Keeping Track

Our guest is the inspiring Chaune Lowe, Olympic medlalist and AR in the High Jump, who shares with us some of the many layers of her journey in life and sport including her recent battle with brest cancer, how doping in sport has affected her career, the business side of field events, having a family as a female athlete and on how things are going in the build up to her 5th Olympic Trials. Check out our site for more detailed show notes and clips of Chaunte's jumps!And don't forget to check out gatoradeendurance for your 20% off with "Track20" !Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk to The University of Wisconsin Women's XC coach Mackenzie Wartenberger about her time as a talented prep athlete (2:04 800m) coming into Cal Berkley with Alysia, how her track career was highly affected by pressure and race anxiety, how she has carried these lessons into her 11 year coaching career so far, what it's like to coach through a pandemic and how she keeps the women engaged and motivated as well as her thoughts on navigating any plans for motherhood and climbing the ranks of her career. "In sport, if you have torn hamstring you rehab the hamstring and you don't hide the fact that you have a torn hamstring. Thats something that you work on. If you struggle mentally with anxiety or expectation or depression or any of those things, that’s really internalized still . That's not something thats spoken about or shared. I think there is still a lot of shame applied to that struggle, instead of treating it like a muscle-when you strain a muscle you’ve got  to rehab the muscle and then you’ve got to strengthen the muscle and then sometimes that muscle still hurts and you’ve got to back off. From a mental perspective I think a similar approach can be really helpful - to treat it like a normal process, it isn’t linear it’s not flipping a light switch ….. that’s a perspective that I try to bring to coaching as much as possible”for in depth show notes head to our site Keeping-Track.comAnd don't forget to get your 20% off Gatorade Endurance products as you "Dial It In" with your training details this month! Use our code "track20" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alysia and Molly talk to Team USA Discus thrower Valarie Allman about setting and AR during a pandemic, life as a thrower, what her other interests are and how to better spotlight and market field events.Special thanks to Gatorade Endurance for sponsoring September's theme of "Inspiring Sports women of the Pandemic"Get 20% off DE products with the code "Track20" here!https://endurance.gatorade.com/endurance-products/endurance/?utm_source=KeeingTrack&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=TrainingForLifeAnd Thank you to Saucony for our season 2 support! #runforgoodWorkout Wed with Val:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxuuG9z4cJUThe AR throw:https://twitter.com/CoachSion/status/1289721823026753536Doha World Championshipshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0YHQ1MC4gkCatchup: Molly and Alysia talk as Ro takes maternity leave, welcome baby Ruari!Alysia’s August-did it happen if it’s not on IG?She’s doing analyst work for NBC Diamond League-yay for races coming back!Molly’s micro meet and upcoming 5000mIntro to Val!-Val’s start in DiscusShe began in other  sports-soccer, full time dance , track and field other eventsLured to throws by spaghettiWanted to compete on a college team and that’s why she narrowed focused on discus-Stanford years-everyone is good on that team, new pressures6-How dance helps disc-mental side of being an athlete during this pandemic time: from wanting to give up and go home to having the biggest throw of her lifeDid she see it coming? 70 meters is a big barrierPandemic meet:Happy to even be competing, had been focusing on getting stronger in weight room-Volunteering at University of Texas, whats her day look like , training during covid shutdownsCoach is Zeb Sion- nugget of insight during pandemic: “It forced me to figure out what I truly need-pretty much all medical things closed in terms of getting physio and getting adjusted, and it forced me to shrink my priorities. That was actually great because I didn’t realize all the things I was trying to factor into my training that had become a distraction a little bit, that I think maybe that was one of the silver linings that came out of it.” - business and finances of track and field, how throwers support themselves, her sponsors (Oiselle and NYAC), and the importance of prize money, USATF funding and grants especially for field events - why the field events aren’t marketed as well and how it could be better connected to the audienceDiscus is athletic-training includes partial movement,full throws,olympic lifts, cross training sprints/biking/swimming Fun facts may help (ex. javelin weighs as much as guinea pig)28:30-what the competition is like-do you chat, interact? Stay in the zone? - Val’s story: “Sports is such an empowering thing-I feel so lucky that I found a community and a sport and a sense of purpose with my body, especially as a female, and in an event that I didn’t know was possible."Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intro: 0-18 We rehash our season one memories, talk about our interview with Dalilah, and discuss the topic of athlete mental health highlighted in the documentary the Weight of Gold, something we want to touch on in season 2!Watch Dalilah’s 1st  world record and win at 2019 USA champs:https://youtu.be/QhE9yDzD07kStats20-started running at 7, with distance running (xc, 1500!)Ran 100/200 at junior Olympics as 12 or 13From Queens, Novas Track Club24-training and racing during pandemic25-mindset during these changing goals and timelinesMentality of world champ30-who’s in her training group, coached by Boogie 31- link sports illustrated article  https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/.amp/olympics/2019/08/07/dalilah-muhammad-400-meter-hurdles-world-record-lawrence-johnson-analysisDalilah’s strength work, ran a 2:11 800 at the end of practice50.6 400 pr 35-link sports illustrated article “Black off the Track”: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/.amp/olympics/2020/06/10/black-track-and-field-athletes-racism-experiences-america40- how she was told “she had to win” because she can’t do anything less as a black athlete-validated her thoughts and anxieties around that but was also stressful“You feel like you have to be the best or you get forgotten about”47- Asking why attention flows to the lighter skinned, younger, non-Muslim ahtlete in her event48-realizing it’s not “playing the black card” -story of only getting noticed by a major track publication after her WR despite winning olympic gold 2 years earlier49-Alysia on the imbalance of marketing and income vs merits of performance in track50-on being Muslim and not feeling she looks it/ breaking stereotypes of Muslim women52-The idea that there’s not enough room for everyone’s success-how Dalilah’s learned that as her career went on 56: track geek q’s! Was the WR win at Doha a “perfect race”? How to build off that?The race: https://youtu.be/8ICw5ah7gPkDalilah: 51 sec is possible, had to reach for 8th hurdle58: Her word for the year 2019 was “compete”-rivalry with Sydney, does it drive her?60:  Her power word in 2016- she attacked every hurdle. Her word was “yes”. If it worked for track, the answer ws ye (re. Moving groups etc)Link to that race: https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/video/detail/women-s-400m-hurdles-final-rio-2016-replays/63: Dalilahs other plans-put her voice out there more, making change, also her side gig is modeling65- Dalilah’s into fashion check out her instagram for outfit inspo66- Dalilah's story: “how much i’ve struggled on this crazy journey-i never won an NCAA title, in 2012 I did a commercial about the Olympics and had to sign a waiver saying i wouldn’t make the team. It launched me to realize I wasn’t doing everything to chase my goals. It also gave me change in the pocket to move to california to train”From 15th (50th?) at trials in 2012 to gold in 2016!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk to Saucony President Anne Cavassa about her start in the sportswear and shoe industry, her journey through the business ranks, how sports, motherhood and being a woman informed her leadership style and the issues she faced along the way. She also talks about her goals and what she feels are her duties as a leader and a woman in this space. (see show notes at www.keeping-track.com for complete recap)0-23 mins Catch up:Recap of ep 22: 40% of USA being BIPOC, or 27% of USA consider selves BIPOC?Virtual race shoutouts! Good job Nikki Hiltz for Trevor ProjectAnd Boss crew for Sachs Foundation (and state mile record!)Say Their Names 5k and mile here , proceeds to Embrace Race Foundation and Nation Foundation for Human and Civil Rights FoundationDonate to BraveLikeGabe in Gabe’s Memory to support rare cancer research “Flowers come out of dirt and I will. They don’t want us to win but we going to win anyway”-Alysia19-(link to earnest young- women at high level leadership roles playing sport stat)Annes start: Psychology to design school to apparel design, to manager, director, leading design and out of frustration to merchandising to have more control of the business, and onward and upward.28:30-Being a woman in a leadership position:Gender split in the industry is somewhat even UNTIL VP levelMuch of career it was dealing with internal battles: personal confidence, taking risks, putting self out thereAt director level-started to feel held back by being a woman31;30 Ex:Conversation w boss “didn’t think I could lead a sport brand because I’m a woman and don’t know what competition means”34:30- Anne is scrappy and likes competitive energy, being told she can’t was used as motivation/tried to keep it productive36-Motherhood- had trouble becoming a mother at first, walked away from job at Nike to try to focus on health“Motherhood has added a layer of complexity that has made it really really challenging” but has some extra flexibility due to becoming a mother later , having more of an established career and schedule39:00- prioritized running in mid 30’sHow Covid has made it harder to be a working Mom“ I try from a leadership perspective ....realizing that I can lead the way that I think people want and need and that is to be more empathetic of everyone's entire life and what they have going on and give space for that and grace for things that arent perfect and just recognize that. That’s the environment myself and our leadership team are trying to create at Saucony ; one that embraces the whole person and allows you to live your life-there has to be room for that”44-“If I can be a leader who can create space and design our programs to support you guys in your whole life and becoming moms and help use through that to the other side, I mean that's my responsibility...thats what i can do as a leader to make change in our industry”47-”There was a point in time in my leadership journey where I just felt more comfortable being myself, and I realized that I can’t really compete with the male leadership around me trying to be a dude and a guy and my strengths-some of them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We examine representation of Gender and Race on the covers of three running magazines as a sample of the North American Running media. We speak to Dr. Heather Hillsburg and Dr. Francine Darroch on their findings (14.8 percent of Runners World print Covers feature Black Indigenous and People Of Color- or BIPOC, 14.75 % of Canadian Running covers feature BIPOC,  and for Women’s Running covers we saw an average 31% BIPOC over 10 years, but noticed a recent average of 40% after a sustained increase from 2013 onward), why representation matters and how these trends contribute to racism in the running world and why we need to show and hear the stories of more BIPOC and elevate more BIPOC voices in this space.(see shownotes  for full recap)Catch up:0-5: Alysia Ro and Molly catch up on livesAlysia’s book is launching more officially Feel Good Fitness (link)Molly’s back in Rhode IslandRo’s still gestatingLink to tank tops (currently tees only but hope to arrive soon) and &motherGuest intros: Dr. Francine Darroch, sociologist at Carleton U in Ontario, focusing on health equity and Dr. Heather Hillsburg ,author of Urban Captivity Narratives: Women’s Writing after 9/11  and works for government in British Columbia8:14-our thoughts on why we wanted to do the studyShoutout to Womens Running for making a sustained push to increase diversity on covers after 201312: only 14.8 percent of Runners World Covers feature BIPOC, our past guests Marielle Hall and Alison Desir have mentioned this lack of seeing self in this media14: Is lack of diversity strategy intentional? Is it about the bottom line?15:30- our personal conversation started on how from the athlete perspective, we have been told we don’t have the “look” for coversWhat is required- ex Alysia is a change maker in sports industry, activist, multiple time medalist and more but that doesn’t check the right boxes19- why getting a cover is a boon for a professional runner“Allows for upward chain of marketability”22- Runnersworld leaves out most of the track athletesAlysia wish mass participation included shorter events The interview:23-28-we explain why we partnered with these sociologists to examine representation on running media (via 3 different magazine covers over 10 years)29-Francine lays down her results and shouts out the research team: Heather Hillsburg (phD in gender studies), Amy Schneeburg (epidemiologist), Candace Roberts (masters student), Jenna Seyidoglu (undergraduate honors thesis student)Examined 284 covers, focus on race and gender, between 2009 and 2019(Runners World (122), Canadian Running(75), and Women’s Running (88))BIPOC are underrepresentedRW-14.8%WR- 31%CR-14.7%(slides and report are on website www.keeping-track.com aka show notes)Changes over time: Womens running saw meaningful and sustained improvement in representation 2013 onward (hit 40%)36- Heather speaks on role of media on consLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk to team USA Hammer thrower Gwen Berry on raising her fist in solidarity with the black community at the 2019 Pan American Championships, what is the IOC rule 50 , and why her gesture was important as well as her experiences as a black female athlete in this country.(see our website for links and more detailed show notes;) )The Catchup:“How are you doing” is a loaded question these days. But we all want to talk about how we’re really doing and what’s going on in America-Going out hard with BLM and anti-racism. We want it to be sustainable. The fatigue is setting inKeep engaging and moving on it!-Race discussions have been taboo, it’s progress that the discussions are being heard now and on the table-ask questions, a lot of why’s 22:34-the salute at 2019 pan ams, Gwen won gold and raised a fist on the podiumShe was inspired by her own trials and tribulations from last year and saw that same struggle in other black Americans, (like the homeless man that came to her throws practice to find a safe space to sleep)2019 was “Its a race against time”Gwen didn’t know she was going to raise a fist at that moment, she felt in that moment to show solidarity, to show that you can still make it even though being black in America is to face systemic racism and barriers29: IOC gave her probation, what that means (didn’t lose prize money, USATF didn’t reprimand her in that way)The probation was meant to silence her at Olympics (went Aug 19-Aug20)30:24 What Rule50 says31-link Gwens letterIOC has to protect sponsors and partners, who don’t want negative or political stance to disrupt gamesWant mostly joyful moments“Its actually creating a halo effect over everything an athlete has gone through to get to this moment”“No ones saying the rules shouldn’t be the rules, we’re just saying don’t reprimand the athletes then celebrate them, put them in a hall of fame, put them in museums all around the world, and oh these are our heroes of our decade, put them on the website-don’t do that”33-why protest is important and why athletes shouldn’t be muted35: the hypocrisy (link Sarah Hirschland tweet)And the apology37- Gwen was protesting the day of the tweet, there was outcry at the hypocrisy. Max Siegel at USTAF facilitated the call, Sarah apologized, Gwen stressed that this is BIGGER than her. It’s about a culture, Black Americans, Gwen’s family and friends, the black athletes that will come along after her. “What I did was not wrong”40:After the medal at Pan Ams: Gwen was that night called into a meeting w USATF and PanAm committeeBc she signed ATHLETES CONTRACT (copy link) she could face repercussionsUSATF stood with her and Pan Am committee supported herWhen Gwen got home, USOPC said there will be a letter saying she has a 12 month probation , with no feedback from her on why she needed to protest41:50-Gwen lost grant opportunities and sponsorship dollars 42:30 USOPC working group athletes put together: Gwen has to train first and focus on making team and podium.  Other  athletes are backing her up and doing the work on the groupIOC dug in heels recently on the no protest (link their announcement)43:38-the town halls 44:30- would athlete stories move the IOC? USA isn’t the only country-IOC being neutral is easier and they focus on the dollars47-racism is a global phenomenon, America has a deep rooted history with it but globally, “darker is less than”Why rule 50 is out of touch with the realities ofLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: We recorded this prior to the murder of George Floyd. We don't mention his murder in the show, and actually worried that the attention on race issues in running (and America in general) brought by Ahmaud's murder would start to fade too soon. As you can see, this is an even more essential discussion now. Check out the website for the rest of the show notes! Alison’s Bio: Alison holds her BA in History, MA in Latin American and Caribbean Regional Studies, and EdM in Counseling Psychology, all from Columbia University. She is a Mom, activist (Harlem RunRunforAllWomenGlobalWoman RunCollective) Endurance athlete, mental health counselor,  author, and speaker.Catchup:0-6 news with us -Alysia is getting somewhat back to her regular schedule/self, Molly’s heading back to RI, Ro’s Dare To Believe is on TV in Ireland7-Alison Desir our guest and introducing Race and Running11-Alysia reads @TheConsciousKid educational post on White Privilege (bc instagram was taking it’s content down!)15-Why it’s important to not be afraid of being uncomfortable or awkward with these conversations (note: but do at least some work/reading on your part first! Care enough to do your own research, it's step 1)18- Alysia’s personal experience with racism and having to worry about white people’s discomfort21-How early experiences with racism have shaped how Alysia approaches the topic with her white friends26- Alysia calling out all the Running media publications to do more Resources:Books- White Fragilityme and white supremacyInstagrams :@[email protected] on instagram and TwitterWebsiteHer programs:Harlem RunRunforAllWomenGlobalWoman RunCollective-encouraging more women leaders in running Her recent articles:Flotrack: on Race and Running Outside Magazine article: Ahmaud Arbery and Whiteness in the Running WorldHer Virtual Tour (see end of page)How she got started: 8 years ago was struggling with depression and saw someone training for a marathon, inspired her to start  running and it helped get her through it3:00 Running While Black:-She became a mom 10 months ago and this perspective, as well as her own as a black woman and distance runner,  compelled her to speak out, connected to Ahmaud Arbery murder in an even more personal way(contd. at our site!)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Molly Seidel Our catchup:Alysia launches &mother!(fact check: here is the article on Alex Morgan sponsored while pregnant story: Head to EricaSara designs for &mother jewelry and check out our tank tops out on march 29 to support &mother! Interview:Where Molly is during the quarantine: back home in wisconsinHow hard the isolation  is if you live alone4-Barrista life: She is a Pro Runner first, and barrista on the sideWhy she does it: balances her life10-15 diving into the trials race: what she felt before during and after . going from first marathon to first Olympic Team15-how her attitude of low expectation and having fun/being present buffered negative emotions, the atmosphere being exciting and having a big support crew 17-working with Aliphine in last 6 miles, how she looks up to her advice of doing the training that works for her and not comparing to others20-her injury history the last 2 years was really hard. Bone density issues from eating disorder affected her first 2 years as a pro Had to find out who she was if she didn’t have running23-her buildup to the trials, changed training back towards what worked in college (more moderate workouts and higher mileage), focus on overall health26-letting her goals unfold rather than pushing through injuries and unhealthy stages to hit goalsOutcome goals vs process goals-it’s where joy is. How she did not enjoy her college success because she wasn’t healthy“Frankly my last two NCAA championships, like there was no joy in those. I was mentally unwell”31-Molly’s lessons from college (link to Julias Hanlon's Running on Om podcast ep 225)*footlocker stat: Thanks for the research Sara Slattery!" The race has been run since 1979 and there have been 41 Champions on the men’s side, 12 have become NCAA Champions and 7 of them have made Olympic teams.  Yet on the Women’s side there have been 4 NCAA Champions, and only 1 Olympian (Now 2 Olympians as of February 29, 2020 with Molly Siedel making the marathon team, despite overcoming some of these issues herself).”Why aren’t our best female jr athletes becoming our best sr athletes?Many girls fall through the cracks for reasons to do with female athlete body, mental health, womanhood etc36-How Molly made it through this-good support system, not everyone has this“(That running is  a small  part of who you are as a person) I think that’s really important to someone in a vulnerable state or for kids to hear; you are more than this sport you’re doing.40-Sponsor support: Saucony is unique in their support of the whole athlete in this industry-gave Molly a chance, a smaller deal than she normally would have earned but with time and understanding for her to heal and develop45-how covid is affecting her career and future Olympic berth49-what her training is like now during the quarantine and what races are in her future53- Molly’s story-it takes hard work and time to make an Olympic team-you never fully get over an eating disorder, it’s a lot of checking in, adjusting and awareness to stay on healthy pathLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0-9: Molly and Ro Catchup:Join Ro's Mother's Day Insta Contest @ believetrainingjournal !Buy Alysia's book Feel Good Fitness! Check out Strides Forward Podcast by Cherie Louise Turner! 10-Holly -intro as a sociologist-they “zoom out” to see interactions of socio cultural pressures, broader ideas around for example beauty femininity and success. She looks at individuals, the culture around them and broader social forces.“I put these pressures on myself” is often untrue. Like a fish can’t see water, we often have trouble seeing the forces that act on our own psyches/ realizing what we internalize-Dr. Thorpe aims to advocate more sustainable sporting culture for long term health and well being over immediate performance “These are not just individual athlete problems, these are problems within sporting cultures “16-sociology is one part of a complex puzzle (in endurance sports issues)17-Dr Stacy Simms TED talk and book19-on using research to show this (LEA, RED-S)  isn’t a unique,  individual’s problem/weakness- it’s a larger more common issue- prevalence of non-extreme versions  toxic sports culture24-why the LEA/RED-S is more prevalent in womens endurance sports (among a few other sports like sports with aesthetic performance)-It’s complicated27-reinforcement of energy restrictive behavior in sport, and how hyper “in touchness” with how your body feels being integral to being an elite athlete may contribute to issues-elites persist longer with LEA than regular gym goers, though both were at risk of initial deficiency. Why? Often rewarded for it32-resistance to changing how we think about weight’s relationship to performance “What can we achieve with healthy female athletes!?”37- goal of changing messaging to menstruating=performance advantage. It means you’re healthy 42-reaching young demographics with this messaging-local examples and peer to peer conversations/ peer lead discussion times are helpful. Athletes who are in the midst of a recovery -those stories are powerful as well49- Kim Smith: healthy fueling role model53-There are even digital expectations and pressures for athletes-social media etc54-Is this a first world only problem? Leaders in endurance running come from East Africa, is RED-S/LEA a problem there? If so, is it for same reasons? Different cultures exist in and across countries/socio economic status , more research needed56-Gender and RED-S: is the prevalence due to the way girls socialize things, even food and hunger? Beauty? Etc59-katie Schofield research- Men underfueling as well due to ideas on weight and performance in mens sport. Stigma of LEA may be worse for them62-female athletes in the media: expectations on looks.It is improving : due to more female journalists and female athletes taking media into their own hands (instagram, podcasts, etc)Resources:Healthy Women in Sport a Performance Advantage WHISPA72- The power in the athlete’s non sporting, human side. Their own authentic voices can be very impactful (more of Dr. Thorpes research and articles are linked on our website)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices