This is a sandy boy productions podcast.
Hey, everybody. Welcome to all have another podcast
with Lindsay He.
I'm your host, Lindsay. Thank you so much
for
joining me today. I am really excited today
to share with you an episode with Marissa
Howard, who made her first Olympic team in
the Steep chase.
At the Olympic trials last week and wow,
what a race?
The race of her life really. She ran
a 15 second personal record, 09:07.
She totally skipped over.
The 9 1.
She went from 09:22
to 09:07.
Wow.
Marissa is a mom. She has a... 2
year old son, she was the only mother
in that field. We talk about her
life as a whole
as a mother, a home,
a
professional athlete,
a friend,
a believer, a coach. 1 thing I love
about Marisa story is
the holistic view
of her entire life that she takes with
her when she trains and when she races.
This isn't just about racing
And I think she has a really healthy
perspective. And for lack of a better term
balance, 1 might say, I know that you
can't always have complete balance in your life,
but she seems to really look at her
running.
With a healthy perspective in a healthy lens.
Marissa
talks openly about her faith. We heard her
talk about her faith and a lot of
her post race interviews
on the track. And so I
was curious about that. So of course, asked
her some questions
that related to her faith and what that
means to her. Marissa is someone I am
so excited to cheer for and I'm so
honored to be able to tell her story
here on this podcast.
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Alright, friends. Please enjoy my conversation with Marissa
Howard.
Alright, friends.
Excited for our... This our first post Olympic
trials
podcast interview, and we have
Marissa Howard on the show. Welcome to the
show, Marissa. Thank you. Thank you for having
me. I haven't done a ton of podcast,
so I think I'll be on a few
more, leading up into the trials, but excited
to be here.
I'm so excited to have you on. It
is
really an honor when I saw your race.
I was like,
I have to have this woman on my
podcast. There were so many exciting feelings, and
I'm just pumped to have you here. How
are you feeling? We are
Gosh. 5 days. You, like, 4 days out.
It's it's not been long. Yeah
Yeah.
We are feeling good. We got,
a little illness right after Eugene, which is
pretty typical coming off of big performance and
getting, you know, not a lot of sleep,
but a Finally,
coming out of the fog and, starting to
get back into training, and
yeah, I don't think it's really hit me.
I don't think it'll hit me until we
kinda travel over to Paris, but
very, very surreal. Yeah.
Let's talk about that video of your family.
That is the... I don't know who took
it, but that is the best video. When
you made the team and everybody's like screaming
and jumping up and down is that your
sister holding your son? Yeah. I can't remember
if it was my sister or
it might have been my sister while holding
her baby. I think my husband had my
son.
But, yeah, I... Every time I watch it,
I get teary eyed like, I
you know, you
you know how much they've invested as well.
Right? You know, I, obviously, I've invested a
lot, but I know they've...
You know, invested so much as well. And,
so just to see
their emotion for me was just, yeah, just
insane. And I love that somebody got to
capture it. Like, I think my cousin... I
think when of my cousins was recording, but,
yeah, I get very emotional when I watched
them.
Right Like, thank god somebody recorded that. Like,
that's gonna be something you'll never forget. You
always told someone's in the corner like, oh,
let me capture this memory.
I know. I know.
I think... The outside. I don't know what
the name of... I think outside running or
something was sitting right by them and so
they were like, send us that video, and
that's how it got. Kinda went viral. So
Really cool. They were aaron and... Yeah. I
told my mom I'm like, mom, you're going
viral and she was like, oh, my gosh.
Yeah So but looks so good. It seems
like you're really close with your family.
Yeah.
My mom is 1 my best friends. I
I chat with her every day.
She... My dad and her moved, right after
my son was born to be closer to
us,
just because they knew I was, you know,
pursuing this Olympic dream and
and so they they moved out here to
help with my son. And
yeah. It's been really, really sweet to have
them in town, and then I have a
brother and a sister, and
Yeah. They're all coming over to Paris with
us, which would be so exciting. So you...
So you're in boise. And so you said
your parents moved to you. Your in laws
are also there?
Yeah. So my in laws moved out when
we were still dating, actually, right after we
started dating,
my mother lost her job in Spokane where
my husband's from.
And
so they decided to look for jobs in
Spokane Boise, and she got a job here
and so they've been here,
almost as long as I have about 14
years, and then my parents moved out here
2 years ago. So we have tons of
help with my son, which is so nice.
It's amazing. And so you are in... Boise
because that's where you went to school.
Yeah. Yeah. And you just never left. Yeah.
Went to school here. I mean, boys is
an amazing place. It's kind of the best
kept secret that's starting to get out. Now.
We've had a lot of, people that have
moved here in the last.
Probably honestly since Covid in the last... Yeah.
4 or 5 years.
But, yeah, I came to, call here in
20 10.
And then
we never really planned on leaving honestly, after
our in laws, you know, I got married
in college and once our in laws were
here, and then my best friend moved out
right after,
we graduated college. Like, all my people started
coming out here. And so
yeah, that we we decided to stay, and
and then my coach, my coach actually just
got the Boise State job. So
now we're kind of here for good, now
that he's in town as well, which is
very nice. Yeah. You're locked in.
Yes. Yeah. I heard you say,
in 1 of your posters interviews that, you
know, 1 of the things with sponsorship was
that...
You're not willing to move. Like, you want
to stay in boise.
And
I love that you had this support from
T smith. I also know that those tracks
sponsorships are, like, mostly apparel and not like,
these big huge
sponsorships, but what did that mean to you
to have their support? Yeah. They've been awesome,
and they actually started supporting me when I
was pregnant, which is really cool. They started...
Kinda working with my club, Idaho a foot
at that point, and they were, like, very
excited to, like, Marissa, we can't wait until
you're back out there and you know, they...
Yeah. They've been really, really supportive And,
Nick Willis is, like, the athlete,
kinda athlete coordinator, and, you know, he wants
us to get a big deal. Right? He
wants us to, you know, move on to
a bigger company,
and he loves that they can be a
stepping stone for that. And so
obviously, after I made the team, he was,
you know, very excited, and, you know, he's,
like, I'm hopeful that now, you can... Yeah.
Move on from us and and and they're,
yeah, happy that they gotta be a part
of the journey. Oh, that is so cool.
I love that. I love that they want...
They want you to be sent off. Yep.
They want us to spread our wings and
fly. Yeah.
And I think that you... You know, they...
Yeah. They did an amazing job at the
trials. You know, they bring in chiropractors and
they provide lunch every day. They provide housing.
But that... I mean, that's everything you need.
You know, and they provide a little bit
a little bit of money.
But, yeah, That's that's everything you need at
the at that meat,
unfortunately, other meats throughout the year. They're not
able to help with as much, but I
had everything I need at the trials to
be successful, which which is awesome.
Okay. Let's talk about that 15 second P
r, which I know that is a question
you're probably getting a lot that is... It
wild and crazy. And when I think about
these times,
well, I was thinking about,
after the 1500 meter race on Sunday, which
I'm sure you I don't know if you
watched because you were sick. Did you get
to watch that? You watched the replay. Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay. Great.
I was thinking about some of these women
who were saying like, well, if you would
have told me like this was the time
we had to run or like, this was
the time I would have to run and
I still wouldn't make the team. Like, I
would be all up in my head.
So, like, did you... When you enter this
race knowing what it might take to make
the team in the steep? Like, did you
even think about time? Or did you just
think... I'm just gonna run my best race.
Yeah. I think, you know, my my coach...
He did such a good job of managing
this week, and he said,
don't come into this race with any pre
about what the time is gonna be who's
gonna make the team or anything like that.
And I think that left it open to,
you know,
allow anything to happen.
We knew, you know, he did tell me,
like, this spring. Like, I'm gonna have you
ready to run 09:10 and close hard. You
know, that was kinda like, this the fitness
that we knew we needed to be in.
But I think I
always
race well when I don't know the time.
All of my, like, big P and my
big races
where I've, like, done really well is generally
when I'm just like, really locked in and
focused and, like, just racing and not focused
on the clock at all. I kinda don't
do great in, like, scenarios where, like, a
coach is reading out of split and, like,
focused oh, you're off. You know, like, you
guys are slowing and blah blah. So I...
Yeah. I had no idea how fast we
were running
until we crossed the finish line. I mean,
I had no clue that we were, like,
cruise.
Yeah. I was just so locked in, And
they're... The cool part of that video of
my families, You can... See my husband grabbing
some shirt. And he was like, look at
the clock. Look at he was freaking out
and
so that was really fun to watch it
and yeah. Had no idea. Do that we
were running that fast.
Wow.
What does your husband? Like, what does what
is his involvement in the sport? Like, did
he run in college? How did... How is...
How much does he know about sport? Yes.
So he ran in college. He was A5K
10 k runner, and then we coach cross
country high school track? Cross Country together here
in town. So he's town coach. Yeah. Yeah.
So we coach a local high school.
So he's very involved in the sport. He
probably knows too much But he does a
really good job of taking on the husband
role and not the coaching. Sometimes I'm, like,
asking him for feedback and stuff, and he's,
like, Marissa I'm your husband. Like, your coach
is doing a amazing job, and and I'm
hard on myself as, you know, as an
athlete and as a coach and so He
does a really good job of Y and
that husband role, which is really, really sweet.
The s felt really wide open. You know?
Obviously, we knew that Courtney and Emma weren't...
Running the race.
You hate to see people injured, But did
you feel like going into it? Like, this
race is wide open, and I have a
really great shot here.
Yeah. I... The interesting thing is after... Yeah.
After...
Courtney, you know, obviously pulled out. I mean,
just at Bummer. Right? And I know that's
all part of Right.
The sport,
But, yeah, We really thought, you know, 8
to 10 women had a a real shot,
you know, 8 women had the Olympic standard.
I think 2 or 3 more got it
during the final. So I think we probably
have... I don't know. Was that 11? I'm
probably... I I don't know if I'm miss
10 about 11 women with the Olympic standard
in 1 year is... Wow. Insane. And so
Yeah. I think
we really felt like it was really wide
open, and that's where my coach said, like,
don't have any pre.
Like, who's the best runner who's gonna make
this team or whatever, and I think that
allowed... Yeah, to... The... That allowed,
me to just come in with, like, yeah.
No
no pressure, no pre ideas and just race
and see yeah. Who could come out on
top.
What were you thinking when Annie wrote phelps
like, took it out so hard? Yeah. I
I know she mentioned this in her interview
that she, like, really struggles with the hurdles.
And so,
I think,
I guess I didn't know how fast she
was going, but I I felt like, eventually
we would likely reel her in slowly.
I think, I know Courtney Wee said that
she felt like that pace was just a
little bit too aggressive. And so,
I know Courtney has been in a lot
of high level races. Between diamond leagues and
worlds, and so I kinda trusted that she,
you know, would do a good job of
kinda reeling her back in. And so I
think in my head, I knew we'd eventually
you know, hopefully reel her back in, but
it would have been phenomenal. Had she, you
know, kinda wired job that.
So, yeah, I I come commend her for,
yeah, taking a shot at it.
Yeah. That that, like, little stu step that
she. And I think she probably just, like,
didn't wanna cause a crash. I don't know
how to say it crash.
That 1. I know I know she 2
foot lamps the water jump. And so I
think... Yeah. I think I was just being
aware of that and and making sure that
I had a good line and and maybe
it wasn't landing behind her. But she lands
so quick and, like,
I mean, she has it down. I know
a lot of women don't do the 2
foot landing, but When I was watching the
race back, I'm like, man, she gets out
of there very fast for being a 2
foot lander. So...
Yeah. Yeah. She really has hasn't it figured
out.
At that last jump when Olivia legs, they
basically just, like, give out and she falls.
I wanna know, like, how did your legs
feel on those last 2 jumps, and you
know, then you have to you gotta get
over that last barrier and just go.
Yeah.
Yeah. My legs felt pretty shot going over
that last.
Hurdle. I didn't know if I I'd make
it over, and I was just praying, you
know, like, please Lord. Like, just give me
the finish line, and I actually didn't know
she went down,
until after the race. Mh until... I didn't
even know until after the
watching it back. Like, I didn't realize it
until, you know, watching the race back
hours later she had gone down. Really. I
think I was just so focused. Yeah. I
mean, I was just eyes ahead, like, did
not wanna get caught. And so
I had no idea what it was kinda
going on behind me. I just did not
wanna get nip at the. So I was
just trying my hardest to Mh to get
to the finish line.
Okay. And what did that feel like?
Just shocked that I
you know, I...
Obviously, my faith is a big
part of my career and just, yeah, Just
very thankful that that's what the lord had
for me that night and
you know, I said in my post race
interview. Like, I think it's easy to, you
know, thank the Lord, you know, in victory,
but, you know, I wanna be an athlete
that also thinks him in diff... Fee as
well. You know, I think anytime you get
an opportunity to line up out of a
Us championship is is, you know, a moment
to be thankful for. Like, fee there's women
that would have killed to be out there
this year. Right? You know, between Cobra and
Fe alone. But Mh. Just... Yeah. And
my husband always says this, like, Marissa, you
get to do this for a living? Like,
what an honor that is? You know, like,
how cool that is. So I'm, yeah. I'm
just very thankful that I even...
Did I get to do this for a
living? Like, how how cool of a job
is that, you know,
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conversation with Marissa
Well, and so last year, it was val,
val
sheet was not sponsored.
When she made the team. And so and
now we know she has a sponsorship deal.
And so now you are the 1
without the sponsorship deal. I mean, we know
you've... You're working with T smith. Yeah.
Yeah. So, hopefully, do you feel hopeful that
now that you've made an Olympic team that
that'll come to fruition? Yeah. My agents already
has,
3 companies that we're kinda chatting with this
week. So
nice. Hopeful that we've can sign something in
the next few weeks, leading up into the
Olympics and you get some... Get some support
hopefully through the next few years.
Yeah. Because, I mean, it's really...
You guys are living on your husband's teacher
salary. Like, you... And you are all in
on this
running dream. I mean, that's
That's a lot. That's a lot of sacrifice
on both of your ends and
as we all know,
living on a teacher's salary,
can be hard. So this is important and
exciting for you. Yeah. Thankfully the Lord always
provides, you know, we're never... You know, we
never gone into debt, you know, for for
this dream and
there's been opportunities where, you know, I pace
a race and I make some money or,
I... Win some surprised... I mean, last I
won the Y Road mile that my alone
is 5000 dollars. You know? So usually, I
am generally able to come out on top.
I will say when we are doing our
taxes this last year,
I think, like, I write everything off right
because I'm paying for it. And I think
we wrote off
17000 dollars in expenses, and I only technically
made 10000.
And so I'm like, oh, my gosh. He's
spent a lot of money on this, but
it was worth it. I mean, look now
we made a day. So...
Definitely worth it.
Totally,
totally totally. Yeah. You do talk about your
faith a lot, which I admire. And when
I think about
other athletes who talk about their faith. I
think Sarah Hall,
Sim Sydney Mc.
I'm trying to think of others. And so
And that's oh, like, it was Sarah, It's
like, been, you know, she always
Comes back to that. And so I'm curious
why that's important to you and how you've
decided to use your voice, as... Especially as,
like, now you're
you're
as an athlete you're being elevated. Like, people
are hearing your story and it's clear to
me that you find it important to talk
about. Yeah.
Yeah. Something I remember a few years ago,
they do these athlete chapel at Us championships.
And I remember sitting next to, you know,
Olympic Medal and them saying,
they won that metal, and it didn't feel.
They didn't fill that hole inside of them.
Right? And, you know, they...
Yeah. There's
I think as as a human, like, there's
this
piece missing. Right? And, I know not everybody
has faith.
But
I just... There's just so much more to
this this life than
than metals and then running, and I think
you have to be grounded And something outside
of it. Thankfully, I have... I have my
faith for that, but I think if you're
not, when all those things come crumbling down
or you get injured or you don't make
the team,
things like that.
If you're not grounded in something outside of
it, Like, your identity is taken. And so
I think making sure that my identity is
rooted in Christ and not rooted in
know, what I've done or and in in
any of my accomplishments is is kind of...
Yeah. Why why my faith is so so
important to me? Also in this, like, victory,
like, not letting everything
rest in that. Like, oh, I did it.
Here it is. Yeah.
Yeah. Totally. Yeah. I...
Yeah. I remember, like,
you know, I remember our car right after...
Like, my husband that we drove, like, halfway
home. And Kai is, like, screaming in the
car just being a 2 year old. Right?
And you get home really quick, like, realize
like, he doesn't care. Mommy's in Olivia. Like,
he's just tired, and, you know, so you
get you get humbled and you realize... Yeah.
Like, my identity is not in the vet
that I'm Olympia. Like, it's in the fact
that... Yeah. I'm a I'm a child of
God, and and, yeah, I think that's a
great place for me to be rooted.
Like always, but especially now with this new
platform, you know, I think
be to get kinda carried away and and
gets swept up in it, but just... I
think it's... Yeah. I'm glad that I have
my roots
sunk down in that. And where does that
come from? Did you grow up in the
church? Yeah. I would say, we grew up,
I'm going to church for the most part.
But I'd say, you know, at 1 point
you have to make it your own. Right?
You know, your parents, you know, are are
bringing you to church, but I I
would say, It really became, you know, my
own faith when I was a teenager, like,
13, 14 years old.
I had some really great friends that would
bring me to youth group and church camp
and some of those friends are still some
of my best friends. This day, and, you
know, they... They're still praying for me and
and pouring into me and and now as,
you know, as a as a wife and
as a mom
I just have... Yeah. Such a great community,
pouring into me, and I can't even imagine
how many people are praying. I mean, and
not that... You know, you prayed ultimately for
the lord's will and not to win the
race, but just, like, for whatever he has,
for that day, you know, and obviously,
it was to make the team, and I'm
very thankful for that. But
yeah. I just wanna be within his will
and, yeah, that's what's important.
And so your son is 2.
Were you the only mom in the S
Chase field? Yes. I was the only mom.
What does that, like, what does competing feel
like
now? I mean, so in 20 21, fifth
place at the olympic trials,
since then, a year later, you had a
baby.
What does that look like now? Like, how
does
just competing feel differently to you?
Honestly, no. Like, when I got back out
there in 20 23,
and I was fifth in 23 as well.
I
I was surprised at how that, like,
it all just came back. Right? I thought,
like, oh, it might take some time to
like, kinda get that that drive and that
motivation back, but it came back, and I
was like, wow. Like, we're still here. We're
still doing it. Like, we're not any different.
I felt like, but,
Yeah. It's really sweet that he gets to
see Mommy doing this and mommy, you know,
chasing her dreams. And my husband said, you
know, something you need to think about when
you're in that final is, like,
all these women, like, they just get to
be pro runners. Right? You know, they get
to relax and be off their feet, and,
like, you're chasing a toddler around, like, Yeah.
Constantly, you know, he has needs that need
to be wet. And so he just... Yeah.
My husband was just, like, just try to
remember that, like, that... Yeah. You're you're doing
this for more than just yourself. Like, you
have this little boy that, like, thinks the
world of you. And and
and, yeah. So I I try to remember
that when I'm out there that...
That... Yeah. Moms moms can do hard things.
And I think there is such a thing
as mom's strength and...
So, yeah.
Yeah. I heard you say you had a
home birth, and I'm thinking yeah. That's the
mom's strength right there.
Yeah. Yeah.
We
think I said, in my interview we... I
reacted like, really interesting thing... Interestingly to, like,
pain meds and,
alcohol. And so we just didn't really wanna
give myself that option.
And,
we've had a very successful home, like, very
healthy, and
I don't think I'll do it any different
for future children.
Yeah. I was gonna say, I mean, this
is interesting now, because you'll go to Paris,
and then and your son is 2,
and,
you know, like, we've see women
competing at very high level into their forties.
So like, the family planning thing is challenging
though because, obviously, that's like,
you know, it's a good 18 months, really.
Yeah Yeah. Off of your
intense training.
So. How do you go about? And and
thankfully,
Brands are not...
Yeah.
You know, like, what are these that deductions
or whatever you wanna call it, brands are
being really good about pregnancy in 20 24
20 25.
How do you think about that and plan
that out as you're very much in those,
like, like those years.
Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. I mean, obviously, I
showed that I'm better after having a child
child, and so
I think hopefully, a brand will see that.
Real, I think you hit the nail head.
It's probably about 18 months really to where
And that was short... I think that's a
short window. You know, I felt... Yeah. Yeah.
I felt like I was totally back, you
know, within 18 months or within 9 months
after having so 9 months of... Pregnancy and
then few moments minutes after having it. But,
I felt like
that was a great reset year for my
body. You know, I wasn't pounding the pavement,
and doing this intense training. And so in
my head, I feel like I'm getting those
years back down the road. And so I
think that I think that's where these women
are showing that they're really good you know,
into their late thirties early forties because I
think Sarah is somebody who comes to mind.
Right? She has had a baby you know,
every 4 years,
and, you know, it's still running phenomenally.
And so I think
I think it's a good break for your
body. Obviously, it's hard on your body. You
know, pregnancy is not easy on your body,
but I think training wise, it is a
nice little reset for your body. So hopefully,
I get to reap the benefits, you know,
for years to come. Yeah. I love that
idea. I think that we should all embrace
that a little bit more too because it
does get hard. You know, like,
to not be able to do
what we love to do and for your
body to
go through all those... I mean, pregnancy is
hard. It's like a lot of work.
So Yeah. If we can, like, lean on
that, I love that that you brought that
up. It's like a reset. It's like a
time for intentional rest.
I've had a lot of friends who are
stronger and, you know, friends locally. And even
moms
who are just stronger after having these babies,
you know, and Yes, It is this time
where, like, you don't feel and control of
your body and all these changes are happening,
but to be on the other side of
it and be a better athlete afterwards, it's
really sweet to to know that, yeah. We
we are better afterwards.
Yeah. Did you ever think when you
became pregnant, like, to
2 years after this, I'm gonna run 09:07.
No. And
1 of my teammates while? I was pregnant...
She ran 09:07. She's a British S chaser,
and I remember seeing her do that and
thinking,
I feel like I can do that. You
know, I mean, we've we've ran very similar
workouts and all this stuff. So I knew
it was in there, but She's just had
a lot more high level, you know, racist
because she's been in diamond leagues and, you
know, Europeans in commonwealth.
And so I just don't think I was
given or had those same opportunities, and so
finally connecting it and putting it together on
that day. And,
yeah. I mean, I've dreamed of 09:07, but
to finally be a 09:07 girl is like,
whoa. We finally did it.
It's so exciting. That S Chase has really
To like, it's expanded. I feel like even
from the 20 16,
really... Okay. If we look back to the
20 16 Olympics,
I felt like there weren't... It... There wasn't
this like depth in the field. It's like,
it was like Emma Courtney Colleen.
And there were some others in there. You
were in there. I know you were injured
in 20 16, but, like, Yeah. The depth
of how strong.
You all are, like, you were saying? Like,
11 of you with the Olympic olympics standard?
What?
Anymore. Do you feel like it's exploding and
are we seeing more... People do it younger?
Yeah. I think it really is exploding. And
I think we're also showing,
like, with Corny W running a 14 48.
Or 49 and indoors in the 5 k.
Like I think we're showing that we're out
just these specialists that, like, even Lexi, Lexi
a few weeks ago, Lexi Holiday or Lowry.
She ran 50 o 2. In A5KA few
weeks ago, like, I think we're just showing,
like, we're not just good steep that we
can do well at these other events, as
well.
But,
yes, the steep... I mean, I think I
think that was looking at the world list
after
our race and Ali is twentieth in the
world Ali strand twentieth in the world right
now. So
I mean, and she was. I don't know.
Not. I don't can't remember what she was
at the trials, but not show babies like
that? 8. So we have 8 women in
the top... 20, and that doesn't include Ferrets
and Cobra. Like, that's... I mean, 10 wow...
I mean, I essentially 10 of the top
20. That's insane.
So... Yeah. Yes. I think we're just elevating
each other yet. Yeah. How will you,
like, how will you prepare for this world
stage with like, with your coach and everything,
and
also just mentally.
Yeah.
Yeah. He said, you know, he called me
on...
Thursday night after, you know, we were kind
of just settling down at home as like,
11:30 at night and trying to get ready
for bed. I mean, I didn't sleep at
all. But, you know, trying to how can
you How could you?
No. I think... I think has something an
hour and a half. But
he said,
ky Marissa. I'm just gonna say this.
Once right now, and then we're not gonna
talk again, but we need to start thinking
about making an Olympic final. You know, and
he's like, I'm not gonna mention again, but,
like, that has to be in your mind
because my time is number 6 in the
world right now. And I mean, I never
even... You know, my goal is just to
make the Olympics, but he said, Right. I'm
not going to it's just to participate. And
I agree. Like, you know, I think
when you're sick, like, wow, a medal is
not out of the question. I mean, I
think Val is thrown in the world right
now school.
Really cool to see if, you know, 1
of us can... Or all of us can
try to, yeah, vie for a metal spot.
Will you be
like, communicating with the other girls leading up
to it? And what does that look like?
Yeah. I'm not sure when they're going over.
We're going over the 20 eighth. So about
a week before, I didn't chat with them
to see when they're going over. I probably
will message them just to see if 20
we can link up over there for, you
know, even if we're not doing the same
workout, but some of our last few workouts
together that last week, just being able to,
you know, warm up and cool down together,
but
yeah. We'll be based in in boise.
We actually have a ski mountain that's right
outside of Boise
that's 7000 feet, and it's 4 5 minute
dry for us, and so we'll go stay
up there and then just drop down to
boys like my harder work and stuff. So
we thought about going back to flags staff
or bolder, but my We just have been
gone so much that we just wanna to
be home and kind of around our community
for this last month leading up. Totally. Yeah.
I think I saw on Instagram. You were
looking for a place to rent up there.
We found 1. Well, I mean, I've had
3 people. I got 3
option. Yep. Yep. So we're we're good to
go. Yep. Oh you're good to go. Oh,
my gosh. Yeah. Well, I was trying to
rent 1, and it was 5000 dollars for
3 weeks, like it was
insane, and so I was hoping that if
I put the word out there or, like,
went on the news and said something that
I found something. So, yeah, we we found
1 thankfully.
She's in Olympia, someone open up your.
Yeah. Sorry. I think there's a little bit
of a delay here. So I think that's
why
I will like, say something to than you're
about to say something.
Was I gonna say about that? Oh, do
you have people though that you'll be able
to train with? And, like, then, what does
the training look like? Because it was like,
you trained to kind of...
Have the most excellent race ever at the
trials, and now you gotta kinda, like, chill
for a minute, but then ramp back up?
Yeah. So I'm hoping my husband can do
quite a bit of training with me. Usually,
he's kinda on babysitting sitting duty in the
summertime, but my mom and mother law, will
be covering a lot of that so that
he can do a lot of the training
with me. Training And then 1 of my
my coach coaches,
a male marathon are here,
and he's not quite ready to start his
Olympic or his marathon bill for the fall
yet. So he'll probably be hopping in workouts
with me as well.
But yeah, those are probably be, the few
that Are able to... Yeah. Pop with me
the over this next few weeks. Ida ida
foot. Is that what the group is called?
Idaho a foot. IAH foot. Okay. How big
is that group? Tell me a little bit
about the group? Yeah. So my coach was
just solely coaching online. The since 20 21.
I believe he launched his business. So he
was the head coach at University of San
Francisco,
and then during Covid kinda stepped away and
started this online coaching business.
Idaho whole foot. And then,
his dream job was the Boise State job,
and that opened up this spring and so
he applied for it and got it, which
was very shocking,
and we're very thankful. So then now
He's down to about 10 athletes. He... He
was a full time business. Right? I mean,
he was coaching, you know, 50 athletes, probably
5 to 7 at my level.
That were, like, you know, trying to make
either lump the olympic team or make the
olympic of trial. So he's kept most of
his elites, but unfortunately, he had to let
a lot of people go just pick now
he has a fun time job.
Hey, a quick break here, did you know
that the trail network podcast is the newest
show in the Sandy Boy productions podcast network?
Because This is a show hosted by
Leah Yang,
Rachel Drake, Katie Ass and Hillary Yang. For
amazing,
women in the ultra running and trail space,
Rachel and Leah both just placed top 10
at Western states, and they're gonna be doing
some awesome post race recap over there. So
if you aren't already subscribed, make sure you
go to the trail network podcast,
and hit that subscribe button and give those
ladies some love. It is some good
stuff over there. If you wanna learn more
about this network and all the shows in
our network just go to sandy boy productions
dot com. Alright, friends back to the show.
Yeah. I love that you're like, this is
my life here. Go Like, this is where
I live. This is my community. This is
where my family lives
because I feel like a lot of people
feel pressure. I gotta move to boulder. I
gotta move to flags. Staff, you know,
and you've just proven that you actually don't
have to do that. Yeah. And I've seen
a lot of, you know,
people get these contracts and they move, and
then,
you know, they get injured or, you know,
they don't have their support system and
I just knew that wasn't for me, you
know, I just,
we,
you know, after we had been here for...
You know, 5 years of college, and then
even a 6 year because my husband was
finishing his master's.
And my in laws were here, like, we
just didn't. Yeah. We just didn't want to
move and just Wanna compromise
any of that. And so,
yeah, we've we've done it the hard way.
And like we said, we rely on the
Lord, and he's been very, very very, very
very, very good to us and always provided
and
yeah, we've been very thankful and very blessed
to live here.
What is your, like... When you wake up
in the morning? When like, do you like,
pray before get out of bed? What does
your morning routine look like? Yeah. I... It
looks a little bit different now that you
have a toddler. Generally, he's wake yeah. Yeah.
But, you know.
In our sweet sketchy a crystal or a
big boy bed.
He's in a crib, but we will likely
be... Switching them to a bed somewhat soon.
And probably after the summer,
after After Paris, don't do it before Paris.
No. Yeah. No. Not before Paris and I'm
potty training as well, you know, down the
road. But
yeah. I try to do...
I would say when I'm really like studying
and and in the, it's probably during his
nap time. Honestly,
he usually takes a 2 to 3 hour
nap. And so that's prop probably my best
time
to study. I do this bible study called
bible study fellowship. I feel like I'm gonna
get that wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's
called Bible study fellowship. And it's actually this
worldwide study. So everybody around the world is
studying the same book that year. So they
do a book of the bible every year.
So last year, it was the book of
John and this year It's the next year
it'll would be the whole revelation of so
year. Everybody around the world is studying the
same book.
Which is really cool. So I go on
Wednesdays, and there's, like,
there's, like, a lecture and then, like, a
group study with these women. But the cool
thing about it is since it's all around
the world when I was in boulder,
I got to join a group in boulder.
And so I got to meet these women,
you know, and they got to... Be, like,
around me and praying for me when I
was in boulder, and then when I was
in Flags south, the the said it was
over because it's done in May. But, yeah.
That's been really cool too is, like, meeting
the, you know, be able to join a
community in another place where I normally wouldn't
have community. So... But, yeah, Usually do... Yeah,
my scripture reading,
being and study during his nap time. And
then I try to read to kai actually,
like, during his breakfast. I'll do, like, a
song or,
a problem or something while he's re... While
he's eating breakfast is fun. Okay. So Am
trying to read... You might have an opinion
about this.
I'm trying to read the bible cover to
cover. Is and
I just got to
first Samuel.
Okay. This is hard.
I think people are, like, you need some
pallet cleansers, like you need to not just
read it cover to cover. You need to,
like, like, put in some solves in there
and, like, But I'm kind of like, I
don't know. I feel like is there something
to? Like, there's a reason it's in this
order. So, like, for some reason, in my
brain, I just wanna do it all the
way through, you know?
Yeah. So I've seen a couple different
ways to do it. We've definitely done it
cover to cover I'm my husband and I,
but also we've done it chronological,
and so how the bible actually written chronological
is not the order that it's actually in.
So I think it's, like some of Genesis,
and then it goes to job, and then
it kinda jumps around.
And then I've also seen these people that
we stay within Eugene. They're amazing. So the
guy that married us, his parents live in
Eugene, and they lived there for 60 years.
They're were, like, Wow 85, like, so awesome.
So we always stay with them, and they
they do... They read every day together, and
they had this list of how they do
it every day. And there's just, like, a
little bit of old testament and a little
bit of new testament every day. Mh. And
I think that's a great way to do
it because, like you said, like, you get
some of that heavy stuff, you know, from
the old testament, and then, you know, obviously,
like, the new testament is, like, the redemption
in Christ, you know,
coming. And so I think maybe that... Maybe
maybe that could be what you do is
sprinkle that you g the... Yeah. Yeah. I
think that... I do like, the idea of
the chronological
way though.
Yeah. It's just, like, a lot of, like,
lineage and, like...
Like, a lot of it right now, I
feel like the past
few months has just been about, like, land.
Like, taking over
land,
And I'm just like... And then and that's
the study bible so then I'll, like, read
the... Like, this is what you should be,
you know, what... Why this is here and
what you should be taking from it.
But I've always wanted to, and I've never
committed to it. And this is the furthest
I've ever made it, like,
trying to go, like, front to back. So
yeah. I'm sticking to it.
Yes. You could do. And even
the the cool thing, even if you don't
make it in a year, like, you... I
don't think I would more than you... Yeah.
Yeah. But like, keep going because, you know,
it doesn't yeah. Like, I think it gives
you a guidance, which is amazing. You know?
Yeah. For sure.
Well, III really...
Appreciate that you bring up your faith and
that you talk about it because
I don't know. I mean, sometimes it feels
a little bit intimidating. Like, sometimes
I feel like people will
judge me because,
Christianity is judged so harshly in 20 24.
And
Yeah. I think it can be hard sometimes.
Yeah. And sometimes I wondered, you know, Like,
is that why I don't have a sponsor.
Right? Like, I don't know what these companies
you know, our thinking. But, like, ultimately, like,
my faith is more important than than being
sponsored,
and that's what I come back to is,
like, my faith is my foundation. You know,
it's everything for us. And so I'd rather
stand on that rock than stand on any
other rock.
Well, lastly here before we do into podcast
questions for
you know, when you do something like, really
big in your life. You get married. You
buy your house. You run a marathon, you
make the Olympic team.
You
kind of, like can set yourself up for,
like, I know when this is all over,
like there might be a come down. Right?
Like, even after, like last year I planned
my fort birthday, like, I knew that once
my family all went home and my friends
left, I'd be like,
No what? You know?
So do you do you even process that
at all? Or have you even thought about
that? I know that's kind of a weird
question because you... It hasn't even happened yet.
But we've talked about how your faith is
more important
anyway.
Tell me what you think about that, all
that. But Yeah. I think something that I
thought about leading into the trials and that
I told some of my girlfriends was my
life is so full and so beautiful outside
of running.
That it's not my everything, You know? And
I
I love being a mom and a home
and taking care of my home and taking
care of you know, kai and
being a coach with my husband and,
you know, helping my friends take care of
their children and so
my life is so full and so beautiful
outside of running that I don't... Yes. There
there will be an obvious let down. You
know, like, the electric is over,
but I think
I have so much more beauty outside of
running that
I think, yeah. I'll also fill my days
with those things in the fall, and And
I miss some of those things, and so
I'll be looking forward to settling back in
as well. So you have, like, a community,
like, your friends, like, you...
Your kids all kinda hang out and play
and you kinda take turns helping out with
each other's kids?
Yes. We... My best friend she lives. She...
They bought a house like... I don't know.
A 5 minute walk from us. I mean,
literally, this is my best phase. When I
was
13 years old. Yeah. And my
dream together.
Yes. And so she,
she has 2 children and I have 1,
and so we'll just trade childcare care like,
hey. Can you watch them for the first
2 hours and then and then I'll wash
them for 2 out? I mean, it's incredible.
It's, like, literally what we dreamed of? And
and then, yeah. I mean, all of our
friends... Can pretty much. Most of her our
friends have just had their first child. So
it's really sweet that we've just, yeah, kind
of in this phase together.
We have so moved away from, like, communal
child raising. And if you can, like, lean
into a community who will roll up their
sleeves and do it with you, there's nothing
better.
Yeah. Nothing bad it. I agree. And I
I can't imagine. Yeah. I can't imagine not
having the support that we have. Okay. I
always wrap up with these end of podcast
podcasts. Questions. I hope we covered everything. We...
Yeah. Yeah. I think we're good.
What is something professionally? This is a weird
question to ask because you just made an
olympic team.
But you've also talked about how full your
life is outside of it. So just in
the grand scope of life. What is something
professionally or personally?
You'd like to do that you haven't done
yet. Oh my gosh. That is a good
question.
I think something that I think. About, you
know, obviously, you run 09:07 and you're, like,
gosh, can I ever redo that again? I
think my my next goal would be to
be consistent at this normal. Right? To not
just be... Because you know, do it once,
but, like, to be consistently in, you know,
the top 10 in the world and
yeah, That'd probably be something that I just
be consistent at this level. That's so good.
15 second PRI just like, we have to
reiterate that 15 seconds
in 3000 meters like, that is a lot.
Yeah. I know. It's wild. You're A90S.
Yeah. And it's funny because I didn't have
a great race at Portland Track Festival
a few weeks before this race, and
remember going to my coach afterwards where it's
kinda frustrated, and I'm like, I'm just tired
of being a 9 thirties girl, and he's
like, person, you're not a 09:30 girl. Like
you've run 09:22.
But I I feel like I consistently run,
you know, 09:31,
09:34, 09:37,
and
And so, yeah. No
That's just you skip the 9 ones. You
skip the 9 1. We didn't...
We didn't need it. Which is crazy because
when I was in college, and I got
second at the Nc championships,
I went from 10:02
to 09:42,
like, in 1 race. Wow. And so I
skipped the 09:50. So I we just did
it again,
Yeah. Yeah. Usually I don't need to mess
around in there. But your code right too.
And sometimes I feel like we think...
Because we haven't ran a certain time in
race. It doesn't mean
that you're not that person, You just haven't
executed it when it mattered yet. Yeah.
Yes. Totally. I love that yet. You know,
yeah. We use that in coaching. Like, we
just haven't done it yet, and I think
the app, that's a great place to be.
Okay. What's the best most recent book you've
read? Have you made time for that at
all? Yeah. I've actually been trying to read.
I'm a lot. I I got off social
media, leading up into the trials, and then
I'm always saw myself, I'd be on till
Wednesday, and then I'm gonna be off for
the most part do, you know, obligation for
social my best friend. She's been my social
media manager for the last week or so.
So it's amazing. I just sent there's things
and she'll post them, but
alfred. Credit a few books lately. The 1
that
we're reading right now... Oh, that my has
my book just read is
Man Manifesto, I might be saying that wrong
but it's actually about coaching. It's this
he's this elite. He's a professional baseball player,
and he
started he got asked to coaching. Like, son's
little league team, and he, like, wrote this
whole letter to the parents ahead of time
and just said,
I need you all to, like, basically be
silent. Like, we are the coaches, his and,
like, I need you to trust me. Like,
you know, I just think parents have kinda
overtake. These arenas now. And so I'm about
halfway through that bucket has been really good
reading that as as, you know, a parent
now and also as a coach. So that's
been a good 1. I am telling you
what.
I don't know not not know what these
parents are they. Just I was at, like,
1 of my kids soccer games
in the spring. And,
1 of the parents not on our team
and another team was like, hey.
How about switching out the bench? Like, yelling
at the coaches to switch out the and
I'm like,
is it... And I didn't know, like, who
their kid was. Like, if their kid... If
they wanted their kid to have a break
or if they wanted their kid to have
more playing in time, but I was like,
oh, my gosh. I cannot believe what this
coach must be thinking right now,
Oh my gosh. I know. And these coaches
are, like,
volunteers most of the time. Unless you're Yeah.
In, like,
travel leagues and your pain for professional coaches,
like most of these coaches are parent volunteers.
Right. Yeah. I know.
I know. I... Yeah. We'll see. I mean,
we're we're far away from youth sports, which
we're, you know, we do, but
I know. Yeah.
It's so fun though. I am telling you
what,
my favorite part of parenting is going to
my kid sports games. It is is just
like, We do a lot of soccer. We
do swim meats, but, like, it is the
most fun because they're working hard and it
is so...
Cool to see your kid, care about something
enough that they wanna work hard and breathe
hard do all those bags.
But then
they're also having so much fun, and it's
like, there's just nothing better. It's so natural
too, like,
kids like to run and
yeah. So you've got a lot of fun
to look forward to.
Yes.
2 more questions. Do you have a nonprofit
you like to support? Yes. I'm so glad
you asked that. So Ru, it's spelled RUJA,
and it means to dream in Uganda. So
I actually...
On a trip with them in 20 18,
and my best friend's husband is the,
c... Or he's the founder of the nonprofit.
So they basically help Oh, cool. Rescue children.
Yeah. Yeah. So they they help rescue children
out of child labor in Uganda. Wow. And
they recently
in the last... I wanna say... I can't
remember when they did maybe last year. They
opened a medical clinic in a village. They
are, about to build a church over there
And, yeah. We love that organization. We support
it monthly,
and, yeah, We'd love to get the name
out there more about what they're doing over
there. Raja.
Ru. Ru. Ru. RUJ. Yeah. Is that what
you said? Yep.
Cool. Thanks for sharing that. And we'll put
that link in the show notes so that
people can check it out if they want
to.
Our last question is what message would you
like to leave with our audience today?
Great question.
Yeah. I, I think it comes back to
faith of of not finding fulfillment in the
things of this world and and finding
where you can be rooted. You know, obviously,
for me, that's Christ and for everybody I
would hope that would would be Christ. But
yeah. This this world is fleeting, and someday
it's gonna pass away and I just hope
that
I can be a light and and
yeah, bring,
you know, show people on what it means
to be a follower of Christ.
Thank you so much, Marissa.
Oh awesome. Thanks. Lindsay for having me.
Thanks so much for being here today. Thanks
Marissa for coming on the podcast.
It's been super awesome to learn more about
your story, and we are all cheering you
on. You can, of course, follow Marissa on
Instagram. She's Marissa. It's v howard over there.
You can find me. I'm lindsay hi 626
on Instagram. Send me an email if you'd
like to connect lindsay at sandy way production
dot com.
All the information, all the show notes, the
sponsor links are in the show notes at
sandy way productions dot com.
You can also sign up for my newsletter
over there on the website so that the
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Big love to Pre x
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as well as 2 before. Links to all
of those sponsors are in the show notes
at san Boy productions dot com, as well
as my Instagram, I'll link to those today.
At Lindsay Hines 626.
Thanks for being here. I appreciate you. I'm
so excited
to have you all as part of this
community, and we will see you next time
on I'll have another.