Running New Mexico Podcast

Episode 80 - Kyle Fast Wolf, La Cueva Head Cross Country Coach

This week I had the pleasure to talk to my colleague, Kyle Fast Wolf. He's a La Cueva graduate, UNM graduate and runner, and current head cross country coach at La Cueva. It was great to catch up with him on the eve of our first official cross country meet of 2021.

We were able to see each a week ago, as he hosted a scrimmage meet for us, but being able to talk about what rebuilding is looking like for him and the challenges he's experiencing was fun. He talked about the challenges of a large group of freshmen, his own running journey, and what he's excited for.

It was a great conversation and I learned a lot about him. It was fun to hear about his early running and the transition to short shorts. I hope you enjoy hearing his story and what he learned from his coaches.

Cross Country season is officially here. I love that it coincides with green chile season. Two of my favorite things. So get your chile supplies, support your local cross country team, and keep running, New Mexico. 

Episode 79 - Valerie Denton; Trail Runner, Sole Sister, Lawyer, & Mother

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Valerie Denton. She is a runner who likes to do all the things. We talk a lot about balance in running and life. She has found what works for her and what she is willing give up and when. We talk about parent guilt (mom guilt) and really so much more.

Currently she is training for a half triathlon, but will be competing in two trail races prior, including the Mt. Taylor 50k. We talk about the balance between trail/ultra racing and preparing for a triathlon. She also discusses doing the Mt. Taylor Quad solo, which is pretty amazing.

I truly had a fun time talking to Valerie and I can't wait to see her out on the roads. I just missed her at the recent Lovelace Rio Grande Half Marathon. It was great to see runners out there again.

I hope everyone enjoys their upcoming races. Stretch well, hydrate, be safe, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 78 - Sam Sanchez, Marathoner

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Sam Sanchez. He is a graduate of Robertson High School in Las Vegas and New Mexico Highlands University. He competed in track through high school and cross country in both high school and in college. We were teammates in high school and it was great to catch up with him.

Sam's journey took him from joining track with a friend to now running marathons. He has completed 17 marathons, including Boston. He gave good insight about taking it easy on easy days and how his recovery has changed as he has gotten older. Not all of our conversation was recorded, but it was a lot of fun talking about former teammates, old runs and routes, and friendships.

It's not often we get to reminisce with old teammates and I am grateful for this opportunity to do that. It reminded me of other teammates I'd like to reach out and places I'd like to visit when I go home. I hope you get that feeling as well and that Sam encourages you to continue to go after your goals.

It's racing season! It feels like most weekends I'm seeing racing reports from runners I follow. I look forward to seeing continued posts, both ups and downs, because it's a privilege we get to do this again. So gear up, hydrate, fuel, and keep running, New Mexico.

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.