Real Friends

This month I have a fun conversation with two members from Mark Spewak’s Training Team – Shannon and Jason.  Both took up running early in life, then took an extended break from the running scene, only to take up running once again on a more serious and intentional basis during their current season of life.  Whether you are bouncing back from pregnancy or dealing with the challenges imposed during the covid era, you’ll appreciate how each one of these runners used running to offset some of the unique challenges life often sends our way.      

Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com

This month I have the honor and pleasure of speaking with two athletes from Big River Training Team’s Walker Group – Jenine and Shelly.  One of the things that I love about Big River and its training team offerings is they really do try to offer a pace group to match most skill sets.  Whether you are an elite runner looking to train at a “sub 8” pace or you’re a beginner looking to start out as a walker, Big River tries to provide a group for you.  This month we get to experience training from a walker’s perspective.   

Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com

This month I have the special opportunity to chat with not only two well know runners in the St Louis running community but also two very special friends of mine, Michelle Dillon and Stephanie Hussman.  I met both of them close to ten years ago when I started training with Big River Training Team and we’ve been running and we’ve been part of a close-knit group of friends ever since then.  They both have great stories and great experiences to share – I think you are really going to enjoy this month’s episode.

Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com 

This month I get to chat with a special friend of mine, Bob Alexander.  I met Bob the first year I started running with Big River Training Teams and even got to be part of his support team on an ultra-run.  Bob eventually moved to Florida several years ago to accept a new job opportunity.  If you are interested in what the running scene looks like in Florida, or what it looks like to transition through different seasons as a runner, or even how fortunate we are to have the running community that we have in St. Louis, then stay tuned to this month’s episode of Real Friends – you won’t be sorry.

Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com 

This month I get the opportunity to chat with an old friend and running buddy of mine, Terry Raterman, and his running friend, David Johnston.  David is an accomplished runner whose specialty is “ultra” distances.  While a lot of runners focus on 5k, 10k, and marathon distances, David focuses ultra distances like “551 miles in 6 days”.  If you are interested in what makes runners tick and what makes some runners gravitate to longer distances or challenges, stay tuned to this month’s episode of Real Friends – you won’t be sorry.

Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com 

Resources:

Every once and a while, I get an opportunity to chat with couples, like Chester and Diahann, who train at the same sport or activity.  Normally, I interview individuals to learn how running or walking impacts them individually, but how does a shared activity or passion like running or walking impact them as a couple, and what sort of ripple effect does it have on friends and family members?  If any?  And what does all of this look like when couples start running or walking in their mid-40s?  If you are interested to answers to any of these questions or just wish to learn more about Chester and Diahann’s experience with training together, stay tuned to this month’s episode of Real Friends – you won’t be sorry.

Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com 

For 2025, I thought we would kick things off by chatting with several of Big River Training Team’s “Unpaved” pacers – Adam and Brandon.   What is “Unpaved” you ask?  Unpaved is a series of running adventures offered through Big River Training Team which focuses on “trail running” and many of the popular, scenic trails in the St. Louis area.   If you are new to trail running or would just like to learn more about Adam and Brandon, stay tuned to this month’s episode of Real Friends – you won’t be sorry.

Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com 

This year you are invited to attend our 2024 fantasy football draft.  It’s our 16th year of playing fantasy football together and the draft is one of my favorite things to attend each year.  It’s an evening of meaningless sports conversation between multiple fantasy football coaches but it’s still a good time with friends and it allows you to “peak behind the fantasy football curtain”.  

Fantasy Football site: https://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com

This episode we get to chat with the dynamic duo of Cassie and Kasay – both pacers for BRTT 8:30 pace group.  I’ve developed some really special friendships through running and its fun to witness when the same thing happens with other people.  That’s part of the fun of this month’s episode.  Not only are Cassie and Kasay both excellent runners and an important part of our local running community, but they’ve also developed a good friendship.  And good friends – true friends – well, they are worth their weight in gold.

If you'd like to learn more about Cassie and Kasay and their journey both as friends and as runners, stay tuned to today's episode of Real Friends - you won't be sorry.  Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com

One of the things that I love about hosting a podcast is getting the opportunity to know a little bit about some of our runners.  While the questions are similar, no two podcasts are the same because no two runners exactly the same.  Today's podcast with Gabe, Kali, and Tabitha is a perfect example. It’s a great mix of humor, running streaks, and thoughtful reflection and a great example of how running and the running community appeals to runners of different backgrounds and different personalities who are still routinely united by their love for running.

If you'd like to learn more about Gabe, Kali, and Tabitha and their journey as runners, stay tuned to today's episode of Real Friends - you won't be sorry.  Thank you for listening.  This is “Real Friends”.

Website:  www.therobertharrison.com