The Rambling Runner Podcast

In this two-part episode we have a feature story with official badass Gabby Wennerstrom and we catch-up with writer/runner/coach David Roche to learn more about a recent article he wrote for Trail Runner Mag.  Gabby Wennerstrom has steadily worked her way down from a 5:40 marathon all the way down to a 3:23. A remarkable feet that required nearly a decade of work and a boat-load of optimism. Gabby was committed to her goal of getting a BQ and, as she proved, it was simply a matter of when and not if.  In the second part of the episode David Roche breaks down his recent piece, "Why Downtime May Lead To Breakthroughs: Fitness can seem to follow unpredictable patterns, with some of the biggest breakthroughs coming after layoffs. Why?" - https://trailrunnermag.com/training/why-downtime-may-lead-to-breakthroughs.html Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Four Sigmatic, a wellness company that mixes mushrooms and adaptogens with coffee, cacao, latte, protein powder. They have a special offer for the Rambling Runner audience. Receive 10% off your Four Sigmatic order. Just go to www.foursigmatic.com/RAMBLINGRUNNER or enter code RAMBLINGRUNNER at checkout. OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Do you want to run further and faster -- and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you’ve ever felt before? Then give InsideTracker a try. First, InsideTracker uses its patented algorithm to analyze your body’s data and offer you a clearer picture than you’ve ever had before of what’s going on inside you. Then, they provide a concrete, science-backed, trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and being your healthy best. InsideTracker is offering my listeners 25% off at www.insidetracker.com/ramblingrunner with code RAMBLINGRUNNER. Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Five week after my last pain free run my knee is finally in working order. It took a couple weeks of no running nor cross-training followed by three days of easy run/walks. Now I've run three days in a row and it appears as though my knee has turned the corner. Next up, doing the same thing with my training. In this episode, coach James McKirdy details what's next and addresses my concern that maybe my goal of breaking 40:00 is too tall a task. Adrienne Langelier and I talk about how the recent time away affected my mindset and general mental health.  Mastering 40: I had just completed the worst athletic year of my life. One beset by injuries and a 25 lb. weight gain. Finally, I decided enough was enough. With the help of a professional coach - James McKirdy and sport psychologist - Adrienne Langelier, I am determined to have the best athletic year of my life. One that will end, hopefully, with a sub-40:00 10k. This is a huge stretch goal and I am determined to get it done. Over the course of this year I will also be turning 40 years old and become a masters runner. Hence the “Mastering 40.” We will be documenting the journey with a podcast every three weeks. The podcasts, like this one, will include calls with the experts I will be leaning on, and learning from, throughout the process. Hopefully you enjoy and learn from my year of reclaiming my fitness and pursuing an entirely new level of performance while trying to maximize my schedule as a dedicated amateur runner. Thank you to the Mastering 40 partners: - Supplements/Protein: Previnex - code: RUNNER15 for 15% off - Health Analysis: InsideTracker - Go to www.insidetracker/ramblingrunner to save 25% on their Ultimate Package by using code GIFTFROMRAMBLINGRUN - Attire: Tracksmith - code RAMBLINGRUNNER for 15% off first purchase over $75 Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

Michelle Baxter is a dedicated runner from Anchorage, Alaska with two young kids a drive to go sub-3:00 in the marathon. She has run 10 marathons including the Boston Marathon in 2013 and the NYC Marathon in 2018. Michelle has come a long way in just a few years, working her way up to 100 miles in a week, winning the 2013 Kenai River Marathon, placing 19th at the Twin Cities Marathon where she ran her current PR of 3:02, and placing 1st at the Moose’s Tooth Marathon at 9.5 months postpartum. You can learn more about Michelle at www.therunnersplate.com.  Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Do you want to run further and faster -- and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you’ve ever felt before? Then give InsideTracker a try. First, InsideTracker uses its patented algorithm to analyze your body’s data and offer you a clearer picture than you’ve ever had before of what’s going on inside you. Then, they provide a concrete, science-backed, trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and being your healthy best. InsideTracker is offering my listeners 25% off at www.insidetracker.com/ramblingrunner with code RAMBLINGRUNNER. Paper Trails Greeting Co. is a small business was created by a dedicated amateur runner with a passion for snail mail and the running community, and a frustration with lack of options for greeting cards appropriate for runners. Their online shop of 35+ greeting cards, all with messages specifically for runners. There’s never been a better time to connect with your people via handwritten note. Visit www.papertrailsgreetingco.com and use code RAMBLING will get you 15% off any order (besides the monthly subscription). Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

In this two part episode we meet Kevin Duffy and speak with Sarah Lorge Butler about her recent article for Runner's World entitled Why Aren't More Female Coaches in Charge of Pro Teams?  Kevin is Fireman in Yonkers, NY, 5 x Ironman, 50 miler finisher, plant-based athlete and cook. Here's a intro to Kevin in his own words:  "For most of my life I ate the standard American diet. This typical days, weeks and years full of meat, cow’s milk, eggs, cheese, sugary cereals, too much pizza (like 3 days a week too much) and processed junk food. I live this way for 33 years. It wasn’t until 2015, when I learned what plant-based meant and decided to give it a try. I switched over to a lifestyle and a daily routine that is rich in fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains. These are the sources of energy that the earth has provided. Everything I eat started as a seed.  I've lost a total of 40 lbs. and my workouts are more effective because of an increase in energy and stamina. I also sleep more soundly because my body is not loaded with toxins and doesn’t have to expend energy tossing and turning throughout the night trying to figure out how to process those old harmful toxins, when all it wants to do is rest. I noticed that I recover quicker from workouts, therefore I can train more often. This resulted in me racing faster and improving my performance in all sports and activities. The benefits to this lifestyle change seem endless. I am constantly learning and trying to better the person from yesterday. Life is more enjoyable when you feel better. We weren’t put on this earth to get fat, sick, achy and slow, so don’t settle for that." In the second part of the episode I speak with Sarah Lorge Butler from Runner's World (54:40 mark). We take a deep dive into her recent article how it came together. You can read Why Aren’t More Female Coaches in Charge of Pro Teams? at www.runnersworld.com/news/a35810575/female-coaches-for-pro-jobs  Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Beam is a CBD company founded by two ex-professional athletes and they just launched their first ever non-CBD product line called elevate hydration. Elevate hydration powders give your body the electrolytes it craves and more. They have powders for digestive balance, enhanced energy, and supportive recovery. Try elevate hydration from beam for 15% off with code RAMBLINGRUNNER www.beamtlc.com. Paper Trails Greeting Co. is a small business was created by a dedicated amateur runner with a passion for snail mail and the running community, and a frustration with lack of options for greeting cards appropriate for runners. Their online shop of 35+ greeting cards, all with messages specifically for runners. There’s never been a better time to connect with your people via handwritten note. Visit www.papertrailsgreetingco.com and use code RAMBLING will get you 15% off any order (besides the monthly subscription). Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner

Have you ever had a goal that you worked for years to accomplish only to fall short by the slimmest of margins time and time again? It takes a strong person with a sense of mission to keep getting up and striving for that goal instead of giving in. That is exactly what Meaghan Murray-Neuberger did when she broke the 3:00 at the Woodlands Marathon two weeks ago. Meaghan is a three-time marathon winner with a previous marathon PR of 3:00:19. At Woodlands she ran a blistering fast 2:56:33 - 6:44 pace per mile.  Besides being as tough as leather, Meaghan is also an extraordinary business woman and entrepreneur. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Big Run Media and Believe in the Run. Meaghan applies her vision for meaningful action and provides detailed analytics to measure marketing ROI at her companies and also at other brands including Sony Pictures, A&E, Warner Brothers and Viacom, as well as several start-up small businesses. In this episode Meaghan walks us through what she changed in this marathon training cycle that helped her get her over the top. We also talk about running shoes, of course, considering her background as one of the foremost individuals in the running show review space.  You can visit Believe in the Run at www.believeintherun.com. Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Do you want to run further and faster -- and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you’ve ever felt before? Then give InsideTracker a try. First, InsideTracker uses its patented algorithm to analyze your body’s data and offer you a clearer picture than you’ve ever had before of what’s going on inside you. Then, they provide a concrete, science-backed, trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and being your healthy best. InsideTracker is offering my listeners 25% off at https://hubs.ly/H0HQpX50 with code RAMBLINGRUNNER. Paper Trails Greeting Co. is a small business was created by a dedicated amateur runner with a passion for snail mail and the running community, and a frustration with lack of options for greeting cards appropriate for runners. Their online shop of 35+ greeting cards, all with messages specifically for runners. There’s never been a better time to connect with your people via handwritten note. Visit www.papertrailsgreetingco.com and use code RAMBLING will get you 15% off any order (besides the monthly subscription). Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

Kim Sundling is an avid marathoner, cross-trainer, pharmacist with a focus on mental health, a bundle of energy - and someone who continues to work through depression and lupus. Not only that, but she is back on the show to detail her completion of the brutal Goggins Challenge. She ran four miles every four hours for 48 hours. Kim didn't merely complete this amazing test of endurance she nearly set a 5k PR over the final three miles. I've had the privilege of coaching Kim through my work with McKirdy Trained and she is one of the most inspiring people I've every met. Kim's first appearance on the show was little over a year ago. In episode 216, Kim detailed the various aspects of her life and how she ran two marathons in the fall of 2019 before doing the Goofy Challenge in early January, 2020.  You can follow Kim at www.instagram.com/pharmdpositive. Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Beam is a CBD company founded by two ex-professional athletes and they just launched their first ever non-CBD product line called elevate hydration. Elevate hydration powders give your body the electrolytes it craves and more. They have powders for digestive balance, enhanced energy, and supportive recovery. Try elevate hydration from beam for 15% off with code RAMBLINGRUNNER www.beamtlc.com. Paper Trails Greeting Co. is a small business was created by a dedicated amateur runner with a passion for snail mail and the running community, and a frustration with lack of options for greeting cards appropriate for runners. Their online shop of 35+ greeting cards, all with messages specifically for runners. There’s never been a better time to connect with your people via handwritten note. Visit www.papertrailsgreetingco.com and use code RAMBLING will get you 15% off any order (besides the monthly subscription). Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

When I first had the idea for Mastering 40 I knew that one of the major steps I would need to take was a detailed blood analysis. A mirror, scale, and workout data can provide insight but it doesn’t tell the whole story. I needed to know my exact starting point then track my biomarkers throughout the year. I reached out to InsideTracker, the leader in this space, and they agreed to help me out. Stevie Smith MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN, a registered dietitian at InsideTracker, and ten time IRONMAN finisher, dove into my most recent tests, just like she did after my first round of testing in September, and provided loads of feedback. I have lots to work on, especially my lipid profile, and a few positive points as well. One new feature is the Inner Age metric. I am 40.1 years old - how old is my inner age? Find out in this episode.  Mastering 40: I had just completed the worst athletic year of my life. One beset by injuries and a 25 lb. weight gain. Finally, I decided enough was enough. With the help of a professional coach - James McKirdy and sport psychologist - Adrienne Langelier, I am determined to have the best athletic year of my life. One that will end, hopefully, with a sub-40:00 10k. This is a huge stretch goal and I am determined to get it done. Over the course of this year I will also be turning 40 years old and become a masters runner. Hence the “Mastering 40.” We will be documenting the journey with a podcast every three weeks. The podcasts, like this one, will include calls with the experts I will be leaning on, and learning from, throughout the process. Hopefully you enjoy and learn from my year of reclaiming my fitness and pursuing an entirely new level of performance while trying to maximize my schedule as a dedicated amateur runner. Thank you to the Mastering 40 partners: - Supplements/Protein: Previnex - code: RUNNER15 for 15% off - Health Analysis: InsideTracker - Enroll in their giveaway of an Ultimate Package and 1:1 session with registered dietician or go to https://hubs.ly/H0HQpX50 to save 25% on their Ultimate Package by using code GIFTFROMRAMBLINGRUN - Attire: Tracksmith - code RAMBLINGRUNNER for 15% off first purchase over $75 Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

Tommie Runz is making big moves with his own running and within the broader running community. Several years back Tommie was the picture of ill-health. He had an alcohol problem, was eating poorly, and was doing little exercise. They one-by-one he addressed all of these issues until he became the man and runner he is today - fast, fit, vegan, host of the Run Eat Sleep Show, and owner of Chip Time Running. A truly magnificent transformation for a man who's an even better person than he is a runner. Follow Tommie - www.instagram.com/tommie_runz Chip Time Running and Run Eat Sleep Show - https://linktr.ee/ChipTimeRunning Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Do you want to run further and faster -- and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you’ve ever felt before? Then give InsideTracker a try. First, InsideTracker uses its patented algorithm to analyze your body’s data and offer you a clearer picture than you’ve ever had before of what’s going on inside you. Then, they provide a concrete, science-backed, trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and being your healthy best. InsideTracker is offering my listeners 25% off at insidetracker.com/ramblingrunner. Paper Trails Greeting Co. is a small business was created by a dedicated amateur runner with a passion for snail mail and the running community, and a frustration with lack of options for greeting cards appropriate for runners. Their online shop of 35+ greeting cards, all with messages specifically for runners. There’s never been a better time to connect with your people via handwritten note. Visit www.papertrailsgreetingco.com and use code RAMBLING will get you 15% off any order (besides the monthly subscription). Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

Erica Sara discovered her passion for jewelry design at just 10 years old, using scraps of leather to craft fabulous leather pins, earrings, and hair pieces for her family and friends. Two decades later, all grown up and armed with a degree in business and years of fashion experience from Barneys NY and Coach, Erica set out to design a jewelry line for today’s modern, driven, fashion savvy, and influential woman. Erica Sara Designs was born out of a dream to help others wear their dreams. The line offers chic, luxurious, and classic pieces, semi-precious gemstones and metals, and personal engravings. All at realistic prices. Since launching, ESD has graced the pages of Shape, Women’s Health, Better Homes & Gardens, and US Weekly, just to name a few. Unique, universal and timeless, Erica’s pieces are sought out by everyone from bridal parties to marathoners, new moms, old friends, and some of the best runners in the world. When she’s not creating jewelry, Erica spends her time running, cooking, and hanging with her husband Robert and their two kids. Follow Erica Sara on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for behind the scenes glimpses, new design announcements, and giveaways. Sponsors: Have you guys heard of beam? beam is a CBD company founded by two ex-professional athletes and they just launched their first ever non-CBD product line called elevate hydration. Elevate hydration powders give your body the electrolytes it craves and more. They have powders for digestive balance, enhanced energy, and supportive recovery. Try elevate hydration from beam for 15% off with code RAMBLINGRUNNER www.beamtlc.com. OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Paper Trails Greeting Co. is a small business was created by a dedicated amateur runner with a passion for snail mail and the running community, and a frustration with lack of options for greeting cards appropriate for runners. Their online shop of 35+ greeting cards, all with messages specifically for runners. There’s never been a better time to connect with your people via handwritten note. Visit www.papertrailsgreetingco.com and use code RAMBLING will get you 15% off any order (besides the monthly subscription). Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

Several years ago Kim had two lives. One during the day where she helped athletes reach their full potential. Another that consisted of living the kind of life that was the polar opposite of the one she preached. Then she decided enough was enough. Today she is an accomplished multisport athlete, marathoner, lifter, and all-around badass. Kim is certified physical trainers with masters degree in kinesiology. She currently the Head Athletic Trainer for a high school in Hollywood, FL and the owner of Uplift Performance Training. Her vision is to bridge the gap between performance and rehabilitative systems to provide both athletes and the general population an integrated approach to training.  In this episode we dive into her all of the areas of her transformation. We also discuss her recent marathon that she was primed to crush but that didn't quite go her way - a feeling that so many of us have experienced. You can follow Kim at www.instagram.com/kimurmaza. Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Four Sigmatic, a wellness company that mixes mushrooms and adaptogens with coffee, cacao, latte, protein powder. They have a special offer for the Rambling Runner audience. Receive 10% off your Four Sigmatic order. Just go to www.foursigmatic.com/RAMBLINGRUNNER or enter code RAMBLINGRUNNER at checkout. OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Used by ultra-runners (Catra Corbett, Sabrina Stanley) and new runners alike. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Do you want to run further and faster -- and recover quicker and easier? Do you want to feel healthier than you’ve ever felt before? Then give InsideTracker a try. First, InsideTracker uses its patented algorithm to analyze your body’s data and offer you a clearer picture than you’ve ever had before of what’s going on inside you. Then, they provide a concrete, science-backed, trackable action plan for reaching your performance goals and being your healthy best. InsideTracker is offering my listeners 25% off at insidetracker.com/ramblingrunner. Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

We are back with Ramblings on the Run with Ali Feller and what a fun conversation this was. Per our usual conversation Ali, host of the amazing Ali on the Run podcast, and I start the show by discussing our current life on the run, what we are loving, and what we are excited about. In the second half of the show we try something new that we both were super excited about sharing. We each chose three TV shows that love and created a scenario for each if the cast were a running team instead of there actual fictional setting. We had a blast doing this and we'd love to hear your own creations! You can email them to me at ramblingrunnerpodcast@gmail.com and we will share some of our favorites. Also, here are some links that we promised we'd share. - The Well+Good article that Ali mentions: www.wellandgood.com/adults-living-at-home - Subscribe to Trail Mix by Emily Halnon: www.emilyhalnon.substack.com/ Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, Plantar Fasciitis, shin splints and more. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Sports Backers is excited to bring you a custom race experience with our first ‘Sports Backers Marathon,’ in Richmond, Virginia, featuring a marathon, half marathon, and 5k. From Friday, March 12th through Sunday, March 14th the experienced team at Sports Backers will take care of the rest, with onsite packet pick up, measured courses, touchless bottle refill stations, timing, and of course great swag! Register now at www.sportsbackers.org and save $10 by using code RAMBLINGRUNNER. Have you guys heard of beam? beam is a CBD company founded by two ex-professional athletes and they just launched their first ever non-CBD product line called elevate hydration. Elevate hydration powders give your body the electrolytes it craves and more. They have powders for digestive balance, enhanced energy, and supportive recovery. Try elevate hydration from beam for 15% off with code RAMBLINGRUNNER www.beamtlc.com. Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

Man, lot's of stuff going on this edition of Mastering 40. The last three weeks have seen some strong workouts, a few skipped miles, and a minor knee injury.  In this episode, run coach James McKirdy and I have a blunt conversation on my need to step up the miles from the mid to high 30's well into the 40's. In his words, "if you aren't able to do this then you will not reach your goals." Then I speak with sport psychologist Adrienne Langelier about how I have been doing the "classic Matt Chittim." By this I mean skipping cooldowns and a mile here and there. We talk discuss how to take my training up a notch and get out of the groove that has been my happy normal in previous training cycles.  To paraphrase, if I want to accomplish something I never have, I need to work harder than before to reach that new level.  Mastering 40: I had just completed the worst athletic year of my life. One beset by injuries and a 25 lb. weight gain. Finally, I decided enough was enough. With the help of a professional coach - James McKirdy and sport psychologist - Adrienne Langelier, I am determined to have the best athletic year of my life. One that will end, hopefully, with a sub-40:00 10k. This is a huge stretch goal and I am determined to get it done. Over the course of this year I will also be turning 40 years old and become a masters runner. Hence the “Mastering 40.” We will be documenting the journey with a podcast every three weeks. The podcasts, like this one, will include calls with the experts I will be leaning on, and learning from, throughout the process. Hopefully you enjoy and learn from my year of reclaiming my fitness and pursuing an entirely new level of performance while trying to maximize my schedule as a dedicated amateur runner. Thank you to the Mastering 40 partners: - Supplements/Protein: Previnex - code: RUNNER15 for 15% off - Health Analysis: InsideTracker - Go to www.insidetracker.com/qr/onboarding/SUPERRECIPES/ to save $200 on their Ultimate Package by using code GIFTFROMRAMBLINGRUN - Attire: Tracksmith - code RAMBLINGRUNNER for 15% off first purchase over $75 Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner

The Road to the Trials has returned for season two and we are fired up! We will be bringing you a behind the scenes look at the training and racing of some of America's best track athletes as they prepare for the Olympic Track Trials in June. Specifically, we will be following Keira D'Amato, Dana Giordano, Olivia Baker, Frank Lara, Tyler Day, and Abe Alvarado. In this episode we are joined by Lindsey Hein and Mario Fraioli, hosts of the highly rated I'll Have Another and Morning Shakeout podcasts, and we set the stage for the lead-up to the trials. We discuss the year long gap between now and the Olympic Marathon Trials, whether we thought the Olympics would even happen, our favorite Olympic track & field memories, the events and athletes we are most excited to follow this spring, and we discuss where the six athletes we will be following this season compare to their peers in the lead-up to what will be an extremely entertaining track season. Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, Plantar Fasciitis, shin splints and more. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Spring will be here before you know it, and the best way to get through the winter months of running is to have your next finish line in sight! That’s why Sports Backers is excited to bring you a custom race experience with our first ‘Sports Backers Marathon,’ in Richmond, Virginia, featuring a marathon, half marathon, and 5k. From Friday, March 12th through Sunday, March 14th the experienced team at Sports Backers will take care of the rest, with onsite packet pick up, measured courses, touchless bottle refill stations, timing, and of course great swag! Register now at www.sportsbackers.org and save $10 by using code RAMBLINGRUNNER. Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

There are certain people who choose to be a bright shining light and their impact on others becomes exponential because of that decision. That is exactly who Melissa Danehey has become. Melissa is a champion-level trail and ultra runner who started running in college and quickly grew to love the sport. Her evolution into a high-level runner took a turn when she was sexually assaulted over ten years ago. Running became an outlet for her and a way to help her deal with her pain and PTSD. Melissa continued to run, and run, and run until she was running at a near elite level. She proceeded to win the Angeles Crest 100 and place well at many other west coast trail and ultra races. While running helped Melissa deal with her trauma, she was able to fully come to terms with her assault when she embraced therapy in recent years in conjunction with running. Today, Melissa is now on the Board of Directors at Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA) and helping others who have experienced a similar trauma that she endured years ago. She is also on the Rabbit Elite trail team and sponsored by Fluid Nutrition.  Sponsors:  OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. Have you guys heard of beam? beam is a CBD company founded by two ex-professional athletes and they just launched their first ever non-CBD product line called elevate hydration. Elevate hydration powders give your body the electrolytes it craves and more. They have powders for digestive balance, enhanced energy, and supportive recovery. Try elevate hydration from beam for 15% off with code RAMBLINGRUNNER www.beamtlc.com. Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Matt Fitzgerald is back for his third appearance on the Rambling Runner Podcast and this time he discusses his new book. A good comeback makes a great story. In The Comeback Quotient, sports journalist Matt Fitzgerald shares the stories of top athletic comebacks, to give you inspiration and tools for your own comeback in sport or life. Every sports fan loves a great comeback. Is there a special quality shared by top athletes who triumph over great challenges? And can anyone acquire it? In The Comeback Quotient, celebrated sportswriter Matt Fitzgerald supplies the answer to both questions. He identifies these mega-achievers of astounding athletic comebacks as “ultrarealists,” men and women who succeed where others fail by fully accepting, embracing, and addressing the reality of their situations.  From ultrarunners like Rob Krar to triathletes like Mirinda Carfrae to rowers, skiers, cyclists, and runners all over the world, Fitzgerald highlights and speculates on just what makes these comebacks so compelling. As for whether anyone can stage his or her own great comeback, the answer is a resounding yes: Anyone can become an ultrarealist to some degree. In the tradition of his best-selling How Bad Do You Want It?, The Comeback Quotient combines gripping sports stories with mind-blowing science to deliver a book that will forever change how you perceive the challenges you face, giving you the inspiration and the tools to make the next great comeback you witness your own. Sponsors: OS1st, a three-generation, family-owned company in North Carolina, creates the best running socks and compression bracing products specifically for people with an active lifestyle. OS1st uses Compression Zone Technology with high quality materials to ease pain and help prevent runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and more. Shop at your local independently owned running or at www.OS1st.com where you can use code RAMBLING for 15% off your first purchase. McKirdy Trained is an online coaching service working with runners of all ages, all abilities, all over the world. Our coaches have helped thousands of runners achieve goals they never thought possible, from running their first 5K without stopping to qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the marathon. Join us and find out what a personalized running coach can do for your own athletic journey at www.mckirdytrained.com. Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app