Episodes
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to talk with Kenny Henry, the head Cross County and Boys Track Coach at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho. Kenny comes from a running and coaching background and has established himself as one of the top New Mexican coaches with multiple Cross Country and Track Championships.
We talk about his own running and where he stands now. We also talk about the previous cross country and track seasons, as well as the recent third place finish for his boys and girls in cross country and what we can look forward to in this upcoming track season.
It was great to hear his insight about his runners, how differently he looked at the boys' and girls' teams heading into cross country and how it turned out for both of them. His love of the sport and for his athletes is something I really enjoyed hearing.
We talked about recruiting kids into distance running; it's not as easy as it looks. And how the most important person on the team isn't always the top runners.
I really enjoyed this conversation with a fellow coach and I hope you do too. It was great to touch base with Coach Henry as we enter the track season. It's such a fun time for kids and we get to see so many different disciplines. If you can make it out to meets to support our young athletes, I would highly recommend it.
I hope you enjoyed some of the warm weather and that your training is going well. Stay safe, stay hydrated, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to bring back Andrea McArdle and Sean Abeyta. Two previous guests that have been working together as a coach and athlete. It was fun to talk about the dynamic, how they decided to work together, and the build up to the Houston Marathon and prior.
In the past year, Andrea has started Running with Confidence, with the idea to help runners become more confident in their abilities. She has worked with some local high school teams, including Rio Rancho and Sandia High. She has also been coaching with the Duke's Track Club Youth Team.
Part of her work also includes training adult runners. This is where Sean comes in. They were able to work together to create a great working relationship to complete a successful Houston Marathon for Sean.
They are both great people who are doing good things for the running community. It was a lot of fun hearing them talk about their dynamic, while also listening to it. They really do work well together. I hope you enjoy their conversation with me.
It finally snowed in Albuquerque and across most of the state this last week. It was a great time to get a few quiet and cold miles in. I hope you had the opportunity to take advantage of the hush that follows freshly fallen snow. It's a great time to forget about goals and times and just enjoy the art of putting one foot in front of the other. As we continue the thaw I hope that you dress warm, stay safe, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
Episode 101 - Amber Zimmerman; 2024 USA Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Amber Zimmerman. She is a UNM grad and recent qualifier for the 2024 USA Olympic Marathon Trials. She earned that honor with a 2:36:26 at the Houston Marathon.
Amber recently has moved to Philadelphia, but talks about her love for New Mexico and Albuquerque and her hope to make it back out here. We talk about her journey to Albuquerque to run for UNM and her journey into triathlons and trail running.
It was fun to hear Amber talk about these other adventures in her running career that have kept it fresh for her. I love her honesty about not wanting to go through the pain of the marathon again, but training partners and friends keep pulling her back.
She is self coached and has learned what works for her, but running slow when she needs to is a great take away. I hope you enjoy our conversation and follow Amber as she does awesome things.
Track season is really upon us. I spent Saturday afternoon watching the Millrose Games. Such amazing performances and accomplishments. It was great to see a couple of former Lobos competing at that level, but it's equally as amazing to watch local races and high school track meets. Everyone is out there doing their best to accomplish goals. It's a great time. So good luck with your goals, stay safe, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
Episode100 - Dinée Dorame; Host of the Grounded Podcast
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
Sunday Jan 23, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to bring back Dinée Dorame from the Grounded Pod. She last appeared one year ago on episode 48, which you can listen to here. She was recently named to Women's Running 2022 Power Women of the Year and The Kick named in their Women to Watch in 2022 newsletter.
If you haven't checked out the Grounded Pod, it's something that I highly recommend. Dinée does an amazing job asking great questions and really connecting with her guests. It's natural, fun, and I'm really honored to have someone like her doing amazing work in this space out of New Mexico.
We talk about that work, what it means to be receiving these accolades, and talking to some of her heroes. I also ask her about taking time off to recharge and be refreshed, which I admire about her. We also talk about what it was like being able to share her parents' stories on this platform.
It was a great conversation and she shared some news that I'm excited about. I hope that you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
It's amazing that this marks episode 100 for me. I cannot express what this means. I want to thank all of my guests for going on this journey with me and for all my listeners for sticking with it. I love doing it, but it helps to know that others are enjoying it as well. All I can say is to go after your own goals, take a chance, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to talk to Marc Quiñones, Executive Chef at Más Tapas y Vino, Marathoner, Runner. He is also a prolific runner competing in multiple marathons, half marathons, 5ks, and more in the short time he's taken up running.
If you have never had the pleasure to meet Marc, you'll quickly notice his energy and enthusiasm. He talks about his journey in running, being on Hell's Kitchen, and the ups and downs that have come along the way. There is a lot in this episode and it was a lot of fun to really get to sit and talk with Marc.
He really believes in putting in the work and that if he can accomplish his goals, anyone can. He is willing to put himself out there through all the good and bad and is happy to be real with you. It's a great way to go through life and I hope you enjoy his story.
In the New Year, I hope you can take away something from Marc. Maybe it's his energy, maybe his openness, or perhaps it's just the willingness to fail. So get out there, be fearless, be safe, chase those goals, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Jan 02, 2022
Episode 98 - Ryan Bolton; Bolton Endurance, 2000 Olympian, Coach
Sunday Jan 02, 2022
Sunday Jan 02, 2022
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Ryan Bolton of Bolton Endurance. He was a fantastic runner at Wyoming and competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the Triathlon. He is the coach of Caroline Rotich, as well as other pros in the triathlon world.
We touch on some of his inspirations, including coaches and athletes, and how he got into running and triathlons. It was fun to hear him talk about his experiences and the energy with which he still talks about it. We get into a bit of his time at the 2000 Olympics, as well as this year's Tokyo Olympics, where he was there as a part of the US Olympic committee.
We get into how he started coaching, building his coaching staff, and how he talks to his athletes. We touch briefly on periodization and will hopefully come back to this subject in a future episode.
What struck me with Ryan is that even though he is highly motivated, some of his life path was following what felt right at the time. His degree and path to coaching are good examples of this.
It was fun to hear some of Ryan's story and just have a great conversation about running and athletics. We touch on the 10k battle at the Sydney Olympics, Seb Coe, Bob Kennedy, super shoes, and so much more.
I hope you enjoy our conversation and take us out with you on a run. It's a new year and it's easy to think about things on a grand scale; new year, new me. But change is easier when you are committed to the little things and consistency. Commit to getting out 4 days a week, or x amount of minutes. Find a group that has similar goals, whether you can meet in person or just text about it. It's things we all know, but following through can be hard. So, get out there, be consistent, be safe, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Isaiah Rodarte. He is a Peñasco High School Graduate and current Adams State University runner. Recently he placed 5th at the DII Cross Country National Championships.
We talk about his start in running, choosing Adams State, and much more. We touch on running in high school and the ability for him to compete against everything from A to 5A schools and being uncertain about college running as well as wanting to represent New Mexico.
We talk about his recent success and he says that he never expected how well this year turned out until he was in it. He also gives good advice on keeping up with classes while competing and practicing. He even talks a little about running the steeplechase at the Great South West his senior year of high school.
It was a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it and have an opportunity to watch him and other New Mexican athletes during the upcoming indoor track season. With our wonderful indoor facility here in Albuquerque, we get a few weekends to really support the sport in our state.
I hope everyone enjoyed a couple of days off to recharge and spend time with family. Hopefully everyone stayed safe and healthy and I am excited for everyone's winter and spring plans coming up. So, be kind, stay warm, cheer each other on, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Western New Mexico's Britney Lovato. She is the women's record holder in the 3k, 5k, and 6k. During her time at WNMU she has only gotten better and stronger in her running, while learning how to balance school, fun, and collegiate sports.
We talk about her introduction into running and her start in soccer. She wasn't sure running was for her, but then she was the best runner on the team. It still took a while for running to become her own.
She talks about choosing Western New Mexico, the memories she has made there, and that she wouldn't have it any other way. She feels that Division II was the perfect place for her and that other athletes could benefit, if they look in that direction as well.
We also talk about her sisters and their running, even a little friendly joking about who is faster. She has big goals for track, but also realizes going into her last season, that this is the time to enjoy what she has. She will be working on her student teaching to become an elementary school teacher and it was fun to hear her talk about that and knowing someone with her energy will be joining the profession.
I hope you enjoy our conversation and that you follow and support her and other local college students competing for our state.
We've had some up and down weather recently. I hope you are layering correctly and still getting your runs in. It can be hard to find motivation when the weather is cooler and the days are shorter. So get out there, get the work in, stay warm, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
This week I had the pleasure to talk to my friend, and assistant, Will Walker. He is the Boys Distance Coach for track at Sandia High School and one of my assistant coaches for Cross Country. He is entering his 4th year as a track coach and just finished his 3rd year as an assistant cross country coach.
I am lucky to have known Will as a high school runner and now as a coach and it was fun to bring his story to the podcast. We share a little of what we talk about on a daily basis while running with the kids and coaching. I also got to learn a little about his history, including his fueling ideas for his first 5k in middle school.
We touch on his intro to running, track and cross country, weight lifting, shoes, and exercise science at UNM. He talked about everything in his life coming together in this fun way and his schooling compliments his work, which compliments his coaching, and so on.
He is a truly wonderful person who I am glad to have been able to bring on and talk to. I hope you enjoy Will's story as well. We didn't even touch on so many subjects, like Running with Will.
This week, the temps finally dropped into early winter weather. It can (and in all probability will) get colder as we get deeper into December and into January. So layer up, stay motivated, and keep running, New Mexico.
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Episode 94 - Gene Kersh; Runner, Cyclist, Father, and Competitor
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
This week I had the pleasure to speak with Gene Kersh. He is a lifelong runner who started in middle school and has found a way to keep running in his life. During that time he has met some amazing people and done other sports to keep running fresh.
We talk about his start running in Raton, NM. He talks about running DIII in college and getting into rugby. He talks about meeting former guest, Andy Murray. It was fun to hear him talk about his time with rugby and cycling.
Gene also talks about his sons getting into running and sharing his love of activity with them. He also talks about his wife, who also runs and bikes, and being on the same page.
He's got some goals on the horizon and I'm excited to see how he does, but as we talk about, it's about the journey more than the results. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
The weather has been nice during the day. I hope everyone is taking advantage of that. It's fantastic to see everyone's stories of runs and races. Stay safe, stay warm, enjoy the grind, and keep running, New Mexico.