Free Outside Cocodona Mom: Running 250 miles with your kids
Today we have one of the most inspiring runners I know—Jennie Chisholm. She’s a mom of four boys, a Triple Crowner, and a two-time Cocodona 250 finisher. But she didn’t find ultrarunning the usual way. She stumbled into it—literally—on a whim while thru-hiking the Arizona Trail.
She tells the incredible story of how her family went from watching Cocodona as curious hikers to toeing the start line with hand-me-down running vests and brand-new shoes. We talk about how her sons became ultrarunners, what it’s like racing 250 miles while constantly worrying about your kids (who are also racing), and the chaos of coordinating multiple crews and pacers as a full-on family affair.
She shares the highs and heartbreaking lows from this year’s Cocodona—dealing with sickness, hypothermia, and emotional breakdowns on the trail, all while pushing through to the finish herself. We also dive into training, nutrition (or the lack thereof), trail names, and how thru-hiking helped shape her kids into some of the toughest young runners in the sport.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jenny Chisholm's Journey
03:10 The Accidental Entry into Cocodona
05:59 Family Dynamics in Ultra Running
09:06 Logistics of Racing as a Family
11:52 Challenges Faced During the Race
15:05 The Emotional Toll of DNFing
17:56 Finding Focus Amidst Chaos
21:00 The Role of Family Support
23:52 Reflections on the Race Experience
39:33 The Emotional Roller Coaster of Racing
48:12 Navigating Nutrition and Training Challenges
55:02 Building Confidence Through Thru-Hiking
01:01:08 The Future of Family Adventures
01:09:31 Embracing the Journey and Lessons Learned
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