RunChats with @RonRunsNYC

In February of 2021, Heather Pech tore a portion of her plantar fascia and it took until September 2021 before she could run again. It was a physically and emotionally exhausting journey. It was 1.5 years since her last race and 3 years since she toed the line at Boston.

"I started to run 3 or 4 weeks before and just had so much gratitude. Pure, unalloyed delight that I could run. I wanted to Forest Gump. I wanted to run all day. Everywhere. Fast. I ran 3 or 4 workouts leading into Boston that were the fastest of my life. I had been deprived of running and was rediscovering the possibility. I stepped into the Boston corral with confidence I was whole, calmness that I didn't have anything to prove, overwhelming gratitude, and hope from a conversation with coach James McKirdy. And that's kind of powerful stuff!"

Heather ran 3:03:47 this year at age 60, setting the Age Group course record, breaking the GOAT Joan Benoit Samuelson's previous mark. Her Age Grade Score is 99.88%, which equates to a 2:15 Marathon! Mind. Officially. Blown.

Heather is now a 4-time Boston Marathon Age Division winner!

We Discuss:

-the influence of her dad—how he is still out there racing with her and how Heather can feel his presence and has seen him fly by on runs

-the role Heather's family plays, what it means to have them out there on the course in Boston cheering and supporting

-her team that keeps her healthy

-how being coached by James McKirdy has freed her up as an athlete to be her best

-the advice she gives to her athletes and how they kept her going when she was sidelined with injury: "Anything is possible if you commit, if you are relentless in the pursuit. We limit ourselves. If you think about who you want to be and take action, make choices, stay curious, and fearless, and are open to the possibilities... well, then we can truly find our best!"

-nutrition and fueling—how making big changes with UCAN has been a game-changer

-what's next... chasing more AR's and WR's.

I'm so INSPIRED by Heather's running journey and all the great nuggets she shared! I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Heather:

Instagram: @heatherpech

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

The crazier and more difficult the challenge, the more it stokes Thia Angelo's competitive fire! During the quarantine, she ran 104 miles in 25 hours in the Backyard Ultra. In April 2020, she won the Broken Ladder Challenge—an event where you start running a mile a day and keep going up in mileage until everyone taps out. Thia started day one with her virtual Boston, running a 3:15 at 4:30am before work, and continued battling with her sister, Liz, and one other competitor, before winning it all by running 27 miles on the treadmill super early to take away their will to continue (she definitely has some David Goggins in her!)

When she learned of the B2B (Boston to Big Sur Challenge), she convinced her sister to join her. They ran Boston 2019 (the Perfect Storm year) in 3:24 and bounced back with a 3:30 at Big Sur just 13 days later. Impressive stuff, particularly given Boston's weather that year.

This year, she set a HUGE goal—go sub-3 in BOTH! Thia went for it at Boston, shooting to take down her 2:54 PR and suffered the last 10, but fought gamely for a 2:58 Boston PR. This time, she only had 6 days to recover before Big Sur! After a conservative 1:32:30 1/2, she ripped a big negative split and ran 3:00:46, finishing in 2nd overall at Big Sur! What Thia didn't know is that she WON the B2B Challenge and had set the record, becoming the 1st to ever go sub-6. (You'll have to tune in for a fun story with Ben Rosario, Steph Bruce, and Ben Bruce)

We took a deep dive on her stellar recent racing, her friendly competition with her twin, Liz, and what's next. I hope Thia's drive to take on huge challenges will inspire you to tackle something new and exciting!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Thia:

Instagram: @samefaceandwerace

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

After gorging himself at a dinner eight years ago with his wife, Jeremy Bush didn't like how it made him feel and knew something had to change. He downloaded a Couch to 5K program and couldn't believe that running for only 30 seconds could feel so hard. He stayed with it and eventually worked his way up to 10 minutes of running.

Jeremy watched Meb's historic win at Boston in 2014 and said, "I'm gonna run that race one day." And the die was cast.

For those who know him best, when he sets his mind on a goal, he will move heaven and earth to get it done. Many small incremental changes led to continuous improvement. Becoming a student of the sport, honing his craft listening to the Running Rogue Podcast with Steve Sisson and Chris McClung, joining the Renegades—a virtual training group—working with a community of like-minded individuals.

Then, working one-on-one the past 2 years with coach Steve Sisson, aka the Sorcerer, of Telos Running to further enhance his development, culminating with a 2:47 PR on Marathon Monday at Boston.

Jeremy truly manifested his Boston dream. He's made amazing progress in his eight-year running journey and I'm stoked to see where he takes things next!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Jeremy:

Instagram: @jb_running26.2

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

At the tender age of 23, Annie Hughes burst onto the Ultrarunning scene like a supernova! She won the brutal and storied Leadville 100 and Moab 240 and was ranked 3rd Ultrarunner of the Year by UltraRunning Magazine.

Annie resides in Leadville, CO, and became the race's youngest winner—made sweeter still by running in front of her friends, family, and local community. Annie feels blessed that Hoka took a gamble on her and signed her and it looks like Hoka made a great addition to their pro roster!

Annie is a fierce competitor fueled by exploring her limits, trying to find out just how far her feet and mind can take her. She is on a quest. Next up is the Cocodona250 and I'm stoked to follow!

We discuss: her start in running, moving to the mountains, running at Adams State, burnout, climbing all 58 of the 14ers, moving to Leadville, finishing school, finding Ultra, the Silver Rush 50 Miler, qualifying for the Leadville 100, her 160M Collegiate Loop FKT, the Leadville 100, recovery, the Moab240, running at night, sleep-running, managing sleep in multi-day races, and her recovery strategy for the Cocodona250

My favorite parts from this conversation were Annie taking us out there on the courses at Leadville and Moab, sharing all the highs and lows of those two epic races! I'm so stoked to continue to follow Annie's exciting Ultra running journey!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Annie:

Instagram: @outdoorable_annie

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Meet Sam Roecker, nurse and sub-2:30 marathoner! Sam will be toeing the line at the 126th Boston Marathon in Moxie scrubs to support the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers. Sam will try to break the Guinness Book of Records marathon time of 3:08 while running in nursing scrubs to raise awareness and funds for the American Nurses Association for their well-being initiative.

When Sam's physician assistant friend's NYC Pediatric Hospital was converted to an adult COVID care unit to accommodate the overflow, she put her life on the line to care for patients. She now suffers from PTSD, anxiety, and depression as do so many others. When Sam couldn't find resources to help, she decided to combine her two passions to raise money and awareness.

We also discussed: running at Providence College, CIM, US Marathon Champs, Pan American Games (5th in Lima, Peru, repping the US), and going sub-2:30 at the Marathon Project

The funds Sam will raise will go towards the American Nurses Foundation's Well-Being Initiative programs, supporting the mental health and wellness of Registered Nurses in the United States. Program support includes complementary therapy resources, expressive writing programs, financial consulting, podcasts and mobile apps dedicated to mental health and well-being, as well as content dedicated to grief and bereavement.

You can find more information at: https://givetonursing.networkforgood.com/projects/152794-samantha-roecker-marathon-fundraiser

Kudos to Sam for taking action on this important initiative! If you see her out there on Marathon Monday give her some well-deserved love!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Sam:

Instagram: @samroecker

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Jana Fridrichová—the Mountain Running Mama—has been on FIRE of late, winning and setting course records at the Martin's Mill Covered Bridge 5 Miler & Buck Ridge Burn Trail 1/2 Marathon on the same weekend! Jana also recently completed her milestone 50th Ultra at the Terrapin Mountain 50K, with 7K of climbing, where she also placed 1st with a time of 4:55!

After divorcing, Jana made the brave decision to make a counseling appointment to address her years of stress drinking to try and escape her marital problems. She was down, not feeling good about herself, and knew something needed to change. Those sessions changed everything. It has been 6-plus years of sobriety and it has helped her to feel happy, healthy, and embrace self-love. Those changes also led to her finding more joy in her running and in life, where she is one of the most positive people you will ever meet.

We discuss: growing up in the mountains of Slovakia, finding running, divorce, facing her stress-drinking, counseling, getting healthy, happy, embracing self-love, best race performances, the JFK50, meeting Melissa, being inspired, channeling her spirit & legacy, mindset, mental strength, mantras, becoming unbreakable, injuries, cross-training, rehab, her fire, passion, & drive, inspiring others in her community, community service, Girls on the Run, race volunteering

I'm so happy our paths crossed at the JFK 50 Mile Race, where Jana has run 7:57, come in 8th place, and INSPIRED so many in her local community of Hagerstown, MD.

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Jana:

Instagram: @jafriruns

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

It was an absolute honor and a blast to host this convo with world-class entertainer, mentalist/mind reader, and Emmy winner, Oz Pearlman. When Oz isn't blowing the minds of audiences around the world, he is an avid marathon and ultra-marathon runner, having completed such grueling races as the Badwater 135 Miler, Hawaii Ironman World Championships, Western States 100, and Spartathlon. Oz ran a 2:29 in the 50th NYC Marathon, placing 33rd overall, and holds a 2:23 Marathon PR!

On 4/8/2022, Oz is trying to break the record for most miles ever run in a day around Central Park since it was founded in 1858. This means running over 100 miles nonstop from 6am to 1am, over and over around one of the most iconic loops on the planet.

He is running in support of the Save the Children Ukraine Relief Fund (you can donate here). Oz matched the first $10K donated and has a goal of raising $100K! For NYC locals and run clubs, home base will be at Engineers Gate, 90th & 5th, come on out and share some miles for a great cause!

We discuss: running with purpose, the NYC Marathon, Sparthalon, Badwater 135, his training approach for the Central Park FKT record attempt, his 'why', nutrition, his upcoming appearance on the Rich Roll Podcast, Adam Skolnick, David Goggins, power couple Mike Halovatch and Kate Pallardy, the Keys 100, and much more.

My favorite part was getting my mind read at the end of the episode... and having it be FULLY blown!

I'm rooting hard for Oz to get it DONE and raise that $100K!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Oz:

Instagram: @ozthementalist

Website: https://ozpearlman.com/

Donate to Oz's record-breaking 100 mile run for Save the Children: https://gofund.me/fa51fa12

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Sarah Cummings' running has been on fire of late, so much so that she was named the #5 2021 UltraRunner of the Year by UltraRunning Magazine after her stellar season. Her signature moment came at the JFK 50 Mile against a stacked field where she scorched a 6:18 to win, running the 3rd fastest time in the race's storied history! Sweet revenge for the year prior in her 50M debut at JFK, where she and a small group made a wrong turn early, before gamely battling all the way back to 2nd place behind legend Camille Herron.

Sarah is a 2X Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier with a 2:34PR, a 3X member of Team USA (Road 50K 2X, Pan American Games Marathon), and ultramarathon trail runner. In August of 2020, she took a two-week trip to Park City, UT with her sister, Marisa, which became permanent when she realized she had an undercover addiction to the mountains and sunshine. They connected with the Park City trail running community, who really helped them learn the trail system and expose them to mountain running. Sarah struggled at first but was motivated to learn and improve, quickly becoming hooked on the views, exposure to nature, and the completely different feel on the trails. She had found home.

We discuss: her move to Park City, the Grand Canyon Reunion Run, the idea to attempt the JFK50 without telling anyone, the 2020 & 2021 JFK races with her sister crewing, her storybook ending, celebrating at JFK, signing with Brooks, her coaching connection and approach with Hayden Hawks, hiking, poles, wildlife, safety, learning the ropes on trails, her next goal race, her competitive drive, the toughest hole she's ever had to dig out of and it being a transformative experience that changed her perspective on running, coaching in the community, gaining new perspective and joy from her kids, community, mentorship, and her work as the treasurer of the Board of Friends of Princeton Track

I'm so stoked to follow Sarah's amazing running journey moving forward!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Sarah:

Instagram: @sarahccummings

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Yulady Saluti is one of the strongest people you will ever meet. Over a 10-year period, she endured 27 abdominal surgeries for colorectal pain, trying to correctly diagnose the source. She suffered severe pain, infections, adhesions, constipation, and the inability to have regular bowel movements, finally resolved by clearing a large intestinal blockage of scar tissue on the 27th procedure. She could finally breath normally and opted to keep her colostomy bag for life to mitigate potential infections.

Then, breast cancer came calling and Yulady decided to share her journey with the world. Blogging, posting photos & videos of the emotional rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, connecting and building out a powerful, supportive community helped saved her. Her husband Gerald is her rock and biggest supporter. Despite the scarring and PTSD from all of it, she has learned to look past her scars and poop bag, to see beyond convention and love herself.

Fast forward & Yulady discovered running during the pandemic—running on her Peloton at first with Becs' Beasts, finding yet another strong community to tap into. Progressing to the roads where she WON her first 5K, placed 2nd in the Atlantic City 1/2 Marathon, running 1:27:05, and running 3:12 in her debut marathon at Philly!

As I'm typing this post for our POD drop, she just won 1st place in the 3000M at the Armory in NYC, running for Bella N Motion at the USATF Masters National Championships! In a word, AMAZING!

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Yulady:

Instagram: @yulady

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano

Megan Flynn is resilience redefined, overcoming SIX stress fractures in her high school and college running years and one post-collegiately before a monster breakthrough at CIM, where she scorched a 2:46 marathon! That many injuries could've broken the will of even the most hardcore runner, but only served to strengthen Megan's resolve and send her on a quest to learn more about anatomy and nutrition, influencing her to pursue a career as a DPT, physical therapist.

Growing up in a close-knit, super competitive family no doubt forged her competitive fires. Megan radiates positive energy and is excited about the opportunity to take a big swing at the new Olympic Trials marathon standard of 2:37, either returning to CIM or the Philadelphia Marathon in the fall. Megan recently joined Garden State Track Club, where she looks forward to racing on the track, developing her speed, and having fast friends to accompany her on long runs in her buildup.

We discuss: family life, the competitive fire, mentors, injuries, nutrition, Inside Tracker, mindset—staying positive through all of it, getting healthy & stronger, breaking through, mantras, future goals, community service, and so much more.

I'm so stoked to follow Megan's inspiring journey! Hope you all enjoy her infectious energy as much as I did!

If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on.

Connect With Megan:

Instagram: @meganflynn02

Connect With Ron:

Personal Instagram: @ronrunsnyc

Podcast Instagram: @runchats_with_ronrunsnyc

Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats

Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com

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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media

Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com

Email: [email protected]

Social: @_margittai

© 2022 Ron Romano