out competitors 20 years younger than her.
- Toni's take on spirituality, and why it's an important part of her wellness routine
- We dive deep into Toni's philosophy on nutrition. And answer questions around: why you should eat like a diabetic (so you don't become one), the foods you should try to eliminate, and the macro nutrient ratio that Toni recommends.
This episode is brought to you by our free 14-Day Cut the Crap Challenge - which runs from February 1st through the 14th. We challenge you to cut sugar, alcohol, simple carbs, and saturated fats for 14 days. Get access to shopping lists, recipes, and a motivated community - plus access to Toni, who normally charges thousands for a consultation.
Post an emoji every day you've successfully "Cut the Crap" and be entered to win prizes worth over $100. Visit https://racemob.com/cut-the-crap
All of the show notes will be available online at https://racemob.com/podcast
32 - When Scott joined the January Challenge - and scheduled his consultation with Coach "B" - we had no idea about his incredible backstory. Like so many of our athletes - he found running later in life - in his 50s. Unlike many of our athletes - Scott found it only about a year removed from having a debilitating infection that led to open-heart surgery.
This conversation will give you a new perspective because you can truly sense Scott's passion for the sport and his outlook on life. In addition, Scott's a true gear geek, a data guy, and a budding YouTuber - so we dig into his shoe collect, recovery products, and geek out over our YouTube inspirations.
You can find all of the show notes online including links to Scott's YouTube channel and instructions on how to submit your running form for analysis by Coach "B" at RaceMob.com/podcast.
Links in this Show
Scott's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1zSW8mmdQtzSLvBIeKzrRA
Scott's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/36312775
Scott's Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/ssr7272/
Scott on RaceMob: https://community.racemob.com/u/07408fb8
031 - In this episode we recap 2020, and what we've been able to accomplish since the launch of this podcast. We listened to our first episode to see if we accomplished the goals that we initially set in front of us:
- Meeting interesting and wonderful people
- Learning tips and tricks from professionals in our field
- Making friends with people outside our local geography
- Making connections with industry leaders
- Learning how Races would cope, and be able to utilize their creativity
We also talked about some things we've fallen short of the last 6 months:
- Episode downloads (while high by industry standards) aren't where we expected them initially
- Fostering the community has been harder during the pandemic
- It's been difficult to capture all of this information into media that everyone can access
Finally - we looked forward to 2021, and the huge goals that we're looking towards this year. This includes:
- Continuing the Podcast and YouTube channel, and growing our audience and guest list this year
- Building a platform for coaches and experts to connect with athletes and provide help to coaches interested in getting started
- Revamping our technology platform to make it the central hub for racers going
- Inspiring a social community that encourages sharing and connection
- Hanging out with our friends week after week - and getting to know all of you.
We hope that you enjoy this episode of our podcast. Please leave us a review and share your favorite episode with a friend. Help us make 2021 a fantastic year!
030 - On today’s episode, we’re talking to Coach and Race Director Marathon Matt Forsman. Matt’s been a fixture of the Bay Area running community for over 15 years.
After hitting some stumbling blocks early in his marathon career, Matt was able to post some incredible marathon times, including a 2:45 marathon.
In this episode you’ll learn about how a coach influenced Matt to pursue running, and eventually marathons. How a freak compression fracture almost derailed his career at the start. Why Matt’s running clubs are known for community. And, how he got into Race Directing and the ingenious things he’s doing to keep people motivated during the pandemic.
You can find all of the show notes online at https://racemob.com/podcast/marathon-matt-forsman. And without further ado, here’s our conversation.
029 - Hey RaceMob team - we have a real treat for you today - Devin Lopez is my Crossfit coach. And while you may associate CrossFit with those incredible athletes on the TV - most gym goers are friendly every day people who want to add a little variety to their routine.
In this episode you’ll learn how Devin became a coach and his impressive athletic feats. How he assesses beginner athletes and the bodyweight strength exercises he recommends runners try out. Plus - we get into a conversation on weightloss and his approach to helping clients. You can find all of the shownotes online - including a link to Crossfit San Jose’s YouTube channel - where most of these movements have been demonstrated at https://racemob.com/podcast/Devin-Lopez-Crossfit
028 -
Here at RaceMob - we’ll occasionally hear about incredible feats. Sometimes - they just seem too incredible to be real. Like in episode 17, when we talked to the world record setting Ironman athlete Will Turner.
Well this story is just as incredible - and it comes from someone with so much heart and passion. Vero had no idea what the impact that a $50 treadmill was going to have on her life. When she first stepped on that simple machine, and took her first admittedly awkward steps - she had no clue that 13 years later - she’d have completed some of the most grueling ultra distance races in the world. And in the midst of planning a 13,000 km trek across the continent of Africa to help raise money and awareness for access to clean water.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why a marathon didn’t seem quite enough for this ambitious athlete
- Her initial struggles and her mindset to finally break through
- How she ran across Japan with her daughter biking at her side
- Why this African trek means so much to her
If you’d like to support Vero’s trek, receive coaching from her, or want to follow her on social media - then you can find all of the show notes online at racemob.com/podcast and without further ado - here’s our conversation.
027 - We’re excited to welcome Coach Bree Lambert onto the podcast. Bree is an extremely accomplished athlete in her own right, she was a decorated triathlete, and following a scary accident she’s become one of the top ultra-marathoners in the country. Winning numerous USA track and field awards and the Tahoe Rim 100 three times.
In this episode we get into Bree’s accomplished career, get her advice on tackling ultra-marathons, and talk about the new running product that Bree’s been working hard on developing. You can find all of the show notes and links online - including a discount to the Running Pods at https://racemob.com/podcast/Bree-Lambert-Egg-Weights
Egg Weights link and discount code (include an affiliate link to help support our channel)
https://eggweights.com/?ref=fAfne5sMWOf8p
Use Code 'RACEMOB' for 10% off
026 - Ok - we have a really fun episode for you today! Kevin Vandi is often called the “yoda” of physical therapy - maybe it’s because of his deep knowledge of the human body, or maybe it’s his ability to breakdown complex biomechanical problems into a lamens terms.
Whatever it is - Kevin has some Star Wars like technology at his practice Competitive Edge in San Jose. In this episode you’ll learn how Kevin’s motion capture tech, pressure sensing treadmill, and high speed cameras have helped countless athletes detect and correct running inefficiencies - including our very own coach.
You’ll learn about common problems he sees from his athletes, common injuries, and his systematic approach on solving them. You’re going to learn so much, and especially If you’re a geek like me - you’re really going to love this conversation!
I’m so excited to introduce you all to Samuel Pappas - a member of our very own RaceMob community. A few weeks ago I asked our community “what are you struggling with?” and Sam replied - balancing my newly found love for running with not aggravating my double hip replacement surgeries.
Through our email exchange - it was clear that Samuel was an absolute inspiration - so we quickly jumped online to chat.
You’re going to love this story about a retired air force veteran, who was living a sedentary lifestyle and had reached 260 lbs on his 5’5” frame. After his second hip replacement surgery - Samuel decided to make a change - and it started out small by normal human standards. But bear in mind - when Samuel started by walking on a treadmill, he had to use his arms to support him.
Fast forward to years - and Samuel says that walking and eventually running has given him his mobility back. Now 140 lbs and able to run 10 miles in the Florida heat - people might mistake him for a different person altogether. We hope that you enjoy our conversation with Samuel Pappas!
024 - In honor of our running fundamentals course, we wanted to make sure that we could cover every tip our community had for new runners. So we asked our Facebook communities:
"What tips do you have for a beginner runner?"
We got over 800 different comments from people how wanting to share their favorite tips for beginners.
So I tallied them all together, and bucketed them into different categories. And here we have those tips from 17 all the way to one. If you're looking for help in any of these categories - reach out to us, and we'll be sure to help you in your running journey.
We have an incredibly special treat for you guys today. Bob Anderson is the founder of Runner's World. Yup, that Runner's World. The incredibly popular magazine that Bob started while in high school. In today's conversation you'll learn about the state of running in the 1960s and how a high school kid was able to build one of the most popular magazines in the world.
You'll learn about how Bob got to meet some of his idols, including Hal Higdon, Ted Corbitt, Billy Mills, Steve Prefontaine, and even Ronald Reagan. We get into the story of Bob's film, A Long Run, where he celebrated 50 years of running with an incredible challenge. The goal was to complete 50 races at a distance of 350 miles (563.27 km), and to average 7:00 per mile at the age of 64.
I won't give away the ending, but you have to hear the stories behind the challenge. We get into the new type of racing that Bob has invented the double race. And we get to hear about the new training camps in Kenya, that Bob is building that you can take apart in. Finally, Bob has this incredible story of the Boston marathon because the one year that he got to run
I was also the year of the bombing. Our full conversation with Bob was almost an hour and 45 minutes. And honestly we could have kept going.
If you want to hear the full version, join our community at https://community.racemob.com. And you can hear all the bonus stories that we couldn't fit here.
We’re so excited to welcome Paul Fukuma to the podcast. Paul’s a fourth generation army veteran, who brought a friendly little month-long 100 mile competition - the Taji 100 - stateside. Paul's the chairman of the Taji 100 fitness challenge that takes place every year in February.
He was part of the event in its inception in 2010 at camp Taji. And under his leadership, this event has grown exponentially and has raised over $200,000 supporting military families.
Not only do we get into Paul’s background, and his experience - in camp taji Iraq for the first ever Taji 100 event. But we also talk about the inspiring stories of participants of the years, and the reason that Paul’s been doing the event year after year - spending hundreds of hours and not taking a cent.
We also dig into another topic, to understand Paul’s unique perspective. Paul is a public safety officer - which means that he wears three hats - as a police officer, fire fighter, and EMT.
And as you hopefully recognize - we’re currently in a critical moment in time. Political tensions are running high and the world may seem more divided than ever. There’s been a large focus on systemic racism and even calls to defund the police.
So I wanted to get Paul’s take. I didn’t give him any advanced notice - but his honest answers were refreshing and real - and I just appreciate him so much for it. You guys are going to love this conversation - and if you want to improve your health and raise money for an amazing cause - I encourage you to participate in the Taji 100 this February.
Signup for the Taji 100 Fitness Challenge
Hello, everybody. We are so fortunate to have a legend. Coach Jay Ridgeway, 20 years helping athletes be happier, healthier versions of themselves through PacWest Endurance. He's also an accomplished athlete in his own right. Oregon Duck graduate, triathlete, ironman finisher, Boston marathon participant, and biomechanics expert.
Jay also has an accomplished daughter, Emily, who is an ironwoman, and finished the Kona world championships. She has followed in her father's footsteps and now leads PacWest endurance.
Check out this great episode where we talk about proper running form - which will help you run longer, more efficiently, faster, and injury free.
Check out the Running Form Video: https://youtu.be/zivDKAeKkN0
Links talked about during this episode:
PacWest Endurance
020 - Our guest today is James McCluskey. Jake has such an inspiring story. He once weighed in at over 380 pounds and was leading a sedentary lifestyle.
In fact, he would go six to nine months at a time living within a tiny bubble between his house and the corner store. Just next door.
One day, he was inspired by Marshawn Lynch's quote. And since then, it's been all about that action boss. In this discussion, we talk about the moment that changed Jake's life. How he went from a couch to marathon in a little over a year. Jake gives us a detailed account of his solo 50-mile trek from San Francisco to San Jose.
And then his hundred-mile Trek from Petaluma all to raise money for foster kids. Plus we go into some of the details on how Jake became the first person to run every street in San Jose. And why was way tougher than anyone imagined. There's a little bit of audio distortion during this discussion, but we try to take care of it as best we could. We really hope that you enjoy it.
We have some very special guests for you in today's podcast. The Road Runner's Club of America has been an extremely influential organization in the sport of running for over 60 years. It insures some of the biggest races in the world and running clubs. They're also famous for a variety of programs including their coaching certification, kids run the nation program, and run pro clinic.
We're so fortunate to have the president of the RRCA George Rehmet and Executive Director Jean Knaack on Today's podcast. In fact, Jean has been named one of the most influentail people in running by Runner's World Magazine - Alongside Usain Bolt, Shalene Flanaghan, and Meb Kefleghzi to name a few.
In this episode, you'll learn about what the RRCA is and what it does. How they've been extra busy during the pandemic - expecially since George started as president on April 1st of this year! We have a special discussion about diversity in running, especially in the wake of the murder of Ahmad Arbuery. George and the board are on a mission to make running safer for everyone, and they're working on real change here.
Plus, you get to know these deeply caring, incredibly warm, and very accomplished individuals. Plus, George is incredibly active on Social Media - and we've been following his awesome adventures - including his recent 50K up in Oregon.
We're incredibly grateful to get to know these incredible individuals, and to be able to share this conversation with you. We hope that you enjoy it!
018 - When Bertrand met Leo over 20 years ago, he had no idea that this unassuming handyman was dealing with a crippling back condition and a debilitating drug addiction. Nor could he imagine Leo's backstory a former Latin rock star and the percussionist for the group Malo at the age of 18, Leo was being whisked away via limo and private jet to famous venues like Carnegie hall, American Bandstands, Rolling on the River, and much more.
Leo's life is so fascinating that it was even documented in an ESPN Deportes feature. From the highest of highs to being so broken, he could barely function. It got so bad. His family staged an intervention and forced Leo into rehab. But it was here and shortly after at Skyline College, where Leo began to rekindle his passion for running. A passion. He almost completely threw away due to his addiction.
But was now ready to embrace. Leo and his wife, Virginia joined the Dolphins South End Running Club. And today have logged over 17,000 miles, attended hundreds of races, become Brazen Streakers, qualified for Boston and have been sober for over 16 years. But most importantly, Leo and Virginia have now become pillars of the running community.
Spreading their love and positive message to everyone they meet, especially those who are struggling with addiction.
And they've even become running coaches, inspiring the next generation of runners. Best of all, Leo never lost his passion for music and is performing with his new band Momo Tombo, and they are killing it. You're going to love this story from the heartache, the perseverance and the triumphs. So here we go.
017 - Will Turner - is a Legend! I should just drop the mic there! Will loves to set Big Hairy Audacious goals. When he turned 50, he completed his first IronMan. When he turned 60 - he completed 60… in One year!!! Smashing the previous record of 44 - he averaged an IronMan every 6 days.
He continued that journey and ended up completing 105 IronMan distance triathlons over the course of two years. And it was only slightly derailed when his partner and Uber Sherpa was diagnosed with kidney cancer - and they took a few months for surgery and recovery!
This is a long way from his first race - a half-marathon where he ended up in the hospital from dehydration.
So what’s an ultra endurance athlete of this caliber like? Humble, warm, welcoming, awe-inspiring… A motivational speaker who talks to at school assemblies expounding the virtues of “Live Your Bold”. And a National Park lover who promotes conservation of the environment. This was an amazing all-encompassing conversation, and I really hope that you enjoy it.
016 - We’re so excited to welcome Joyce Lee to the podcast. Joyce is a Bay Area running legend. After stumbling into long distance running - rather haphazardly (a story we definitely get into) - Joyce has become a pillar of the running community.
Perhaps she’s best known for her running streak, having run at least 1 mile every single day since January 1st 2013. That’s over 2,800 days of running. The streak has turned this once admittedly inconsistent athlete into a model of stability. And just displays the power of perseverance even when you sometimes don’t feel like it.
The streak has opened Joyce up to new athletic endeavors, including - completing an IronMan triathlon, qualifying for the Boston Marathon, and starting her very own race - the Joyce 365K. More importantly, she’s found a supportive community - something that she stresses - doesn’t require a streak. So don’t wait to be part of the amazing running community. Here’s our really fun conversation.
015 - Tes Sobomehin Marshall is an incredible human being who would be successful in any industry that you’d put her in. She has this innate ability to connect, and the hard work and determination to see things through. Luckily for us - she found a passion for running, and has inspired tens of thousands to get active.
From starting the Atlanta Chapter of Black Girls Run, to creating The Running Nerds, and even her own race series Run Social.
More recently - she’s spearheaded The Race - a half-marathon, 5K, and bike ride that’s focused on supporting minority owned businesses. The course normally goes through predominately black neighborhoods - although this year it is entirely virtual. It also includes a series of panel discussions to talk about social justice and change. And Tes was gracious enough to invite Coach B and me to speak during one of those discussions - which was incredible. Especially in this time of social unrest, in a city at the heart of so much tension - what Tes is doing to open the dialogue and help bring change awe-inspiring.
It’s so cool to see the evolution of Tes - from basketball coach, to runner, run club coordinator, race director, and now community leader -- and soon to be brew master. All of the shownotes can be found online at https://racemob.com/podcast - and without further ado, here’s our conversation
014- We are extremely excited to welcome Seth James DeMoor to the Podcast. Bertrand and I are true fans of Seth’s, and especially his YouTube Channel - where he’s been vlogging daily since 2015. His channel really took off after he started focusing the content around running, and he’s built an incredible community - the DGR community.
Seth just surpassed 100,000 subscribers on YouTube - a feat usually reserved for celebrities - and to see a running expert hit that mark is really exciting. If you’ve checked out Seth’s channel at all, then you’re going to love this conversation.
Seth’s known for some bumper sticker phrases such as “Butter My Bread”. A reference to the cinnamon butter at Texas Roadhouse, life being good, and hard work paying off. During races, he often writes phrases in permanent marker on his wrist to remind him to dig deep during the hard times. He repeats technical mantras like "head up, pump the arms, and quick feet."
Not only is Seth a dynamic personality, and caring individual - he’s an incredible athlete. He’s a 2:23 marathoner - even though he ran his first marathon last year, and has only competed in two of them. He holds the FKT (fastest known time) on several trails throughout Colorado. He’s represented the U.S. in the Mountain World Running Championships. And he was fresh off winning the Pike’s Peak Marathon - a grueling ascent and descent marathon that climbs and descends 7,000 feet. A marathon that his dad has competed in, and which holds a special meaning to him.
Seth’s an extremely busy guy, and we’re so thankful to spend some time with him. Plus - it’s always great meeting up with a fellow University of Colorado Buffalo! I really hope that you enjoy this conversation.
013 - This is the episode where we flip the microphone back on me.
We dive into my background and why my parents and sister have provided constant motivation, and are a driving force behind my successes. We talk about how my dog Kiah (short for Macchiato), helped me discover running - and literally changed my life. From overweight and self-conscious to living a healthier and happier life. And the many, many lessons learned along the way.
It was this transformation that inspired me to create RaceMob - because to accomplish great things it takes support - luckily I have the support of my wife - but the support of a community can be so powerful, it helps to have guidance from experienced athletes, and what good are these amazing accomplishments unless you can share the stories - and inspire the next generation.
Because all it takes is one step, one little change - something small - in my case - taking the dog on a walk - to begin the fitness journey.
012 - Avalos Siblings
Introduction
We’re excited to welcome the Avalos siblings to the podcast. Ray, Anthony, and Bre are some of the fastest and most accomplished runners you will find. Ray and Anthony have marathon times in the 2:40s and Bre has a marathon PR of 3:01.
For these siblings, long distance running was something that they found after becoming adults, but it was their athletic background, hard work, and determination that allowed them to really excel at the sport.
The three siblings not only qualified for Boston, but they were able to run Boston together - and they share stories from the event as well as all the training leading up to qualifying and competing against each other. If you’re looking to decrease your marathon times, and possibly qualify for Boston - stick around to the end of the conversation. All three siblings give great tips for runners from beginners to advanced. We had so much fun, so I really hope that you enjoy the conversation.
During this discussion, we talk about:
- 3:27 - What childhood was like for the Avalos Siblings, growing up a soccer family, athletes as relatives, and youth sports
- 14:29 - Specific training that Ray had to help Bre in Track workouts
- 16:36 - Anthony's soccer journey which led him to Norway
- 19:58 - How the siblings got into running, and the first races
- 24:16 - How Ray was able to knock off big chunks of time in his training, and how the siblings motivated each other
- 28:18 - Why Bre's training was much different than her brothers
- 34:55 - How Ray qualified and was the first to go to Boston. Plus his Boston experience which included help from a stranger
- 38:52 - How Antony started to train for Boston, and how his soccer career helped him into a BQ time
- 42:13 - How Bre trained and qualified in the months after graduating college
- 46:12 - The Boston Experience, and what it was like to have the whole family together
- 52:24 - Other running goals for the Avalos Siblings, including races that they love, and those that they're looking forward to
- 1:02:50 - The tips that each would give to runners who are looking to one day qualify for Boston
Links Talked About During this Show
- RaceMob Show Notes
- Bre's Instagram
- Anthony's Instagram
- Ray's Instagram
We’re excited to welcome Carlo Facchino of the Mermaid Series. The Mermaid Series features women’s running, duathlon, and triathlon events. And now spans three states - California, Washington, and my home state of Colorado.
The Mermaid series is known for their welcoming atmosphere, and providing a safe zone for many beginners to complete their first event.
During the interview you’ll hear about Carlo’s passion for helping beginner athletes in running and those dipping their toes into a triathlon, the secret sauce - and what’s kept Mermaid thriving for over 16 years, his most memorable and inspirational stories from the course, the expansion of the Mermaid brand into other states, and how Mermaid’s response to the pandemic.
This recording took place a short time after Carlo’s mom passed away, and he was gracious enough to still do the recording - and even shared some fond memories of his mom’s involvement with their latest virtual challenge.
Carlo was also generous enough to supply us entries for a Mermaid Giveaway! The winner will be able to select between a virtual run, duathlon, triathlon, or challenge.
Enter the Giveaway!
https://racemob.com/mermaid
Subscribe to our podcast - to make sure that you don’t miss our giveaways. If we get enough entries - we’ll make this a regular thing. So tell your friends as well!
010 - It's an honor to welcome Verity Breen to the podcast. Verity has been racing competitively for over 30 years - and has won many prestigious races. We’re talking about big events like the being Australian Marathon Champ, Australian 50k road race champ, being selected to the Australian Prime Ministers 5, and events like the Nike Women’s marathon, Maui Marathon, and US Half Marathon.
After transitioning from triathlons to running - Verity has won events at nearly every distance from cross country to 50ks. And she continues to set the bar by winning races in her 50s. We’re not talking about age group champ - she’s outright crushing competitors 30 years her junior.
On top of that, she’s fun and spunky - and will give you her trademark “beep beep” - if she’s about to zoom by you on the trail. This is just a fun - all-encompassing conversation - and honestly, we could have just kept going.
In fact - we have some bonus conversation and material that we'll likely include in the future. If you want exclusive access to it - just sign up for our email list
009 - The Big Sur International Marathon has been named to nearly every “Top Marathon” list in existense, and is a famous bucket list race for most runners. Today we dive behind the scenes at this historic event with Race Director Doug Thurston and Marketing/Communications Manager Hilary Fujii.
While you might not clock your best time - due to the steep nature of the course - you will have the best time because of the scenic view of Highway 1 on this one way course. I’ve run 3 marathons in my life - and I’m proud to say that Big Sur was one of them.
In today’s episode, we get to talk about the history of the Big Sur International Marathon. We peel back the curtain on some of the stories runners aren’t usually privy to, including life on the back of a media truck, how the piano gets to Bigsby Bridge, and the origins of the famous strawberry aid station.
Plus we dive into the extreme challenges they’re facing with the pandemic. Especially as a 501(c)3 organization - how they’ve stayed true to their charter. We also dive into the decision to pay the runners a generous restitution - where many other organizations would have simply kept the money.
We’re also excited to help them promote The Big Surreal Challenge! This is a really fun virtual event that is 5 challenges in one. You’ll be able to run the majority of the distances offered during the Big Sur weekend from a 5k, 12k, 11 mile, 21 mile, and marathon - throughout the month of September. The more races you complete, the better the swag that you can take home. And Big Sur has some of the coolest swag around. Plus there will be all sorts of Virtual Encouragement along the way. Coach B and I are both entered - so we hope to see you online.
008 - In this episode, Running Revolution store owner Chris Schenone joins the podcast. We chat about his running background, favorite races, and most cherished memories.
We also get deep into shoes including:
- How 95% of customers coming into his stores are in the wrong size, and how to fix that
- Why going to a store is so beneficial, especially for new runners
- The different foot strikes for a pronator and supinator, and what that means for your shoes
- Why you might want to get your foot measured every time you're ready for new shoes
- How Nike Vaporflys have changed the game, and what it feels like to run in $250+ shoes
- The rise of Hoka One One from one of the first stores to carry the brand, and interesting anecdotes
- How the pandemic has impacted Running Revolution, and what they're focused on right now.
Check out all of the show notes online at https://racemob.com/podcast/running-revolution
007 - During the pandemic, many race organizers have had to deal with finding a new format. While many have followed a cookie cutter approach, Greg and team are pioneering a new concept.
Open Course Racing
A concept that has the legs to survive well past COVID-19 regulations. The course is mapped out using GPS coordinates, and runners run the actual race - on their own schedule, in their own time.
The concept truly speaks to the trail running community. Trail runners can spend hours finding and mapping the perfect route, before hitting the trail. Now, Greg's team has done all of that work for you.
To launch the Open Course Racing concept, Greg and his team have mapped out 70 segments spanning 370+ miles throughout the Bay Area. And it all seamlessly syncs with your GPS watch or phone app using a PWR Lab account.
It a great concept, supported by an amazing community - and Greg believes that it will be around for years to come. He will offer it as a complement to his live events - for those that want to run the same course, but simply can't make it on race day weekend.
In this episode, we also dive into:
- Greg's history as a runner and race director
- Chat about some funny stories about his Western States 100 miler experience
- Talk about Greg's single proudest achievement in running (and it's not about himself)
- Go into Greg's involvement with youth sports
- Talk about Pacific Coast Trail Runs
- Deep dive into the TOGETHERelay, and Kevin's experience during the soft launch
006 -Chris has always been fit. Growing up, Chris was a highly regarded track and field athlete and a college football player. After college, he became an accomplished PE instructor and personal trainer.
But, it wasn’t until his forties when a run changed his identity forever. In this episode, we talk about Chris’s physical gifts, what drives him during 30-mile Spartan Ultra obstacle course events, how a marathon changed his life forever, and of the 40 Spartan races he ran last year, which one he recommends the most.
We also talk about his work teaching PE to special education students, and the special program that ties his races with his students.
005 -Our guest today is Matt Fitzgerald. Matt is an accomplished runner and author. He has written over 25 books - dealing with almost every aspect of running. Some of his most notable titles include:
- How bad do you want it
- Iron War
- 80/20 Running
- Life is a Marathon
Today we dive into his latest book - Running the Dream - one summer living, training, and racing with a team of world class runners half my age.
We get to hear some of his insights from training with the HOKA NAZ Elite team. There are so many nuggets that even us mid-pack/back-of-the-pack athletes can take away. From stories about:
- Teamwork and camaraderie
- Coaching and training regiments
- Injury prevention and treatment
- Environment and altitude training
- Nutrition
- And more
Plus - we get to hear about the fun times coach Bertrand had with Matt in Atlanta during the olympic trials (which included plates a fried chicken before a marathon).
004 - JT Service and David Monico join our podcast. JT’s companies Soul Focus Sports and Silverback Pacific are responsible for the production of some of the most iconic races here in the Bay Area including:
- The San Francisco Marathon
- Bay to Breakers
- The Giant’s Race Series
- the Stanford Summer Scamper - which benefits the Lucile Packard Foundation
In addition, they have worked on some exciting activations with some of the biggest brands in the industry including
- Hoka One One
- Adidas
- Under Armour.
Even more near and dear to our hearts - is Soul Focus’ flagship series - the Run Local Event Series - which includes:
- The 408k Race to the Row
- San Jose Shamrock Run
- Silicon Valley Half Marathon
- Across the Bay 12k and 415k
- The East Bay 510k.
- And the newly minted California Coast 500!
003 - Becky Hernandez is a true inspiration - and a co-captain for Too Legit Fitness. She has run over 100 races in her life, including over 60 half marathons, 30 full marathons, and 5 Ultras. She is a certified Les Mills exercise instructor and a 3-time Boston Marathon qualifier.
In this episode you'll learn more about:
- How Becky found a fitness class at the YMCA and began her fitness journey
- How she lost 65 lbs through exercise and diet changes
- When signing up for a race helped her get over insecurity (and off the treadmill) to discover the "team sport" of running
- How she used running to help her get over a divorce, and found the time to stay fit as a single mother of 2
- Dancing to the finish line, especially when your body isn't feeling it
- A hilarious story about her Chicago Marathon experience - and why Deep Dish pizza might not be your first choice of pre-race meals
- All that and much more!
002 - Today we have a deep conversation into how family has been the driving force behind Bertrand running over 250 races, which include over 50 marathons and ultras, in 9 years, why the hated Dodgers Stadium became the site of one of his greatest triumphs, how he’s inspired hundreds in their fitness journey, why ‘walk’ is not a dirty word, plus we talk about how he’s still breaking personal records and even winning races in his 50’s.
We have all of the show notes online at https://racemob.com/podcast. And, if you’re interested in training with Coach Bertrand - we are looking for applicants to help pilot our initial training program. You’ll get some 1-on-1 coaching from this legendary coach yourself. To join our waitlist, just go to https://racemob.com/training.
001 - Kevin and Bertrand kickoff the RaceMob Podcast together. We're so excited to be launching this podcast episode. It's our very first one, and - even though we had some audio issues - it was clear that we're going to have a blast making these episodes. We really hope that you enjoy the discussion - and I promise that we're going to get much better at this!
During this Discussion, We Talk About
- 1:21 - How we first met in 2013
- 2:34 - Bertrands amazing backstory, and how he ended up in San Jose and found racing
- 8:45 - We dive into the Too Legit Fitness Community
- 11:33 - We talk about RaceMob
- 16:28 - Bertrand's 30 mile morning run and how he's using running to deal with these tumultuous times
- 22:22 - The 4 Reasons we're really excited about this podcast
- 29:21 - Some of the guests we'd like to have on the show
We're also excited to be giving away a RaceMob Package in coordination with the launch of this podcast. The giveaway includes RaceMob gear, a RaceMob training package, and Registration to the California Coast 500. Drawing will be held on July 16th. To enter, visit https://racemob.com/podcast