Inspired Soles

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

In this episode, I’m joined by naturopathic doctor, metabolic health expert, and seriously fast masters runner Dr. Shawna Darou for a conversation that takes us from the marathon to the 800m—and then gets surprisingly personal. At 54, Shawna has traded long-distance racing for the track and recently ran an incredible 2:30 for 800m, with a potential Canadian 55–59 age-group record on the horizon. We also dive deep into my own experience with perimenopausal symptoms, bloodwork and changes in my running and body, as Shawna helps me explore whether everything I’ve been experiencing really can be chalked up to changing hormones. We talk about metabolic health, insulin resistance, continuous glucose monitors, DEXA scans, hormone replacement therapy, protein, fibre, carbohydrates and carbohydrate timing, strength and cardiovascular exercise, and why “normal” isn’t necessarily optimal—for women in midlife or for any athlete looking to stay healthy, strong and competitive as they age.

SPONSOR: DIG DEEP ENDURANCE FUEL. Use code INSPIRED10 at checkout to save 10% on your online order at digdeepef.com.

Register for TRACKTASTIC 🌈: https://mraweb.ca/event/tracktastic/

Connect with Dr. Shawna Darou:

• Instagram: @drshawnadarou
• Website: drshawnadarou.com
• Podcast: Unstoppable At Any Age
  • Apple
  • Spotify
  • Carolyn's Episode: Why Running Is Never Just About Running

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

What if getting on the track could make you a better–and happier–road or trail runner? In this episode, I sit down with physiotherapist, runner, dad, and owner of Up & Running Physiotherapy, Elliott Cooke, to talk about the many benefits of incorporating track running and speed work into your training, why track doesn’t have to be intimidating, and how stepping outside your usual running routine can make you stronger and more confident. We also talk about Tracktastic, Winnipeg’s fun and slightly silly introductory track meet, which Elliott has participated in and supported as a sponsor for several years. Whether you’re a seasoned speedster, a road runner who hasn’t touched a track in years, or someone who’s never stepped foot on one, there’s plenty here to inspire you to give it a try!

SPONSOR: goodr sunglasses. Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? 

Head to goodr.com/INSPIRED to claim $10 off your first order.

Register for TRACKTASTIC 🌈: https://mraweb.ca/event/tracktastic/

Connect with Elliott:

• Website: https://upwpg.com/
• Instagram: @upandrunningphysio

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

How did Johnny Coffin get so fast? That’s the question my husband—and unofficial Inspired Soles co-host—gets asked all the time, so in this episode, we’re finally digging into the story behind the speed. Johnny recently celebrated his 45th birthday and is currently in the best shape of his life, having run PRs at the 5K, 10K, 10-mile, half marathon, and marathon (2:36:39!) over the past year. But his journey to becoming a 2:36 marathoner was anything but overnight. We talk about his injury-plagued early years, the decade he spent focused primarily on getting faster at the 5K, his gradual transition to the marathon, and the training, fueling, recovery, strength, and patience that have allowed him to continue improving without major injury. Along the way, we weave in five principles of effective run training—and unpack why sometimes the best way to get faster is to slow down.

SPONSOR: DIG DEEP ENDURANCE FUEL. Use code INSPIRED10 at checkout to save 10% on your online order at digdeepef.com.

Register for TRACKTASTIC 🌈: https://mraweb.ca/event/tracktastic/

Connect with Johnny:

• Instagram: @bestjohnnyever

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

If you love running beyond just the act of putting one foot in front of the other, this episode is for you. Peter Bromka joins me for a deep dive into the running nerd weeds as we talk about the current state of the sport, from the Boston Marathon's evolving qualifying process and Josh Kerr's mile world record, to two men breaking the two-hour marathon barrier, the future of track & field, and why the 1500m deserves its own Netflix documentary. We also talk about Peter's own journey—from running 2:19 marathons and narrowly missing an Olympic Trials qualifier, to finding his competitive fire again as a masters runner returning from injury. Expect big-picture conversations, plenty of running rabbit holes, and a whole lot of appreciation for this sport we love.

SPONSOR: goodr sunglasses. Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? 

Head to goodr.com/INSPIRED to claim $10 off your first order.

Connect with Peter:

• Instagram: @bromka
• Podcast: Road to the Trials & Relay
• Essays 
  • The Bubble of a Dream
  • Burn the Boat
  • The Marathon Doesn't Owe You Anything

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Episode 300 is unlike any other in the history of Inspired Soles. Instead of interviewing an Olympian or reflecting on six years of podcasting, Carolyn hands the microphone to the 15 women of Project-99—a group of everyday runners training together to break 1:40 in the half marathon at the Fort Garry Rotary Half Marathon this September. Through their own voices, they share why this goal matters, the doubts they're overcoming, and what they hope to discover along the way. This isn't the story of how Project-99 ends—it's the story of how it begins. Whether you're chasing a personal best, returning to running, or simply wondering what's still possible, this episode is a reminder that some of life's biggest breakthroughs happen when we dare to dream big... together.

SPONSOR: DIG DEEP ENDURANCE FUEL. Use code INSPIRED10 at checkout to save 10% on your online order at digdeepef.com, or purchase in store at bigskyrun.com.

Connect with Caroline Fisher of Big Sky Run Co:

• Instagram: @bigskyrunco
• Website: bigskyrun.com

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

I'm joined by one of Manitoba's fastest runners and one of its biggest champions, Matt Van Schepdael. Just weeks away from defending his PhD in Microbiology and preparing for his marathon debut at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Matt shares his journey from university track standout to elite road racer. We talk about balancing high-performance sport with academics, the lessons he's learned from his best and toughest races, why giving back to the running community is so important to him, and what excites him most about tackling 42.2K for the very first time. Whether you're chasing a personal best or simply looking to find your place in the running community, I think you'll really enjoy this conversation.

SPONSOR: goodr sunglasses. Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? 

Head to goodr.com/INSPIRED to claim $10 off your first order.

Connect with Matt:

• Instagram: @mattvanschep

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Runner, coach, and content creator Michelle Baxter (@therunnersplate) has inspired thousands by sharing her journey to a sub-3 marathon and proving that some of our best running can come after 40. But this season has brought unexpected challenges—including a prolonged recovery after Boston and a race that fell well short of her expectations.

In this conversation, Michelle and Carolyn explore the emotional complexity of running, the realities of chasing ambitious goals in your 40s, navigating changing bodies, people-pleasing, social media honesty, and why disappointment and gratitude can coexist.

Because sometimes the most honest answer isn't either/or. It's both.

SPONSOR: DIG DEEP ENDURANCE FUEL. Use code INSPIRED10 at checkout to save 10% on your online order at digdeepef.com.

Connect with Michelle:

• Instagram: @therunnersplate
• Website: www.therunnersplate.com

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

One year after wondering if she'd ever race again, Sasha Gollish returned to the Manitoba Half Marathon and ran away with the win. But this episode is about so much more than the race. After spending an unforgettable weekend together in Winnipeg, Sasha and Carolyn relive the laughs, the adventures, the friendships, the race-day excitement, and the many little moments that made the weekend so special. It's a joyful conversation about community, gratitude, and the simple pleasure of getting to do what you love with people you love.

SPONSOR: goodr sunglasses. Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? 

Head to goodr.com/INSPIRED to claim $10 off your first order.

Connect with Sasha:

• Instagram: @sgollishruns
• Strong Girl Talk Podcast with Molly Hurford
• Unstoppable, Sasha's Strong Girl Publishing Mental Performance Journal  
  • If you want your copy signed, drop Sasha a DM on Instagram!
• Previous Inspired Soles episodes
  • Ep 108: 3rd at Canadian Marathon Championships
  • Ep 165: Perimenopause & the Competitive Athlete
  • Ep 252: Navigating Running Transitions & the Power of Better Questions

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

What if there was a better way to fuel endurance athletes?

Alison McPherson is an accomplished marathoner, trail runner, running coach, and co-founder of Dig Deep Endurance Fuel. Just weeks after running 2:47 at the Ottawa Marathon and days removed from a 5th-place finish at the Manitoba Marathon, Ali joins me to share the story behind the world's first dissolvable carbohydrate stick.

Alongside her dad, Russell, Ali set out to solve some of the biggest challenges in endurance nutrition: sticky gels, single-use packaging, high costs, and the lack of flexibility for individual athletes. The result is a customizable, convenient, sustainable, and affordable fueling option designed by endurance athletes, for endurance athletes.

We dive into the origin story of Dig Deep, the science behind its unique fueling approach, and why Ali believes endurance athletes deserve smarter fuel with a lighter impact.

SPONSOR: DIG DEEP ENDURANCE FUEL. Use code INSPIRED10 at checkout to save 10% on your online order at digdeepef.com.

Connect with Ali & Dig Deep:

• Instagram: @digdeepef, @rhythmruncoaching, @ali.mcpher 
• Website: digdeepef.com, rhythmruncoaching.com
• Previous Inspired Soles episode:
  • EP 236: From Winning a Trail 50K to Running Sub-3 at the Boston Marathon (All in One Month)

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected]. 

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text

Johnny Coffin returns to Inspired Soles for what has to be his tenth appearance on the podcast, making him an unofficial co-host—and fan favourite. In this episode, Johnny and Carolyn share a training update since the Boston Marathon, including their recoveries, their experiences racing the Ottawa 10K Canadian Championships and Canadian Masters Championships (where both earned bronze medals), and their plans for the upcoming Manitoba Half Marathon. But while Johnny's fitness continues to soar and he chases what could be the fastest half marathon of his life, Carolyn finds herself in unfamiliar territory after months of disappointing performances and ongoing medical investigations. Together, they discuss what it's like when one runner in a relationship is thriving while the other is struggling, how they support each other through the highs and lows, and the lessons they're learning along the way.

SPONSOR: goodr sunglasses. Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? 

Head to goodr.com/INSPIRED to claim $10 off your first order.

Connect with Johnny:

• Instagram: @bestjohnnyever
• Previous Inspired Soles episodes:
  • EP 287: Boston Marathon Recap 
  • EP 271: The Marathon Project: PBs, DNFs & Perspective 
  • EP 266: Chasing Big Goals at The Marathon Project
  • EP 240: Sub-35 10K & Ottawa Race Weekend Recap
  • EP 230: Ask Carolyn Anything + Colour Commentary from Johnny
  • EP224: Do You Control Strava, or Does It Control You?
  • EP 211: Coffin's Chicago Marathon Recap: The Bodily Fluids Episode
  • EP 202: Paris Olympic Track & Marathon Recap 
  • EP 55: Road to the 2021 Boston Marathon
  • EP 12: Slow the BLEEP Down

Connect with Carolyn:

• Instagram: @inspiredsolescast or @carolyn.c.coffin

You can help spread the running love! The best way to SUPPORT Inspired Soles is to share your favourite episode(s) with friends, subscribe, or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Connect on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to [email protected].