Transcript
WILD ONEZ: Hello and welcome to the Wild Ones podcast. I'm your host, Sarah.
Viv: And I'm your host, Viv.
WILD ONEZ: And I can't believe we're on episode 20 today. This is wild.
Viv: I think we're going to keep saying that every episode. I know we say that every episode. Like, oh my gosh, how did we make it this far? But we have because people continue to listen to our chaos. And it's just, I know of at least...
Viv: four people that listen to us on a regular basis. And that's Amy Bush, who comments on our audio every single time. Katie Simon, who is my college roommate, she's a very avid listener. and the Lankfords.
Viv: So...
WILD ONEZ: actually my mom now too and a few of my relatives so shout out to you guys
Viv: Yay! Oh, we love that.
WILD ONEZ: It was really cute.
Viv: Where...
WILD ONEZ: I've gotten a few texts.
Viv: We're starting to get...
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: Yes. Is it because I'm handling your socials?
WILD ONEZ: Honestly, yes. yeah it's all from Facebook I'm like there's no I don't think there's any other way that they would probably find out that we were doing this if it wasn't for Facebook and then what you post on Instagram that automatically posts on my Facebook page and I love it it's great it looks like I'm so active on Facebook even though I'm never on there and it's like it's beautiful.
Viv: I... I handle Sarah's socials, everybody. So if you are friends with her on literally anything. I accept her personal Instagram, but her Facebook is linked to our wild ones Instagram.
WILD ONEZ: Yes.
Viv: So it looks like she's posting on her Facebook a lot. And it's funny because whenever I log into my mobile Facebook app.
Viv: It's a lot of power with the Facebook.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah. Yeah. I have a social media manager now.
Viv: Hey, I had one during Worlds, so I'll be yours when Izzy can be mine.
WILD ONEZ: It's great.
WILD ONEZ: Amazing.
Viv: Oh, I view up.
WILD ONEZ: Okay.
Viv: Whoa, hang on.
WILD ONEZ: Oh, whoa.
Viv: What do you got?
WILD ONEZ: Oh, I was going to say you have some really fun, big things coming up.
Viv: What are you? All right.
WILD ONEZ: Like you want to get into how, like how you're feeling, the training, all of that.
Viv: Oh my gosh. uh literally insane I actually just got a text from a friend this week being like hey would you want to maybe run a marathon in December and I was like oh I might have to I might have to think about that one because I have Chicago in like... two weeks I think it was episode drops it'll be like the week before which is insane trying to be cue there so I literally had to flip the script real fast.
Viv: Yeah, I think you talked a little bit about, like... in the last episode, but training speed. versus like, I have the endurance base, but speed is a whole, my body did not do well at track tonight. I was so, it's been hot in Louisiana. We got like.
Viv: Three days of fall. In the morning, I was like, yes, amazing. Below 70 degrees, yes. No, uh -uh. It was 80 freaking 6. Put the sun shining. And like a little bit of breeze. And I was like. Dying a track.
Viv: Give and I had like mild repeats, so... Besides that... Doing amazing. Doing great. I tried my super shoes on. My alpha flies.
Viv: I was kindly gifted those shoes and I was like, I don't know, like I don't normally wear Nike. So I... I felt pretty fast. I was like, I feel like a bouncy little kangaroo right now.
WILD ONEZ: Yes.
Viv: It was great. I was like, wow. So I'm excited to...
WILD ONEZ: You should put that in a review.
Viv: I don't. Right? Make you feel like a bouncy kangaroo. So I'll wear those for Chicago.
WILD ONEZ: that's great
Viv: I'm very excited to maybe give the super shoe a chance. And then swim around Austin coming up. But you'll be at Colorado this coming weekend. So when this episode drops, I think it'll be after.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, it'll be just after.
Viv: But you're going to be volunteering, right?
WILD ONEZ: mm -hmm Yeah.
Viv: I'm so excited.
WILD ONEZ: Thanks.
Viv: You're going to see all the girlies and the guys. I'm so... I'm going to get FOMO, but it's okay. Like I'll probably FaceTime you during the race.
WILD ONEZ: It's okay. I'll have FOMO during Austin.
Viv: I know.
WILD ONEZ: It's all good.
Viv: It's trade places.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: Yeah, so I'm in Austin and then I'm actually pacing my dad and a couple of friends to an under, hopefully an under four hour. marathon at New Orleans. And then.
Viv: I should be done but we'll see if I end up doing that marathon in December. The person who asked me was like, yeah, 312. I was like, oh, yeah, totally. Oh my gosh.
WILD ONEZ: I mean, you're going to have some practice coming up here, so.
Viv: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's...
WILD ONEZ: I mean might as well just throw in one last super speedy celebration race at the end.
Viv: Why not, right?
Viv: Yeah. So we'll see how that goes.
WILD ONEZ: That sounds so fun.
Viv: But yeah, I'm excited. A lot, a lot coming. Crazy. And just like. Getting work done as also like. Because work has been...
Viv: a balance a work balance I should say because some days have been like I wake up at 4 a .m so I'm not doing my workout until the night and then some days like are regular warnings where you just are like, okay. I have the time to get it done.
Viv: I've 4 or 5am. which seems like an ongoing. ungodly hour for people who aren't as crazy as us. But, like, that's when I could fit it in. So I'm in bed, like, tucked away, like, by 930. And everyone's like, are you okay? Are you alive? I'm like, yes. I am.
Viv: I just...
WILD ONEZ: That's the perfect bedtime.
Viv: I just need sleep. Yeah. I realize sleep is important to recovery.
WILD ONEZ: Yes.
Viv: So definitely keep taking care of yourself, everybody. Sleep, stretch. Definitely stretch. Hydrate I'm like drinking like my electrolyte juice tonight right now so But yeah, it's good.
Viv: A lot of big things. But yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Okay. I'm so excited. It's going to be so fun to watch your build up and your journey to these incredible, incredible goals that you have this.
Viv: Oh my gosh.
WILD ONEZ: this fall, so I'm excited.
Viv: It's going to be insane. But I'll keep everybody updated. Don't you worry. There'll be... Izzy actually is coming to Chicago, so we might have some social media manager. Type of content. Coming up on Chicago weekend.
Viv: So follow, follow the personal for sure.
WILD ONEZ: Amazing.
Viv: But yeah, Sarah, how have you been feeling? How has the health... battle been for you?
WILD ONEZ: Oh my gosh.
Viv: Because I know you've been running a little bit. I've seen some Strava and Garmin activity.
WILD ONEZ: yeah a little here and there trying to just like move my body and
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, so this week, actually today, it's Tuesday when we're recording this. I had a bunch of lab tests done today.
Viv: Yay.
WILD ONEZ: So hopefully they get more like definitive answers of what's going on with things.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: But we also did confirm.
Viv: Definitely.
WILD ONEZ: mold in our house last week.
Viv: Yeah, you guys found a bunch of it in your bathroom, right?
WILD ONEZ: uh
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, so we just found this out. last week and so we're still kind of in the process of like figuring out like the remediation and like who to hire but then like also some of this may be caused by some like bad piping that was done at like when we moved in and so there might be like some like legal things involved and like it's a whole It's a whole thing now.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: That's crazy
Viv: That's insane.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: You know, Matt did high -low and he's like not really training for anything right now. And so it's just like. let's get rid of this and figure out what else is going on with our house if it's spread to other places because it's like really severely impacting me and then also like Matt had noticed some things as well sort of as we came back from Europe and just like
Viv: Yeah. Absolutely.
Viv: I mean, I'm just saying I do have a guest bedroom for you guys in Louisiana.
WILD ONEZ: I'm thinking about it no I'm totally thinking about it I'll yeah like the month of November I might just like hang out
Viv: let me know let me know
WILD ONEZ: I will. For sure.
Viv: Pippa and Bear would love you.
WILD ONEZ: it would be so fun. But yeah, so like, that's just what we've been really busy with. And I've just been trying to like mindfully move my body because like one of the ways that your body can like naturally process things, which like our bodies are amazing.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: And it's like incredible that we can just like get rid of these things naturally.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: We're able to, but it's like through. like sweating eating healthy like drinking lots of water like all of these things should like help my body like
Viv: Mm hmm.
WILD ONEZ: naturally process it with time like if this is what is causing everything
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: So yeah, like kind of weirdly.
Viv: Absolutely. Crazy.
WILD ONEZ: relieving to like find some sort of like
Viv: You're like, I'm not crazy. Something is actually wrong with my house in the air.
WILD ONEZ: To find like, yeah, like something that like is evidence. based for how I'm feeling like a lot of dots are connecting and they're connecting back to the mold and it's just like okay like I feel like maybe there's finally like an end to this which feels
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: good but it also feels like there's still so much to come because we have a lot to do a lot of work for us to do and a whole bathroom removal and then like everything that encompasses like what
Viv: That's nice. Yeah
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, so...
Viv: Oh yeah. So...
WILD ONEZ: Creepy.
Viv: When you remodel your bathroom, can you please pick out some...
WILD ONEZ: Hmm.
Viv: Like... ducky tiles, like little rubber duck tiles. I think that'd be really fun.
WILD ONEZ: Okay, maybe I will. Maybe I'll just order like two or three and just like put them randomly in the drawer.
Viv: Okay. It's permanent metal. Yes.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, just for you.
Viv: I can't wait I'm so excited
WILD ONEZ: Okay. I love that. That's so funny. Okay, well. We have a super exciting episode for you guys today.
Viv: Like, I mean, really exciting. I... I'm so excited to. interview this person.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah. This woman is incredible. Viv, do you want to go?
Viv: I do.
WILD ONEZ: Okay.
Viv: Oh, my gosh. We met. Two. years ago maybe, I'm gonna round. Up. down, whatever. But she... is an all -star athlete. Literally, like...
Viv: I want to be. Mara when I grew up. She is incredible. She's smart. She is done. all of the races essentially. I think there's a few that she's missing from her, her swim run belt, but she is incredibly talented. She is, uh,
Viv: Psych. Clinical. Psych.
Mara: clinical.
Viv: resident right now Yeah, what are you, what are...
Mara: Clinical psychology. Yeah.
Viv: Yes. Okay. I was like, I'm going to butcher it completely.
Mara: That's okay.
Viv: But welcome to the podcast, Mara. Like Sarah. Everybody always screws up her name. we even screwed up her name it's not uh Mara but it's Mara like Sarah so
Mara: Thank having me.
Mara: You guys did not prepare me to blush. So I am cheesing so hard. Thank you for that very kind welcome. And thanks for having me.
Viv: We're so, so excited.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Yeah, but.
WILD ONEZ: Nobody can see our reactions thankfully.
Mara: Yeah, that is a saving grace, but just know that my cheeks hurt, so. from smiling.
Viv: It's not going to be the last time, I promise.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, they might be sore after this.
Mara: Yeah. Got to get the reps in though. So like anything.
Viv: I know. Absolutely.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: That's how you prevent wrinkles, right? Or does that creep?
Viv: I think so.
Viv: I mean, it's good wrinkles.
WILD ONEZ: I dunno. Bye.
Viv: If that's like...
WILD ONEZ: yeah I'll take it I'll take it
Viv: If I'm going to be like. Oh, you have wrinkles from smiling too much? Thank you. Thank you.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah. Bummer.
Viv: I'm glad. Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: What a rough life.
Viv: Darn it. Yeah. Oh my gosh.
WILD ONEZ: Okay.
Viv: Well, we're so excited to have you. Like I said, we met and immediately kicked it off. You are just a gem of a human. I say that about every guest, but I truly mean it. You are really like...
Viv: One of our favorite people in this moment in the world. We have a long list. But I get so excited when I see you and you're on. The race roster and just catching up because I don't even remember the first race that we met you at, but it's just.
Viv: Been great ever since.
Mara: I feel like so many of the best friendships, it's like I don't remember meeting that person. It's just kind of like they've been part of my story. I mean. obviously it couldn't have been before I started swim running but basically you've been part of my swim run journey I feel like since I started so I also don't remember exactly when it was But I think that says a lot.
Viv: I'm like. It was one of those races somewhere.
Mara: Yeah. in some corner of the United States. I don't think it was at World Champs, so it must have been at one of the U .S.
Viv: Yeah. No. Yeah, right.
Mara: races.
WILD ONEZ: Probably Casco, maybe when Anna raced it.
Mara: No, I...
WILD ONEZ: It might have been worlds.
Mara: No, that was before. I... got into swimrun because fear that
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: She raised world champs. with Andy. Maybe it might've been the Austin right after that though. Austin 2023 surprisingly was my first swim run.
WILD ONEZ: Oh. Yeah.
Mara: I think people project me back in history a lot longer than I actually go in swim run history. Probably just because I have made myself so present since I started.
Mara: If...
WILD ONEZ: Such a baddie. yeah, I think so. It must've been that race. So, okay. So how did you find swim run or how did swim run like find you?
Mara: Yeah, it definitely feels like Swimrun found me. Had always been into swimming. My parents put me in swimming at a very young age. They wanted us to just know how to swim. But then.
Mara: My brother was super into swimming and I was sick of sitting around at the meets. So I eventually started swimming and then swam all the way through college division three and then kind of through.
Mara: a little bit in middle school and then through college in the off season and then after college got progressively into running so by the time I moved to San Diego for grad school I already was training like a swim runner I just didn't know swim run existed and then it was one of my friends through my master's uh swim team who
Mara: had heard about swimrun on the rich roll podcast and she was like i don't run but you swim and run. So this sounds like your kind of deal. And she showed it to me and I was like, this is.
Mara: This is insane. Like there's, this is like for future Mara and I put it on the back burner for all of like. a couple months and I just like couldn't stop thinking about it. And then from there just found I ended up.
Mara: decided to do Austin in 2023 because it was the one that seemed like the lowest lift for me to get to. It didn't require like...
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: light and a fairy. And. I... If you're interested, I can get into the story of how Andy and I became partners. It was.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: uh I did that first race with Andy. So I have done all of my Otillo races with a partner. as well.
Viv: That's awesome. Yeah. You didn't find Andy or I guess Andy found you because you... You sign up for a race and you're like, all right. What's next?
Mara: Yeah, I. pride myself on kind of being like a
Mara: a self -starter. If I set a goal, I go and do it. And I find the resources that are out there. And so I found the Low Tide Boys very quickly. They're a very easy Google search.
Mara: And I was able to get a lot of the information I needed to get started.
Viv: Nice.
Mara: And they interviewed Andy. I know they've interviewed him a bunch of times. So I don't even remember which one it was. But he mentioned like...
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Very like curse, like. in a very cursory way We train in San Diego if anyone wants to come out. We're happy to have you. And so I just like cold emailed him, said who I was, said I was just like looking for swim run tips.
Mara: And he emailed me back and was like, I'm actually looking for a world champs partner. Why don't you like meet me at this time and place and we will see how things go. And so we met up for kind of like he introduced me to the gear.
Mara: He introduced me to like a swim run light course.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And, you know, I think he played it cool, but I think he was pretty excited to get a new person into the sport. And now we've done world champs three times together.
Viv: That's wild.
Mara: Yeah, it worked out.
WILD ONEZ: It's always so fun getting a new person into the sport.
Mara: And now that I'm on the other side of it, I'm like, it is so exciting to get someone new into the sport.
WILD ONEZ: It is, yeah.
Mara: Yeah. My favorite thing.
Viv: You're like, have you heard about some run? It's this really cool thing. And I remember whenever... You tell anybody and they're like. This is crazy. This sounds insane. But once they do it, they're like. Oh, that wasn't that bad, actually.
Mara: Yeah. You can also tell who's going to be a good victim because you can tell by that first reaction. Like if their first reaction is like, oh, that's good for you. You're like, oh, never mind.
Mara: Well, I mean, like, I'm open. But like.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Not going to put a ton of effort in here, but you can tell those people that are like, ooh. And you're like, okay.
Viv: I got you.
Mara: Let's talk.
Viv: I got you.
Mara: Yeah. Any sense of curiosity, I'm here for.
WILD ONEZ: planted a seed. Yeah. That's so fun.
Viv: That's incredible.
WILD ONEZ: So when did your endurance story start with? Yeah, I guess like I'm just like
Viv: I guess before swimrun, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: being active.
Mara: I feel like I've just kind of always considered myself an endurance athlete because in swimming i wasn't that fast but i was like i was very small as a kid and i was the one that was willing to do the hard things and so
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: I found that if I did the 200 butterfly, I could place way better than if I tried to do the 50 free.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: If I was willing to do the mile, I could sometimes win by default. But also I felt I found that I was pretty good at it. I could qualify for the different kind of like regional championships and things like that.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: So.
Viv: That's awesome.
Mara: I've always seen myself as like a distance kid, but even those races, you know, are. 20 -ish minutes. Oh, I mean the 200 butterflies. two and a half minutes. But then after I finished college, I had already run one or two half marathons.
Mara: I feel like that's just a thing people do these days. They just decide to sign up for a half marathon and we're all like, this is a good idea.
WILD ONEZ: dabbling in it Yeah.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: So I did my first two in college and They were very. I mean, I think I knew I liked it. I liked pursuing a goal. I liked running long. I liked the training.
Mara: But it wasn't really until I moved like after college, I moved to Washington, D .C., and I got into a run club. And I remember thinking, like, I will never do a full like I will never do a full marathon.
Mara: Like, why would you need to do that? That doesn't make any sense. But once you spend enough time around people. It's contagious.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: So...
Viv: Definitely.
Mara: I was... All those people in that run club were training for a full marathon. So I didn't end up completing one when I lived in D .C. The transition from swimmer to runner is really hard on your body.
Mara: And so even though like the lungs and the heart and the body and the soul was willing, the like ligaments and tendons and bones were not.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And so it was a long process for me to get through, you know, kind of the things you got to go through, like the new shin splints and the aches and the pains and things that kind of kept me from pursuing that goal for a while.
Viv: Mm -hmm
Mara: But then when I moved to San Diego. I'm I moved during like peak COVID. So it was difficult to make friends. And then I made a couple, like I had one or two like running friends and they were training for marathons. And so I got into endurance running that way, but I was really drawn to the trail really early.
Mara: So I did like a trail half marathon, I think in 2020.
Viv: Okay.
Mara: one or 2022. And then I did Catalina Trail Marathon.
Viv: Nice.
Mara: And then I did my first 50K on trail. So I just found myself like I did one road marathon and I was like, hmm. I'll... you know.
Viv: I'm good
Mara: The trail's more fun. So and then I just I just kept with swimming like as cross training.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And would do some meets, some open water, but that was definitely less the emphasis during that. period before i heard about some runs then i was like oh i have a reason to get back in the pool
Viv: Yeah. Oh my gosh, for sure. That's insane. That's really cool. So did you... end up doing, Did you do like the natural progression of like trail half to trail marathon to 50K? Or you were just like marathon, half, 50K, like somewhere in there.
Mara: I think I did end up kind of going in that order, but it wasn't on. purpose. It was kind of just opportunities that came to me so the half made sense because that was the longest distance i had done on road and i went to this race and it was in like ventura county california and I thought I like went.
Viv: Mm hmm.
Mara: I was like pretty happy. Like I forget my exact time, but. for like a trail marathon. I think I was under like two hours and 20 minutes and I was like, that's like. pretty good. And I didn't even like come close to placing.
Mara: And I was like, Whoa, there are some serious athletes out on the trail. And you know, that, that kind of shows like my. naivete now but at the time you know i was like I'm pretty happy with that time.
Viv: You're like, wow, I'm fast. That's great.
Mara: And to just see these like really badass women that were on that podium. And I was like, I kind of want to be like them one day. So. It did end up then, like, my friend was like, I'm going to do this Catalina trail marathon. Do you want to do it with me? I think I'm similar to you, Viv, that like people ask me to do these endurance things and like.
Mara: I just started saying yes. And that's how like races kind of found me is I wasn't really in a place where I was setting goals. I was more. just like gravitating towards what interested.
Mara: me.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: So I did kind of end up going in order. I'm trying to remember if my first World Champs was before or after that 50K.
Viv: Oh yeah.
Mara: But once you get into a swim run and the distances are all around a marathon, the like objective distance starts to matter less. And it's more about.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: all these different factors that contribute to how difficult a race is.
Viv: So I definitely have been noticing, like, everyone's like, oh, like, how long is it? And I was like, oh, it's like 26 miles altogether. And they're like. What? Like, what do you mean?
Viv: And I'm like, well, it doesn't feel It doesn't feel like 26 miles when you're doing it, like a World Series long course.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: Because you're in and out of the water. Like, one run might be seven miles max. But, like, the rest of them are, like. maybe a mile here, maybe 250 feet here. Like it's not anything.
Viv: crazy when you when you're actually like in it and doing it but when you look at it the total you're like oh my gosh, that's insane. Like, what are you doing? And you're like. I thought that was normal. That's weird.
Mara: Yeah. You're like, the race is only as long as the longest run. So Austin is only. a three mile race.
Viv: Pretty much at that point.
WILD ONEZ: Exactly. That's exactly how the swim run breaks work.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: That's how it works.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, 100%. So, okay. So you've started. in your endurance journey. And then you got to this point where you're like, okay, I'm actually Like just.
WILD ONEZ: Killing it at swimrun. and competing at a pretty high level, doing world champs. And then... Eventually signing up for one water race. and What did that preparation look like for you? Like training wise, mental training, physical training?
WILD ONEZ: What was that experience?
Mara: Yeah. So one water training. At least for me and it being like. my first year stepping up to something that big. It was a lifestyle.
Mara: Like it was all encompassing in a way that I personally find very exciting.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Like. I like being in that zone. kind of My favorite.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: time. But it... It was a lot. So I started kind of. Seriously training for it. January or February, I already had a 50K on the calendar in February just to kind of set a goal for the winter. but you know part of that goal was getting To baseline shape for.
Mara: one water So. yeah you could say i started i trained for it for essentially seven to eight months. And I also made the decision to start working with a coach for the first time because I knew that this was a huge level up. I knew that I didn't know what I needed to know going into OneWater. And mostly for me, I needed the...
Mara: mental effort of planning my own training. completely taken off my plate.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: think very deeply about the decisions that I make. And that's a double -edged sword because it can lead to a lot of like. Second guessing or uncertainty.
Mara: During a time when I knew I was going to be really, really busy. I was also in my residency at the time. So I was living in a new city, which ended up being a blessing in disguise because I didn't have, I had enough friends here, but not. quite the robust friend group that I had in San Diego. And so having a few closer friends was very supportive for.
Mara: the the routine and the lifestyle of one water. but having that coach and having that periodized training, like it really was like a slow build.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: I never felt thrown in over my head. It was done in a very like. progressive and approachable way that I felt like the bar was set and I could i had to stretch but i could reach it and then the bar would kind of
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: move in an appropriate way. But basically, it looked like a lot of running, swimming and lifting. I started lifting more seriously as well to get the shoulders really strong.
Viv: Nice. Yeah.
Mara: So. My training really varied from week to week, but, you know, I was averaging. starting at like 10 ,000. meters per week and building up to like over 20 ,000 meters per week and then running starting around.
Mara: 30 to 40k or sorry It's probably starting around 50K. uh per week and then you know That really varied depending on what long sessions I had over the weekend. I think I ended up being consistently around. 7 or 80. per week often. So it was a lot of time. It ended up being like 15 hours per week, which is basically a part -time job.
Mara: But mostly it was just a lot of fun. It gave me an opportunity to connect with people who I had connected with here in Seattle and get to know them better because people who are willing to do some part of this training with me became extremely valuable. And so I was able to.
Mara: connect with people more deeply, get to know them, and also help them achieve things they didn't think like i think we were all just like doing things we didn't think. were possible. I did a swim with a guy who has swam since college.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And he was like, I've never done more than a 6K straight. And we went. out for an 8k swim and he got to achieve like that big goal. And then.
Viv: That's awesome.
Mara: You know what? I had a friend that was just doing like 50K after 50K on the weekends with me. And like, that's not something like she thought. she could do. And so it created this really great atmosphere of just like a small group of people pushing each other to be better. And I felt really supported. Yeah, it was a lot of time.
Viv: That's so special. I like that too. Like, if you can find... Those people that are like just. they don't have to be just as crazy as you they just have to like say hey you know what like I know how to swim, I know how to run, or I know how to swim, run, like just doing those things.
Viv: with you so you don't feel alone on some of these workouts because some of them like I'm sure. mental wise like yeah you're training your mental toughness but there's some days and some workouts that like just in general like a lot of us don't want to do like we're just like you know what it's easier just to like not do them.
Viv: Or like cut it or cut it short. So that's really cool that you've been able to find that like small cohort of people to be like, yeah, let's do it.
Mara: Yeah. Community makes such a big difference. I think it's like a lot of what we seek in this sport, but it's also like we seek it from the sport, but we also use it to like maintain our engagement.
Viv: Absolutely.
Mara: in the sport when things are hard. Yeah, when we have those mornings that... we get up and we don't want to. go to the pool or do our workout and it's still dark out and it's cold and, you know, it gets rainy here. It gets really unpleasant in the winter. And there were times I had to get out and do these things. you know, sometimes people were with me and sometimes they weren't, but even if they weren't, like knowing we were in it together was a huge part of the journey as well.
Viv: Absolutely. How did you... What got you to say yes to One Water? Because that's a huge... That dictates your entire year, obviously. Like, you're signing up for a part -time job, essentially, like you said.
Viv: So what was the final, like... Like, this is cool. Like, maybe I'll do it one day. But what was like that? What convinced you? You did. be like yeah that's cool I'll actually do that
Mara: Yeah. That's so funny because I feel like. I feel like it's like, what could have, like, what could have talked me out of it? Like, ever since I heard about One Water, I was.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: I was intrigued, fascinated, knew I would want to do it one day. But to your point, I was, I remember I talked to Beak. at orcas in 2025 so last september and was just asking him about
Mara: one water. And. kind of like shot my shot. I was just like, you know, I'm like, I want to do that one day. And I just kind of like put the idea in his head.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And I think he was like, okay, that's cool. You know, there aren't a ton of women in one water. So I think when a woman walks up to you and is like, hey, I'm interested in this thing. It's like, okay, like I'm taking note of that because willingness is sometimes half the battle with building a team.
Viv: Absolutely. Yeah.
Mara: And then. at Colorado that same year. I had a really great swim day. I think he'll be okay with me telling this story, but I...
Mara: like surge past beak pulling Marcus on a swim. And he like did a double take and was like, who is that? And he was like, oh, that's that person that literally came up to me and said they were interested in one water. So it wasn't long after that before.
Mara: And be kind of like inquired more about like, you know, you said you're interested in this. I think I had mentioned like, I think it could be ready in two years. And he was like, do you think you could be ready this year?
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And that was the part that was harder to say yes to because that was very scary. I was like, that is.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: you know, in October, that's I can't do math right now, but I was like, that's like 10 months away. Like that's so soon. But I also. you know, knew that I wanted to do it. And you don't just let opportunities like that pass you by.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And so It was like. honestly be believing in me and, and seeing potential that maybe I didn't quite see yet. And then a lot of it also came from my boyfriend, Mateo, like he is one that...
Mara: Wow. just relentlessly encourages me to pursue my goals. And so I know we had a conversation of like, this is going to be hard. This is going to be a strain on me and therefore a strain on our relationship.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: But I think this is something I really want. And he really encouraged me also to go for it. So I think, yeah, back to that community piece, just like having people that. believe in you is what pushed me to.
Mara: pulled the trigger on it this time last year.
Viv: That's incredible. I don't know if it's too soon to ask. What do we think of 2027?
WILD ONEZ: I saw applications were open.
Viv: Applications are open.
Mara: Yeah, girl, I wasn't even off that course before I was like. Let's go.
WILD ONEZ: Yes!
Viv: Okay, I love to hear it.
Mara: Do I know exactly what that's going to look like yet? No, that's about all that I know.
Viv: That's great.
Mara: I, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Yes.
Mara: It's this thing that... lives If you're me, at least, and I think a lot of people like... It is like... a puzzle and a project that just lives in your mind.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And it won't leave you alone, but like kind of in the best way. Like it's not like any other race that I've done where it's like. I got to like. figure out how to finish this thing like there's there's Like...
Mara: planning and like strategy that goes into it in a way that's like keeping my like PhD brain very busy. And so when I was...
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: pulled for medical reasons this year, it was immediately like. I wanna come back. I wanna figure this out. I wanna figure this puzzle out. I learned so much.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And I want to put that to use.
Viv: That's incredible. Yeah, what? So, at the beginning of the race... I mean, it was insane. Everybody, like, this was the closest all the teams had been for, like, hours at the beginning of the race.
Viv: If anybody is listening to this and has not seen one water, the race technically really doesn't like start until 24 hours in because that's when you're really like. You're sleep deprived, you're tired, like your body is being... tested like you're taking naps essentially like two minute naps either standing up on a tree like just laying down closing your eyes and being like all right we're good to go or you could be like jared and sleep during one of the swims i think one of the swims he was like i think i just took a nap i'm like how did you just take a nap but
Viv: I mean, when you're tired, you're tired.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: At that point, Like... There was a little bit more separation between the teams. Obviously, our goats, Australia, took off from everybody, and it was incredible to watch. Just the live stream, this is, again, one of the... races, a few races that are out there that provide a constant live stream.
Viv: of it and I know you guys We're in the back. We kind of talked about this a little bit too in person. You'd think you're going to be on camera having conversations, but it was like the best conversations. Like I loved between you and Chris. I was like, this is the best because you.
Viv: Really like. How did it feel to be? Very. vulnerable and raw. During these races. Knowing that like. yes, like potentially being live streamed depending on the coverage.
Viv: How did that feel? Was it just natural for you at that point in the team?
Mara: Yeah, I think, so I think I've reflected on this piece of it a lot because Apparently like I love to break the fourth wall. Like I. loved to talk to our media runner and he was such a nice.
Mara: person. Like he was just such a nice guy.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And like now we follow each other on Strava and like, you know, that's like a person that I like feel very fondly about.
Viv: Amazing.
Mara: So he made it really easy. And then like just having the. kind of dynamic in the team that we already had. It just, you know, the camera is on you the entire time.
Mara: So you do just start to block it out.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: But. It... Yeah, I think I've more reflected on it later than actually during the race. I think during the race, I kind of assumed like they wouldn't broadcast that much of us, like they would really focus on the lead teams. And also, I just, you know, you can't know what percentage of the time that.
Mara: You are being broadcast.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: so In retrospect, it is actually like really weird because there are things that my friends and family saw that obviously I experienced, but like, I don't even know what part of my experience was broadcast.
Mara: And I won't know until I've watched every single minute of the footage and like tried to retain it.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Or like were captured out of context or something like that. Jared sent me a video the other day that was like me saying like, oh, Jared didn't lie to me. And it's just like to have that one snippet taken out of context was so like kind of.
Mara: kind of bizarre of like, oh yeah, I do remember saying that, but there was like way more context leading up to that and like surrounding that. So yeah, I think. It's weird how little I noticed it. It was like kind of really, I think some people like feel.
Mara: Like. They want to talk less around a camera. I was surprised to find that I was pretty chatty with the media runner, but that was, that was a, that was a treat to find out. But then, yeah, in retrospect, it's like.
Mara: it's interesting to see kind of like what what was captured and to be able to see this whole race that. you kind of selectively. remember based on different aspects of
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: your brain at that time to see them like from like. a third person perspective is very strange. Yeah.
Viv: That's crazy. Was it? very I mean Sarah and I were literally texting each other like okay oh my gosh this person okay are you at work you do this like For those two, three days, I am not productive at work. Obviously, nothing. Even before you were even on it, probably the same way. We're glued to our phones. We're wanting each team to do.
Viv: just incredible things. When did you... I'm going to ask about your medical stuff, but when did you start feeling kind of like off, like something was not right?
Viv: And how do you communicate that? Because I think that's the biggest piece too is like... yes it's one water it's this massive race but also like How did you find your communication? Because that's another skill. when just racing swim run in general.
Mara: Yeah, the communication piece, oh, like... I feel like I'm a pretty good communicator and I feel like our team got along super well. and It is a challenge.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: It's really, really difficult, especially because this race is so different from any other. To answer your first question, like I feel like I kind of started feeling bad around the middle of the first full day. I just remember like those first like.
Mara: 12. 13, 14. Yeah. The first like 15 hours just being like. the time of my life, like just having so much fun. Like, yes, there were ups and downs, but just doing what you love, being in a beautiful place.
Mara: The night was so fun.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And like feeling exactly how I wanted to feel, hitting the paces I wanted to hit. But yeah, around the middle of the first full day, I started having a sore throat.
Mara: which didn't feel like that big of a deal. But the issue was that it was making it really hard for me to fuel, like to get fuel down just with that sore throat.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Hmm. Gotcha.
Mara: But where the communication piece comes in is like in any other race, like I wouldn't really communicate that to a partner because you don't want to bring up an issue that you don't think is like really going to turn into a problem or you don't want to complain or it just didn't even like really cross my mind to bring it up.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: super vehemently because I just thought it would like kind of this like athlete mindset of like. I'll get through it. Like I'll kind of grind through it. The thing about one water is that almost nothing that starts before.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: hour 40, can you really just grind through? And so. One of the things that I've learned is that you need to communicate things, even if you think they're going to resolve. early, often and consistently.
Viv: That's good.
Mara: I think we were at checkpoint. eight or nine when i like looked at my teammates and i was like i i can't speak and they they were like, whoa, like we knew you had gotten by it, but we didn't realize it was that bad.
Viv: Because of that, yeah.
Mara: because of the sore throat.
Viv: Mm -hmm.
Mara: And so that's when I like really remember. And that's when we, like, I think at that point we were only two hours behind the leaders. And so, you know, you always have the eight hour rule in mind.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: So we were still in kind of good shape team wise, like in terms of our standing. uh that's kind of when i remember starting to feel.
Mara: sick and We didn't really have kind of like. system in place. for. that like I think I said that and then I didn't say like an action item like I my throat hurts and I need you to force feed me like that's probably what I should have said like I haven't had enough calories I need you to force feed me but
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: you know It's hard to. prepare for like all of these different iterations of things that could happen, but you best believe next year I will have an SOP for that.
Viv: Absolutely.
Viv: Everything that could hurt, we got an SOP.
Mara: Yes.
Viv: Knees. Throat? Eyes, whatever you got. We got an SOP for it.
Mara: Yes. Yep. It's in the binder. Let's make a binder.
Viv: That's really smart, though.
Mara: Yeah. I mean, we like that's not to say that we didn't prepare. This was hours and hours and hours of.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: That was definitely new for me. new for my team and Yeah, we're learning from it. And that, you know, that sore throat is not the thing that ended up. taking me out like i can't uh to fast forward it's like them.
Mara: the medics did a workup of me and I. I had SIPE. So I had the beginnings of like SIPE fluid in my lungs. I could hear the wheezing.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And I could feel like the rattle in my lungs. But they said. They also think that I had an infection. some kind of like virus that I was already fighting off, which tracks with the sore throat earlier in the race.
Mara: So I don't even think it's like, I don't think.
Mara: just because that's when I started feeling bad. I don't think that's when it was like. I think. there was still like a lot of potential for us. in the race.
Viv: Absolutely.
Mara: And then the medics. provided more context on that uh, after, you know, SIPE. clears up. My old site clears up. within 24 hours. So when I saw them over 24 hours later and I told them I was still having coughing and just like.
Mara: waking up feeling like I couldn't breathe and really sick, they were like, well, then that confirms what we thought, that you had an infection because like that shouldn't be the site at this point. At least that's the information I was given.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Okay. Well, I'm very glad you made it through. And you did Worlds, what, two weeks later, three weeks later at that point? So you definitely have enough time.
Viv: to kind of heal your body, kind of keep up with that base. You and your boyfriend went to Norway. Right?
Mara: Mm -hmm.
Viv: Did a whole road trip around there.
Mara: mm -hmm
Viv: And he did a... Was it a trail marathon or half marathon?
Mara: You did a trail marathon, yeah.
Viv: How is that kind of? because he supported you through all of this, obviously, like he's a runner too. How did it kind of feel to flip the script for a little bit too?
Mara: It felt...
Viv: For you.
Mara: Amazing. Unsurprisingly, I definitely had FOMO. I don't think I can attend a race and not have FOMO.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: I... I was honestly so excited to play that support role for him because he has been so incredibly supportive of me. And also just because I love to see him succeed and pursue things that.
Mara: you know, that's what brought us together. We met through Run Club and these are the things that we like to encourage each other to do.
Viv: That's awesome.
Mara: So it was really, really great to play. to play that role and to feel healthy enough to play that role as well.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And support him through that. I also think like something I learned during one water is like, I kind of took for granted that. I feel like I have a lot of strengths as a partner. Like I think I am a very like. supportive.
Mara: like swimrun partner like i i think i communicate well i think I'm willing to.
Mara: you know, take an extra swim or pull on a run. Like I I'll carry extra gear. Like I do think I'm a very supportive partner, but I think something that I learned during one water is like, I have blind spots. I have things I want to do better. And so that gave me kind of an immediate, that and world champs gave me an immediate opportunity to practice some of those skills that I think I could do better at as a swim run partner, as a one water teammate. so it was also just really good timing of like, okay, like. this is something I want to work on. And here's like a ready opportunity for me to do that.
Viv: Yeah, that's awesome. That's so special. How? Okay. So he, Norway. look beautiful on Instagram.
Mara: Gorgeous. gorgeous.
Viv: I think Sarah also... You might have done a road trip. around Norway. too, right?
WILD ONEZ: yeah so the first yeah the first world champs that we did we spent a week in norway this is actually after like three months of knowing each other
Viv: Ish.
Viv: Which is wild.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, we rented a van and like van camped it around Norway before Worlds, which was, it's just such a gorgeous place if you ever get the opportunity. Spend some time there.
WILD ONEZ: and explore because the terrain is just like gorgeous and it's so unlike anything here in the States. Yeah, just incredible. So you took this really fun kind of like vacation.
WILD ONEZ: after one water and then kind of What did that look like getting back into race mode for Worlds and that experience?
Mara: Yeah. I think it was such a good move to have that trip and not come back to the U .S. and kind of try to like simulate having like a normal life for like. you know, 10 days here and then going back. And this is also where like having a coach.
Mara: was really helpful because she was able to like give me workouts while I was there that, you know. allowed me to recover but also kept me with some structure but also allowed me some flexibility around having travel. So.
Mara: I was. Back in the pool pretty quickly, I got to find some like really scenic places to swim. They do a really great job there of having these like outdoor.
Mara: roped in like They're pools, but they're made of docks.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: in in Norway and in Sweden and so I got to explore some of those or find some public pools, which is just like a really cool way to explore another country.
Viv: That's awesome.
Mara: But I also spent that time doing a lot of like very intentional. like processing of what had happened and what I was about to be doing as well. because, you know, Andy was on our one water team and then we also raced world champs.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And so we both just gone through this really. difficult, emotional. experience and like you know we dnf'd that's something to have to process and
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: to work through and like we're both coming off that kind of like both high and low and going into this race together and wanting to give it our best And so I.
Mara: I kind of spent a lot of time thinking about. like, how do I want to show up in this race? And as a partner in this race, I knew that Last time, like last year, we had gotten Andy's second best time.
Mara: And I knew I had gotten his like best time as like him with a female partner. And when I heard that his best time with a male partner was in reach, I was like, oh, we're going for that.
Viv: Nice.
Mara: I don't want to be best female partner.
Viv: We could do that.
Mara: I want to be
Viv: Be the best.
Mara: The best. Full stop. And he... has done this race like this was his 11th time. And so
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: And it was massive because it was the 20th year.
Mara: Bye.
Viv: So like... We're... Ball it out.
Mara: Yeah. yeah, like this is a celebration and then we're coming off on water. So I was like, how do I want to show up as a partner? You know, like.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: I want to lead the swims with integrity. I want to. know what his goal is and like what paces we need to hit to reach that goal and so I used a lot of the like planning and strategizing that I had learned through One Water Prep and applied that to the World Champs course and was able to look at our time from the prior two years and like see where I could take another 12 minutes off.
Mara: Ran the plan by Andy. He okayed it. We had a conversation about it and I was like, okay, like this is my goal is to try to execute this plan to the best.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: of my ability and our goal. Generally, my goal is always to try to have a good time as well. I think this is a beautiful race.
Viv: Yeah, absolutely
Mara: So having fun was also on the list, but. Yeah, I think it was just really setting straight for myself, like what is the objective here? And it's to like be a good partner and help that partner execute his goal.
Viv: That's awesome. Were you guys able to get that time?
Mara: Yes, we crushed the PR. We were running up the final hill to the finish line.
Viv: Yay!
Mara: And I was like. And my big thing is like, we don't walk that hill. And so I was like, Andy, we don't walk this hill.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: But I was like, I hate to break it to you, but like if. If we keep jogging, we're going to hit your PR. And he was like, we're nowhere near my PR. And I was like, Andy, look at your watch. and we were like minute like i think five minutes under his pr and he was like
Viv: Wow.
Mara: he was like, you did this. Like he was like. Thank you for doing this for me. I didn't even know what time it was. And you got us here.
Mara: well under my PR. And he was just like. And I just like watched it wash over him. And I was like, oh my gosh, like we. yeah, we did this. We did this as a team. And it was just really special because like, I feel like he supported me in my one water goal. So being able to support him. in that PR goal. was huge.
WILD ONEZ: That's amazing.
WILD ONEZ: It was not an easy year to PR either.
Viv: Oh, my gosh. No. Miracles happen, man. Because I'm right there with you and Andy, too. I was in shock the entire time. Again. Listen to the previous episode or two previous episodes. Maya was Maya. Mara, like it was.
Viv: It was incredible, but it was hard. Yeah, Sarah got to watch the pig swim from a boat. And she was like, that looks awful.
Mara: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, it's kind of wild watching the world champs. from a different perspective, like being on that start line and finishing the race twice, coming back for the third time.
WILD ONEZ: and like getting to see it just from like a spectator point of view and just how like wild and crazy and rugged and like amazing this race is. it like really truly is something special but there's something to be said about like the athletes that show up to the start line and like put all of their time and effort and planning and everything for months or years into this race and just like pour themselves into it and like one water is
WILD ONEZ: like world champs but like five or six times the amount of preparation training
Viv: I'm like crack.
WILD ONEZ: duration and then you have the orienteering part of it as well and so it's just like it's so incredible to like see these athletes at the start line and then like watch their journey through the archipelago because every time you see a team and then you see them again later on like it's just so different and you like knowing what they could be going through because I've been there before just gave me so much more appreciation to like be out there in nature experiencing that.
WILD ONEZ: And yeah, it's just incredible and such a huge feat. Yeah, insane. All at the same time.
Mara: Yeah, we are so lucky to have had. Like. I think of like how many times I've been to the archipelago. And then there are people who have literally never heard of the archipelago. And I know there's so many places I've never heard of, but it's such a special place.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And it feels like such a privilege to have something that allows me to explore it in such a unique. And like. just Never, at least once per race, I try to look around and be like, wow.
Mara: I mean, usually it happens multiple times per race, but.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: I don't let myself forget that. And like there were so many, you know, because the pace of One Water is so much slower after the first six hours than World Champs is, like just having many more of those opportunities to be.
Mara: in that moment and experience. Bye. nature and day and night moving over the islands. It's such a magical thing that we all. get to do. And it sounds like Sarah, your experience, like, and my experience of moving through the archipelago differently. It's like. There's so many different ways to experience it and they all offer.
Mara: a very unique and valuable perspective.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah. a hundred percent
Viv: It's so cool. Going back to Bournemouth, I'm just remembering this. Did you see the Northern Lights?
Mara: Yes.
Viv: Were you guys swimming during that time?
Mara: We were swimming during that time, but like... I... I think one of the swims that I was in the back. for the first bit of the race uh we were saving beaks energy for our navigation and so Jonas and I were alternating leading.
Mara: And so there was one that I was in the back and I was like almost turning like all the way over to see the stars because I have never, like there's only a handful of times in my life that I have seen like so many like.
Viv: Mm hmm.
Mara: unadulterated. stars like not impacted by city lights and and yeah the the northern lights were out and some of the photographers got absolutely phenomenal
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: photos of them. It was That, I mean, people talk about the sunrise. For me, it was that night sky. That was just. Absolutely breathtaking. Yeah, I wish we got to see the moose, but that's okay. next time.
Viv: The moose swimming was my favorite part.
Mara: Yeah. Incredible.
Viv: my gosh okay yeah no the the natural beauty of just everything like when I saw those photos I was like This is incredible that, like, one, we're in nature. And I think, like, all of us can appreciate that. Like, that's why we do this. The spore is, yeah, it puts us in nature, but there's so much to be said for, again, the beauty of the archipelago. Even the world race.
Viv: That course hasn't changed in the last 21 years. I guess 20 years of it running, but 21 years total. It's not changed. Like, the course is the same. Maybe you go... one rock over or whatnot, but. Every single time. Like.
Viv: is just a brand new experience. I noticed something else. I'm like, was that? Building here before, was that? Did this tree move? Like... I don't know what's going on here. It's always a new adventure, no matter.
Viv: If the course is the same. So it's definitely special in that way.
Mara: Yeah. Yeah. And I think. like this like being able to experience it multiple different times across the years and the weeks too like i have a
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: all -encompassing respect for it as well. Last year, conditions were so different from this year. Similarly, like from one water to 20 days later, world champs, the conditions were incredibly different. So. There's also something for seeing. Seeing. that.
Mara: the archipelago across time. That is really special. And like you said. It's the same course every time. And so you're like, this is the same, but. It's not. the same.
Mara: every single time
Viv: Yeah. I think the archipelago has a mind of its own. Every single time I've lined up for that start line, only the three times, but I'm like... Dear Archipelago, let's be really kind today.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: I feel like I have made all the sacrifices I need to. I've prayed to God. Like I, we just need mama nature to like act right. Obviously, did not get that memo.
Mara: Didn't listen to you this year.
Viv: Headwind. Headwind the entire freaking day, man.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: jellyfish were behaving they were they were like not as many and as bunched maybe depending on which way of swimming, but they were kind this year.
Mara: That's true.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: yeah just a reminder the jellyfish I probably will mention this every episode the jellyfish don't sting so if you do worlds the jellyfish don't sting Do not freak out like Sarah and I did our first year. Because I had just come back from like the Caribbean and I had gotten stung by jellyfish. And so when I saw them, I naturally freaked out. And this is a call out on Amy Bush because she's like, you didn't read my entire race report from Worlds.
Viv: When it says the jellyfish don't sting. And I obviously. Yes. Just miss that part. in that memo so i don't know if i don't know if you got that memo before you did your first worlds from andy where it was like hey there's jellyfish
Mara: I do wonder if I did. I feel like that's something he would have. Actually, I feel like that's not something he would have warned me about. I feel like that's something he would have just been like. They're there. But I do remember, I mean, I think, yeah, I think I just wasn't.
Mara: scared of them, but I was caught off guard. But I, yeah, I don't remember if I got. I don't remember if that was part of the briefing.
Viv: There you go.
WILD ONEZ: It's fair. There's a lot to brief about. okay so kind of reflecting on one water and worlds and everything that you like experienced. this summer.
WILD ONEZ: leading up to it what is like one piece of knowledge or advice for yourself and others that you think you'll like carry with you
Mara: It's a great question. I think... the first thing that's coming to mind is just like go for it if there's something that's interesting you if there's something that's drawing you if there's something you're passionate about
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Don't let... things like uncertainty or self -doubt or... you know. Maybe not. feeling ready or maybe even not having like the training on paper kind of stop you from going. for it. you know, I think Saying yes to one water and then.
Mara: you know, having the luck. to get accepted. was life -changing in a very positive way. It's 100 % changed my life. And it's because I said yes. And it's, you know, it's not saying yes to to things without thinking about, can I put in the time? Can I put in the preparation? But it is thinking like.
Mara: Is this something changeable that is holding me back from saying yes from something I'm to something I'm actually really, really interested in? Is it fear? Is it self -doubt?
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And so I think... like to continue this further, like. When I said yes to one water, I was like, what does this mean for world? I called up Andy because that's who I was doing Worlds with. And I said, look, I want to do this. I want to do One Water. And he was like, all right, how do you want to do this? And I was like, well, I'd like to do One Water and World Champs. And he was like.
Mara: And we do want water and i had no idea what that was going to look like i had no idea if that was going to be feasible i knew beak and our queen kayla had done it before so i was like okay there is evidence this is possible
Viv: Nice.
Viv: It can happen.
Mara: It can happen. And so like after I made that decision, I just stopped doubting it. I said, OK, we're going to. do everything we can to prepare. So yeah, I think that's the advice that I took and that I would give myself and give someone else is like, if something's calling to you, whether it's in sport. or something else. Follow it.
Mara: if you can.
Mara: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, I love that. I think that's a really good piece of advice. So you mentioned something about like the self doubt and kind of like the negative. parts of like shooting for something really high that seems just out of reach. How did you...
WILD ONEZ: kind of like process that or like I guess flip or reframe that in your brain to be something that was like positive and more like maybe a fuel source as opposed to something that was holding you back.
Mara: Yeah. It wasn't one thing, you know, I think it was an ongoing process throughout training of. of dealing with that. I think when you are working towards something that is out of your comfort zone and really exciting, like there is.
Mara: for most people, a certain amount of. worry or self -doubt that is going to creep in at times. I think I kind of took a multi -pronged approach to dealing with it. you know, I think worry can be helpful if it's helping you to prepare so when i first felt that worry i said okay what am i feeling worried about or what am i feeling self -doubt about it was preparation and so started with a coach i started having consistent meetings with speak so that i could get up to speed on
Mara: what i didn't know yet i started doing my own research watching film and so there was a certain amount of preparation that helped me with that like very real deficit and experience that you have when you're new to this but then once that worry kind of like gets past the point of being helpful that's when i started kind of a multi -pronged approach of both trying to change the thoughts focusing on what is the evidence that I'm working towards being ready.
Mara: but also trying to accept the thoughts. I can... feel like this is overwhelming and like this is a big goal. and continue to work towards it. that emotion, that thought can exist while I'm putting in the work that I know I need to put in. With time, as you practice that balance.
Mara: the thoughts start to kind of get quieter and quieter, especially as you're then building that evidence that you are working in the right direction. I kind of had the preparation piece the change thoughts, accept thoughts piece. And then I do think a really crucial component of it is also the people that you surround yourself with. I think I had a huge support group within swim run.
Mara: Kayla offered me a lot of her time and advice and was very available. Beak offered a lot of his time and advice and was available. But then also I told people who aren't even in. sports that are in my life that like they knew that this was important to me and they offered support and validation and having that community around me.
Mara: really filled in the cracks of what was left over after I had. Done the physical work. done the mental work. having that support was really crucial. And I was actually really surprised by how some of my non -athletic friends were able to show up so well for me because I can't imagine.
Mara: trying to show up. for someone. who's doing something that would be so difficult for me to. comprehend or like relate to, I guess. And so it was also a really beautiful moment to receive support from people who I think.
Mara: I... yeah, I'm glad I gave them the chance to support me and I hope I get the chance.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: to return the favor.
Viv: That's really cool. That's really special. yeah I think it's it's the same when you also like try and explain spin run too and you're like yeah But Swimrun... But like.
Viv: plus Like. 200 miles kind of thing. 200k like we're talking here and they're like I'm sorry, you're wanting to do that?
Viv: Instead of like, no.
Mara: no course.
Viv: Yeah, no course, no markers besides like the checkpoints that you have to find in the middle of a random island. Like, oh, yeah, that totally makes sense. Why?
Mara: That's always the next question.
Viv: Are you okay? You're like, why not? because I'm capable. I train for this. We train, I think Liza said it best in one of our episodes, we train to be adventure ready. We train so that we can say yes to those things that like again we get asked to do like the trail marathons and the marathons and the swim runs but Because we've put in so much time and we've had to sacrifice. so much but we also have that community like you're saying behind us
Viv: we're able to to easily say yes to those things and be like, oh yeah, yeah, that's like a... like a walk in the park but because we put in that time in that training That yes is so much easier.
Viv: So that's really cool that you've been able to rally people behind you That's special. I think one more question that we ask kind of everybody.
Viv: Being one water and... world, but also in swim run. And I'm not sure if your field of work is male heavy too, but... How does it feel? Being a female in endurance sports.
Viv: And. Kind of. Honestly, I'm on one water. Obviously there's that. requirement of you must have a female on your team. racing.
Viv: But how does it feel to be a woman in endurance sports? And do you have any advice to any females out there besides, like, the just do it? part. that are nervous about stepping into this.
Viv: what feels like a very male dominated world.
Mara: Yeah. I think that... How it feels is complicated. Sometimes it... is not something I'm thinking about at all. Sometimes my identity in a partnership or in a room is...
Mara: a swim runner or a really good partner or, you know, someone who's like leading a meeting or seeing a patient. But sometimes it's very much at the front of my mind. Sometimes that's in a positive way. I.
Mara: and showing up. I am representing. the minority population here in a way that I think is really important. And also like in one water in particular, but also world champs, like. It is an incredible group of athletes to be.
Mara: representing yourself in, you know, like I feel lucky to have been there. And. It's like, well, I've also been considered like acceptable to be here and juggling both that feeling of like being enough to be there, but also like as a woman.
Mara: was like truly an honor. And all of the other women that I met through One Water are incredible athletes and people kind of across the board.
Mara: And then also there are times that it's very obvious that like your identity as a woman is not being taken seriously or not being. And sometimes that's intentional in swim run when it does happen.
Mara: And in endurance sports, like it's more often unintentional, like certain assumptions about women's abilities.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: But what we're seeing more and more is that. you know women are just as good, if not better at some of the longer distance events. And so like, I'm actually surprised we don't see more female representation in one water.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: So. There are times that it's not an identity that's like easy to inhabit. And I think that also shows up in my career a bit. I mean, psychology is female dominated, but I work. in like an inpatient medical setting. And so most of the medical fields are male dominated. And so being a PhD instead of a medical doctor, and then on top of that being a woman and being someone who treats mental health, I feel like.
Mara: I've had to learn certain ways to. represent myself and speak about myself and represent what I bring to a team. uh that has translated into endurance sports so as far as advice for other women But it's tricky because I think I want to say like.
Mara: know when to stand up for yourself know your value know when to assert yourself and and Don't let. that identity, let that identity be a strength, not a weakness. But at the same time, I also know that the systems that we live in, and there are times when being just navigating, being a woman is complicated. And so I kind of think that it's okay to give some acceptance around like, however, you're navigating being a woman, like give yourself some grace around that. And like.
Mara: It's probably you. an okay way to be representing.
Viv: No, that's great. very beautiful advice. I love it. Yeah, because I think it's... We all have different backgrounds, how we grew up, how...
Viv: work looks like and swimrun too and again we we harp on the community piece of swimrun because it is so accepting. And it's not. It's a big family reunion. We say that all the time. Because when we get together, it's like a big party. We race, we have food, and we shoot the shit. So it's great.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: And with. with that to translating into. okay, how can we take that into the real world as well? That's really cool. I love that
Mara: Yeah, thank you
Viv: Yes. What's next this coming up year? Are we going to see what Colorado or Austin?
Mara: Yes. Yep. I'm super excited to finish up this season. I will be at Colorado, uh, in less than a week. I'm racing there with a beak. So that'll be super fun.
Viv: Nice.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And then I will be racing Austin in November with Jared. So looking forward to that as well.
Viv: Those are some awesome partners.
Viv: Oh, I'm so excited. Sarah will see you in Colorado and I'll see you in Austin. So I'm very, very excited.
WILD ONEZ: and we'll be cheering you on.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Yes.
WILD ONEZ: Yes, very excited for that.
Viv: Oh my gosh, that's so fun. Okay, any trail races coming up too? Or we just cap it off with some sweet swim runs.
Mara: I'm so obsessed with Sermon, but I have put a...
Viv: Me too.
Mara: Yeah. I... So this when I was training. OK, so this is one of the crazy parts about training for one water is you start you start doing ultras to train for an ultra. So.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: I volunteered to course sweep for a race back in July.
Viv: Makes sense.
Mara: It was a hundred mile race and I course swept two legs of it. just under 50 miles of it. And, when we did that course sweeping, we got a free entry to another race.
Mara: And so I think I really liked having a race last year, like a 50 K in the winter to like base my training around and.
Mara: My coach wants me to. Like we agree, it'll be a good idea for me to have a race to kind of center my winter training around. So there's a local.
Mara: 50k here in Seattle area that I'm going to do in February that I'm pretty excited about too. I love the trails out here. They are just incredible.
WILD ONEZ: They're so magical.
Viv: They're gorgeous.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: So, so pretty.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: Every single time you post on your Instagram, I'm like... I want to be there.
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: FOMO.
Mara: I mean come visit.
Viv: Take me with you in your pocket.
Mara: Yeah. I don't think people realize like how, I mean, this will sound so dumb because I do think people realize how beautiful the Pacific Northwest is, but like.
Viv: Say less.
Mara: I think like. they don't realize how accessible it is. Like I will go and do, I did a three mile hike the weekend after world champs.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: And like, if you looked at the pictures, like it looked like I was backpacking in the middle of nowhere, but it was a three mile round trip hike. So.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: cannot say and i should gatekeep it but i cannot say enough good things about this part of the country
Viv: no well also like it's like colorado too like you can't explain the beauty of where you live until you actually go visit like every place has like that that sparkle where you're like no no I promise you like this this is really really cool and they're like are you sure like that sounds sketch like I don't really know if I want to go there or do that And once they experience it, you're like.
Viv: Oh. Okay, I get it. Okay.
Mara: Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. That special sparkle. That's a good way of saying it. I felt that everywhere I've lived, even places like. You know, I think coming from San Diego, people are like, obviously that's one of the best places in the country. I'm like, yeah, but like there.
Mara: Washington DC has a special sparkle.
Viv: Yeah.
Mara: Seattle has a special sparkle. Virginia has a special sparkle. Massachusetts.
Viv: Absolutely.
WILD ONEZ: I love that.
Mara: everywhere.
WILD ONEZ: that's amazing cool well thank you so much for hopping on the pod with us this evening it's been so fun hearing a little bit more about your endurance story and what this year has looked like for you So we super appreciate you joining us.
WILD ONEZ: And... Yeah.
Mara: Thank you for having me.
Viv: That's all. As. That's it. my gosh this is so much fun I absolutely adore you I'll say it again you're a gem of a human and just like seeing you at all these races and seeing you take the challenge and actually saying yes and being like okay I can actually do this has been so inspirational for at least me to like I mean watching Kayla do it and then now you I'm like actually having these personal connections to these races it's been So incredible to see like, yeah, it is possible.
Viv: You can do it. It's just like, what does that look like for you?
Mara: Yeah.
Viv: So thank you so much for sharing. everything that you've gone through this year what it's looked like and maybe a little 2027 preview for one water We will definitely be cheering you on.
Viv: I'm so excited to see what happens the rest of this year for you as well as that awesome 50K view coming up.
