Run to the Top Podcast | The Ultimate Guide to Running

Go, Gwen, Go: A Family’s Journey to Olympic Gold Gwen Jorgensen won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics, along with many other wins, and she is currently training hard for another medal in the 2020 Olympics, this time in the Marathon. We all know, it takes a village to raise an Olympian and today we talk with two of Gwen’s family members, Nancy and Elizabeth Jorgensen. They authored Go, Gwen, Go, a book about the Jorgensen family’s commitment to Gwen’s success and ambition to be a world champion and win gold. Today we have the opportunity to go in depth about “the village” that raised Gwen to this point. We hear about the 2012 Olympic disappointment,  the 2016 Olympic gold medal, and the 2020 marathon hopes and more in this fast-reading story where Nancy and Elizabeth Jorgensen share their version of an Olympian’s life and what that entails as “supporters” of one’s lofty dreams. 

From almost 500 pounds and a total couch potato to a living example of how extreme health improvements are possible, Marcus Cook talks to us about his own journey of weight loss and athletic discovery and how he was supported by so many along the way.  In New York, Sunday, November 3, 2019, carrying a large placard of “Fat Marcus”, “Fit Marcus” will run 26.2 miles in the biggest marathon in the world.  He wants to share the message that “anything is possible” and each of us is capable of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Michelle Barton, Ultra Runner and Co-Host of the Training For Ultra and Trail Runner Nation podcasts, joins us this week to talk about her experience and accomplishments with Ultra Trail Running. Michelle has run some incredible races including Badwater 135, from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney; the Javelina Jundred, a 100 mile self proclaimed desert trail run costume party; and  Caballo Blanco joining the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico. She has also set over 24 course records.  Michelle’s running appears in a chapter she wrote in Chicken Soup for the Soul, about her experience running Badwater 135 and the extreme challenges she dealt with to finish the race. In this episode, we talk to Michelle about how her love of the outdoors led to her running and how her running has taken on bigger and longer challenges over the years. And she also has words of encouragement for those who would like to dip their toes into the waters of Ultra Running.

What makes The Chicago Marathon a special member of the World Marathon Series, and what makes the city that hosts it so special itself? In 2019 the Chicago Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 13 and in this episode, we are privileged to have Carey Pinkowski, Executive Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon talking to us direct from Chicago.  Carey shares some of the “inside stuff” to help race participants, as well as spectators, understand and enjoy how the race comes together; how to qualify, how to deal with race logistics, where it starts, where it finishes, where to stay, course details, best things to do in the city, etc. Since 1990, Carey has served as Executive Director and has seen the race grow from 6,000 runners in 1990 to 44,341 finishers in 2017, including runners from all 50 states and more than 130 countries.  In addition to being an exciting race to participate in with a big purse for top athletes, the Chicago Marathon charity program has raised more than $167,000,000 for local, national, and global causes since 2002.

What is it about runners and data? Do we love data because it’s simply the most tangible evidence of our abilities? Is it just another way to extend our run experience by reliving a race or training run? Or is it something more, something that can actually change us into even better runners for the rest of our lives? Today, on Run to the Top Podcast we will speak with Magnus Jonsson, co-founder of Racefox, a wearable, artificial intelligence platform that responds to your running style and gives immediate feedback on how you can run better, faster, more effectively, and with fewer injuries. Artificial intelligence may sound like something from outer space but, of course, it is with us every day and affects our lives in many ways. Magnus and his company have gone even farther into coaching runners via artificial intelligence. Algorithms, technology and science take us into a new dimension that allows immediate interpretation of massive amounts of data and classification of that data into personal information that can be used for immediate improvement as you run. This real-time coaching can help us stay injury free and improve incrementally by making focused changes, unique to our own bodies, whether elite or beginner. It’s not as unbelievable as it may sound. Listen as we delve into Magnus’ and Racefox’s world of artificial intelligence and improved running. 

The San Francisco Marathon is one of those bucket list races for most road runners. Running across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is such a unique and wonderful experience. Circumnavigating the beautiful City by the Bay with Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, cable cars, and surrounded by ocean is truly magical. For some folks, including Michael Wardian, 26.2 miles is just a warm-up. In July 2019 Michael won the San Francisco Double Marathon – 2 X on the course for a total of 52.4 miles! And this was after several other races in 2019 including the World Marathon Challenge – 7 marathons in 7 days, on 7 continents! Michael won all of them! And even that wasn’t enough, as you’ll hear about what he did immediately afterwards. Michael’s running career includes some crazy, funny records, and much, much more.  He is certainly unique in his goals and the running path he follows. We may not all have the same goals and push that Michael does, but in this episode he gives great information and inspiration that even we ‘mere mortal’ runners can use to improve our performance and goals. 

Dean Karnazes is considered a living legend to many of us runners. TIME magazine named him one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World.” and Men’s Fitness hailed him as one of the fittest men on the planet.  In this episode, Dean shares some of his favorite stories from this book, his favorite and toughest runs, and his general passion for all things running. An acclaimed endurance athlete and NY Times bestselling author, Dean has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. Among his many accomplishments, he has run 350 continuous miles, foregoing sleep for three nights. He’s run across the Sahara Desert in 120-degree temperatures, and he’s run a marathon to the South Pole in negative 40 degrees. On ten different occasions, he’s run a 200-mile relay race solo, racing alongside teams of twelve. His long list of competitive achievements includes winning the Badwater Ultramarathon, running 135 miles nonstop across Death Valley during the middle of summer, and racing on all seven continents, twice over. In 2006 he accomplished the seemingly impossible by running 50 marathons in 50 US states in 50 consecutive days, finishing with the NYC Marathon, which he ran in 3:00:00. In 2011 Dean ran 3,000-miles from the coast of California to New York City, averaging 40 to 50-miles per day. Dean is the winner of an ESPN ESPY and a 3-time recipient of Competitor magazine’s Endurance Athlete of the Year award. He’s twice carried the Olympic Torch (2008 and 2018 Olympic Games). Dean was recently awarded the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award by The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition. And now, he’s out with a new book:Chicken Soup for the Soul, Running for Good.  

Jeff Gaudette Talks About Another Type of Running Business Last week we had guests Misa Dugally, Jeff Stokes, and Katie Ownbey talk about starting their running business, STRIDE which is a franchise type of business, geared to runners. Our focus during the talk was to introduce you, as running lovers, to some of the business options out there that cater to runners if you are considering this line of work.  Today we have our very own Runners Connect Founder Jeff Gaudette to share his story. Jeff takes us through his business evolution of working with runners, culminating in what we now know and have come to love as RunnersConnect. In addition to the inspiration behind RC, Jeff also shares with us his methodology for his business and has great insight for those considering starting a running related business of their own. He talks about business entities, employees, and the joys (and even the downsides, of being a business owner.  We think you’ll enjoy this inside look into Jeff’s business and hope it helps you if you’re looking to start your own.  

How many of us love running so much that we would LOVE to quit our day jobs and start running for work and play? It’s not simple and certainly not easy, but many people, including our own Jeff Gaudette at Runners Connect, take their passion and build it into a viable business.  Today we have three great people joining us who will share their thoughts and experiences on the running business they have developed. Misa Dugally, Jeff Stokes, and Katie Ownbey will talk about their business called STRIDE, the first Indoor Running Franchise, and a “one of a kind, indoor workout studio geared specifically to runners.” STRIDE's treadmill-based cardio and strength classes are perfect for any level of walker, jogger or runner They will share their personal stories that helped to formulate this dream business as well as the life paths and determination that brought enough pieces together to make it a reality.

Yes You Can! Leveraging his college experience organizing and leading expedition trips that helped people discover, and push past, what they thought were their limits, Dr. Michele Ufer has written a bestselling book on mental toughness training for runners. He is an internationally sought-after expert in sports and management psychology and a successful ultrarunner. As speaker, coach, and mental trainer, the bestselling author motivates athletes, executives, and other high performers, promoting top performance.  Challenges beyond the marathon distance As a runner and someone who pushes his own boundaries, he is attracted to challenges beyond the marathon distance, sometimes at great heights. Whether it’s a desert, rainforest, Himalayas, or the polar circle, Michele Ufer is at home on the most extreme running tracks. He has repeatedly achieved top 10 ratings in international (extreme) races covering a distance of up to 250km using his training methods. He researched psychological aspects in running, and presented his findings at lectures, scientific congresses, and in magazine articles.