Micromobility DC with Edie

"It's so special how runners are the happiest, most welcoming people...they just make so much room for you to be yourself and express yourself..." (Molly)

"Nationally, when people talk about running cities DC gets forgotten...but DC has something really cool where I feel like we're on the precipice of something like being known for club running, fast but also fun." (Bre)

This week I spoke with Bre Brukalo and Molly Applegate. These two have been speedy friends since they ran track together as part of William and Mary's D1 program. (They both did the jumping over stuff events. Molly ran the longer distance steeplechase; Bre hurdled 400 meters.) The two were roommates for years. (Until just a couple weeks ago actually, and they still live down the street from each other.) Like college, where they ran different events, they've both become involved in the DC running community in their own ways but come together to support each other and cheer for each other. 

Bre runs with the Pacers New Balance Select Team, something she began doing after working at Pacers. She describes this as "a group of friends who like to run fast and then have a beer." She's also the coach x plan designer for the Pacers Social Runs DC Half Marathon Training Plan. You can catch her plan on Instagram @pacersrunningsocialruns. 

Molly is a captain for Northeast Track Club (fondly shortened to NETC by many). She is the smiling face that will greet you at a Track Tuesday or Hump Day Run. (Fun Fact: She started the Hump Day Run.) As a captain, she is a speedy but steady pacer for track workouts. You can check out what NETC is up to at their Instagram @ne_trackclub. 

These two are fast, hardworking, and a lot of fun to be around. They both radiate joy and sunshine, and you can tell from speaking with them how deeply invested they are in the DC running community. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

A few links for referenced topics:

• Virginia Happy Trails Running Club Routes
• Northeast Track Club
• Pacers Running
• Georgetown Running Club (GRC)
• Citius Mag Runners of NYC

"It's where I've always felt the safest and the happiest, so it's hard not to go back."

In this episode of Micromobility DC, I had the chance to speak with Mikka Kei Macdonald  her relationship with movement. Mikka is an incredibly accomplished distance runner in the DC area. (She finished second overall in the 2021 Devil Dog Ultra and second woman in the 2021 Baltimore Marathon.) She is also very humble about all of this.

Mikka describes herself as the weird girl who really liked running in high school. She speaks to how using one's body can be a political act, longevity of women and nonbinary people in distance running (as policy develops and understanding of sport grows), community in ultra running, and more. We also discuss bee allergies and elementary school race strategies.

We covered a lot of ground in this conversation, and I've attempted to link to many of our conversation topics below. I know I will miss a few, so please feel free to reach out to @micromobilitydc on Instagram with follow up curiosities.

Alison Desir's new book: Running While Black
Run4AllWomen
NIH Revitalization Act of 1993
Title IX
Track Pack DC
Rock Creek Park

As always, thank you to Dan Hoffman for the soundtrack you hear.

"Then he yells, 'Don't go slow; go fast!'"

This advice from Nick Mai's dad seems to permeate Nick's approach to running. Nick didn't grow up running competitively or biking. In fact, he just learned how to ride a bike this year! But for all those who know his approach to running, it comes as no surprise that Nick is already whizzing around the city on his new Trek. 

Nick is an avid runner who threw himself into both the sport and the surrounding community. In this episode he speaks on how he became a regular runner because of the friends he made at Pacers DC Run Club. (These same friends convinced him to run a marathon. Great pals.) He speaks on learning new skills as an adult, overcoming injury, and his favorite spot to log a few miles. Oh, and we nerd out about Yasso 800s and shoe technology a bit at the end. 

Thank you so much for listening at attempt number 2 of this podcast. I hope you enjoy!

"There's something about the long run...it's like this is what my body was meant to do, just cranking along for long periods of time."

For my first attempt at this whole talking heads podcasting situation I interviewed my long time running buddy, Sy Doan. Sy is an education policy researcher in DC and an active member of the DC running community. He speaks on his favorite places to run in DC, aspects of running he finds more challenging, how he began running, and why you should not be intimidated to run with your local running group.

(Pacers Running is the group referenced most in this podcast as a local DC group - there are many runs and groups to check out in our area! Sy also brings up East Nasty, a Nashville run group he loved.)

Many thanks to Sy for agreeing to be the first interview in this passion project exploring people's relationship with moving their bodies and forming active communities in the District. And special shouts to Dan Hoffman for the soundtrack you hear.