The Running Grind: Recent Episodes
Joseph D
The Running Grind, presented by The Grind Effect, is a podcast dedicated to hearing the journey behind your grind. With its origins from long distance running, the Running Grind aims to hear the unique stories behind runner's trainings from full marathons to couch-to-5k's. Everyone's story is different and everyone has a different reason behind their goals. From Boston Qualifiers to new runner's, this podcast is meant to inspire and have listeners aspire to reach for their goals, although the path to get there may not be the easiest. The Grind Effect is a lifestyle, a state of mind, and a reminder that anything worth it in life, is a grind; nothing comes easy.
At the 2023 Texas Independence Relay, the husband and wife duo took on the ~200 mile race as a team of two. Unfortunately, they got to 120-ish miles and had to call it a day but they spent the next 365 days thinking about redemption. With increased training, multiple ultramarathons, they came back ready and more prepared for TIR 2024 and conquered the course!
Let's catch up with them post-race and hear it in their own words
Usually when I do these episodes, it’s more about sharing the runner’s run journey but this turned more into two runners/frienss catching up and talking about the past year of running, including the @chevronhoustonmarathon on Sunday. So it’ll be like you pulled up seat to a conversation.
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I’ve only seen Jin face to face maybe 3 or 4 times since we met back in 2021 but he’s probably one of my biggest cheerleaders and supporters from the running community and vice versa. Just a generally good guy who loves to see you crush goals while he’s crushing his goals. And this year alone, he went from a 3:20
Marathon in June to a 3:10:18 on Sunday at Chevron, missing his BQ by 18 seconds. But he’s ready to try for it again this summer.
Today, we chat with @chevronhoustonmarathon ambassador, Christine Mulvania, on the eve of her 4th marathon taking place in Philly this weekend.
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Although we connected on IG two years ago, we finally met in person at the Houston Half and knew she’d be great for the show
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She’s had a life full of adventures but also heartache. She has many reasons for running that all started to honor and support her mother. And she continues to runs as a result of her own health issues that she graciously shares in this episode
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Thanks again for letting me share it
Almost 2.5 years later, we run it back with Corey Joyner and catch up on his run journey. With a move to the west coast, he’s living that sub-3 marathon life consistently and still improving. We talk life, Boston, training and what the running future holds for him
After 8 months,I felt it was time to make a return to the mic. And to help shake off the rust, I thought I’d catch up with someone who was so easy to chat with the first go- around
I could definitely tell I was out of season but Tori was amazing and made it comfortable as I tried to get my sea legs back.
We catch up two years down the road and see where her life and run journey has taken her
Fresh off the @chevronhoustonmarathon , we chat with ambassador, Rosa Perez, who ran her first live marathon while also serving as a race ambassador. We recap her training season as well as chat about the race itself and the entire weekend.
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Also a staple in the running community, she is also lead ambassador for @latinasrunhouston which has grown far beyond what she imagined in just a short time.
Chevron Houston Marathon 2022 was my first live marathon and finished with a sub-3:33:00 so the goal for CHM 2023 was to break that time break it by almost 8 minutes. Heading into the race, I felt better prepared, better trained, overall stronger and healthier and mentally locked in to hit a 3:25 marathon. Did it happen?
These five runners met back in 2020 as race ambassadors for the Chevron Houston Marathon and instantly formed a unique bond and friendship that has carried them to 2023 and now three-time race ambassadors.
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They chat and reflect on their time and how much connecting with each other has meant to them
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@run_with_viv
@glentastica
@pedro_xrun
@vgoebruns
@ddannugchiro
We head to Mizzouri to chat with this runner who is still new to the game and absolutely killing it. With only 5 live races under her belt: one 5k, two 10k’s, one half and one marathon, she’s just threw down 3:29:52 marathon time and nabbed a BQ on her first try!
She’s barely scratching the surface of her potential in this sport.
A mother of two and married to her high school sweetheart, life has taken her to Georgia, Kansas, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and now Missouri.
We’re back with this San Antonio speedster who was blessed with natural speed that took her from the hardwood to the track and eventually earned her an athletic scholarship to college. Balancing life as a mom of three, a wife and full time occupational therapist, Erica still manages to Boston Qualify and even qualified to the Olympic Trial Qualifiers in Atlanta back in 2020. Don’t let the pint size, soft spoken and humbleness fool you, when that gun goes off, she’s a beast on the road races!
After more than two years, a pandemic, a baby and a whole lot of running, we check back in with Rebecca Garza fresh off the Boston Marathon.
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Now a 3x BQ-er, we talk about life and running since our first interview and how her journey to reach the 🦄
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@dr.rodolfogarza @rockcreekoms @hardlooprun @calneff
We chat with Houstonian, by way of Northern California, Caroline Loveall about her run journey that began in 2017, two weeks before Hurricane Harvey.
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Though hesitant to join a running club at first, she was volun-told she was joining @bonrunningclub and the rest is history. Now she’s we’ll-known in her new city and engrained in the running community such as @runon_riveroaks & @freaksrunclub in addition to BON.
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She’s an ultramarathoner with 50k’s, 55k’s and 100k’s under her belt and just took part in the @texasindrelay last month. Just laid back and easy going throughout our chat, enjoy!
We’re back with a new episode and chatting with H-town’s, Debi Dallmeyer. Although not a newbie to running, she’s taken the next step and fully immersed herself in training, PR’s, short run, long runs, 80/20 and more importantly, the running community.
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We talk about the Texas Independence Relay she did with her squad @championsrunning a few weeks ago and we talk her run journey from the beginning.
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When you start a dedicated IG account for running, you know it’s getting real.
We're back with double the guests as I'm joined with run coach and owner of BC Fitness, James Wyatt and runner/athlete/beekeeper, Lauren Inmon.
We catch up with James almost two years later from his first episode and he takes us thru the pandemic and shutdown in 2020 and navigating that as a business owner. We touch on his YouTube channel "Running with James" and run coaching. We discuss his own training, not only in running, but also as he enters fitness racing competitions known as Hyrox where he's done extremely well to no one's surprise. He's the leader of the "If you can change your mind, you can change life" movement and creating a community of fitness, fellowship and family.
We're also joined by his athlete Lauren Inmon, who competed on several season of American Ninja Warrior and has recently started her own running journey within the last year competing in half-marathons and marathons. Not only that, but she has also trained and participated in Hyrox competitions with her next event coming up in April.
Together, they are launching a new podcast called Running with James on March 9, 2022 as they delve into a variety of topics from fitness, nutrition, racing, and even just personal views.
They're two great personalities and two fun people to talk shop with.
Still feeding off that energy from the @chevronhoustonmarathon , we’re rolling with our second episode of the week and chatting with Viviano Landin aka Viv.
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A two-time race ambassador, we talk about his Cool Kids crew, race day and being able to represent a live race after the year of virtuals due to COVID.
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He also pays homage to the individuals that introduced him to the running community and gives thanks to all the connections he’s made in his short time of running.
Fresh off an amazing weekend that was the 50th @chevronhoustonmarathon , we chat with Taushah Papke who PR’d and nabbed a 🦄 on race day!
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We chat her run journey that included running 27 marathon since 2013 but only started formally training two years ago.
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Having nabbed the unicorn twice, she continues to push herself to mew limits and new PR’s. Not to mention she also ran four marathons in 13 months, the fourth being Chevron 2022!
Its Chevron Houston Marathon week and we’re checking back in with 2x Race Ambassador, Glenda Newman
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After a year of training thru injury and setbacks. She returns to the marathon as a revamped runner who is now pain free, she hired a run coach and unlocking new levels in her running.
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Not only the best running friend you haven’t met yet, she’s also co-captain of Latina Runs Houston and a new member of Team Catapult
Feels good to be back with the last episode of 2021. And I got a good one for you as we head to Fort Worth, Texas and chat with the super fun Stephanie Platt.
A 20+ half marathoner that made the leap to the full marathon this year. And she made quite the leap with three marathon in five months: St. Georges, Boston and New York.
We catch up with her fresh off the Dallas Half Marathon a few weeks ago and talk her run journery and where it’s led her to.
@bibrave
@gatoradeendurance @hylandspowered
We’re heading back to the northwest to chat once again with Emily Heller of Run Like Heller on YouTube!
For those that don’t follow her, check out her out on youtube, like and subscribe to her channel. She started her channel at the end of 2019 and a few months later, covid started along with the whole shutdown/quaratine and her channel blew up. With our first chat, she was around 8 thousand subscribers and currently, she’s just under 13 thousand. She’s known for her awesome shoe reviews but she attributes her success to 1. She’s one of the few female shoe reviewers out there and 2. she’s a regular person like you and I, not an elite, not some speedster (yet at least) she’s just a person who loves to run and push herself with the time she’s given each day.
And for those that do know her, you know she’s been training for the Chicago Marathon and putting in 16 weeks of work to prepare. Her training was on point but stuff out of her control were the factors on race day. Airlines and travel just didn’t start race weekend off on the right foot as didn’t the weather but we talk training, traveling, doing a livestream with fellow Youtuber, Kofuzi as well as the race itself.
https://youtube.com/c/RunLikeHeller
We head to the Midwest and chat with super cool Illinois runner Jessica Weis. Her run journey includes a personal battle with bulimia that she was not only able to recognize but also overcome. She’s now on a mission to race in every state in the United States and a few of the Abbott Six Majors.
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We go into detail with her battle as well as meeting a clothing company at an expo that will later be @runners_empire_ and how she’s formed solid friendships with the owner @zacsakacsi and fellow ambassadors!
We chat with founder/executive director Mary Callahan who celebrates 20 years of leading Girls on the Run Greater Houston, which is one of the oldest and largest chapters in the nation. We look back at the beginning where she started with six girls, two of which were her daughters, to hitting 2,000 girls to navigating thru Covid.
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GOTR has made a huge impact in the lives of young girls and gives them the tools to be confident, caring and independent leaders of the future.
We’re staying in Houston and talking with one of my guys, my dudes, my boy @pedro_itslife about his run journey that started just a few years back. Hear how this street dancer transitioned to running and ultimately led him to being a two-time and current @chevronhoustonmarathon ambassador.
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One of the best guys I know, hear how he and his family lost everything in a house fire on Christmas Eve and how the running community came together to help one of our own.
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Ambassador:
@chevronhoustonmarathon
@houstonrunco
@alter_ego_running
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@freaksrunclub
@kungfurunningclub
@njordrunning
@runon_riveroaks
@championsrunning
We head to Tennessee to chat with founder and owner of Runners Empire, @zacsakacsi and his journey to starting the running apparel company that’s based on three principles: dedication, performance and family.
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We chat about his early entrepreneurship in the “flip life” world, to YouTube, to the grind of starting @runners_empire_ that included financial loss, loss of personal relationships and more downs than ups. But Zac had a vision, stuck with it and is now starting to see the fruits of his labor.
We're heading to the state of Washington to talk with Lisa Cabiles. The start of her running journey coincided with a severe digestive issue that left her at 100lbs. Once resolved, she found her inner beast and has 15+ Boston Qualifying times to her resume including qualifying on her very first marathon.
She was also one of twelve runners chosen to train under Ryan Hall one season. She's now found her second wind in trail running and the ultra marathon scene and just completed her first 100 mile race on June 26, 2021. Its been a long run journey for her and has accomplished this while also trying to salvage relationships in her personal life. For any single parent out there, here is someone that can inspire all of us.
PRs:
100 miler: 21:27:47
50 miler: 7:44:42
26.2 miles: 3:02:34
13.1: 1:26:44
10K: 39:36
5K: 18:36 in high school; 19:15 currently
Brand Ambassador:
Rabbit
Honey Stinger
We talk with this Houston-based runner about her impressive running resume as well as throwing down the ultimate personal challenge of 40 marathons in 40 days for her 40th Birthday!
She is definitely not afraid to test her limits both mentally and physically.
PR’s:
5k-20:54
10k-42:50
Half-1:31:58
Full-3:22:32
50k-Hells Hills 7:23:27
100k-Rocky Raccoon 16:40
Brand Ambassador:
PRO Compression
Nuun
Mind Over Matter
RAD rabbit
Episode 50!!! And we got a good one as we head east to chat with 10x Boston Qualifier and author of “Boston Bound: A 7-year Journey to Overcome Mental Barriers and Qualify for the Boston Marathon” Elizabeth Clor.
We catch up with her as she’s coming back from injury and chat about her beginnings in running, using a run/walk method for her first few marathons with a best time of 3:51:00 as well as her shift to qualifying for Boston. It’s a shift that caused self-induced pressure, anxiety and psychological struggles that served as the basis for her book. @elizabethclor
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PR’s
1 mile: 5:52
5K: 19:59
10K: 41:35
10 Miles: 1:07:47
Half: 1:30:58
Full: 3:15:34
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Brand Ambassador:
@roadrunnersports
@maurten_official
@tifosioptics
@rapidreboot
We head to Tennessee to chat with @therunningtennman whose running journey started just a few years ago in 2018. Finishing his first half marathon in sub-2 hours, he now has a marathon PR of 3:26:12 using a run/walk method.
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Now Berlin Marathon training underway, he looks forward to being halfway done with the Abbot 6 Major Marathons before upping the ante and going for his first 100mile race at the Tunnel Hill 100 in November.
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PR’s
5k: 19:53
Half Marathon: 1:37:07
Full Marathon: 3:26:12
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Brand Ambassador
@runners_empire_
@headsweats
@bibrave
@chattanooga_marathon
@michelobultrapr Team Ultra
We’re heading to the UK to chat with runner, triathlete, Ironman and now ultra-marathoner. He’s had an awesome journey that’s now dipping into trail running and a 100mile race in the near future!
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He’s also had some interesting races that included a marathon around a track with 400 other runners..that’s like 100+ laps!
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PR’s
5k 18.59
10k 37.39
10 mile : 64.05
Half M : 1.28.45
Marathon : 3.24.01
Ambassador:
UK Running Events
We’re heading back to Cali this week to chat with this amazing runner and now triathlete. She ran her first half-marathon in 2009 and transitioned to the marathon in 2012 and BQ’d on her first try…that’s beast! Now dabbling in triathlons, she did her first half-Ironman in December 2020 and on her first try, she qualified for the 70.3
World Championships. If that’s not a flex, I don’t know what is.
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But as great as those accomplishments are, her first priority is family.
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Brand Ambassador:
@vespa_endurance
@genucan
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PR’s:
Marathon: 2:53
Half Marathon: 1:19
10k: 24:58
5k: 17:04
We’re talking with two-time Chevron Houston Marathon Ambassador and h-town’s own Glenda Newman.
One of the most social and supportive runners in the running community. We talk being a race ambassador for a virtual series, running a virtual 26.2, and how amazing the running community is
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@runon_riveroaks
@njordrunning
@kungfurunningclub
@chevronhoustonmarathon
@alter_ego_running
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We talking with former UH track star and the recent grad school graduate on her running journey that started in Michigan and brought her down south to Houston. We talk life of a student athlete, getting recruited out of high school and navigating her final college season in the midst of global pandemic. We touch on running an (un)official sub-5 min mile with other local elites during the pandemic and the power of the pack as well what’s next after her college career. It’s an easy listen with a very friendly beast of a runner!
@greenbriarrunclub
We’re heading out west for the first time and chatting with the @thepacepusher , Bryan Botma. Not just an amazing runner, he’s just a killer athlete, completing 4 @ironmantri races in five years! That’s some serious level of competition.
Now with his focus shifting to running, we talk Boston, why the New York City Marathon has special meaning to him and running Rim to Rim at the Grand Canyon, not once, but twice so far.
We’re switching sports and talking triathlons with AWD athlete, Leti Sandoval and her guide, Linda Fox. Leti has a condition called Usher’s Syndrome where she’s deaf but will eventually lose her vision as she gets older.
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Through an amazing group called Team Catapult , these two connected and competed in their very first triathlon together at the Bayou City Tri at Sylvan Beach just a few weeks ago.
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It’s a fantastic story of trust, friendship, and proving there are no limitations in life except the ones you put on yourself.
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@leti_sandoval81
@lilshrimpit
Ambassadors:
Team Catapult
Mind Over Matter
We head to Brooklyn to chat with @chinnychinruns who started running as way to lose weight but eventually crossed into the realm “unhealthy” at times.
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But now he’s running for fun and enjoying the runner’s high. That high didn’t come without some lows as we talk about how he won an IG contest with a well known coach to get a personal training plan. But when the time came to redeem his prize, the coach didn’t think he was ready to train for a marathon….so Tom ran two marathons to prove that coach wrong and to prove to himself that he could.
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We also delve into growing up in New York as an immigrant as, bullying and the current climate and attacks on the Asian community.
Ambassador:
Brooks Run Happy Team
Nuun Hydration
One of my favorite episodes to date with such an inspiring person. It’s an episode that covers overcoming an eating disorder, a running journey that included talking herself out of her first double digit-mile race...only to run it virtually later than day, and the importance of self-love and love for others.
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So many great quotes and relatable experiences, we could’ve gone another hour easy.
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@sophsmom1031
Brand Ambassador:
@alter_ego_running
@guenergylabs
@run4allwomen
We’re heading to Jeerzy to chat with this runner who’s run journey intersects with her journey to sobriety. @xregann opens about how her alcoholism started, the steps she took to overcome her battle and the strides she made to put it all behind her and run towards a much happier and healthier life.
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She’s a testament and inspiration to anyone trying to overcome personal battles.
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Ambassador:
@mind.over.matter.athlete
@koalaclip
Today, we’re heading to the big apple and chatting with Carleth Keys aka @carlethkeys on Instagram. We talk life in New York as well as splitting time in Madrid, Spain. She takes us on the journey from growing up in Venezuela, to Denmark, and then eventually to Florida and New York. Some may recognize her from being a TV personality on a news station in both Florida and New York before hanging it up to be with her family and starting her run journey. And for someone who started right at the end of 2018 early 2019, she is off and running. She already BQ’d and this recording was done literally 24 hours before she found out she’s headed to the Boston Marathon.
Aside from her running grind, she has professional grind as a video producer that she started from the ground up, has booked gigs, done commercials and other marketing media and building a name for herself. But despite all the success, she’s very grounded, energetic and just super cool to chat with.
PRs:
Full: 3:31:50
Half Marathon: 1:45
Brand Ambassador:
Alter Ego Running
42K Running (Spain)
This weeks episode brings us to the ATX where I get the pleasure of chatting with Brooke Ziel aka @mamabrookeruns365 on IG. She was the very first person I connected with on the IG running community and she’s just about the coolest person I’ve followed! What’s better is she’s even cooler in real life!
Really enjoyed this episode and it was like talking with a celebrity , which shows how much I look up to her.
PR:
10k: 45:15
Half: 1:32
Full: 3:23
50 miler- 8.25:00 ,
100k- 15.35.00
2X BQ-er
Team Ultra
Alter Ego Running
Rabbit clothing
Ep 37: Let’s Run with Subbu Venkat.
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We’re keeping it local this week and talking with Houston’s own Subbu Venkat. He started his run journey 20 years ago after running with a coworker and 25 marathons later and several BQ’s, he’s well on his way to running the Six Majors. He currently is on the Board for the @chevronhoustonmarathon and @harraruns but his superhero status lies in the fact that he gave the gift of life and donated a kidney to someone in need. Since then he’s become an advocate for Living Organ Donation and we talk his run journey as well as his donor journey. @subbuvenkat
@kidney_donor_athletes
@livingbank
@livingorgandonor
@donatelifetexas
thegrindeffect #therunninggrind #stateofmind #alifestyle #running #runner #runningcommunity #runningmotivation #runjourney #yoursuccess #110percent #aspireandinspire #humility #leadbyexample #runningpodcast #mygrind #5k #10k #halfmarathon #marathon #TogetherWeMove #togetherindistance
mindsetiseverything #itsallaboutthegrind #challengeyourself #livingorgandonor #kidneydonorathlete #kidneydonor
We head to Lakeland, Florida to chat with Corey Joyner aka @cjtherunner about his running journey that started out in 2018 as a way to improve his cardio to compliment his CrossFit. That runner’s high caught on quick as he found this sport to be his passion. In just little over a year, he went from a 5-hour marathoner to a 4:28 marathoner to a 3:18-marathoner. Super humble guy and just an easy guy to chat with. Enjoy!
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Brand Ambassador:
@runners_empire_
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thegrindeffect #therunninggrind #stateofmind #alifestyle #running #runner #runningcommunity #runningmotivation #runjourney #yoursuccess #110percent #aspireandinspire #humility #leadbyexample #runningpodcast #mygrind #5k #10k #halfmarathon #marathon #TogetherWeMove #togetherindistance
mindsetiseverything #itsallaboutthegrind #challengeyourself
We’re heading to Bah-stahn for today’s episode to talk with mother, runner and preschool teacher, Claudia Figerio (IG: @justsmile_justtri ) to talk her running journey. Originally from Italy, she moved to Arkansas, lived in the Woodlands, TX for six years where she found her “runspiration” before heading to Boston, Mass.
Brand Ambassador:
@aftershokz
@roadid
For today’s episode, we’re hopping across the Atlantic ocean and heading to the UK to chat with William Pullen aka Dynamicrunningtherapy on IG. He’s a psychotherapist, author, TEDx speaker and creator of Dynamic Running Therapy, which I’ll let him explain throughout the episode. He’s someone who is a runner himself but has used running in his own practice to change the setting of his sessions with clients he’s seen positive results with it. It was a great chat and you’ll definitely enjoy
@dynamicrunningtherapy
We’re back in Pennsylvania to chat with
Maddie Alger to discuss running and mental health. We both open up about our own battles with mental health issues and discuss how running helped and for her, how the running community literally saved her life when she was in a very dark place. It’s an amazing listen as we talk running but more importantly, finding the help you need and coming out on the other side.
IG: @poweredby_prosecco
For a third time in five episodes, we are back in the state of Pennsylvania and talking with another amazing runner from the Keystone State. Rachel Bankaci aka @rachelrunsPA on IG, joins me today to talk being a full-time mother, a run coach and a four-time Boston Qualifier. Her first qualifier left her one second shy of making the cut and you can imagine how devastating that was.
PR's:
5K: 21:35
10K: 44:53
Half-Marathon: 1:41:01
Marathon: 3:34:11
BQ's
Pittsburg Marathon 2017
Philadelphia Marathon 2018
Philadelphia Marathon 2019
Veterans Marathon 2020
Brand Ambassador:
Runner's Empire
We take it to YouTube and talk with Emily Heller; the host of Run Like Hell(er). She started her channel in 2019 and saw her channel explode last March with her shoe reviews and has amassed a following of over 7K subscribers.
We talk the grind of starting a YouTube channel, the grind of building her brand and building a following. And all while holding down a 9-5 and chasing her own personal running goals.
I think your gonna enjoy this one!
Be sure to subscribe to her channel and hit the notification bell to never miss an episode
https://youtu.be/Ls2WTikjTcA
Be sure to use her affiliate links in her videos if you’re interested in any of those shoes at Running Warehouse
@runlikeheller
Happy New Year! We're getting things rolling in 2021 with a Philly runner, Stacey Gross. She's amassed a number of followers on IG for her genuine and relatable run journey that started just a few years ago. From 5K's to ultras, she's done all the distances in just the short time she "became a runner." Sit back and enjoy!
IG: @s_gross
Klean Athlete Sponsored Runner
Brooks Run Happy Team
Brand Ambassador:
Noxgear
Mind Over Matter
Prcompression
Klean Athlete- "EKLN-3688"
Noxgear- "SGROSS10"
ProCompression- PRO40
Mind over Matter Athlete- "MMStaceyG"
Ending 2020 with a local Houston runner and president of the @houstonharriers , Daniel Barron. He talks his run journey that started with coworkers who would run 5miles during their lunch breaks. And now he’s a 4-time Boston Qualifer, a sub-3 hour marathoner, a #girldad and the one behind @30_for_ana dedicated to his sister.
PR:
5k- 18:19
10k- 38:14
Half: 1:22:38
Full: 2:56:17
BQ:
2013, 2018, 2019, 2020
We're heading northwest and we chat with Kristin Stokes, who just ran her first ultra race on a road/trail hybrid that was a test to her mental and physical will. But its the start of her running journey that surprised me the most, which was being diagnosed with MS at the young age of 22. Despite that, her dad said "let's get running" and what started as a 5k turned into a marathon several months later and she hasn't looked back. In fact, she's BQ'd twice and hit the podium in several races. She's an amazing runner and a testament to getting over hurdles and not letting obstacles hold you back.
PRs:
5K -21.48 Phillies 5k
5M – 37:38 FiresideFrostbite Five Miler
10K – 45:26 Atlantic City 10K
10Mi – 1:07:52 Philadelphia Broad Street Run
13.1 – 1:36:52 Philadelphia Rock N Roll Half Marathon
Marathon – 3:23:19 Steamtown Marathon
50K – MCM 50K 5:09
50M – JFK 50 11:00:41 Finished top 100 femalesBQ's:
Delaware Marathon Running Festival 2014 – 3:27:18
Steamtown Marathon 3:23:19
Brand Ambassadors:
Brook Run Happy Team
Koala Clip Action Team
Alter Ego Running
Vital Perfomance/Proteins Athlete
BibRave Pro
Brunch Running
GoodFor
MyStryde
Picky Bar
Nuun
Honey Stinger
Teams:
Mind Over Matter
Oiselle PA- Co-Leader
Happy Post-Thanksgiving everyone. We're back with a new episode and joining me today is Houston Elite Calum Neff, whose resume speaks for itself. He's had an amazing running career so far and is still performing at the highest of levels. He gives us great insight and perspective from the life of an elite runner and all the experiences that come with it. From his journey's around the globe, to his training, to his three Guinness World Records that he was able to set with his three daughters. We talk about his quick recovery and back to form after fracturing his fibula from getting hit by a F150 three years ago as well as his Hardloop Personal Run Coaching. Really great interview that I know you're going to enjoy:
Altra Running Sponsored Athlete
Brand Ambassador:
Rabbit Elite
Polar
Gatorade Endurance
Trail Racing Over Texas
Run Gum
Tifosi
Thule
We sit and chat with the bubbly and super friendly Emilyanne of the great midwest state of Illinois. An amazing runner who just PR with a 3:44.46 in just her second marathon that took place two weeks ago! And was live! Like an actual live race....outside...with other runners! We break down how she found this race that was just an hour or two away and how the structure/organization and the frigid temperatures that made for a very chilly race!
She opens up about how reoccurring bouts of melanoma left her empty, reclusive and just a whole different person and how running changed her life around and gave her energy and inspiration and motivation.
Just another awesome interview with another awesome runner
IG: @emily.running.down.a.dream
PRs:
5k: 21:38
10k: 46:15
Half Marathon: 1:41:21
Marathon: 3:44:46
Brand Ambassador:
Tanri Outdoors
We're stepping outside the running world and talking with 30-time grand champions and triple under record holder, Tori Boggs. Winning her first grand champion title at age 9 years old, she still competing but is currently in Germany performing at shows that are still open despite the Covid pandemic. Always a competitor, she's found a new way to express her passion through these live shows and has seen her popularity sky-rocket since the onset of Covid back in March as she has amassed thousands upon thousands of new followers on IG in the last seven months. She's the ambassador to bringing her sport to the mainstream and forefront.
IG: @snorib
We have a quick bonus episode and are joined today by For the Run, an online running apparel company founded by Shawn King aka shawn.goes.running on IG. For The Run provides products for runners so they can give back. This November, they are hosting Virtual Race on Thanksgiving Day Weekend. Shawn joins me today to talk a little bit of the backstory behind the race and the cause a portion of the proceeds will be going to.
Let’s be honest... if you have no swag from a race, did you even run a race?!
It is that question that led the team at For the Run to create their first ever, “I Ran A Race”!
Pick from their 5k, 10k, or Half Marathon options and run with them on Saturday, November 28th or Sunday, November 29th!
You will get a race bib, a race week shirt, a finisher medal, a finisher sticker, and a finisher shirt!
Sounds pretty swagtastic right?! Well that isn’t even all! They are even going to have a Virtual Race Expo! On Black Friday, November 27th For the Run will have promo codes to shop their site along with other running businesses, and will be giving away prizes from their shop and other businesses!
Today, we sit and talk with Tori Caves out of small town near the Fort Worth, Texas area. She’s a Yogi and marathoner and on the chase to qualify for the Boston Marathon. She recently became a Plant Based Athlete and started a youtube channel where she’ll review shoes, running strollers, talk plant-based nutrition and just allow you to follow her running story. She was getting prepped to run the Dallas Marathon and punch her ticket with a BQ but with races postponed or cancelled, she unfortunately has to wait just a tad bit longer.
PRs
10K: 46:30
15K: 1:06:00
Half: 1:41:00
Full: 3:47:00
Podiums:
Hot Chocolate Dallas 2019: 1st in Age Group (AG)
Blue Red Run 10K 2018: 1st in AG
Hero Hustle 10K 2019: 2nd AG
Tour De Fleurs Quarter Marathon 2019: 2nd AG
Brand Ambassador:
Procompreesion
Honey Stinger
Sarah Marie Design Studio
Orgain
Today’s episode is brought to you by For the Run Clothing. Founded by Shawn King aka shawn.goes.running on IG, For The Run clothing provides products for runners so they can give back. This November they are hosting Virtual Race.
Let’s be honest... if you have no swag from a race, did you even run a race?!
It is that question that led the team at For the Run to create their first ever, “I Ran A Race”!
Pick from their 5k, 10k, or Half Marathon options and run with them on Saturday, November 28th or Sunday, November 29th!
You will get a race bib, a race week shirt, a finisher medal, a finisher sticker, and a finisher shirt!
Sounds pretty swagtastic right?! Well that isn’t even all! They are even going to have a Virtual Race Expo! On Black Friday, November 27th For the Run will have promo codes to shop their site along with other running businesses, and will be giving away prizes from their shop and other businesses! For the
We're back with a two-time Boston Qualifier and Race Ambassador for the Chevron Marathon, Deborah Loreto. She has an amazing journey that started with heartache and tragedy that she channeled into running and is now achieving so much in just the five years she's been running.
PR's:
5K: 21:53
10K: 46:11
HM: 1:42:32
Marathon: 3:37:20
Boston Qualifiers:
Chevron Marathon 2019: 3:44:25
Chevron Marathon 2020: 3:37:00
Brand Ambassador:
Run Happy Team Brooks
Bivisible Compression Sleeves and Socks
GoodFor
Sport2People
We sit and talk with Letty Uribe out of San Antonio, Texas. She's an ambassador for the Chevron Houston Marathon and a newly-crowned Boston Marathon Finisher. Unfortunately, in a sign of the times, the race had to be done virtually but that didn't stop her from completing the 26.2 mile trek to earn her unicorn status.
Letty is another runner who is the epitome of why I started this podcast. To hear someone who balances "(single) parent-life", a full time job and still finds a way to find her inner mamba and qualify for Boston and just check off goal after goal.
Really enjoyed having her on and I think you will enjoy hearing her story too.
PR's:
Marathon- 3:37:59 ( Chevron Houston 2019- BQ)
Half: 1:44:28 (Rock N' Roll San Antonio 2015)
15K: 1:15:10 (Plano Pacers Bead Bash 2017)
10K: 50:20 (Sam Lapidus Montclair in Alabama 2016)
5K: 22:40 ( Too Cold to Hold 2017, 1st in her AG)
1st Place AG at Irving Marathon 4:14:49...and she did that as a pacer!
IG: @therunningwinemom
Brand Ambassador
Chevron Marathon 2021
Brooks Running
Headsweats
ProCompression
Road ID
Momentum Jewelry
Honey Stinger
Nuun Hydration
We're back with the man began the Trackstreet Instagram Running Community! Jim Burrows has an amazing story from walking his son to cross country practice and being handed the assistant coach title the same day. He's a man with great integrity and just a love for all things running: the community, the support, the connections and the camaraderie.
He'll be the first to tell you that running changed him and for the better. He's healthier than he's ever been, he's happier than he's ever been and he's doing more running than he ever thought he would. He's got a fantastic story to tell and I think you will enjoy it too
IG: @jim_burrows_runs
@trackstreet.runners
Brand Ambassador for
@aftershockz
@alter_ego_running
@endurance_tap
@nuunhydration
@honeystinger
@run_n_tri_nc
We celebrate episode 20 with the amazing Lauren Stroud, a two-time Olympic Trials Qualifier in the marathon and a former Guinness World Record holder for a half-marathon pushing a stroller. We bring it all the way back to how her running journey started to where it is now. I don't know if she has another speed besides fast but her PR's speak for themselves:
1 mile- 4:52
5k- 16:18
10k- 34:11
Half Marathon-1:14
Marathon-2:44
She's also a part of the Team RabbitElite with Rabbit Apparel and is an ambassador for Just Strong
IG: @laurun123
This episode features the fun Blaire Harter from the Sunshine state of Florida. Super cool and bubbly personality, we really just shoot the breeze on all things running without getting too specific into races and race journeys. I really enjoyed this one, it was real easy and laid back.
Use her codes:
Mind Over Matter: MMFAMILY 10% off
ProCompression FF2020 for 40% off
AfterShokz https://glnk.io/4w4/harter for 15% off
IG: run_harter
We run with Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez: mother, physician and runner who just took a position as the Chair of The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UT Health San Antonio. Despite her duties and dedication as a physician and mom, she still has balanced life and family with running. This Mama Doc has ran in Masters USATF events and has BQ'd in all five marathons she ran. Amazing runner and amazing person
Her PR's include:
-1500m 5:29:20 (3/17/18) 2nd AG in Masters USATF National Indoors Championships
-1 mile (road) 6:00:10 (6/17/17) 1st non-elite at Lonestar Mile
-5k: 20:22 (4/9/16) 3rd AG Trolley Run
-10k: 45:17 (5/27/19) 1st masters in Memorial Day race but 10k PR'd during her half PR (43:51)
-Half: 1:34:22 (3/3/18) 2nd AG in Woodlands half
-Full: 3:23:19 (10/22/17) at Toronto Waterfront Marathon
BQ's include:
Houston marathon 2016
Boston 2017
Toronto 2017
Boston 2019
NYC 2019
IG: @monicavgutierrez
IG: @mamadocrunthis
IG: @houstonharriers
This week, we talk with Chris Gonzalez and take you on a 3 year journey that all began in 2017 after spectating at the Chevron Houston Marathon that year. Soon after that race, he set a goal to run a sub-3hr marathon and through ups and downs and several failed attempts, his self-motivation and dedication drove his commitment to see this goal through. Along the way, he's made friendships other runners along the way and now trains with the speedy Houston Harriers. He embodies the affirmations he speaks and his whole mindset and mental and physical strength is stronger as a result of his journey.
IG: @kikihno10
IG: @houstonharriers
We sit and chat with Tanna and Bree from Run Project. They're the ones behind the popular Dallas/Fort Worth race series that include the popular events: Dash Down Greenville, Skyline and Badass Texas to name a few. We talk the story behind Run Project from its beginnings to how they are handling things today's current pandemic situation. They also take us behind the scenes of what goes one to put on such an event for a fantastic running community it the DFW area. Without great race organizers likes Run Project, things like PR's, BQ's and OTQ's would be a lot harder to come by
www.runproject.org
Facebook: @runproject
Twitter: @runproject
Instagram: @runproject
Tik Tok: @runproject
We sit and talk with Olympian Steeplechaser, Lennie Waite. She represented Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janiero, Brazil. We take it back to where it all began with her track and field career, taking her talents to Rice University, realizing her potential to compete in international events as a professional athlete, to competing on the grandest stage of them all at the Olympics. We talk the ups and downs of her running career as as well as the sacrifices, the injuries and high & lows of her journey. Such an amazing story and inspiring road to where she is now
IG: @lenniew8
www.lenniewaite.com
@letty_runs_happy joins us this week to talk her running journey that started just 6 years ago after volunteering as a mentor for Katy Students Run, a program in Katy, TX that helps students (that may or may not be making great decisions) to train and run a half-marathon. The program is great in that it gives them something to be accounted for, dedicate time, and stay focused and work towards a goal that was once just an idea. After finishing her first half marathon, she moved to Fort Worth, Texas and the rest is history.
IG: letty_runs_happy
@teamtiux
@thecowtown
@tikibiosciences
@runflyingpig
@zealnaturals
@liquidiv
Great sit down with elite runner and two time OTQ-er, Ryan Miller. He had an awesome and inspiring story about finding his love for running, dedicating himself, and following his dream to do track and field/cross-country at the Division 1 college level. We talk about OTQ-ing in 2016 and 2020 with the former cut short due to an unexpected medical emergency but was able to find redemption in 2020.
He is a part of the rabbitPRO team for the Rabbit apparel company as well as a Nuun Hydration athlete. He also serves as a brand ambassador for Klean Athlete and Squirrel's Nut Butter.
Current PR's:
- Road Mile: 3:57 on 6/1/2017 at the State Street Mile in Santa Barbara, CA.
- 5000m: 14:30.51 on 2/28/2014 at the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, TX.
- 10000m: 29:51.94 on 4/02/2015 at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, CA.
- Half Marathon: 1:03:46 on 1/19/2020 at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in Houston, TX..
- Marathon: 2:14:27 on 12/2/2018 at the California International Marathon in Sacramento, CA
Career Highlights:
- 1st place at the San Antonio Rock & Roll Marathon in 2:20:43 on 12/5/19.
- 12th place at 2018 USATF Marathon Championship in 2:14:27 on 12/8/18.
- 7-time winner at the Texas 10 series, including 6 course records.
- Top Texas Finisher at the 2016 and 2017 USATF Half Marathon Championship, finishing 22nd and 16th respectively
IG: ryanmiller34
3 marathons in five months to qualify for her first Boston Marathon back in 2016. That alone will tell you the type of runner Karin Atkinson is. She was one of the first runners I reached out to as a guest for the show and four months later, we finally made it happen. We talk her introduction to long distance running while living in Malaysia, to Boston, to her ultra marathons of 50 miles and then 100-miles back in February of this year. After countless podiums, amazing races to her resume, she also provides one-on-one run coaching through her Run Peak Endurance brand.
PRs:
5k: 19:56
13.1: 1:32:00
26.2: 3:16:00
50 mile: 8:15:00
100 mile: 29:15:00
IG: @katkinson26.2
IG: @runpeakendurance
We are in the era of social distancing and I used the opportunity to try out interviews over different platforms.
After a tiny hiatus getting accustomed to the quarantine/stay-at-home orders, The Running Grind is back with another string of episodes starting with our West Virginia runners, Shawn and Autumn. Still relatively new to the running scene, they quickly developed a passion for it and the running community that comes with it. I really enjoyed talking with this couple as we break down their introduction to running, a few of their races, and their love for the running community.
trackstreet
trackstreetavengers
IG: @shawn.goes.running
IG: @autumn.does.stuff
IG: @forthe.run
thegrindeffect #therunninggrind #stateofmind #alifestyle #running #runner #runningcommunity #runningmotivation #runjourney #yoursuccess #110percent #allwinners #aspireandinspire #humility #leadbyexample #runningpodcast #mygrind #5k #10k #halfmarathon #marathon #TogetherWeMove #togetherindistance
___________________________
This episode is brought to you by BCFitness. Owned and operated by James and Leah Wyatt, BC Fitness is a community of support, education, and encouragement. We are dedicated to teaching individuals the true benefits of living an active and healthy lifestyle. BC Fitness works daily to bring you the best in functional and innovative training in an energetic and FUN way. We truly seek to inspire lasting change and make a positive impact on our community. We believe that true fitness is NOT about being better than someone else but rather being better than YOU used to be. We believe in your ability to overcome “I can’t”, we believe that when you…CHANGE YOUR MIND, you can CHANGE YOUR LIFE! www.bcfitstatus.com IG: @bcfitstatus
Episode 10! This pandemic will forever change the world and how we do things but while we're enjoying this extended weekend, that's going on three weeks, we are back with big guest for Number 10. We sit and talk with Cali Roper Werner who just ran the Olympic Trial Qualifiers in late February in Atlanta Georgia. We cover her run journey from Willis, Texas to Rice University to the Qualifiers. We delve into the world of OCD and how she found her career as a therapist.
Her PRs include
Mile: 4.58 Howie Ryan Invite - 2015
1500 4.32 – J Fred Duckett - 2014
3000 – 9.32 CUSA Indoor Championships 2016
5k – 16.14
10k – 34.01
Marathon: 2:43:05
IG: @caliroperwerner
This episode is brought to you by BCFitness. Owned and operated by James and Leah Wyatt, BC Fitness is a community of support, education, and encouragement. We are dedicated to teaching individuals the true benefits of living an active and healthy lifestyle. BC Fitness works daily to bring you the best in functional and innovative training in an energetic and FUN way. We truly seek to inspire lasting change and make a positive impact on our community. We believe that true fitness is NOT about being better than someone else but rather being better than YOU used to be. We believe in your ability to overcome “I can’t”, we believe that when you…
CHANGE YOUR MIND, you can CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
www.bcfitstatus.com
IG: @bcfitstatus
Join us as we sit down with Bree Schrader to talk all things running. From her time as a student-athlete at Baylor to transitioning to long distance and running her first marathon in November at CIM and almost OTQ! That there should tell you she is a fast one. Her PR's consist of:
5K: 17:37
10K: 36:32
Half Marathon: 1:19:23
Marathon: 2:50:37
IG: @bree_schrader13
This episode is brought to you by BCFitness. Owned and operated by James and Leah Wyatt, BC Fitness is a community of support, education, and encouragement. We are dedicated to teaching individuals the true benefits of living an active and healthy lifestyle. BC Fitness works daily to bring you the best in functional and innovative training in an energetic and FUN way. We truly seek to inspire lasting change and make a positive impact on our community. We believe that true fitness is NOT about being better than someone else but rather being better than YOU used to be. We believe in your ability to overcome “I can’t”, we believe that when you…
CHANGE YOUR MIND, you can CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
www.bcfitstatus.com
IG: @bcfitstatus
Personal Trainer, Ninja Warrior, Obstacle Course Racer (OCR), Spartan and now marathoner, James Wyatt of BC Fitness sits down this week to discuss how looking to improve his placing in OCR events led him to road racing and marathon races. He had his eyes set on a BQ at the Woodlands Marathon over the weekend in just his second marathon but ultimately came up short. Nonetheless, coming from the Ninja/OCR world to marathons and coming close to Boston in just 1.5 years is still an amazing feat and equally inspiring, especially considering he's had to come back from a full on achilles rupture to a broken toe during Woodlands prep.
IG: @mrjwyatt @bcfitstatus
Youtube: Running with James
Website: www.bcfitstatus.com
This week, we speak with the speedy Joe Baldera. We talk how he got started in this sport from Cross Country to Half-Marathons to a BQ at the Eerie Marathon with a very fast 2:55:49 in 2018. He's no stranger to podiums in overall and age group categories with some awesome PR's of:
Track:
800m = 2:11
1600m = 4:45 (1 mile)
3200m = 10:11 (2 miles)
Road Races:
5k = 17:00.00 (2018) 2nd Overall (5:28)10k = 35:45.10 (2018) 1st Overall (5:45)Half Marathon = 1:18.14 (Woodlands Half 1st in AG/12 OA) (5:58)Marathon = 2:55.49 (48th Overall) (6:42)
Podiums and the races they took place at
Run Houston Clear lake 2017 10k 2nd OA,
Run for the Rose 2018 2nd OA,
Run Houston Sugar Land 2017 2nd OA,
Lone Star Stampede Run 2018, 1st OA
Bayou City Half Series Katy 5K 2019, 1st OA
He's a popular one in the running community and has trained with some of the best in Starla and RacePace. Splitting time with training is the work he does at EXOS Wellness, Cross Country Coaching at YES Prep Southeast and Track Distance Coaching at St. John's High School. He's also interning at Rice University working in their athletic department. He's latest work is as a brand ambassador for RunGum
IG: @lobojoe
We are back with a new episode with Rebecca Garza! A relative newcomer to long-distance running in the past year but already excelling at it with some age group podiums, half-marathon PR's of 1:36:13 and going for a BQ a the Woodlands Marathon in March. We talk some humbling beginnings being born in El Paso but raised in Juarez, Mexico. From an early age, she and her mom would wake up at 3am, cross over to El Paso and go to school and then cross back. By the time she hit 16, she was still waking up at 3am, driving herself across the border for high school, then work, then cross back over at 9-10pm and then do it all over the next day.
We talk discovering running for a second time after her husband bought her a Peloton Tread last year, doing 90% of her training runs on it, and then we dive deep into her first marathon at the North Face Endurance Challenge in San Francisco.
She's incredibly humbled, sweet and all around amazing person and she's just scratching the surface of what she is capable of in this sport.
We're back and this time Joseph D sits down with married couple, Sean and Ashley, to talk running their first marathon at the Chevron Houston Marathon back in January. Still new to the running scene, they took on the challenge of training for 26.2 after about a year and half of running. It took almost a month to warm them up to the idea of doing a podcast as they don't really put themselves out there like that but it ended up being a fun sit-down and we all really enjoyed it.
The big question was now that they have done one marathon....will they come back for another one or are they one and done?
IG: @aquascapespools
This week we sit down with a local runner known to the running community as Coach Raeah from RacePace. She’s a marathoner, trainer and soon-to-be bride. She’s got her eyes set on a Boston Qualifier at the Woodlands Marathon in March and we talk about her latest race at the NYC marathon back in November. We also talk about her sweet gig working as a trainer for a well-respected human performance company and how she became a coach at RacePace.
IG: @rbruns4prs
Surprise episode: Fresh off an amazing weekend of racing at the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half-Marathon, there have been some amazing stories and a lot of great vibes coming from the running community. From elites having record days, Boston qualifiers booking their ticket to the big race, and runners of all ages and levels setting personal goals, you couldn't have asked for a better race to experience. Especially if it's your first time running a big race such as Chevron.
Still on her runner's high from finishing her first half-marathon, we sit and talk with Angela Leong, a relative newcomer to running and now a half-marathoner! We talk the race day from Corral to Finish line and all the miles in between.
IG: @i.am.angelaleong
blog: angelaleong.com
Just in time for your shakeout run! Listen as we sit down with Willie Fowlkes, the Race Director of The Woodlands Marathon and the Texas 10 Series. We talk about the grind of putting on one of the fastest courses in the state of Texas and a popular Boston Qualifier. He takes us behind the curtain and we talk about all the work that goes into organizing the annual race as well as the seven races that comprise The Texas 10 Series.
We did experience some sound quality issues that we will get resolved before the next episode. My apologies ahead of time!
-Joseph D
IG: @the.grind.effect
Website and apparel coming soon!
Welcome to The Running Grind presented by The Grind Effect. Every runner has a story and the Running Grind is here to help showcase their journey to where they are now.
Our very first guest is Houston Local Elite, Starla Garcia. She's a marathoner and dietician and she sits down with Joseph D and opens up about her time as a student athlete at UH, transitioning to marathon running and overcoming personal battles with an eating disorder. Its an amazing story and we're excited to share it.
A few highlights:
2009 Junior Olympics Qualifier in 500m
1st Place 2018 Houston Koala Health & Wellness Half Marathon
2019 Chevron Houston Marathon Local Elite
UH Student-Athlete: 2008-2013
Marathons x 5 (2:47:08)
Half-Marathon x 6 (1:18:50)
5000m (17:37)
Boston marathons completed -1
Brand Ambassador: Brooks Running