Episodes

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Today we discuss a subject that’s not talked about nearly enough….the DNF (did not finish). We start by sharing about our most recent DNFs which happened for entirely different reasons. Then we explore: Other reasons why a DNF might happenHow much dwelling on it is productiveWhy processing your feelings is importantHow to mine for any hidden lessonsWhat we mean by “little quits” and what to do if they become a patternHow to move o...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Marianne Hogan may be a relatively new name for many in the running and trail ultra community but she has been on an absolute streak this year, with podium finishes at both Western States where she placed 3rd female (in her first 100 mile race) and Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, where she just ran the race of her life crossing the line as the second female despite experiencing a significant injury in her hip mid race. She is only the 3rd woman ...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Jason Hubick is a 56 year old runner from Regina Saskatchewan where he and his wife own and manage a small construction company. Jason was inspired by his daughter to start running in 2004, and quickly progressed to doing his first marathon 2 years later. After completing 2 full Ironman Triathlons and the Boston Marathon, Jason lost motivation for running because he felt he had checked all the boxes he had ever thought he ...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Amy Ballon became inspired to run long distances in the 1990’s after watching her mother run the New York City marathon. She got hooked and they went on to run several marathons together, but after her Mom received a terminal cancer diagnosis and passed away in 2001, running became too painful for Amy. She hung up her shoes for the better part of the next decade until a friend encouraged her to join a track club. Although Amy had neve...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Since the early 2000s, Reid Coolsaet has been representing Canada at the highest level on the track and roads, and over the past year he’s been making a name for himself in the trail and ultra world as well. At the end of June Reid completed the prestigious Western States Endurance Run as his first 100-miler. We dig into all the details including: How he was able to bypass the lotteryWhat his preparation looked likeHow his pacers were able ...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Amy Puzey is a holistic nutritionist, wife and mother of six, and a long time competitive trail runner who lives in Invermere, BC. She was the Canadian Mountain Running Champion in 2009 and has represented Canada twice at the World Mountain Running Trophy. Amy has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and has a history of directing 5Peaks and the Trans Selkirks Run. Although she trained as a nurse originally, after a few years she rea...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Joanna Ford is a 37 year old trail ultrarunner from Calgary, AB. On July 15th she finished 6th female at Hardrock 100 Endurance Run. She was second Canadian female behind Stephanie Case, and ran in a women’s field that also included Courtenay Dauwalter, Darcy Piceu, Megan Hicks, and Maggie Guterl. We couldn’t wait to talk to Joanna about her race, as well as learn more about her personal running story. In this episode, we discuss ho...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text On July 10, Michael Bergeron ran 25 laps of the UPEI track in a world record time of 34 minutes and 47 seconds while simultaneously juggling three balls. The previous record was held by Toronto’s Michal Kapral in a time of 36:27 and while Michael technically broke this record back in 2018 (35:36), it was not ratified by Guinness World Records because it was done on an uncertified course. This time he made sure to dot all his i’s and cross a...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Tomasz Drybala is a 44 year old flow and mindful running teacher who’s planning to run the circumference of the earth (25,000M / 40,000K) before 2025 while raising money for Unicef. Although Tomasz has been running recreationally for 20 years, his foray into the extreme distances came more recently after hitting his own rock bottom and subsequently struggling with mental health. A chance encounter with a snake helped him discover active med...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Ben Flanagan is a 27 year old Canadian track and road runner who has been setting records and winning races seemingly every time he toes a start line lately. He grew up in Kitchener ON with big dreams of becoming a hockey player, but when his growth spurt never materialized he switched focus to running and has never looked back. Always drawn to the NCAA, he decided to attend the University of Michigan and serendipitously wound up being coac...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Today we welcome Ailsa MacDonald back to the podcast to talk about her recent performance at Western States Endurance Run, where she finished an impressive second female and 15th overall. Her previous performance at Western States in 2018 earned her a 45th overall finish and provided her with some wisdom and unfinished business. She returned this year stronger and wiser than ever and took everyone (except us!) by surprise as she worked her ...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Today we are honoured to host Jason Schlarb as a guest on the show. He is a champion professional trail ultrarunner, coach, military veteran, and proud father. Jason’s most notable achievements include winning the Hardrock 100 and Run Rabbit Run as well as finishing as the top American in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (4th place, 2014). Jason has had a long and colourful professional running career, filled with adventures all over the globe...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Today we welcome Dalip Shekhawat back to the show to tell us all about his most recent adventure, The Jungle Ultra, a 230K 5 stage multi-day event in Manu National Park, deep in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. You first met Dalip in Episode 30 when we talked about his summit of Mount Everest. This time we talk about: What it’s like traveling on foot through the untamed rainforestThe wildlife he saw along the way including snakes, monk...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Jane Quinton is a 56 year old runner from Winnipeg, MB who, despite not taking up running until her late 40s, has already qualified for Boston four times and ran the iconic race twice. In this episode we dive deep into the weeds of how Jane has become even smarter about her race execution as she’s continued to gain experience in the sport. A few weeks ago at the Fargo Marathon, Jane pulled something off that we’ve only ever seen at the elit...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text We are excited to welcome another Couple of the Quarter - Jennifer & Matt Hoadley! Jenn & Matt met in college in Maine and now live just south of Boston, MA with their two children. While Jenn ran track as a child and into college, Matt didn’t discover his love for running until shortly after he got sober and became a recovering alcoholic in 2013. Kim met both Matt and Jenn at Gorge Waterfalls in April of this year...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text For all you aspiring Boston Marathon runners, this episode is for you! Chris Lemke is a 50 year old runner from Winnipeg who started chasing after his Boston dream in 2017. Over the past 5+ years there have been incredible highs but also excruciating lows, which Chris details beautifully in this conversation. Three weeks ago on May 21, 2022, on his seventh attempt, he crossed the finish line of the Fargo Marathon in a time of 3:19:01, which...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Trena Chellino is a married mother of 3 from Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up in eastern Washington state, in the Columbia Valley and started running 10 years ago at the age of 48 when a hiking friend wanted to run a marathon and invited her along. After completing a few road marathons, she found trail running and never looked back. Now at the age of 58, Trena states her favourite distance is the 100 miler, and she has become a sought af...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Nate Riech is one of the biggest names to emerge in Canadian Para athletics in the past few years. He burst onto the international scene in 2018 with world record performances in the 800m and 1500m and since then has continued to lower his own records in the men’s T38 category. Last summer in his Paralympic debut in Tokyo, Nate earned a gold medal for Canada in dominant fashion in the 1500m (3:58.92), letting out a victorious roar at the fi...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Sophia Nehlich-Arobba is a Lifestyle Coach and Personal Trainer whose mission is to help people find meaning not just during the highs of their lives, but in the lows as well. She loves sharing her own health, wellness, and self-development journey on her podcast, Flow With the Grow, in hopes that others might relate and take aligned actions on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Sophia fell in love with running rig...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Today we are pleased to welcome Kirsten Fleming and Rachel Munday to the show. Kirsten is the Executive Director of Run Calgary and Rachel is the Executive Director of the Manitoba Marathon and as you’re about to hear, they view themselves as collaborators rather than competitors in their work to put on some of Canada’s top notch race experiences. Both events are returning to their usual spring dates (Calgary May 29th; Manitoba June 19th) f...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Rebecca Doring is a 33 year old married runner who lives in northwest Connecticut about a mile away from the Appalachian Trail. She started her mindfulness practice in 2012 and since then has become a Certified Yoga Instructor, a Certified Meditation Teacher and a Personal Development Coach. She is also a podcaster, producing the Deep Rooted Bliss Podcast. Rebecca describes herself as someone who has always been drawn to running, but ...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Today we welcome Dave Proctor back to the show. Dave is a Canadian ultrarunning machine from Okotoks, AB. He will be starting his second attempt at breaking the Trans-Canadian speed record on May 15, 2022 with the goal of travelling from one end of the country to the other in 66 days by running an average of 105km/day. We first had Dave on the show in episode 13, where we talked about the Outrun Rare campaign, and his first attempt at break...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Today we welcome Caroline Wiebe back to the show. Caroline is a 51 year old ultrarunner from Winnipeg, MB who just returned home after completing the Marathon des Sables (MDS), a 250km 6-stage/7-day race in the deserts of Morocco. She was one of 15 Canadians among 1000 racers representing 54 countries. Since the race began in 1986, only 20 percent of the racers have been women. We couldn’t wait to hear about this fascinating race and her ex...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Ailsa MacDonald is a 41 year old ultrarunner who was born in Great Britain and raised in Nova Scotia. She currently resides in Cochrane, AB and splits her time between Cochrane and Phoenix, AZ when she is not working two week shift rotations in northern Alberta as an Imperial Oil Plant Operator. You first heard about Ailsa on this podcast when we interviewed her mother Morag in episode 72. Ailsa has been an athlete all her...