Running New Mexico Podcast

Episode 77 - Melani Buchanan-Farmer, Founder of Running505 and BFit505

This week I had the honor to speak with Melani Buchanan-Farmer. She is a former teacher, she's worked in Language and Cultural Equity at Albuquerque Public Schools, and is currently a professor at New Mexico Highlands University. Through all of this she has created Running 505, a non-competitive wellness group for kids in 5th through 8th grade.

Running 505 collaborates with the community to encourage youth to live healthy lifestyles. Listening to Melani's story was so fun for me and I love hearing what other educators are doing to inspire children beyond the classroom. The story of how Running 505 came into existence speaks a lot about Melani's passion. 

I hope you enjoy our talk and are inspired to participate in Running 505.

Race season is coming up, so hydrate, prepare, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 76 - Dorota Gruca, 2008 Olympian, Coach and Multiple time Polish Champ

This week I had a great time talking with Dorota Gruca. She is an Olympian, making the Polish team in 2008 for the marathon. She's held Polish national records in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. She's a coach for Bolton Endurance and helped found the Las Cruces Running Club.

We cover all the highlights in this conversation. We talk about her journey into running, leaving home at 14 to train, and all the way to being an Olympian. Along the way, she got married, remarried, coached herself, fought to get into the Olympics, missed two other Olympics by seconds, and so much more.

I really can't say enough about Dorota. She is energetic and not afraid to take a chance on herself. She always gets me excited to go out for a run because her energy is so infectious. Plan on listening to this one while on a run or with your running shoes nearby. We had some echoing in the episode, but I don't think it takes away from what she has to say.

Racing season appears to be back! Lace up those shoes, hydrate, fuel, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 75 - George Young, 4x Olympian

This week I had the pleasure to speak with George Young. He's a four time Olympian, three times in the Steeplechase, and once each in the Marathon and 5k. He's an inductee in the NM Sports Hall of Fame, has a bronze medal from the 1968 games in Mexico City, graduated from the University of Arizona, taught, coached, and was an athletic director at Casa Grande.

George talks about some training, his favorite workout, how he got into running and how he fell into sports in college. He credits his hard work and says that he isn't special and didn't do anything special. He just worked hard. He mentions training with Billy Mills and competing against Steve Prefontaine.

He talks about his bronze medal in Mexico City, how close he was to gold, and how that spurred him to two indoor World Records. We also touch on coaching, teaching, and his years being an athletic director. He also talks about what it looks like staying active at his age now.

George has a lot of stories and I feel like we barely scratched the surface, even in a longer episode. It truly was a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy hearing him talk. So hydrate well, be kind, use George's words to get you motivated, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 74 - Stephen Pino, Runfit Founder and Leader

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Stephen Pino Founder of Runfit, a local race management organization built out of a desire to curb childhood obesity by creating a community based approach to goal setting and racing for elementary students. As a non-profit organization, many of their runs directly benefit either students or other organizations, like the Barrett House.

Stephen is a former elementary teacher and principal and you can hear his love of children and community in his voice. He saw a need that he felt was important to our community and created it and has grown it into something wonderful.

He talks about getting into running, how he got into teaching, and his love of the sport. He also talks about the joys of watching runners of all abilities come out and do the best they can week in and week out. I hope you enjoy the episode and check out the upcoming races, such as the Cherry Garcia run, the NM Chips and Salsa Half Marathon, and the one I'm looking forward to the Tyrunnosaurus Run.

The heat and humidity (for here) is rough. Be sure you're hydrating, checking the temps, and as always, keep running, New Mexico

Episode 73 - Adriana Tatum, 2021 5A NM Track Champion and High Point Girl

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Adriana Tatum, Sandia High School Grad and soon to be  Arizona State University Sun Devil. During her time at Sandia, Adriana has racked up multiple school and state records, in open events and relays. As a 100 and 200 meter specialist, she has been the fastest girl in the state for four years.

We talk about her time at Sandia, the struggles with missing her junior year, and what she hopes to accomplish in the future. She also talks about her relationship with her strength coach and how he and her high school coach worked together to help her.

She talks about her senior season, the NM track and field state championships, and what goals she didn't accomplish. We also talk about being ok with what she did accomplish as a high school athlete and the race of her life in the 4x100.

Adriana is a great kid with a good head on her shoulders. I hope you enjoy my conversation with her and will join me in cheering this amazing young athlete on at the next level.

Monsoon season appears to be here. Make sure you check those weather reports and prepare for your runs well. Don't forget to hydrate, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 72 - Doug Dorame, Former Albuquerque High Athletic Director, Girls Basketball, & Track Coach

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Doug Dorame, recently retired Athletic Director, Girls Basketball Coach, and Girls Track Coach from Albuquerque High School. It was a fantastic conversation, and if you want to hear more, go back and listen to his daughter, Dineé, interview him on her podcast, Grounded with Dineé Dorame, Episode 15.

We start off talking about his running, traveling to El Paso, cinder tracks, and eventually going to the University of Colorado Boulder. He talked about coaching, some of the great people he's been able to be around like Jim Ciccarello, Gary Sanchez, and Kenny Henry. He talks about how the coaching has changed and how he had to adapt to it.

It was wonderful hearing him talk about the privilege of working at Albuquerque High while his daughters were there and what that meant to him. He also talked about retirement and that it hasn't quite hit him yet, but he's excited to be able to work on his running for a bit.

You can hear his passion for running and sports in general throughout the conversation. I won't be surprised to see him back helping out some lucky school at some point. You can hear it in his advice for new coaches as well. 

I truly hope you enjoy this conversation with a local legend. I also hope you enjoyed this week of cooler weather. Cross Country is around the corner, so hydrate, eat right, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 71 - Laurynn Sisneros, 2021 Cross Country and 3200 Track Champion

This week I was able to speak with Laurynn Sisneros, Eldorado High School graduate and West Point recruit. She recently won the shortened 2020/2021 Cross Country season championship and the day before the release of the podcast, won the 3200 at the 5A state track championships. She was also the 2021 Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the year for New Mexico.

We talked about missing out on her Junior year of track, training with Leah from Cleveland and Tessa from Rio Rancho, and her overall great outlook on running. She has a great attitude and it was a fun conversation. I hope you enjoy the episode and learning about one of our great young runners.

Enjoy your runs, stay hydrated, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 70 - Traci Kinney, Local Runner Training for her First Marathon

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Traci Kinney. She is currently training for her first marathon, the virtual Boston Marathon. We talk about about that training, the positives and pitfalls of running social media, and she talks about her running journey.

As a new runner, she feels she still has a lot to learn and we talk about the feeling of not being a runner. She talks about trying to stop the negative talk and focus on what she is trying to accomplish without qualifying it.

We also talk about motivation, injuries, and the common elements all runners go through. It was a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it as well. I was having a lot of fun digging into all these other things, we didn't even cover being part of Brooks Run Happy Team. But you can follow her journey and learn more about it on her page.

Remember to stay hydrated, keep motivated, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 69 - Josh Kerr, Brooks Beast and 1500 American Soil Record Holder

This week I has the pleasure to speak with Josh Kerr of Brooks Beasts. He's a Scottish runner and former Lobo, just coming off a great 1500 at the Stumptown Twilight Meet on June 3rd. His 3:31.55 makes him the fastest at that distance ever on American soil.

Of course we talk about that halfway through the conversation, but we start off discussing his podcast, the Sit & Kick Podcast, with his cohost, David Ribich. They have a unique style of interviewing that is fun. We also talked about their jersey sales which allowed runners to make their money back by racing in the jersey.

He talks about traveling to British Olympic trials soon and what that looks like, as well getting to see his parents. Josh is a confident runner and it was fun to not only get his insight about Brooks, training in Albuquerque, his buddy (and former guest) Julian Florez, but also his thoughts on the future of athletes self promoting.

I really appreciate Josh taking the time to talk to me and I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Especially his musical choices. So put on that sunscreen, stay hydrated, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 68 - Curtis Beach, Former Pro Decathlete and current Volunteer Coach at Duke

This week I had the pleasure to talk to Curtis Beach. He is a former Pro Decathlete and current Volunteer coach at Duke University. He has held world decathlete records from juniors to world, including the second fastest 1500m in a decathlon and the fastest in the NCAA.

In this episode, we talk about his journey to running and multi events. Curtis talks about his love of running at an early age and having wonderful coaches that gave him autonomy to explore the events that interested him. Two of his coaches include former guests, Jim Ciccarello and Adam Kedge. 

We also talk about the mental aspect of competing at a high level, being a part of the Olympic Trials, and moving on from a passion. Curtis talks about what it's like coaching and what retiring meant. It was a fantastic interview and I'm so glad to be able to share it with everyone. 

Remember to respect the heat, hydrate, and be kind. Enjoy your group or solo runs and keep running, New Mexico.