In A Skirt Podcast

Jessica Hofheimer is a mom, runner, coach, artist—so many things. You may know her on Instagram as Pace of Me. She has been running for 20 years, has three kids, and is a certified running coach through Road Runner Club of America. She is also a Pilates instructor. In this episode, we talk about her running—the how and the why. Jessica ran her first marathon in more than 5 hours and 30 minutes. She then got it down to about 4 and a half hours and hovered there for several years. She had this big goal to run a 4-hour marathon and at the time—it may have seemed a little out of reach to some people. But once Jessica really learned about running and took the time to educate herself on speed work and recovery runs, etc., not only did she meet her 4-hour goal, she actually has a personal best of 3:11. So, yeah—5:30 marathoner to 3:11. That’s pretty amazing.  There is a lot of beauty in Jessica’s story. She’s hit some rough patches in life, but running always brought her beauty. Beauty through achieving goals, making lasting friendships, and igniting her creative side. Jessica runs “We Run on Art”—art that she describes on her site as bringing joy and happiness to runners of all abilities and experience levels. I have some of her art framed in my office. If you ever want to commemorate a big race or happy running moment in your life, I urge you to check out Jessica’s work.    Show Notes:   Pace of Me Website Jessica on Instagram We Run on Art on Instagram Ucan (use code code INASKIRT2020 for 15% off)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter  

A little over a year ago, in Episode 21, I had Lisa on the podcast as a guest. At that time, Lisa was really busy with her Pilates studio in Israel, PURE Pilates. But she had this idea—she wanted to try out teaching virtual classes. Not long after that, she started offering online Pilates courses. I signed up for some of her starter courses and fell in love with Pilates. Listen, you runners with tight and sore muscles, this is for you! Actually, it’s for everyone. The breathing. The stretching. The slow but sure strengthening of the lower back. It does amazing things to a tired body. As the months went on, Lisa’s Pilates videos grew in number. Little did she—or any of us—know what 2020 would bring. Israel went on a complete shut-down for 10 weeks in the Spring and she was unable to open her studio. But by that time, she was ready to launch—as she calls it—her Netflix of Pilates. In this episode, we talk about her online membership program at pilatesinapencilskirt.com, her international audience, and being thankful for a virtual avenue of business during this odd time. Right after we recorded this episode, her country announced a second, and immediate, shut down.   Show Notes:   Pilates in a Pencil Skirt on Instagram Pilates in a Pencil Skirt on Facebook Pilates in a Pencil Skirt Website Ucan (use code code INASKIRT2020 for 15% off)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

Episode 71 – Running the Race There are so many quotes out there about life being like a race. Most of them are corny. But they’re true. And it’s not just any race. It’s a brutal ultra-marathon. It’s not that life is a competition. It’s not that type of race. It’s the type that most of us recreational runners run. We don’t care about the prizes. We just care about pushing ourselves and seeing what we can do; what we can endure. Am I strong enough? Do I have it in me?  This short episode is a recovery episode. As in, I’m needing some recovery! I have good shows planned for you all, so stick with me, but this week I’m behind in everything in my life! This podcast brings me a lot of joy, and I love doing it, but every once in a while, I’m in over my head in my world. For those who do not know me personally or haven’t followed me since I started this gig, I work full-time as a lawyer. And my lawyer job is the one that actually pays me, so it takes a much bigger position of priority in my life! Also, I have three children. My two oldest started school again a few weeks ago and I am struggling to get back into the school-schedule-swing-of-things.  Thanks for sticking with me. I’ll be back next week with a real episode. In the meantime, have a good week!   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter  

Last year, Kristen Doornbos was my Episode 28 guest. Kristen is a runner, triathlete, massage therapist, and a woman of many gifts and talents. She is also a lover of snail mail. So all of this—her running, passion for snail mail, and creative genius—combined and a few weeks ago, Kristen launched Paper Trails Greeting Company. This is a greeting card company that specializes in cards for runners. These cards are great! Want to let someone know how proud you are of them for accomplishing a running goal? She has a card for that. Want to sympathize with someone who is injured and bummed about not being able to run? She has a card for that. Want to motivate or encourage someone, thank a coach, compliment someone’s watch tan, tell your favorite runner “happy birthday”, celebrate someone’s first half marathon, marathon, or ultra—she has cards for ALL of that! In this episode, Kristen and I catch up and we talk about how and why she started Paper Trails Greeting Company. Listen to this episode to find out how to win a motivation pack of greeting cards!   Show Notes:   Kristen Doornbos on Instagram Josie on Instagram Paper Trails Greeting Co. on Instagram Paper Trails Greeting Co. Website   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

Exactly 97 years ago, a baby boy was born who would grow up to be a young man wrestling with decisions during an unsure time in our nation’s history. Ernie Andrus was just 18 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed and his generation was propelled into an international crisis. Ernie enlisted in the Navy the summer of 1942 and spent at least part of his time in the Navy aboard an LST.  It’s been 75 years since World War II ended. It’s been 75 years since Ernie Andrus stood on the deck of an LST as a young sailor in the midst of a war. But he’s never lost his love for those ships. At 97 years old, Ernie is running across America to raise money for the LST 325 Ship Memorial. About twenty years ago, when Ernie was a young 77-year old, he was one of several crewmembers who brought the LST 325 back from the Isle of Crete. The 325 is the only LST that is fully restored and operational. Ernie’s dream is to take this ship back to the beaches of Normandy for a D-Day Memorial.  Ernie is currently in East Texas and is making his way west to California. He runs a few times a week, always starting where he left off on his previous run. If you are in the East Texas area, I encourage you to find Ernie and spend a mile or two with him. If you are west of Lufkin, be on the lookout because Ernie is coming your way. He is asking for runners and volunteers to join him in his journey.  If you’d like to donate to his cause, I have a link in my show notes. Fair winds and following seas, Ernie.   Show Notes:   LST 325 Ship Memorial   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

Tanya Khvitsko-Trimborn doesn’t just run. She flies. Nine years ago, Tanya strapped on running blades for the first time. The feeling of flying through the air as she ran for the first time in her life was like nothing she had ever felt before. She hasn’t looked back since. Marathons, half marathons, 5Ks—she’s run them all. She even stroller runs with her 18-month old son. And Tanya doesn’t stop there. She is also a motivational speaker, occasional model, and has even competed in a bikini fitness show.  Tanya is a native of Belaraus and now resides in Kansas. This episode reveals my ignorance because Tanya had to explain to me what “congenital amputee” means. She also helped me realize that while some may think blade running is less stressful on a person’s body because you can’t sprain an ankle or get shin splints, it’s actually more difficult because your hips and back are having to take the full force of each step.  I really enjoyed getting to know Tanya in this episode. I’ve been following her for some time on Instagram, and you will want to as well after you listen to our conversation. I have a link to her profile in my show notes. This episode is sponsored by Ucan.   Show Notes:   Tanya on Instagram Ucan (use code INASKIRT)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

My episode this week is a conversation with Azierdi Oxendine. I really wanted to get Azierdi on the show and talk to her for several reasons. First, I’ve been following Azierdi on Instagram and she is a creative person. I love the creative types. I’m not creative, so I admire those who are. Azierdi is really fit and she loves to strength train. But here’s the thing: she never goes to a gym. She is always on the lookout for unique places and ways to train without purchasing equipment. I think sometimes we make things more difficult than they need to be when we are on a fitness journey. We think we need to buy a bunch of equipment, or go out of our way to carve out gym time. But Azierdi shows others you don’t need all that to get the job done.   Azierdi is also a member of the Lumbee tribe, a large Native American tribe located in North Carolina. So we also spend a few minutes talking about the tribe.   Finally, this is what sealed the deal for me in getting Azierdi on the show: a few months ago, she posted a picture of herself from when she was in high school and explained that she had been on her school’s wrestling team. Her post about it said she heard someone on the school intercom announce wrestling tryouts and she stood up to go try out and her teacher said, “Where are you going?” She said she was going to try out for wrestling and her teacher said, “you can’t do that. You’re a girl.” And she made up her mind right then and there that she would wrestle. And she did. I knew I had to get her on my show to talk to me about that.   Show Notes:   Follow Lumbeefitskirtgirl (Azier-di) on Instagram Zuzkalight on Instagram Dana Linn Baily on Instagram Cassandra Martin on Instagram Ucan (use code INASKIRT)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

In the midst of everything going on, non-profits and charitable organizations are hurting right now. Large fundraising events that these organizations depend on are being canceled. I am on the board of East Texas Cancer Alliance of Hope. In this episode, the Executive Director of the organization explains the hit canceling a fundraising gala is having on the organization and how virtual races can help ease the fallout from lost fundraising opportunities. The D’Feet Breast Cancer Virtual 10K will be held in October. You can run this race any time in the month of October and any place you want to run it! Once your run is verified, you’ll have a medal mailed to you. I have the link to the registration page in my show notes.    In this episode, Ashley also shares exciting news for East Texas cyclists. We’re bringing Purgatory back. Have a listen!   Show Notes:   Register for D’Feet Breast Cancer Virtual 10K   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

When in doubt, throw out. And order pizza instead.   Let me know what your fall running plans are. Let’s share ideas to stay motivated and keep running even if we can’t race.   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

  Show Notes: Armando is the pride and joy of the Lufkin running community. He started running in his late 30s and quickly made progress. This past January, he ran his marathon PR of 3:04. Armando is encouraging and hard-working. Probably each runner in my community has a story of how he has encouraged and inspired them. In this episode, we talk about all things running, but especially the Boston Marathon. Armando ran Boston a few years ago and has a genuine joy about the race that makes me even more eager to run it one day.    Ucan (use code INASKIRT for 15% off)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

Leah Brasher is a repeat guest. She was on my podcast last year, along with three other ultrarunners. I asked her to be back on the show because she’s been the queen of virtual races these last few months and I wanted to talk to her about that. Leah is a nurse and an avid runner. When races started getting canceled in March, Leah decided she wanted to find a way to support one of her favorite small racing companies—Trail Racing Over Texas, aka TROT. She did this by signing up for many of TROT’s virtual races. Since March 21st, Leah has completed about a dozen virtual races, including three 100Ks and four 50Ks. In this episode, we talk about her virtual racing adventures and how to support smaller racing companies. Also, Leah messaged me after the interview and asked me to share some information that she forgot to share while talking to me. TROT’s next virtual race will be the Trans-Texas Virtual Run. This is a virtual run across Texas…879 miles. You can run this distance by yourself or as part of a team. Registration is already open and the race starts July 1st.    Show Notes:   Trail Racing Over Texas (site) Trail Racing Over Texas (Facebook) Trail Racing Over Texas (Instagram)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

David Chavana started running in the 1970s after he watched Frank Shorter almost win the 1976 Olympic marathon. Running became a big part of his life and it was only recently, after close to 44 years of running, that he had to stop because of a knee injury. In this episode, you’ll hear how much he loves runners and the running community and how he still finds ways to be a part of that community. In 1983, David organized a 10K in Edinburg, Texas. The 10K has been held every year since. It was first known as the All-America City 10K, but a couple of years ago the name was changed to honor David. It is now known as the David Chavana All-America City 10K.  Over the years, David has worked hard to grow and advance the race. It started out with one distance—the 10K—and a couple of hundred participants. This past year, they had more than 3,000 participants in the 10K and 5,000 in the 2-mile. And while participants had to stop at red lights and wait for traffic the first year, the race is now a certified course with an elite field.    But the one thing David has worked hard to keep the same is the family-friendly and “anyone-can-run” atmosphere. Although this race has all the fixings of a big-time competition, David makes sure it stays affordable so racing can be accessible to everyone. The registration fee is only $5 or $10, depending on age, or totally free, depending on need.   I could go on and on about the way this race is set up, because I think it’s fantastic and wish we could find a way to replicate its model across the country, but I’m going to let you listen to David tell you all about it and I hope—if racing is OK to do next year—I will be able to see some of you at the 2021 David Chavana All America City 10K.   Show Notes:   David Chavana All-America City 10K Ucan (use code INASKIRT for 15% off)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter  

This week’s episode is a conversation I had a few days ago with Shawanna White. Shawanna is known on Instagram as @peachrunner26.2. She’s originally from Georgia, but now lives in South Carolina. Shawanna is a physical education teacher and an avid runner. She logs between 70 and 90 miles each week. She is also a serial racer and before all the races got canceled this year, she was racing almost every week.  With a marathon PR of 2:45:19, Shawanna is the 5th fastest African-American born female marathoner. In this episode, Shawanna explains how she found that out and why it matters to distinguish African-American born runners.  Shawanna is also a big proponent of slow recovery runs. Even though she’s a 2:45 marathoner, she runs several of her weekly runs at what she calls “sexy” pace—which is slower than 9:00 minutes per mile. I used her “sexy-pace” mentality when I was training for my last two marathons and really felt like it helped.    This episode is sponsored by UCAN.   Show Notes:   Ucan (use code INASKIRT for 15% off) Shawanna White on Instagram (@peachrunner26.2)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter

It’s been a wild and crazy year so far. I know there is so much to be done in our world. But where to start? Today, I want to start with love. I want to truly love my neighbor. Regardless of your religion, your race, your nationality, your gender, your job, your past, your present, your friends, your family, your clothes, where you live…I know who you are and I love you. You are a human, created for a purpose, and created to love and to be loved. I am a Christian, and that means I believe that every person was created in the image of God. God is a spirit, so he has no physical image. But God is love, so we were all created in the image of love. I started this podcast a little over a year ago. The idea behind it is that I wanted to celebrate differences. To help break stereotypes. I want to continue on that mission until we can feel comfortable running with others who don’t look, act, talk, or dress like us without being fearful of them or questioning them to the point of embarrassment or staring at them and making them feel out of place…or calling the cops on them.  We are runners or cyclists or recreational athletes. We’ve learned endurance and we’ve learned how to work hard. We have the ability to adapt to tough conditions and bear those conditions. Let’s adapt by opening our arms wide and welcoming others into our fold. Let’s endure pushback from others by standing side by side with those who are different from us. Let’s work hard at love and putting others first.    Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter  

Today’s guest is Aaron Davis. He is a repeat guest. I had him on the podcast last July. Shortly after I published that episode, Aaron’s mom’s health declined, and she passed away from congestive heart failure in August. Right before Mother’s Day this year, Aaron heard about a group doing the Goggins Challenge. He decided to participate in honor of his mother. In this episode, Aaron tells me about the challenge, how he added a 13th run so his miles would match his mother’s age, and how he raised money through the run for the American Heart Association. Aaron’s fundraiser for the American Heart Association is still going on and I have a link in the show notes if you want to donate. He’s only a few hundred bucks short of his goal. Show Notes: Ucan (use code INASKIRT for 15% off) Follow Aaron Davis on Strava (because everyone else does) Aaron’s fundraiser (Running the Goggins Challenge for Karin)   Follow In A Skirt:   In A Skirt Website In A Skirt on Facebook In A Skirt on Instagram In A Skirt on Twitter