Episodes
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
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.
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
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.
Sunday May 29, 2022
Episode 111- Allen Sumrall; Railroad Athletics, PhD Cadidate
Sunday May 29, 2022
Sunday May 29, 2022
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.
Sunday May 15, 2022
Episode 110 - Gabrielle Arsiaga; Head Coach University of the Southwest
Sunday May 15, 2022
Sunday May 15, 2022
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.
Sunday May 08, 2022
Sunday May 08, 2022
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.
Sunday May 01, 2022
Episode 108 - Jacque Pinon; Vanderbilt University Track & Field Athlete
Sunday May 01, 2022
Sunday May 01, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to talk with Jacque Pinon. She is a senior runner at Vanderbilt University and a graduate of St. Pius X in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
She was a standout distance running, earning individual state titles in the 1600, 3200, and Cross Country, during her time at St. Pius X. We talk about her start in running and making the move from soccer to running.
Jacque talks about her struggles through injuries and staying motivated as well as staying balanced between school work and training. We also talk about picking Vanderbilt and her major.
It was a lot of fun to get to know Jacque and learn about her future plans. If you are curious about her final race, you can click this link to see the results.
We are nearing the end of the track season in both high school and collegiate forms. I hope that you have had a chance to support and watch your favorite teams and that you are excited about the upcoming professional season with the World Championships being hosted in Eugene this summer.
I also want to continue to acknowledge the fires devastating North New Mexico. Words cannot express the feeling of having the places you grew up in and still visit just being gone. Not to mention the displaced people. Obviously this hits close to home for me, literally. There are plenty of resources available, if you would like to help, or would just like more information, you can click here. Otherwise, I hope you keep everyone in your thoughts.
Stay safe, stay hydrated, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Episode 107 - Dawn Meyer & Rebekah Weems Talking the Gunther Run
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
I'm excited to be able to return to the podcast this week with two amazing ladies to talk about an upcoming event at Sandia High School on April 30th.
Dawn Meyer and Rebekah Weems join me to talk a little about their start in running and then to give us some insight about the upcoming Gunther Run to Remember.
If you never knew Sandia's former baseball coach who passed away from cancer in 2017, you get an opportunity to hear from one of his good friends, Dawn Meyer, about what kind of person he was and why we are putting together this event to honor his memory. All donations go toward the Gunther scholarship, which is given to two graduating seniors and all donations over $15 get a shirt.
I'm happy to be a part of this and I encourage anyone looking to get out and move, to come on by. The run takes place through Sandia's campus and though it doesn't offer the fastest course, it offers you an opportunity to be a part of the community. There will be vendors and activities at the finish, so come and join us.
I couldn't be more proud to be able to bring attention to this event and be able to highlight it as I come back from my hiatus. I'm looking forward to bringing more stories from people in and from our great state and I hope you're excited too.
While we highlight great things going on in the state, let's keep in mind those that are in terrible situations with the fires forcing evacuations and devastating land and property throughout the state. Stay safe, stay helpful, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Mar 06, 2022
Sunday Mar 06, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Margaret Gordon. She's a race director for the Mt. Taylor 50k, working with her husband Ken (a previous guest), and recently finished the Arrowhead 135. It's a winter ultra marathon taking place in Minnesota along a snowmobile trail.
We talk about her start in running and a little bit of her triathlon days. She's had a lot of experiences and we cover just a bit. She talked about her fueling and being lucky enough for her stomach to handle anything at this point, which makes getting the right nutrition for these longer efforts easier.
We do really delve into her experience in this race and what it was like to be out on a trail in the cold and snow. She talks about getting confidence with a training session in Chama a fews weeks out from the race. It was fantastic to hear about her preparations for the race, but also her ability to adapt when things got unpredictable. Listening to her talk about getting to ride her sled down some hills was fantastic as well.
The race website says they limit the number of entrants to maximize solitude on the trail. Margaret talks to this solitude and the joy of accomplishing something like this. It was truly great to hear from her and everything that went into this race.
Track season is here! Meets were held this last weekend and the wind and cold blew in. It's fun to watch kids chase times and compete against each other. It's also tough watching athletes hurting when things don't go their way. It's a universal feeling. I encourage you to take the time to support a school this season and cheer on some kids. Take time for yourself, enjoy the weather, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Mbarak Hussein. He is a marathoner, he's held multiple USATF road records, he's been a coach, and he's been a mentor and a friend of mine for the past 7 years.
If you know Mbarak, then you know that an hour talking with him is much too short. He is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to running. In this episode we talk about his upbringing and his start in running. We talk about his college career a bit and when he moved into marathoning.
His brother was a big influence on him and Mbarak talks about him a lot in this episode and it was fun to hear that side of his life. He talks about settling in Albuquerque and his time in Texas and Arizona. It was interesting to hear how he talked about training in Kenya at the time he was preparing to come to America.
There's a lot here, and yet we barely scratch the surface of his amazing story. I hope you enjoy listening to Mbarak and that he inspires you on your runs this week.
Thank you for bearing with me as I try and get episodes out on somewhat of a normal schedule in spite of house renovations going on. I hope everyone is as excited about track season as I am. Whether it's seeing pros like former UNM athlete Josh Kerr smash British records (best free link I can find), catching up with current UNM athletes and NM collegiate athletes looking for births to indoor championships, or if you are getting ready to support local kids at track meets, I hope you take advantage of the amazing atmosphere we have here and show local talent that we are behind them. Enjoy the sun, enjoy the process, and keep running, New Mexico
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Episode 104 - Solo Episode; 2 Years, Houston Recap, and the Future
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
This week, I give you a little update on me and my running, talk about my race at the Houston Half Marathon in January, and ask about your opinion of the show.
We are doing some remodeling in our house, so finding a quiet place to record has been difficult, but I sat down and gathered some thoughts in an echo-y room. I want to thank you all for being with me for the last two years, whether you're new, or started listening from the beginning. It's been a fun ride and I don't imagine dropping it any time soon.
Houston was an amazing experience. I couldn't have done it without my wife, Carrie, who I wouldn't be able to do the running, coaching, and this whole podcast without. Shoutout to Taos Bakes for fueling my weekly mornings, and Organ Mountain Outfitters for their awesome performance wear, including the performance tank, thanks to Teresa for customizing, which was my tank of choice for the race.
Lastly, what are you liking about the show? Is there anything you'd like to see going forward? I've considered a newsletter, YouTube, and possible TikTok components. But what are you interested in? Send me a message and let me know.
Thanks again for the last two years. I'm hoping for many more. So enjoy the weather, enjoy your family, and keep running, New Mexico.