The Lucie Beatrix Podcast

Kara Dudley shares how a creative childhood and a leap into New York City acting quietly set the stage for her life as a runner and coach. We talk through what powered her biggest breakthroughs, including a 2:45 Berlin Marathon PR and the mindset it takes to keep showing up when training is not perfect. 

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• growing up in dance, theater, and music while never identifying as an athlete 
• moving to New York City with no job and learning the audition hustle 
• finding running as a private outlet before it became community 
• leaving acting for WeWork and calling it business school in real time 
• a breakup, a half marathon plan, and the first spark of confidence 
• building a coaching business during the pandemic and trusting the leap 
• why 2023 changed everything: ending an engagement, traveling solo, and going all in 
• chipping down from a 3:32 marathon debut to 2:45 through consistency and effort 
• Berlin training with setbacks, cycling volume, threshold work, and float long runs 
• racing as problem solving, managing bad days, and deciding when to finish 
• social media as a tool for service while avoiding the comparison trap 
• longevity habits: sleep, PT, dry needling, stress management, and fueling 
• marathon fueling approach: carb-heavy habits, Maurten gels, and experimenting with more carbs per hour 
 

Lucie Beatrix sits down with fellow running coach, Kati Billow to talk about nervous system regulation, mind-body connection, and the softer skills that can turn fitness into real performance. Katie shares how a traumatic NYC subway attack reshaped her relationship with running, coaching, and what it means to keep showing up when a race goes sideways.

• growing up in dance and yoga then finding running later
• building a running identity through community in New York City
• training through family stress and using running as a tether
• recovering from trauma and PTSD while still pursuing big goals
• therapy, EMDR, acupuncture, and learning nervous system basics
• simple daily tools to create safety and stay regulated
• plant medicine experiences in a supported container and integration work
• Chicago Marathon reflections on heat, pacing pivots, and grit
• deciding when to finish versus when to stop for injury
• coaching athletes through disappointment with process goals
• using personal style and self-expression as a race-day ritual
• competition mindset without turning running into a zero-sum game
• fueling strategy with Pop Tarts, gels, hydration, and aid stations
• next goals including a dedicated half marathon block and recovery

My Instagram handle is forgotaboutkati, and her a Substack called The Interval.

She’s the runner you’ve probably seen breaking the tape at NYC street races, calmly keeping the fast pace on a Nike long run, or somehow smiling after an all-day ultra effort of running 100 miles in 24 hours. My guest is my close friend and training partner, Lindsey Nelson, a 2:53 marathoner who pairs serious speed with serious life responsibility as a nurse practitioner student.

We go back to the beginning, including Lindsey’s childhood cancer story. She shares how a bump on her forehead led to a diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, a rare blood cancer, and how surgery and years of follow-up shaped the way she sees health, purpose, and risk. That experience becomes the seed for her nursing path and a lens for understanding grit that isn’t performative, it’s practiced.

From there we get into the running that made her a standout in the New York City running community: OSR bread runs where navigation is part of the race, winning the OSR 30 perimeter of Manhattan, and ultra relay chaos like The Speed Project and Southbound 400. She breaks down what it takes to keep showing up when you’re sleep-deprived, running short sprint legs on a highway, or lining up for a backyard ultra and grinding to 100 miles in 24 hours.

We also talk training without a coach, chasing a sub-2:50 marathon, and managing MODY diabetes (maturity onset diabetes of the young) with a glucose monitor and smart fueling. If you like endurance stories that mix performance, community, and real-world obstacles, you’ll feel right at home here. Subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

A friendship that started with a shy hello after yoga turned into a decade-plus of bridge walks, bodega quests, and a shared obsession with doing hard things well. We pull back the curtain on how two self-described lone wolves built chosen family in New York—first through daily practice, then through the scrappy reality of making rent, and now through a strangely joyful sport most people only touch for ten minutes: the stair climber.

You’ll hear how our rituals evolved from pre-Instagram yoga marathons to epic weekend walks and, eventually, to quantifiable stair benchmarks: the 400-floor club, 420 club, and a recent leap to 450 floors per hour. We break down why intensity beats endless volume, how momentum can make rest days backfire for some, and why an honest hour of focused effort can anchor an entire day. Beyond metrics, the heart of the story is mental health—how training quiets anxiety, strengthens self-trust, and shifts the tone of everything that follows.

We also get candid about fueling: raw-fruit eras, sardine emergencies, tofu salvation, and the practical truth that protein can be a game changer when you want power without the crash. Expect real talk on cortisol, recovery, and the double standard where men “biohack” while women get labeled for the same choices. Along the way, we reflect on leaving New York and returning, the third places that hold us together, and a city that still lets you belong without a resume or a brand.

If you care about sustainable performance, NYC life, or the craft of building a day that actually feels good, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge to chase their 400-floor moment, and leave a review with your wildest frugal hack or training PR—we might read it on a future show.

On this episode of The Lucie Beatrix podcast, Lucie talks with friend Dan Meinhardt, a full-time musician living in NYC about living the dream and training for marathons. They discuss their time together altitude training in Park City, Utah as well as how Dan paced Lucie to win the Orchard Street Runners Prototype Half in NYC last fall. 

This episode was filmed at Floored Media in Long Island, NY.

Jerry Francois, known as Coach J, is known in the New York running scene for creating diverse, empowering spaces for communities of color and runners of all abilities as the founder of Gold Finger Track Club.

• Started running in high school at age 17 after his mother passed away, finding it provided mental clarity and an emotional outlet
• Created Goldfinger Track Club from a clothing brand, establishing a team where everyone belongs regardless of pace
• Embraced the team's mottos "Gold Vibes" and "Diverse but not divided" to foster inclusion and community
• Founded Black Miles Matter after Ahmaud Arbery's murder, organizing solidarity runs including the Juneteenth 5K
• Transitioned from being a 400-800 meter runner to achieving a 2:42 marathon at Boston 2023 despite injury
• Worked with PYNRS, the only Black-owned running apparel company in the US, as creative director
• Credits his son Jaxx for inspiring his running success and giving him "superpowers" to chase his dreams
• Focuses on building family and expanding his brand while planning to complete his sixth marathon major in Tokyo
• Plans to run New York City Marathon aiming for a comfortable 2:50 finish while enjoying the experience
• Emphasizes faith as the foundation of his journey: "Faith makes things possible, not easy"

Follow Jerry on social media @kingparkergold2001 or @hirecoachj, and follow the team @gftc_brooklyn.

David Alm shares his journey of becoming an award-winning journalist and running as a form of meditation, revealing how his punk rock roots and rebellious spirit shaped both his writing and running.

• Starting with a one-way ticket to NYC and a few thousand dollars at age 24
• Living in the Lower East Side, NYC in the late 90s/eary 00s
• Beginning running on his 23rd birthday after smoking cigarettes for a decade
• Running a 2:49 marathon in only his second race (without even knowing what Boston qualifying meant)
• Writing award-winning features on subjects like Sha'Carri Richardson and Rachael Rapinoe
• Creating the East River 5000 race series as an alternative to commercialized running events
• Developing deep connections with subjects through extended conversations that reveal intimate details
• Finding stories in unexpected places, often dark
• Covering stories of marginalized communities 
• Starting banjo playing in his late 40s and building instruments with his father

Fresh off completing The Speed Project solo—a grueling journey from Los Angeles to Las Vegas—Yvonne Zapata (aka Miss Outside) takes us deep into the physical and mental challenges of ultrarunning.

From battling an infected toe that doctors warned could end her race to navigating pitch-black mountain paths with no cell service, Yvonne's determination shines through every obstacle. Her five-person crew became her lifeline, managing everything from bandage changes to midnight trail navigation and all the snacks.

The journey becomes even more remarkable knowing that just months earlier, Yvonne was hit by a car outside her home, tearing ligaments and tendons that sidelined her for weeks. This forced break prompted soul-searching about her identity beyond running: "Who am I if I'm not Miss Outside?"

As a special education teacher who was once non-verbal as a child, Yvonne brings unique perspective to her running journey. She's conquered five of six World Marathon Majors, appeared on billboards in Times Square, and found joy in everything from Disney-themed races to pacing fellow runners through New York streets.

Throughout our conversation, Yvonne reveals the deeper purpose behind her running: representing her Puerto Rican heritage, creating space for women and non-binary athletes in ultra-running, and reminding us of the privilege of movement itself. "I'm running for people that cannot run," she shares, highlighting how easily we forget why we started running in the first place.

Follow Yvonne @missoutsideeeee on Instagram and join her as she takes on Chicago and New York marathons this fall, with many more ultra adventures surely on the horizon.

Ultrarunning legend Zach Bitter joins us for an inspiring conversation about his relationship with the 100 mile distance. Reflecting on Zach's incredible accomplishments, including his world and American records, we delve into how his perseverance motivated personal running goals. We talk about the nuances of adapting to new environments like heat and incline training as well as the mental power it takes to push yourself to the max.

Zach's transition from collegiate running to the grueling world of ultramarathons was unlikely but it has been a fruitful pursuit that's shown him he's capable of a lot more than he ever expected. Discover the delicate balance between training volume and speed workouts, and unpack the strategies necessary for conquering a 100-mile race. I ask him to break down for me in laymen's terms how to go about pacing, staying in the zone on track courses, and what to do when things don’t go as planned—(or like how a simple extension cord can save a treadmill record attempt).

The conversation also opens up about the crucial elements of nutrition and recovery, highlighting personal experiences from races and the adaptable nature of dietary strategies like a modified keto diet. We discuss how to manage hydration and nutrition effectively during grueling events, and the importance of strength training and injury prevention. From the potential of negative splitting to the thrill of setting personal records, this episode captures the essence of pushing boundaries in ultrarunning, with inspiration drawn from iconic figures like Alexander Sorokin and Camille Heron.

More Zach Bitter: Website

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What if you could transform your life through the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other? On today's show I am joined by Nolan John, an ultra runner who swapped the Midwest lanes of Chicago for the sunlit trails of Austin, Texas. From traversing through the wild landscapes of The Speed Project (an ultra marathon relay race), Nolan shares his exhilarating journey of personal growth through ultra-endurance running. Together, we unpack the chaos and creativity that comes with unsanctioned racing, where every step is a chance to run towards better versions of ourselves.

My story runs parallel to Nolan’s, as I recount a personal path to finding sobriety through running. Nolan shares with me his own path to getting sober with a heartbreaking loss of friends and the dark days he had following a near death motorcycle accident. 

Navigating sobriety's challenges in a world filled with temptations becomes a shared theme as we discuss the strength in replacing harmful habits with healthier ones. From facing societal pressures to embracing imperfections, we reflect on how running and sobriety intertwine, offering paths to self-discovery and growth. We also emphasize the courage it takes to redefine oneself and the ongoing commitment to a better, more authentic life. Join us on this journey as we uncover the transformative power of running.