Extraordinary Strides
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Extraordinary Strides
Top Running Books (76-100) and New Marathon Milestones
This week on Extraordinary Strides, we break down the latest buzz in the running world, from the new Boston Marathon qualifying times to the intriguing possibility of Sydney joining the World Marathon Majors roster. We’re also cheering on our very own athlete Marcela as she gears up for the historic 50th anniversary of the Berlin Marathon.
We also share our love for running literature, kicking off with titles 100 to 76 from my meticulously curated list of top 100 running books. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or practical advice, these books offer invaluable insights that can elevate your running game to new heights.
In a heartfelt conversation, Ashley turns the tables and interviews Coach Christine about her own running journey. From starting with a Couch to 5k program to tackling the World Marathon Majors, and shares the ups and downs of the path to becoming a coach. We discuss the power of community, the joy of volunteering, and our future marathon goals, including the exciting possibility of Sydney and Cape Town joining the marathon major circuit. This episode is packed with motivation, practical tips, and heartwarming stories that will inspire runners of all levels.
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Hey friend, welcome back to Extraordinary Strides. I'm coach Christine. I'm a level two RRCA and ACE certified health coach. I'm excited to be with you here today and we have a packed show because there's so much going on in the running community. So, first and foremost, this past week we saw a significant change to the Boston Marathon qualifying times. Yes, they have been reduced again, and for many runners, this is a huge deal. A lot of individuals who are already feeling like they had to squeak through the current Boston qualifying times are now feeling a little disappointed, maybe even disheartened.
Speaker 1:I want to again let individuals know that we are here to support you and give you encouragement and, of course, as you are making your journey to Boston, we know that you're well into the process. Remember that persistence and consistency are key and I'm curious how you all are feeling about Boston qualifying times being reduced again. I have to be honest, I actually am not surprised and I much prefer them to tighten up the qualifying standard versus having individuals that qualify and still are unable to register. I have to think that that has to be incredibly disheartening. So, again, a big shout out for individuals whether you're working on your qualification, received your qualification and weren't able to get into the Boston Marathon with your current time. We do know that it is very, very, very much a part of every aspect of how you're training, but we also see that people are just getting faster. They're investing more time and resources. Technology has made great advances, so I'm not surprised to see it, but I still want to give you guys a big, big hug.
Speaker 1:When you saw those come through and maybe felt that little bit of pit in your stomach like, oh my goodness, how in the world am I going to make this happen? Which leads me to the next big news in the world of running, and it's actually quite major this news. Sydney had its final qualifying race this past weekend. What does that mean? That means Sydney has been a candidate for the World Marathon Majors. If it was to actually be announced as becoming a World Marathon Major, it will be the first race in the Southern Hemisphere in the entire World Marathon Major Series. If you're not certain what that is, we have a podcast series all about it, but that is joining the ranks of Boston, chicago, new York City, london, berlin and Tokyo. So Sydney had its final qualification test and there is expectations that the World Marathon majors will be bringing them in as the seventh of the World Marathon majors and that they'll be making that announcement later this year.
Speaker 1:So for all of us that have been on the quest for the world marathon major six star or maybe we have achieved it and we hear that Sydney is going to be added we are on the edge of our seats waiting for that announcement. As soon as it happens, I'm sure that you will hear it here as well. I'm also very curious how you guys feel about that particular announcement on the brink that's being made. I am fairly certain that they will be admitted into the world marathon majors, so much so that I've already started to make my plans to do everything within my power to be there next year, in 2025, to get my seventh star. However, I also want to assure you all that World Marathon Majors Abbott has announced they are not going to do away with the sixth star. So if you feel disheartened because you've been working towards your sixth star and you're like what they're adding more, does this mean it goes away? They are not thinking it's going to go away. That six star bling will stay intact.
Speaker 1:For now, though, we may see some exciting changes ahead. Personally, I have to wonder if there's a little bit of a path towards the seven continents under their sleeve, because, while we're talking about the world marathon majors, cape Town is another potential contender. They are going to go into their next qualification round next year. So, to me, total speculation, complete rantings and musings of me, not sponsored by anyone official. I feel that it's pretty evident that the world marathon majors are paving a path toward a seven continents marathon club of their own. But we'll see, because we'll still need some races in South America and, of course, they're going to have to figure out the logistics of Antarctica. But hey, a runner can dream, can't I? In the meantime, I want to switch gears a little bit because, as we're talking about the majors we talked about Boston, talked about Sydney potentially becoming one you heard me mention the current six that are officially in place we are going to be kicking off our official majors season with Berlin right around the corner next weekend. I want to send so much good luck and good wishes for everyone who has been training so hard this entire summer for it, but it's especially exciting this particular year. I want to give a big shout out to one of our extraordinary league athletes, marcella, who's going to be tackling Berlin on her pathway to the World Marathon majors next Sunday, the 29th, for its 50th anniversary. Marcella girl, you've got this. You are so strong and so ready. We can't wait to cheer you on Now.
Speaker 1:Friends, as we continue to talk about all of the awesomeness that is going on in the world of running, it would behoove me to also mention that Marriott Bonnevoy has released that you can utilize your reward points to potentially get in an entry into the world marathon majors as well, and that is seeming to be quite controversial. It was just announced. I do not know a lot of the details quite yet. It seems like it's still pending with the amount of details, how it actually works, how many points it will take. But again, just a really friendly reminder that, as difficult as it may feel to get into the majors because we do know it's a lot harder where there is a will, there is most definitely a marathon way, my friend. So just stay upbeat, stay positive, stay optimistic and stay flexible as to how you make your major dreams happen. Of course, this is just the first of many world marathon majors that are up, because once we get through Berlin, we'll have Chicago, new York. We'll take a brief pause before we bring it back next year into Tokyo and London. I mean, the fun just never, ever ever stops, does it?
Speaker 1:So with that said, friends, we have a very exciting conversation today with one of my one-on-one athletes here, and Ashley is someone who you guys have heard on the podcast. She tackled one of her big, audacious goals with tackling the perfect run Disney season, and her and I have grown to really enjoy chatting with each other, checking in with each other, and one of the things that she has asked is if she could kind of interview me, and I have to be honest, it makes me incredibly uncomfortable to be interviewed. I don't love chatting about myself, but I did agree and that interview will be coming up later in our conversation. Before we get to that conversation, one of the things that you guys may know about me, if you've been with the podcast for some time, is that I am a total nerd.
Speaker 1:I love reading and I can read multiple books at a time. I tend to and I read. I think it's being too referred to as now a tandem reader, so I will read in multiple different mediums, from audio books, which I have found have been a game changer for long runs to. I love physical books. I love a hard book cover or just paperback. I love tangibly having it in my hand, and I'll switch in between those mediums. I don't do as much ebook reading, but, alas, I would just haven't really made my way to it just yet.
Speaker 1:However, one of the questions that I often get from my athletes or from individuals is what book recommendations do you possibly have? So I have come up with a list of the top 100 running books for you. That is right, my friends 100 books, and today we're going to kick off the list with 25 books. We're going to go with number 76 to 100, and then you'll have to tune into future episodes to get the remainder of this incredible list that I have compiled. But let's get right to it. Right, I promised you we were going to have the top 100 books. So, without further ado on this list, number 100 is Run the Mile You're In by Ryan Hall. Marathoner Ryan Hall shares stories from his career, blending faith and perseverance to embrace every mile of life.
Speaker 1:Number 99, running with the Mind of Meditation by Sakyong Mipham. This book combines mindfulness and meditation with running, which, for a lot of individuals, we don't even realize that we utilize running as a moving meditation, but I think that this book really helps to tie those and implement it together the physical and the mental wellbeing that so many of us that love running have come to appreciate, so many of us that love running have come to appreciate. Number 98 is Run Like a Pro, even If You're Slow, by Matt Fitzgerald. You're going to see his name a lot in the top 100. Matt Fitzgerald does have absolutely incredible resources for runners, but this is by Matt Fitzgerald and Ben Rosario and it's about adopting pro level training principles for everyday runners to improve performance and enjoyment. And if you've worked with me before as an athlete, you likely have heard me talk about if it's good enough for the pro, it's good enough for us. Well, I don't think we should idealize any specific athlete. We shouldn't compare and contrast. We should absolutely take best training principles and apply them to our everyday opportunities for our best. So I love that book, highly recommend it.
Speaker 1:Number 97, the Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life by Ambie Burfoot. Now, this is, of course, boston Marathon winner. Ambie shares his life lessons learned through a lifetime of running. Number 96, we got some big name contenders here in the world of running, my friend, so if you're newer to the world of running. Number 96, we got some big name contenders here in the world of running, my friend. So if you're newer to the world of running, this list is going to bring you up to speed very quickly with the who's who's of the running community.
Speaker 1:But number 96 is the Courage to Start by John Bingham, an inspiring book for beginning runners, encouraging readers to take that first step toward the running lifestyle. And, as we all know, no matter how long you've been running, it is all about that first step in getting that start going. So phenomenal book to add to that list as well. And we're not done there with Mr John Bingham, because in number 95 is no need for speed. It's a lighthearted, motivational guide for runners of all abilities who may not consider themselves fast. Maybe helps you embrace a little bit more of that sexy pace. Now, friends, going down that list we are.
Speaker 1:Next up is number 94 running home, by katie arnold. It's a memoir about grief, motherhood and the healing power of ultra running in the wilderness. Again, if you've been with me for some time you know I love me reading some ultra running. But One of my all-time favorite books. There's just so many good ones on this list. But number 93, we've got ourselves.
Speaker 1:Let your Mind Run by Dina Castor. Olympic runner Castor shares how a positive mindset was the key to her success and she really spends a lot of time on harnessing her mindset. She personally gave me two book recommendations on what made her kind of flip the script with her mindset and if you're curious you can DM me. Hit me a little message in my inbox, christinaextraordinarystridescom, and I'll share the two books that Dina shared with me that helped her harness her mindset as well. Next on this list is again one of my favorite authors and runners, and an ultra runner the Road to Sparta by Dean K Karnasas. It explored Dean's journey to run the Spartalon, an ultra race from Athens to Sparta, connecting to his Greek heritage. Little little note here he's going to make the list a few times, but he writes so poetically about running that if you've been running for even a short spell and you've ever encountered that runner's high, you will see how beautiful he's able to capture our love and the mysticism that we kind of feel surrounding our running.
Speaker 1:Number 91, strong by Kara Goucher. In this book Kara shares mental strategies for building confidence and overcoming challenges and running in life. Number 90 for all of my fellow public radio and public broadcasting fans. None other than the book the incomplete book of running by Peter Sagal. It's written by NPR host, peter Sagal, and he reflects on the physical and emotional benefits of running, and he of course, peppers it a little bit with humor and his own personal insights.
Speaker 1:As we continue to rock and roll through this list, we have made it all the way to 89, run Strong, stay Hungry, by Jonathan Beverly, a collection of stories and advice from experienced runners on maintaining longevity and passion for the sport. My friends, we know it's all about that grit, maintaining that passion for the long run. Ha ha, pun intended. Number 88 on my night table right this very instant. I utilize it in my coaching because it is how Bad. Do you Want it? By Matt Fitzgerald. I told you he's going to be on this list a lot. It focuses on the mental toughness and strategies that elite athletes use to push through pain and adversity in races. Little aside, when I say pain, you know that I mean uncomfortable pushing, not necessarily actual physical pain. So keep that in mind, my friends.
Speaker 1:Number 87, running Like a Girl by Alexandria Hemingsley, a humorous and inspiring memoir about one woman's journey from non-athlete to marathon finisher. A little Britney runs a marathon, kind of a feel. I don't know why it's taking me so long to do this, because I am madly in love with this list and I can't keep all of the excitement to myself. But number 86 is Run Fast, cook Fast, eat Slow by Shalane Flanagan and Elise Kopecky. By the way, elise Kopecky regularly hosts some Zoom cooking classes, which I know big. Shout out to Sue, she's taken a few. If you are not on Elise Kopecky's newsletter, get on it, because she'll let you know about those upcoming Zoom cooking classes.
Speaker 1:But why this book is fantastic? It's because it's a follow-up to the popular cookbook Run Fast, eat Slow, and I love that. This book is actually a bit more simplistic. For all of the folks that are super busy and you just want a bit more streamlined for that optimal performance nutrition, this book is the one that you want on your shelf. Okay, 85 Mile Markers by Kristen Armstrong. Now, in this book, armstrong writes about running as a metaphor for life. Who doesn't feel like running is the best metaphor for life? Seriously, you're listening to a running podcast. I have to think that you think it's the best metaphor for life, but Kristen shares her own insights and lessons learned along the way.
Speaker 1:Number 84, the Marathon Monks of Mount Hai by John Stevens. In this book you'll find a spiritual exploration of Japanese monks who run ultra marathon distances as a form of meditation. I think probably some of those distances also have forms of hallucinations, but let's focus on the meditation. Again, hearkening back to earlier in the list, it is all about that mindful movement and creating that moving meditation. Again, hearkening back to earlier in the list, it is all about that mindful movement and creating that moving meditation. So you're going to really enjoy that if you're trying to connect more of your spirituality and your mindset with your movement practice.
Speaker 1:On this book we're going on and on to number 83, which is Running man by Charlie Engel. Has nothing to do with the popular TikTok dance Actually Running Man's predecessor of TikTok but in this book Charlie shares his story of battling addiction and using ultra running as a path to recovery and personal transformation. I told you there was going to be a theme right Ultra running and ultra running authors were going to be on this list quite frequently. Be a theme right. Ultra running and ultra running authors are going to be on this list quite frequently. Number 82 is the Way of the Runner by Ada Herrand Finn. In this book, finn explores the culture of Japanese marathon running, where mental discipline plays a huge role in success. I particularly love how this book explores just the culture of Japanese and running and ties them so together, because I believe there's a lot of carryover from their day-to-day culture that really permeates the running scene there in the running community.
Speaker 1:But next one on the list is 81 Out and Back by Hilary Allen. This was captivating as an audiobook, my friend, so I am going to strongly suggest this is an audiobook. This is an ultra runner's inspiring story of recovery after a near fatal. This was captivating as an audio book, my friend, so I am going to strongly suggest this as an audio book. This is an ultra runners inspiring story of recovery after a near fatal fall during a race, exploring resilience and perseverance. I'm going to tell you right now if you're struggle busing a little bit with your own resiliency, this book definitely needs to go onto your list. We have made it to just the last five for this segment of the list. Remember, we're going to have a whole other list of 75 books in the next few episodes, but for today we're at number 80,.
Speaker 1:Running to the Edge by Matthew Futterman chronicles the journey of legendary coach Bob Larson, who transformed American distance running with innovative techniques. And on to number 79, eat and Run by Scott Jurek, which I absolutely loved this book and I was reading it in conjunction with following his incredible journey as he tackled some really big races and some things that maybe people thought were impossible. But Jurek shares his transition to veganism while becoming one of the top ultra marathoners, with recipes and training insights. So if you are teetering on adding veganism to your lifestyle, or maybe you just want a little bit more inspiration to add more produce to your plate, eat and Run by Scott Jurek definitely needs to be on your bookshelf.
Speaker 1:Number 78 is the Runner's Rulebook by Mark Remy. In this book we are gonna find a fun and practical guide to the unspoken rules of running, offering humor and wisdom for runners of all levels. Now, am I gonna think it's as witty as my social media posts, where it was all about being very demure and very mindful as a runner? Was running etiquette? Yeah, actually it is. It's very funny. You should definitely check it out.
Speaker 1:Number 77, which was actually one of the Get Literati book club choices earlier this year is a beautiful work in progress by Myrna Valero. If you guys have been with me for some time, you also know that Myrna is one of my dream podcast guests. So in this book, myrna challenges stereotypes about runners during her journey as a plus size athlete in the ultra running world. It is so relatable. I love listening to this one as an audio book as well. She read it herself. It was just so phenomenal. If you haven't checked it out, you're definitely going to want to add that one.
Speaker 1:And the final one on our list before we head on over to my conversation with Ashley is number 76, run or Die by Killian Jornet. In this book, killian, a world-class ultra runner, shares his adventures and mindset on the edge of human endurance. My friend, if you have a favorite book that you have not yet heard on this top 100 list, remember we've only gotten 25 out of the way, but please feel free to send me a message at Christine at extraordinarystridescom and let me know what needs to be on this list before I wrap up those final 75. And I will say there's something for everybody in the running will say there's something for everybody in the running world and there's something for everybody in the running and reading world. So if you still haven't heard your favorites and you really want to make sure that it's on the list, please do send me that message again.
Speaker 1:Christine at extraordinarystridescom. Okay, we are officially at the conversation. I have stalled enough. Ashley even had to send me a message with like girl. We had that interview forever ago. When are you going to air it? So, without further ado, please welcome on in Ashley as we chat a little bit and we get to know each other, or she gets to know a little bit more about me. Welcome to the.
Speaker 2:Extraordinary Strikes podcast where we celebrate the incredible journeys of runners and fitness enthusiasts Today. You might not recognize my voice. I am not familiar to the podcast. My name is Ashley and I am interviewing our coach, the one and only Coach, christine. Welcome, coach.
Speaker 1:I'm excited and really nervous that this is going to be interesting. Ashley, for friends who have been with us for some time, ashley had a perfect run Disney season, so we'll definitely hyperlink that into episode notes as well, so you guys can get to know her again, if you will. But she has such a wonderful running journey and asked me if she could maybe flip the script a little bit, so I'm excited to see what is in store.
Speaker 2:I'm excited to learn a little bit more about you. I know obviously I've been around a little while and know some of your history, but I know a lot of our folks might not know where you came from. So we will all be happy to learn some of your history and how you got where you are. Okay, so let's dive on in. So the big kind of first question is when did you start running? What kind of got you into it?
Speaker 1:So I got running later on in life. I actually started in my late twenties, early thirties, and it was after my dad had a debilitating stroke. I was super stressed and didn't know how to deal with all of the being thrust into a caregiving role, and I also started to feel really concerned about my own health and like what my future held. So I went for a walk and a walk turned into maybe a couple of pickups, and then I researched something called couch to 5k and downloaded the program. Um, specifically, it was a podcast that I had found on the interwebs and fell madly in love with the style of music and the specific coach who led it and just kind of set my sights on making my first 5k happen. So it's all history since then.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, I mean now you've done 5k's, 10k's, half pulls is the full year, the longest distance it is.
Speaker 1:I haven't done an ultra yet and training for it this summer, so we will see how that all works out that'll be so fun to watch you and I'm sure everybody, along with myself, will want to cheer you on.
Speaker 2:So you have to share that, that detail, when you go to tackle that. So you started off kind of doing a couch to 5k grew and obviously loved it from there. So what kind of sparked the interest of, like I want to do more distance runs and get into racing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker 1:So I did the 5k, and on a January. So I trained during Florida winters, which are ideal times to train down here, which probably helped me fall in love with it a little bit more than if I would have tried it in the summer down here and I wouldn't have considered myself a Disney adult at that time. But at that time run Disney had just it was kind of newer on the horizon and I heard about the fact that they had this really cool half marathon that you could run at night and I thought I want to do that. That's just sounds like a big old party that I can celebrate and I roped a bunch of my friends into it and we signed. That was back in the day when you could sign up, like two weeks before the race still, but I signed up pretty early on and got to training that summer and somewhere in that summer training it clicked like this feels pretty good and I think that maybe, if this goes as well as it feels like it is a full, would be really fun to tackle as well.
Speaker 2:And now you're on to all your new challenges, with one of them being coaching. So, with that, when did you kind of want to become a coach? Like what kind of inspired you and got that little bug to start coaching?
Speaker 1:I think I started coaching my friends pretty early on and it was one of. I didn't realize that's what I was doing at that point. I just felt like they would come to me quite frequently with questions because I dove so deeply into learning as much as I possibly could about running and so often I would kind of help them troubleshoot things. And it wasn't until a friend of mine actually said you should really consider coaching. And I remember that time kind of rolling my eyes like why would anybody want to work with me as their coach? Because it's not like I'm a professional track athlete, I don't have an athletic background. So I kind of just laughed it off and moved on. And it wasn't until a few years later that it kind of clicked where it was like I really love being able to see and support people to their own dreams, that it felt like something that was maybe a bit more feasible.
Speaker 1:It was nerve wracking, though, going to sit for my RRCA, the level one, because I felt what I think maybe some runners can identify with I'm like I don't look like a runner. You know that little self doubt that kind of pops into our mind. I don't quote unquote look like an athletic coach, so I was a little anxious as to how I would fit in and how it would all work out. But again, just kind of face the fear and do it anyway. Is that not what we love about running? It teaches us to kind of go head on to all the things that we love even if we're scared.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, and I think you've done obviously an awesome job with that. You're kind of built a little community of runners of all looks, abilities, pieces of their lives. So you definitely kind of taken that love, I think, and poured it into everybody and supports whatever their goals are. So we obviously all love having that. I know I personally love the community that we're in.
Speaker 1:We do have a great community, we do we truly do and I think it's such a great reminder. And we've seen the sport change so much that it's become so much more welcoming and open arms and there's a lot less of that concern of running specific paces or having a specific body shape to fall in love with the sport and really be part of the community. So that's always exciting to be, to be able to see that and continue moving that forward.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Um. So then, kind of you had that initial 5k, had the goal like you started coaching your friends, um. But since then, what is one of the biggest goals that you've set and accomplished so far?
Speaker 1:It was the World Marathon majors because it took forever. You know, during the pandemic we saw so many people were positioned to be able to hit the World Marathon majors and almost do it in a very unique time where they were able to do them all within a year or a couple of years. But that wasn't always something that was quite as easy to achieve. And the reason why I really do feel like this is a big one, specifically, is if you look at the gender breakdown of the six world marathon majors, it still is primarily male dominated maybe not as much in the U? S but worldwide, and I think it's because women generally put their concerns or their dreams or their desires on the background to be able to care, give or take care of children or family or their careers. So it was exciting for me to be able to put that in place and like work little by little, because it took me over a decade to actually make it happen, but still was super exciting to achieve.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so when did you start your world marathon major journey.
Speaker 1:My very first marathon was Chicago, before I even know what the world marathon majors were, um, and that was still going to always be one of my favorite races I've ever done. It was shortly after crossing that finish line having what most people have experienced as those post marathon or post race blues where you're like, well, what's next? Because you've worked and dedicated so much time toward it that I kind of I don't know if I came across it in like a runner's world issue or somewhere online, but somewhere I learned about the world marathon majors and thought can I make this happen? I mean, you're very well traveled, ashley, as our official travel agent of the group, but I wasn't at that time. So I was like can I actually see and run the world and how do I make that happen? So I think for me what really helped it click is when I got into New York City via lottery and then after that it was like, okay, I can make this happen. It's not going to be that easy, but I'll make it happen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, was that kind of your first experience with, uh, the lottery for races then?
Speaker 1:yeah, because chicago was before the lottery. We were the last batch when I did chicago. The year afterward we broke the internet, um kind of like taylor swift and run disney does every race weekend as well. So after that they went to lottery. But this was my first lottery experience and really, and seeing as well, all of my friends, most of my friends didn't get in. I was one of the very few that got in on that first try. So it did feel like kind of the blocking. The building blocks were all falling into place for this pathway.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So then you did. You did Chicago and then did New York. Was it always the goal to do the full six marathon majors?
Speaker 1:As soon as I got into New York I knew that this was something I wanted to do. How in the world I figured that I could tackle Boston? I had no idea, and I don't even know that I fully comprehended like Tokyo being part of the world marathon majors at that point. So but yes, I knew that I wanted to do the world marathon majors.
Speaker 2:What kind of inspired you to like. Get into that, because that's a big goal to dive into.
Speaker 1:I was really motivated by bling when I first started running. When I first started running, it was literally all about the medals and I think somewhere, somehow I had seen, and maybe at that point it was a five-star medal. Um, cause, tokyo was added. Not so, I mean, it's been a while, for some time now, but as far as the world marathon majors, I think it may have been the five-star medal at that time. But yes, the minute I saw it I was like I want to own this medal. It's like something I absolutely have to have and I think that was a big motivator. So it wasn't like this really big esoteric, like I wanted to change the world. It was truly like I want this piece of metal, like this hardware that I can put up on my wall. So that was, I think, the original. It's funny because now I'm not anywhere near as motivated by the metals, but I really wouldn't spend time was.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was going to say like Everybody that kind of knows you now is your medals. So in a little bit away, only the special ones get to come out.
Speaker 1:It wasn't always the case. Yeah, it wasn't always the case. It used to be literally all about the medal life, but now it's not quite as much.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like that's. A lot of runners run because of the bling, so that's funny, that's how it started. And now you're just like, yeah, it's another one in the box.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I think it's because you know and I don't know if you feel this way too it's so much.
Speaker 1:During the beginning part of the journey for me with running, I felt like I was so scared that I was going to give up somewhere, because I had always been that type of gal who, if something got super hard, I might like throw in the towel. Been that type of gal who, if something got super hard, I might like throw in the towel. So for me, the medals were like this very physical, tangible object of the persistence that I was showing every time I trained for a race, every time I showed up for the race. But somewhere along the way it just kind of became part of who I am, where I no longer identify with the person who gives up when things get hard. So I didn't think that I need the medals as much as I did once upon a time at this point. But who knows, I mean, there's still medals that make me excited, don't get me wrong. Like those princess weekend for 2025 medals look super stellar. I mean the theme. So I can only imagine this the how medals are going to be amazing.
Speaker 2:I know that I was, I was done, I was not doing princess 2025. And then I saw Maleficent was in there and I'm like, well, I guess I have to go do it now so I can do that. Yeah, so then do you have a favorite medal of all time that you have earned?
Speaker 1:that you love. That's such a great question, oh my gosh. Um, I have a favorite series. I do love the Space Coast series. I think they're beautiful medals their first series. I don't know that I love the second series quite as much. I will probably always love Chicago and my wine and dine. It's lost its charm because it fell somewhere along the way and one of the moves or something will always be very special too, since that was my very first, I would say, endurance event, with being the first half marathon.
Speaker 2:Awesome. So then you've done countless races throughout your time Is there a favorite race that you've ran.
Speaker 1:I have a few favorites and I'm thinking what I have found and I'm curious if you feel the same way. It's not necessarily the actual race, it's how well trained I am for it. So if I go into that race feeling trained and strong and confident, they could have like literally nothing there and it might not even be a great medal, but I'll walk away and be like that was the best race ever. Favorite races are usually the ones that I tackle, that are ones that kind of ebb and flow with my journey as it's, as it's kind of evolved. So Space Coast is a big one that I love. Favorite, favorite favorite I mean Chicago being the first marathon, new York City stellar, like how can you not love New York City? London's a party, so there's so many great ones. But I think Space Coast, being my hometown, is always going to be super special for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and I've heard a lot of great things about that race weekend. I obviously have not participated yet it's definitely one that's on my list from all the wonderful reviews and everything I know. You have tried to convince me a couple of times to do it.
Speaker 1:So I know you're onto bigger and better things because you're tackling the 50 states yourself. So there's a lot of big world to travel to and see. And you come to Florida so often already, so I get it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I definitely um, kind of a lovely thing. So with that you've ran in other other States obviously you're not just in in Florida and even other countries. Is there a race that you absolutely hated? Was like you're, you hated it, you weren't, you didn't want to be there. Was it one with hills? Because you don't do hills.
Speaker 1:I know it's controversial and I feel like a lot of folks are going to come at me for this one, but Boston, um, in a couple of different things, I was under trained because I had the emergency appendix surgery my mom had passed. That's why I was doing Boston, so I cried for like half the marathon. Um, I did feel that there was a certain level of, like, elitist behavior when I did it. I don't know if we're still seeing that quite as much, but it did feel a little bit where, as a charity runner, I wasn't as welcomed as other individuals there and I know we've seen some controversy with some of the influencers recently also getting some slack about it. So I think for me it was that I feel like I would still want to go back and do Boston again and give it a completely different like, go with it another fresh perspective at some point.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when you're fully trained you don't have all kinds of obstacles going on but I mean that speaks for itself that you were able to overcome all of that and still be able to finish.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2:It was like the dedication to the sport.
Speaker 1:I'm so grateful to my girlfriend I have to kind of call her out, michelle who really, really helped push me through, because I got through that finish line just minutes before they closed the official clock, which means that if I wouldn't have, my journey into the world marathon majors would have been stalled right then, and there I would have had to have done Boston over again, because you don't get your majors star unless if you get an official time at Boston. So, um, she wasn't as lucky as I was for that one, but luckily I was. I got in just in time, just in the nick of time for that one.
Speaker 2:Awesome, that's insane, cause I know Boston is that one that all the runners are like. If you can't make it through Boston, you can't make it through any of the other ones, because that is the tough one.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it is, but I will say the energy in the crowd there was incredible. So I want to make sure that folks from the Northeast, especially Boston, know that it's not that I'm not showing you guys love. You guys were fabulous. It was just about where I was at my place in my journey at that point. So again, I want to give it a different opportunity. Maybe go up and cheer as well would be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. I know our very own Miss Sue. She lives up that ray and she always tears every year. So I can't wait personally until I get the opportunity to run that race one day and get to see her smiling face. I think it's mile 22, I think, is where she sits at every year.
Speaker 1:So if you've ever run it, you probably have had Sue cheer you on at one point she may have even given you your like aid station course refreshment there. So I know she worked it a couple times too. So, yes, always a lot of fun to see a friendly face on the course yeah, so that kind of is another evolving question.
Speaker 2:um, I recently had my own experience, uh, volunteering for a race. That I had never done, because we're always you're in it for the bling or you're showing up, yeah, um, I know you have showed up a couple times for our fake and run Disney For those folks that don't know the 3 am wake up call and have come out with your face shining and everything for us in the morning to cheer on for the runner. But have you ever volunteered for a race at a water stop or anything?
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah. So I have volunteered at the space coast in the past. I remember Catherine Switzer's quote that if you're losing faith in human nature, you need to go watch a race that paraphrasing but go watch a marathon. I think something of that sort. And that's exactly right, because you see, like the human will, determination and the spirit of everyone, it's such a powerful thing.
Speaker 1:I volunteer now much more frequently at triathlons than I do road races and I think the reason for that is because I have zero desire to do a triathlon. So I just want to go and support the folks that are doing all the different aspects there and I generally try to support on the actual run course, which is the last of the legs, which is where I think people kind of need that little extra bit of cheer and pep. Um, but that's generally where I volunteer at the most and, of course, with girls on the run with their 5k and kind of helped race direct it a little bit a few times. So in a different, a few different capacities, I do believe that we should give back to running as much as it gives to us. So I have to ask you how was your experience volunteering?
Speaker 2:Absolutely, I completely agree, um, I obviously I've never volunteered prior to that officially, um, and I started doing more volunteer opportunities locally for those races that I'm not doing, um, and it gives you a whole different respect for running as a sport, the people that are out there doing it. Um, it gives you a perspective, different respect for running as a sport, the people that are out there doing it. It gives you a perspective that when you have those crappy days I know a lot of us runners have felt like that the last at least month with the nice heat waves that we've had it gives you a whole different perspective when you're struggling and you see those different paces that you're just like, man, I shouldn't even be running right now. Um, it gives you kind of that perspective of no, this is why I'm doing it, because we can.
Speaker 2:Um and especially. I mean, I just did a one mile race and, um, although it was just a mile, it brought tears to my eyes because there was a gentleman that I had passed that started in a wave earlier than me, that had some sort of disability, that he had to use walking poles to get to the finish, and, man, I tell you, it might have taken him a very long time to finish that race, but he sure as hell finished that race. Isn't it incredible, the people that you pass on the course and you see them walking, doing it in a boot or whatever they need to do to get to that finish, because they're so determined to do it. It really gives you that next level of appreciation of the sport of no, I'm going to do this because there are some people out there that can't do this, can't get that experience.
Speaker 2:I know you said it back at the beginning that you really started running because you kind of enjoyed it. It was kind of like your own time, and that's why I run a lot, because you get to see the world, you get to do those things that some people might never get to see. Or do you get to kind of unplug from the world for a little while while you're taking all that in. So it's definitely kind of a gift that not everybody gets to experience and don't realize they're missing out until they get that experience.
Speaker 1:Right, I love that and I so enjoy hearing you talk about it in the same way, because I do think you've had you came to running in such like for me it looks like you just got to it and you went all the way Like there was no half in, half out for you. You like totally embraced it with really big, audacious goals right out of the gate go. So it's always exciting to kind of hear it. I love hearing you talk about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. When we tackled that first goal, um, I was kind of like you. You got that first 5k under your belt and then the itch was there and you had to just go all out for it. So I think that's how a lot of runners start, honestly is, just once they get that first little sense of crossing the finish line and that accomplishment, it's all over from there.
Speaker 2:But it's a wonderful community and world that we're all in, that we get to do that every day and can continue doing it and getting reaching new goals and stuff like that, and the community is just wonderful and supportive, I think, for the most part. No matter what pace you run at, you're always accepted somewhere.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. And I think again we're continuing to like, when we get frustrated at races because that invariably will happen, because they're too crowded or you can't get around people, or people may forget race day etiquette, or maybe they don't know it it's still like a great time to like kind of express that gratitude of like this community is just continuing to grow and it's becoming so much more welcoming and inclusive that these are good problems to have on the course, not'm not when you're specifically trying to PR, granted, but for the rest, of the opportunities, it's a it's a good problem to have.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I know I've had my fair share of those, but it's again. It goes back to that Everybody's getting out there, everybody's moving, so you gotta start somewhere. Everybody's getting out there, everybody's moving, so you gotta start somewhere. Okay, so, um, we've talked about kind of your world marathon majors. That was kind of your biggest role that you had set and you had accomplished that. So what is your next big goal?
Speaker 1:The world marathon majors. Um, because likely about 99.9% positive Sydney will be declared a major later this year. So I foresee 2025 being a year that I go out and make Sydney my seventh star. After that, I do believe that they're going to announce Cape Town. I don't know if I'll be able to tackle Cape Town in 2028, of course, from a budget standpoint, but I would like to at least before 2029, maybe that would be the year to do it. I can't even believe we're talking about these years. It's like so fast. But you also have to plan so far in advance for all of these races, which is naturally leading me to think that if I go ahead and do Australia and I've already done Asia and Europe and North America that maybe the seven continents club is something I'll want to tackle at some point.
Speaker 1:So we'll see That'll be a fun one yeah.
Speaker 2:Oh, that would be a lovely goal to kind of, to kind of shoot for, because, hey, you're already working towards it, so might as well.
Speaker 1:So that would be. That would be exciting. Again, I'm working towards an ultra. How far I'll go in the ultra community I don't particularly know, um, mainly because I don't have as much access to trails where I live and more often than not ultras end up becoming more of a trail type of endeavor. So we'll see what happens. But I'm kind of curious Do you see yourself doing I mean, you've already done an ultra? Dopey is an ultra. It's a multi-stage ultra. People don't necessarily realize that that's exactly what it is, but do you foresee yourself doing anything of those sorts as well? I?
Speaker 2:don't think so I think I think the marathon distance is my jam okay maybe one day I'll try one out.
Speaker 2:But I think the marathon distance is kind of where I'm settling in as my home For that, the nice challenge where you do all the training and you're like, why am I doing this? Then you get to the start line and you're like, why the hell am I doing this? Yeah, and then you get to cross the finish line and you're like, okay, this is why I did this. And then you do it all over again.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm with you, not on the marathon distance, I still feel that way about the half marathon distance but I'm with you as to like. I think, at the point of, especially now, I think most folks are in their heat of their training, literally with the temperatures that we're all questioning our sanity and wondering why we didn't take up I don't know any other sport that's out there that you can do in AC?
Speaker 2:Yeah, something that doesn't make you melt every day? Yeah, yeah, absolutely Awesome. Well, I've loved learning so much more about you. There's so much more that we we don't know and they're just peeling the surface. Um, so I really think, just wrapping it up by what is one thing that you could tell any one of your, your um members of the community, if you could just tell them one little piece of advice, what would it be?
Speaker 1:Ooh, advice, cause what I would want to say is I want to thank everyone. I want to thank everyone for making this a possibility for me, cause it's something that I truly enjoy and love. Um, but one piece of advice, I mean. I think that most of us runners already know what we need to do, like we have it all within us. So just kind of listen to that, and, while I am always going to advocate, of course, collaborating with your coach, it is very important for you to kind of know your own mind and know what you want out of life and especially running as well. So I think that's always really important to keep that front of center of your mind when you pursue your goals. So that's probably what I would say.
Speaker 2:Perfect, awesome. Well, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Thank you, ashley. This was so fun. Thank you, ashley. Thank you again. It's a little mind blowing and a little weird and a little surreal that people really want to get to know me more, because I really want to get to know you guys more. So I liked having the tables turned a little bit, but so much appreciate you and, again, so excited for your journey. So it's such an inspiration to see all the things you do.
Speaker 1:I also want to, before we wrap up, officially remind you guys that I'm going to keep this book list going. I do welcome you to reach out to me. Let me know your thoughts about Boston, about Sydney, let me know about what books should be on that top 75 list. And, of course, I also want to give a huge, heartfelt shout out to the Extra Mile Club members, because their support monthly is the one and only reason why I can make sure that this podcast continues to stay absolutely ad free. It is very, very much something that I am determined to do, but I could not do it without our extra mile club. So thank you guys so much for making it possible.
Speaker 1:Now, with that said, friends, I want to say that, as we get ready for our racing season to kick off, I feel like a kid at a candy store. It's beautiful to finally see so much hard work really pay off with the race season. But I also want to remind you guys that we're in this truly for the long run. So don't get too hung up on one specific race for the long run. So don't get too hung up on one specific race. Please enjoy the journey all the way through and, of course, maybe find a book or two that helps you to have that really great mindset, harness and deepen your love with running, and know that I'm just a message away If you have any questions. With that said, my friends, I'm going to thank you so much for tuning in. Until next time, keep running, keep shining, keep reading and keep making those strides extraordinary.
