Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the runner's podium podcast. I am so honored and excited to have Omar Posadas with us today, who is many things, but a fixture in the run community. It's such a positive force and community leader, um, in the running world. And i have a ton of respect for what he's doing. You'll see him out there, um, in his colorful get up, his colorful race kits, which I always love. And, yeah, I'm so excited to have you on the podcast, man. Thanks for joining. Oh, thank you so much. ah it's an ah It's an honor for me as well. um I respect you so much. I think so highly of you.
Speaker: You know, like I said, we've been following each other for a very long time on IG and it's it's good to connect. Absolutely. You know, like they running the running community is very tiny. You know, it seems vast because it's so easy, but it is a smart community. So I'm glad be able to connect.
Speaker: Looking forward to this. Totally. We've missed each other in Boston, I feel like, a couple times. We were just like ships in the night. like You were there and one minute, an hour before. I'm like, I missed Omar. Every time i want to meet with other people, yes, exactly. It's just it's so it's so massive.
Speaker: yeah It's so chaotic. and and and i and I love that. I love the energy. I live for that. yeah I'm addicted to that. Me too. Let's jump right in, Omar. What about your top three most memorable running moments? Yeah. so I was always my first marathon, which is the l LA Marathon in 2023. So I started running it in when I was 40 in 2020. You know, like most runners um during COVID, I think there's a surge in running during COVID, the current period, and I was one of them.
Speaker: So I would say the the the top three, the first one was, you know, completing a marathon in LA was the first one. And that was an amazing experience. Never thought in my life prior to that that I would ever run a marathon. So that was a huge accomplishment.
Speaker: And then, you know, qualifying for Boston. So right after that, i ran the December Roses Marathon in August. You know, my coach and at the time were talking about it. He's like, hey, you know i you think you know, what do you think of qualifying? I'm like, and I never thought even about winning in Boston.
Speaker: So qualifying for Boston that August of 2023 was very memorable. I mean, I got so emotional. mean, we were just crossing the finish line. I even got a better time than I thought.
Speaker: And I called my coach and I started crying. it was It was just like – it was something that I just didn't believe I could do. And and it didn't even matter. but the the The qualifying part is just that it was just that we worked so hard in that training block and so accomplished. That was amazing.
Speaker: And the last one, i think, I guess running Boston, man. I mean, you know, – In 2024 and 2026, I loved that experience so much. you know this This past time this year, for me, it was like I went all in. I had a great time. I went in with not a time.
Speaker: i just wanted to to to take it all in and experience it. And I did that. It was amazing. So those are my top three memorable experiences. So cool. What about your top three running shoes? And that can be kind of everyday trainers. That can be your favorite race shoes. Yeah.
Speaker: So, okay, don't don't hate on me too much here, folks. So ni I love Nike. ah I was partnered with mac for a very long time, which is a crazy thing to think about that um because I created this account just to connect with folks. And so it's so much what's happened since then.
Speaker: So i do one i do have other shoes I run with, but I i do leave it back to Nike. So you know my current everyday is the Nike Vemero Plus. That's just a solid shoe.
Speaker: um And I love then the Nike Vemero Premium, which is like the the the the next level up. It's so max crescent. I love a max crescent shoe. That's why the plus and the premium for me are, are or i' go i kind of go back to those. I have other brands as well, but I keep going to those two shoes for my my daily miles.
Speaker: And then I've been racing in the Alpha Flight 3s. All my races have been in those shoes, and the 2s and the 3s. So that's my go-to for racing shoes. Nice. I do like Adidas.
Speaker: Mizuno is making some amazing shoes right now. I just do revert back to the to the Nikes. You rock those alpha flies onyear on the big race days. Yeah, man. They they they they are amazing. um i I feel more confident. They're just an awesome shoe.
Speaker: It's just the bounce and the energy we turn on those are are amazing. and and And they fit my foot pretty well. I know people complain about the narrow of those shoes. They fit my shoe. have pretty narrow feet, so right they're good for me. Yeah.
Speaker: What about your top three running moments that didn't go as planned? I think we all have those as well. Oh man. I mean, I think so too. Um, you know, after, after my, my, my, my marathon in San Jose in 2023, I was, I was going to see, I am that, that, um, December and I got hurt.
Speaker: I got, um, times fasciitis and in that, that was like, I'm like, what is this? I've, I've, I, I didn't know what it was. And i mean it was, it was brutal. It was, I, it was like stepping on needles.
Speaker: If you're, ah if you never have that before, you know, it's, I don't wish was on anybody, but I got that. And I think I got that. I was overtrained at the time. i was trying to be aggressive and trying to be faster. was doubling down on a lot of things and my body was tired. And one day I went out running Ooh, what's this? And I just,
Speaker: it just I was out for six months. Oh, wow. So that was like one of those things that didn't go planned. didn't want to see am. And then Boston was at 2024, I was still hurting little bit. So it was my best race there.
Speaker: But man, it was a struggle to get you know over over that um I did everything. i went to the doctors. i was you know I was stretching it. you know What I'm doing now is preventative. You want to do preventative work. So all these things that people talk about, like stretching and strength training and and foot exercises, they do work. You do all that. Yes, because i would I've been hurt. So I know exactly what happens if you don't do that.
Speaker: ah I guess ah the another one is when I started running, many folks like myself, when I started running 2020, more consistently, right? i I was getting like, yeah, this is amazing. and So I would go back to back to back. And I went too fast to too soon that I got shift frames.
Speaker: And i was out for about three months. And um so I, you know, when I tell to new runners is just take it easy, you know, you know, pace or yourself, you know, because I've done everything the wrong way. so I've learned but from experience. And I know you see it online all oftentimes what to do, not to do, but you have to kind of live that yourself to experience them. So totally I got, ah you know, that was an initial, um I got an injury. I've been lucky to have been okay now, but I take it easier as well.
Speaker: And I guess the last one who didn't go planned the Boston Marathon in 2024, man. I hit a wall. um No excuses. I just, you know, I think my training wasn't, I wasn't prepared for those hills, Heartbreak Hill. I think um I thought I was, and then I just hit a wall, and I walked for a lot of that um that mar that marathon, and it humbled me.
Speaker: And, you know, you see those videos online where people crawling to their finish line. That was going to be me. I was determined to finish that race no matter what. And ah it was a painful because I was i was cramping up It was like my quads and my calves were just not having it.
Speaker: But I somehow, you know, powered through that got to the finish line. So... Well, dude, it was hot that year. Yeah, it was. hot that yeah I don't know, like, from California, if that that like you're used to that for me. Yeah. That was hot. That was my toughest Boston by far. Okay. And I've done six. Okay, see, awesome. Good to hear that. You know, California, we get some good weather.
Speaker: ah you know, I was training. You know, it was a winter training, so I wasn't, you know, the winter training right too for that fall, for that spring race. um I wasn't training in this condition. So it did really, the key did impact me, of course.
Speaker: But I don't want to make excuses. It probably what it was that maybe, but also when I'm training, I should have done more hills. I always do like the what-its, right? Like could have done more training, training like because the hills are in the middle, towards 16, 17, 18. That's a top i think a tough course in general, and then it's a very technical course. Totally. So I should see my training for 2026, which I think was more successful. And it was cooler as well, by the way. But, but yes, um it was hot as well.
Speaker: perfect What about your top three pieces of essential gear kind of outside of shoes? Yeah. Okay. So you don't need a GPS watch, but I recommend it. I think that you don't need a fancy one, but it's good to track your mileage.
Speaker: It's good to track, um you know, if you want to track progress, initially it may not matter if you're just a, for a new run of your outfit, you just want to run a lot of miles, but it's good to just track progress and look back and see your progression.
Speaker: Right. um So I would say GPS to watch for me is essential for sure. But even more basic than that, would say socks. you know Socks matter. and you realize that when you invest a little more money on in good socks. So socks, I'd say maybe underrated for sure investing in socks.
Speaker: ah Like ShooSaw, there's a company called Shoo. I don't know. There's so many other companies out there that that make good socks. Do anything fancy.
Speaker: Just pick up some socks, some wearing socks um that are, you know, whether most wicked those those wicked, wicked, you know, yeah, just keep your feet dry. It's really, it's really good. And I would say i started doing like,
Speaker: Vaseline. and and and you know So those very basic things, so you know like like the chaffing, it's true for many many many of us. So yeah I use Vaseline. It's kind of weird, but we don't to be talking so much.
Speaker: I take my nipples and i you know those small things that people don't really think about make a huge difference. And we don't talk about it enough, you know males and females. you know And those things do work do work. So those are kind of the essentials that i that I do constantly to protect my body. So when i'm so after i'm running I run, I'm better. i can tell you. It's not that people in the shower. And that wasn I wasn't going to mention shoes, by the way. I think shoes are – and i know you I know you say other than shoes. but But when I started running, I i went into my closet.
Speaker: And I had these old Nikes that, oh, man, I think they were like years old. I don't think they were cross-trained at the time. don't think they were even running shoes. But I ran with those. I didn't know any different. I thought about those thats were good.
Speaker: I do think I got shoe inflates because of the shoes I was wearing at the time. then And then I got fitted. I'm like, oh, shoes do matter. So I do tell people who I was asking, what shoe should I get? I'm go to the store, try different things on, talk to an expert.
Speaker: you know That matters because ah if if you you could pick the wrong shoe for you. And I did initially. I have definitely had the wrong shoe. So I would say invest, maybe going into talking to professional, note trying different things on is is also essential an essential part of money.
Speaker: Especially, you know, running shoes are expensive and i used to run way too many miles in my shoes and that can lead to injury too. You know, you're like, oh my God, another 150 or whatever, a hundred bucks on shoes. And it actually really makes a big difference, not just beating the heck out of shoes and and knowing when to stop running in your shoes. You know, great point there. And, you know, I, I, I have Strava.
Speaker: So, you know, all these, like either Garmin has an app. um Yeah. Ice Corals now. Ice Corals, you know, has an app. But Strava has a feature that you could track your balance, your shoes and your malachian shoes. And and so, yeah use it essentially, you know, I would say that's a good feature to have because you could track the malachian shoes.
Speaker: To your point, David, when I started running as well, I think i my first like real running shoe was the Saucony Endorphin Speed, the the first version.
Speaker: Oh, I love that shoe. So I bought it. i think I put like a dozen miles in that shoe. One shoe. This is that you know before I was getting more shoes.
Speaker: but But to your point, um I had to realize, OK, I got ah my threshold between the shoe, 500 to 700. If I started getting a new shoe, they may still look good.
Speaker: but they're they're not serving you well to your body. So to keep your body healthy, it's good to, to, to change your shoes and tracking the mileage. So Strava has a feature that does that. And I like that.
Speaker: Totally. That's why I, that's why I track my miles in my, in my shoes. What about your top three running pet peeves? And that can be with, you know, your training, your life and running or like, you know, running culture. Yeah. Um, you know, I, I think this one and,
Speaker: the So the first thing i would say in general is runners that don't – when you're running out there and you wave at somebody or they don't wave back at you. And, you know, i was like actually I was thinking about this, David, because when I started in 2020, and I'm not sure if it's just the the the new runners that may not understand like understand that or the etiquette, but, you know, I think – And I've seen this everywhere I run. There's friendly runners, and they wave back to, you know, you say, know, good morning or hello, whatever. You acknowledge each other. There's some that do not even acknowledge you. They don't, they pretend not to even see you. And and it's and I don't know if it's a culture culture thing, you know, they're in their head or they don't want to acknowledge you.
Speaker: ive I've seen more of that happening, like people don't even acknowledge you. yeah And so as a techie, I'm a friendly person. I'm doing a peace sign or a waving. and 50 say say something you know you know give me some acknowledgement 50 even don't don't do that it's so it's it's and i'm like oh wow that's wild you know yeah something there to uncover i don't know why i will say that the another one is social media i think that you know when i started social media there is there was a really community already established which is amazing and very supportive i think it's expanded it's like
Speaker: 10x right there's so many more runners so many and it's amazing to see that i love that i love the community has expanded but with that we've also had a lot of like misleading information or deceiving information you know i think you always see those those those folks you know maybe or if the instagram algorithm pushes like oh you know the sub threes or the fast runners or you know all these physiques that are looking impressive and i think that's not the reality you know my real life like social media is just one aspect of it but i you know when i go to work Mostly with like, oh, you run? Like, that's a me. i They don't even consider what we're seeing being pushed at as like a a a standard a standard, right? It's not a standard. Yeah.
Speaker: So I think social media has created um this this false. It leads to like questioning, like, am my a runner? You know, questioning yourself because I don't see, I don't look like most folks on here online or.
Speaker: you know I think social media looks like is it's ah it's just the real of somebody's highlight. you know There's so much more behind that. Yeah. And I think that's a good aspect being around the running community is is is folks always questioning, like like not comparing themselves to others.
Speaker: you know i I feel guilty of that. I do that sometimes. Sure. And so I do take some breaks and come you know leave and come back. Okay, walk away from that because it's not healthy. I guess the last one for me would be when you're out there running and cars...
Speaker: don't stop you know i you know i i don't assume the right away as a pedestrian or runner i always you know there's stop sign because oftentimes cars are distracted they're on their phones that could there's a peppy of mine you know just the folks that are not paying attention to the surroundings and then driving have so many close calls that's that's why i like that yeah what about your top three favorite races oh yeah so You know, I would say, so Napa Valley, ah the half and full marathon in March is epic. it's
Speaker: If you're into Napa, I highly recommend doing that race. You know, you you're running in the vineyards, you know, in the beautiful just winery in the wood Napa Valley wineries. It's so beautiful and and breathtaking.
Speaker: I love Napa. I just love this the the scenery here. um So that that's that's one of my top for for races. you know Sounds amazing. oh it's It's beautiful. it is really you know Every time I run here, I'm like oh this is yeah just like i'm grateful for like being here being able to run in this in this space in this in this place. the ah Run Disney. the the So I was given an opportunity to run a Disney half marathon in Florida.
Speaker: ah many years ago. and that was awesome. That was a great experience. I mean, i was coming from the West Coast to the East Coast and then and then that time change was different. And then the early the early start was like it was really tough. But Yeah. Man, it was just the energy. like like just They put a ah nice race. like It was so awesome. There was bands playing. There was all these Disney characters that you could you know take pictures with.
Speaker: that was ah That was an experience. I love that experience. Cool. and And then New York, the New York Marathon, by far for me has been perhaps my favorite race. you know I teared up.
Speaker: running through like some of the the areas there. Just, you know, I thought Boston was heavy the heavy energy. i think New York beats it. And I don't, I've only, I haven't done international ones. I've done Chicago, Boston, New York.
Speaker: as the big ones in LA. Those are the big ones I've done, but New York for me brought the energy. like It was amazing. it was It was something magical about that place in that race that I love so much.
Speaker: Yeah, it's an amazing day in New York City. it It really is. oh i i that's you know but I hear London is similar, ah other ones international, um I don't know. will eventually find those find out if when if I get into those, but ah for For sure, my top favorite race has been New York. and What about your top three favorite places to run?
Speaker: Well, so Napa. I was in Napa. It's ah ah tons of trails. So Napa has a lot of – we have this vine trails that go through like all the valleys. It's beautiful. It's paved.
Speaker: Tons of trails as well well. So you may not know, but it's kind of hilly. you know not So we have a lot of trails that we do in Napa as well. But Napa Valley is my favorite. I love it here. It's great.
Speaker: um eugene oregon um i have work i have i work there as well so i work remotely but i'm there often great man it it it is it's beautiful tons of runners tons of awesome trails there and um italy i i was in italy a few years ago and oh i i loved it it was just it was breathtaking so i don't run there that often but when i was there it was of my favorite places to run what what part of italy oh so i went i started well i was from rome to venice And all through that, I like i would run in every every city every day. So it was just beautiful. it would So Rome, Florence, ah Venice. Cool. um
Speaker: All those places were great. So beautiful there. Yes, absolutely. What about your top three recovery tools? Yeah. um First one, sleep. I think that we don't talk about it enough. I bought all the gadgets and and the form rollers and all that, and that's all good.
Speaker: But really sleep is, for me, is like the it I could not made a priority. you know And it really has helped a lot. you know With that, i I also do the sauna. I've noticed, I started doing the sauna. I've been reading a lot about the sauna, the benefits, that the mental benefits of sauna, but also like on the on on the recovery side of things.
Speaker: um My gym has sauna, so I'm there 20 minutes, four times a week when I can. I highly recommend that if if folks that are not doing it to do the sauna, it's a great way to recover as well on the body. Nice. um And then you know pastas for food you know really...
Speaker: It does make a huge difference. you know I used to run fasted ah before got educated the fueling side of things, and I thought it was great. Oh, I don't need food. And then I realized that fueling your body before a long run matters so much when you eat.
Speaker: So I do, I'm intentionally planning that out. So I like pasta. That's why I'm like my favorite food. Mexican food and Italian food is my favorite. So pasta and coffee. That post run coffee, it's hard. So yeah, so I would say in the recovery, I would go back to the sauna and sleep and then the food to the pasta pizza. mean, and anything Mexican food for sure.
Speaker: I love that. Omar, all your experience as a runner and hanging with other runners and being a big part of the scene. And can you leave us with one last thought for runners out there?
Speaker: Yeah, you're doing you are you're doing a great job. i you know I think that it's it when you see when you're in a social media, you're seeing everybody seems very seem very successful, um living this amazing, lavish life, you know has the best gear. it's it's Just know that it's it's it's not reality. it really not mean I don't mean that like cause it because i you because I was opposed to that as well, but you know i it's not it's just a snippet of of of what our life is. in I would say that just keep going forward, follow the journey. started 2020.
Speaker: I didn't know that it would lead to what it is now. i have many great opportunities. I've run marathons. I feel like we build this community. It's a beautiful community, very supportive. And though I've talked about, i've been injured twice. you know I still follow through my journey and it's led me to these beautiful you know places and meeting people. talking to you, David.
Speaker: So just follow your journey. keep going forward. And sometimes it doesn't seem like you're progressing, but just keep going forward. Trust the process. Love it. You heard it here. Omar Sadas, thank you so much out there. Please go on IG, follow Omar, support him. Omar, thanks so much for joining, man. This is such a great thing.
Speaker: Thank you very much for having me.
