Our guest Chris is a familiar figure in the Texas trail running scene. Some of the best races are organized by his company.  He is also accomplished in ultra and adventure running.  We explore his running journey and the pivot into race direction and the adaptations for the pandemic world.

In this episode of the monthly Listener Spotlight, our guest shares her story of losing her way to finding the courage for self-care through fitness, endurance sports, and community.  

Her story would resonate with many who lose themselves in the process of life and finally hit a low point until there is not going further, but to take personal responsibility for self-care.   She exudes energy and optimism, and behind that is someone with a battle scar of life she had to deal with. Thanks for her generosity share her journey with us, with the hope it helps others facing similar life situations.

Our guest today has come a long way from his first home in South Sudan. After war broke out in the country, his family fled to Uganda. He was then approved to move to the US as a refugee as a young child.  Michael is now a history teacher at Episcopal High School and coaches the cross country and track teams.   

We talk to Michael about life in a refugee camp amidst a war-torn region, how it was to come to America and chasing the American dream, his journey of running and getting faster every year( he is now a 2:35 marathoner ),, his life as a track coach and finally what he plans next in running.  Give this a view/listen.

Youtube video at : https://youtu.be/X35maNr9fb0

Our guest in this episode, Ashwini Bhat is among the six members of an ‘Ultra team’ who will represent India at an international sporting event in Romania scheduled for October 2021. The IAU World Championships (a 24-hour run) is organized every year by the International Association of Ultra Runners. 

To qualify for it, Ashwini ran 181km in 24 hours, finishing seventh overall and fourth among women.  Her story has humble beginnings in 10k(s) followed by half marathons and marathons. 

Her ultra running journey starts in trails and leads her to new levels. The pivot into 12 hr and 24 hr format propels her into a high performing athlete aiming for the podium. Her story is filled with overcoming obstacles, family support, and making big bets.

#ultras #onehundredmilers #running  

Today's guest has a fascinating story of going couch to 100 milers ultras. His journey is filled with discovery and self-learning.  We explore what it takes to run ultras, early mistakes and how to avoid them, taking new challenges,  preventing injuries, changes to food habits, and balancing multiple commitments.  Give it a listen and leave your comments.

My guest today is a fellow YouTuber and Ultra runner Stephane Laporte from Saigon, Vietnam. Stephane has a fascinating journey of endurance running intertwined with his work journey of helping other runners.

He loves running so much, he decides to switch careers from being an IT professional to becoming an osteopathic therapist.

We get to talk about how and why of that journey.

We get to dwell into his unique experiences at the multi race adventures, a 250 km foot race in the Gobi Desert and the Atacama Desert in Chile.

We talk about the preparation, the training and how does one go about participating in these amazing adventures.

Give it a view/listen and get inspired to be adventurous.

This is a new series of conversations with listeners of the show who have an inspiring fitness journey. 

We call Radhika, the Iron Lady of our running group. She has been one of the active listeners to the podcast and more recently had a breakthrough in the area of weight loss.   Her fitness journey is all rounded, from running to Tae Kwondo to Dancing, she does it all. Her spirit is indomitable and inspiring.  We get to talk about what got her started in the fitness journey, how does she manage to explore so many facets of herself, how did she lose over 25 lbs in 5 months, and what is her recipe for success.

My guest today Scott Farrand , formerly a senior executive at HPE and an ardent recreational endurance athlete .

Scott is someone who is like good old wine, getting better with age, someone who has been at marathons and triathlons for over 16 years and he is only 60 years young.

We get to talk about he does it all , balancing family, work and training, his journey of marathons to the Iron man, whats changed with age in training and what keeps him going.

As per NAMI, the national alliance on mental illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, 1 in 20 people are afflicted by mental illness in America.  

In today’s episode, we touch upon this topic. It’s important to bring awareness to this epidemic because like all other physical illnesses, it needs societal support and understanding.  

Running and physical activity, in general, is recommended for managing mental health.   

It's my pleasure to be in Andre Hermann, an educator and ultra runner, who has personally coped with depression and addiction and using endurance running to fight it and bring awareness. Am grateful for his generosity to share his story, so others can benefit.  We get to talk about what endurance sports mean to his life, how did he find and get help for his illness, how it turned into alcohol addiction and how he has used ultra-running to stay sober and find purpose.

Please consider contributing to his fund raising for NAMI through his running https://donate.nami.org/fundraiser/3108814

Podcast on all major platforms.

My guest today is Karen Harbaugh, a mother of three, a busy medical professional, and someone who has thrived in multiple endurance activities from obstacle races to ultras to iron man triathlons, including qualifying for the 2018 ITU world triathlon grand final gold coast. She also happens to be a Vibram ambassador.  We get to talk about how it all started, how does she juggle all her responsibilities and the training, how did the Vibram deal come about, her approach to staying healthy all-around fitness, and whats her next big adventure.