Latest / The People Run Podcast / #31 Twenty Years of Running and Still Chasing PRs | Michelle Baxter

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#31 Twenty Years of Running and Still Chasing PRs | Michelle Baxter · The People Run Podcast

0:00
SPEAKER_00: Let's say it's 4 45 a.m.
0:01
SPEAKER_00: You go look at that iPhone watch or however you do it, um, and it says it's negative 20.
0:06
SPEAKER_02: I just don't even give myself the choice.
0:09
SPEAKER_02: Like it becomes discipline over motivation.
0:16
SPEAKER_00: Welcome everyone to the People Run podcast.
0:19
SPEAKER_00: I'm excited about today's guest.
0:21
SPEAKER_00: I have Michelle who uh I've been following for a couple of years now.
0:24
SPEAKER_00: We were just joking about this, but when I found her, I was fresh to Colorado, freezing cold, and finding out how to stay warm and run.
0:31
SPEAKER_00: And uh been following her journey and found her blog ever since then.
0:35
SPEAKER_00: Um that said, Michelle's been running literally for 20 plus years at a very consistent level and still chasing PRs.
0:43
SPEAKER_00: Last year she hit three PRs over the age of 40, which is insane and a goal for sure for many of us here who's listening.
0:50
SPEAKER_00: Um welcome, Michelle, to the People Run podcast.
0:53
SPEAKER_02: Hi, yeah, thanks for having me.
0:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, of course.
0:57
SPEAKER_00: Um you know, thanks for being here.
1:00
SPEAKER_00: I see the snow in the background, you know, which is probably gonna be a big part of this episode.
1:04
SPEAKER_00: Um getting right into it, you know, I do want to ask you and kind of paint a scenario of what I see often with your runs.
1:12
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, you're running a lot of some people would say extreme temperatures or just very cold temperatures, something I feel you're used to.
1:19
SPEAKER_00: But I want to give you a scenario.
1:20
SPEAKER_00: Let's say it's 4 45 a.m.
1:22
SPEAKER_00: I see you often wake up early.
1:24
SPEAKER_00: It's you you're getting ready for your run.
1:26
SPEAKER_00: I've seen the coffee, I'm getting my food ready, I'm about to get out the door, I'm dressed.
1:30
SPEAKER_00: You go look at that iPhone watch or however you do it, um, and it says it's negative 20.
1:36
SPEAKER_00: What keeps you from not, you know what, I'm gonna go hug my kids and go to sleep, or I'm actually gonna go out that door and run.
1:43
SPEAKER_02: Well, I like to say that the I've been hit by a bit by the running bug very hard, and the addiction to this drug is very strong at this point in time.
1:53
SPEAKER_02: Um, no, for some of those early morning runs, I do meet a running buddy, and so that keeps me accountable to have somebody else waiting for me, and I don't wanna wait her, you know, bail at her on her at the last minute.
2:06
SPEAKER_02: So that's part of it.
2:07
SPEAKER_02: Um in many ways, I've been just been an early morning runner for pretty much my whole career because when I was working full time, I got up and worked and ran before I went to work, and then I've when I've stayed at home with my kids, I had to run, do my run before my husband went to work.
2:25
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so logistically, like sometimes that's literally my only time to get my run in is that at 4 45, 5 o'clock in the morning.
2:33
SPEAKER_02: And so I if I know if I don't do it then, it's not gonna happen the rest of the day.
2:38
SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, little things like I always tell people the hardest thing about getting up early is going to bed early.
2:45
SPEAKER_02: And so it's being very intentional with winding down early and going to bed at a reasonable time, and then even little things like laying out my clothes the night before helps, so I'm not having to think about that.
2:57
SPEAKER_02: When my alarm goes off in the morning, honestly, I just don't even give myself the choice.
3:02
SPEAKER_02: Like, I'm just like I've committed to this, I told myself I was gonna do this.
3:06
SPEAKER_02: My coach wrote this on my plan, so I need to follow through, and I don't want to tell her that I didn't do the run.
3:12
SPEAKER_02: So it's even little things like that, and honestly, like it becomes discipline over motivation so much of the time.
3:19
SPEAKER_02: Like, I am not always motivated at four or five o'clock in the morning, so it has to become that discipline aspect, and I know my goals are my goals are important enough for me that I know that every run is important.
3:34
SPEAKER_02: Like, of course, like missing a run for a variety of reasons is fine, but for the most part, like you gotta be consistent.
3:43
SPEAKER_02: And so I know if I miss a run here, then if I just like have this domino effect where I'm like, oh, I missed one run, now I'm just gonna okay, miss another run.
3:52
SPEAKER_02: So if anything, it just for me, it's just staying consistent and getting every daily run-in as often as I can.
3:59
SPEAKER_02: So for sure that discipline over motivation and what because then once again, going back to the my goals are that important to me.
4:06
SPEAKER_02: So I've set really high goals for myself, and I know that I need all those bricks to stack to be able to accomplish those goals.
4:16
SPEAKER_00: Do you ever find yourself like changing workouts based off, you know, like you said, sometimes it's motivation is not too high and the discipline's still there, like changing workouts.
4:24
SPEAKER_00: Your coach wrote this for today, but it's a super cold out there, and I gotta pivot some stuff uh with the family.
4:30
SPEAKER_00: Um, how do you deal with those when you're thinking of the long-term goal and having to pivot, say, a workout or a long run?
4:38
SPEAKER_02: Um for let's say I would say for the most part, I don't change up too much of my training.
4:43
SPEAKER_02: Like my coach knows me well enough.
4:45
SPEAKER_02: Like, we're I've worked with her on and off for about 12 years, so she knows me well enough to know what I need.
4:50
SPEAKER_02: And like for sure, if it's like if it did snow overnight and I wasn't I was planning on going outside, I'll just hop on my treadmill in my garage, that type of thing.
4:59
SPEAKER_02: If um, I'm not like if my kids are I just remember when my kids are newborns and being up there with them two, three times.
5:07
SPEAKER_02: Honestly, a lot of times I would still get up because once again it was the only time to get a run-in.
5:12
SPEAKER_02: Sometimes I would sleep in and then I would push them in the stroller later on in the day so I could get a little bit of extra sleep.
5:19
SPEAKER_02: Um, I'm not always a great napper, so I'd always promise myself a nap and then it would never happen.
5:25
SPEAKER_02: Um, but yeah, I mean, I think because then it comes down to okay, is this do I have to pivot?
5:32
SPEAKER_02: Is it like an injury for sure?
5:34
SPEAKER_02: If like something is bugging me, then for sure, yeah, okay, let's pivot and do something different.
5:38
SPEAKER_02: Or a sickness.
5:39
SPEAKER_02: Like I've had the last couple winters, I've been sick and had like the flu for a week and just it knocked me down.
5:44
SPEAKER_02: So for sure, then I'm pivoting.
5:46
SPEAKER_02: But if it's just like a lack of motivation type of thing, I was like, oh, I don't really feel like this, it's negative 20.
5:51
SPEAKER_02: Um, but I know how to dress at this point in time to keep myself warm.
5:56
SPEAKER_02: Or there's, I mean, certainly there was times I was going to the treadmill um instead of running outside.
6:01
SPEAKER_02: So I think it for people they have to differentiate between, okay, is this, is this doing this run, is it going to is I'm just not motivated and just like gonna funk mentally, but after the run, I will know I will be better.
6:14
SPEAKER_02: My future self will thank me.
6:16
SPEAKER_02: And you kind of have to learn that as you progress in your running journey, as you get to know yourself better.
6:22
SPEAKER_02: Um, of course, yeah, if like don't push through an injury if something's bugging you, or you know, some people will say if I get X, if I get less than X the number of hours of sleep I'm gonna sleep in, and by all means, yeah, that's appropriate too.
6:36
SPEAKER_02: So it's it's a little bit of like learning yourself and learning what what what's appropriate for you and just kind of figuring that out.
6:44
SPEAKER_00: Do you have a number of that sleep?
6:46
SPEAKER_00: If I get X, I'm good, if I don't get X, I don't.
6:50
SPEAKER_00: I'm curious because I find myself every day for that.
6:53
SPEAKER_02: No, no, I'm I can be bad.
6:55
SPEAKER_02: Like I'm not the I'm not the one to ask about that.
6:59
SPEAKER_02: Like I've definitely done runs on like four hours of sleep before no.
7:04
SPEAKER_02: If I I I will say, like, if I do get a less sleep one night, then I I do try to make it up the next night and try to make be more intentional, but with making that up as best I can.
7:13
SPEAKER_02: So, but I there was a lot of sleep deprivation when I first had kids, and I still ran a lot of the time.
7:22
SPEAKER_00: That's funny.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: Um, I I do have this thing in my head where sometimes, and I'm sure a lot of people listen and they go, Oh, I got under six hours, and it's like I'm not gonna do it, but you probably should.
7:32
SPEAKER_00: Granted, unless my cause.
7:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think it's gonna be different for everyone.
7:36
SPEAKER_02: Like, I tend to I function okay on less sleep, whereas I know some people don't, and so you kind of have to know yourself that way too.
7:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I'd say naps for the win, but I heard you say you're not good with naps, and I suck at them either as much as I try to tell myself I'm gonna take a nap, this will be best.
7:52
SPEAKER_00: I don't do it.
7:54
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
7:56
SPEAKER_00: I want to, but I did, I did.
7:58
SPEAKER_02: There was a period of time I had my recoach write in my plan.
8:01
SPEAKER_02: Like, okay, this day you have to nap.
8:02
SPEAKER_02: And so that did have me keep accountable on those days.
8:06
SPEAKER_02: Like, she's like, You have to take an hour nap today.
8:08
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, Okay, it's on my plan, I have to do it.
8:11
SPEAKER_00: That's funny.
8:12
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
8:14
SPEAKER_00: You're running a long run, it's you know, cold, the usual temperatures you're running in.
8:19
SPEAKER_00: Um I've seen it often.
8:22
SPEAKER_00: Your eyelashes are frozen, it's super cold.
8:25
SPEAKER_00: You got layers on, but obviously it still feels cold.
8:27
SPEAKER_00: What do you tell yourself in those moments?
8:31
SPEAKER_02: I've done this before.
8:33
SPEAKER_02: Um, and then in it like for the long run, just breaking it up into smaller chunks.
8:38
SPEAKER_02: Like maybe I'll go do a 10-mile loop first, come back home, refill my water, and then go out and do a five-mile loop and then a three-mile or another five-mile loop.
8:48
SPEAKER_02: So breaking it up into smaller chunks, that can help.
8:50
SPEAKER_02: Sometimes I will run, you know, X amount of miles, then meet a friend, stop by her house, pick her up, run some more miles and break it up that way.
9:01
SPEAKER_02: Turn, um, and I mean, once again, it's like after you've done enough running in the winter, it's it's just like I don't even even think about it.
9:13
SPEAKER_02: And I just I just know it has to get done, especially if I'm training for a marathon.
9:17
SPEAKER_02: And sometimes it's like training for a winter marathon or early spring marathon, you kind of have to know once again know yourself.
9:23
SPEAKER_02: Like, if you sign up for a winter or early spring marathon, like I'm doing Boston, is that going to help motivate you through the sub the winter?
9:32
SPEAKER_02: And is that gonna hip help you keep accountable, or is it just are you just gonna hate every run because it's in the dead of winter?
9:39
SPEAKER_02: So there's kind of that personal preference type of thing.
9:42
SPEAKER_02: Like, yeah, do you is it excite you to and it help you get motivated and get outdoors, or is it just gonna be a drag that whole winter?
9:52
SPEAKER_00: No, I I get that for sure.
9:53
SPEAKER_00: You know, some people like the heat and some people don't, and that helps determine fall or spring marathon.
10:00
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, and vice versa for the summer.
10:03
SPEAKER_02: Like I have athletes in the south who are like, it is just too hard to get those long runs in in July, August.
10:10
SPEAKER_02: I can't do an early fall marathon because it's just too hard where I live.
10:15
SPEAKER_02: And so then you know, it's it's like it's those little things too that knowing yourself, knowing your family schedule, because some people are really busy in the summer with their kids and they just don't have the time to train for a marathon.
10:27
SPEAKER_02: Okay, then you do it during the school year.
10:29
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, it's just like everyone's everyone's so different, everyone's situation is so different, and I mean, it's just you gotta know yourself the best and try not to cut get caught up in social media stuff, even though it can be so hard.
10:42
SPEAKER_02: We all yeah, we all tend to fall into those traps of seeing what others are doing and then feel like we need to do that as well.
10:49
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, for sure.
10:50
SPEAKER_00: Agreed wholeheartedly there.
10:52
SPEAKER_00: Michelle, you've been running consistently now for 20 plus years.
10:56
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I saw recently you mentioned, you know, I didn't start fast, but you've gotten faster over the years.
11:01
SPEAKER_00: Uh about eight years to crack sub three.
11:04
SPEAKER_00: What kept you going um through all those races?
11:07
SPEAKER_00: You know, you you've gone through different races, time, a growth of family, um, but you never stopped running, even if you had to take a break.
11:15
SPEAKER_00: You kept it going and you're still running now and crushing it.
11:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, what kept you going all those years to say, you know what, I can do this, and I I still want to achieve these big goals and times you're doing now.
11:26
SPEAKER_02: Honestly, the process, and I know everyone says it, you do have to fall in love with that process.
11:32
SPEAKER_02: And honestly, that's what I love about it.
11:34
SPEAKER_02: Like, I could probably I I enjoy racing, but if I never raced again, I think I I think that would still be okay with that.
11:45
SPEAKER_02: So honestly, the process, like, yeah, I was very average below average in high school and college, and but I just loved the process.
11:52
SPEAKER_02: It was like my time to hang out with friends, and I fell in love with like truly just fell in love with running, continued it after college, and then um, you know, did my first half marathon.
12:03
SPEAKER_02: Oh, that's fun.
12:04
SPEAKER_02: Okay, let's try it a marathon now.
12:06
SPEAKER_02: And it was it was a big, it was a big slap in the face how hard the marathon was.
12:12
SPEAKER_02: But then it's like, oh, okay, well, here's what I did wrong.
12:16
SPEAKER_02: Let's try to change those things for next time.
12:18
SPEAKER_02: And so that challenge aspect of being able to like conquer the marathon or just do it better the next time kept me interested.
12:26
SPEAKER_02: Um and then yeah, it was before I had kids, my now coach, she and I had we had connected through our blogs way back when, and she had followed been following my training on my blog because I post like kind of what I've been doing and what my weekly workouts were.
12:45
SPEAKER_02: And she's like, I really think you could break three hours in the marathon.
12:49
SPEAKER_02: At the time, my my PR was 317, and that was that's a huge chunk of time.
12:54
SPEAKER_02: And for her to say that, um, I still like nobody had believed in me like she did.
13:00
SPEAKER_02: Like, I had fine good college and high school coaches, but the way she like said that to me and believed in me, I'm like, wow, this is like this is really unique, and I trust her enough to believe that she's not just like pulling my legs.
13:16
SPEAKER_02: So I started working with her, and um, I mean, yeah, it took eight years, two kids, and a lot of ups and downs, injuries and setbacks, and but eventually I did it, and it was like I that that challenge once again, a challenge to see what I could do if I could do this, and it was like deep down, I felt like I it was possible.
13:40
SPEAKER_02: And it was also to prove to my like high school and college self that what I did then is not even close to what my potential was, and so the challenge aspect of it, the fact that I just I loved running and those things kind of kept me going, so yeah, it's and everyone like once again, everyone's you're gonna be unique in what motivates them and what they want to do in their running career.
14:04
SPEAKER_02: So that was mine, and I mean I've for sure had lots of ups and downs, and um, but yeah.
14:12
SPEAKER_00: Persevered, yeah, for sure.
14:14
SPEAKER_00: At any point in time, did you ever think, you know, maybe year six, seven, like I'm gonna let this sub three dream go?
14:21
SPEAKER_02: Oh, for sure.
14:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, for sure.
14:24
SPEAKER_02: I mean, it was like injuries, um, and you know, before I had my first kid, I was like, oh, surely I can't be faster.
14:33
SPEAKER_02: Like, cause you can't, I just mostly I just I wasn't on social media then and you just saw the pros, and the pros, I mean, they were always fastest in like their late 20s or mid-20s, late 20s, maybe early 30s.
14:45
SPEAKER_02: And so I thought for sure that's what my trajectory would also be.
14:49
SPEAKER_02: And so then, but it was like a combination of I don't know if I can be faster after having a kid, but I'm gonna try.
14:56
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, like what's the hurt in trying?
14:58
SPEAKER_02: So at least give it a shot.
15:00
SPEAKER_02: And so I tried, and then I was, and then when I was pregnant with my second, I'm like, I don't know if I can be faster.
15:07
SPEAKER_02: I mean, you know, you typically I was kind of under the impression that kids made you slower, and so I was like, Well, I don't know if I can be, and that honestly that is why I put off having a second one, um where there's a five-year gap, partially for that, partially I had a couple miscarriages, but so it was like, um I don't know if I can be faster again after having two kids, but I'm gonna try because I like the challenge and I love running, so what's the hurt in trying?
15:36
SPEAKER_02: So that's kind of was my mentality, but for sure that there was plenty of times when I was like, I don't know if I can do this, it's really hard.
15:44
SPEAKER_02: Um, but then I would like deep down when I listened to my gut, I was like, my gut was like, no, it this is still possible for you.
15:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, for sure.
15:52
SPEAKER_00: No, I I love one that you kept going and two, like you're very inspiring.
15:56
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure you hear it all the time.
15:57
SPEAKER_00: But if if not, you inspired me and I'm sure a lot of others as well.
16:01
SPEAKER_00: Like you're running and you're doing it with the family and keeping going.
16:04
SPEAKER_00: What I love about the sport now, you're seeing a lot of these uh people and runners and even certain pros now, like getting faster and faster in their later years and still having kids and family and living, you know, a full life and running at a high level.
16:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, at any point in time, during that thoughts of like, you know what, maybe I might let this go.
16:23
SPEAKER_00: What help you get through that to like keep pushing and you know eventually uh get the sub three goal?
16:29
SPEAKER_02: Um, probably my husband, who I say is my assistant coach.
16:34
SPEAKER_02: Because I would like vent to him and he's like, You can't give up.
16:38
SPEAKER_02: Like you've put too much work into this, like you can't give up now, that type of thing.
16:42
SPEAKER_02: And um yeah, I think just having those people in my corner, my coach, my husband believed in me and just kept encouraging me to keep going for the for that for that sub three.
16:55
SPEAKER_00: What did it feel like when you eventually got to sub three?
16:58
SPEAKER_00: You know, husband's been pushing for it, coach has been pushing for it.
17:01
SPEAKER_00: You know, you got kids now who are like seeing the process day in and day out, mom's running.
17:05
SPEAKER_00: Like, what did it feel like when you crossed that finish line?
17:08
SPEAKER_02: Oh, nothing.
17:09
SPEAKER_02: And that's that's the top of my running career is that moment crossing the finish line.
17:14
SPEAKER_02: I still like want to tear up thinking about it because it was I'm not a crier, but I was like bawling at the end of that race.
17:20
SPEAKER_02: Um, yeah, it was absolutely incredible.
17:22
SPEAKER_02: And I lived on a high for a very, very long time.
17:25
SPEAKER_02: I feel still feel like I'm living on that high.
17:27
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it was just it was so incredible just because I know how much it, how much went into it.
17:31
SPEAKER_02: Like, you know, it's like one thing I try to share the ups and downs on social media, but like, you know, I'm living that daily life.
17:38
SPEAKER_02: I'm putting those miles in when it's 20 below.
17:40
SPEAKER_02: And in Alaska, it was six months of winter running on snow and ice.
17:44
SPEAKER_02: Like it, if anything, running in Anchorage, Alaska was way harder than what I have here in Minnesota now.
17:50
SPEAKER_02: So it was just like I knew how much went into that.
17:53
SPEAKER_02: I knew about all the injuries that I had dealt with and um doubts I had for myself.
18:00
SPEAKER_02: And so yeah, it was it was very incredible.
18:03
SPEAKER_02: And there was a a group of women at the finish line, they they were also going for a sub-three.
18:09
SPEAKER_02: They were working with a coaching group, and I don't know, there's maybe eight to ten of them.
18:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
18:15
SPEAKER_02: And uh so those of them who had already finished in front of me, they had already, I knew they had already gotten their sub three, and they were cheering me on because we had met the day before.
18:25
SPEAKER_02: I wasn't part of their group, but they had I had met them the day before, and they were cheering me on in the finish line, and they were just like standing there with their arms open wide to give me a big hug.
18:33
SPEAKER_02: And oh my gosh, it was just so incredible.
18:35
SPEAKER_02: And it was just it was because it was fun to share in this journey with them.
18:39
SPEAKER_02: Like I hadn't been out in their group, but enough, I knew enough of them.
18:42
SPEAKER_02: I had followed some of them on social media that I knew their journey as well.
18:46
SPEAKER_02: And so to be to share in that in a little bit in a one small little piece, it was incredible to have them there and then have my family there.
18:54
SPEAKER_02: And my boys, they had no idea what was like going on.
18:57
SPEAKER_02: I think my my youngest was um, he would have been one or two, he would have been two, so two and seven, and they were like didn't understand what was going on necessarily, but um yeah, it was oh man, that was a a high for sure the highest high in my running career, and I don't think anything's gonna top that.
19:17
SPEAKER_00: I want to talk about the process.
19:19
SPEAKER_00: You talked about it a little bit, you know, you fall in love with the process.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: What does the process look like for you?
19:24
SPEAKER_00: You know, I I know you run high mileage, and you know, you're running a business, you got social media, you got the kids, like what what does the process entail for you and uh what's your favorite part of it?
19:36
SPEAKER_02: Um, you mean like my daily schedule?
19:39
SPEAKER_00: Partially, yeah.
19:41
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
19:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
19:42
SPEAKER_00: Daily schedule and like mileage.
19:44
SPEAKER_02: Oh, as far as mileage, um, yeah, I've done that.
19:49
SPEAKER_02: Increasing my mileage was one way I was able to decrease my marathon time.
19:54
SPEAKER_02: So I've um I want to say I would have to go back in my training log to look for sure.
20:01
SPEAKER_02: I'm thinking I was right around 50 miles a week for my first couple marathons.
20:05
SPEAKER_02: And then I was a teacher at the time, and so I had my summers off, so I was able to really put more mileage in during the summer.
20:12
SPEAKER_02: And I there was one summer I I slowly gradually worked up to this over the years, but I was able to, I ran 100 miles one summer when I was teaching.
20:21
SPEAKER_02: And that that definitely did help me get to kind of another level of my marathon times.
20:28
SPEAKER_02: Um, I've done a couple hundred miles a week since, um, but it's been a couple of years.
20:35
SPEAKER_02: But for yeah, for sure high mileage.
20:37
SPEAKER_02: Um, but also, I mean, there's I would say my last couple marathon training cycles have been 60, 70 miles, kind of right in that range for marathon training builds, and then lower if I'm doing training for a um for a shorter race.
20:56
SPEAKER_02: So um, yeah, that's part of the process.
21:00
SPEAKER_02: Um as far as getting the miles in, I mean, it's usually I've always typically just been an early morning runner before I went to work and then before my husband went to work when I was staying at home.
21:12
SPEAKER_02: I have stayed at home with the boys um since they were young.
21:16
SPEAKER_02: They're both in school now.
21:17
SPEAKER_02: This is my first year with them.
21:19
SPEAKER_02: So I actually have been running more running mid-morning, which is strange.
21:23
SPEAKER_02: Um, I still get out early if I'm meeting a running buddy, but for yeah, 20, 20 plus years, I was running early in the dark.
21:31
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so the and then as far as the process, other things, um, you know, I typically do a couple of workouts a week.
21:40
SPEAKER_02: I typically do a workout and then have two easy days or two easy days and then another workout.
21:46
SPEAKER_02: Um, right now for my marathon build to Boston, I'm doing a long run about every 10 days, which is a little bit different, but I have the flexibility.
21:54
SPEAKER_02: Like I last yesterday was Friday, and so I was able to do that long run while my boys were at school.
21:59
unknown: Um
22:00
SPEAKER_02: Um, so that's I know not everyone has that flexibility with their other jobs.
22:04
SPEAKER_02: So but yeah, I um have I work from home.
22:09
SPEAKER_02: I get uh I started out coaching uh when my when I was pregnant with my oldest, so about 12 years ago, and the coaching business has dur especially during COVID really took off.
22:22
SPEAKER_02: And I have a full team of athletes that I coach now and then influencing slash content creating on social media and Instagram primarily, my blog, so all those things, yeah, they definitely keep me busy.
22:35
SPEAKER_02: I I mean I do have a lot of flexibility in my days as when I can run now.
22:40
SPEAKER_02: Um, but I mean for the most part I've been running early and and then I'll I'll do double days.
22:47
SPEAKER_02: And a lot of times those double days would be after my husband got home from work, or I'd push the boy, one of my kids in the stroller, the other one would bike.
22:55
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, lots of little pieces and puzzles on how to make it all fit in.
23:01
SPEAKER_02: And really, I just take it day by day.
23:03
SPEAKER_02: It's like, okay, next day, here's my schedule.
23:05
SPEAKER_02: Okay, when am I gonna do it?
23:07
SPEAKER_02: I write it in my calendar like it's an appointment, just like any other appointment you would keep.
23:12
SPEAKER_02: So write it in my planner, and then um, yeah, so that's kind of like the day-to-day process is just like focus on one day at a time, and then I mean, I've definitely done a lot of solo parenting, like my husband's gone using the treadmill.
23:28
SPEAKER_02: My oldest is getting where I can leave him at home for short periods of time, so doing loops in the neighborhood, small loops in the neighborhood.
23:37
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, it's just getting creative.
23:39
SPEAKER_02: It's but um where there's a will, there's a way, right?
23:42
SPEAKER_00: 100%, yeah.
23:44
SPEAKER_00: Now the kids are older, you know, the boys uh what what do they think or say as they see you like you know, they're not one no more.
23:51
SPEAKER_00: Now they're like, oh, mom's gone on her run.
23:54
SPEAKER_00: Um, what do they think and say, you know, about all your running?
23:58
SPEAKER_02: Um, they don't say too much.
23:59
SPEAKER_02: I think it's just like part of who I am.
24:01
SPEAKER_02: You know, it's like you grow up one way and you just don't know anything else.
24:06
SPEAKER_02: So um, my my oldest has joined me on a couple of runs now.
24:10
SPEAKER_02: He's getting into it a little bit.
24:12
SPEAKER_02: It's um he's still more of a math late than an athlete, which but I mean, like I'm not gonna force them to run if they don't want to run.
24:20
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
24:20
SPEAKER_02: But um if he wants to run, you know, we'll go out for a mile or something, just keep it short.
24:24
SPEAKER_02: And I don't want to force them.
24:26
SPEAKER_02: I just want him to enjoy because I didn't, I mean, I did a little bit of running when I was a kid at his age, but it was, you know, I wasn't I did it during the summer here and there, and I think that's what's also helped keep me in it for the long term.
24:41
SPEAKER_02: I didn't put a lot of pressure on myself as a kid to to do more.
24:47
SPEAKER_02: I think they just like it's just who I am at this point in time.
24:50
SPEAKER_00: So they grew up with it, yeah.
24:52
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
24:54
SPEAKER_00: That's pretty cool.
24:55
SPEAKER_00: I've seen some of the posts where you have one on the bike.
24:58
SPEAKER_00: I was like, damn, I I need someone on the bike.
25:01
SPEAKER_00: But that's actually pretty cool to have them with you there.
25:04
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, no, it's fun.
25:06
SPEAKER_02: I think I my stroller days might last summer may have been the last time pushing anybody in a stroller, which is kind of little bittersweet.
25:15
SPEAKER_00: I was just about to ask, so bittersweet.
25:16
SPEAKER_00: So you're gonna miss a stroller a little bit.
25:19
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
25:20
SPEAKER_02: It's just like so many memories with the stroller and so many times, and they were both very good with the stroller.
25:26
SPEAKER_02: I know some, I don't know if it was because I started with them so young, um, usually right around six months, because they were born like at the start of winter, so I kind of had I had to wait six months anyway to push them because of actually I would push the stroller in in Alaska, I would push it in the winter, and um it my cutoff temperature was about 20 degrees.
25:46
SPEAKER_02: It once they were a little bit older, but 20 degrees was about my cutoff temperature.
25:50
SPEAKER_02: I felt like I could still keep them warm at that time, and then of course, you know, probably nothing more than about an hour of pushing them.
25:57
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, they loved it.
25:58
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I would there was frequent stops for snacks and toys, and or sometimes I would run to the park and then they could play and then I'd run back home.
26:07
SPEAKER_02: So getting creative like that too.
26:11
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
26:13
SPEAKER_00: So you've been resetting a lot of PRs, you know, now in uh in your 40s, if you will.
26:19
SPEAKER_00: I hesitate because Spanish we're told not to talk about age.
26:24
SPEAKER_02: Oh, I know, I know.
26:25
SPEAKER_02: I feel like that for us.
26:28
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
26:30
SPEAKER_00: Um, you've been resetting a lot of PRs now, you know, 5K, 10K I saw, you're half.
26:38
SPEAKER_00: Um what is uh different from now you running and hitting these fashion times to say 20 years ago, if you will?
26:47
SPEAKER_02: I think the knowledge, the knowledge I have now of nutrition, um, that's that that's been huge.
26:55
SPEAKER_02: Like I would do in my 20s and 30s, every run I did was fasted in the morning.
27:00
SPEAKER_02: Like I wouldn't eat.
27:02
SPEAKER_02: Um, and now in the last I would say five to six years, six about six years, um, I eat before every run.
27:10
SPEAKER_02: And so, and that really helped with my ability to stay healthy and not have an injury every few months.
27:17
SPEAKER_02: And so that's been huge for me.
27:20
SPEAKER_02: So I because before I would like I'd have a good stretch of training, but then I'd get an injury, and then you know, a couple months of being injured, then I'd have you know another three to four months of being healthy, but then I'd get injured again.
27:31
SPEAKER_02: So it wasn't there wasn't a lot of consistency, or I mean there was a good consistency, but it wasn't great.
27:37
SPEAKER_02: And so now I've had years and years of being able to be consistent with virtually no injuries.
27:43
SPEAKER_02: So the nutrition aspect of like eating something before my morning runs, I always do that now.
27:49
SPEAKER_02: I eat within try to eat within 30 minutes of finishing my runs to jumpstart that recovery process.
27:55
SPEAKER_02: So those two nutrition pieces, and then the nutrition piece of like fueling during my long runs and during the marathons or even half marathons.
28:04
SPEAKER_02: So I just I wasn't taking in enough calories.
28:08
SPEAKER_02: Like my first marathon, I don't even know if I finished one gel, like it was that so I just and I then you had this like I tried to go as long as I could in the race with before taking a gel.
28:20
SPEAKER_02: Like, I think I tried to go at least halfway, and then I tried to take a gel of maybe mile 14 or 15.
28:25
SPEAKER_02: Well, it was too late by then, so and then I hit the wall hard at 16, and so I had a walk packaging's been gone a long time ago, yeah.
28:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so it's like the knowledge piece of like for sure the nutrition aspect of it, and then um, and then just being able to stack marathon training cycle, but healthy marathon training cycles and stacking those bricks, long bouts of or long consistency, long consistent um periods of training.
28:56
SPEAKER_02: And then I think little things like I mean, I know people talk about the super shoes and then the more foam that they have.
29:01
SPEAKER_02: I'm sure those definitely contribute.
29:03
SPEAKER_02: I mean, the the little flat little uh racing plots I used to wear, they were like super thin and they were so lightweight, but they were so thin, I was like, um, yeah, no wonder it it hurt so much, it hurt you know at halfway.
29:19
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, beat up your legs.
29:20
SPEAKER_02: And then I mean, even like some of the minute supplements, I'm not too big in supplements, but I will say create I do think creatine has helped.
29:27
SPEAKER_02: I started taking that a couple years ago.
29:28
SPEAKER_02: I really think that has helped.
29:30
SPEAKER_02: Um and uh yeah, so I would say some of those, the knowledge aspect it I think is huge.
29:38
SPEAKER_02: And then just and seeing other people like who are just a few years older than me, or people who are 10 years older than me, older than me, and just getting inspiration from that and being like, oh no, it doesn't, I can be faster in my 40s.
29:51
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, I'm sure those people are always out there, you know, it's just a little bit easier to find them now with social media.
29:56
SPEAKER_02: So I just I think all those those little aspects have helped.
30:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, for sure.
30:02
SPEAKER_00: What about uh the mindset, like your thought process in running back then to now?
30:09
SPEAKER_02: Uh I would I would say it's probably about the same, but kind of interesting you uh touch on this because I just started working with a sports psychologist, um, Emily Saul.
30:20
SPEAKER_02: She's pretty well known in the running community, and that is probably the one piece that I haven't put priority into that I'm now going to prioritize.
30:31
SPEAKER_02: And honestly, it was like just a financial aspect.
30:34
SPEAKER_02: Like I in my early 30s, my husband was the only one working, and so we didn't have a lot of money, but now we're both working, you know, I'm able to bring in uh a decent amount of income, so I can prioritize those things for the financial aspect.
30:50
SPEAKER_02: And so this probably the that's probably the honestly the last piece because I feel like I've gotten the training down, I've got the nutrition piece now, and the sports, the psyche stuff is honestly, I've struggled a little bit more in my past marathons for whatever reason.
31:05
SPEAKER_02: We're still kind of working through it.
31:06
SPEAKER_02: I feel like I'm in that muddy, murky middle part where I don't really have an answer for all this, but I'm trying to figure it out.
31:13
SPEAKER_02: And so I've been working, just started working with Emily to, and it's probably 20 years of undoing all this stuff in my brain that I've just thought, oh, this is how it is, this is just me.
31:27
SPEAKER_02: This is there's like I I just have to deal with it type of thing, and so we're kind of like undoing all that.
31:34
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I will say for like for yesterday, I get negative, I get pretty negative, like especially the high teens, early 20s in a marathon, specifically in the marathon, just with the with the duration of the that race, and it even happened yesterday in my long run where I got to even yeah, it was like 16, 17, and I thought and stuff was starting to hurt.
31:56
SPEAKER_02: You know, it wasn't feeling comfortable.
31:58
SPEAKER_02: It was really windy yesterday, and I was really just fighting the wind.
32:02
SPEAKER_02: I was trying to hit paces in a workout, and I thought, I'm not cut out for the marathon.
32:08
SPEAKER_02: Like, this is not fun, this is supposed to be fun.
32:11
SPEAKER_02: I'm not cut out for the marathon, I can't do this.
32:13
SPEAKER_02: I'm just gonna give up on marathoning.
32:15
SPEAKER_02: That that's kind of my what it goes through my brain, and then but then I get done and like, oh no, I that was a good effort, I I accomplished it, I'm still excited about the marathon.
32:27
SPEAKER_02: So the psychological stuff is probably the last piece of the puzzle for me.
32:31
SPEAKER_02: So don't know if I have too much to say on that yet, but maybe in a couple months I will.
32:39
SPEAKER_00: No, looking forward to that.
32:40
SPEAKER_00: That's awesome that you're working with one now.
32:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
32:44
SPEAKER_00: Um I wanted to ask you, like, how do you you stu you mentioned that you stack blocks on blocks on blocks.
32:52
SPEAKER_00: If someone's listening to this, what's your best advice or how do you yourself stack?
32:56
SPEAKER_00: I feel like that helps a lot with just the times and getting better.
32:59
SPEAKER_00: How do you make that work?
33:02
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think uh um, and being consistent doesn't mean it has to be perfect.
33:08
SPEAKER_02: So um, yeah, I think some people, I mean, t runners typically are often type A, I myself included.
33:15
SPEAKER_02: So, you know, it doesn't have to be perfect, but you do have to be consistent.
33:19
SPEAKER_02: So if you're if you look at your training, like if you say you look at your Strava graph and you have like one mile, one week at 20 miles, and then the next week's at 50 miles, but then the next week's like 15, and you know you see big jumps, that's probably not as consistent as we would like to be able to make that progress.
33:35
SPEAKER_02: But you know, um, even just having that Strava graph, you can kind of get a good idea for yourself and whether or not you've truly been consistent.
33:43
SPEAKER_02: But um, I think I mean working with a coach is this it's really, really helpful because they can like in myself as included when I look at my athlete's schedule, it's like, okay, this is what we're doing now, but I also looking long-term, like even six months, a year, two years from now, okay, what do we what are you wanting to accomplish?
34:03
SPEAKER_02: Let's look at that bigger picture.
34:05
SPEAKER_02: And um, you know, if it's daily motivation that you're struggling with, okay, what are some tips we can do?
34:12
SPEAKER_02: It is it that you just have so much other stress and other life stress going on, because stress is stress, and if you're just adding the stress of running and it's not really enjoyable, then let's reframe that, figure out what we can do.
34:26
SPEAKER_02: So I think it's also if you have if someone has been inconsistent, um, you know, why try to work through that and figure out what can be done?
34:37
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, I mean the consistent, I mean, everyone talks about it, the consistency of running and how and running year-round, and not that that doesn't mean like plenty of runners will ski during the winter for aerobic conditioning as well.
34:51
SPEAKER_02: You know, there's certainly trail runners that you know can go to the trails in the summertime, that type of thing.
34:57
SPEAKER_02: But um, yeah, I don't even know if that answers your question.
35:02
SPEAKER_00: No, it does, yeah, for sure.
35:04
SPEAKER_00: Um, I think one of the things I like most there is about like not being perfect.
35:07
SPEAKER_00: Like, I think often, like you mentioned, runners, we try to be perfect.
35:10
SPEAKER_00: I gotta hit this mileage and this mileage where and then you add stress on top of it, where like if you just go out there and not think about being perfect, you would be consistent because you're having fun with it and and you keep going, and that chart on travel would look a little bit better and you feel a lot better.
35:25
SPEAKER_00: So, no, for sure, 100% you did answer.
35:27
SPEAKER_00: I want to talk about Houston.
35:29
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, I I saw you were going for a big PR in Houston.
35:33
SPEAKER_00: There was uh a slight hiccup, it looks like around mile 22, where like gel didn't go right.
35:37
SPEAKER_00: What was uh the bigger frustration there?
35:39
SPEAKER_00: Like, hey, I'm missing my PR or like the food, the gel, the time.
35:43
SPEAKER_00: Like, what were your thoughts around that time where it just mile 22 almost at the end?
35:50
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
35:51
SPEAKER_02: For mile, so mile 22.
35:52
SPEAKER_02: I went to take my last gel, and it was a Morton gel, so it was really thick and viscous, and it hit the back of my throat and hit that gag reflex, and I just there's like no holding it back.
36:03
SPEAKER_02: And I threw it multiple times, and up to the up until that point, my stomach was fine, and I threw up multiple times, and then after that, my stomach was fine too.
36:12
SPEAKER_02: So that was the first time that happened in a race.
36:15
SPEAKER_02: Um, it was but I had kind of I feel like I had gotten a little in that negative mindset before that as well, and so it wasn't necessarily that one that one thing.
36:27
SPEAKER_02: I kind of I was already kind of going negative in my thoughts.
36:31
SPEAKER_02: And after that, so I kind of already knew I went PR that day um before that happened, and then it was just like get to the finish line, get your get your C goal, and yeah, it was I'm really hard at myself.
36:48
SPEAKER_02: I need to work on this.
36:49
SPEAKER_02: Is another thing I need to work on is like not being that overachiever perfectionist, like if I don't hit my one goal that I have, it's wasn't a bad day.
36:57
SPEAKER_02: And that it took me a few days after the race to realize, no, I did really like this is still a reputable time.
37:04
SPEAKER_02: I'm 42, almost 43.
37:07
SPEAKER_02: It's still a really solid time.
37:09
SPEAKER_02: I gave it my all.
37:11
SPEAKER_02: So once again, something I need to work on with Emily, and hopefully we can um work through some of those things.
37:17
SPEAKER_02: Because I would say just in the last few marathons, especially, my thoughts have gotten more negative, and so I'm not sure exactly what change, how to how to make that better.
37:27
SPEAKER_02: Um, I mean, if fueling's been well up until that gel that had a little hiccup, but otherwise, I I'm fueling every 30 minutes during my marathons, and that's going well.
37:38
SPEAKER_02: And so, yeah, yeah, it's a little bit of work in progress still.
37:44
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
37:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, it sounds like you already got the work in progress towards it.
37:48
SPEAKER_00: Um, moving direction.
37:50
SPEAKER_00: Um, now you're doing Boston very soon.
37:53
SPEAKER_00: Like, what's the thoughts around Boston?
37:55
SPEAKER_00: And is it more of a having fun race, or I'm gonna go enjoy some hills and the environment that Boston brings?
38:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Boston's mostly for fun.
38:04
SPEAKER_02: So I know it's not a PR-friendly course.
38:07
SPEAKER_02: So that takes a little bit of pressure off because I know it's just a challenging course.
38:11
SPEAKER_02: And where I live here in Minnesota, it's very flat, it's very hard to get a lot of elevation gain.
38:16
SPEAKER_02: So I while I'm going to try to do my best to train for the hills, I know it's probably not it's still gonna be very challenging.
38:24
SPEAKER_02: So this is my second time going to Boston.
38:26
SPEAKER_02: I went back in 2013, the year of the bombs, and so it's been for a variety of reasons, I just haven't made it back.
38:32
SPEAKER_02: And so it worked out to go this year.
38:34
SPEAKER_02: So I'm very excited because it's and it's very different.
38:37
SPEAKER_02: Like, we did not have the live podcast recordings, um, the pop-up shops, the group runs, the meetup, the shakeout runs.
38:45
SPEAKER_02: That was not a thing.
38:45
SPEAKER_02: There was a little bit of that back in 2013, but it's very, very different now.
38:50
SPEAKER_02: So I'm very excited just to go experience like that whole weekend and experience the race again.
38:56
SPEAKER_02: Like, I've I remember certain things about the race, but there's a lot I don't remember about about the race.
39:00
SPEAKER_02: So it's just mostly for fun.
39:03
SPEAKER_02: Um, I mean, I still want to run hard, of course.
39:06
SPEAKER_02: Like that's yeah, once again, that's the overachiever in me, but mostly for fun.
39:10
SPEAKER_02: And with I having just done Houston in January, it is relatively close.
39:16
SPEAKER_02: So I you know, I had to be mindful about that as well.
39:20
SPEAKER_02: So my coach said after Boston, we have to take a good long bit of recovery and really really recover after Boston since these marathons, two marathons were pretty close.
39:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, close back to back, yeah.
39:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
39:35
SPEAKER_00: So the fall is not even a factor right now, I take it.
39:39
SPEAKER_02: Well, I mean, you almost have to plan out a year in advance with how fast races are filling up, which is so crazy.
39:46
SPEAKER_02: I mean, well, I got kind of spoiled living in Anchorage, Alaska.
39:49
SPEAKER_02: I would sign up like the week before because you never had to worry about it.
39:52
SPEAKER_02: It's such a small running community, but yeah, I mean, uh, I loved Houston.
39:56
SPEAKER_02: So I definitely I mean I've thought about going back to Houston.
40:00
SPEAKER_02: I love the I love my the medium-sized races are my favorite because the logistics are just so much easier and there's less to worry about on race morning.
40:07
SPEAKER_02: Like for Boston, I'm like, I know I'm gonna be on my feet a lot before I even start running.
40:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
40:12
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so little things like that, and just and with how much of those events going on and how much you have, even if I try to get a hotel close to the expo, but even walking around, I know there's gonna be a lot of walking in Boston.
40:24
SPEAKER_02: So um, I love the medium-sized races, a CIM, an Indy, a Houston.
40:31
SPEAKER_02: Um, so I've definitely thought about going back to Houston.
40:35
SPEAKER_02: Um, CIM is also one of my favorites.
40:38
SPEAKER_02: So I've thought about going back there.
40:39
SPEAKER_02: Although I think it might be I think they have like tiers now, and I think the first or second tier might be filled up already.
40:45
SPEAKER_02: I don't know.
40:45
SPEAKER_02: It might be full completely.
40:47
SPEAKER_02: So um, and then the fall, like early fall races seem to be so warm.
40:53
SPEAKER_02: Like at Twin Cities, you know, two two years ago they canceled the race.
40:58
SPEAKER_02: Uh last year it was humid, and so those early fall races just seem to be notoriously warmer every year, and so I'm kind of leery about running an early fall marathon.
41:08
SPEAKER_02: And then yeah, I've gravitated towards more of the flat courses, indie, C A M, because I have so gone after trying to go trying to run fast.
41:18
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, I don't know for sure what this fall holds to me, holds for me, but um I'm gonna do a few other races this summer, mostly just here in Minnesota, and then we'll just we'll just see what see what happens.
41:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, with you on the medium races, if you will, they're just logistics and a lot easier to get into.
41:38
SPEAKER_00: Although I did check CIM for myself in the fall, and to your point, yes, I think only the gold tier was the only thing left because everything else was gone.
41:46
SPEAKER_00: Oh so I've parked that.
41:50
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, um, and but some of because some I can't remember because some of those races you can do bib transfers.
41:55
SPEAKER_02: I think you can do a big transfer for CIM probably closer to race day.
42:00
SPEAKER_02: So I know like a twin uh no grandma's you can do a big bib transfer.
42:05
SPEAKER_02: You know, some of those races you can do bib transfers, but um yeah, it's crazy how much of a a running boom that we're in right now.
42:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I have a lot of friends who've done CIM.
42:16
SPEAKER_00: I think you're right.
42:16
SPEAKER_00: I think you could do a bib transfer, but I I've kind of already pivoted.
42:19
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna focus on speed myself this year, and uh there'll be some halves in the fall.
42:23
SPEAKER_00: Michelle, you've been running consistently for 20 plus years and and and getting faster.
42:28
SPEAKER_00: You got your sub three in CIM.
42:30
SPEAKER_00: Like what are you uh what are your thoughts around the previous few, like younger you sealing versus now ceiling?
42:38
SPEAKER_00: Where do you think that is?
42:39
SPEAKER_00: Where where are you trying to go?
42:40
SPEAKER_00: I know you mentioned hey, CIM was like one of the greatest experiences.
42:43
SPEAKER_00: Are you still chasing the next big one?
42:46
SPEAKER_02: Well, I know I'm pretty much at my peak, like because I know how much I've had to work.
42:51
SPEAKER_02: I know how hard I had to work just to run a sub three, and so and then that was in 2021, and since then I've only cut off like two minutes.
43:01
SPEAKER_02: So and if I can cut like yeah, it I just the increments that I can make, it's very minor.
43:09
SPEAKER_02: Like I'm not cutting minutes off my marathon time anymore.
43:13
SPEAKER_02: So I know I'm pretty much at my peak.
43:15
SPEAKER_02: Like, of course, I like I was really hoping to break 255 at Houston and it wasn't able to do that.
43:22
SPEAKER_02: So that would have been like a two-minute PR, which would my fitness, my other races, my fitness did show that that was possible, but it is also a good I mean, with how long the marathon is, it has there's a lot that has to go right for it all to line up.
43:39
SPEAKER_02: And I mean, people talk about how w when you to to knock a par to knock a performance at a marathon out of the park, it doesn't happen that often.
43:48
SPEAKER_02: And unless you're early on in your training in your marathoning career where you can make big jumps in fitness, but once you're established and you've had a lot of experience, it is really hard to have those banner days, and so I celebrate those banner days because I feel like that was one mistake I made is like I would get a PR, but it wasn't I was hoping to run get an even bigger PR, and so I didn't celebrate that PR enough.
44:12
SPEAKER_02: And so I kind of regret that those type of things in my running career.
44:17
SPEAKER_02: Um but yeah, the the ceiling, I mean, I think most people set the bar too low for themselves.
44:25
SPEAKER_02: Like when I work with athletes, I think that people tend to set the bar too low for themselves, and maybe just they just they don't even know what's possible.
44:34
SPEAKER_02: And I yeah, I feel like sometimes I'm like, oh no, I I have so much more that I can do, and then but realistically, I'm like, I'm probably kind of at my peak now, but um yeah, it I think it's just I I'm curious, like and that's kind of what keeps me going is am I at my peak?
44:57
SPEAKER_02: Maybe I'm not, and curious, and then I have you know, I have to re kind of recruit those people in my corner to encourage me to dream a little bit bigger and go at still go after it and see what's possible.
45:10
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
45:12
SPEAKER_00: What are you finding the most fun right now with the whole world of running and uh where does the enjoyment come from?
45:20
SPEAKER_02: Um I mean, I think it just goes back to the daily runs myself, just getting out for my quiet time, especially in the morning when like most of the world is sleeping, or most, you know, most of the city is still sleeping, and just that my me time when I come back for my run, I'm just feel much I'm a much calmer mom and better wife, and like so that type of thing motivates me.
45:46
SPEAKER_02: Like I go back and forth on social media, like as uh as someone with you know a decent sized following, I sometimes I wonder if I if I do do it for the Instagram, but I think there's plenty plenty of times when I've realized no, I'm I would still do this even if I wasn't didn't have uh a following on Instagram.
46:09
SPEAKER_02: So but I'm certainly motivated by other people on Instagram, other yeah, whether there are other people who are a little bit older than me, still running fast times, that type of thing, other moms who are still getting faster as well.
46:22
SPEAKER_02: So without that, I mean maybe I would have set my myself much lower or like my goal much lower if I didn't have some of those other people to look and watch.
46:35
SPEAKER_02: Um yeah, and I think it's in the connections that I've made with people in life on social media, and it's just fun like to go to a race and meet these people in person, or um just know that I have inspired other people.
46:50
SPEAKER_02: And I mean, that's definitely never my goal.
46:53
SPEAKER_02: And I know sometimes influencers get called narcissistic, but um honestly, like I just tell people like I'm just doing what I love.
47:00
SPEAKER_02: Like I would do this even if I wasn't on social media.
47:04
SPEAKER_02: I'm doing what I love, sharing as I go, and hoping it inspires somebody and hopefully just can motivate somebody to start running or run in the winter when they previously hadn't, and and or show that you don't kids don't have to slow you down, you still can be faster after having kids.
47:22
SPEAKER_02: So stuff like that.
47:23
SPEAKER_02: It's you know, a little of a combination of all that.
47:26
SPEAKER_00: No, for sure.
47:27
SPEAKER_00: It's very rewarding and um you're definitely inspiring.
47:30
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I think you said it best earlier, like sometimes you got to ignore the negative from social media because there is a lot of positive from it, people that can inspire you and want to run faster, uh, figure out how to do it with the family, um, you know, in the running space or in other spaces for that matter.
47:47
SPEAKER_00: Uh with that said, um, for everyone listening, this has been the People Run Podcast.
47:51
SPEAKER_00: I hope you got a lot of inspiration from this episode and learned that look, progress is not linear, but you can continue chasing goals.
47:57
SPEAKER_00: Michelle's a great example of that.
48:00
SPEAKER_00: Um, thank you again, Michelle, for being on the People Run podcast.
48:04
SPEAKER_00: To everyone listen, until next time, thank you.