On the Move: Recent Episodes
Sports Backers
Sports Backers is a nonprofit active living organization based in Richmond, Virginia. Our mission is to get people moving and this podcast will focus on keeping people active and moving, mostly through the lens of running. We put on outdoor endurance events, host training teams year round, and have programs aimed at bringing fitness opportunities to all corners of our area. All this brings us in contact with stories and ideas that are interesting and inspiring, and we’ll share them on this podcast.
This week Nan & Kam roll guestless and catch you up on everything happening at Sports Backers in the coming weeks. From corporate events to new job openings, President's Council events, and more! Get your fall update!
What started out as a simple vlog ended up starting a walking movement in Richmond and beyond for Tae Waddey. As the founder of Homegirl Hike, Tae has created a community where all are welcome, and a place where people can focus on fitness and friendship. Check them out!
Nan & Kam sit down with Jeff Ocampo, a local photographer/videographer and running enthusiast. Jeff talks about overcoming difficult life struggles through the running community and staying active. This is one everyone can relate to!
Charlotte Baker is a senior at Appomattox Governor's School. She's also involved in Sports Backers' ALL Stars program, she's a Fitness Warrior, and she's on Sports Backers Marathon Training Team. At school she's involved in Cross Country, and still does all the normal things a teenager does. This one will make you rethink your own time management.
Bethany Britz has been a Kids On The Move fitness coach with her Kids on the Move 804 club. Her passion for helping led her to fundraising for a charity entry into the Allianz Richmond Marathon. She's already surpassed her goal and we can't wait to see her crush her race.
As you may have seen, the Allianz Richmond Marathon is officially sold out! With the Wait List and the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon quickly filling, Nan & Kam chatted with Meghan Keogh, the new Race Director for the event. Get excited for November!
Nan & Kam sit down with local athlete Suzanne McWilliams. Suzanne, 76, is getting ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime representing Team USA in the World Triathlon Champions in Australia. Hear how she's managed to prioritize active living all her life.
Nancy Thomas, President and CEO of InUnison, recently completed the hike of a lifetime. She did over 500-miles along the Camino de Santiago trail in France and Spain. Hear all the highlights of her solo trip, and advice she has for people looking to do something life-changing.
Capital Run Club has been taking to the streets of Richmond for the last year and encouraging people to get more active. Jack Oppenheim, the group's founder, chatted with Nan about the group's community runs and how they got started. Catch their scavenger hunt run this Saturday!
Rainey is a multi-year coach with the Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team. She started her own running journey as a participant and has stuck around in some capacity ever since. Hear why HMTT is so effective from someone who knows it inside and out!
Dion Ellis, Graphic Designer at Sports Backers, shares his design process for everything from merchandise to finisher swag. This week is Reveal Week for the Allianz Richmond Marathon so Dion's basically a celebrity.
It's almost time for the Ashland Half & 5k! Nan and guest host Ashlee chat with Emmy Richards and Kelly Franke with the Town of Ashland. Hear the inside scoop when it comes to restaurants, post-race plans, parks, and more that you can enjoy in the Center of the Universe!
Nan & Kam are joined by Mary Marshall Graeber, Sports Backers' Volunteer Coordinator. Hear about all the volunteer jobs available, the perks of helping out, and how you can get involved!
Nan & Kam talk with Arlene Cary, a PE teacher at St. Joseph's Catholic School who is a Fitness Warrior, YMCA Instructor, and Kids On The Move Coach. Basically if it's an initiative to help others get active, Arlene is involved. Hear how she stays motivated and what she does when she gets some time for herself.
At Sports Backers we normally do at least one staff outing a year, a traditional started by Jon Lugbill. Last week we went on Jon's last staff excursion and thought it would be a great time to document and ask everyone what their favorite one has been throughout the years.
Nan & Kam sit down with Jon Lugbill before his last day at Sports Backers. They get all the inside info on his proudest moments, favorite events, and what he's most looking forward to about retired life.
Nan & Kam are out of the studio! Last week was the Markel Corporate Run, and we're giving you the behind the scenes look at all the fun that went down. You're definitely going to want to watch this one on YouTube!
Brian McDaniel and Nicole Zawitkowski have made the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team their friendship tradition. Hear why they love the team, what keeps them coming back, and why they might prefer the training to race day!
RVA Bike Month wraps up in a few weeks, so Nan & Kam sat down with Natalie Rainer, Bike Walk RVA's Engagement Manager, to talk about all of this year's events and how you can still get involved. Visit rvabikemonth.com for all the details on upcoming events!
It's a Nan & Kam yap sesh as they recap Dominion Energy Riverrock weekend. Hear what went on behind the scenes, and all of Kam's brilliant ideas for 2026!
All dogs get zoomies...let your dog get their energy out Dominion Energy Riverrock's Agility Competition! Nan & Kam talked to Shemeck Piatek, owner of the Zoom Room, a dog training and agility facility. Shemeck will be running the competition and shares how your dog can do a trial run through Dominion Energy Riverrock's Adventure Zones. Watch this one on YouTube so you can see some cute pups showing off!
Richmond is fortunate to be home to the Virginia Capital Trail—a fully paved, 51.7-mile multi-use path that stretches across four jurisdictions. Nan & Kam sit down with Cat Anthony, Executive Director of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, to discuss how individuals can make the most of this scenic trail and learn about exciting upcoming events.
In 2018 marathoner Kirk Millikan decided he wanted to take on a new challenge. He wanted to run every street in Richmond...that's 2,200 streets. Fast forward to now and Kirk finds himself embarking on the end of his challenge. Nan & Kam talk with him about the plans for his final run, and what he's learned along the way.
If you were at the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger you might've seen Sophie King whizzing by the competition. The Richmond native completed the 10k in 33:36.34 and was the first female finisher. Nan, Kam & Sophie chat all about her win, her transition from swimmer to runner, and growing up as a quadruplet.
This April marked Jon Lugbill's last Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k at the helm of Sports Backers. To celebrate he got to run the event he created in 2000...so really it was his first 10k as a participant! Jeff Kelley, of Kelley & Co., was at the start and finish lines to interview him as he celebrated 26 years of the event.
VCU Athletics participated in the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k and the Massey Challenge with Team Ram Nation. Nan & Kam talk with Robby Robinson, the voice of the Rams, about his 10k experience (spoiler - he killed it), and why running has been a constant in his life.
You might know Richmonder Keya Wingfield, from the Food Network, Candy Valley Cake Company, and most recently Keya's Snacks. But what you might not know about Keya is that physical activity, and walking the 10k have been huge in her weight loss journey. Check out her motivations, how her businesses started, and why you're going to want to see her on the course!
This fall, Sports Backers announced that Jon Lugbill, our Executive Director of the last 32 years, was planning to retire. After a nation-wide search, we now know who will be taking over in June and it's none other than Sports Backers' own Will Dixon! Nan & Kam sat down with Will to talk about what it feels like to be the new Executive Director, and what he's excited about for the future!
Nan & Kam reveal their new podcast room and chat with Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k Race Director, Meghan Keogh. Meghan has led the charge on the 10k for the last 10 years, so she's basically an expert! Hear some of her favorite race day memories and what you can look forward to this year.
Sports Backers officially made our move to Lakeside Avenue this week and we're now located at our active living hub! Nan & Kam give you a tour of the space, and show off some of the features they're most excited about. We recommend watching this one!
Richmond's biggest block party was once just an idea of Jon Lugbill! Sports Backers' Executive Director played a huge role in the creation of the popular event, and has been at every 10k since. This year will be Jon's final 10k at the helm, so Nan & Kam sat down to chat with him about the evolution of the event and what he's looking forward to.
It's almost event week here at Sports Backers, so Nan & Kam talked with Virginia Credit Union River City Half & 5k Race Director, Molly Johnson. Molly fills us in on everything participants can expect from the event, her favorite course highlights, and her preferred taste in bagels!
This week Nan & Kam sit down with 11-year-old River Hale and talk about his training journey with the YMCA 10k Training Team. River's mom, Alison, works at Sports Backers and is training with him. River tells us about his hardest training run, race day goals, and his thoughts on popular sitcoms.
If you're a Richmonder, you love Ukrop's. It's just an unspoken rule! As the title sponsor of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger for all 26 years of the event, they're iconic! Nan & Kam talked with Daniel Riddick, Director of Marketing for Ukrop's Homestyle Foods, about the long-standing partnership...and obviously about White House Rolls, Rainbow Cookies, quiche, chicken salad, and cake!
It's a Nan & Kam catch up week! We're discussing Saturday's 10k Training Team, 10k Love Week, and the first ever Palentine's Day! Mark your calendars because we've got all the giveaways coming your way on social!
This Saturday marks the first day of YMCA 10k Training Team. This 10-week program gets runners and walkers ready for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger on April 12. Nan & Kam talk to Nate Moubray, Head Coach at the Northside YMCA, about what he's most excited about for training season and what participants can expect if they join a team!
We were lucky enough to recently welcome two new staff members to the Sports Backers crew. Nan & Kam sit down with Drew Thornton, the Events Operations Assistant, and Natalie Rainer, the Engagement Manager for Bike Walk RVA to talk about their first weeks at SB. Hear about Drew's former life in Nebraska and Natalie's former life as a snake owner!
The second-annual Virginia Credit Union Half & 5k is coming up on March 8. Nan & Kam sit down with local runners, Sports Backers Ambassadors, and all around superwomen, Rachel Capone and Candace Broaddus. Hear about their race day experience last year. Find out why they think it's RVA's most picturesque course, and why Candace ran with a GoPro on her head.
Happy New Year! Nan & Kam kick off 2025 with Ginnina Eakle, Association Director of Wellness at the Greater Richmond YMCA. Ginnina shares secrets for making sure your fitness-related resolutions aren't too lofty, and how to set yourself up for success. Plus the YMCA 10k Training Team starts in just a few weeks!
The CarMax Tacky Light Run is this weekend! Virginia Goin is a long time resident of Walton Park, the neighborhood where the CarMax Tacky Light Run takes place, and has been there for every year of the event. She's one of the first houses on the course and has had a front row seat to 12 years of tacky. We figured who else to better get us in the holiday spirit before race day!
Nan & Kam sit down with the winner of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, and Richmond local, Rob Mazzanti. Rob gives the inside scoop on what it's like to be at the front of the pack, his mindset, training, and favorite race day memories. Did we mention he only started running two years ago?
Nan & Kam recap the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon and tell you what they were up to behind the scenes! Hear about the best signs, intense golf cart missions, and more. Plus, we highlight all that's to come in the spring season!
Running can mean so many things to so many different individuals. The rise of Richmond run clubs has allowed for the creation of meaningful safe spaces for everyone to accomplish their goals. Last week, the Health & Fitness Expo of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon featured a live panel on 'What Running Did For Me' moderated by Lindsey Hein, and featuring Anthony Clary of We Off The Couch, Suellen Henneberry of Sportable, Kleigh Koupal of Effect Run Club, and Josh Leidy of 804 Run Club. Check out all they had to say about their respective clubs, running journeys, and advice for marathon runners!
It's National Pickle Day, and we thought what better way to celebrate than with the Vice President of The Pickle Juice Company, Filip Keuppens. The Pickle Juice Company provides all of our pickle juice for the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon. We provide a lot of pickle puns, and learn some truly jaw dropping facts about the creation of pickle juice.
We've got Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon Race Director, Megan Schultz in the studio to answer all of your burning questions about race weekend! We cover everything from what time you should get to the start, to what you can expect on the menu at our junk food stops!
We've been talking all things active, yappin', and of course gigglin' for a full year! To celebrate Nan & Kam recap their favorite moments, and head to the streets for Kamryn to ask people marathon related trivia. We recommend watching this one because you have past clips, Halloween costumes, and roaming around Richmond!
We're excited to have podcast host and run-fluencer, Lindsey Hein, returning for her second year at the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon. Last year Lindsey made history as our first female announcer. This year she's back on the mic, and you can find her moderating a live panel titled 'What Running Did For Me' with some big names in the Richmond running scene. Other than than you can find her at Stella's Market, because she's obsessed.
John Raigins has been an instrumental part of Sports Backers for 20 years. He's a man behind the scenes, but his knowledge of our courses and event operations can't be beat. Hear about what his typical race day looks like, the sometimes unglamorous things he has to do at events, what goes into creating new race courses, and more.
There's nothing quite like training for your first full marathon! Sue Henneberry is an adaptive athlete with Sportable who completed her first half marathon last year, and quickly decided a full marathon was her next move. She's training with Sports Backers Marathon Training Team and does a variety of sports to cross-train.
If you run around Richmond, you've seen Anthony Clary and We Off The Couch. Anthony founded the group in 2019 and they've continued to grow in numbers, and in their mission to support all runners no matter where they are in their journey. They've got a crew doing varying distances at the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon this November. Check out their race day plans and learn more about how they look to inspire others!
After 31 years of service, Sports Backers' Executive Director, Jon Lugbill, announced his plan to retire at the end of June 2025. We sat down with Jon to get his thoughts on why now is the right time and what he's looking forward to as he ends his chapter at Sports Backers.
The Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon tries to cater to all our participants and a huge part of that is our pace teams! This week Nan & Kam talk with Karen McCarthy, the pace team coordinator, and Steven Kim, who paced the race last year. Hear all about the mindset of a pacer, how you can join a team, and how you can volunteer to make someone's race day goals come true!
President's Council is Sports Backers' young professional group. It's an awesome way to socialize, network, volunteer, and meet other active people in Richmond who are passionate about inspiring active living. Nan & Kam talk with the chair of President's Council, Desiree Tunnell, about how she got involved, why she loves it, and why you should join too!
Sports Backers is celebrating the kick off of our Active Living Leadership ALL Stars program! We work with 21 rising senior student-athletes throughout the year to teach them more about leadership and how active living can play a role within their communities. Nan & Kam talked to the program leader, Jacki Quinlan, about all things ALL Stars and what she's looking forward to this year.
It's that time of year! Temps are already slightly cooler and kids are going back to school. Nan & Kam chat with Leigh Busby of Greater Richmond Fit4Kids about how best to transition kids back to a schedule and all the great programming they have throughout Richmond schools. Hear about how they're making healthy habits accessible for all and their upcoming Fun Fest!
The Ashland Half & 5k is next Saturday and we brought in Event Director, Mara George, and Sports Backers Marathon Training Team Coach Chris Mason to tell us why it's summer's hottest half! Whether you're running Richmond in the fall and want a tune up, or just looking for a quaint little 5k, this could be your next race!
You might've heard the Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team starts this weekend! We sat down with head coach Cheryl Groce-Wright (and RVA Sports Awards Coach of the Year) to go over all the training details. There's still time to join the team, so listen and see if it's the right fit for you!
Richmond loves their run clubs! This week Nan & Kam sit down with Josh Leidy, one of the leaders of 804 Run Club that meets at Hardywood. Learn more about how inclusive and encouraging 804 Run Club is and how you can get involved! We gotta throw in a little fun Olympics aside too obviously!
We're joined by Jaide Hinds-Clark, a former women's basketball standout at the University of Richmond who now resides in Richmond with her wife (and soon to be baby!). Jaide got into running to stay in shape and be part of a community, and she soon found one in We Off The Couch. Hear about what the run club has meant to her and all the other ways she's helping to improve RVA as a whole!
We visited Richmond Animal Care & Control (RACC) to learn more about their RACC Runners program that pairs volunteers with dogs for recreational runs. Lydia Worden from RACC joins us at the shelter and introduces us to some top notch puppers. Watch this one! The beginning is a shelter visit with some heavy hitting dog reporting, and then we head back to the studio with Lydia for all the info on how you can get involved.
We're all used to Kam playing host, but this week...she's the guest! Hear about her journey to becoming Sports Backers' Social Media Manager. Learn about her most embarrassing moments creating her own content, and what it's like to try and keep up with the ever changing social media landscape!
If you're a part of the running scene in Richmond chances are you've heard of Elliott, or you've seen him on a run, at a race, or in our marketing material! He's been a part of Sports Backers Marathon Training Team for over 20 years and is extremely active in all things running. We talk about how he discovered his love of running in his 40s and more!
It's a Nan & Kam week, which means the girls are gabbing. Topics are fitness trends, Kam's quarterly goals, what to expect on the pod the coming weeks...and of course, this or that!
Nan & Kam talk with Frank Finn, one of the founding members of Run Short Pump. Run Short Pump is a running group in the West End that meets twice a week. They recently celebrated 20 years together. Frank gives us the highlights and shares how you can get involved!
Nan & Kam take the pod on the road to Great Falls Park for the annual Sports Backers staff outing! Hear about two different hikes they did, who had the best car snacks, and more. We recommend watching this one to get the full picture! Plus Kam got some wild video of a helicopter.
Today is the Markel Corporate Run and Camryn Fitzgerald of Scott Insurance is the lucky individual chosen as the Allianz Partners Summer Bonus Sprint participant! Hear about her strategy to win big at tonight's event. Nan & Kam also catch you up on their research trip to Denver!
If you're a runner in Richmond, chances are you've heard about Effect. The run club was created by Kleigh Koupal and two friends who realized when running with others the effect was that you created community, and added to your overall community as a whole. Learn more about their crew, upcoming fun events, and why it seems like everybody is running with Effect!
The Markel Corporate Run takes place on June 6. It's RVA's biggest office party, so naturally we had to get you all the details with Sports Backers Corporate Sales Manager, Kristen Eichert, and Colin Lowery, the Team Captain at Haleon. It's not too late to sign up...and after this you'll want to!
Nan & Kam take you on a tour of Dominion Energy Riverrock as it gets set up for the weekend. Get a lay of the land, hear about the highlights, and learn more about new events. We also talk to Omar Hafez from the Richmond Rapids. Omar is participating in one of the festival's newest events, the Cup of the East Kayak Polo tournament. We recommend watching this one!
Brantley Tyndall, Director of Bike Walk RVA, joins the pod to tell us all about RVA Bike Month this May! We also dive into some Bike Walk advocacy, a Fall Line trail update, and ask the age old question...Tour de Taco or Pizza Crawl.
Thinking about running Richmond this November? Need to up your miles for a fall race? We chat with the head coach of Sports Backers Marathon Training Team, Carrie Parker. Learn more about the program and find out what makes MTT so beloved!
Nan & Kam look back on the 25th running of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k! Hear about what goes on behind the scenes, what it was like for Kam to work with her mom on race day, best race moments, squirrels in the park...and more!
It's almost time for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger, which means Nan & Kam are ready to answer all your event FAQs! Find out what you need to know about the expo, race morning, and how to have your best 10k!
We sit down with Conrad Lusagala who is taking on the task of being the 10k's Roving DJ and Party Pacer! He's got a speaker, he's got a playlist, he's got the good vibes, and he's bringing the encouragement. Find him at the back of the pack in the non-seeded waves and have your best 10k yet!
Nan & Kam have perhaps their biggest guest yet and welcome Nutzy of the Richmond Flying Squirrels to the pod. Megan Angstadt, the Squirrels Executive Director of Fan Engagement, also joins us and shares how excited her and Nutzy are to come to the Atlantic Union Bank 10k Mini. Hear what to expect this baseball season, and later see how Nutzy stays in tip top shape!
We sit down with two 10k legends and superstar volunteers, Michael George and Mike Levins. Chances are if you've done a race in Richmond, these two were involved in some way. They give us the low down on the first year of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k and how the running landscape in Richmond has changed.
Nan & Kam welcome Molly Johnson, Race Director for the Virginia Credit Union River City Half & River City 5k back to the pod. Molly shares what it's like to plan and execute a first year event and her favorite parts of race day. Then Nan & Kam take to the streets to get a 10k related treat. Tune in to so you don't miss out on how you could score something sweet!
We catch up with Kam on her YMCA 10k Training Team journey thus far, and find out how her miles have been going. Switching gears the Virginia Credit Union River City Half & River City 5k is this weekend, so we answer all your race day questions! Good luck to everyone participating!
One thing about the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k is it's known for having a lively course. You never know what you're going to see, but you're guaranteed to be entertained. The 10k Spirit Contest presented by The Richmond Experience is serious business. Paige Poprocky, of The Richmond Experience, joins us to talk all things contest judging and what she's looking forward to on race day.
As we gear up for the 2024 Active RVA Awards, Kristen Eichert, Sports Backers Corporate Sales Manager, gives us all the details on what it means to be Active RVA certified. Learn about best practices to lead your workplace to corporate wellness!
This week Nan & Ashlee (guest host alert!) take you on a behind the scenes look at 10k Love Week. We worked at events with Massey at the VCU Student Commons and passed out cupcakes on Brown's Island with Ukrop's. Check out YouTube to see us all around RVA this week!
Doing the 10k once is something to be proud of, but doing it all 25 times is on another level. This week we talk with Brad Armstrong (a 10k Legacy Club member) and his daughters Erin and Annie. They ran the first Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k together and are still continuing the tradition to this day.
Tiffany Copeland and Ashley White join us to talk about the exciting work our Fitness Warriors are doing to make Richmond and the Tri-Cities more active! Whether you're interested in leading fitness classes, or finding a new community to workout with, you'll have a good time learning more about the program.
By this point we hope you've seen the 2024 Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k participant shirt and medal designs! The colorful swag was designed by local agency Think. We sit down with Jason St. Peter and Bridget Guckin to talk all things creative strategy. Hear the inspiration behind the goods!
We sit down with Head Coach of the YMCA 10k Training Team, Jennifer Perrin to run through all the questions, thoughts, and feels one may have before joining the team! Training for the 25th annual Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger kicks off Feb. 10. Spoiler - Kam is joining a team, so do it with her!
Happy New Year! Nan & Kam are back to kick off 2024 with a recap of what went down during holiday break, what they're excited for at Sports Backers this spring, and new fitness goals. Get your motivation back and hear their hacks to setting goals and following through!
Sports Backers Youth Programs have had a whirlwind year; with a rebrand, a scholar-athlete program restructure, and a new hire...2023 has been wild! Catch up on all the changes and hear what we're excited for in the new year with Jacki, our Director of Youth Programs and Noelle, our Youth Programs Coordinator. Reminder - we'll take a two week break for the holidays but we'll be back on Jan. 11.
Last week we had the 11th CarMax Tacky Light Run. Fun was had, merriment was made, holiday cheer was abundant. This week we recap all the good times and share some behind the scenes insight with Event Director, Molly Johnson. Get you some egg nog or hot chocolate for this one!
The CarMax Tacky Light Run is on December 9, and while Sports Backers is busy prepping, the homeowners in the Walton Park neighborhood are on a whole other level! We chat with professional tacky home decorator Tara Krohn and find out just what goes into being a house on the course. From cut outs, to inflatables, lights, and more...she knows her stuff!
Registration for the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger is officially open! The iconic Richmond event is celebrating 25 years of being the biggest block party in town! We talk with Event Director, Meghan Keogh about her favorite parts of the 10k, the evolution of the running community, why you have to be there on April 20th...and more!
We all know the best part of a race is the swag! This week on the pod we introduce you to the fierce twosome behind Sports Backers' finisher item designs and merchandise collections. Alison Hale, our Retail Manager, and Dion Ellis, our Graphic Designer, give you the inside scoop on what it looks like to be a part of the creative process from start to finish.
Last week Dr. Lisa Mitro (@dr.lisa.dpt) was a part of our Run Richmond pre-race panel. On Saturday she ran her first full marathon, and now we want the tea! Check out what she has to say about training with the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team, race day, recovery...and a couple Taylor Swift anecdotes!
On the eve of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon we had a live discussion at the Walmart Health & Fitness Expo with a stacked crew of running podcasters and personalities! We all can benefit from community, and running is no different! Whether your support system is a virtual crew, your neighbor, a local run club, or a coach, we’re exploring all the ways we hold each other accountable. Hear how finding community has impacted well-known personalities in the running industry no matter their skill level and goals. Lindsey Hein of I’ll Have Another moderates a discussion between Trevor Spencer of Marathon Training Academy, Martinus Evans of 300 Pounds and Running, Cynthia Vissers of Another Mother Runner, and Lisa Mitro of Rehab for Runners.
Nan & Kam welcome their first guest to the studio, Megan Schultz! Megan has been at Sports Backers for over 16 years. As the race director for the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, she knows all the info you need for race day on November 11! We solicited questions on social media and then asked a few of our own, because we're fun like that!
Our Sports Backers Podcast has a host change! Welcome to On The Move with Nan & Kam! Meet your two new fitness besties that are here to chat all things active lifestyle in Richmond, VA! New episodes drop every Thursday!
This episode of Sports Backers' On the Move podcast serves as a special preview of the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, featuring Megan Schultz, Chief Operating Officer of Sports Backers and race director for the marathon. She’s got all the details you need to know to have a great race experience in Richmond on November 12 and we’ll take a deep dive during this episode.
Thanks again to Megan for joining this episode and giving us so much insight into the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, CarMax Richmond Half Marathon, and VCU Health Richmond 8k. November 12 promises to be another special day and I hope you’re as excited about it as we are. All the info you need is available at www.RichmondMarathon.org, so check that out, and follow @SportsBackers on social media as well.
Until the next episode, thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on this episode of the On the Move podcast is Tiffany Copeland, Director of the Fitness Warriors program for Sports Backers. Tiffany gives us a detailed overview of the Fitness Warriors, the innovative program that is addressing health disparities through active living in communities throughout central Virginia. The program has become a national model for creating fitness opportunities, and Tiffany shared more details on a recent trip to take part in a White House conference on building healthy and active communities.
We also discussed Tiffany’s own personal fitness journey and how that led her to the Fitness Warriors, plus she shared updates on the program and how community members can get involved in the next class of Warriors.
Applications for the next class of the Fitness Warriors are open until October 31 and can be found online at www.sportsbackers.org/program/fitness-warriors/ and you can also learn more on social media @RVAFitnessWarriors.
Until the next episode, thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on this episode is Cheryl Groce-Wright. Cheryl is head coach of the Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team, which helps runners prepare for the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon on November 12. Before becoming head coach, Cheryl was a participant and then assistant coach, so she’s got a ton of knowledge to go along with a very interesting running journey. She was nice enough to share more insight and experience with us during this episode, and I hope you enjoy our discussion. As we mentioned during the interview, you can register for the Sports Backers Half Marathon Training Team up until August 31, so don’t wait. Registration is available at www.RichmondMarathon.org, and that’s where you can also get all the information you need on the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, CarMax Richmond Half Marathon, and VCU Health Richmond 8k, all taking place on November 12. Until the next episode, thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on this episode of Sports Backers' On the Move podcast is Danny Docherty, an elite runner, a running coach, and just an all around running enthusiast. Danny shared more insight on his running journey, what he hopes to accomplish as an athlete and a coach, the importance of building running communities, and the Twin Cities rivalry between Minneapolis and his hometown of Saint Paul: Hint: for runners, it’s all about which city plows their streets better in the winter. Speaking of rivalries, we also spent some time on the Great American 5000 and his team’s friendly battles with Keira and Anthony D’Amato. Thanks again to Danny for joining the podcast to share more on his experiences with running and coaching, and on the importance of building community through running. As he mentioned, he’s building towards the U.S. Marathon Road Championship at the California International Marathon in December, so be sure to follow him on Instagram at Danny.Doc to keep up with his running and coaching and to cheer him on. Until the next episode, thanks for tuning in!
This episode of 'On The Move' focuses on creating accessible adventure opportunities for people of all abilities and features a live recording of a recent panel discussion on that topic. The panel took place on May 18 and kicked off Dominion Energy Riverrock. A screening of the film ‘Adventure is for Everyone,’ took place before the panel, and was mentioned several times during the discussion. If you haven’t seen that film, which was produced by Beyond Boundaries, you should definitely check it out. Beyond Boundaries is a non-profit based in Richmond, specializing in guiding participants with disabilities, veterans, at risk youth, and recovery programs on outdoor adventures The panel was led by Shep Roeper, a co-founder of Beyond Boundaries, and also featured Sally Wetzler, a river advocate, outdoor enthusiast, community volunteer and James River Outdoor Coalition board member, as well as Josh Sloan, the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator at Sportable and an outdoor adventure adaptive athlete. Shep, Sally, and Josh shared plenty of insight and first-hand experience on the topic of accessible adventure and it was a great conversation. So I hope you enjoy the discussion as much as everyone in the audience did. Be sure to check out Beyond Boundaries, and their film ‘Adventure is for Everyone, at www.BeyondBoundariesRVA.org. For more info on Dominion Energy Riverrock’s Accessible Adventure discussion, visit www.RiverrockRVA.org. Until next time, thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on this episode is Stephen Lecky, Director of Events for Venture Richmond. Sports Backers and Venture Richmond are partners for Dominion Energy Riverrock, coming up May 20-22. Stephen provided more insight on Venture Richmond’s mission, events, and his role booking music for many different festivals. He also shared more about his own experiences as a musician and gave us all the details on the music lineup for Riverrock, so pay close attention to that as you prepare for this weekend’s festival. To stay up to date with Venture Richmond, visit them online at www.VentureRichmond.org or on social media @VentureRichmond. For more info in Dominion Energy Riverrock, visit www.RiverrockRVA.com or @RiverrockRVA on social media. Until the next episode, thanks for tuning in!
Welcome to a special preview of the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger and Atlantic Union Bank 10k Mini coming up on April 23. My Sports Backers colleague Meghan Keogh, Director of Events and race director for the 10k, joins us to provide all the details you need to know ahead of race day, and she also shares some of her favorite memories from the event. And, as an added bonus for our listeners, she provides a tip on where to find the best bathrooms near the start line of the 10k on race day. You definitely don’t want to miss that, so enjoy the episode and pay close attention. We are very excited about this year’s event and hope that you are too. For more information on the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger, please visit www.sportsbackers.org or follow us on social media @SportsBackers. Until next time, thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on this episode is Brandi Horton. Brandi is Vice President of Communications for the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trail advocacy organization and a partner with Sports Backers for the Great American Ride. Brandi shared details on how the Rails to Trails Conservancy works across the country to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors, and how they are completing the vision for the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail that will run from Washington State to Washington, DC. And as a bonus, we even had time to discuss her previous work with Farm Aid and its well-known music festival. Be sure to follow the work of the Rails to Trails Conservancy online at www.RailsToTrails.org, and on social media. The Great American Ride, a virtual team cycling event that follows the path of the Great American Rail-Trail, kicks off on March 19, and team registration is available at www.GreatAmericanRide.org. As always, thank you for tuning in to the On the Move podcast from Sports Backers. Visit us online at www.sportsbackers.org or on social media @SportsBackers to share any feedback on the podcast.
Our guest on this episode of the On the Move podcast is Hamilton Glass. Hamilton is a renowned artist, designer, and creator based here in Richmond. He has created over 50 murals and public art installations throughout Richmond, the state of Virginia, and across the United States. He is one of the creators behind innovative public art projects like Mending Walls and All In Together, and this year he has partnered with the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k to create a design for the event participant shirt and also launched a new All In Together 10k project. In this episode we discuss those partnerships for the 10k, the importance of connecting people through art and conversations, and the impact his work is having in Richmond and beyond. It was a great discussion full of insight, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Be sure to stay up to date with Hamilton online at www.WhosHam.com or www.MendingWallsRVA.com, and on social media @HamGlass, and check out www.AllInTogetherVA.com to contribute to the 10k mural. You can learn more about the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger at www.sportsbackers.org. Until next time, thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on today’s special bonus (meaning: very short) episode is Gene Dykes. The self-described ‘Ultrageezer’ has set multiple official and unofficial age group world records in a variety of running distances and continues to go after big goals and accomplishments. The 73-year-old from outside Philadelphia visited Richmond in November for the Richmond Marathon, and we caught up with him for a few minutes on November 12, before the marathon at the pre-race expo. He was gracious enough to join for a quick interview to share more insight on his accomplishments and experiences and it was great to speak with him. Gene ended up finishing the Richmond Marathon with a time of 3:20:40, which was good for first place in his age group. It also helped him move into 2nd place in the World Marathon Majors rankings for the age 70-74 category. And we’ll continue to look for more incredible accomplishments from Gene in the future. Thank you for listening to this episode of the On the Move podcast and for your support throughout the year. Be sure to share any feedback at www.sportsbackers.org or on social media @SportsBackers. Until the next episode, thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on this episode is Megan Schultz, Chief Operating Officer of Sports Backers. Megan has been with Sports Backers for 15 years and has just about seen it all in terms of events during that time. She’s also Race Director for the VCU Health Richmond Marathon, so she’s the perfect person to help preview this year’s race, which is coming up on November 13 and includes the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon and Allianz Partners 8k. We take a deep dive into everything that participants can expect, and I hope it’s a great way to help you prepare for race day. As we mentioned, all the information that was discussed can also be found at RichmondMarathon.org, or on social media @SportsBackers. And if you have any feedback on the podcast, let us know at www.SportsBackers.org or on social media. Thanks for tuning in!
Our guest on this episode is Jacki Quinlan, Director of Youth Programs for Sports Backers. Jacki leads programs and events that create active living opportunities for thousands of kids across the Richmond region on an annual basis. She has spent most of her career working in youth programming and is a dedicated advocate for creating equity through active living. It was great to learn more about her work, her experiences, and her own active living pursuits, including an upcoming marathon and ultramarathon. You can learn more about the events we discussed, including Marathon Jr. and the Fall Fit Club, as well as Kids Run RVA, NextUp, and the Scholar Athlete Awards, at sportsbackers.org, or follow @KidsRunRVA and @SportsBackers on social media. As always, thanks for tuning in!
Through their work with events, training teams, and the Richmond Road Runners Club, as well as their passion for active living, Michael George and Nikkia Young are great resources for all things related to running in Richmond. They joined this episode of the 'On the Move' podcast to talk about a few well-known events, including the Ashland Half Marathon and VCU Health Richmond Marathon, how they got started with running, efforts to make the sport more open and inclusive, some interesting history, and, of course, inflatable unicorns and the Grateful Dead. So we really covered a lot of ground and it's worth a listen whether you're an experienced runner or just getting started. If you want to learn more about the Richmond Road Runners Club, visit their website at www.RRRC.org for find them on social media at @RVARoadRunners. For more information on the Ashland Half Marathon and VCU Health Richmond Marathon, visit www.sportsbackers.org. or www.RichmondMarathon.org.
Lisa Bentley competed as a professional triathlete for 20 years, is an 11-time Ironman champion, a finisher of multiple marathons, and an accomplished motivational speaker, author, television broadcaster, and coach. And she competed at the highest levels of her sport despite a diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 20. Lisa joined this episode of the On the Move podcast to share more about her career path, overcoming challenges, the processes that led her to success in a variety of fields, and the things that any athlete can do to successfully set and achieve their goals. It was a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it. If you want to learn more about Lisa or connect with her, visit her website, www.LisaBentley.com. And we also discussed the VCU Health Richmond Marathon, which takes place on November 13. More information on that is available at www.RichmondMarathon.org.
Kevin Tobin is an owner, camp director, and youth programs coordinator for Peak Experiences climbing gym and Passages Adventure Camp in Richmond, Virginia. He also coordinates the Bouldering competition for the Dominion Energy Riverrock festival each year, which attracts some of the top climbing athletes to compete, including Nathaniel Coleman, Kyra Condie, and Brooke Raboteau, three of the members of Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics. In addition to the athletes representing the U.S., Garrett Gregor is the lead route setter for the Olympic event and he's held the same role in the past at Riverrock. So Kevin is a great source for knowledge on all things related to climbing. He gave us great insight into the competitors and format for the Olympic event ahead of the start of the climbing competition on August 3, so be sure to listen before you tune in to the Olympics. If you're interested in checking out Peak Experiences or Passages Adventure Camp, visit www.PeakExperiences.com. For more information on Dominion Energy Riverrock, go to www.RiverrockRVA.com.
Phillip Deane's connections with Sports Backers and active living started in 2005, when he was recognized as one of the overall winners in the Richmond Times-Dispatch/Sports Backers Scholar-Athlete Awards program as a senior at Varina High School in Henrico County. He went on to play baseball at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, graduating with a degree in economics in 2009. He continued to stay active after his college athletics career ended, taking part in a number of road running events over the next decade. His life was changed during a medical emergency near the finish line of the Richmond Half Marathon in November 2018, and thanks to the quick actions of the event medical team and doctors at VCU Health, he received lifesaving care. It was a very scary situation for Phillip and his family, and he spoke about the challenges of his recovery and his commitment to staying active. Phillip reached out to a few of us at Sports Backers in the fall of 2020 to with a few updates about his active living journey and to share his appreciation for the role that Sports Backers has played in his life. It was very impactful to read and we wanted to follow up with him to learn more. The result of that discussion is this episode, which has been several months in the making. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.
In this episode of the On the Move podcast, Anthony and Tara Clary joined to talk about the powerful community impact of their running group, Running with Rock and Tara. The group, based in the Manchester area of Richmond, has grown over the past year and welcomes runners of all experience levels and backgrounds. Anthony is also training to be part of the Sports Backers Fitness Warriors program, and he's preparing to lead free fitness classes in the Blackwell community of South Richmond, where he and Tara live. They are truly dedicated to improving their community through healthy and active living and, as they say, getting everyone off the couch.
As part of Sports Backers' 2020 Storybook, which details the organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, several members of the Sports Backers marketing team joined the podcast to share insight into the process of generating ideas and marketing strategies for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Ashlee Snider, Nan Callahan, and Katharine Benfer join host Pete Woody talk about developing the marketing and communications strategies to encourage event participation and the importance of being honest, transparent, and proactive in participant communications. After listening to the podcast, you can check out the full report online at www.sportsbackers.org.
After an impressive 2020 full of great performances, Richmond-based runner Keira D'Amato turned pro in early 2021 and has more big goals in sight, including the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. She joined the podcast to talk about the latest developments in her running journey, her upcoming schedule, and her quest for redemption for Team Studs in the Great American 5000, a virtual team race across America. She also discussed tap dancing and her family food-ranking competitions. So it's safe to say this is an episode you don't want to miss.
In this episode of the On the Move podcast from Sports Backers, experienced runner and Marathon Training Team coach Carrie Parker joins to share her advice and best practices for winter running. Whether you are working towards a goal race in the spring or trying to get started with a new activity routine, Carrie offers some great tips to keep you moving through the winter. Find out more about training teams and upcoming events at www.sportsbackers.org.
In this episode of the On the Move podcast from Sports Backers, Kristen Eichert joins to talk about her experiences running 60 miles in 24 hours in April 2020. She gives us the inspiration behind her accomplishment as well as the planning and logistics that went into it. It's great insight for anyone planning to take part in the '24 Hours of Richmond' event on February 20. Learn more at www.sportsbackers.org.
In this episode of the On the Move podcast from Sports Backers, Brantley Tyndall joins to discuss bike and pedestrian advocacy. Brantley is part of Sports Backers' Bike Walk RVA program and recently became the new president of the Virginia Bicycling Federation. He talks about the main legislative goals for bike and pedestrian advocates in 2021 and also shared plenty of interesting stories about his various hobbies and interests, including biking across the country, road and trail running, and woodworking.