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Tabor Hemming on running her first ever road marathon, Elite trail running, road vs trail, being considered one of the fast couples on the trails, the ranch life
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On today’s episode of Just In Stride, we’re joined by Tabor Hemming—a talented trail runner, endurance coach, and athlete who brings a wealth of experience and insight to the world of endurance sports.
Tabor not only excels on the trails but also wears many hats in her everyday life. As a coach, she empowers athletes to push their limits and achieve their goals. Alongside her husband and training partner, she navigates the highs and lows of competition while managing the demands of operating a family ranch. This balance of grit, teamwork, and dedication shapes her unique approach to both running and life.
In this episode, Tabor shares her journey as a competitor, the lessons she’s learned from coaching, and how ranch life contributes to her resilience and work ethic. Her story is sure to inspire anyone striving for balance between their passions and responsibilities.
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Thanks for tuning in to the Just In Stride Podcast. I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen and I hope you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did. Please take a minute after this to rate and review our show on Apple Podcasts. With your feedback we’ll be able to make the show even better and it’ll help us reach new listeners too. You can also find us on Instagram @justinstridepod and YouTube @justinstridepod for all the latest episodes and updates. Glad you came along for the ride with Just In Stride!
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Transcript
Introduction to the Justin Stride Podcast
00:00:03
Speaker
Hello, and welcome to the Justin Stride Podcast. I'm your host, Justin Pulezzi. If you love endurance sports, you've definitely come to the right place. On this show, we'll talk to athletes, coaches, and professionals who can help us reach our true potential. Being a student of distance running for over 10 years and interviewing people in the sport for the last five, I've learned a ton, but there's always more to discover. Everyone has a story, and I know you'll resonate with each of our guests as we embark on this new journey together.
00:00:34
Speaker
Join us at home, on the road, or while you run. Together we'll have some fun. So follow along on Instagram at justinstridepod and your favorite podcast platform and prepare to be inspired. Come along for the ride with justinstride. Ready to crush your next goal?
Justin Pulezzi's Endurance Sports Experience
00:00:52
Speaker
With 15 years of experience across endurance sports, from 5Ks to Ultras, over 10 marathons with a personal best of 2 hours 45 minutes, including Boston, New York City, and Berlin, plus two Ironmans, I know what it takes to achieve real results.
00:01:09
Speaker
But training for a race is about more than just logging miles. It's about training smarter, and that's where a coach makes all the difference. As your coach, I'll create a personalized week-by-week plan tailored to fit your unique goals, lifestyle, and schedule. You'll also get guidance on race day strategy, nutrition, pre-race routines, and the insider tips that can transform your performance. With a coach, you're not guessing through training.
00:01:37
Speaker
you're following a proven, customized roadmap with support every step of the way.
Coaching and Personalized Plans
00:01:41
Speaker
So if you're ready to train smarter and reach new levels, email me at Justin at justinstridepod.com and let's make those goals happen.
Introduction to Taber Heming
00:01:52
Speaker
On today's episode of Justin Stride, we're joined by Taber Heming, a talented trail runner, endurance coach, and athlete who brings a wealth of experience and insight to the world of endurance sports.
00:02:03
Speaker
Taber not only excels on the trails, but also wears many hats in her everyday life. As a coach, she empowers athletes to push their limits and achieve their goals. Alongside her husband and training partner, she navigates the highs and lows of competition while managing the demands of operating a family w ranch. This balance of grit, teamwork, and dedication shapes her unique approach to both running and life.
Taber's Marathon Experiences and Reflections
00:02:27
Speaker
In this episode, Tabor shares her journey as a competitor, the lesson she's learned from coaching, and how ranch life contributes to her resilience and work ethic. story is sure to inspire anyone striving for balance between their passions and responsibilities.
00:02:45
Speaker
Hey Tabor, welcome to the Justin Strive Podcast. Pleasure to have you on. Yeah, thanks for having me. It's always fun to talk and ah share share stories and knowledge and whatever else people are interested in. Yeah, sure. I mean, you popped up on my feed because I've ran CIM myself and and had been following the race and and saw that you ran your first ever marathon there ah recently. So maybe just share, like, how did that go for you? And was it what you expected?
00:03:15
Speaker
Yeah, so CIM, first of all, was like such an amazing experience. like I'd never been to a road marathon before, and like I did track in cross country, all growing up, and then moved to the trails. But just like having 10,000 people at a race was like so incredible. like You're on the start line, you look behind you, and you're like, oh my gosh, all of these people are doing a marathon?
00:03:38
Speaker
And like it kind of takes the nervousness away a little bit because, I don't know, you look behind you and you're like, okay, they can do it. They're here. I can do it as well. um So yeah, I was super stoked to do it and I had like pretty big goals going in. Didn't really hit any of those goals other than like actually finishing, which is totally okay. like I think everyone's first marathon is a huge learning experience. And I think I came in with maybe like expectations that were a little lofty for a first road marathon and I learned that. um So I think it was a really good experience and learning opportunity, but I really would like to go back and try another one just to be able to be like, yeah, I i kind of mastered that a little bit better.
00:04:21
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. and I mean, you're you're more familiar with
Balancing Trail and Road Running
00:04:24
Speaker
trails. And yeah, would you call you would you think you'll make the switch not a road or you think that the trails is your home? Oh, you know, I think I kind of caught the road bug a little bit this year. ah ah I did a half marathon in February in Arizona. And then I was like, Oh, that was fun. And then I did this, the road marathon at CIM. And I was like, I think I really like this.
00:04:49
Speaker
um And so I think it might be something where I just dabble. I think they complement each other because trail is really evolving and people are getting much quicker and you're having also faster athletes come over into the space. And so if anything, I think they'll just complement each other with trail being so much endurance and aerobic focused.
00:05:08
Speaker
that like getting to the marathon the distance wasn't the scary thing, which is kind of crazy to say, like because usually people go to the marathon being like, oh my gosh, it's a scary distance. So I think you could see me dabbling, um but TBD on what 2025 looks like. and And so what were those goals like for you going into uncharted territory?
00:05:30
Speaker
Yeah, so I really wanted to be right at that 230 mark. um I think like my training indicated that like that's how workouts were going. I think something that I really underestimated was the pavement fatigue that you get in the marathon. Yeah.
00:05:46
Speaker
um Yeah, and I just I train in an area that we really only have one paved road in the vicinity of where we live and it's just the main highway that like passes through our town. And so I did all of my stuff either on like dirt roads or the track. And then when I got to mile 20, I was like, wow, the pavement fatigue is real. um So I messed up there. And yeah, I just think that was like the biggest hurdle because I just lost my quads near the end.
00:06:16
Speaker
um so It's amazing, right? like the Like you're still doing the work and the workouts and everything, yeah but just that like subtle difference in terrain is, it's not necessarily something you think
Challenges in Marathon Running
00:06:31
Speaker
about, you know? No. It's just a piece yeah it's a piece that I think like marathoners don't necessarily talk about, but you look at where people train for the marathon, right? It's people in the cities that like pavement is just a normal process of their running life. And then just, that's not a box that I checked. I was like, all the other boxes are checked. And then not that one. So
00:06:56
Speaker
So it was all quads for you that where you felt the most effect? Yeah, ah definitely at mile 20. I think with CIM being that also that slight downhill profile and then like it kind of flattens out at the finish. I think it was like, wow, I was clicking off those miles super easy through half. And I was like,
00:07:17
Speaker
People think this is that hard, just like they always talk about the legs, just really, you're feeling it. And I got to halfway, I was like, I don't really feel anything. like And then I like got to the mile 20 mark and we did like this, you probably know like the gradual hill that everyone talks about over the bridge. And all of a sudden I was like, oh, wow, my quads like, okay, well, maybe it's just the hill. And then we crested it and I was like, they fully cramped. Like I tried fueling. It was like, no, they had just, they had checked out for the day.
00:07:49
Speaker
Oh my God. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of people caught me and I was just like, not even breathing hard. I was just like, good job. Just the body's giving out. Yeah. it's It's just one of these things. But yeah, it's like anything can happen in a marathon, right? So it's such a thing with like the speed and that you're going at and then the combination of the distance and also like you said, the terrain is like But still, your result was amazing. you know you Oh, thank you. You did so well. I didn' mean it's somewhere mean, there's a lot of good athletes that go there, too, with like Olympic qualifiers. And you know everyone's kind of trying to end out their season on a high note. Or maybe it's their second marathon, because the first one thing can goes so well. Whatever, for whatever reason. But ah you absolutely crushed it. so Oh, thanks. it was very It was a very humbling experience. And I appreciate that.
00:08:38
Speaker
Yeah. And like you're, I mean, you're used to finishing like your, I've checked your results. Like you've been finishing like top of the leaderboard and in your races that you've been doing. So that's also like for you to put yourself in a vulnerable spot like that. And maybe not to finish at the top of the leaderboard. It's also something for your psyche too, right?
00:09:00
Speaker
Oh, for sure. It just shows that like just because you're good at one aspect of the sport, doesn't mean you can just come over and like be dominant in everything else. And I think that just shows that like that's the cool thing about running, right?
00:09:15
Speaker
is like you have the track, you have the road, you have the trail, you even have the ultras. like All of those people are so unique and have a huge skill set. And so it's not like, oh, you're the best runner in this, so you're going to just always beat everyone. And so I i really like that about running. um And the marathon just this past weekend really exemplified that. like You can work hard, and you can think you're fast, and then you go somewhere. It's like, oh, well, I just got like my ass handed to me by 20 women. So you're like,
00:09:43
Speaker
It puts you, it definitely like puts you in your place a little bit. you're like sure yeah but But you'd also know that you're also very fit too, right? It's just like, yeah there's like this specialty that you can like, you can hone in on like specific kind of racing, you know? and And so, but that's not like an indication necessarily of your fitness, maybe just the fitness for that distance or that specialty. Yeah, for sure.
Training Adjustments and Influences
00:10:06
Speaker
So what would you say you would do like differently in the next race or the next marathon that you take on?
00:10:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think I would actually try and find pavement um and spend some time, like whether it's just like some long runs um going down. to like We live about like three hours from Boulder and they always have like a great set of roads that are perfect for marathon training. like They're not too hilly, but they're paved. So maybe do that and then just work on like that fatigue while running. I think it's super easy to, as a runner, want to feel fresh during workouts. And I think maybe doing a little bit of that durability training where you are running fast on tired legs, I think would be and incredibly helpful. um So I think those are the two things I would change other than that. I think it's just doing more of them, right? It's practice.
00:11:00
Speaker
um I think just as anything else like the first time usually isn't the perfect time or isn't your pinnacle So I think getting used to those feelings as well like I think a lot of people I was reading up on the marathon like afterwards and a lot of people do feel those feelings at the end of the legs just going and yet they find something in them that they're able to break through and I think If anything, I also wasn't mentally prepared for that feeling. I was like, I didn't think it was going to come after I got to halfway. I was like, it's not going to come. I'm fine. And then when it did come, I don't think maybe I mentally handled it the best either. I was like, oh, well, OK. Well, there goes my race or whatever. So I think it's a little bit of both the mental preparation and then the physical preparation to follow.
00:11:47
Speaker
Yeah. it's a It's like, how do you cope with it in the moment kind of thing? you know how How do you push forward from that? And yeah, it's almost like sometimes I've experienced it as like survival mode almost where you're just like, you just like keep it together. You know, just like, come on, like body don't like, you know, like one over, over step in your hammy is going to like pop or, you know, like it's. Yeah.
00:12:10
Speaker
It's such a... One pothole and you're like, Oh, I'm done. I'm done. Yeah. Yeah. And like, we've all heard like those stories for sure. So now good on you for pushing through and, and finishing and like finishing the race. Cause it's also easy to just like say, you know, especially as an elite, you know, you've seen that too, or it's just like, Oh, well now my day I can just...
00:12:31
Speaker
not do it, you know, and and for sure. So that's great. But let's, let's go back to the beginning for you and like how you got into running and, you know, were you always an active kid and and like motivated to run, you know,
00:12:44
Speaker
Yeah, so I have a pretty interesting background. Both of my parents like came from loving the aerobic sports. um My mom was like a really good sprinter in high school, and then also just like throughout her life, loved to run um and just be super active. And then my dad was like kind of like an anomaly guy. He was on like multiple Olympic teams or not, didn't make it to the Olympics, but on like US s teams for like cycling, rowing, not skiing, like he was a collegiate decathlete. And so my parents were like, when we have kids, they're going to be active. And the town that I grew up in, we only have about 1500 people. And we're not really known for like being
00:13:30
Speaker
outdoor like endurance enthusiasts it's definitely more of like the motor community like the dirt biking the snowmobiling and so my brother and I he's four years younger we just had each other and so my parents are like well you guys are just gonna be each other's training partners and we're gonna teach you all the outdoor sports that you can do together and so you can't just do like a football with two people or you know like a all those other like volleyball with two people. and yeah so They're like, we're going to teach you how to north ski, we're going to teach you how to gravel cycle, and we're going to teach you how to run. and Growing up, it was never one sport was going to be all that you did. They wanted us to be like very holistic.
00:14:13
Speaker
um And well-balanced kids and I wouldn't say I had a love for it first thing um We have a our driveway is a mile long uphill and after school my parents like knew that they needed we needed to get out of the house and like be active and And so they would drop us off at the bottom of the driveway and tell us to run home. oh And we would be so upset by it and be like, no, the weather's bad. Or I have so much homework. Or, oh, I forgot my running shoes. And somehow my mom like always had something in the car that she's like, oh, you forgot your running shoes? She'd reach in the back and be like, Here's an extra pair. I'm like, forgot a coat. She'd be like, here's another one. And so at the start, it was like we hated it. And then pretty soon it was like, oh, can you can you drop us off at the bottom of the road and we want to like race home? And then it was like, oh, can you drop us off like a little farther away? And I think that's like started the love of it, like maybe not at first.
00:15:22
Speaker
But then after a while it was like, Oh, this is fun. This makes me feel good. And then it was the competitiveness too, like having a younger brother and like, you can't, I don't want you to beat me. Um, so yeah, that, that was kind of how it all started. I know that was really long. and No, no, that's cool. like Yeah. no yeah it's It's interesting. Like how these things become ingrained in you, like at a very young age, like you wonder, sometimes you see somebody like, Oh, I wonder how, how did you end up like this? Or how did you get competitive or?
00:15:50
Speaker
so well rounded and like this explains quite a bit of it. So like, did that competitive nature like carry forward for you? Like, was this kind of how you like move forward and lived your life in other things too?
00:16:03
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I think, like, sport is a great parallel with the rest of life. Like, I think what it taught me was, like, if I did hard work, like, that hard work would show. So, like, when I was younger, I would go for, like, little runs with my parents, and then we had the presidential fitness test, like, how every kid has it. And, like, I won, and that was, like, oh, like, if I put in a little work, I'll... I beat people. Like, this is kind of cool.
00:16:32
Speaker
and so Then the same thing was like in school. like I was really passionate about writing. and so like I just practiced like writing when I got home and then like I won like a writing contest. or so I think like sports instilled the competitiveness, but then it also blossomed competitiveness competitiveness in like every other area, which at times has been good and bad. But I think it's been mostly good, but it also has shown like a level of like you put in, what you put in, you get out of it. So I think it's been a good life lesson. For sure. and And did you carry forward with all these sports for a while or did did you gravitate more towards one thing versus ah the other?
Collegiate Running and Career Aspirations
00:17:19
Speaker
um So all through up until college, I did all of them. um like I never raced any like gravel races, but it was like very an integral part of like the weekly schedule. But then for nort skiing and running, I did those competitively all the way up to college, and then I had to make the decision at the college at the collegiate level, what I wanted to pursue. like I tried to ask to be a dual athlete um when I went to the University of Colorado. and It was kind of one of those things that like if money is allocated from one department or the other, you're their athlete pretty much, which is understandable. um and so That's when I made the decision to just go full running. but
00:18:01
Speaker
I still like on Christmas break would come home and ski and still now we love to do it. and We've actually added Skimo to that, which I'm really bad at. But it's complimentary also, right? like Yeah, it's good leg strength, good aerobic base, like just good doing something that's not always the same. Yes, and good easy like to get out in the winter also. like ah Having a winter sports nice when you know the the weather's not as great. and Like I'm learning how to cross-country ski now. My wife loves to loves cross-country. It's what she grew up with. so um Oh, cool. Yeah. And I'm like, oh, I can see how this could be helpful to my running. So I'm like, okay, I suck at it. but just The first part is always the hardest. It's just like learning like to balance is just like, and then once you get the hang of it and the feeling of it, it's like, oh, okay, I'm getting it. It's horrible.
00:18:58
Speaker
yeah nobody but even like My buddy took a photo a video of me coming up this small, the smallest of hills, like this literally like the incline was probably like, I don't know if you could see it like this. but And I could not, like I just couldn't, I didn't have the edge work to get up. you know And it's just like pathetic and I just like falling forward and I won't bore you with that. And then you're breathing really hard. You're like, how am I breathing when I'm going nowhere? Like what? And I'm getting mocked and just i quit. But anyways, you got to do it to learn how to do it and and get better at it for sure. So that's awesome. So you you went to school in for in running, was it like on a scholarship and stuff like that?
00:19:43
Speaker
Yeah, so I went on a scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder, and then competed for five years there. um Yeah, it was awesome. I love, like, I was born and raised in Colorado, and then like, let some other schools and then took an official visit there. And I was like, well, you know, if running didn't work out, I'd still be really happy if I lived here. um So that's one of the reasons I chose it plus many more. But yeah, it was a it was a really good time for sure.
00:20:10
Speaker
And were you like performing very well, even at that level or, you know, on how did you, I always ask about potential. Like, did you understand the potential you had as a, as a runner, as a, as an athlete and where that might lead to, or was it just kind of like, I'm going to school. I can go to school on a scholarship. Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:32
Speaker
um Well, just from like where I grew up, it was kind of that running was going to be my opportunity to like have more opportunities. um School was kind of financially out of the equation to be paid for, and so it was like if you wanted to go to school, then you need to be able to perform for running in high school to get a scholarship to go. Otherwise, like you're probably not going. calm So I knew that there was going to be a means to this ah means to an end there that like there was potential. And so I was like a top high school um athlete in the country.
00:21:08
Speaker
Um, and so I knew the potential going in and then same in college. Um, I was a multiple time all American. Um, we, my team won, we won two NCAA titles, um, that I contributed to. And so like, I knew, it sounds like really conceited, but like I knew I was good. No, man.
00:21:32
Speaker
Um, and then I knew where I wanted to take it, right? Like I was hoping that I think as a dream, as a kid, you think, Oh, you're good. You see success in high school. like You go to college, you see a bit more success and you're really hoping that, okay, maybe that'll turn professional. Maybe that would turn into an Olympic dream. I think you never know. And so you just like keep working at it and seeing what it goes. And I think, um, high school, I was hoping to be a top collegiate top collegiate. I was hoping to be a top professional and,
00:22:02
Speaker
It's taken some turns and some weaves and like maybe it's not the Olympics next, but maybe it's just like seeing how good I can be in something that I like to do. Yeah. And and yeah and having your dad too, like with that, that dream, like that the olympic Olympic dream, maybe you had more exposure to it at an earlier age. And you know, like they say, if you, if you put it out there, that's like the first step to making something happen. So maybe for you, you could see that earlier, would you say?
00:22:32
Speaker
Yeah, I think I could see that it was a possibility, right? Like my dad grew up in the same environment, same town as I did, pretty much had the same buildup in his life. And so it was like, it wasn't off the table, right? um And so I was like, Oh, well, it's possible. It's not like this is just like a fairy tale type of thing that I'm going after. um So yeah, I think that was, that was good to see that it is achievable. um Yeah. And that people were there to support me with it.
00:23:02
Speaker
For sure. And and were was academics also an interesting part for you? like did you did you see did you Was it like sports or nothing? Or were you also like and very much like seeing how, as you continue and you know towards a career also, not just in running, but in something else?
00:23:20
Speaker
Yeah, so I like to joke that I majored in running in college okay and that my actual degree was my minor, ah but I did choose something that was... ah Yeah, you know, probably not the best advice for people because 99% of the time running doesn't work out or sports doesn't work out. yeah you should have something that you could at least like fall back on and get a job with. So I kind of looked at like what was something that would pair well but I was passionate about. So I actually went into political communication and religious studies um because I really like politics and I like to talk. And I thought, you know, I also am really good at debating. I'm not a person that just takes answers and is like, yeah, I'm always like, but wait.
00:24:06
Speaker
to um So I was like, well, maybe law school could be a possibility if like, I don't know if I fall out of love with the act of competing and training hard and showing up in that way in my life. I wanted something else that could then challenge me. I think like law school and then becoming a lawyer could have been like a really good challenge because you're up against a lot of problems every day. and um Obviously I didn't take that path, but I knew it would be an option there. And I did put like a lot of time and dedication into school.
00:24:41
Speaker
It wasn't just like, ah, I'll get C's and hope for the best. I also wanted to be a really good student, but if I needed to be to bed by nine to get that full 10 hours of sleep, I wasn't the student athlete that was going to stay up till midnight studying. I was going to close the laptop and I was going to go to bed. And you know what? If I got a B on the test instead of an A-, minus it was what it was. Yeah.
00:25:09
Speaker
OK, that's fair. But yeah, good to know that you followed your passion. You know you knew the direction you were going you wanted to go in and and kind of like continued in that in that direction. you know so yeah and And was your relationship, because you've been doing it for so long, has has your relationship to the sport been pretty consistent? Or when you work that hard to achieve these goals for so long, you know sometimes it can get tiring. or So you hear these these stories of that. you know Yeah, I think the act of running for me never got tiring. It's just something that I really like to do and it's become not only part of my day, but part of like...
00:25:47
Speaker
my personality in a way. um I think what got super hard was I went through a pretty good injury cycle for about six years. And I think that was something that was really draining. um I like running out of all the sports that I grew up doing, running was my favorite. And I think it felt the most natural. And then when you're in a collegiate system and I don't live in the mountains, so I don't have access to necessary the skiing or the cycling,
00:26:15
Speaker
um It was a lot of like boring running in the pool and cross training when you would get injured and I think mentally that is what kind of like chiseled me down for a while.
Injuries and Recovery
00:26:26
Speaker
So I definitely fell out of love with the pursuit of I don't even know how to put it.
00:26:35
Speaker
it was just one of those things was maybe I thought running wasn't for me there for a little while. Um, and so that was super frustrating and emotionally draining. And I just kind of had to like take a step back and like some other things that might've contributed to that in my life. Um, and then once I did that, I found like the joy in the process again, because I wasn't continually like running injured, frustrated, running injured. Um, yeah. And how did you like,
00:27:03
Speaker
How did you get out of that funk? like as i ah Why I'm asking is because I'm recently going through ah like Achilles tendon stuff. yeah And just like it bothered me like last year, just before a race, and and then it went away. And then now it came back with more like where every time I do a workout, I'm i'm limping the next day. ah And like so I've just been really easy in running, taking a back seat. But it's just kind of like, i'm like am I old now?
00:27:33
Speaker
Am I like, what, like I'm trying to do more cross training and stuff, but like, how do I get back to, cause I love, like I'm not an elite runner like you, but you know, I've i've run a two 45 marathon and, you know, but yeah, it's not bad, but like, I like to work hard to to get better and for myself, but it's like.
00:27:54
Speaker
what you're saying is resonating with me where it's like it just creeps in your mind. You're like, can I do it? Can I still do it? How do I do it? you know I think it's finding unconventional approaches. I think that's what it ended up being that I think it's super easy to look around at what everyone else is doing and thinking, okay, well, like they're doing that and they're having success or I think social media is super toxic in that way because yeah you're watching what other people do and you're like, well, okay, if they can run that time, I can obviously do that and I can run this time. And we don't look at it as an N of one and we're all N of one. And so in college specifically, you have 30 girls and it's just getting the same training plan every day.
00:28:42
Speaker
And it doesn't matter if your body is set up for 30 miles a week or if your body is set up for 90 miles a week. And so I think when injuries pop up, it's looking at like, ah looking at the training plan and thinking, okay, what's maybe not serving me individually? And that's how I kind of got out of it is all of maybe the way I was structuring running. I'm trying to run hard every day or trying to keep up with X person or run.
00:29:09
Speaker
x-pace wasn't working. um And so for a little while there, I tried different things. I did a little bit more cross training, a little less running, and then slowly like increased running, added some strength training, tried things that maybe other people weren't doing the exact same way I was doing it.
00:29:27
Speaker
um try to get out of the funk and I understand the Achilles stuff that is like the most frustrating injury of all time and I think because it's not consistent one day you're like I'm fine and the next day you're like I'm hobbled and I can't get out of bed like Yeah. I'm like, yeah, it's just like crazy, you know? And it's like, uh, but anyways, yeah, I'll fall, like try and follow that advice and just do what feels good for your own body instead of maybe what everyone else is doing in training or whatever. Yeah. cause yeah And now you're healthy. you're You're good. You've been good for a little. Yeah. I knock on wood. I've been completely injury free for like.
00:30:11
Speaker
a year and a half almost. I had like a weird bulging disc thing, but that was definitely like, I'm not going to call it a real injury. It was more just like an accident that then I got lazy about, um, if I'm being honest, but like no bone injuries for a long time, which is really nice. So okay. Yeah. Got out of the cycle. Something's working. Yeah. Something's working. So I don't know which thing it is. Just a combination of everything, you know? So yeah.
00:30:41
Speaker
Um, and so like out of school, were you like, I'm going to go pro and I'm going to be a pro runner. And like, what, what did that look like? Were you working like a job and running or. Yeah, so the probably the most frustrating thing is I graduated in 2020, in May of 2020. And so yeah, here, you graduated during COVID. Congratulations. um No companies are doing anything. And so I graduated college thinking, well, hoping like my senior track season, I was hoping it would be like an even more breakout season. um Just kind of like one last hurrah, be able to sign a pro contract. like
00:31:20
Speaker
but fulfill the dream. And instead it was COVID happened, no meets happened, no times were posted. So no contracts were happening. And so I kind of had like, I really had to reassess what I wanted
Trail Running and Personal Growth
00:31:33
Speaker
to do. um And so I kept training.
00:31:36
Speaker
i I got a job, um I met my soon to be husband, and we started a coaching business. And so we were like piece very piecemealing things together, still trying to train. And then um that's when, at the end of 2020, I had my last bone injury that i've had and i was like okay maybe maybe this isn't for me maybe track road i'm trying to push it not for me so i took a full step back and was like i'm gonna run for fun um i'm gonna try like all different things and that's when i found trail we my husband and i found trail together actually
00:32:13
Speaker
And we're like, this is cool. Like we could we could do this. We went to some races um and found some success in it. And so that was fun. um And then that's kind of when like contract stuff started happening and being like, oh, maybe you could be a professional runner again.
00:32:28
Speaker
Um, but by that time we had really fostered a lot of other things in our life. So I think, I think it was good. Like as much as I wish maybe COVID wouldn't have happened. I think it was the best thing that could have happened. Um, so I wasn't just a runner, not saying being just a runner is a bad thing, but for my personality, I think it was really good that I cultivated like a lot of other things and it wasn't like, what do you do? And I'm a runner. You're like, okay. Yeah, it's hard to kind of break out of that. Yeah, it's hard to break out of the cycle when you go from high school and you're like, I'm a runner. And then in college, you're like, oh, are you on the running team? You're like, yeah. And then you come out of school and you're like, what are you? And I'm like, I'm a runner. Again, it works for some people. I just don't think it was mentally stimulating enough for me to just be that. Yeah. So now what are you?
00:33:22
Speaker
Oh my gosh, I am a rancher. I'm a coach. I'm a YouTube creator. I am a wife, a dog mom. like Yeah, there's a lot of other things that I am, and running then fits in there.
00:33:39
Speaker
um So, and it, it makes it, I think what it does is it makes running a priority because if you don't make it a priority, then it's probably not going to happen in the day. Um, and so I think it's actually been way healthier than waking up and being like, well, I have all day to do my run. Oh, look, it's three o'clock and I still haven't done it. And I've gone down this YouTube rabbit hole. um Yeah. Yeah. Content creation's a time suck for sure. It can be. Oh.
00:34:10
Speaker
I watched a video and someone's like, I spent 24 hours on this video. I'm like, you did it. Like, come on. And then we started doing YouTube and I was like, Oh my gosh. Yeah. Editing takes like a really long time. Yeah. Really long time. Yeah. Yeah. I've gotten a lot more respect for like the daily vloggers. I'm like, how do you do it? Like I'm just, I've been pressed. Yeah. And what's your favorite stuff to create? What do you really enjoy to create creating?
00:34:36
Speaker
I really actually like to create not in the media space. I really like to cook. Um, so cooking is like my biggest creative outlet, but I don't share that with anybody. So, uh, yeah, it's my selfish, it's my selfish endeavor of c createdor like creating. And then, yeah, I really do enjoy long term, uh, long format content creation. Like my husband, I have a YouTube channel.
00:35:04
Speaker
And I think it's nice to have that, that it's not just like snapshot that like the best part about your day or the best part about your races or of your life. It's like, now you kind of get the whole story and there's some highs and some lows. And it like tells the full picture, not just like, I was laying by the pool. I didn't show you my sunburned after, but. Here it is. Here it is. And so if you're having people for dinner, what are you cooking?
00:35:34
Speaker
Oh, let me think. I think my favorite thing right now is I'm really into doing rice bowls. Yes. Yeah, and so we've been really hooked on doing salmon bites in the air fryer, which, yeah, they're pretty addicting. I'll do that, but I like to... Yeah, I never would think... to put salmon and candy in the same sentence. But they're so good, you just keep popping them in. Easy way to get protein. I know this sounds really gross. Yeah. But I think that's what I would make, or I make really good sourdough bread, so anything. Oh, nice. You have a starter and everything? Did you start that in COVID? I do, yeah. In COVID, or that was a crazy- I was a post-COVID sourdough person.
00:36:27
Speaker
so I wasn't that basic. I mean, I think everybody had some kind of fermented flour in their fridge during COVID. Yeah, I think everyone got into some form of sourdough creation. um my i just too I just kept going with it, you know? Yeah.
00:36:46
Speaker
yeah and And your husband, did you meet around, these it sounds like you met around that time too. so And you guys have a lot of common common goals, common in ah passions also. It sounds like a great match. So how did how did that come about? And you you discovered each other, you discovered trails, now the success in the trails.
00:37:10
Speaker
Yeah. So we had a family friend who'd been telling us about each other since middle school. Wow. And yeah, as middle schoolers, you're already kind of like shy and like not confident. And so of course neither of us acted upon that. Um, but we grew up in the same state, did like cross country meets. I guess we were at the same meets like several times. and We never saw each other and met each other. And then, yeah. And so she just kept telling us about the other person. We're like, yeah, no one's as weird as me to like work with me so probably not gonna meet this person but thanks. And then I had a friend on Instagram and he posted a photo and there were a bunch of other guys in the photo and I saw this cute guy and I clicked on it because I'm like oh who's that? And it was the boy that she kept telling me about that I should meet.
00:38:01
Speaker
Yeah. So I slid into the DMs. Um, yep. And I was like, Hey, if he leaves me on scene, I'm just going to tell her like he was a jerk. know what um seen Yeah. Like you told me, you told me he was my soulmate and he left me on scene. So This is modern day at daily TV. Exactly. um Thankfully, he didn't leave me on scene. He responded. um and so yeah We like got coffee and it's kind of been like history from there. He was a professional triathlete for six years, actually, and um just missed going to the Tokyo Olympics.
00:38:41
Speaker
And that's kind of when I was also having the wavering feelings of not doing track anymore. And so we ended up going to a trail race in Colorado, just as a fun activity to do. And we're both like, I think I could be a trail running vagabond. I think I could live in a van. Just go to races across the country.
00:39:04
Speaker
Yeah, pretty much like our honeymoon, we went over to Europe for a race. um We had saved all our money and we're like, okay, it's been a year since we got married, but we're going to go on our honeymoon to this trail race. Amazing.
00:39:18
Speaker
Yeah. So we just ended up finding like a similar passion that was really cool. And we both felt really passionate about it. um So yeah, that's kind of how that road intersected. It was, yeah. So good. god one good yeah and And then you like, you, you found trail running and then you'd sign up for a race. So where was the, you know, where was the, like, what what attracted you the most about, about this new way of running or this new terrain?
00:39:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think it first started with a community. We came from very like serious um sports, like the professional side of it. like People have their headphones on, like you don't talk, you're super nervous. Whereas we went to this trail race and people are like joking at the start line. and like Everyone's like, ah, you want to get a beer after?
00:40:06
Speaker
and you're like How do they know this is a race? Like, what? This is so boring. So that like first race, we're like, wow, like we like the chill, like kind of laid back environment. But then as soon as like the race happens, it's like people are turned on, right? Like it's serious. And So we respected both the ease yet intensity of that. Um, and we didn't really know what it would turn into. And so we kind of asked a few friends like, Hey, we like the trails. What are some competitive races? Um, we'd like to see like what it's like. And so we would just keep asking friends of like, what races to go to. And we kind of saved up our money and we'd go to those races and see how we did. it And over the course of a year, it was like, uh, We were going to some pretty big ones and like podiuming or getting close to it. And so we're like, okay, this may be something that we could do and be good at.
00:41:00
Speaker
and so Our theory was go to the biggest races, get your teeth kicked in, see how it works out. oh And that eventually landed us to like, yeah, taking it a little bit more professionalized and where we are now. Yeah, it's super good. And like, yeah, yeah read an I read an article, it was like fastest, fastest couple on the trail. like You know, it's pretty, it's pretty cool though. Like you're both, is it, is it easy to manage both of your careers together or?
00:41:32
Speaker
You know, how does that, how does that work? Cause it can be, it can work or it can not also, it can also not work, you know, um with, with athletes that come together and they're kind of, you're both hitting this, this peak at the same time, almost, you know?
00:41:46
Speaker
Yeah, I think the thing that's easy for us is like if someone wins, we're celebrating the win with them. And if someone has a loss, we're with them in that loss. And so we do a pretty do good job of not comparing. It's like a household win is a household win. And like same with a household loss is a household loss. And so if one of us can bring home the bacon for the family one race and the other the other, like that's kind of how we view it. um Yeah, we we just support each other. And there's not like We're competitive in every other area of our life with each other and not in the trail running, like who has the better result space. It's more like who can win like Scrabble um or badminton. We've done a good job. i know our I know our scenario is pretty special. like I won't take that for granted. like I understand that it can be
00:42:38
Speaker
something that's hard for couples to be ascending to the top of the same sport at the same time. Um, and I just think how our relationship works. Um, we've been very fortunate with that, that we haven't had to have any of those, um, conversations or issues. But also, I mean, I meant also with the training and, uh, you guys do a lot of your trainings together, I guess, or how do we do all of our training together? Um, yeah, like people are like, Oh, how much? And I'm like, like all of it. Um, Yeah, so like we'll do all of our easy runs together. And then like for workouts, obviously Eli is much faster than me. But we'll do our warm up together. And then we'll be like, OK, we'll see you back at the finish to do our cool down together. um And same with long runs. like We're going to start together. He's obviously going to run faster. But then he'll wait for me at the top of the hill. right And then we'll descend um together or something. so And the same with weightlifting. like We're in the gym at the same time.
00:43:35
Speaker
um we're doing mobility at the same time so okay yeah it's like a 24 7 like all day every day yeah yeah it works yeah well that that's what i mean you know like there's got to be a way that it works and that that works for you guys and that's that's perfect and having a training partners Amazing, you
Coaching Philosophy and Training Strategies
00:43:54
Speaker
know? like Yeah, it's great. That you can get out with and it keeps you accountable also. and So maybe what are some things you've learned from from your partner about ah running? Has he taught you anything about this?
00:44:09
Speaker
Yeah, a lot, actually. Yeah. he's um He's pretty good on a training perspective. I think he's taught me a lot about like the aerobic side um of training. I was very much like a short, um fast athlete in college. And so then he was like, OK, I'm going to show you how to train longer. And so like I learned that from a training perspective. And then from more just like,
00:44:36
Speaker
a holistic point of view is not taking everything so seriously. He's really good at like putting a training in a box and being like, it happened. We did it. We don't need to spend all day talking about it now. Whereas before it was like, oh, I had a bad training session and then it ruined my day. right like I thought about it. I was like, the training session was bad. My day's bad. I'm a shitty runner. It was like,
00:45:00
Speaker
You did the training session. like You got it done. You checked the box. It's about consistency. so I think he's really taught me about like the relaxed approach. Not saying that you can't take something seriously and be meticulous about it, but it's also like understanding what running is at the end of the day.
00:45:18
Speaker
mike It's a very self-serving thing. oh Like I know that through stories and through coaching that you can give back, but at the end of the day, when you go for a run, you're doing it for yourself, right? um you show You hope. but Yeah. like but Like at the end of the day, that's what you're doing. It's to make your mental clarity or have physical wellbeing there for you.
00:45:41
Speaker
Um, and so I think he brings that full circle back of remember what running is, yeah where, it where it sits in your life. And yeah, I think that he, he grounds me and keeps me a bit more steady. Um, cause I can get a bit emotional and even keel. That's okay too though. You know, it's good to, it's good to show your emotion and.
00:46:03
Speaker
Like I think we like that about running too and that we get to see that a little bit more in the sport, you know, where it's kind of a hidden sport. You know, the Netflix is doing this sprint and that you get to see some emotion of of these athletes and put some light on it, which is it's happening more and more, which I love. And that's why I also love doing the podcast because I get to yeah highlight.
00:46:26
Speaker
you guys and share your stories and your personalities and I think it's i think it's really great. um But like also what what you were saying there made me think of COVID actually because you know you just go out and run if you were able to and nothing was happening. It was just to go and move and and clear your mind. And and and yeah, and I don't know. It was just pure the for the pure enjoyment of doing of that, of that activity.
00:46:56
Speaker
and and yeah i am we Yeah, go ahead. Sorry. Yeah, they didn't just have there didn't have to be an end all to it. It just could be like today I'm going for a run. Yeah. And if it was like, Oh, I feel like doing, I don't know, strides or would I want to do some speed work, whatever it was, but it was for nothing. It was just for fitness, you know? So, yeah you and, uh, yeah, CIM was my first race back after that. It was there, which is full circle kind of thing, but, uh, and what would you say you've maybe brought to him in terms of training and running and like,
00:47:32
Speaker
Yeah, I think how he brought the aerobic side, I brought the speed side. I was like, yeah, we need to keep doing fast intervals um and strides. And I think like that's how we balance each other out is like he gets me to do the stuff that I don't like to do and I get him to do the stuff that he doesn't like to do because when you coach yourself, it's really easy to be like, I'm just going to do the stuff I'm good at. um So I think I brought that to the table. And then I also just think I'm a very routine person.
00:48:01
Speaker
And like so I think I've brought a lot of structure to the rest of our life that then aids in my good training. um And yeah, I'm just very routine. And i think that's I think you need to have routine and training because the body likes the consistency of it. And so I think that's been super helpful. Yeah, I don't really know what else I've brought. Probably a lot more. Maybe just happiness at the end of the day. Oh, that's good, yeah.
00:48:29
Speaker
We can just do it together. and and also like i guess And then what do you bring to your athletes in in in terms of coaching? um What do you find is the the biggest struggle that your athletes face? You understand a lot of this because you've been doing it for so long and you've raced a variety of different distances and faced adversity and challenges. So what would you say that your athletes look to you for the most of?
00:48:57
Speaker
um I think what they look for is someone who can understand what they're going through, right? Like if you maybe look at your average runner, they go to work or they have a home life and no one really understands what they experienced during a run or maybe what they experienced before or after a race. um And so I think what we bring is like the understanding of either things are normal or not normal and you're hearing them you're taking that time for them for something that's super important like you have these people who have nine to fives that have kids that have so many other obligations in their day and you're able to share something that's very sacred to them and take time out of your day to be part of theirs and so aside from the training because at the end of the day like
00:49:46
Speaker
Training isn't hugely different. like I don't think we bring something amazingly magical that no other coach has ever given a runner. I think it's just taking time for people that is the most important thing in a training plan. um and that's like That's why I think our coaching style is unique because we talk to our athletes almost every day um and we have like a very open communication basis like they all have our numbers um and we just like to check in with them and make sure not only their training is going good but that their life is going good and if it's not like how do we work around it how do we problem solve how can we help you and be there and be supportive yeah so that's what i think like we've brought to coaching is not necessarily the physiology or
00:50:30
Speaker
the mental tactics, but sometimes it's just the act of understanding that they're a person and what they love is what we love too. Yeah, because there's so many things going on in their lives and you know they they got to get they that they're paying for coaching and they want to get their training done, but some it's not always the reality or there's so many external factors. There's so much there to unpack. you know But um yeah, when when would you say you reached or you took the biggest leap in your running, let's say, like the biggest improvement, um you know, in in your your trail running? I know you were part of like the Golden Trail World world Series and you've done so many different trail races. They they vary in distances, right? And in terms of like,
00:51:19
Speaker
there Sometimes it's 20K, sometimes it's 50K. It depends on what you're doing. But like where would you say you saw the greatest improvement? I would say this year, it maybe didn't show like in the races that I had, um but I think just from like a confidence perspective and like being a good runner again perspective, I think this year is the biggest jump that I've taken. um yeah Just getting the hang of it, ah being able to feel like I'm a competitor in the race and not just a participant. um yeah I think it just took a few years of like understanding
00:51:57
Speaker
how to do it. um Just kind of like the marathon. I like figuring out how to do it. So I think this year was like a breakthrough year. And again, I don't think it really showed in the results, but in the training and mentally, I that's i found it um to be the best year so far. So maybe it'll show in 2025. Who knows?
00:52:17
Speaker
Yeah. And yeah. you And that's the thing, like, just like in training, you don't know when it's going to show either. Right. Like you have a good training day, bad training day, good races, bad races, all good seasons, bad seasons. Sometimes it's working and sometimes it's not. But like also in what you're racing to, like the variation is there's a quite a lot of variation. It's not so cut and dry. Like let's say a marathon could be where you could just pick, you know, I want to run these fast courses and and that's it.
00:52:43
Speaker
um There's a lot of climbing and stuff like that too. So is your plan to race similar terrain or like how do you set your your schedule year to year?
00:52:54
Speaker
Yeah, so I think the first few years that we were trail racing, it was just about racing to see what we liked. Because like you said, there's a whole bunch of options. like You have the Golden Trail, which is mainly just short course. Then you have the World Cup Series, which is a lot of VKs. And then you have like the UTMB and Beyond races that you can be 50K and above. And so I think we're kind of like, what do we like? What do we do? um And so I think this past year was the first year that we really set on maybe looking for longer. Like we definitely did more things.
00:53:30
Speaker
that were 50k plus. Um, and I think that's how we're going to set up this coming year. Cause we kind of found that's where our sweet spot is. Um, but still doing the short races just to touch on speed, right? I think they're great to touch on speed and skill because like skill especially, you're having to learn how to run over terrain at so much quicker of a rate that you're obtaining information on a downhill so much faster. And I think that'll aid in the longer stuff that on a 50k, then you're like, oh, this doesn't seem as technical because I'm moving at a slower rate down it. But I think we are going to build a calendar that's the longer races are the A races with maybe shorter races sprinkled in as good trainers.
00:54:14
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah. That makes sense. That makes sense. And what would you, what would you say for like downhill running? Cause like this is a, I mean, I've done some trail races too, but I find like the downhill so like so challenging and I'm quite clumsy too. So like my fear is that I'll hit like a root, a rock or a root and go flying off a cliff or something. But like, what would you say is like the best way to train for like downhills, let's say. like Yeah.
00:54:41
Speaker
Yeah, so downhill is definitely not my specialty, so anyone listening is just like, astric about. Wrong person. that's right wrong person um No, but something that really helped um me was our friend talked about it as dancing, that it's your dancing down the trail um and looking not right like right at your feet because then you're not being able to like look forward to know what's happening. um But to look beyond the trail and look where you want to go, not where you don't want to go. Sort of like in mountain biking, like if people are looking at the rocks while hear the rock, they inevitably like hit the rock. yeah And so the same as in trail running, like don't look at the rock and be like, I don't want to trip on that rock. Just keep looking beyond it. And also, forward lean is a big thing. Try not to lean back.
00:55:35
Speaker
Um, but keep your momentum forward and it'll help you roll over the terrain a little bit easier. So you're not breaking. Yeah. Okay. But I'm still a work in progress on all of this. so Yeah. I think my challenge with the the trail running is always like, yeah, like I said, hitting my feet and I get so pissed. Like, uh, like I try to avoid, try to lift my knees, i but like somehow I always whack my feet on rocks and roots and so yeah so painful.
00:56:04
Speaker
No, there's been some cussing moments for sure. I've been all around, I'm like, this is stupid. Yeah. wheres Where's your favorite place to run? Like, have you, you've gotten to travel, I assume. who So like, is it States or Europe or? Yeah, I grew up So where I grew up was in like on a ranch in the Rockies of Colorado. So selfishly, that's my favorite place to run. Not to say like other parts of the world haven't been amazing, but I think it's more the emotional connection I have to the place that makes it the most special. Aside from that, I would say my second most favorite place is outside of Annecy in France. We were taken on a run there and I cannot remember the name of the mountain that we got.
00:56:52
Speaker
ah Maybe it was Antoinette? I don't know. there's It's really pretty and it was stunning because you get to the top and you look over it ah Lake Anise. That's my second most favorite, but for consistent trail runs, it's definitely where I live. yeah and Is it challenging to train for what you're racing, where you live, do you find?
00:57:14
Speaker
Oh, not really. We have a lot of variety because where we live, it's kind of like Moab-y type terrain. But if we drive like 30 minutes, we get like very mountainous Rocky Mountain National Park. So you get like super steep, super rugged. um And then we have beautiful dirt roads. And so we kind of are really spoiled actually that we have a lot of terrain to choose from. So we never find it too hard. I think the hardest thing for us is like when we go over to Europe, for instance, and there's a 3,000 foot climb, um that's like pretty continuous. We have a hard time here finding that only because all of a sudden we end up at 14,000 feet.
00:57:54
Speaker
And so like you're not really running at that point. You're more just hiking because the altitude really hits. So I think that's the that's the hardest thing that we found. But other than that, like it's it's pretty easy for us and we feel very fortunate. what's What's that feeling of altitude like? I don't think I've ever experienced it quite like you just expressed it.
00:58:16
Speaker
Yeah, so if you ever feel like you're breathing through a straw, um okay yeah close your nose, breathe through a straw, that's how it feels. Wow, okay. Yeah, it's not like the most pleasant feeling in the world, but usually there's good views, so you just are like, well, have you used makeup for it? What's happening?
00:58:34
Speaker
But like athletes are training at this altitude to to get the benefits for when they get to sea level, right? So is that something that you're incorporating also more often or like how um how often do you do do that?
00:58:49
Speaker
Yeah. So the nice thing is where we live is we live at about 8,000 feet. So I guess in meters, 2,500 meters, maybe. Yeah. Um, and so I've never really about like going and getting altitude just because baseline of where we live is much higher than we usually ever race. I think like when we were in Chamonix, we get up to 7,000 feet. So like, we're not even, we're not even getting up to where we live. Um, I think they're you're sleeping at 8,000.
00:59:19
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. I think the biggest thing that we worry about is losing our speed up at altitude because you just can't run as fast as you can at sea level. So that's actually more of the thing we're worried about. Okay. um So yeah, finding like slightly downhill places to do intervals. So it's like, oh yeah, my legs remember how to like, turn it over. Yeah. ah mean Yeah. Yeah. So yeah you got to get a bit of both, right? So and you're living, in you're living ranch now, you're living where you grew up or?
00:59:48
Speaker
Yep. Live in where my family's been for almost six generations now. Wow. um Yeah. So we have a working cattle ranch. My dad, my grandma just turned 89. Wow. Excuse me. And so my dad is like the ranch manager. And so we just help him with all the ins and outs and daily happenings. So yeah, we balance that and it's it's pretty fun. It's a good way of life. and what's a day What's a day on the ranch? like Oh, so it's so seasonal, so it switches all the time because we go through like all the different needs and seasons that the cows need. so like
01:00:27
Speaker
I don't know, like coming up this winter, like we'll get up, we'll go chop the ice for the cows to drink because it's getting below zero most mornings now. um We'll feed them, we'll go do our training, and that's kind of all it looks like right now because they don't need much from us, but then like in the spring is our busy time.
01:00:48
Speaker
Um, that's the calving season when they have all their babies. So you're kind of on watch 24 hours a day. So we all take turns in the middle of night getting up, checking them. Um, yeah, so it just, every day varies, which is kind of fun. Like it's never mundane. Um, and then the small things like today comes up, like cows get out, you gotta go get them. Like they're, uh, they're challenging at times, but.
01:01:14
Speaker
it's It's a fun way of life and something that I just grew up doing and I enjoy the hard work of it. Yeah. Yeah, that's so good. and any Is there ever thought of living somewhere else? or you always like This is kind of where you you feel comfortable and and it's good for your training too. You've got family balance too and stuff like that.
01:01:36
Speaker
Yeah, so when I was younger and my dad was on the U.S. Olympic rowing team, we traveled all across the country for him to do rowing and team camps. And then, collegiately, I got to travel as a team. So you saw how many different places like that. And then now that we've traveled internationally with trail running,
01:01:56
Speaker
um And after doing all that traveling, we ah biasedly think we live in the best place.
Life Beyond Running and Personal Reflections
01:02:03
Speaker
So that's why we chose it. Um, we think it has the best training and also family is a huge tie. Like after we're done with our professional careers, so we want to be able to like, keep the the ranch going. And so that was a big draw of like, my parents are getting in their sixties. Um, my grandma was being 90, like we're the next generation that it's going to be our turn coming up. And so we wanted to show that commitment to my family as well that like.
01:02:27
Speaker
we want to keep it um and We want to keep it going. And so that's another reason we moved up to be like, hey, we can help. We can we can make this sustainable. Yeah. Amazing. And what about your brother? Did he continue also in this athletic endeavors? or Yeah, so he followed in the footsteps of his sister and he also now runs at the University of Colorado. Yeah, I know. He's just like following the legacy. Everyone's like, oh, you're a sister. And he's like, oh, yeah, my sister. um So yeah, he still runs at a very competitive level and he has one more year of college. So I guess we'll see you what he'll do next.
01:03:03
Speaker
He's a very talented kid, not only in running, but he's incredibly smart. And so I think he has a lot of doors that'll open to him too. But I don't know if running is going to be something after. We haven't really talked about it, but maybe, maybe I'll take him into trail. They're like, come on over. Come on over. It's easy. We're chill. We're having beers after. What's ah what's your what's what's your proudest moment or your your biggest accomplishment, would you say?
01:03:29
Speaker
Wow. Um, you know, I don't even think it has to be running related. Um, I think my biggest accomplishment is like meeting my husband. I think it's brought the most joy in my life out of anything else. Um, running is cool, racing is cool, but that's fleeting. Um, so my biggest accomplishment is just like finding my person. Yeah. Oh, that's great. Yeah. And you get to share this together, all this fun racing and traveling. It's even better.
01:03:58
Speaker
And how would you how how would you like to be remembered when when you're like running careers all set in debt? Yeah, I just want to be remembered for how I made people feel. um Again, I think it goes back to.
01:04:13
Speaker
When you die, your results will be outdated. There'll be better super shoes. So times will be faster. Um, maybe like the doping games will be a big thing. And so metals won't even be important anymore. So I just rather be remembered that like I took time for others. Like I helped them in their day and if they needed something, I was, I was there to to help. Yeah. That's how I'd like to be remembered. Is there anybody that you look up to in the sport, uh, at the moment?
01:04:42
Speaker
Oh, great question. I think I really look up to Courtney DeWalter. She just does beats to her own drum, does her own thing, like secluded in the mountains, and then she shows up and pops off and then disappears again. I'm like, way to do it. like Respect unbelievable. Yeah. Yeah, and she just she grinds like she works hard and I respect people who work hard Yeah, have you met her before or like do you know? Um, yeah, I met her in the airport and she introduced herself to me and I'm like, yeah Yeah, like I know who you are Um, you don't know me but I know you She's like I'm Courtney. I'm like, oh oh, yeah, believe me. I know I follow you on instagram like
01:05:35
Speaker
Yeah, you know, like, it's hard always hard to tell how someone would be when you see them through that lens through social media. But I just feel like she would be so nice. Yeah, she she was very genuine. Yeah. And she took the time for me. She's like, Oh, young child in trail. 50 K's are cute. Yeah, like, and when you would like, because you're like a high end athlete, like when you look at somebody like that, you think you think you can get like what makes What makes her special do you think? like what really can you Can you pinpoint something? or like you know There's so many things that goes into this sport, but like she's so dominant. you know I think it's just she's been doing it. She hasn't given up. like It wasn't like she was perfect at the start of her career. like She had some huge ups and downs and some huge wins, but then like there are a lot of DNFs in there. and so I think it's just
01:06:31
Speaker
Like Deslan, and she kept showing up like and it's it's working out for her now. like She didn't give up and whatever, she's perfected. um And she's I think the mental game is what's very impressive to me because like in an ultra, it comes down to that, right? like Everyone's hurting, but it's who's like, I can go one more mile. I can go one more mile. And I think what else I like is she does things that people say can't be done, which is really cool. Like the triple last year, everyone's like, that can't be done.
01:07:01
Speaker
Like, no one can do that. Like, no one can recover. And she's like, okay, yeah, whatever. Watch this. And you're like, touche. So I think that's what it is. Like, she believes. Yeah, you watch it. You're like, it's not like, that's not possible. Like, that's, yeah.
01:07:18
Speaker
Like she, like, I don't know. I just, it doesn't seem like the body could physically repair itself in time to, to be able to take on such a thing, you know, and, and she does it, you know, it's nuts. She just proves everybody wrong. Is there any, do you think you'll get up there in distance also? Do you think you want to head to, I mean, for myself, I I've done a 70 or 65 K and I'm like, I don't ever see myself doing a hundred or.
01:07:44
Speaker
a hundred mile there. Um, but some people see that in their future and that's great. You know, do you ever see yourself getting to, you know, there's like Leadville also and, uh, these kinds of races. I think I'm in your camp. Um, I think last year we helped crew a few teammates at Western.
01:08:04
Speaker
And at the start of the race, it like looked really cool. And I was like, this place called Dusty Corners. And I'm like, yeah, that looks sick. like They're running pretty quick. And then I think it's like six miles to go from the finish. It was called Pointed Rocks Aid Station. And I saw everybody, and I was like, oh my gosh, no. like I know these people well, and they look that bad. And like I don't think it's for me.
01:08:26
Speaker
it's my and I think I'd just rather stick to the short stuff and perfect it. And like maybe as the last hurrah, when I go to retire from professional running, I'll be like, yeah, I'll try 100. But like that's not a that's not where I see myself as going long. Yeah. Yeah. I'm with you on that one. um and And I also believe like doing a bit of coaching myself, i'm I'm always like, what's the rush to jump up? you know I think what you said there about perfecting shorter distances is really, really important. Like, why can't you stay in a 5K, 10K for a while and get to the half? And the allure is always like, get to the marathon, get to the 100 miler, right? these Hashtag make short races sexy. There you go. Yeah. Yeah. And you got to be fast to like on the short stuff to be able to help you with the long stuff.
01:09:17
Speaker
Yeah, like it's the final sign. Oh, that's another beast. That's another animal. Right. Fifteen the marathon. I got it all. Crazy, crazy. That's crazy. Yeah, it's nuts. I want to ask you with the holidays approaching, what's on your like what's on your running wish list? Oh, running wish list, I think.
01:09:43
Speaker
I would really like a pair of AirPods. These aren't mine. These are my husband's. Because if I do, if I'm running on the treadmill or something, I have a pair of aftershocks. But the treadmills are so loud that I can't hear what I'm listening to. And so then I end up just listening to muffled words. And I'm like, cool, that was an awesome podcast that I was listening to.
01:10:03
Speaker
I got every fifth word. um So that would definitely be on my running wish list. Other than that, like Adidas does a really good job of giving us anything we'd ever want.
01:10:14
Speaker
Nice. I probably have more than enough stuff, which I'm incredibly grateful for, but I don't need any more running stuff. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Fair enough. You're fully stocked, probably for... I'm fully stocked. For your seasons. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. and What would you say... My last question is, there what would you say running has brought to your life?
01:10:34
Speaker
o Running has brought me... The best memories and the greatest friendships, for sure. Like every time I think about like the happiest moments, it usually has involved a run or like going to a race and then just the people I've met along the way. Like I don't think I would have met those people any other place um or way. So yeah, that's what it's brought. um Yeah. And I bet other things in life would have done that too, but it really put me out of my comfort zone and got me to see things and meet people and experience life.
01:11:09
Speaker
Amazing. Well, ah Tabor, thanks so much for taking the time with me today. I haven't done an interview in a little while, and I was thrilled to that you accepted my invitation to to have this conversation. And yeah, you're such a nice person and you're you're fun to talk to. So hopefully I came through in this chat. I hope so. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate it. I hope you know people can learn something. And yeah, if anyone has any other questions, um I'm a chatterbox. Communication. See? It all comes full circle. Yeah. where Where can people find out more about you just as a last thing?
01:11:45
Speaker
Yeah, I have an Instagram. I think it's tabor underscore Hemings maybe and then they can also reach out on ah YouTube and I think we have a we have a coaching website. We do. I think it's called aerobic monsters coaching. Now we don't have a coaching website. My husband is shaking his head. yeah We don't have one right now. Yeah, 2025. That's a goal right there. Boom. To-do list, but not on. Um, so yeah, maybe Instagram is the best one to, uh, to keep in contact. Amazing. Thank you again so much. I appreciate your time. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Thanks for tuning in to the Just In Stride podcast. I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen, and I hope you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did. Please take a minute after this to rate and review our show on Apple podcasts.
01:12:36
Speaker
With your feedback, we'll be able to make the show even better and it'll help us reach new listeners too. You can also find us on Instagram at JustinStrydPod for all the latest episodes and updates.
01:12:47
Speaker
Of course, this show wouldn't be possible without a solid team behind me. With logo and design by Vanessa Pugliese, as well as audio, music, and editing by Forest McKay, a huge thank you goes out to both of them. Guest outreach, social media, writing, and advertising are handled by me, your host, Justin Pugliese. Finally, we'd like to thank you, our listeners, for coming along for the ride with Justin Stradd.