This is a Sandy Boy productions podcast.
Hey everybody. Welcome to all have another podcast
with Lindsay He. I'm your host, Lindsay. Thanks
so much for joining me today. Today, I'm
so excited to have death, Garcia joining us
for the podcast.
Stephanie is a retired S Chaser.
She competed in the 20 11 in 20
15 world championships for team Usa. In 20
16,
she placed fifth at the Us Olympic in
trials.
She was part of fu elite after college,
and then went on to run with Kim
Conley and Drew Watt and trained with Kim
for a few years before retiring.
Steph is now the mother 2 1,
She dabble in some spartan races and trail
races a bit. She's a run coach and
works in communications for C.
Sports associates.
She's coached by David and Meghan Roach, and
she's got some goals on the trail she's
not quite sure what running is gonna look
like over the next couple years, but she
is excited about
this phase of life. And also, we recorded
this in between, I believe it was in
between
the S Chase pre limbs and the Steep
Chase vinyl. So it was of the olympic
trials this year. So it was really fun
to hear her perspective as someone who's been
in that race?
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Hey friends, so excited to welcome Steph Garcia
to the podcast. Welcome to the show steph.
So good to be with you Lindsay. I'm
such a big fan of you of the
podcast of the empire and, of course, of
running in check fields and all of the
fun stuff we're gonna talk about. So Pleased
to be here. Oh my gosh. You're so
sweet.
Tell me, like, how are you enjoying watching
the trials right now?
I'm
It is...
It's emotional. It is so emotional, and I
am actually gonna be down there for the
final weekend.
I'm based in the Pacific Northwest, a friend
and I, and our toddler boys are gonna
go down,
and be in hayward for the final weekend,
and I am already, like, getting tears in
my eyes thinking about those moments and watching
those athletes
achieve their dream or not achieve their dream,
you know? Because that is part of the
story of the Olympic trials too, so
it's so exciting to watch. I love seeing
the next generation of Olympia come.
It is so exciting and you're so right.
Like, to see the emotions on both sides
there. I have to ask you then,
based on what you just said and based
on your Olympic trials experience like your fall
in 20 16 and being fifth of the
trials
What did your heart do
when a thing... Did you know what I
was gonna ask? Oh yeah. I've got, which
somebody always falls to the 800?
Always. Always. I had a training partner back
in 20 12 fall in the in the
800 in the in the rounds. And, you
know, she,
I don't... I don't think she had the
standard at the time. But, like, just to
anyone who makes it to the trials and
you're on the starting line and, like, you
get that chance.
I'm thinking back to,
Leah O'connor and that's not our Married. She's
not. She's married now, but, like, thinking of
her. Fallon. Yeah. Having a fall on the
barrier, like, all of those...
Ugh, was heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking. There's heartbreak in
every single Olympic trial. In every race. Think
of people who had, like, their shoes come
on tied in the 5 k or the
10 k or anything like that, like, pills
Yeah. So...
You had a really beautiful post about that,
though. Like, not about the fault, but just
about your experience and,
like...
Not being an Olympia or being in Olympia
that doesn't define the athlete that you are.
Can you talk about that a little bit?
I think that there's
there's only
a few people who get to be in
Olympia. That's this the way it goes, but
that doesn't mean that there... That everyone else
doesn't have a valid or exciting or fulfilling
career. You know, I think about the...
The the folks of my generation, like the
steph bruce's of the world, the Sarah Halls
of the world
Done
amazing things.
Certainly not trying to compare myself to their
paul's accomplishments, but just to say that
you can accomplish so much. You can set
records. You can be a champion.
And still not being Olympia and that that
doesn't make your experience any less valid or
to be celebrated,
like,
I think that when we meet
folks out in the world who aren't part
of the Track field
ecosystem, and they say, oh, wow, you are
a pro,
So you went to the Olympics,
and it's it's hard to kind of explain.
No. But I ran this time, and I
did this thing and
you know, those are super exciting, and
again, fulfilling. I'm gonna use that word To
those are fulfilling, aspects of any career. And
so we don't go up to, you know,
an account and say, hey, were you 1
of the top
0.1
percent.
Mountains and oh, you weren't, so why are
you working? You know, Like...
Well, I was just thinking that with, like,
basketball players.
Think about how many pro basketball players there
are and how few of them actually
play on the Olympic team, but, like, we're
still like, oh, he's a pro basketball player.
Like, that's a big deal.
Absolutely. Or how many people are Nfl players
and don't win a Super Bowl. It'll get
a back, and that doesn't mean that they
didn't have a really cool and awesome. Career
full of wins,
And failures. And that's just part of it.
I think that
you didn't ask this question yet, but if
there was something that I would want everyone
to know and, like, embrace about their life
experience is that failure is part of it.
Is not linear,
it and to expect it to be so
is unrealistic. And we see some of these
amazing athletes
go from 0 to hundred and overnight, overnight
successes.
But we don't see all the work that's
gone in
behind the scenes or we don't see maybe
they did have a connection or an opportunity.
It's different with us athletics because you do
have to actually run the race and run
the top. But, like, for jobs or whatever.
Like,
there's usually a lot of work that goes
in that you don't see.
Totally.
Well, I'm glad you said that because even
though I hadn't asked it yet, I was,
like, thinking about, like, where do I throw
in
What would your message be
to... Well, I was actually thinking like, you
know, who who was, like sage? You know,
in the 800, like,
I was thinking, like, what would you say
to her? Well, she still gotta go run
the fifteenth. So hopefully, she has a great
race, but, like,
you know, I saw her posters interview, and
she was pissed. She was just pissed.
How do you pick yourself back? Up from
that heartbreak. Like, give yourself time to grieve
it, but then be like, it's okay. My
career still valid, and I still have so
much more I wanna go do.
I think for me, specifically about 20 16
and missing that team. And and I wanna,
like, for people who didn't.
Go ahead. Wrong back in those days, didn't
pay. Mentioned, like, I was
you know, near the front for a lot
of that race. I was in
position and going into the final lap. I
was in second place and so then to
have to 2 girls past me fall, and
then have another girl past me. I mean,
at the that point, it was over. But
you know, it... It's
what I would say to myself
and reflecting back, Like, I didn't
take time to
grieve. I just kept moving forward. Like, moving
forward using
failure to propel you to the next thing.
I knew I was really fit. I knew
there was some other goals that I had
this again. These are all... These times are
gonna sound silly in the context of today
and super shoes, but back then, only
3 women had broken 09:20.
The S, and that was, like, that was
still a... It was a really big barrier.
And I... I knew I could break that
time. And so
and
for me immediately after falling, you know, going
through the mix zone crying with my coach.
I was like, okay. Now I need to
go get in an eps salt bat. And
I need to fuel. I need to hydrate
and I need to get ready because I'm
gonna go to Europe, and I'm gonna race
in some diamond leagues, and I'm gonna do
these things because I'm gonna break 09:20. That's
gonna be my big goal. And
and I did that that summer. And
I remember having some friends and peers around
me saying, like, why aren't you crying? Why
aren't you hungry? Like, get drink a ball
of wine, just get...
Lose it, and I'm, like, no. Because I
still have things to that I'm gonna go
do. And so I'm not saying that's the
healthiest way to, you know, maybe I should
have had a big glass of wine and
but
I think that using failure... It's only a
failure if you don't learn from it.
Yeah.
It's so hard.
It's so and also, I feel like
there's a lot of embarrassment with failure
because people,
like, you put your dreams out there.
And then people expect x y and z,
and then it doesn't happen,
and you're like,
oh,
did you feel that? At all.
I'm gonna have a confession. During my pro
career, especially when I was running really well,
I would never promote that I was running
a race like, okay. You know, just whatever
any race going to a diamond league. I
wouldn't I wouldn't start talking about it until
maybe like, the day of, like, oh, I'm
hopping in to,
My link, whatever it is,
because I didn't want to put it out
there and have anyone, even if it was
like my mom, You know, 1 person pay
attention,
And then, oh, what if I had a
bad race, that would be really embarrassed because
I was like, oh, look at me. I'm
going to this race.
And then I, you know, had a D
or so... You know, something like that, I
was embarrassed. And so that's very true.
That's definitely a feeling that we all get
of, like, that embarrassment in that shame.
Yeah. It's interesting because I feel like in
today's world everything's so out there. And, like,
everyday athletes, You know, there's, like, tracking for
races and everything like that. And
it's like both. So you can use that,
everybody knows I'm running this marathon
and can track me as, like,
motivation.
You know, like, at mile 18 when you're
like, all this sucks. But then you're like,
but people are gonna see my split at
the 20 mile mark, you know?
Or it can internalize as, like, really big
pressure and just like, come crashing down on
you. And I... It probably just depends on
what kind of person you are. Like, how
you suspects things. Yeah. As, like a perfection
kind of person, I was the second thing.
Like, would be too much pressure on me.
I I know that... Like, the mental side
of it started really getting to me towards
the end. When I was in the final
years of my s, fast forward to 20
17, Us, championships, there's a world team to
make. I fall again in the water. So,
you know,
it really messed with my head. And so
much of it was just the pressure I
was putting on myself. I'm sure no 1
else really
was paying that close of attention to the
women's people at that point, but and But,
yeah. It's it's real. So
I'm just finding ways to kind of
work within the system to that's gonna work
for you. Like, that's... My advice there. And
going back to your earlier question about, like,
what would I say to someone like sage,
Like, it's okay to feel what you're feeling
is what I would say. Feel angry. Feel
awful, like,
get your team around you, get in your
protected bubble
and get yourself
you know, fill your cup back up, get
away from...
And it's it's different percentage. She's gonna go
back and run again. Yeah. But, for some
folks who are kind of devastated
by their experience
at the trial, specifically,
it's okay to to take a step away.
For a week for a month, take time
off, do what you need to do if
that's how you wanna process it,
you're not a failure. And there's more. And
even if maybe this was, like, your last
go with the trials if you're maybe an
older athlete or you're just gonna do something
different with your life,
this will always be part of your story,
Make it
make it
the the cliff hanger ending to the next
chapter of of your life.
Yeah.
Well, I know I'm thinking about Sage 2
when you you... You know, when you answer
that question I'm like, She is still really
young. So, like, this won't be her last
olympic trials.
But, also, I was also thinking, go do
that Brenda Martinez thing, because do you remember
when Brenda fell in the 800 and then
made the team in the 15. Was that
was that 20 16? It was. Yeah. Mh.
Yeah.
It's like that is a possibility. Like that
can happen for you. I know that 1500
field is just
crazy stack, but it's always crazy stack. Always.
I was just gonna say that when brenda
made it. Was crazy stack too. So... Yeah.
And and someone,
everyone who makes to the trials has earned
their way there. So
everyone has a shot. It and that's the
beauty and heartbreak of the way that the
Us does it. You mentioned super shoes. And
I'm like, oh, you are the perfect person
who talked to about this because you really
are.
On that like, line there. Like, you know,
I've talked to athletes who are, like like
Des and Sarah who are, like, still racing
and raced through it before. But like you've...
And then you've got people that are really
old school that weren't even any anywhere close
to when super shoes came out But you're,
like, right there. You were, like, right there
before.
And so I'm just curious, like,
your thoughts on all that because we always
think that, like, with Asterisk,
aside from, you know, like Dean Cast,
I always say, like Dean cast marathon,
American record before it was broken, like, there
were always in my mind be that like,
this was pre super shoes because it held
for over 20 years, you know. But, like,
anyway, I'm just curious your thoughts on this
as someone who didn't get to enter that
era.
It's tough.
I see the times now, especially for, again,
women's s and knowing that they have... Totally
different spikes than I had,
There's a little bit of, like,
I don't wanna... I don't like to use
the word, like, Envy or jealousy, but I'm
like, oh man, I wish I could try
that. Like, I'm so impressed to see, you
know, girls at the Nc level, just blowing
by the times that back my day, like,
if you break 10, you were, like, a
superstar. And now it's, like, did you break
09:30?
Yeah. Or you're not making a final at
nc double or whatever?
Yeah. That's
it's just kind of that, like, every era
has their own thing in their new,
whatever training device or method.
Or track surface or whatever. And so this
is what's happening.
I did try vapor flies for my first
marathon, my first road marathon and,
loved them. So... Really? Yeah. I I think
Super shoes,
we have to keep evolving with the time.
And so
I don't want there to be, like, an
Asterisk next to, like, oh,
these times like, everything again, keeping with the
theme of, like, you're valid and worthy, like,
everything is
is part of it, and that's just the
way the sport goes. Right?
Yeah. For sure.
Wait talk to us about your road marathon.
0II
hopped into Ci am. Popped in. I did...
You will understand this. I had a baby.
And I I have been curious about the
marathon. U.
So I set Ci as my goal. My
kiddo was born
August 20 20 okay. So 20... So it
was a while... But it's like a year
Wait. How old was your child? He was
what?
15 months Okay. 14 months. Okay. I'm but
I'm gonna be honest. It was
it was a challenging experience. Yeah. Part I'm
running is a very challenging thing.
And
for a couple reasons, there's the physical side,
of course, there's the
support side. Like, do you have a babysitter
for your kid? Are you getting out to
train?
Are you... Breastfeeding? Are you is he in
daycare care? You know, what what are... What
does your life look like? Yeah. How time
commitment, you know for a marathon. You need
time to go out and get those miles
in, But then also what surprise me was,
like, the emotional mental side. Like,
I struggled to be away from my kiddo
in those
months. Even though I was fine to run,
my body was was coming back,
feeling like myself again.
I missed him. I felt anxious away from
him, things things like that. And so III
definitely struggled with getting back into some consistent
training
when he was still kind of in that
baby
phase. So didn't have that...
I
learned a lot through that marathon
experience. I
did not... I, like, changed my goals for
it.
As as I was going along and you
mentioned Mile
18 when you're kinda of
for me, I was like, mile 17. I
had. I stopped for, like, half a second.
And in my head, I was like, well,
like, I don't have a phone with me.
How is my husband gonna of find me.
How am I gonna get back to the
finish line? I gotta keep going And Yes.
Yeah. It was fun to have a first
marathon experience. I've learned so much, especially about
the training that I really do need to
successful there to, like, actually give it a
good attempt. And so
I'm looking forward to 1 day doing another
1. You do wanna do another 1. I
do. Because we're... Yeah. Distance Runners, you know,
Lindsay, We wanna... We have a little bit
of craziness,
a in us where
you do something challenging and then you wanna
go and conquer it. So... Yeah. For sure.
What were your goals And what... Do you
care if ask what you mean? I would
say that
before when I was still pregnant, I thought,
okay. I'm gonna...
Run run a marathon. I'm gonna qualify for
the Marathon trials. And Okay. Just wanna go
to the marathon trials.
And
just between all those things I was talking
about all the challenges.
I just knew I wasn't in a fitness
place for that.
So I was
shifted gears and was like, okay. Can I
run in the 2 fifties? Can I break
02:50? Can I start, like, can I get
myself to a place where
I can maybe get into, like, a semi
elite field and another marathon? Yeah. And work
my way
to getting closer to
would love the... That is a goal is
to try and qualify for this. Okay. Marathon
trials. No. I'm to try again. Yeah.
So we'll see. Yeah. That's a that's a
bucket list
item for me.
What is that like though to line up
when you've been like? You know what I
mean? You you've ran in the world championships
in 20 15. You've obviously ran in the
Olympic trials and you've run with the best
of the best, like, Were you like, hey,
I'm just here. Like, did you, like, were
you just like, low key, like, put yourself
in there?
I was low key, and I was...
We talked a little bit about, like,
the pressure you put on yourself. This is
definitely 1 that I did not talk about
very much that I was
and
I was...
I had moments where I felt kind of
embarrassed. Like, I did get an bib, Yeah.
I am great, and it was a great
experience, but I also had never been in
a made road race before. I didn't... I
haven't done many road races. I've been so
much on the track that... Yeah. I have
no idea how many people would be around
me and, like, just there were some in
Crm such a big 1 for that final
qualifier.
Yes. That there were so many people,
and,
yeah. I... There was moments where I felt
kind of embarrassed.
I will tell you what helped me there.
I channel my inner People Sq calling qui.
Yeah. Bella S Chaser,
who's gone through a lot over the last
a few years
and done some different things with training and
racing. And I thought, what would Colleen do
If she was in a race where she
knew she wasn't quite ready
but she's there. And I'm like, she would
have so much fun. She'd be bathing. She'd
be like, just living up and still trained
still trying. Right? Not like, jogging. But but
but, like,
picking up space. It's okay to take up
space. Even if you aren't...
If you're a different version of yourself. And
to bring it back to motherhood.
I don't wanna think, like, oh, I'm
a lesser version of myself because I'm a
mom. Now. I'm a running mom. I don't
to train the same way or race the
same way. It's okay. I'm a new version
of myself, not a lesser version. And this
version is valid too.
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Alright friends back to the show.
I love that. I love that you brought
up calling too because you're so right.
Like, jumping into triathlon,
just like, doing all these different things, and
then just, like, using her platform in other
ways that aren't necessarily, like, on the track,
steep chasing.
I love that so much. I kinda feel
when you brought up the mom thing.
I kinda feel similar in a different way.
And I don't know if it's age, but,
like,
I really
in my non professional very
recreational running ways. Like, I really got after
it so hard after I became a new
mom. Like, I
ran crazy miles and,
like, peered all my marathons and stuff, like,
in those really early
motherhood days,
And now I feel like, now is the
time where you should have more
energy and, like more drive because your kids
are bigger, but, like, I actually I don't
feel like that? And I thought I would.
And so I'm trying... I've... For years have
been trying to figure out what does that
mean for me? And, like, what does it
look like to still work really hard, but,
like,
maybe the goals are different.
You know, it's it's interesting. Like, life changes
and you just... You don't know what's gonna
happen or how you're in a feel. Absolutely.
That's like the tagline for parenthood is, like,
you no 1 yet what's gonna go until
you're already in it, and
I think that
in so much of my postpartum, new mom
experience has been just, like,
to to still feel worthy in wherever I
am right now. I'm feeling, like, what you're
feeling right now. I don't feel that same
drive and
urgency to go out and gobble up goals,
the same way. Doesn't mean I don't have
goals, But my energy is poured so much
into my kiddo into my family into my
my work now. I'm I work now. Not
just run. So... Yeah. Like, real a real
job outside of professional running? Yeah. Real real
big girl job. And not, you know, I
don't have any
sponsorship support. I've have no none of that.
I do have a coach who's awesome and
cheers me on, but like,
I'm in a totally different. I'm a normal
non elite runner now. So
I don't feel that same
push,
but I have faith that it's gonna come
back. And that's okay. That there's, like, it's
okay to have ebb and flows in your
motivation,
and in the way you approach it. Like,
I'm trying to still train, of course, and
I still have races I'm jumping into and
doing different things. I'm trying some trails. I
would like to try some ultra
but that dream of, like, getting back getting
a marathon... Another couple goes with the marathon.
Doing some half marathons. Like,
running fast again is something I do wanna
do,
and I'm just gonna have faith that that
urgency and that, like, real fire is gonna
come back.
I'll say 1 more thing about my story
and then go back to you Because Like,
I always feel like, don't talk too much
about cell in Yan.
But when we're talking about motherhood, I'm just
like,
I think that when my kids were really,
like your kids ate your son's age.
Stuff stuff has a 2 year old.
I almost think that I used the running
hard and all that to, like,
cope with how hard it was when they
were so little,
and maybe I don't need that as much
now in those ways, like,
because parenting is, like so much less physically
demanding than it used to be. And I'm
like, well, that was my... That was 1
of my coping mechanisms
you know.
But anyway, I was gonna ask you, yeah,
when you bring up the trails
and stuff,
it's like, wow. Someone like you who comes
from such a speed background.
Like, if you have that endurance piece to,
Like, you could just, like, tear it up
on the trails?
Because you've got the speed too, But I'm
like what do you do? Do you go
the way of Grace and Murphy and do,
like, the shorter distance trail stuff? Okay. Here's
1 secret about trails that people forget. There's,
like, hills and yeah.
Terrain. And so I am not a graceful
runner, and so...
So I need work on those real technical
rocky kind of
rains. That's not the the trails that have
ever been around. Like,
and
so much of my track time, you avoid
trails. Because if you twisted an ankle or
you've tumble right, totally. You could derail a
race or even, like part of a season.
So it was never. We didn't risk that.
Now it's like, throw yourself down a hill
and see what happens.
I'm very cautious on downhill hills. Actually, before
getting pregnant. I did the, like, Us, mountain
running championships at Mount hood. And,
I hadn't really done a lot of hill
work, but
I. Let's just get let's do this. Like,
I fit. I'm fast.
I did pretty well on the way up.
I was like, in the top 10 on
the way up the mountain. U. Thought down.
I got past by, like, 20 people.
No graduated. I think I finished, like, t
because I could not send it on the
hills.
Mountain and run can. They're are amazing.
I just am too worried about falling to
my death.
And it's like, who wants to be injured.
They're amazing. Like, these... The the, like, true
mountain running athletes,
men and women are just so badass. I'm
like, in all of them. And so it's
really cool to find and learn about different
running communities. You know, the ultra running world
is different than the short. Trails.
An obstacle course racing, which I was jumping
into my husband's done, like, I,
it's super cool to see all these different
angles of running outside of just Pure track
field. Mh. I wanna talk about the obstacle
school racing. So that's where you met your
husband.
Yes.
Okay.
When did you even get the idea to
jump into it and tell us a little
bit about how much you've done it? Yeah.
I I really haven't done it a lot
recently I kinda had, like, 1 little season
of jumping in and learning,
because surprise surprise as a track athlete. I
did not have those, like, Gym gymnastics skills
to be, like, hanging from things and swinging
and even, like, go to your playground and
jump on a monkey bars, like That's hard.
I couldn't start hard. It's... That's not my
skill. I I can lift things. I can,
like, carry big buckets or rocks or whatever,
but the, like, swinging offs. Were really challenging
for me. I failed them all.
But I was excited to be in a
beginner again. And to learn something new. And
so but back actually in 20 15, 20
16, when I was, like, at the height
of my running, my track running,
I had met this athlete Amelia Boone, she
was... Yeah. Yeah. A lawyer turned officer hospital
course racer was, like, 1 of the first
women to, like, dominate in the sport
because it's... Still pretty new, and it's not
in the Olympics or anything like that yet.
And I was just so inspired by her.
And so I said, when you're done with
track running and it's decade, like, let's do
some Ocr and just like c because it
seems like fun. I'm a S chaser. I
wanna do wild things. And just, like, jump
over things and jump in water, like, that's
in my Dna. So
once I did step back from the track
and This was early 20 21
because,
and the reason I sit back from the
track was really just injuries and just getting
older and just not...
It just wasn't... It was just time to
be done.
But I immediately jumped into this Ocr and
t. Stuff,
and had a really fun year. And then
I got pregnant. And so, you know, just
the way the cycle of life is gone.
And so I,
have done a couple of little trail races
recently,
and they've gone really well with Good. With
limited training, and so,
have I would say my next big goal
the next like thing I would love to
do is to try an ultra, try a
50 k. Okay.
And and see if I
not so much to, like, I'm gonna go
and win because
training is very limited right now just with,
like, the time and and the toddler hood
era, but I wanna try 50 k
how I do learn a lot and then
figure out okay. Is this something I wanna
do more of and train.
More specifically for.
Yeah. And then how do you like, set
goals around that stuff now? Like, what matters
most to you now?
In general, what matters most to me,
it's a little bit like what you were
mentioning as, like a mother runner of, like,
is running, like, the filling my cup is
this giving me, like, that release that I
need as, like, a busy working mom.
That's that's something. Like, that's a check... Like,
a box I wanna check every week of,
like, how did running feel for... Me. It
feel like a pressure stressful thing that I
had to put on my to do list?
Or did it feel like something that, like,
was awesome and I, like, had fun. And
I met with other family. Mom in the
area and Ran, like, had a good run
with my husband, like those things.
But then there's in the trail world in
the ultra world. There are races that you
wanna, like, get to. You know, did you...
You know, I I have like a wish
list of races all across the country all
across the world that I'm like, I 1
day Wanna go to Arizona and do this
crazy
desert race. Or, I wanna go to, you
know, out here in the Pacific Northwest and
do this... Crazy
trail marathon. You know, whatever it is,
it's like, wanting to hit those. Just like
folks who do road marathons, 1
wanna do, like, they have their list of
Chicago, Berlin, New York. It's kind of how
it is on the trails.
I love the process of that. Like, the
process of being, like, well, first and foremost
or is this,
like satisfying?
Is this not overwhelming? Is am I enjoying
this?
Then it's those other buckets.
I remember 1 of my first
obstacle course races, It was a Spartan race.
It was in Pennsylvania.
And,
like, you know, they have men and women
running together. You're just kind of all out
there.
And I,
then I won for my age group for
women, but,
1 really steep climb,
There was like, a group of dudes around
me and I just said, why are we
doing this? And they were like, because we
paid a lot to be here. And like,
I was like, oh, that's a good point.
And so I think about that a little
bit in this... Like, no one's paying me
to do this. No 1 is expecting me
to post on social with their stuff.
While I'm out on the trails, like, I
am doing this, I'm taking my time away
from my family. I'm taking, like, I'm spending
my money whatever it is, who to do
this race or do this training. So I
wanna
feel that, like,
fulfillment from it in a different way way
then that, like, you have to have these
time goals or hit these marks or whatever
that you might feel if you had a
sponsor day if you had that that, like,
level of support. Yeah. I mean, I feel
like in almost every marathon I've ever run.
I'm like, or you know, you get to
that mile 18? You said 17 your race
or 20 or 22? You're like, why the
heck am I doing this to myself? Like,
what, but then you remind yourself, like, I'm
doing this because I feel more alive when
I do this. I'm doing this because I
know how...
Amazing. I'm gonna feel when it's over. Like,
there's no other
external
validation or anything that I should be doing
it for other than like,
I feel more alive when I work really
hard.
Absolutely. Like, that's that's why we're in this
whole life. Right? To get real deep about
it, but, you know, it's not just to
be, like, a 9 to 5 or or
to just be I'm just mom or... Just,
like a wife, Like,
I have this
intensity in me, and I'm gonna let it
out. And so whatever that is, it does
not to be running, It could be. I'm
pickle ball or whatnot. But just finding that
thing for you.
I think that's just that's the key to...
Yeah. Yes.
New balance. You sponsored by new balance forever.
And what does that feel like
obviously, you haven't been in that world for
a little while now, but
what does that feel like
being totally outside of it at this point
and being on the outside looking in? Like
we talked about the Olympic trials earlier, like
seeing
these athletes who have these brand obligations and
all this stuff. What does that look like
to you now? So 1 thing that's really
interesting. I work in college athletics and the
big change
over the past few years is the name
image likeness so that Call athletes.
Can get
deals. They can be entrepreneurs.
They can get paid to play a concert,
whatever it is. They can get paid
all where they couldn't before because they were
an athlete, and they were an amateur. And
so I am really fired up skiing all
the college runners getting these I deals with
on or new balance or anyone,
and being able to make money. While there's
still call Athlete lead. I just think that's
such a cool opportunity. And so, like, big
applause to folks like new balance. Mh. And
other brands who are taking advantage of this.
Like, these athletes have big following. They have
a voice. They have an opinion,
and they're running really amazing. They're making Olympic
teams or they're getting to the trials,
which is a huge accomplishment,
but especially when you're... In college and you're
balancing all the things. So to see them
get the chance to experience that sponsorship life
before having to dive all the way in
be a full pro.
I think is a really cool opportunity. And
so,
yeah, I'm fired up. I will say you're
talking about the trials. Like new balance always
had the best house they would bring a
chef in.
I still follow the chef, chef Jb, and
he's been posting, you know, Instagram stories about
what he's cooking for everyone?
I missed that a lot.
I know I'm like, well you're you're going
to the final weekend. Can you just, like
go be like, hey, Jb. Can I get
a little? Omelette or something? Yeah. Where's the
pancakes? No. He's that probably probably. Really.
But, yeah. I think, you know, with
I
know that some brands love to use their
athletes like, in their
marketing and stuff, and I think new balance
is, like, doing a great job of that,
especially with, you know, the Sydney Mc, the,
you know, Mh new faces.
They started doing that with us, They... When
they had a lot of women, you know,
Emma, Jenny, Brenda,
Abby, like, all of those... Gosh, like, I
think of my time as a sponsored athlete
and, like, you we just had the best
roster. You really did. Corey.
Emily Sis. Mh.
Did I mention Jenny Simpson like just
thing. So
yeah. So cool, and it was just such
a privilege to be part of that for
for 10 years. So... Yeah. Wow. 10 years.
That's a lot
That is a lot.
You know when I talked to Jenny Simpson
most recently
and talked about... Her moving on from new
balance.
I I don't wanna quote her because I
I won't say it exactly right. But she
said something along the lines of, like, that
was 1 of the greatest heartbreak breaks of
her career is when
her relationship as a sponsored athlete for them
ended. And I I imagine it was. What
was that like for you? I I don't
remember when you were tired, like, you didn't
make, like, a big announcement or anything? No.
It just was, it was a combination of...
And I was still going to have some
light support from them, but I really had
been dealing with injuries. I hadn't really raped.
To my best potential for a little bit.
And so it was just time to to
step back and not feel that least pressure
or obligation both ways. Right? Like, they didn't
need to feel the obligation to keep giving
me gear and, you know, and a salary
or anything,
and I didn't wanna feel that obligation to
be, and they never had a contract like
you hear with some athletes from other brands
of, like, have to run. These 10 races.
Like, it wasn't
that intense for me. But
you know, you just... When you're sponsored out
that you want to go and represent your
your brand and and your team. And so...
And it was shifting too. There were so
many groups now, you know, there's the team
boss. There's just Mh. They're the the new
balance Boston group, like, there were definitely starting
to shift their resources in a different way.
So it just was the right time for
me to say, hey,
like, I know I'm my contract up, but
I'm on an extension, but, like, I think
this is time to just
that being said to to go back to
what you... To Jenny comment, it was such...
It is such a great
brand. Like, their, like, corporate office is just
they're great people, their true track fans,
and
especially in my era. It was just really
had that family feel. Which I can't speak
to any other brand, but
it was really an awesome experience.
Why did you decide to not, like, make
somebody big enough? When you retired.
It probably goes back to what we were
mentioning in the beginning a little bit of
that, like,
I guess I'll use the word shame or
just like, no. I I think I always...
I don't... I don't quite know how to
say this, but I think that I've...
Always just felt, like, I'm not this big
premier
like, headline grabbing athlete. Like, I have a
great little following. I've got people who, you
know, support me,
amazing coaches and peers, but I'm certainly not
someone with hundreds of thousands of followers who
are hanging on my every word. And so...
And I also just knew that I... I
was gonna shift my priorities into some different
kinds of race thing into having a big
girl job into having a family 1 day.
And I just didn't wanna
feel, like
thing I don't know. I wanted to just
have everything evolve gradually and not have this
hard, like, and it's over.
And so
I knew I was gonna still do some
racing. It was just gonna look different
and not be as much, shouldn't not be
as hardcore as Olympic trials, but
I... Yeah. I just didn't feel like I
needed to do a big, huge
goodbye tour because
I just didn't feel like I was that
level of an athlete.
That's that's interesting that you... I mean, I
I get what you're saying and why you
felt like that. I feel like... That really
relates to
any career.
I mean, as you were talking,
I was feeling that
to my soul
about this podcast.
I was like, well, if I just up
and quit 1 day, like,
would I... Who what would I even say?
Like, would anybody care? And, like, I don't
even like that those feelings were coming into
my mind, but they were as you were
saying that? And I'm sure there's lots of
people that feel that, like, deeply with whatever
it is they're doing? Like,
who do I matter to like, who's gonna
care enough if... If I shift or do
this or do that. And...
But I wanna validate that your career was
meaningful and important, and you did amazing things
if Well, and let's take that... Go back
to my,
feeling at mile 17 Ci. Like, let's go
back to that calling quickly People sq mindset
of, like, you are the star of your
own show. And that's you are worthy of
that. And so, like, it doesn't matter if
you're audience is, you know, a thousand listeners
or, you know, a hundred thousand followers or
whatever it is, and whatever lane you're in,
audience like, you're allowed to go out as
big or as low key as you want.
I think I'm just more of a low
key person,
like
not as flashy as sometimes it looks like
on Instagram. You know, back in the day
when you're in a big training group and
you're in a diamond race and you can
be flashy,
but I think I'm much more just like,
under the radar than than that as a
person,
I think that I'm gonna have to really
lean into that calling quick... I mean, I'll
never look like a super supermodel like calling
quickly, but, like, I think I really need
to, like, lean into that
mindset,
I I don't know that I've ever heard
any anybody, like, give that
anecdote or whatever, but I love it so
much. And now I'm like, I gotta get
colleen back on the show. You do. And
she probably would have be like, I don't
know if she might, like, laugh at me
if if she, like, heard that, like, I
think that I Her that way. But Yeah
I love it. Compliment.
You know, yeah. Were peers in the space.
We were teammates in 20 15 worlds and,
Anna you know, she... She's a great person,
and I hope that all of her, like,
endeavors go as well as they look on
Instagram.
But
Yeah. It's just something it's a good it's
good to have someone that you...
I don't know. I think I I think
about this.
Maybe I don't wanna bring up be, like,
oh, because I'm a woman, but, like, I
want to be able to have a moment
where I can like, look in the mirror
and say, like, you're a badass ass. Like
let's go do this. Walk into this Zoom
meeting or go to the toddler playground with
your kid and like, just own own your
space. And so
b you. So that's
we all kinda need that little, like, superhero
moment, and so
totally, I was just like, I did this
Instagram story. The other day, and, I was
talking about, like, getting more eyes on track
and field and Michael Johnson's thing that he's
doing, and then I was like, saying, like,
breathe
like, how can we tell more stories like,
for instance, like, your story being highlighted in
bigger ways when you are competing things like
that. And then after I put the story
up, I was, like, who was I to
voice my opinion? Like, who was I to
talk about this? And I had these, like...
Gross annoying doubts that, like, I didn't deserve
to, like, have an opinion or, like, thoughts
on that?
I'm like, lindsay, what are? What are you
doing? Like, why do you care if people
do or do not think that you deserve
to have a voice in this? Why do
you think you don't? I just
Why do we do that to ourselves?
I don't know. I don't know, but I
know I've always done that to myself. And
so I'm here. I'm dev validating you, Lindsay.
You have... A voice. You're you're using it.
Your platform is amazing.
III think we all
we all do that. All do this. I'm
in whatever context.
Alright, friends. I wanna let you know if
you are treating for a half marathon or
a marathon, I have training plans on my
website at lindsay high dot com. The half
marathon plans are 14 weeks. There's a beginner
beginner so a beginner as you can get.
There's a beginner intermediate. There's an intermediate and
there's advanced. So there's 4 options. And then
we have marathon training plans that are 18
weeks that give you a nice base spilled,
and I have 3 options there, a beginner,
intermediate and advanced. When you go to the
website and click on each training plan, it'll
tell you what the Mileage starts at.
With the long run starts starts at with
the
entirety of the week total mileage is at
and how it builds you. I'm super conservative
with how I build miles. And I've had
a lot of people who have had tons
of success. Go to lindsay hi dot com
to learn more and grab yourself an awesome
training plan.
Alright. Back to the show.
I think we should talk a little bit
about the 20 15.
World's team that you are on because we
should talk about
the really big moments that you got to
celebrate and that we'll always be
on that line on your Wikipedia page or
whatever.
So talk about that moment and what that
meant in your, the, like, holistic view of
your career.
Yeah.
Like, thinking back to just making that team.
Oh, my gosh. Like,
Everyone who's doing the trials. And tonight, you
know, the S Chase final to give context
for when we're recording this, but I'm I'm
super emotional because this is gonna be a
fresh team of Olympia, like, totally. You know,
we have our 3 former Olympia who are
not gonna... Who are not competing.
So sad and devastated for them, but gosh,
like, I'm gonna be on pins and needles
this whole race of, like, who's gonna make
it. I am I'm already again, getting goosebumps
again. But to take me back to 20
15,
you just know, like, my coach and I,
my coach at the time Robert Gary,
from Thurman,
he,
and I would talk about how success was
the culmination of
opportunity and preparation. When preparation opportunity, that's where
success is. And so
I
was really fit. We'd worked really hard. He's
a 2 time Olympia in the S. So
I trust everything that he gave me. I
just did he told me And I we
were ready, and I had an aggressive race
plan. I was an aggressive race back then.
Getting on Emma and just, like, following her
as long as I could until she had
that other
amazing year and chopped everybody. But,
I did that.
Across the line. I was second, and I
made that team. I crawled across the line.
I was so tired at that point, but
and then to get, you know, fast forward
get to Beijing,
I had been on the 20 11 world
team before 2, I was an alternate. That
got called in at the last minute, So
I had been
on that world stage as a
college senior.
Wow. That And so
I just felt
prepared for the moment. I felt like I
had done the preparation and the opportunity was
there.
We...
Yeah. I,
I guess I just have this, like, huge
smile, my face remembering, and being in that
final, and
Yeah. Like,
the race
played differently than we thought,
it was kind of like a slow fast.
Faster and we thought it might start fast.
And anyway, it just...
But finishing in ninth, ninth in the world,
just I Yeah. I can't... I couldn't have
done anything more in that moment. I did
a... I put it all out there, and,
it was so cool.
And that was the first time we had
Not just all 3
Us women make the final, at the world
championship.
We had all 3 Us men s make
the final.
And so that was really cool to have,
like, a full team
in the final of the S.
Yeah. It was just... Really... I just think
that I was part of this really, really
cool era.
You were. Of of Steep specifically, but track
to
where
Nowadays,
the Us
distance
athletes are so dominant, like, we're talking about,
like, oh, is
Cra gonna win a medal. Like,
you know, I was there when when,
Emily
is Warner metal. And, you know, Molly, like,
she out outlined molly. Like. Like, it just...
That was a first for Oh, my gosh.
That was the 20 15 world championship. When
Emily metal.
Yeah.
And so just like
and the our 800 meter ago. Like, we
we just... Right now, the Us is, like,
dominant across the board, and I got to
be there for, like, seeing those pieces, like,
start coming into place, and
it just feels really cool. There's times where
I wish that I was, like,
3 years younger. And then I would in
super shoes or some, like, different level of
sponsorship.
And sometimes I wish I was older where
like, it was all new and you could
just run, like, 10 flat in the steep.
You be like the 1. Yeah. 1,
but I'm I'm I'm so just, like, grateful
for the place that I was put in
and the era I was put in,
because
I don't know. There was also just grit
to it? I know. Athletes are gritty now.
Don't get me wrong. But, like, we didn't
have all the, like,
should we just... It was just different
maybe all the older athletes say that like,
hey we had to go uphill both ways.
But
you know, every every next generation gets
things done a little bit differently, and maybe
a little bit better,
comes with different pressures too. But
I just... I'm biased, but I loved my
era.
I love that so much. You're so right
there, like, every... Because I'm I'm a little
bit older than you, but like, we... Same
thing with, like, all these big marathons. I'm
always like, it was so different early on
in the early days. Like, everything's changed so
much I'm like, Lindsay. Just fine. Go at
the times, man...
Yeah. I... I don't wanna be like that
growing and the person
oh shaking my fist. Like, you and your
Super Pursues and your fancy agents and your
deals, but, like,
theory though to think back. To, like, what
it was. I think it's... I think that's
special because that moment in time matters. I
can remember my, like, first trip to Europe,
again, like, that...
Like, fifth year senior of college, just, like,
getting a ticket to... I think I was
going to Switzerland and just, like,
where do I go? I land. No 1
told me where to go? How do I
find the race people? I, like, wandered around
for an hour. Like, it just... I my
cell phone didn't work. You know, Like, it's
just so different now. Everyone's so connected and
dialed in, and you can see everything,
like, via social media. That's
that that is a privilege in a in
a in a struggle. I'm sure, pressure and
a privilege. So for sure. Everything on Str.
Put all your training out there, like,
everyone can judge that. I'm... That's not I
hide my struggle like, especially now when I'm
running, like, barely, but
Oh, I wanna see your str. I don't
hide it.
Oh.
Here's the caveat. I do so much. Stroller
running.
Yes. We're out of this phase, but so
many of my miles are stroller miles. Oh,
yeah. Like little that.
But I would always just write it on
the title. I would be, like, stroller run,
or I'd be, like, better yet. Double stroller
run. Because let me tell you that double
stroller is...
Way harder than the single. Let's get into
that. What which what was the 1 you
use? Was it the box? Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Use the Bob. I actually still have it
sitting out here. I can, like, see it
out my window.
We have to... I have, like, so much
crap that I need to just, like, get
rid of that's out there.
But I mean let me v you for
that. You right fill it out to me.
Oh, you don't want it. Nobody wants this
bob. I mean,
we always say, like, I wish that we
would have put an odometer on it. And
because my husband also did a lot of
stroller running with it. I mean, I've done
20 mile runs with that thing. Yep. Just
like,
it's in... I mean, 5000 miles. I don't
know. It's got a lot of freaking miles
on it.
The double Bob not so much. I just...
I never...
Really enjoyed a double stroller run. I will
say that we saw the other day this
couple, and she was pushing, like, the... They
were running. He was pushing the double, and
she was pushing like, a little or baby
more in the bassinet style, which I'm like,
yeah. You're I'm supposed to run with that.
But... And I was, like, 3 kids. Parents
running. I'm like, that's some goals out there.
So yeah. We at 1 point got a
triple.
And... Because my oldest was 6.
When my youngest was born. She had just
turned 6, so he... I'm mean, like, my
6 year old now, My own... He's almost
6. I would never put him in a
stroll first stroller run. But at the time,
he was my oldest, and we couldn't leave
anybody home obviously. So we would... Glen would
pushed the triple, and I would push the
single, and we we did that for about
a year.
But, yeah, I I would say that the
double to the triple
was
similar.
The single to the doubles felt like a
bigger jump.
Yeah. That's... I'm... I love a single stroller
run, but nice that's the other thing. We
lived in Indian and it was flat pancake
flat. Now in Raleigh, I'm like,
I don't know what I would have done
for stroller runs. Like that would be so
hard. So Yeah. Where we are out here.
It's Hill. Yeah. Yeah. So.
Yeah. Yeah. It's and, also, like the downhill.
You don't wanna just, like, send it in,
like, risk anything. Gotta be careful. Yeah. Yeah.
See. Down running. That's scary, but... Yeah. You
can have done an entire hour on just
the mom talk, here. Oh, for sure. I
know. Forget to... This is turned into your
mommy podcast now.
So you're working with David Roach? I am.
Okay. And so
you've kind of, like, Fur.
I know you're working with Kim Conley and
Drew.
And now, David,
what is the, like, coaching
relationship been like for you with all your
different coaches?
I really value having, like, a strong personal
connection with the coach. I was so close
and so in sync with
coach Robert Gary,
and his wife, Frida and, like, you know,
we were just so in sync,
during my time with Fu Elite,
when I was with Kim and Drew, like,
it was just me and Kim. You know,
they had their bigger group at a certain
point, but it was just literally Me and
Cam. I lived down the street from them.
We would drive to practice together. You know,
I would to walk out the door and
run together.
I was really close with Kim ever since
she made, you know, 20 12 when she
made that first team.
So that was a great,
And then I went back to Robert to
try and see if I could kinda get
after this 20 20, 20 21.
Olympic trials and just things just again, injuries
just kind of help me back too much.
And so... But from there, I did quickly
shift to David,
I love him and his wife. They actually
had... Their their kiddo, the first kiddo is
just a few weeks younger than handling.
So we kinda went through that together. Oh,
and they're expecting a second.
I think that's another part of...
The challenges of being a mother runner is,
like, I do want... We do wanna expand
our family. Mh. Then there's a little part
of that where I'm like, well, we're in
our trying to conceive era.
Like,
how hard do I really wanna train?
And how... Like, do I wanna set a
race goal when I'm actually, like, really hoping
to have another kiddo?
And so
I hope I'm pregnant it in that month
and I can't run, you know. So so
that's So hard. Yeah. That's a challenge. So...
I was just, like, so resonating with that
because it's, like,
you...
It's like, you don't wanna put all your
eggs in that basket in case it doesn't
work out for some reason.
But then at the same time, you're like,
what if it is? Gonna happen. Like, I
don't wanna, like, go all out, and it's
like,
gosh. Like, you... That's 1 of those things
of family planning. Like, you can't go all
in either way because you can't
assume anything's gonna happen either way. 100 percent.
It's so hard
emotionally too.
Exactly. And then, you know... Yeah. I mean,
again, this is this is the mom podcast
right here. This is that content, but but,
yeah, It is really emotional, and and I'm
trying to be very casual about this, like,
early...
Taking
phase of, like, we're just gonna go with
the flow. We're just gonna see what happens.
I can stress later, you know, but let's
just take a few months to just, like,
try have fun,
but it's hard to not care. Right? Or
not to be, like, emotionally invested in, like,
oh, what am I feeling? What is that?
Like, it's just
So...
Yeah. So that makes a different... Another challenge
for for training and for motivation and for,
you know,
getting after it. I think that that's just
another thing there is just, like, that's why
this is, like, woo woo whatever, but, like,
just
we always hear people talk about, like, being
present,
and that's why, like, at this phase, like,
instead of being, like, I wanna do this
in 6 months, I wanna do this. And
1 year I wanna do this. It's, like,
what's happening today?
How do I feel today about this? Do
I wanna work really hard today? You know?
Lindsay, that is the my... That is my
challenge. I always have the 5 year plan.
The 4 year cycle. Right? The, like, olympic
cycle we're gonna do this race and this
race, we're gonna focus on this event, and
then we're gonna get back and qualify
and make the team. You know, Like, that
just is how this my brain works as
a track person. And so it's so hard,
you know, to
let go. But That's what so much of
parenting and life is. So... Yeah. So much
unknown.
Okay. We have to wrap up here. What
is something professionally or personally that you have
not done that you would like to do?
Yeah. I think it'd be the ultra.
So
Yes. Love that. 50 k on the horizon.
We don't know when, but it'll happen. It
will happen.
What's the best most recent book you've read?
Lindsay see. I really just read, like, parenting
books right now. Has a potty training book.
I...
Have you read any good ones? Any good
parenting books?
I I liked a lot of the, like,
montessori, taller, montessori baby.
Again, marine the o crop. Potty training book.
And
yeah. Thinking about it. Like, I do have
a fiction book that demon copper head that
I was like, So good. Yeah. It's it.
I know. I've, like, I've started it. It's
intense. It's... I mean, it's hard. Yeah. I
mean, it's it's sad, but it's really good.
Yes. So, anyway, lots of, you know, I
read curious George with my kiddo. We're in
a deep curious George face. So, all all
kinds of recommendations there for anyone in any
stage of life.
Do you have a nonprofit you like to
support? Love girls in the run. Love love
love it
and have, like, ever since my early days
of being a pro,
and it's just great because there's always gonna
be 1 in your region,
they do amazing things. And, like, that is
what we're all about is, like, elevating women
in sport. It starts as being a as
being a kiddo and and being
introduced to it and exposed to it and
seeing strong,
women seeing your mom out there.
I'm all about that.
Yeah. And I'll just add 1 note to
that.
I've been talking about a lot about youth
sports a lot, and
the youth sport culture is so
crazy. It's so expensive. It's so exhausting.
A and people go crazy
because they want their kids to make like
high school teams.
Like, literally, they'll do
so much travel soccer, All these travel sports,
very expensive,
and then their kid doesn't make the team,
and they give up on sports. And that
makes me so sad, and I think with
a program like girls on the run,
it has nothing to do with making any
teams. It has nothing to do with what
kind of star player you'll be. It's about
instill,
the love of movement,
the love of friendship and teamwork and all
the things that like, we want for a
life
lifetime. So, yeah, I'm, like, more passionate about
that than ever in this age of, like,
crazy youth sports.
Yeah.
Absolutely, all for it. I just felt like
I had to, like. Let's do it. Rate
rage on that a little bit.
Last message to leave with the audience. Yeah.
I do affirmations with my toddler, and it
is the sweetest thing to hear him because
now there's one's. And the 2 that are
stuck in his head the most that he
always will start yelling out at bedtime are
I am worthy and I have purpose. And
it kind of, like, ties bow on everything
we've been talking about here of, like,
you're valid. Your feelings are valid. Your experiences
are. Like, you don't have to be in
Olympia to be worthy.
You don't have to be, you know, the
star Cpa
to have a purpose. Like, it can be
whatever you it it can be whatever it
needs to be. So You're worthy and you
of purpose. I think if everyone truly felt
that deep in their soul.
We'd be in a little bit of a
different world. You are an everyday hero. I
love that. Thank you, Steph. Thank you, Lindsay
I'm so thrilled to be on with you,
and it's This has been so much fun.
I'm ready to be on the mom's side
of the podcast. Let's do that 1 next.
Alright, friends. Thanks so much for being here
today. Thanks Steph for coming on the podcast.
Excited to follow your story as it unfolds,
loved hearing your perspective.
Post retirement from The S Chase.
You all can find stuff on Instagram She
stuff underscore staples over there, You can find
me. I'm Lindsay Hines 626.
Thanks for being here, and we'll see you
next week and I'll have another.