Running New Mexico Podcast

Episode118 - Del Jenkins; Owner of Ardor Elite Training Academy, Assistant Coach for Hope Christian High School

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Del Jenkins. He is the owner of Ardor Elite Training Academy and Assistant track coach at Hope Christian High School. He's been a part of Albuquerque's athletic community for a while, helping coach football and start the Cougar Track Club.

I've known about Del for a while and the work he's done with runners and other athletes through his gym, but it was insightful to hear his journey to that. He played multiple sports in high school and eventually earned a football scholarship to Colorado State. He studied biology before transitioning to political science and history. It's a unique path to what he does now with his coaching and to hear him tell it was inspiring.

Del has a great work ethic and love for what he does. He has a real passion for helping people grow and you can hear that when he talks. He talks about helping kids get better and spending time learning new things to help different kinds of athletes.

I really enjoyed hearing him talk about coaching his own kids and what the kids at his gym mean to him. I gained a new appreciation for him and I hope you enjoy our conversation.

We've switched out some heat for some humidity. It's a nice change and it's great to have some much needed water, but it still requires you to hydrate up. So drink your water, stay safe, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 117 - Emily Clarke; Manzano High School, Claremont Mudd Scripps to University Nevada Reno

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Emily Clarke. She is a Manzano Graduate, DIII runner at Claremont Mudd Scripps, and transitioning to a DI runner at the University of Nevada Reno.

We talked about getting into running, getting to experience her dad coaching her in middle school, and when running felt like it belonged to her.

We also talk about her training over Covid and her decision to take a break from school. It seems to have worked out since she had a fantastic senior year finishing in the top ten in all her cross country races and ending with a 26th place finish at the DIII Cross Country National Championships.

We talked about choosing her school and choosing where she would do her graduate work. She is excited to be a part of the Wolfpack and to be running with her sister, who is also transferring to Nevada. 

We talk about a lot of different things, but I think you really get to know Emily. Since she'll be a part of the Mountain West, you might be able to watch her run in Albuquerque again as well. So I hope you enjoy it.

This week was hot. I hope you listened to your body and adjusted your runs accordingly. This week should be cooler, but with a possibility of rain, that brings humidity. So hydrate, stay cool, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 116 - Bruce Gomez; Head Coach Taos Cross Country, Runner, Teacher

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Coach Bruce Gomez. He is the head cross country coach at Taos High School in Northern New Mexico. He's been at it for over 35 years and has coached some of the best runners in the state, with multiple state champions and championships.

We talk about his own running, getting started as a kid and how it was just part of the culture for him. We talk about his start in junior high with more organized running and continuing into college.

We talked a little about coaching and teaching, including a little about a Native American Studies class he taught.

He also talked about participating in the1980 Tricentennial run to commemorate the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Runners retraced the path of the original runners, starting from Taos Pueblo. The book, Indian Running, discusses it and gives some history as well.

Bruce is a New Mexico Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Member and I just can't speak enough about how much respect I have for him and the program he has built over the past 35 years. I'm honored to have been able to share some of his story and I hope you enjoy it.

The heat just keeps coming. Take care to get your runs done early and be smart with your fitness. Stay hydrated, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 115 - Lydia Jennings; Environmental Scientist, Mentor, Runner, and So Much More

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Lydia Jennings. She is an environmental soil scientist focused on soil health, mining policy, and more. She is from Santa Fe and finished her PhD at the University of Arizona.

Lydia talks about her trip with Wings of America to participate in the Boston Marathon and chaperone the students participating in the Pursuit Program. She talks about seeing Boston through the students' eyes, watching them race the 5k, and her own race, which she dedicated to the Land Back movement.

We also cover her involvement in Will Run For Soil, Footprints, and crewing recently at Western States. We also talk about her upcoming race at the Javelina Jundred as part of the Native Women Running team.

Lydia is such an accomplished and amazing person. I am happy that we were able to make this happen and I hope you enjoy listening to her.

It is still hot out there and the humidity (for New Mexico standards) is not making it easier. Take care of your body and be aware of the temperatures as you head out on your runs. Hydrate well, run when it's cool, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

 

Episode 114 - Mikayla Sehlmeyer; Volcano Vista and Colombia College Grad, Cibola Cross Country Coach

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Mikayla Sehlmeyer. She is a Volcano Vista graduate and a recent graduate of Columbia College in Missouri. She is also the new Cibola High School Cross Country Coach.

Mikayla has a unique journey to running. Not only did she start in gymnastics and get started with track with the pole vault, she has tried just about every event. In high school, she ran sprints and ran hurdles. She also did long jump and triple jump, qualifying for state in both and leaving as a triple jump state champion her senior year.

We talk about choosing Columbia College, trying multis, and eventually making the transition to distance. I have never seen anyone with official college marks in everything from the 60m to the 10k. It's pretty amazing, in my opinion.

We also talk about her coaches and her coaching position at Cibola High School. It was a fun talk and I hope you enjoy our conversation.

The rain and cloud cover have been nice to bring the temperatures down, but the humidity still keeps things warm. So stay hydrated, stay cool, be safe, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 113 - Chuck Aragon; Los Lunas, Notre Dame, First New Mexican under a 4 minute mile

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Chuck Aragon. He is from Los Lunas and graduated from Notre Dame. He became the first Notre Dame runner and New Mexican runner to break 4 minutes in the mile.

We talk about getting into running and how he ended up at Notre Dame. He talks about being an 800 runner and how he moved into the mile. He talks about coming back to New Mexico to continue his schooling and running.

He ran for Mike Mittelstaedt, who passed away in 2020. Mike left a mark on Chuck and his other runners, to the point that they started the Mike Mittelstaedt Memorial Scholarship Fund (you can click on the link to learn more).

We talk a little more about his career, moving to Montana, and his new side project of sports (running) photography. He has great pictures on his Instagram page. We then get into his favorite topic, his daughters. They have become good runners in their own right, with Dani making an appearance on the podcast last year. We talked last week, before USATF Nationals, but he was excited to watch Dani and Christina compete in the 1500m. They ended up being seeded in the same prelim.

We touched on a little of everything and it was fun to hear Chuck's story. I hope you enjoy it.

The weather has been great here, with some rain and cooler weather, so enjoy it while you can. I also want to express my support for those of you that might also be feeling upset and confused by recent Supreme Court Rulings. Take time for yourself, know you aren't alone, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 112 - Chase Ealey; 3x National Champion, World Indoor Silver Medalist

This week I had the honor to speak with Chase Ealey. She is a Los Alamos Graduate, Oklahoma State Alum, and Current Nike Athlete. She is a world class Shot Put competitor, currently ranked #1 in the IAAF standings.

We talk about her start in track, which came after she quit softball and how she viewed herself as a sprinter who threw. We also talk about how she grew into a thrower and her recruitment process in that regard.

She talks about growing up in Los Alamos and never knowing what she could really do with throwing, but is now traveling the world and meeting amazing people. We also get into being a fan of the sport and that all aspects need to be there for each other.

It was a lot of fun getting to know Chase. We had a lot of fun talking and laughing and you get a real sense of her personality. She's got a couple of meets in Europe coming up, but USATF Outdoor National Championships will be coming up at the end of June, with the Women's Shot Put Final being at 2pm Mountain Time on June 26th.

The weather continues to get warmer and dryer. Be aware of that as you head out for your runs. Be safe, be kind, stay hydrated, and keep running (or throwing), New Mexico.

Episode 111- Allen Sumrall; Railroad Athletics, PhD Cadidate

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Allen Sumrall. He is a PhD Candidate for the University of Texas Austin. He is also a runner, competing for Railroad Athletics. 

Allen was great to get to know and his story is pretty unique. He talks about joining cross country in middle school at Albuquerque Academy, but quitting due to injuries. He then picked up running on his own before being convinced to join his DIII college team at Bates College.

From there he only got better and continued his running as a graduate student at the University of Texas Austin. He talks about his experience going from a DIII to DI and the challenges of not only moving up, but doing so as a graduate.

We talk about how he got involved with Railroad Athletics, and head coach Hayden Cox. He's had some success, with a 1:04 half marathon and a recent 28:44 10k that should've gotten him into the USATF 10K Championships this past Friday.

With his success, he finds a way to balance his life and makes sure that this is still fun for him. I hope you enjoy our conversation and keep an eye out for Allen. He talks about some of his future goals for you to cheer him on.

The heat continues to roll in and the fires continue to burn. Do your part to keep our wild areas fire free, the ones that are still open that is. Stay hydrated, be considerate, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 110 - Gabrielle Arsiaga; Head Coach University of the Southwest

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Gabrielle Arsiaga. She is the new head cross country coach at the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico. She is also a graduate of USW and holds the women's 5k record.

It was fun getting to hear her journey as a runner for Hobbs High School and then running for USW. She talks about getting a second chance when she was in high school and then wanting to make sure she is able to do the same for future runners coming into the program.

She is bringing excitement and freshness to the program and looking for new runners. So if you know someone that is looking for a place to run next year, check out the University of the Southwest. And email Coach Arsiaga at garsiaga@usw.edu.

We are still looking at fires destroying large areas of land in the Northern parts of the state. It's a sad thing, but there are plenty of places that you can donate to help. So stay safe, stay hydrated, help others, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 109 - Matt Thompson; Watermelon 100 Project for the Friends of the Sandia Mountains

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Matt Thompson. He is in the Air Force and is  currently stationed in Albuquerque at Kirtland Air Force. Before he is transferred, he had an idea to benefit the Friends of the Sandia Mountains. He decided he would run 100 miles in the Sandias to raise money for them. Welcome to the Watermelon 100.

Starting May 13th, Matt will traverse 100 miles in the Sandia Mountains, without loops or backtracking. He will be accompanied by friends and family when they can and it's all for a good cause. You can follow the Facebook page here and the YouTube channel here.

Matt wanted to find a way to give back to the community before being transferred and I think this is a great way to give back. He talks about his start in running and trail running. How his chance encounter with a now famous trail runner helped lead him down this path. He also talks about the group he's been able to be a part of while in Albuquerque and his love of the trails.

If you want to help out check out the Friends of the Sandia Mountains above, or click here for the Go Fund me page. 

The weather is getting hotter, the fires are still burning, and I know there's a lot of people and organizations that could use your help. This is highlighting one of the many. So, help where you can, stay hydrated, stay safe, and keep running, New Mexico.