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Nicole Rauch is a certified personal trainer who's business took off over the last two years as she showed folks everywhere how to do challenging workouts in their own homes. A concept that became more relevant than ever. Her engaging videos, along with her positive and infectious attitude, propelled her following to 15x growth as Nicole helped folks alter their workout routines to fit the changing times. Then, in 2021, Nicole decided that she she was going to run her first marathon and what an amazing decision that turned out to be!Nicole trained with Rogue Running in Austin, TX and put together one of the most challenging workout plans I've ever seen for a first time marathoner. And it worked. Nicole ran a 3:31 at the 2022 Houston Marathon and in this episode she details the amazing journey and the valuable lessons she learned from the journey.You can follow Nicole's running account at: www.instagram.com/nicolemruns.You can follow her main account at: www.instagram.com/nicolemrauch.Nicole's website is www.nicolemrauch.com.Sponsor:Join me in running the 2022 Eugene Marathon! Eugene is also known as TrackTown USA and this marathon finishes at world famous Hayward Field. It is also the a top 20 Boston Marathon qualifier and one of the fastest races each spring. Visit www.eugenemarathon.com today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victoria Polk is speed personified. This dedicated amateur runner has reached a new stratosphere over the past year and I couldn't wait to get her on the show to hear all about it!Victoria was a strong high school runner and had dreams of running in college. Her plans changed after her freshman year when running didn't go as planned and she decided to leave school to get married. After giving birth to her third of four children she decided to give running another change and boy did she take off!You can follow Victoria at www.instagram.com/run_victoria_run.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marathon recovery is a topic that faces every marathoner but it can be a tricky situation. Many factors can influence how a runner's recovery may go. In this episode, Tanya Lerch and I talk through our wildly different California International Marathon training, races, and recoveries. Tanya smashed the race to the tune of running 3:05 and a PR. As fast as she is, she's an even better person who bring tons of insight and humor to the show.If you want to learn more about Tanya we cover her complete running background in episode 262.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The amazing Deirdre Keane is on the show! Deirdre is a pediatric ICU nurse practitioner at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She has run 35 marathons and 1 ultra-marathon (soon to be 2!). Deirdre loves to race but also uses running to support philanthropic causes. For example, during the peak of the pandemic in NYC, she ran 1000 miles in three months to raise money for food insecurity related to COVID. She ended up fundraising over $11,000. The money went to grocery store gift cards and grocery deliveries to underserved and vulnerable families.This year Deirdre is taking it up a notch. Maybe several notches. In October she will be doing the World Marathon Challenge. It is 7 marathons on the 7 continents in 7 consecutive days. She will be fundraising for Vibrant Emotional Health. Vibrant is a non-profit, centered in NYC, that offers individuals and families mental health resources, such as counseling and support groups. The organization also runs the National Suicide Hotline.Deirdre was featured in Humans of New York last August for utilizing running as a means to combat depression, which led to articles in Runner's World and Women's Running. When not running or working, Deirdre is in school getting her MBA part-time at NYU Stern School of Business.*Support Deirdre here: www.vibrant.org/supportdeirdrekeane.*Follow Deirdre on Instagram: www.instagram.com/deirdremkeane.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jess Mena DPT is on the show and she brings it! Jess is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, marathoner, and a super fun person.In this episode we talk about how she worked through her own injury prior to the 2021 Boston Marathon and bounced back to set a PR at the California International Marathon. Jess also gives us a preview of the upcoming Speed Project - a relay race from L.A. to Las Vegas. In addition we discuss training, the effects of increasing mileage, the limitations of a super busy schedule, and important lifts/exercises for all runners. We also take a deep dive into some common running injuries and how she works to help solve those issues.Follow Jess at www.instagram.com/tempo_with_jess.Sponsor:Join me in running the 2022 Eugene Marathon! Eugene is also known as TrackTown USA and this marathon finishes at world famous Hayward Field. It is also the a top 20 Boston Marathon qualifier and one of the fastest races each spring. Visit www.eugenemarathon.com today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Although she spent her childhood with her nose in a book, ducking when any ball was thrown in her direction, Vanessa is now a 2-time Boston Marathon finisher, and has run over 100 road races. Currently an advising dean at Georgetown University, Vanessa earned her Ph.D. in medieval history from The Catholic University of America. Vanessa lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Patrick and their daughter, Lucy.When she began graduate school, Vanessa did not imagine that running would help her earn a doctorate in medieval history. Yet, within a few months of lacing up her sneakers, Vanessa went from a non-runner to qualifying for the prestigious Boston Marathon. Vanessa enjoyed that running rewarded those who embraced hard work and sought to see similar results in school. But the struggles associated with a rigorous academic program caused Vanessa to wonder whether she would ever accomplish her lifelong goal of earning a Ph.D.Her new book It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint: My Road to the Marathon and Ph.D. tells two intertwined stories of Vanessa’s rigorous intellectual and athletic journeys. Through episodes of running and researching, both the victories and setbacks, readers will discover how Vanessa found joy in the midst of a difficult quest. This relatable, inspiring, and candid memoir will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates a good comeback story or is seeking themselves to take on a seemingly insurmountable challenge.Order her book at: www.amazon.com/dp/B09JZRSDBS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_HJ0CGE83DEVMJ4VEJNNPFollow Vanessa on Instagram and Twitter at @VRCinDC.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kiese Laymon, a southern writer born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, is one of the best writers in the country and someone I got to know during my time as Vassar College.Recently there have been towns across America banning books by some of the country's greatest writers. Books by Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Kiese, and others have been removed from libraries and banned from schools. I'm re-airing this episode because his voice is powerful, inspiring, critical, authentic and vital for free-thinking people everywhere.Kiese Laymon is the author of Heavy: An American Memoir, the novel Long Division  and a collection of essays, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America. Heavy, winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal, the LA Times Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose and Audible’s Audiobook of the Year, was named one of the Best Books of 2018 by the The Undefeated, New York Times, Publishers Weekly, NPR, Broadly, Library Journal , The Washington Post , Southern Living , Entertainment Weekly, San Francisco Chronicle and The New York Times Critics. Laymon is the recipient of the 2019 Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media. Laymon has written essays, stories and reviews for numerous publications including Esquire, McSweeneys, New York Times, ESPN the Magazine, NPR, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, The Best American Series, Ebony, Paris Review, Guernica and more.Photo credit in the episode graphic to Tim Ivy.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marc Quiñones is one of the best chefs in America. He has appeared on Hell's Kitchen, Chopped, and Cutthroat Kitchen, been named 2017 New Mexico Chef of The Year and three time Best Chef in Albuquerque, and been featured in Forbes and many other publications. He is also one heck of a runner.Just like in his cooking career, Marc built himself from the ground up as a runner. He did so in an unconventional way and with undeniable grit and determination. Prepare to be inspired by this amazing man who has overcome many hurdles but has proven bigger and stronger than all of them.You can follow Marc's running at https://www.instagram.com/chefmqtherunner/ and his culinary career at https://www.instagram.com/chefmq/. Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are back with another solo episode focused on reaching new levels in training. This episode dovetails with a recent drastic uptick in miles in my own training as I prepare for the Eugene Marathon. It's very exciting for me and there a lots of information to be gained by breaking it down.Here are some of the points that are covered: Believing 100% in an imperfect training plan is better than the perfect plan that you don’t embrace Getting past arguing for my limitations instead of embracing possibility – or at least being curious and open minded about the possibility of surprising Increase in training miles 50 – 53 – 60. First every back to back 50’s. First ever 60. What changed? Building on fitness, not overthinking it, embracing the training, not comparing it to the past, allowing the runs to take shape. Finally – knowing that I, and all of us, can do far far more than we think we can Sponsor:Join me in running the 2022 Eugene Marathon! Eugene is also known as TrackTown USA and this marathon finishes at world famous Hayward Field. It is also the a top 20 Boston Marathon qualifier and one of the fastest races each spring. Visit www.eugenemarathon.com today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many of us have wanted to invest in a top of the line race shoe but aren't sure to start. With so many of these shoes only available online, we need to go to the experts for assistance on what shoes can work for us. And, which shoes to avoid.In this episode I'm joined by Tommie Runz and Aaron Barnett who break down their top five carbon plated races shoes. They also include a bonus "hell-no" to a pair they'd rather do without.Follow Tommie at - www.instagram.com/tommie_runz.Follow Aaron at - www.instagram.com/aaronxworldwide.Watch their PR Project at - www.youtube.com/channel/UCnRBeYuF4rtcnqjPGSnI2og.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cate Barrett is a star. Enormously talented, tough, and brilliant. It was an honor to speak with Cate about her post-college running life (she was a six time all-conference at Baylor University) during which she had a some amazing highs, like qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, and several challenges. Cate was able to carve out a niche in the running world as an elite yet not quite professional runner. It's a tricky situation that required her to navigate many of the same obstacles most everyday runners face.Finally, we talk about Cate's running and health journey after giving birth to her daughter roughly a year ago. Often times we hear about the women who bounce back from pregnancy on the quicker end of the spectrum. We have chronicled those stories on this podcast many times. But, the truth is, that isn't the reality for many women. Cate shares her experiences, excitement, and struggles as she continues to be a beacon for runners everywhere.You can follow Cate at www.instagram.com/beingcate.Sponsor:Join me in running the 2022 Eugene Marathon! Eugene is also known as TrackTown USA and this marathon finishes at world famous Hayward Field. It is also the a top 20 Boston Marathon qualifier and one of the fastest races each spring. Visit www.eugenemarathon.com today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veronica Goebel started running in 2016 when her cousin, Aracely Richardson, convinced her to run a marathon. That's right, a conversion from non-runner to embarking on a marathon training cycle. Not only was that a big task to take on, when raceday came around she ran several weeks pregnant. By that point she had caught the running bug and it was there to stay.Six years later, Veronica has run a handful of marathons, over a dozen half-marathons, become a member of the Houston Harriers, and cut over an hour off her marathon PR from 5:20 to the low 4:00's.Veronica, a mother of three, also works as a real estate agent when is isn't crushing miles on her treadmill or doing long runs with the Houston Harriers. In this episode we talk about her later start as a runner, learning from her dad who is trying to break 3:00 in the marathon, how she has become an active member of the vibrant Houston running scene, and so much more.You can follow Veronica at www.instagram.com/vgoebruns.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jocelyn Rivas from South Central Los Angeles is a 24 year old force of nature.She broke the Guinness World Record for the youngest woman to run 100 marathons at the 2021 Los Angeles Marathon. It was perfect symmetry as the LA Marathon was also her first when she was a mere high schooler. Jocelyn also broke the Record for Youngest Latina to run 100 marathons by four years.In 2013, Jocelyn decided to go see her friend run at the LA Marathon at Mile 18. She saw runners of all ages running from teenagers to 60-year-olds. This was the moment that inspired her to run a marathon. Although she knew it was going to be hard due to her medical history of being born with a broken back, neck and feet. She decided she didn’t want to limit herself anymore. A couple of months later at 16 years old, she decided to train with Students Run L.A. and she crossed the finish line to her first marathon at the 2014 Los Angeles Marathon.You can follow Jocelyn at www.instagram.com/joselinthewarrior.Sponsor:Join me in running the 2022 Eugene Marathon! Eugene is also known as TrackTown USA and this marathon finishes at world famous Hayward Field. It is also the a top 20 Boston Marathon qualifier and one of the fastest races each spring. Visit www.eugenemarathon.com today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Coach’s Corner episode of 2022 is here and it features two legends: Megan Roche, M.D. and Jacob Puzey. In this episode we discuss what marathoners can learn from ultra runners and what closely held beliefs in the marathon road running community aren’t necessarily gospel in the ultra world.Here are some topics we discuss: Running on pavement versus various types of trail Lengths of long runs and/or weekend doubles  Embracing fun and exciting challenges Effort focused versus time/pace focused Nutrition on the run Megan Roche, M.D.: Megan was the 2016 USATF Trail Runner of the Year at the ultra and sub-ultra distances. She is a five-time national champion, a North American Mountain Running Champion, and a six-time member of Team USA. She graduated from Duke University with a degree in Neuroscience and received her M.D. from Stanford Medical School. Megan and her husband, David Roche, created the Some Work All Play Adventure Team where they coach some of the best athletes in the world and dedicated amateur runners.Jacob Puzey: Jacob coaches runners from all over the world of all ages and abilities — from newbies to national champions — and loves helping his athletes reach new heights in their running performance. Jacob is revered for his unique ability to understand family and work demands and address those challenges within a training cycle. Jacob is just as accomplished as a runner. As part of a marathon buildup in 2011, Jacob signed up for a trail 50K, accidentally won that race, and has since set numerous course records on both road and trail courses throughout North America.Sponsors:This episode is brought to you by Four Sigmatic, a wellness company that mixes mushrooms and adaptogens with coffee, cacao, latte, protein powder. They have a special offer for the Rambling Runner audience. Receive 10% off your Four Sigmatic order. Just go to www.foursigmatic.com/RAMBLINGRUNNER or enter code RAMBLINGRUNNER at checkout.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show I am joined my good friend, and super successful host of the I'll Have Another podcast, Lindsey Hein.We had a fun conversation about what we would change and what we learned from 2021, what we want to do differently in 2022, what we want to double down on, and much, much more. Our entire conversation was inspired by a post from Justin Su'a - a mental performance coach for professional athletes and an inspiring figure for athletes across the globe. You can read the post from Justin that prompted our episode here: www.instagram.com/p/CYBl_ADL7_U.Sponsor:Join me in running the 2022 Eugene Marathon! Eugene is also known as TrackTown USA and this marathon finishes at world famous Hayward Field. It is also the a top 20 Boston Marathon qualifier and one of the fastest races each spring. Visit www.eugenemarathon.com today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to taking on audacious challenges Nikki Cannon is an amateur runner like no other.An experienced racer at distances from 5k to ultramarathons, and a full-time teacher, Nikki is always game for a challenge. When she turned 40 in 2021 she decided to run 40 marathons in 40 days during the heat of a Houston summer. She got over halfway but had to pull-out after sustaining an injury. Nikki was down but she was not out!At the beginning of December she started the challenge again. She is now 29 days into her 40 days. In 11 days her journey will conclude at the Chevron Houston Marathon. Not only is she doing this for herself but as a fundraiser for Soles4Souls - a nonprofit dedicated to delivering shoes to those who need them.Follow Nikki's journey at www.instagram.com/iwasborn2run. You can support her fundraising initiative by clicking here.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alexis McCoy is back for the final episode of the Marathon Milestone mini-series.After back-to-back personal bests at Boston and New York, Alexis had some of her best training of the year. Then tragedy struck her family. In this episode we take a deep dive into what transpired in Alexis's life after Thanksgiving, what she learned from this challenge, and her ambitious plans for 2022.Background: Alexis is a dedicated amateur runner who took a big leap this fall registering for Boston, New York, and California International Marathons. Not only that, we followed her every step of the way.Tune-in to Alexis's last appearance on the show by downloading episode #387.Sponsor:Join me in running the 2022 Eugene Marathon! Eugene is also known as TrackTown USA and this marathon finishes at world famous Hayward Field. It is also the a top 20 Boston Marathon qualifier and one of the fastest races each spring. Visit www.eugenemarathon.com today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maurice Lowman, the Marathon Panda, is back!!!In this episode, Maurice talks about how he has busted through a fitness and speed plateau. Two years ago he was doing amazing things in the running world but he was stuck in a bit of a rut. He wasn't getting faster and, even with his constant positivity, was a little frustrated by his lack of improvement. Then, he made some key changes and is now better than ever! Learn all about this changes and more in this episode.You can learn more about Maurice in is first two appearances on the show in episodes 12 and 58.You can follow Maurice and get is daily dose of inspiration at www.instagram.com/marathonpandamaurice.Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tracie Hunter is on the show fresh off a marathon PR and learning that she has qualified for the Abbott Wanda Age Group World Championships. What a combo!Tracie has been running marathons for nearly 20 years. Yet, she is faster now than ever. In this episode we talk about how she made that happen. We also take a deep dive into the new Age Group World Championships, what it means, how to qualify, and much, much more.You can learn more about Tracie at www.indianarunnergirl.com.You can learn more about the Age Group World Championships at www.worldmarathonmajors.com/rankings/how-it-works.Sponsors:Gift giving season is here and breo massagers have great gift ideas for family and friends. Especially the breo foot massager! Winter is coming, and we are the foot massager's an unreplaceable choice to warm feet in the comfort of home. breo also offers multiple wellness bundles available that are up to 30% off (no code required)! Go to https://us.breo.com/discount/RAMBLINGRUNNER to save 20% on your order today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2014 was meant to be a banner year of running for Connor Meakin, not (maybe) his last as a runner. He enjoyed early success, winning races and feeling amazing in the process, which motivated him to want more and push even harder. Things completely derailed soon after as he got blasted with devastating prognosis for an injury that didn't initially seem too serious.Connor had developed a serious foot injury that prompted his doctor to him that he may never run again.For two years Connor tried everything from the conventional to the other end of the spectrum. Soon his mental and emotional health were also in need of rehabilitation.Through it all, Connor kept pushing to find answers to get back to something he loved. In the process he not only rebuilt his body but created a new life for himself.Sponsors:Gift giving season is here and breo massagers have great gift ideas for family and friends. Especially the breo foot massager! Winter is coming, and we are the foot massager's an unreplaceable choice to warm feet in the comfort of home. breo also offers multiple wellness bundles available that are up to 30% off (no code required)! Go to https://us.breo.com/discount/RAMBLINGRUNNER to save 20% on your order today!Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ83E0U8M4V7klqZB8BF3wA Rambling Runner Podcast Community Corner private Facebook group - www.facebook.com/groups/125544686229661  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices