C Tolle Run

Carrie interviews 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden! Tatyana discusses her advocacy work, bringing people together through the sport, and her career as a Child Life Specialist.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Tatyana McFadden

There are very few athletes in history who have come from so little to accomplish so much. Born with a hole in her spine caused by spina bifida, Tatyana McFadden spent the first six years of her life in a Russian orphanage with virtually nothing, not even a wheelchair. Paralyzed from the waist down, and with no other way to move, she learned to walk on her hands simply to keep up with the other children. Little did she know that the powerful arms and hands she began to develop as a small child would someday carry her around the globe as one of the world’s greatest athletes. 

In 1994, Deborah McFadden, then Commissioner of Disabilities for the U.S. Department of Health, came upon Tatyana while visiting her orphanage on an otherwise routine business trip. She felt a connection, an inexplicable feeling that they were meant to be together. Deborah adopted Tatyana, brought her to the United States and gave her both a wheelchair and a new start on life. 

The transition was difficult and Tatyana’s health worsened so she was enrolled into various sports groups in hopes that it would build her strength. It did, and then some, and so began Tatyana’s extraordinary life as an athlete. Tatyana tried every sport she could find; wheelchair basketball, swimming, ice hockey, and even scuba diving. From the start she fell in love with wheelchair racing—a sport through which her powerful arms immediately brought success.

At 15, Tatyana made her Paralympic debut in Athens in 2004. She was the youngest member of Team USA. She returned from Greece with her first two medals and a hunger to become the best. Two years later she was winning gold at the World Championships and setting a new world record in the 100–meter event. At the 2008 In London, in 2012, she added another four medals, three of which were gold. One year later, at the 2013 World Championships, she became the first athlete in history to win six gold medals at the same event. Her dominance was in full swing and she was still only 24.

In 2016, at the Rio Paralympics, Tatyana continued her dominance in wheelchair racing by winning four gold and two silver medals, bringing her total count of Paralympic medals to 17. She was awarded several prestigious awards in 2016 including:

• Best Female Athlete of the 2016 Paralympic Games, United States Olympic Committee
• Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award, 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro for athlete who has performed at an outstanding level and overcome adversity and best exemplifies sportsmanship
• ESPY Best Female Athlete with a Disability, 2016

Tatyana concluded 2016 by holding world records in the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m. Tatyana challenged herself with the professional marathon circuit in 2009, and with her win at the Chicago Marathon, she set off an extraordinary string of first place finishes that is still going strong. In 2013 she won the Chicago, London, Chicago and New York marathons, becoming the first man or woman, able-bodied or disabled, to win the Grand Slam (four World Major Marathons in the same year) and then repeated her Grand Slam victory in 2014, 2015 and again in 2016.

Always looking for a new challenge, and intrigued by the idea of returning to Russia to race, in 2013 Tatyana decided to give cross country ski racing a try in hopes of earning a spot on the Sochi Paralympic Team. With less than a year of on snow experience in her life, Tatyana made her winter Paralympic debut in Sochi and in a dramatic sprint to the finish line she narrowly missed yet another gold medal, settling for silver. 

In 2014 Tatyana graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, and is returning to U. of I. to pursue graduate work in Education. When she isn’t racing or studying, she works as a national advocate for equal access for people with disabilities, is a lifetime member of the Girls Scouts, is on the Board of Directors of Spina Bifida of Illinois, and speaks to children and adults about healthy living.

Carrie interviews Olympian Courtney Frerichs! Courtney discusses her new American record, training with the Bowerman Track Club, her relationship with her husband, and her future racing goals.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Courtney Frerichs

Courtney grew up in Nixa, MO. She attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City for undergrad where she was a 5-time All American. She transferred to the University of New Mexico for graduate school and competed her fifth year of eligibility for the Lobos where she would lead the team to a NCAA Cross Country Championship title with a fourth place finish and win the NCAA title in the 3k steeplechaise in a collegiate record. She currently trains in Portland, OR with the Nike Bowerman Track Club, coach by Jerry Schumacher. She was a member of the 2016 Olympic team, silver medalist in the 3k steeplechase at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, and holds the American Record in the 3k steeplechase.

Carrie interviews Olympian Courtney Frerichs! Courtney discusses her new American record, training with the Bowerman Track Club, her relationship with her husband, and her future racing goals.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Courtney Frerichs

Courtney grew up in Nixa, MO. She attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City for undergrad where she was a 5-time All American. She transferred to the University of New Mexico for graduate school and competed her fifth year of eligibility for the Lobos where she would lead the team to a NCAA Cross Country Championship title with a fourth place finish and win the NCAA title in the 3k steeplechaise in a collegiate record. She currently trains in Portland, OR with the Nike Bowerman Track Club, coach by Jerry Schumacher. She was a member of the 2016 Olympic team, silver medalist in the 3k steeplechase at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, and holds the American Record in the 3k steeplechase.

Carrie interviews coach, nutritionist, and author Matt Fitzgerald! Matt talks about running after 40, speed work, and his experience of running eight marathons in eight weeks.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Matt Fitzgerald

Matt is an acclaimed endurance sports coach, nutritionist, and author. His many books include The Endurance Diet, 80/20 Running, and How Bad Do You Want It? Matt’s writing also appears regularly in national magazines and on major websites including Women’s Running and competitor.com. His online training plans have helped thousands of athletes of all experience and ability levels achieve their goals. Certified by the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Matt has consulted for numerous sports nutrition companies and he is the creator of the Diet Quality Score (DQS) smartphone app. A lifelong athlete, he speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally.

Carrie interviews coach, nutritionist, and author Matt Fitzgerald! Matt talks about running after 40, speed work, and his experience of running eight marathons in eight weeks.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Matt Fitzgerald

Matt is an acclaimed endurance sports coach, nutritionist, and author. His many books include The Endurance Diet, 80/20 Running, and How Bad Do You Want It? Matt’s writing also appears regularly in national magazines and on major websites including Women’s Running and competitor.com. His online training plans have helped thousands of athletes of all experience and ability levels achieve their goals. Certified by the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Matt has consulted for numerous sports nutrition companies and he is the creator of the Diet Quality Score (DQS) smartphone app. A lifelong athlete, he speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally.

Carrie goes for a run with KSTP Twin Cities Live Reporter and Producer, Kelli Hanson! Kelli discusses how she got started in television, her passion for running, living gluten-free, and balancing work and family life.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Kelli Hanson

Kelli is a Reporter and Producer for Twin Cities Live, a lifestyle show that airs weekdays on KSTP, Channel 5. Kelli grew up in southern Indiana, and graduated from the Journalism program at Indiana University. She went on to report and anchor for television stations in southern Minnesota and South Dakota before calling the Twin Cities home. Kelli’s job takes her to amazing places across Minnesota, meeting people that exemplify Minnesota nice. When she’s not at work, she’s running around town with her 2 girls, Paige (8) and Quinn (6) and her husband of 10-years, Steve. Kelli discovered her passion for running only 5 years ago, after her second daughter was born. She longed for something she could call her own and after joining the Moms on the Run program, Kelli created friendships she’ll have for a lifetime. Since 2012, Kelli has run several 5ks and 10ks in the Twin Cities and will run her second Ragnar Relay Race in August. In between races, she trains with a female speed running group in Cottage Grove called Real Fit Chicks. Speed work has helped her shave 5 minutes off of her 10k time and she hopes to shave off a few more minutes this summer!

Carrie goes for a run with KSTP Twin Cities Live Reporter and Producer, Kelli Hanson! Kelli discusses how she got started in television, her passion for running, living gluten-free, and balancing work and family life.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Kelli Hanson

Kelli is a Reporter and Producer for Twin Cities Live, a lifestyle show that airs weekdays on KSTP, Channel 5. Kelli grew up in southern Indiana, and graduated from the Journalism program at Indiana University. She went on to report and anchor for television stations in southern Minnesota and South Dakota before calling the Twin Cities home. Kelli’s job takes her to amazing places across Minnesota, meeting people that exemplify Minnesota nice. When she’s not at work, she’s running around town with her 2 girls, Paige (8) and Quinn (6) and her husband of 10-years, Steve. Kelli discovered her passion for running only 5 years ago, after her second daughter was born. She longed for something she could call her own and after joining the Moms on the Run program, Kelli created friendships she’ll have for a lifetime. Since 2012, Kelli has run several 5ks and 10ks in the Twin Cities and will run her second Ragnar Relay Race in August. In between races, she trains with a female speed running group in Cottage Grove called Real Fit Chicks. Speed work has helped her shave 5 minutes off of her 10k time and she hopes to shave off a few more minutes this summer!

Carrie goes for a run with Queen of the Road Mile, Heather Kampf! Heather discusses the frustrations and challenges of dealing with injuries and how she's easing back into running. She also talks about her 2018 racing plans, and her aspirations after the sport.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Heather Kampf

Heather is a 2005 graduate of Rosemount High School in Minnesota where her prep career included state titles in the 800m and 400m. At the University of Minnesota, Heather was the highest decorated Gopher women’s track athlete. She was a 9-time All American, NCAA champion, and the only Gopher to compete in every NCAA championship in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track during the time she attended the university. Heather joined Team USA Minnesota in December of 2009, was sponsored by Asics America in 2010, and became a Nuun elite ambassador in 2014. As a professional runner, she has raced in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 olympic trials (7th in the 800m in 2012), is a 4x USA 1 mile champion (2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016), and was a finalist for Team USA at the word indoor championships 1500m in 2014.

Carrie goes for a run with Queen of the Road Mile, Heather Kampf! Heather discusses the frustrations and challenges of dealing with injuries and how she's easing back into running. She also talks about her 2018 racing plans, and her aspirations after the sport.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Heather Kampf

Heather is a 2005 graduate of Rosemount High School in Minnesota where her prep career included state titles in the 800m and 400m. At the University of Minnesota, Heather was the highest decorated Gopher women’s track athlete. She was a 9-time All American, NCAA champion, and the only Gopher to compete in every NCAA championship in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track during the time she attended the university. Heather joined Team USA Minnesota in December of 2009, was sponsored by Asics America in 2010, and became a Nuun elite ambassador in 2014. As a professional runner, she has raced in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 olympic trials (7th in the 800m in 2012), is a 4x USA 1 mile champion (2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016), and was a finalist for Team USA at the word indoor championships 1500m in 2014.

Carrie interviews 4-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan! Shalane discusses the weather challenges at the 2018 Boston Marathon, her new cookbook, and coaching the Michelob ULTRA Team for the TCS New York City Marathon.

Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com.

Shalane Flanagan

Shalane is an Olympic medalist, four-time Olympian, American record holder, and world-class marathoner. She finished second at the 2010 NYC marathon and ran the fastest time ever by an American woman at the 2014 Boston Marathon, completing the race in 2:22.02. At the 2014 Berlin Marathon, Shalane ran a personal best of 2:21.14, the second-fastest time ever by an American woman. She won the NYC Marathon in 2017, in 2:26:53. Nike has sponsored Shalane since she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004. She has been running at an elite level for 16 years and typically runs 100-plus miles a week. She attributes her ability to sustain this level of training to her nutrient-dense diet. Focusing on fueling for health and performance is an integral part of her training regimen. Shalane has been featured on the cover of Runner’s World, Women's Running, Running Times, Competitor Magazine, and Track and Field News. She has appeared on 60 Minutes, ESPN Outside the Lines, and Oprah. Her inspiring story has also been heralded in Women's Health, Shape, USA Today, the Boston Globe, and the New York Times. Shalane speaks passionately about the importance of healthy eating at running events across the country. Shalane lives and trains in Portland, Oregon.