Carol Seppilu | From Tragedy to Trails

Carol Seppilu lives in Nome Alaska, a town 500+ miles north of Anchorage where residents celebrate their Eskimo heritage and culture.

Carol participating in her other passion: Traditional Eskimo dancing.

When she was a teenager, Carol attempted suicide after drinking, then went through 15 years of surgeries, therapy, weight gain, and depression. We talk about her attempt and what could have been done to prevent it and the miraculous change of events in her life over the past few years.

Heads up: You’ll have to be patient with the audio. Between her remote location and tracheotomy, John and I struggled to understand some of Carol’s answers and conversation and you’ll have to listen hard to understand portions. I did my best to clean up the audio file, but there are parts that couldn’t be improved.

Then, inspired by a friend a few years ago, Carol started running and has found the ultra trail community a group that helps her push her limits, brighten her life, and ultimately, accept her for who she is. She wears a medical mask to cover the facial injuries and breathes through a tracheotomy, but like many others out on the trail, Carol’s not allowing her past to define who she is now. Hers is a powerful story.

Butchering a seal mid-run. Badass, defined.

2013 vs 2019

Carol shares stories of freezing temperatures (and frozen tracheotomies!), animal encounters (grizzlies!), and what it’s like butchering a seal mid-run. She’s also attempting an ultramarathon in all fifty states and shares her goals and reasoning behind this project.

“Every pain I’ve felt (while running) is a lot less painful than what I’ve been through.”

After our talk, Gear Editor Ben joins us to talk about some of his new favorite trail shoes. I’ve linked to those below.

Carol Seppilu finishing Broken Arrow Skyrace.

Carol Seppilu Episode Notes:

Here’s Carol’s blog. Definitely check it out.

Connect with Carol on Instagram

Intro and Outro music used with permission from David Rosales.

Suicide Prevention Resources

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

National Alliance on Mental Illness

More about my cohost John Onate, MD

Here’s John’s blog and contact info.