“When a man moves away from nature his heart becomes hard.” – Lakota.

Verna Volker has the kind of passion and grit that can only lead to achievement. 10 years ago she was a non-runner. Today she is a five time marathoner and ultrarunner. Her recent 50k was held on a water logged mud path but that didn't stop Verna in her first ultra. Not only did she finish, she was first in her age group. Verna is from the Navajo tribe and grew-up on a reservation in the Four Corners area of New Mexico. In a addition to being a devoted runner, she is dedicated to increasing visibility to, and connections within, the Native American outdoor athletic community. To that end, we discuss the importance of Native American cultures and their representation in popular media.

You can follow Verna at https://www.instagram.com/hozhorunner4 and https://www.instagram.com/native_women_running.

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