This week we chat with Katie Asmuth - a mom of two boys, a nurse practitioner and the recent winner of the 2021 Bandera 100k. Many of you out there have probably heard of Katie - she is now known as the woman who broke her nose mid race, shoved a tampon up it and still went on to win and secure a golden ticket to Western States 100 in June. We get to hear all of the glorious play by play leading up to the race and of course the gory events as they transpired. What stood out to me was her humor and how she embraces the true ultra runner spirit of “smiling through the suck”, not taking herself too seriously and rolling with the punches that can happen during a race - even if those punches are to the face! 

We also hear about how she embraces the competitive camaraderie with other women and how her true desire is for everyone to work together, feed off each other's strength and bring out the best in each other. Katie shares how she built up to being a competitive trail runner, what training is like with her coach, David Roche, and how she balances training with mom life, working full time and her husband's training (he's also an endurance athlete)! Katie works as a nurse practitioner serving vulnerable, underserved populations and that has given her a deep sense of gratitude for her running and life as a whole. She inspires all of us to go out with joy and thankfulness in our own lives with whatever it is we're doing and lift others up along the way.

We were so energized by talking with Katie and we hope you have FUN listening to this episode! Don’t forget to subscribe and share with all your friends! Thank you!

Show Notes:

Find Katie on Instagram

Read more of Katie’s story in this article written by coach David Roche and the Bandera 100k Preview and Recap articles on Treeline Journal written by Chase

Katie’s coach: David Roche with SWAP coaching

Katie’s sponsor: Fluid Nutrition

Katie’s Favorite Race: Angeles Crest 100

Katie’s Favorite Meal:

A couple staples in Katie’s household - She diversifies her kids’ meals by having them pick colors from the rainbow that they might be missing on their plates, the whole family eats massive cereal bowls for breakfast filled with all the good stuff (multiple kinds of cereals, berries, chia seeds, cacao, etc…) and they always have their Asmuth Family Dutch Apple Babies for every holiday and birthday (a lot of butter and a lot of love).

Asmuth Family Dutch Apple Baby Recipe:

Preheat oven to 400. In frying pan, slowly cook on low heat the butter, sugar, cinnamon and apples. While apples are simmering, blend together eggs, milk and flour. Pour blended mixture into skillet over the hot apples and quickly place skillet into the oven. Bake for 18-20 minutes. To test for doneness, insert a clean knife into the center. If mixture is still doughy bake 2 more minutes and check again. Serve with lemon and powdered sugar.

This week we talk with Phyllis Stanley, a single mom to two boys, a full-time employee for the State of Washington and a logger of many trail miles in Olympic National Park which is in her backyard! Running for Phyllis started as part of her Navajo heritage growing up. She and her family would practice the teaching of running each morning to build discipline and strength. They would get up before sunrise and run to the east to greet the holy spirits that pass through the landscape blessing their children who are up calling out to them. We loved hearing about how Phyllis grew up and how she tries to keep her old traditions alive for her boys in this day and age. 

We also hear about how running is so much more than just running for her - it’s been how she has coped with grief from the loss of loved ones. Early in the episode Phyllis mentions how her mom had a certain strength and hopefulness in her, and we see that outlook and ability to press forward in Phyllis - she remains grateful, she soaks up her time in sacred outdoor spaces and she keeps going for her kids. She is vegan too and shares a little about how plant-based eating has changed her life! Lot’s of great topics! 

Give this episode a listen and don’t forget to subscribe and share with your running buddies! Thank you!

Show Notes

Stef’s Superfood Powder for smoothies: Amazing Grass Superfood

Nikki’s Vitamix Mocha Freeze Recipe: 2 cups milk (any kind), 1TBS instant espresso powder, 3TBS sugar, 3TBS chocolate sauce, 2 cups ice cubes

Phyllis’s Favorite Meal: Vegan Wild Mushroom Stroganoff Soup

Phyllis’s Favorite Race: Secret Beach 50 miler

This week we talk with Heidi Becksted - an epidemiologist, ultra runner and active mother of three in the mountains of Colorado. We loved hearing about her education in public health, her interest in investigating outbreaks and her experience working for the CDC. She gave some great insights on COVID-19 and empathizes with how hard of a year it’s been, remembering that people are people, our society struggles with change and facing unknown times but since change is inevitable we won’t be in this place forever, things will get better eventually.

Heidi speaks on the challenge of deciding to leave her job to be home with her kids during the little kid years and how her family is making the most of their time together by getting out on grand adventures regularly. She is a huge inspiration in this area - she reminds us to believe in our children’s capabilities and that they love responsibility, being needed and being invited to explore this world with us. The way Heidi talks about family, loss and new life is beautiful and the way she approaches her kids with joy is amazing. She said, “It’s exciting to think about building your best friends in your kids… I dream my dreams out loud with them and I think it gets them excited about the possibilities of what they can do someday with me.” So good! Don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with your mom tribe!

Thank you to this week’s sponsor, XOSKIN! Check out their seamless, anti-chafing running gear at xoskin.us and use code “treeline” for 20% off your purchase!

Show Notes:

Follow Heidi on Instagram

Heidi’s favorite race: Le Grizz 50 miler

Heidi’s favorite meal: Lemon Greek Chicken Soup and homemade bread

This week we talk with Sabrina Little - a professional ultra runner for Hoka, a philosophy professor and a mom to a 6 month old. We loved getting to hear about each of these worlds and how they have intertwined in her life. From how she followed her passion to study and get her PhD in philosophy, to researching and reflecting on life's big questions, to using that same curiosity to test her body and mind in long ultramarathons like 100 milers and 24-Hour Races, and to how motherhood has shifted some of her priorities but her ambition remains. This episode is full of inspiration and thought provoking ideas and we can't wait for you to give it a listen! Don't forget to share this with any and everyone! 

Big thanks to this week's podcast sponsor, XOSKIN! They make awesome running apparel that protects athletes from chafing, blisters, hot spots and odor. Use code "treeline" for 20% off your purchase! 

Show Notes: 

Follow Sabrina on Instagram 

Read her philosophical writing in her irunfar column called “The Examined Life” 

Also read her blog! 

Sabrina’s sponsors: 

HOKA ONE ONE

 Inside Tracker 

Drymax 

Sabrina's Favorite Race: Rocky Raccoon 100 

Sabrina's Favorite Meal: Homemade Sushi!

This week we talk with Utah runner Jessi Morton-Langehaug - a high school science and yoga teacher, mom, and big time ultra runner. We hear about her history with running and how that intertwined with her long battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease. She had a long and agonizing journey of misdiagnosis and trying everything under the sun to heal her body, but through it she found immense strength and has continued to pursue what she loves, which is ultra running and pushing her body to longer and longer distances. She’s a huge believer in self love and positive self talk which have helped her overcome the limitations that were placed on her for so long. 

Recently, Jessi won Moab 240 and shares what that experience was like and how a 240 miler compares to a 100 miler. This episode is an amazing story of perseverance and hope and the power of believing in one's self. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this one with anyone who could use a boost of encouragement! Thank you!

Big thanks to this week's sponsor: XOSKIN! They are currently running a WINTER SALE through December 15th! Shop around and use code “treeline” at checkout for 25% off! By supporting XOSKIN, you are supporting us! Thank you!

Shownotes:

Find Jessi on Instagram

Read Jessi’s book - “Defying the Odds”

Favorite Race: Moab 240

Favorite Meal:

1. Cook quinoa (two cups of water for every one cup of quinoa). Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Add a can of garbanzo beans at the end of 15 minutes, mix. Add olive oil and bragg's amino acid for flavor

2. While quinoa is cooking, chop then sautee the chard and kale in olive or avocado oil until tender. Add salt and bragg's to flavor

3. Create a bowl by adding the quinoa mixture, greens, feta and cherry tomatoes

note: if adding yams, either roast them separately or add them to the quinoa mix while steaming (if doing the latter, add extra water)

This week it’s Nikki and Stef as we talk through everything a person should know when thinking about running their first ultramarathon! We are not certified experts but are happy to share our experiences and what has worked for us when preparing for long races. We share our thoughts on gear, fueling, nutrition, recovery, sleep, safety, how to pick your first ultra, what our training typically looks like for races, how mom life factors into all this and more! It’s kind of a lot of information coming at you so hold on tight! We hope it’s at least somewhat helpful having this content in one episode for runners who are new to the sport or for anyone who would like a refresher on important basics which we all need sometimes! We also hope to see some of our listeners who haven’t run an ultra yet get inspired and sign up for one! Because you can do it!!! Trust us! :)

Enjoy and share this with anyone else who needs a nudge towards trying a new distance! 

**This week’s episode is brought to you by XOSKIN! We love their 4.0 Mid Compression Mid Rise shorts and they truly make the best toe socks in the business! They are currently running a WINTER SALE through December 15th! Shop around and use code “treeline” at checkout for 25% off! By supporting XOSKIN, you are supporting us! Thank you!

Go to Treeline Journal for some ultra running resource articles!

I Run Far has great resources too!

Or reach out to us with any specific questions you may have and we can answer them or direct you to someone who can!

This week we talk with our trusty women’s health physical therapist, Emily Bliss! You might remember her from episode 3 where she gave us the low down on how to return to running postpartum. This time it’s all about practical ways to tackle pregnancy - including her favorite strength exercises, the importance of coordinating our breathing with exercise, how we can train our pelvic floor muscles, and what to watch out for during pregnancy. We also talk about things like belly bands and getting back to strength and running after having a baby. Tons of good information in this one!!

Big thanks to our sponsor this week - Cure Hydration! Cure is a sports drink mix that has 4x the electrolytes than a normal sports drink with no added sugars. Organic, vegan, non-GMO and gluten free too! Use code RUNHARD20 for 20% off your first purchase!

Show Notes:

Find Emily on Instagram

Email Emily with ANY questions or consult with her about run coaching or a customized training plan: [email protected]

Go to her website for more great resources: mumsontherunusa.com

Check out Emily’s:

Reach out to Emily for coaching! Mention the code RunHardMomHard30 for 30% off your first three months or a training plan for a specific goal or race you want to do!

For starters, LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE FOR A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

We talk this week with Erica on pregnancy and postpartum from a doctor's perspective! You can feel Erica’s passion for this line of work and for the women she gets to work with everyday. She shares tips with us on what to look for in an OB, how to make sure your personal needs are being met, and to make sure you can have open, honest communication with a provider you trust. We talk about exercise during pregnancy and it’s many benefits for both the mom and baby but Erica also reminds us that if we’re not feeling able to be as active as we had hoped to while pregnant we are still doing an amazing thing and should be gentle on ourselves. She says, “Remember: You’re growing a human inside you… that automatically qualifies you as super badass. If that’s not a superpower, I don’t know what is!” I love that. Thank you, Erica for that much needed recognition and acknowledgement! 

We go through what to look out for in pregnancy, what to do, what to avoid, common questions, all the latest exercise recommendations and precautions, weight gain, anxiety and depression and what to do for those, domestic violence within pregnancy, the policy changes we need and hope to see in the future regarding decreasing maternal mortality rates and increasing follow up care for moms in the 4th trimester. This is great information whether you're pregnant or know someone who is! These kinds of conversations help us all be here for one another. Don't forget to subscribe and share this episode! Thank you!

Show notes:

If you’re worried about domestic violence within pregnancy for yourself or someone else, Call an OB in your area or the Nationwide hotline for domestic violence 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

Go Fund Me page for Melissa McGill - to educate others on maternal mental health and promoting policy change in health care for new moms

Great resources for anyone struggling with postpartum mental health:

https://www.2020mom.org/

https://www.postpartum.net/

https://www.alexisjoyfoundation.org/

Erica’s favorite race: Mac Forest 50k and Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, OH

Erica’s favorite meal: Mango avocado Fishy Tacos from Run Fast, Eat Slow Cookbook

It’s Stef and I this week answering listener questions! We talk holiday cheer, real life, the dumpster fire that was 2020, what we’re thinking for 2021, training updates, podcast updates, our childhood upbringings and other random things! So listen in by clicking the link below or search “Run Hard Mom Hard” anywhere you get your podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, share and now you can also follow us on our new podcast instagram @runhardmomhardpod! Yay!

Big thank you to this week’s sponsor, Cure Hydration! Cure is an organic electrolyte drink mix made with organic coconut water and pink Himalayan salt designed to help you recover from hard workouts, late nights, travel or illness. Cure has 4x the electrolytes of normal sports drinks but it has no added sugar, it’s vegan, non-GMO and gluten free! Go to curehydration.com and use code RUNHARD20 for 20% off your first order!

This week we talk with someone who many of you are probably very familiar with, Katie Grossman. She is a veteran ultra runner, writer, advertising copywriter, a mom to two year old Lindy (who joins us for some of the episode – definitely the cutest guest we’ve had on the show) and she has another baby on the way too! She is a well-known, well-loved woman and voice in our sport and shares with us all about life in the mountains, her Hardrock 100 miler story, her experience with pregnancy and the resulting pelvic injury journey she’s been on since. She shares incredible resources for any other mamas that might be facing injuries or pelvic floor imbalances or for women who want to prevent issues from occurring in the future.

She shares with us the depths of her injury and rehab process and how hard she's had to work just to try and return to "normal" after having a baby. But progress was made and will be made again after her second baby too! **Check the links below for tools that have been helpful for Katie!** We talk about the emotional aspects that come with injury also - comparing yourself to others, blaming yourself for your injury or not being as "successful" of a pregnant athlete as you wanted to be and feeling alone in it because people don't want to highlight the hard parts of life so all we see celebrated are the lucky people without injury who could keep up the facade of superwoman. But that's not how it is for most people. Enjoy this refreshing and honest episode!

A huge thank you to this week’s sponsor, Branwyn! Branwyn makes performance innerware from merino wool that has a triple threat of characteristics including comfort, performance and sustainability. These garments are odor-resistant, moisture wicking, thermoregulating and are soft to the touch! They are made to empower all of us women starting with our most basic layers so we can go out into the world and live confidently and courageously. We love their mission and the care they take to be such an ethical brand. Go to branwyn.com to shop around and use code RHMH10 for $10.00 off your purchase!

Show Notes:

Katie’s Pelvic DPT: @theladypartspt and her practice: @feminapt

Pelvic DPT with tons of resources + at-home web program subscription to work on pelvic floor: @drsarahduvall

Running friend, Paige, who is a pelvic/postpartum specialist: @pelvicunderground

Podcast on all things woman’s body: @underthehood_podcast

Click HERE for A bunch of Katie's articles on Trail Sisters

Katie's article on Racing for Birth Justice and the maternal mortality crisis

Learn more about Every Mother Counts

Favorite Race: Hardrock

Favorite Meal: Take out sushi or Crissy Teigen’s - Carrot Coconut Soup from book “Cravings: Hungry for More”

Katie's instagram

Katie's Sponsors: 

New Balance

Boa Fit System

Vfuel

Injinji