Running New Mexico Podcast

Episode 97 - Isaiah Rodarte; Adams State University, 5th at DII Cross Country Nationals

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.

Episode 96- Britney Lovato; Western New Mexico University 3k, 5k, and 6k Record Holder

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.

Episode 95 - Will Walker; Sandia High School Boys Distance Track Coach, Assistant XC

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.

Episode 94 - Gene Kersh; Runner, Cyclist, Father, and Competitor

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.

Episode 93 - Coach Elena Schrader; Head Cross Country and Girls Track at Volcano Vista, 5A State Cross Country Champions

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Coach Elena Schrader. She is the head cross country and girls track coach at Volcano Vista High School. This year her boys and girls teams both won the 5A State Cross Country Championship.

We start off talking about her start in running, continuing through high school and college, and how she got into coaching. Some coaching will tell you they fell into coaching, but Coach Schrader really fell into it.

We don't go into a lot of detail, but she talks about taking the time to educate herself in coaching, taking USATF training among other things.

She talks about the last cross country and track season and when she knew she had something special with the boys. She then talks about the surprise with the girls and getting to watch both teams really grow into their own this year. It was fun to hear her talk about her excitement in both coaching and teaching.

It was a lot of fun talking with Coach Schrader and getting to know her. She is someone that is easy to root for and you know her teams are having fun while competing at a high level in the state. I hope you enjoy our conversation and also have fun getting to know this amazing coach.

With the holiday season upon us, it is easy to get into the rut of preparing for the holidays without taking the time to think about their meanings. Whatever the holidays mean for you, I hope you are able to find time for yourself on your runs and time for your family. Stay focused, stay warm, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 92 - Bob DeYoung; Trail Runner

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Bob DeYoung. Through the pandemic I hear stories of people that took up running as gyms and other places to workout closed down. Bob was one of those runners and has literally run with it.

In his short time finding and falling in love with trail running, Bob has completed five races. Some shorter, half marathon range, and his longest and first, was a 30k. He's learned a lot in a short period and has plans to run at least one trail run a month.

It was really fun talking with Bob and hearing his excitement about his runs and training. It's great to hear that new runner eagerness. If you happen to be at the Bosque Bigfoot, find Bob and say hi for me.

It's that time of the year again to gather with family and think about what you are grateful for. I know that is something I often think about while on my runs. I hope you take time to think about what this season means to you and those around you. I also hope you are healthy and ready for a wonderful Thanksgiving day run. So, be safe, stay healthy, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 91 - Phil Keller; Dukes Track Club Runner and Youth Coach

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Phil Keller. He is a wonderful master's runner here in Albuquerque, running for the Dukes Track Club and a coach of their Youth Club.

We talked about his start to running, conditioning, and coaching college and high school. It was fun talking about his own college running and his short break from running. We talk about motivating runners you coach at all levels.

He talks about his own running and breaks, or lack of, and being able to go from the youth state championship to the high school state championship and the issues with that. We also had a fun conversation about music at the end.

I learned a lot about Phil and I hope you enjoy our conversation. If you are interested in getting your own kid involved in the Dukes Youth Track club you can email them at dukestrackclub@gmail.com.

The time change has messed with my sleep, but I think I"m finally catching up. I hope you are adjusting well. It's nice to see a little light at the end of my runs in the mornings. So enjoy your runs, layer, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 90 - Lionel Ortega; Former UNM Athlete and Professional Runner

This week I had the pleasure to talk to Lionel Ortega. He is a former UNM Athlete and Professional Runner. He covers a lot about his career in this conversation. We go from how he got into running, into some highlights, and into his work for Nike and Adidas. It was great to hear him look back on his career and express that running is a part of his life, not his life.

He talked about the three words that changed his life and about scrapping by to get to marathons and other races. I really enjoyed hearing him talk about how running is still a part of his life. He may not compete anymore, but he still gets something from it.

Lionel learned early to not be afraid to ask for your worth. I think that is an important lesson. It's important to have a healthy idea of what you are worth in your own eyes. And we also get to the story of him getting arrested for running on UNM's track. 

Yesterday was the 2021 NM Cross Country State Championships. It's easy to look at the champions and think about what they will accomplish, but hopefully we'll be hearing from all of the athletes that competed. Maybe that's fun runs, maybe it's running in college. I just hope the love of running sticks with them.

So the seasons change and we start looking toward track season, cooler weather, slower runs. Stretch, layer, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 89 - Lindsey Herman; Ultra Runner & Coach at Western Colorado University

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Lindsey Herman. She is an Ultra runner and coach. She graduated from Albuquerque Academy and then Western Colorado University, where she is still located and coaching.

Lindsey has had a different path to running than a lot of people. Even though she was part of an active family, with running and skiing, and even though she ran a marathon in high school, she saw herself as a skier and soccer player. We talk about how she moved into running and that idea of feeling like a runner.

Lindsey talks a little about her insecurities around food, but if you want to hear about journey in more detail, check out this interview by Run Spirited. They do a good job of interviewing and asking good questions.

Lindsey may have come to running a little differently, but she is enjoying what she is doing and has a big upside. Her involvement in the trail racing program at Western Colorado University is really unique. So I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Those mornings are getting a little chilly lately. It doesn't help that the days are getting shorter. Make sure you layer, bring light, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 88 - Sophia Torres; Artist & Ultra runner, 2021 Mt. Taylor 50k Women‘s Champion

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Sophia Torres. She is a Pojoaque graduate, UNM graduate, trail runner, and artist. Her dad is Senovio Torres, a great ultra runner in his own right, and an influence for Sophia's running.

We talk about the pressures of running from external sources and when she made running her own. She talked about being put in kid races and 5k races as a child and how it was just a part of her life.

We also talk about her time at UNM as a walk on. It was a hard transition and we talk about pressure once again. She talked about how she found the joy in running through helping some friends and it sparked where she is now. 

Sophia talks about her artwork and how her creative side goes hand in hand with her running. It was fun talking to her about these things that she is passionate about and I think you hear that in her voice. As always, I really enjoyed talking with her and getting to know her.

The days are getting shorter and the mornings are getting cooler. It's time to break out those gloves and other cooler weather attire. But it's an exciting time for running, getting to see the big races coming back. So dress for the weather, be safe, and keep running, New Mexico.