Keeping Track

Sally intro and update on her situation staying in Kenya more, Coronavirus effects in Kenya, her home on the farm w fam Kevin and EmmaTrains solo , has help at home16-Motherhood and training , a lot of struggles in the 2 years post baby“ I will always be a mother before I’m an athlete, always”Lots of illness and body not cooperating21-training while pregnant: USA vs Kenya24-Sally’s struggles to train while pregnant, didn’t run but walked after 17 weeks pregnancy25-how to deal with not running when it’s such a big part of identity“There were times where I felt like I was kind of losing the battle in that (running thru pregnancy) aspect,because my fellow athletes where doing so well and they were managing it. I think i didn’t prepare myself enough for if i couldn’t run”“The public eye is showing these women who are soing really well and thats fantastic i think thats a great think, but Theres a risk that comes with that, because if cant achieve that  you almost feel like your preg or your journey is not as important...i just want to say it’s as important, that stage in your life is a wonderful stage, it should be celebrated weather you can run go to the gym 7 da week until you deliver or if you can’t move 2 feet until you deliver”30- Sally racing NYC marathon a few weeks pregnant35-When Sally decided to fit motherhood into her careerSociety’s (Kenya for ex) pressures on women vs own decisions to have family43-Sally’s school she helped build in Kenya, and on being a woman in a male dominated culture: education is such an important equalizer49-Sally’s role models and being enlightened by seeing USA, motivated by how important education is54-Sally’s sisters, married and had children young, ages 16 and 17(not going to highschool limits education, but also limited chance to participate in sports, they probably had similar great talent)58-Is Sally famous in Kenya?!Why She’s “Mamma-Emma”1:01-Kenyan running community, from doping to popularity and celebrity“Running is huge in kenya, it’s like being in the NFL in the US”“The younger generation, they think to run well you must dope”And there are issues in USA too: She makes a point to distinguish herself from Oregon Project in Portland (she is Oregon Track Club w Mark Rowland in Eugene)Needing to cultivate a culture of hard work rather than win at all cost in Kenya“If we have enough role models that are doing good, and for the young people to realize you can be good without ever cheating- I think that’s the greatest thing we can do as athletes. And I think we need to go back to really redefining what greatness is… you don’t have to be 1 to be great, just do your best and give 100%, and value that in our kids…”1:14- What part of Sally’s story she wants to shed more light on:That the mother, athlete and family member she is are all entwined. (great athletes aren’t robots-they’re whole people!)“ The mother (in me) is so much linked to the wife and so much linked to the athlete. The qualities that I try it to accomplish as an athlete are almost the same qualities that I’m trying to accomplish and trying to master and trying to learn as a mom and as a wife, like for example ...if im trying to be a good mom im trying to be diligent i'm trying to be disciplined im trying to be considerate,im trying to be forgiving, im trying to be patient i want to be loving. I want to be disciplined , I want to be diligent, I want to be faithful to my running.”Ro-Sally “knows how she wants to show up in the world” what’s next for Sally and how to follow her Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to episode 16 -This is a special episode of Keeping Track, We are highlighting Female Coaches in the NCAA D1 Track and Cross Country world. We’ve actually been working on this episode since we started the Podcast back in October, it was one of the first ideas I had, but it was perhaps biting off more than I could chew in the editing department so it took a while! (please forgive the occasional  shaky sound quality and choppiness). We pieced together parts of different interviews that we’ve collected the last few months, so let us know what you think of this different format. In this episode we talked to 5 women who are head coaches or Directors of programs at NCAA D1 schools. We hear from April Thomas, the associate head coach and throws coach at Mississippi State ,Julie Culley, the director of the track program at Georgetown, Amy Rudolph, associate head coach of women’s XC and assistant track coach at  Iowa State, Sara  Slattery who is head Cross Country Coach at Grand Canyon University in PHX , and Diljeet Taylor the associate director of cross country and track and field at BYU. We asked these women about their start in the profession, the challenges women face in progressing in the coaching field, who their mentors and supporters are, how they grew into successful coaches and why they find the career so rewarding. We hope you enjoy hearing these women all contribute their voices and experiences to this episode! Thanks for Keeping Track!0-3: the stats: As of 2017:Women are 43% of women’s sports head coaches in NCAAWomen are 23% of head coaches across all sports in NCAAOnly 12-18% of track and XC head coaches are womenPre title 9 (1978),( before you could make money as a women’s coach) 90 % of women's team coaches were women4- examining reasons for the imbalance:Lack of role models? System bias? Child care and pregnancy?We tell you why it’s a real job for women5: who we talk to-(link to profiles)Amy Rudolph of Iowa State,Julie Culley director of program at georgetownSara Slattery head distance coach at GCUDiljeet Taylor of BYUApril Thomas throws coach and ssoc head coach at Mississippi State (check out our website www.keeping-track.com for more detailed question summary!)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Catch up0-11 Molly Ro and Alysia update on Pandemic related changes in Bay Area CA, Scottsdale AZ, PVD RIRo’s healthy mind platter chartlink14-olympic postponement21-Introducing our two Guests Lauren Philbrook and Rachel Hyland25-check our insta for t-shirt winners!Interview!Lauren - still has 3.5 more weeks until baby-with Pandemic, now is an uncertain and anxious time to be pregnantRachel- due june 1, more uncertainty now, Dr. appointments are pushed back, done virtual etc4-decision to run the trials pregnant (the women were 27 weeks and 33 weeks along) and how much they were running in third trimester7-what they represented out on the trials course:Link Rachels blogPriorities shift with family but you can still have goals, her goal was adjusted but still held on to itRachel: “I was one of 500 who qualified and we’re all in a different place-I was in the middle of a pregnancy, Lauren was 33 weeks, someone else may have had a miscarriage, you just never know. Everyone was on their own little journey and I was just part of that.”12-Lauren: “I was actually a little bit worried that maybe some people would think I wasn’t taking this very serious event very seriously so that was probably  my biggest hesitation about running in it, and then having the support from Rachel and then my husband and my friends  here were like “no….” you qualified there is no reason why you can’t go run too “. “How supportive and encouraging everyone was to us, I was just blown away, I’ll never forget that feeling”13-Rachel was 4th in 2018 Boston Marathon15-Rachel: “Staying connected to the running community while I’ve been pregnant has been super important, so I think that’s another thing maybe I was, another reason that got me to the start line was being connected, cus I really needed that-I needed my running community this year in particular, even if I might have been running slower-but you don’t have to remove yourself from the competitive running community just cus you’re pregnant”16-Olympic postponement effects on these ladies-how it affects family planning18-Rachel and Lauren have other careers and balance running and family 23- Loosening your grip on perfection as an athlete who is used to chasing excellence-how those high expectations shift when you have family, work, and sport performance27- Rachel and Lauren’s story(link Runnersworld and WR story)Lauren-looks to women who are working, running at a high level and have families. It’s personally inspiringRachel-Also looks to for ex to teachers pursuing another passion aside from teaching-running is similar(link salty womens running pregnant training logs)33-lauren: “One thing i really like that Stephanie said...I’m not saying you have to run a marathon too just because I did , you can do whatever feels most comfortable to you….do what feels right to you, it doesn’t have to be a marathon, you can run if you like to and what’s comfortable, I feel like that’s what’s... appreciated”34:30 What it means to have each other during this time of their lives: they inspire each other to run post collegiately, and share first pregnancy experienceLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CatchupAlysia catches us up on having baby number 33-baby blues hit, Alysia talks new parent struggles and ppd/blues and Social Distancing struggles6:45-Molly catchup on trials and uncertainty as races are cancelled9:30-Alysia has finished her book Feelgood Fitness-preorder available on11:40-inspiration for the fitness book-accessibility for all abilities, inspired by her 67 year old Mom (and Astor says hi!)13:45-Ro’s news!Ali T!14:45- intro Aliphine, Marathon Olympic Trials champ and 10 time USA champion16:45-uncertainty amidst Corona Virus cancellations and quarantines19:45-Corona Virus in Kenya21:30-Growing Up in Posoy, West Pokot , Kenya20:45-Being of two worlds-Kenya and America“ without growing up in kenya I don’t know that I would be the person that I am today, without the experiences of experiencing a hard life, and I think that hard life that I had earlier made me appreciate the things that I do have today...I’m a very proud Kenyan-American.”42-How do we feel about changing allegiance?44-How Aliphine grew to want to compete for and live in USA47-Nationality as an identity in the melting pot of America49- Aliphine speaks on being between countries,  common immigrant experience: you have roots in the new country so to leave it would be hard, and returning is strange when the old country has changed since you were there.50-being a woman in Kenyan culture“If you got married you became part of a property of a man and his family...back then a woman didn’t have anything, like a woman doesn’t own anything, but then for me now I have the freedom of being able to get myself something,like when I bought my first house here it made me very happy because I came here with 100 dollars…. And having something that is mine that no one is gonna claim, that right there is independence that I don’t know if I had not ran or came to america I don't know if i would have had that independence. This is something that really makes me appreciate where I am and the opportunities that I have...I want to take that message to those little girls and tell them you can be indepent too...they don’t have a vision of being independent and I want them to know that they have a chance that they can do that”59-system of spouses controlling athletes contributing to doping in Kenya60:30-CoronaVirus again-how Aliphine is staying positive1:03-AliT Resiliency Beanies -she has an employee now! Business has expanded1:04-Aliphine’s string of injuries in 2018/2019 and how she dealt with themAli T resilience Hats on etsyAliphines story:“So much of my identity is running but I am more than a runner, I’m someone who...whenever I can, likes to interact with my community and offer support.  I want people to relate with me first as a human being, as a person who loves crocheting, who loves gardening, who grew up from a big family, who grew up from a lot of challenges.”Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13-Marielles start in the sport-grew up in NJ, tried a lot of different sports and track events14-why isn’t distance running as popular in black American culture? Not as much visibility of African American distance runners, but African distance runners are very visible17:30-Influences in her track career-AAU very diverse and Derek Thompson HS coach (currently coaches world class 800 women Ajee Wilson, Raevyn Rogers, etc) 19:30-Why in the USA is there a separation in races amongst events?Who Marielle looked to as a youngster: Venus, Serena, Tiger WoodsRepresentation is so important, even apart from raceUnderstanding trainingLack of representation in media (ex Runner’s World Covers?) , Don’t know where to run in neighborhoods? 26:30-consumers are aware and responsive to these issues-and there are new platforms popping up which are a good thing29:00 Any Marathon ambitions??31-What’s it like being a part of the excellence of the Bowerman Group?34-Navigating training with the best without overdoing it: finding the line. Not competing with each other on a daily basis is key “work on being in control and confident and smooth”38: What is Marielle’s story? “There’s some people that get the opportunity to tell their story 100 times other people only get it 5 times...to continue to tell my story, get it closer to 100, be myself around different types of people as much as possible and hopefully it resonates with someone...that’s why I love sports in general so much....I’m attached to the players and the people and their families. That’s what I tune into games for. I’m somehow connected to this person because I saw an interview or read an article.39-what will Marielle’s second and third acts be? What else is she interested in?Storytelling (tv, podcasts, and creative ways), musicMarielle’s playlistFollow marielle at jacksonville 15k and Online at @MariellehalllLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ro and Alysia chat with Ayesha McGowan , first African American Professional Cyclist about her journey, her advocacy for people of color in Cycling and how she created space for herself in this sport as well as celebrating the differences in the cycling world. Molly is off werkin out.6- Ayesha’s Background: how she got into sports and cycling-into track, field hockey and basketballWent to school in Central New Jersey-Piscataway 9- Ayesha’s mission to diversify road cycling. She recently became Pro w contract w Liv (she is Category II). Also fighting for representation in the cycling industry espn article14-womens cycling is being restructured-Women still only just now mandated to be paid at top level of cycling!She is not on team as it may limit her autonomy/ability to do advocacy work17- Ayesha’s influence in making space in the world as a black woman : Serena Williams, Kittie Knox21- her piece on people for bikes24-Cycling has such diverse participants: performance based cyclists, commuters, recreational cyclists. There feels to be  judgement between groups.25:  “I think the hardest thing about my work is trying to encourage people to learn how to celebrate differences instead of using them as tools for division and judgement and negativity. ...I don’t want you to not see that I’m a black woman. ….I want you to embrace that I’m a black woman and understand how that’s a good thing for this community and understand how that can be an asset to pushing the sport forward and growing cycling. But instead it becomes a negative thing. I feel like that’s how humans have learned to look at differences in general...I feel like cycling is this micro version of the world because you have people from all over...doctors and delivery workers...the range is massive...people from all different cultures and colors and whatever and so it’s a big reflection of the world and  it feels like a huge opportunity to teach some of these larger points that extend beyond cycling but use cycling as that commonality”28-barriers Ayesha has faced-understanding the confusing structure herself ,ignorance of others in regards to her humanity, explaining diversity, getting into a community’s bubble, angry people , people who are upset to be told they’re doing things wrong31-Double Consciousness, W.E.B Dubois“How much of myself can I be?”35- Ayesha-wants to create more opportunities for other people this yearFollow these accounts!@Allmountainbrothers@pedal2thepeopleAyesha doesn’t just want a black person to be used as an inclusivity project -she wants to show the diverse people who already come to the sport/ to show the people who are doing their thing already. She doesn’t want to be THE diversity.  She wants a broader representation of black people. Where to find Ayesha: blog www.aquickbrownfox.comPodcast - Quick Brown Foxinstagram/twitter- @Ayesuppose

Link-dawns 2008 Oly Gold, and 2012 silver and most recent 2017 world champs silver0-10 Ro and Alysia catch up on Alysia’s commentating job from Boston Indoor Games!10-15 Dawn’s background and dreams for being mother and Olympic champ, the decision to wait to have a baby until she was done running in 2018 and coming OUT OF RETIREMENT for 2020!16:50-coming back from pregnancy -practice 6 weeks post baby was frustrating “that felt terrible to not be able to do something (a start off the line) that I feel like is just rolling out of bed” Felt rushed , but body has own timeline.23: link to the Tea on Players Tribune (via Facebook)We talk about the WNBA Collective bargaining agreement“The world recognized that this was a big deal” and deserved a news cycle not just small printWhat would be our issues in Collective Bargaining in track? Maternity, contract minimum?29: Perspectives on race and marketing: on seeking appropriate media attention and sponsorship opportunities for her achievements. The unexpected olympic gold in 2008-came from no contract, borrowed shoes , worked 3 jobs and shared a house with others“When I get to the line I’m not thinking of my hair style, my skin , my build, I’m thinking when I get to the line can I beat these other women”33 describing post gold feelings-so happyVs Interview experience: so much focus on LoLo who was the favorite to win not medaling-it didn’t follow the media script and there was some backlash because LoLo was a media darlingand Dawn was relatively unknown.She understood it took time for public to adjust to her win37: Marketability for female athletes come with unique challenges : ex- black female athletes-hair is a big deal, takes time and money to look good on tv39- on being called “jealous, dark, black and ugly, mad because LoLo got the spotlight”-upsetting, because she didn’t want fame she wanted to realize her full potential“Thar Narrative carried on for years” “I felt lost”42: How comments on her braids made her feel ugly and regret a style she likes ”I felt like the world was telling me I was ugly”44-2012 olympics-so happy to medal again. She was more well known and ready again to battle Sally Pearson-PR’d,broke former Oly Record w Sally,  came second by a fraction46 : 2012 reactions: social media- people call her “angry, black b--, kill yourself”The TV interview was centered around Lolo’s loss again49: Remembering back to 2008, room mate was devastated by loss while she was so happy to win, showed her to be sensitive and respectful to her competitors-why it’s so upsetting that she was portrayed as bitter regarding Lolo’s loss51: Kelly Wells purple hair was called too “ghetto” and unamerican by internet trolls52: ”there was a time for four solid years, olympics to olympics, where I was fending for myself and had to somehow find my own confidence and say no matter what the world is telling me I know that when I line up its a blessing to wear these 3 letters on my chest and every time I line up im just going to do my best” 53: The medals didn’t have the sponsorship power she expected-she felt her team didn’t push back at the narrative of “the market is down, no one is asking for you” and “you’re not the look”59: she felt lonely and unsupported in her issue. She felt like she didn’t have value for what she’d done, 62:2020-looking for sponsors but going for the dream anyway “you’ve been here before and you can do it again”65: outside influences matter (media and social media trolls etc), ILearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ro, Molly and Alysia Catch up after the Holiday break and discus the place of female athletes in fans' and media's yearly and decade rankings, and talk about discovering our voices for 2020. We have a great resource episode where ReCORE creator Celeste Goodson talks about the inner core rebuilding that is essential for post partum return to running and sports.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0-10: catch upLinks: Ro’s journals and code keepingtrack202010-on Shalane’s retirement: the emotions, the decisions, the difficult parts and the shifting of passion from her running to fostering other athlete’s successes, family and other projects3-How transition from runner to coach affects her support team 7- the transition to Shalane’s post-running life was always in the back of her mind, part of why it has gone smoothly8-emotions at the end of running career: sadness, relief, happiness10-relating to the Lindsey Vonn  documentary the Final Season and the book The Second Mountain by David Brooks12-retirement isn’t easy stage for athletesShalanes double knee surgeries19-Shalane on wanting it all: coaching, and family, looking to adoptLink to shalanes journal, third cook book coming out, link to other two Run Fast Eat Slow, Run Fast Cook Fast Eat Slow21- Motivation for Elyse and Shalane’s cook books: to help educate athletes on good fuel and combat eating disorders in sports23-Shalane learning to fuel her body throughout career- not always perfect27- Hows could/could a coach speak to an athlete about nutrition and weight?31-Bowerman Babes bond by cooking together33- Shalane’s feelings on the negative aspects vs positive experiences at Nike: it’s uncomfortable, the positive impact of Bowerman in the Portland community,  lessons she has learned from being adjacent to the story of Mary Cain40: Shlane: advocate for yourself and be aggressive in going for your dreams”43- How Shalane learned to be confident and aggressive in going for things she wants-operating on a pace of no regrets“To not be afraid of advocating for yourself, if you think you’re going to be good at something and for taking that leap of faith to just push people to accept your vision and your goal….I felt like it was a much needed role and I created it for myself”“I encourage people to be agressive about things that you want”“ My athletic career has allowed me to continually believe in myself more and more. Its not that i dont have moments of doubt, but athleteics has propelled me to have these moments of ‘why not me’”Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0-5Obsie talks about having balance with running work and school-how she thrives5: Obsie talks about her upbringing in Ethiopia, and her other great coaching influences from HS and college in Iowa and Coach Kurt at NeD9:30 Obsie talks about Ethiopian Running culture10:40- Running helped Obsie make friends when she came to America, and she didn’t focus on it as an elite sport 11:30-Obsie’s first marathon -in college! She set the NAIA record 2:45 In 2012 at Grandview, where she ran everything from 4x800 to 26.2 in that week15-How Obsie worked with her competitor to PR in CIM this yearHer strategies for managing herself in the race17:30-edit out the freeze please18;00-East African running culture20: Nice is not a weakness:  “When you lift eachother up that’s when I feel the most comfort and benefits you, benefits them. What’s meant for me will be mine...there’s enough room for everyone...I know its a competition but I know when to turn that on and when to turn that off”21-Obsie surrounds herself with real and good people-she is grateful for the mentors in her life: Janet Bawcom, Dianne Nukuri, her HS coach, her post college coach Kurt, and her teachers in EthiopiaOn coaching middle school kids in her NeD days; “coaching those kids, I find it inspiring, I think as an adult you lose that part of you sometimes that gets so excited about the sport and ...as adults we are so fearful that x-y-z will happen. Those kids I lay out hurdles in front of them and some of those kids have never seen it and they’re like “im gonna do it!....they have no fear” 25- Obsie is grateful for her coaches’ efforts and it inspires her in the race26-Obsie’s workouts! -we thought she did 5X5 mile, but i think it is 5X mile :)She loves mileage!30-Obsie learns to fit in training, rest, sleep and diet better now than she used to32-Ethiopian culture and attitude on food and diet36-Obsie is not sponsored and mostly trains solo39-what’s next? Trials are on the calendar!“Running for me is the way I feel the most confident,it’s when I feel like I’m open to people, so it’s like a language. It’s like a smile is a universal language and running is the same because whether you run slow,.....people run at different levels but we’re all in it together. All those marathoners still out there on the course, were all on the same journey. I love that. “It’s really opened up my world and my mind and what I can do with other things. It motivates me to be better:to be a better advisor, a better student.”Link to Obsie’s Saucony commercialLink to NeDistanceLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices