Running New Mexico Podcast

Episode 67 - Mikaela Osler, ColoradoTrail FKT

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Mikaela Osler. She is the Woman's self supported FKT for the Collegiate East Colorado Trail. Beating the previous record by nearly 5 days, she talks about her time on the trail, seeing every sunrise and sunset, and pushing herself through the tough times.

We also talk about her high school time at the United World College in Montezuma, NM (just outside of Las Vegas) and her introduction into running and hiking. She also talks about her degree, being a graduate assistant, writing, and what's next.

It was such a fun conversation. We hit the perfect combination of teacher tired when we recorded. I hope you enjoy our talk and keep an eye out for what Mikaela has coming up.

The weather has been beautiful the last few weeks (minus a few windy days). So, stay hydrated, sunscreened, fueled, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 66 - Charlotte Prouse, Canadian Steeplechaser for UNM T&F

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Charlotte Prouse, Canadian National running for the University of New Mexico Track and Field. She is an Olympic hopeful focusing on running well at the NCAA Regional Track and Field Meet and then Nationals.

Charlotte talked about getting involved in track and field, steeplechase, and an interesting way that she learned to be ready for the barriers in any situation. We also talk about her recent Mountain West Championship win in the 10,000 meters and what the future holds.

Charlotte has some big dreams, but is focused on what is in front of her now. She will be racing the Steeplechase at the Regional meet coming up and hoping to qualify for Nationals, while also chasing that Olympic standard time. We do discuss the Canadian uniforms, UNM's new indoor track, and the New Mexican running community.

I had a lot of fun with this one and I hope you join me in cheering her on and wishing her luck.

Remember to stay safe, stay hydrated, know your comfort level, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 65 - Victoria Martinez Collins, former USATF qualifier and DII Champion

This week I had the pleasure to talk with former Las Vegas Robertson Cardinal and Adams State Grizzly, Victoria Collins. She has been a qualifier to USATF Nationals and is a former DII cross country, 800, & 1500 national champion.

We talk about joining track in middle school, starting cross country, and her early running. She talks about not understanding the tradition of Adams State before starting there and what it meant to add to that tradition.

Victoria talks about her post collegiate career and when she knew it was something she could go after. The motivation from her coach, Martin, at Adams State and how she felt she could run through a brick wall for him, speaks volumes about their relationship and her determination. And that determination is a theme that I hope you take away from this. She speaks a lot about being in the right place and an opportunity falling into her lap, but she put herself in a situation to succeed. 

We end the conversation talking about her new running group for Rio Rancho runners, Rio Rancho Running. Check it out if you live on that side of the river. She is a great motivator and easy to talk to on a nice long run.

The weather is warming, the wind is blowing, it is a great time for early morning runs. So stay safe, stay hydrated, know your comfort level, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 64 - Lauren Green, Nevada Wolfpack

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Nevada Wolfpack runner and Volcano Vista alum, Lauren Green. She sits in the top ten performers for Nevada in the 400 in both indoor and outdoor. She is a 2 time NM state champion in the 400 and is hoping for big things at the Mountain West Conference Championships this week.

We talk about her start in running, what it was like competing for a same school in Santa Rosa to the transition to 5A at Volcano Vista and on to NCAA Division I. She has overcome injuries and even Covid this year to continue to stay at the top of her game. She is a highly motivated person and it was a great conversation.

She is majoring in journalism and has a great voice to add to the sport, but before that, she is still running at her best. I hope you enjoy the conversation and join me in cheering for her this week. At the end of the conversation we talk about reinstate 48, which was a push to reinstate the 48 regional qualifiers that was reduced to 32 this year. That was fixed after our conversation and 48 regional qualifiers for each gender in each event is the norm again.

Enjoy the warm weather, stay safe, wear a mask, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 63 - Jim Ciccarello, La Cueva Girls Track Coach

This week I was able to speak to Jim Ciccarello, Girls Track and Field Coach at La Cueva High School. He has 53 years of experience with APS and coaching, starting out with age groupers with the Duke City Dashers and the Albuquerque Track Club. He is a member of the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame and has multiple coach of the year honors, but listening to him, it's not about that. It's about his love of the sport.

We talk about his start in the sport and the history of the sport in Albuquerque. He talks about getting started with coaching track and field, even though his original plan was to coach high school basketball.

He talked about motivating runners, picking staff, and staying in contact with his runners during this last year. We talk about what rebuilding might look like over the next year as well. 

It was a fun conversation with one of the legends of the sport and we only scratched the surface. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Enjoy the warm weather, stay hydrated, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 62 - Adam Kedge, Albuquerque Academy XC and Track Coach

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Adam Kedge, the head cross country and boys track and field coach for the Albuquerque Academy Chargers. We talk getting shut down, keeping kids motivated, and what it will take to get back to full strength.

Coach Kedge talks a little about his background and how that informed him on his coaching as well as learning from others, especially from his New Mexican peers. He talks about the advantages and disadvantages of each school and challenges us to focus on what we can control as coaches to build our programs.

I had a lot of fun with this episode and was inspired with his passion for the sport. I hope that you catch that passion as well and enjoy this conversation. It's going to take time for all coaches in the state to rebuild their programs, but I have no doubt that coach Kedge will have his team right up there in the conversation for the best in the state again shortly.

It's beautiful running weather, not too hot and not too cold, so get up, get out, wear your mask and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 61 - Kurt Coonrod, President of the Albuquerque Road Runners

In this week's episode I was able to talk with Kurt Coonrod, runner, ultra runner, and president of the Albuquerque Road Runners Club. We talk his running, how he got into the sport and into ultra and trail running. We also spend time talking about the changes that he has seen in trail running over the years.

He talks about the Albuquerque Road Runners, his involvement through the years, and what he thinks about the future of the group. It was a great conversation and we finish up with a talk about the future of the La Luz Trail Run. It is a staple of New Mexican running and we learn about the complications happening right now and how the ARR are working towards a solution.

Kurt was wonderful to talk to and has a lot of experiences that we were only able to scratch the surface on, but I hope you enjoy what we were able to talk about.

It's officially windy season, so watch the weather reports and enjoys your runs. Stay safe, wear your mask, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 60 - Jackie Martinez, NMAA Assistant Director of Sports

This week I had the privilege to speak with Jackie Martinez, NMAA Assistant Director of Sports, overseeing Cross Country, Track and Swim. We had a great talk covering her own running at Pojoaque High School, UNM, and after. We also send a good deal of the conversation talking about the challenges the NMAA faced in trying to put together a season during a pandemic.

She talks about trying to plan for a season in October and then going on maternity leave. We discuss what being at home was like for her family and excitement for the upcoming track season. She also explains how she got involved in the NMAA and her own running now.

As with a lot of these interviews, it was great to sit down and talk with Jackie. You can hear the passion she has for the sport and her excitement for student athletes to be able to get back out there and compete, safely. I hope you enjoy her journey as much as I did.

So tune in, stay safe, wear your mask, and keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 59 - Rio Rancho Girls, 2021 5A NM XC Champs

This week I had the pleasure to talk with the 5A Cross Country State Championship winning team on the the girls side, Rio Rancho. The girls, Tessa Holderman, Lorynn Trujillo, Violet Francisco, Marleigh Smith and Esther Cameron, as well as Coach Gonzales, talk about the year and how much they've bonded leading up to the state meet.

You can hear how close they are in their conversations and what it meant to be running for each other. The majority of them also not competing for Rio Rancho last year. They talk about getting to know each other, relying on each other, and the fact that running was their only excuse to get out of the house during a pandemic, as one of them said.

In a year without team competition, it was great to hear how they were able to stay close and work together and really bond. They talk about running for the love of it and their teammates. That was what got them through the year, which is any coach's dream, even in the best circumstances. I hope that you enjoy their energy as much as I did.

The weather is getting nicer and it's easier to be outside. May sure you continue to be safe so that these athletes can finish off this strange year. So be kind, wear your mask, and as always, keep running, New Mexico.

Episode 58 - Ric Rojas

This week I got to spend time with Ric Rojas, former Los Alamos Hilltopper and Harvard grad. Ric has been in the running world for a long time, setting New Mexico state track records, competing for Harvard, running professionally, and coaching.

He covers all of this in detail, as he goes through his high school days to professional running. There is a lot about the history of running at the time, including professional runners coming into Los Alamos to train. Ric has a rich story, with some big names, and we don't even get to cover it all.

So tune in and listen to his story and get to know this New Mexican legend. We touch a little about what he is doing now, coaching in Boulder, but if you'd like to know more and hear about his daughter Nell, check out the Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame, as they were guests this week as well.

Make sure you continue to be safe and stay strong. We are getting closer to more people vaccinated, which helps us all. So wear your mask, be kind, and keep running, New Mexico.