EPISODE 65: Southern Running Collective

What if running spaces were built on connection instead of comparison?

In Episode 65 of Behind the Bib, I sit down with Danielle Southern, founder of Southern Running Collective, to talk about building a community where middle and back-of-the-pack runners feel supported, empowered, and seen. We discuss pace inclusion, body respect, confidence, and why every runner deserves to feel like they belong.

If you've ever questioned whether you belong in the running world, this conversation is for you.

Check out Southern Running Collective in a city near you below:

Southern Running Collective
Instagram: @southernrunningcollective
Website: southernrunningcollective.org

Southern Nutrition
Instagram: @southernnutritionllc
Website: southernnutrition.org

UPCOMING LOCAL RACES

Fleet Feet Race Calendar - use code BEHINDTHEBIB for 20% off your race entry!!! 

• JUN 06: Rainsville Freedom Run 10k & 5k

• JUN 13: We Run We Finish 5k

• JUN 13: Hays Farm parkrun One Year Anniversary Run

• JUL 04: Freedom 5k and Independence Mile

• JUL 04: Firecracker 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run

• JUL 12: MADISON 50K in Ennis Montana!!! 

• SEP 07: Race for Justice,

• SEP 26: PGB 5k ALOHA Run

• OCT 17: Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5k

• NOV 14: Huntsville Half Marathon

• DEC 12-13: Rocket City Marathon Weekend

• JAN 10: Mobile Half/Marathon

• FEB 28: EWM, New Orleans 

Discount Codes: 

• Safely Self Defense 

• Noxgear - BehindtheBib

• BibBoards Discount Code: BehindtheBib

• MyRaceTatts: Lisa152

• FleetFeet Races: behindthebib

This week on Behind the Bib, we’re diving into the mental side of running inspired by the book The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion.

Why does our brain try to convince us to quit things we actually want? What’s the difference between a legit quit and a “shit quit?” And why does every run suddenly feel impossible halfway through?

We’re talking discomfort, excuses, accountability, and how endurance sports teach us to push through the mental negotiations happening inside our heads.

Because sometimes the hardest part of running isn’t your legs… it’s convincing your brain to calm the f*ck down.

UPCOMING LOCAL RACES

Fleet Feet Race Calendar - use code BEHINDTHEBIB for 20% off your race entry!!! 

• MAY 25: Cotton Row

• JUN 06: Rainsville Freedom Run 10k & 5k

• JUN 13: We Run We Finish 5k

• JUN 13: Hays Farm parkrun One Year Anniversary Run

• JUL 04: Freedom 5k and Independence Mile

• JUL 04: Firecracker 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run

• JUL 12: MADISON 50K in Ennis Montana!!! 

• SEP 07: Race for Justice,

• SEP 26: PGB 5k ALOHA Run

• OCT 17: Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and 5k

• NOV 14: Huntsville Half Marathon

• DEC 12-13: Rocket City Marathon Weekend

• JAN 10: Mobile Half/Marathon

• FEB 28: EWM, New Orleans 

Discount Codes: 

• Safely Self Defense 

• Noxgear - BehindtheBib

• BibBoards Discount Code: BehindtheBib

• MyRaceTatts: Lisa152

• FleetFeet Races: behindthebib

Memorial Day hits different at the Cotton Row Run.

This week on Behind the Bib, I’m joined by two race directors, one who led the race for five years and one helping guide it today, plus two runners on opposite ends of the journey: one who’s been running it for years and one taking it on for the very first time.

We get into what it takes to put on a race like this, what keeps people coming back, and what it feels like to step onto that start line, no matter where you’re starting from.

UPCOMING LOCAL RACES

Fleet Feet Race Calendar - use code BEHINDTHEBIB for 20% off your race entry!!! 

• MAY 02: Run 4 Kidtopia 10k and 5k

• MAY 02: Oxford Double Decker Spring Run

• MAY 02: Corinth Coke 10k

• MAY 09: GoFAR Forest 4.2.1 Run

• MAY 09: Tupelo Gum Tree 10k

• MAY 16: Love Love Love 5k

• MAY 25: Cotton Row

• JUN 06: Rainsville Freedom Run 10k & 5k

• JUN 13: Hays Farm parkrun One Year Anniversary Run

• JUN 13: We Run We Finish 5k

• JUL 04: Freedom 5k and Independence Mile

This week, I’m joined by Sam Korsmoe, the race director behind the Greater Yellowstone Adventure Series… and let me tell you, these ain’t no pansy ass city races.

We’re talking high-altitude miles, rugged Montana terrain, and races built around adventure, not convenience. Sam shares how the series came to life, what makes these races so uniquely challenging, and why runners keep coming back for more.

(And yes… I’m getting a little inside intel before I toe the line at the Madison 50K on July 12.)

In this episode of Behind the Bib, I sit down with Meagan Doyle and Ashley to talk about something every runner thinks about but doesn’t always talk about -- safety. From talking about real-life experiences to tools we can use, we dive into what it looks like to feel more prepared on your runs.

Because every runner deserves to feel safe out there.

This episode is about slowing down when you didn’t plan to.

After a weekend of celebrating family and finding my new favorite place at the 74 Ranch, I came home and got hit hard with the flu. What followed was a forced pause... and an unexpected lesson from a horse about taking the pressure off. Hope you enjoy!

In this episode of Behind the Bib, I recap two race experiences that tested me in different ways: Dueling Banjos and the Crazies Trifecta.

I talk about muddy trails, a few race-day mistakes (including wearing the wrong shoes), and what it felt like to finish DFL at Dueling Banjos. Then I dive into the three-day Crazies Trifecta through the mountains of northeast Alabama -- what I learned, where I struggled, and why the community around these races made the whole experience unforgettable.

More than anything, these races reminded me that running isn’t about the finish time. It’s about showing up, learning from the hard moments, and proving to yourself that you can do difficult things.

I also spotlight the Dueling Banjos race and share some upcoming local races and collaborations.

If you enjoy the show, please download the episode and share it with a friend—that’s the #1 way to help the podcast grow.

February may be Heart Health Month, but we’re not leaving that conversation behind when the calendar flips. In this episode, I sit down with local clinical pharmacist and runner, Mina Willis, to talk about women’s heart health—what we miss, what we downplay, and why “I’m fine” isn’t a medical diagnosis. We connect the dots between February’s focus on heart health and March’s celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month—because taking care of our hearts is part of honoring women, too.

We talk symptoms that look different in women, prevention that actually fits real life, and why your miles—yes, even the slow ones—matter more than you think.

I also recap the Molten Mohawk 9-er (because apparently I enjoy a little chaos with my cardio), and I offer a tribute to Jeff Galloway—the man who made space at the starting line for so many of us. 

This one is about strong hearts, strong women, and the kind of running community that makes room for all of us.

UPCOMING LOCAL RACES

Fleet Feet Race Calendar - use code BEHINDTHEBIB for 20% off your race entry!!! 

• FEB 28: Paper Chase 5k

• MAR 01: Dueling Banjos

• MAR 01: UAH Spring Road Race

• MAR 06-08: Crazies Trifecta 

• MAR 07: Gurley Lions Challenge 5k

• MAR 07: Stride for Sophia 5k

• MAR 07: Delano 12-hour

• MAR 14: Redstone Arsenal 3rd Annual 25K Trail Run

• MAR 14: Downtown Rescue Mission Glow Run 5k

• MAR 24: McCay Hollow Madness 

• MAR 28: Run the Cove Half Marathon

• MAR 28: Shamrock 5k

• MAR 28: R3 Recovery Run/Walk (Huntland, TN)

• MAR 28: Mulberry Mile

• MAR 28: River City Run

• MAR 28: Run the Cove Half Marathon

• MAR 28: Shamrock 5k

• MAR 28: R3 Recovery Run/Walk (Huntland, TN)

• APR 04:  Elkmont Hound Dog Half Marathon

Discount Codes: 

• Noxgear - BehindtheBib

• BibBoards Discount Code: BehindtheBib

• MyRaceTatts: Lisa152

• FleetFeet Races: behindthebib

This week, I stepped into the lab at Return to Sport for VO₂ max testing — and let me tell you, it was equal parts humbling and empowering. We broke down what VO₂ max actually means, why heart rate variability matters, and how understanding your data can help you train smarter (not just harder).

If you’ve ever wondered what your numbers say about your fitness, your recovery, or your long-term heart health — this episode is for you. Whether you’re chasing a PR or just trying to feel strong on your runs, knowledge is power… and this one might just change how you train.

As always — whether you’re first, last, or somewhere in between — this one’s for you as we get Behind the Bib with Return to Sport.

Schedule Your VO2 Max Test

UPCOMING LOCAL RACES

Fleet Feet Race Calendar - use code BEHINDTHEBIB for 20% off your race entry!!! 

• FEB 28: Paper Chase 5k

• MAR 01: Dueling Banjos

• MAR 01: UAH Spring Road Race

• MAR 06-08: Crazies Trifecta 

• MAR 07: Gurley Lions Challenge 5k

• MAR 07: Run Your Guts Out

• MAR 14: Redstone Arsenal 3rd Annual 25K Trail Run

• MAR 14: Downtown Rescue Mission Glow Run 5k

• MAR 24: McCay Hollow Madness 

• MAR 28: Run the Cove Half Marathon

• MAR 28: Shamrock 5k

• MAR 28: R3 Recovery Run/Walk (Huntland, TN)

Discount Codes: 

• Noxgear - BehindtheBib

• BibBoards Discount Code: BehindtheBib

• MyRaceTatts: Lisa152

• FleetFeet Races: behindthebib

From the Love to Run 5K to a Galentine’s recovery night and a quiet five miles on the treadmill, this episode is about what we don’t always see when we look around the running world. Behind every pace, every sweaty shirt pull, and every nervous glance in the mirror is a story — and sometimes a heart that’s healing, growing stronger, or simply trying to keep going.

This week, I’m sharing updates from recent events and the observations that stuck with me most: the reminder that we’re all carrying something, and that running often becomes the place where we process it. Whether you’re chasing a goal, rebuilding confidence, or just trying to show up for yourself, this episode is about leading with a little more empathy — for others and for ourselves.

Because at the end of the day, running isn’t just about miles. It’s about heart.

See what I did there? ;0)

UPCOMING LOCAL RACES

Fleet Feet Race Calendar - use code BEHINDTHEBIB for 20% off your race entry!!! 

• FEB 28: Paper Chase 5k

• MAR 01: Dueling Banjos

• MAR 01: UAH Spring Road Race

• MAR 06-08: Crazies Trifecta 

• MAR 07: Gurley Lions Challenge 5k

• MAR 07: Stride for Sophia 5k

• MAR 07: Delano 12-hour

• MAR 14: Redstone Arsenal 3rd Annual 25K Trail Run

• MAR 14: Downtown Rescue Mission Glow Run 5k

• MAR 24: McCay Hollow Madness 

• MAR 28: Run the Cove Half Marathon

• MAR 28: Shamrock 5k

• MAR 28: R3 Recovery Run/Walk (Huntland, TN)

• MAR 28: Mulberry Mile

• MAR 28: River City Run

• MAR 28: Run the Cove Half Marathon

• MAR 28: Shamrock 5k

• MAR 28: R3 Recovery Run/Walk (Huntland, TN)

• APR 04:  Elkmont Hound Dog Half Marathon

Discount Codes: 

• Noxgear - BehindtheBib

• BibBoards Discount Code: BehindtheBib

• MyRaceTatts: Lisa152

• FleetFeet Races: behindthebib