Michigan Runner Girl

After a couple of weeks away from the studio (thanks to the extreme weather and, well, life), Heather is back behind the mic to catch up with everyone. She talks about her latest race, the Big Foot Snowshoe 10K in Traverse City at the end of January, as well as how training is going in the pool so far.

We've definitely had our fair share of true winter weather lately (late January was a BEAST throughout Michigan and the Midwest) and Heather takes this opportunity to talk winter running tips—how to stay moving while staying safe and warm when heading outside for your workout. Thanks to the many awesome tips shared with the MRG community on the Facebook page—be sure to check out the updated MRG Winter Running Guide. 

Finally, Heather is looking forward to this weekend's 2nd Annual MRG Winter Weekend Getaway in Roscommon. She shares details of this event—and how you can still join the fun.

Though he grew up playing sports and being an active kid, Dave Hester found himself “always achy and miserable” during the time following his college years. “I layed around a lot, I worked a lot and gained a lot of weight,” said Dave, who is 6’6” and during this period weighed 270 pounds. “That was the only time [in my life] I had been like that. It was four or five years, I sunk into a depressive state. One day I said, ‘Nope, not anymore.’ I needed to turn my life around. I ate right and started exercising. My motivation was not wanting to feel that way.”

Holly Olszewski also experienced a somewhat similar “a-ha” moment relating to her health and well-being. “After my third child was born, I weighed 237 pounds and my doctor said, ‘You’re going to die and you need to do something about it. You’re not on a good path.’ That really spoke to me and really motivated me to change. I had three children in two years, so there was a lot going on. I made up my mind that it was important to be there for them and help them learn a healthy lifestyle.” She started walking a mile every day. “Then it turned into running and the running turned into triathlon.” She lost 90 pounds and has maintained a healthy weight.

Holly and Dave, both music teachers for Traverse City Area Public Schools and teammates with Tri Again Fitness, share their inspiring journeys with Heather. Both are training for this summer’s IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City. They describe what it’s like to have found their tribe—Tri Again Fitness—of like-minded people. They also talk about the ups (making strong connections with others, accomplishing big goals) and downs (losing friends) that come with making a big lifestyle change.

Holly and Dave are candid about what they’ve learned as they became stronger athletes and some of the biggest hurdles—Holly had to overcome a great fear of deep water in order to learn how to swim and complete a triathlon and Dave says he’s learned so many lessons from his race mishaps early on in his journey.

On this very first show of 2019, Heather is joined by two frequent guests and friends Maia Turek and Pam Carrigan to talk all about the upcoming second annual MRG Winter Weekend Getaway in Roscommon, Mich.

But before diving into the details of this amazing event (we’ve still got spots available!), these three catch up on one another’s holidays, the snow that (finally) has arrived in northern Michigan, how they’ve been (attempting) to stay active, Maia’s discovery of how not to pour drinks into Solo cups, snowshoeing with dogs, and the power of January 7 (when the new year and resolutions really get underway, right?).

The MRG Winter Weekend Getaway is next month, Feb. 8-10, and is again taking place at the Ralph A. MacMullen Conference Center on Higgins Lake. This is a beautiful Department of Natural Resources property, located in the woods on the shores of the lake, and the all-inclusive, 2-day retreat features cross country skiing, snowshoeing, running, rest & relaxation, Sunday morning yoga, great food and drink, and lots more (including a “live” podcast recording with a special guest talking about ways we can prevent and treat common running injuries).

Maia, who works for the DNR and took part in last year’s event, and Pam, who is MRG’s event coordinator, reflect back on last year’s event, which included 30-some other women from around the state (and beyond – one participant traveled from the west coast to join us!). “There are two people from the retreat last year – one of them I keep in touch with on Facebook only and I love to see when she accomplishes things and gets in her miles and finishes her races,” Maia shares. “I get to cheer her on over Facebook…and then another woman, she came by herself and she immediately connected with me and my friend and became the three musketeers throughout the weekend and she’s one of our favorite people.”

There’s an amazing group of women signed on for this year’s event – women of all ages and at varying stages of life and health and wellness journeys. All are welcome, whether you’ve only begun to run, are thinking of starting to run and be more active, or you’ve finished many races and have been active for a long time. Get the inside scoop on this great gathering of like-minded women during this episode. 

More details here, too: https://michiganrunnergirl.com/2019-mrg-winter-weekend-getaway/

Heather shares some special MRG announcements in this short and sweet episode—the final show of 2018. 

* Special events where you can catch MRG (hint: the team will be traveling to a number of places across the state!)

* The upcoming MRG Winter Weekend Getaway, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, taking place Feb. 8-10, 2019.

* New and helpful info to look for on the web site, including delicious recipes and the MRG winter running guide.

* Race and training plans for 2019, including tackling IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City on Aug. 25.

Thanks for listening in 2018—we can't wait to see you in 2019! Lots of great guests to come!

Ann Arbor triathlete Nikki Derrick wore race bib #1184 at this fall's Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii—the same number worn by her close friend Karen Perzyk in the 2016 event.

Nikki, 47, requested this number as a way to honor Karen, a beloved friend and fellow Michigan triathlete, who died in January after a brief battle with stage IV esophageal cancer. 

Karen's death at age 49 was a devastating loss for Nikki, and for many others in their close-knit group of endurance athlete friends. It was Karen who inspired Nikki to return to competing in triathlons again after several years away from the sport. Karen was the kind of person whose enthusiasm for life and love of movement were infectious, Nikki says. She loved watching her friends succeed and was their biggest cheerleader.

Nikki shares how she decided to turn her race in Hawaii into a tribute to Karen, a way to honor the friend who meant so much to her and to so many others.

Nikki gives a detailed account of the World Championship in Kona and what it felt like to be there without her friend ... and what it felt like to push through the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride, and a tough, hot 26.2 to reach the finish line.

Heather and Nikki also talk about her love of mountain biking (she finished strong at this November's Iceman Cometh Challenge in Traverse City) and what's next for her in the coming year (a marathon out west, in wine country, among other adventures). They also talk about where Nikki finds her motivation, and how she carves out time for staying active while also being committed to her job as a physician assistant at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. 

It’s about that time … time to get serious about starting training for Ironman 70.3 Traverse City, a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run triathlon set for Aug. 25, 2019. Yes, this race is 8 months away. There is plenty of time ahead to get ready for this inaugural race. And yet, if you’re like Heather and this distance and event is going to be a first for you, you just might be thinking of getting things rolling in the coming weeks, as winter gets underway. For Heather, the swim portion is definitely a key component of earlier-than-later training. As she shares during this episode, getting into the pool this month, at least a couple of times, is part of the plan.

Heather talks with guests Rebecca and Tony Venticinque, both of whom are accomplished triathletes and seasoned coaches. Heather will be working with Tony and Rebecca, who operate Tri Again Fitness in Traverse City, as she trains for Ironman 70.3 Traverse City. Rebecca also shares her most recent full Ironman experience, a Nov. 4 race that almost didn’t happen in Florida because of Hurricane Michael. It was moved from Panama City Beach to Haines City, Fla. “After the hurricane hit … it was all up in the air even three weeks before the race,” she said. Tony was there as well, this time a volunteer and not competing as he has in two other full Ironman events. Rebecca talks about what it was like to complete this race in pretty warm conditions and, later in the race, a downpour.

Rebecca and Tony provide a preview of what’s to come in Heather’s training throughout winter and spring and during the summer (open water swimming!) as race day gets closer. Tony and Rebecca’s coaching business also includes a team of athletes, many of whom are signed on for Ironman 70.3 Traverse City. They’re also hosting a 70.3 triathlon training camp, May 10-12, 2019, that is open to anyone interested in preparing for the Traverse City event – or other triathlons.

Lodging, meals, group training, and plenty of optional topics will be discussed throughout the weekend. Full course previews of the Traverse City event also will be part of the weekend.

With over 45 years of combined coaching experience, Tri Again Fitness has helped coach individuals to national recognition, club national team wins, multiple World Team qualifications at all triathlon distances, all-American honors, Boston Marathon qualifiers and helped countless athletes achieve personal bests and lifelong milestones.

Tony has been coaching in one respect or another since 1991, and professionally coaching triathlon since 2006. Professional accomplishments at the USAT Club Nationals include winning the Division V in 2009 and securing runner-up at the Division IV in 2010. He’s also coached 21 age group athletes to 33 world team qualifications at the sprint, olympic, 70.3 and 140.6 distances over the past five years. Tony is a USA Triathlon Certified Level 2 Coach and USA Cycling Certified Level 2 coach.

Rebecca is an athlete turned coach. She has coached since 1993 in various sports. She has a Bachelors of Science in Management of Health Services, Group Exercise certification from ASFA Personal Training Certification from ISSA. USAT (Triathlon) certification and USATF (Track and Field) certification.

No matter where you live in Michigan, or where you may be visiting for the Thanksgiving holiday, a turkey trot likely isn’t too far away. In this latest episode of the Michigan Runner Girl show, Heather highlights several taking place around our beautiful Great Lakes State – all listed on the MRG Race & Event Calendar – and also sits down with the race organizers of her hometown turkey trot.

The Up North Media Traverse City Turkey Trot, now in its 11th year, is a Thanksgiving morning tradition for Heather and her family. In recent time, her dad has joined as a walker in the 5K run/walk event that starts and ends in the downtown area, at St. Francis High School on 11th Street. Heather talks with race founder Brian Hagerty, a hilarious guest who takes a look back on how this race started more than a decade ago, the changes it’s gone through over the years (venue and course updates being among them), the interesting costumes that come out each year, and how this year will be extra special because it’s his daughter’s birthday. Also joining Heather and Brian is Race Director Amy Fritz, a newer runner and recent half marathon finisher. She talks about how she trained for the Bayshore Half Marathon this past spring and was excited to exceed her goal of a 2-hour finish. (“I got really into running last year,” she shares.)

The conversation covers what runners can expect at the Traverse City event as well as explores why turkey trots are such great events for families. Brian shares how he’s taken part in several different ones over the years, in places such as Detroit and Chicago, while visiting family. Brian, Amy, and Heather all agree that these events help bring families together in a different and special way – whether your family members consider themselves runners or not. Most turkey trots are 5Ks, though some offer other distances, such as Traverse City’s 5-mile option. It’s just such a good way to get outdoors together.  “It’s a neat space for everyone,” Brian says. “It’s special to see all those families get together,” Amy added.

Special discount codes are mentioned for both the Traverse City Turkey Trot and also the Grand Rapids event.

MRG Contributor Ali Lopez is back on the show to talk about her most recent adventure: the Bad Apple Ultra, which takes place in late October each year in Greenville, Mich. near Grand Rapids. This Oct. 27 event is a timed ultra marathon event held at Klackle Orchards. A timed ultra—what does that mean, you may be wondering. You have the choice of doing a 3-, 6- or 12-hour run on a 4-mile loop through an apple orchard, pumpkin patch, wooded trails and a carnival!

"When I tell most people that you run a 4-mile loop as many times as you can in the time you pick, the first question is always 'doesn’t it get boring???'" Ali says. "Absolutely not."

Ali shares what it was like to take on a race like this, and what it meant to her following a year in which she came off an eye injury (which prevented her from running and being active for a long while). 

"When it got tough out there, I just remembered, 'I get to do this' and a smile would cross my face. I found that during each loop, my head was in a new place (as happens with ultras), and my body was in a new place." 

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Ali Lopez is a northern Michigan runner, chef and health coach. You can learn more about her at her web site Healthy Chef Ali. She's also on Facebook here »

The Michigan Runner Girl Show is made possible in part by the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. 

If you enjoy what you're hearing on the Michigan Runner Girl show, we'd be so grateful if you'd take a few moments to write a review on iTunes. This will help more runners and Michigan lovers like yourself find the podcasts. Thank you!! Also, the quickest way to get the podcasts is to subscribe to the show via iTunes or via Stitcher or your favorite podcast app. 

A special thanks to Mike Moran, Mike Youker and Jonny Tornga of Quarter After Productions in Traverse City, Mich. for producing the show. Check out this studio's work 

When two of the funniest women you know get together—finally—to share stories of great Michigan trails to explore and fall races to run, you just know it's going to be epic. This is, of course, what happened when Maia Turek, statewide recreation programmer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Kelly Yauk, e-marketing manager for the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City, joined Heather in the studio for the latest show. 

While they've all known one another for awhile now, this recording marked the first time Heather, Kelly and Maia all sat down together—and just as Heather suspected, the gathering was one for the books. Kelly and Maia are hilarious and smart and just a ton of fun to be around. Topics covered ran the gamut, from the Great Beerd Run next month at the Resort (Kelly is the mastermind behind this untimed fun run 5K that incorporates beer stations throughout the course) and the creative ways runners at this event celebrate "all things beers and beards," to the cool connection Maia and Kelly have with each other (Kelly's dad has worked for the DNR for a long time; he is an expert on our state's beautiful trails) and how the two of them first met (a motorcycle was involved). They also talk excitedly about the Iron Belle Trail, which extends more than 2,000 miles from the far western tip of the Upper Peninsula to Belle Isle in Detroit on a biking trail and hiking trail. The biking route utilizes many of the state’s existing bike paths, bike lanes, and signed, designated biking routes as it travels up the east side of the state, while the hiking route utilizes sidewalks, trails, and the 1,000-mile plus North Country National Scenic Trail traveling up the west side of the lower peninsula.

Get ready to laugh—and sign up for next month's Great Beerd Run-when you listen to this episode. Kelly and Heather convinced Maia to join the fun at the 5K on Nov. 10—you all should join us, too. (Discount code shared during the show!)

It’s a big week for fall racing in Michigan with this Sunday marking the 41st running of the Detroit Free Press Chemical Bank Marathon and Half Marathon. Since 1989, Barbara Bennage has been involved with helping organizing this race tradition in The D. She’s served as executive race director of the event since 2014.

“The best part about my job, aside from giving runners the opportunity to experience a unique race and change their lives, is I have the greatest staff in the world,” says Barbara, who works in the marketing department at the Detroit Free Press and describes herself as a recreational runner – “I run for mimosas,” she jokes.

This race brings between 26,000 – 27,000 runners to the downtown streets of Detroit, across the Ambassador Bridge into the Canada (for the international races), and onto Belle Isle. Barbara shares the history of the longstanding race – it started as the Motor City Marathon in 1963; the course began including the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, Canada, in the late 1970s – and also explains how today there are both international and domestic distances for runners, and what that means for the runner experience.

Barbara also talks about the race’s health and fitness expo that takes place in Cobo Hall this Friday and Saturday. More than 100 exhibitors will be on hand for this event. The race after-party, meanwhile, is a big celebration that offers some $5,000 in giveaways.

While online registration is over, runners still can sign up for domestic races this weekend (not race day) at the health and fitness expo. There is a 5K and mile option, too. Learn more at the race web site: https://www.freepmarathon.com/