Scott recaps the Run For The Love challenge with some quotes from the participants as well as had a Minnesota runner who completed it come on to chat about it. Enjoy the show!

Coach Ellie, Scott, Lene, and Caitlin had a fun conversation about creek crossings and finally everyone is running again!  Enjoy the show.  Thanks to Venga CBD for today's show. 

Jessica is a mom, wife, 5-year survivor of stage IV cancer, creator of the website: www.carebetter.org, works in financial services, and teaches a finance course at a local college. She started distance running in college when she completed her first marathon and has finished a total of 12 to date. She also loves doing half marathons, triathlons, road biking events and has a newfound love for trail running.

Jessica’s story has sadness and challenges, but she does not dwell on that.  Instead, she chooses to pay it forward and live with joy.  Jessica takes us back to her cancer diagnosis and how she was determined to continue to grow her family despite the diagnosis.  We discuss how running has changed for her over the last 5 years and how important movement is to her healing.  Jessica believes that by helping others it helps her which is why she created the website www.carebetter.org.  Jessica has learned a lot throughout her journey and shares her wisdom with us.  Sometimes you meet someone who without even trying makes you want to do better.  That would be Jessica!  I hope you enjoy this one and it inspires you to pay it forward.

IG- carebetter.for.cancer

Hillary, Scott, Jeremy, and Evangelyn have a great conversation of the expectations on your running when you give so much to others all day long.  Parents, busy students, and many more of you will definitely be able to relate.  Enjoy and much thanks to Venga CBD for sponsoring today's show!

Coach Scott and the crew talk about the last few weeks.  The ups and downs of training and how to reframe the downs with the goal of a lifetime of running.   Amy gets a break from the cold north Alaska and the Pearson's get ready for a back to back 25k.  Enjoy the show.  Thanks to our sponsor Venga CBD for today's episode!

Stevie Kremer was born in Germany and moved to Connecticut when she was just under a year old because her dad was transferred with a German bank. She grew up playing soccer (even though she was terrible), tennis, and golf, and ran indoor track to keep in shape. After high school, she attended Colorado College where she obtained a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s in education. It was in September of her senior year at CC that she ran her first marathon-it was a dirt road marathon in Boulder an she loved it. After graduating, Stevie moved with a friend to Crested Butte, CO, where she spent a year working for CBMR (Crested Butte Mountain Resort), then moved into a role as a 3rd grade teacher. Stevie enjoyed running, she primarily ran on roads where she felt safer from animals and  couldn't get lost as easily. She had no idea about the trails. After a few years of running around the very few roads in CB,  she was convinced to do a local trail race. Although she walked more than she ran, it opened her up to trail running. Not only did she discover a love of the trails but found friends that would run with her on the trails. That's when it all began. Stevie soon started racing all around Colorado. In 2012 she signed a one-year contract to teach in Italy, this started her racing career in Europe where she ran everywhere. Now she is a middle school counselor in Crested Butte, in the same school where she was an elementary teacher for 10 years, with a little 3-year-old and still loves running!

This was a fun one! Stevie is full of energy and enthusiasm.  She shares with us the struggles of juggling single parenting, a career and running. Stevie is very candid about her personal struggles and how she overcame them to find joy, laughter, and happiness. Stevie has a rich running history that has taken her to some incredible places.  We talk about her Pike’s Peak Ascent win, two times and her most memorable race.  We could have chatted for hours. Enjoy!

IG- @steviekremer

https://living-journeys.networkforgood.com/projects/141705-laci-stevie-are-running-against-cancer

 

Louise Bruce used to have a passion for drinking, wine was her choice, and she drank it to celebrate, to commiserate because she had a great day, a rubbish day, because it was Tuesday or Friday and so the list went on. Lou’s life was an emotional roller-coaster of some lows, some very lows and the odd high which was almost always short-lived – largely because her self-worth was so horrendous, she sabotaged anything good because she didn’t believe she deserved it. And then something changed, she decided enough was enough. She rediscovered her passion for running, went Vegan and dropped 6 dress sizes and writes a blog about her journey.  Her goal was to feel healthier mentally and physically, and 3 years since making that decision she is now studying at university and training for her first-ever ultra. She drank to make herself happy, but it only ever made her anxious and sad. When she stopped drinking, she started living and this is her journey. 

No matter how hard it gets there is always light at the end of the tunnel if you are able to look up.  These are words Louise would remind herself of often.  On this podcast Louise is candid about her traumatic childhood with an abusive father and the impact that had on her adult life.  We discuss how Louise went from relying on alcohol and sugar to cope to becoming a vegan and runner.  There are probably so many of us that can relate to Louise and her story.  She is on a mission to share her story in the hopes that other people will be inspired to make positive changes. 

IG- @mysugarevolution

www.mysugarevolution.com

 

Coach Hillary is setting Evangelyn and Jeremy up for an exciting last couple months of training as they switch from primarily timed efforts to more mileage goals for long runs.  We remind the runners that missing a run here and there is normal and ok!  Enjoy the show and show some love for Venga CBD!

Coach Ellie gets some great news as Caitling and Lene are back to a semi normal training schedule.  Caitlin drops her caffeine intake significantly!  Only 74 days from their first ultra!  Enjoy the show and show some love for our sponsor Venga CBD!

Jenn started running in Nov. 2017 completing her first 5k in February of 2018 and then moving up to longer distances almost every weekend. 2021 was what Jenn refers to as her mid-life crisis as she ran her first marathon in February, turned 40 in March, bought a sports car in June, ran her first Ultra in October and then finished the year by taking an early retirement from her job of 21 years. Jenn discovered her love of trail running while training to complete her first ultra and can’t wait to spend more time on the trails. 

In 2020, Dave knew he had to make changes to his life so he could be around for his family.  In June of 2020, he tried running but struggled at his weight with knee pain. After seeing a doctor, the doctor said, “Your old and fat. Don’t run. It’s hard on the body. Get a bike.” And so, he did just that and started biking and losing weight. In December after significant weight loss, he tried running again and the rest is history. He completed his bike training completing a century ride and began running daily. Dave through diet and exercise lost 80lbs. Dave completed the Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge in March and ran is first marathon in April and then first 50k in October. 

Dave and Jenn have been married for 10 years (they even celebrated their 10-year anniversary by running their first ultra the day after). Dave and Jenn have a blended family of 6 grown children, 1 almost grown and 4 grandchildren.  They love being able to challenge themselves individually, but also love getting out there and exploring the world together. Dave and Jenn completed their 2nd ultra, just a month after their first 50k taking on the 50-mile distance, They crossed the finish line hand in hand just 7 minutes before the cutoff (Dave officially securing the DFL spot). They are excited for what 2022 has in store for them.

Whether you run with your partner or are thinking about it, this episode is for you.  We hear the good, the bad, and the ugly from our Becoming Ultra friends, Dave & Jenn.  This husband-and-wife duo have experienced the best and worst together.   From what drives them to recovering from frustrating injuries, we have an honest conversation about all of it.  We also talk about their first ultra together and a month later a 50 miler as well as what is next for them.  This couple will inspire you to grab your partner and hit the trails!

 

IG- jenngoins1015

IG- phx1ddg