Runner's Round Table

Welcome to season 6 of the Runner’s Round Table. This is the Beyond Pace season and features stories that capture each guest’s favorite running memory. In this episode Stephanie speaks with Naomi Morita (@runakamai) about how the shared experience (or trauma!) of running is what helps us expand the meaning of running in our lives.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_fbLcfEcgug

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

About Stephanie Diaz:Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

About Naomi Morita:Naomi is a multi-cerified running coach (RRCA, McMillan, Daniels , Lydiard) with 10 years of helping recreational runners achieve their goals, whether it be staying injury-free, crushing a challenge distance or time, or getting started on the right path. She accomplishes this thru interactive one-on-one and real-time sessions emphasizing skill-development so that a runner can *feel* how a skill manifests in *their* body.i

• https://www.runakamai.com
• https://instagram.com/runakamai

Welcome to season 6 of the Runner’s Round Table. This is the Beyond Pace season and features stories that capture each guest’s favorite running memory. In this solo episode Stephanie shares her favorite running memory from the 2017 Chicago Marathon. Shout out to her husband for always being so pivotal in her life.

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wgKIolKFwjI

About Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

Yolanda, known as “Yo,” is a marathoner, hybrid athlete, and community builder. She ran her first marathon after just five months of training and then went on to co-found Sin Miedo with her husband, Antoine, not long after. 

Sin Miedo, which means without fear, is a fast-growing trail running community, founded by people of color, centering people of color, with the aim to uplift cultura, courage, and connection in the outdoors.

In this conversation, Yolanda talks about her own running journey, the origins of Sin Miedo, and the joys and challenges of creating a trail running group that is focused on runners of color. She also highlights the support she and Antoine are getting from the Freedom to Run: Back Outside program, created by the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC). Verna and Alison are RIDC co-founders. 

Verna and Alison bring their shared experience, as community leaders and organization founders, as well as runners and racial equity advocates. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast

Our Season 1 Presenting Sponsor

Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at ALTRArunning.com

From this Episode

Yolanda López Haugabook on Instagram: @yofitruns

Yolanda López Haugabook, business, on Instagram: @yofitofficial

Sin Miedo Trail Runners on Instagram: @sinmiedotrailrunners

EARTHMOVERS Hosts

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

In this special bonus episode, Stephanie talks to her run coach Jessica Reyes about her 2025 Chicago Marathon experience. Stephanie and Jessica talk about the prep for Chicago, the race itself, and how shifts in mindset helped turn an unexpected Chicago Marathon experience into memorable one full of gratitude. Enjoy our conversation and thanks for listening.    

•  To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tZ5zr28oTzM

About Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://www.instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• www.thecookierunner.net

About Jessica Reyes:

Jessica Reyes is an RRCA certified running coach, NASM certified personal trainer with additional corrective exercise and pre/postnatal certifications. My primary goal is to assist athletes of all abilities in reaching their running goals and dream, all while providing unwavering support to my team of accomplished femalecoaches.

• www.sugarruns.com
• https://www.instagram.com/sugarruns
• https://www.instagram.com/teamsugarruns

Season five of the Runner’s Round Table will be all about Hot Takes and this episode is The Mental Side of Running Edition. In this episode Stephanie speaks with PT and run coach Leah Avery about perfectionism in running, how our worth as humans isn’t connected to how we perform as runners, and how to find joy in your current season of running.

(Excuse my cough breaks that sound like extended silences; my cold wanted to make a last stand!)

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uZthil5Q_EI

About Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

About Leah:

Leah has been a practicing PT for over a decade which is also when she began her running career. Prior to that she was a competitive swimmer starting at the age of 8 and retired her senior year of college. During her career she was a D1 All American and competed at the Olympic Trials. Leah’s athletic career was anything but linear and she faced many hardships which originally led her to a career in physical therapy. However, after starting her running journey, it was clear she had an unhealthy relationship with athletics largely because of past as a young athlete. Her mission is to help runners reach their potential in a healthy manner by treating the person, not just the runner. And help them understand that running adds value to our lives but it is not what makes us valuable.

• https://www.instagram.com/leah.runs.dpt/
• https://www.trainsmartrunstrong.com/work-with-leah

In this Bonus episode of the Runner’s Round Table Stephanie speaks to runner and newly minted author Robyn Godfrey about her recently published book, “Running the World”. This conversation covers Robyn’s journey to achieving a Six Star Finisher medal and explores themes of being a runner, the importance of self-care, running as an adventure, and how running prepares us to handle the hard moments in life.

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2ECHQFk1LpE

About Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

About Robyn Godfrey:

Robyn Godfrey is an accomplished runner, RRCA Certified Level 1 coach, and motivational speaker who began her running journey at the age of 47. What started as a personal quest to improve her health and overcome her relationship with alcohol soon evolved into a remarkable achievement: completing seven marathons, including the prestigious World Marathon Majors — London, Chicago, Berlin, Boston, New York, and Tokyo.

A dedicated member of the Wilmington Road Runners Club since 2013, Robyn has made a significant impact by coaching and pacing runners, helping them unlock their potential and reach their goals. In addition to her coaching, she has volunteered with organizations like Girls on the Run, empowering young girls to grow both physically and personally through running.

Robyn's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. She proves that success is not about speed or placement but the courage to keep going, regardless of the challenges. Her story inspires others to find strength in the process and pursue their dreams, one step at a time.

• https://www.instagram.com/beachy_runner
• https://www.worldmajormarathonfinisher.com/
• "Running The World" book

Season five of the Runner’s Round Table will be all about Hot Takes and this episode is the Running Beyond Size Edition. In this episode Stephanie speaks with Jill Angie about running being for everybody, regardless of size, what it means to be athletic, the runner identity, and how to be empowered to find your own way of running.

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/d2tepZ4kQa8

About Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

About Jill Angie:

Jill Angie is a running coach who helps plus-sized women start running, build body confidence and embrace their inner athlete. She is the host of the Not Your Average Runner podcast, author of three books on running while fat, and creator of the Run Your Best Life coaching program.

•  https://www.instagram.com/notyouraveragerunner
• https://www.notyouraveragerunner.com
• https://www.runyourbestlife.com
• https://notyouraveragerunner.com/podcast/

Season five of the Runner’s Round Table will be all about Hot Takes and this episode is the Running Boom Edition. In this episode Stephanie speaks with Kelly Roberts about thecurrent running boom, the role of run clubs like Badass Lady Gang in the growth of the sport, and the importance of creating community through connection.

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/URUID-5hhPYAbout Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

About Kelly Roberts:

Head coach and creator of the Badass Lady Gang, Kelly Roberts’ pre-BALG fitness routine consisted mostly of struggling through the elliptical and trying to shrink her body. It wasn’t until hitting post-college life, poised with a theatre degree, student loans, and the onset of panic, that she found running. Running forced Kelly to ditch perfectionism and stomp out fear of failure. Viral selfies from the NYC Half Marathon struck a chord with women who could relate to the struggle, and soon the women’s running community Badass Lady Gang was born.

BALG is about enjoying life with a side of running. Kelly’s philosophy measures success by confidence gained, not pounds lost. If you aren’t having fun, it’s time to pivot. Kelly is an RRCA certified coach and has completed Dr. Stacy Sims ‘Women Are Not Small Men’ certification course helping coaches better serve their female athletes. Over the years Kelly has coached thousands of women from brand new runners to those chasing Boston marathon qualifying times, appeared on the cover of Women’s Running Magazine, joined Nike at the Women’s World Cup, and created a worldwide body image empowerment movement called the Sports Bra Squad. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

• https://www.instagram.com/KellyKKRoberts
• https://www.BadassLadyGang.com

Season five of the Runner’s Round Table will be all about Hot Takes and this episode is the Taper Crazies Edition. In this episode Stephanie speaks with Dr. Victoria Sekely all things taper: what it is, why we do it, and how to make the most of this important time before big races.

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Iq40t-FEtxI

About Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

About Dr. Victoria Sekely:

Victoria Sekely is a Physical Therapist with a passion for all things running. Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and went on to complete her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University. Victoria is also a USATF Level 1 and RRCA certified run coach. She is dedicated to helping runners of all levels by using her skills and knowledge to assist runners who are rehabbing from an injury, interested in injury prevention, and/or looking to improve their training with custom running programs.

• https://www.instagram.com/trainsmartrunstrong
• https://www.trainsmartrunstrong.com

Season five of the Runner’s Round Table will be all about Hot Takes and this episode is the Gear Edition. In this episode Stephanie speaks with Sabrina Lott about the running gear runners, especially female runners, need to feel comfortable, confident, and fierce.

Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.

To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5fgQ9OAnz8U

About Stephanie Diaz:

Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

• https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/
• https://thecookierunner.net

About Sabrina Lott:

Sabrina Lott is an Endurance Coach, certified through 80/20 Endurance and The Coaches Collective, a master athlete and mother. Coach Sabrina is here to help curvy, fierce women who hope to improve their lives through dedication to endurance mastery, in ways that add value for themselves, their families and community. You can learn more about Sabrina, subscribe to her blog and newsletter by visiting www.SabrinaLott.com.

• https://www.instagram.com/CoachSabrinaL
• www.SabrinaLott.com