Today on the show, I’m joined by professional runner Emily Venters. Emily runs for Nike, lives and trains in Utah, and is coached by her college coach Kyle Kepler. This past year was a breakout season for her—her first full year as a pro—and she’s been on an incredible trajectory ever since.

Emily made her half marathon debut in Houston, running 68:48 and placing seventh, even after taking a hard fall at the start of the race. She followed that up with a fifth-place finish at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships and broke 15 minutes in the indoor 5K—something that had been a longtime goal of hers. Last fall, she placed second at the Road 5K Championships and won the Sound Running Cross Country Championships.

Emily’s collegiate career included time at Boise State, the University of Colorado, and the University of Utah. She’s about to start nursing school while continuing to train and race at a high level, and she thrives with a full plate. In this episode, we talk about her move up to the half marathon, when she might make the jump to the full marathon, and what it’s been like adjusting to life as a professional athlete. We also dive into her support system growing up, including the role her parents played in her journey to becoming a pro.

I loved getting to know Emily—her energy, determination, and humility really shine through in this conversation. She’ll be racing at the USATF 5K Championships in Indianapolis, and I can’t wait to see how she does.

What we talked about:

4:00- Starting nursing school

6:55- Emily’s half marathon debut

12:30- The decision to focus on one event going forward

19:20- Her mental health over the past few years

26:20- Her college career and professional career so far

44:00- Her nursing career goals

47:00- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

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