We've reached the 40th episode of the Run The Race podcast, and hope you subscribe to it, if you haven't already. Our special guest this week is a yoga instructor and military spouse who is back home in Georgia after a 3,018 mile, 82 day bike ride across America!

After I introduce her - and talk briefly about completing my first 50K alongside friends in Alabama - (5:33) you'll hear a great chat with Charlotte Gallagher, first about her solo bicycle journey from Portland, Oregon back to Columbus GA, raising more than $3,000 for several causes. She hopes this inspires you, others to go for your dreams!

As someone fairly new to long distance biking and camping, (10:43) Charlotte opens up about the fears of this bike trip and fears in life, how she grew up with anxiety and panic attacks, resolved a lot through running and yoga. She also talks about the emotions through this 3 month bicycle adventure, experiencing a lot of kindness from strangers, screaming at continuous hills, crying. How was she able to keep going? How did she figure out where to sleep along the way?

In the "Fast Four,"(17:00) we learn about this paddleboard yoga instructor living by "Change your thoughts, change your world," how she stays fit, and a carnival childhood.

(20:29) Charlotte tackles the myths about yoga, like needing to be flexible before you do it, being able to touch you toes, ego issues for men and the military who end up enjoying yoga. She also tells us about the benefits of yoga, working all systems of your body, plus peace of mind, flexibility, releasing tension and anger on the mat, and fitness elements for athletes especially runners. Ever tried a tree pose on a paddleboard?

And what's it like being a military spouse? (31:08) She runs and does yoga with her husband, an Army Warrant Officer on Fort Benning. He's gone on deployments and now she just got back from one via her bike. She talks more about one of the causes she raised money for, "Stop Soldier Suicide." We discuss the stigma and preventing suicide with the help of movement.

(37:25) Charlotte has also spent parts of her life serving others overseas, telling us about teaching English in Mexico and helping with hurricane relief in the Caribbean. (40:41) Along with biking, she also loves running, her "moving meditation" to release energy that needs to get out because of anxiety.

In the final segments, (46:15) our "Parting Gift" comes from the beginning of The Bible, "Food for Thought" deals with biking benefits and a teen's bike across America for clean water, then our closing prayer.

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