Episode 1: Intro to Nikki & Stef | Episode 2: Coach & Mama Advocate, Emily Carlson!
by Nikki Parnell — March 27, 2020 — 📸: Chad Richardson
Episode One: A basic introduction to hosts, Nikki and Stef. We share our family dynamics, running backgrounds, and challenges of motherhood and training. It is our warm up to the podcast life. Doing a podcast is uncharted territory for us – there are no take-backs and a lot of “oops, I should have said ______!” and many moments of laughter. We have a great time and hopefully you will too when you give it a listen!
Episode 1 Show Notes:
Presented by Treeline Journal and hosted by Nikki Parnell and Stef Wenninger.
Stef’s Favorite Race: Zumbro Endurance Run
Nikki’s Favorite Race: Deception Pass 50k
Stef’s Go to Meal: Pork Carnitas in the Slow Cooker
Nikki’s Go to Meal: Miso Butter Salmon from Run Fast Cook Fast Eat Slow
Episode Two: Interview with Emily Carlson
This first mom interview left us completely inspired and encouraged. Emily Carlson is a badass ultra running mother of three who works for Adventure Mamas, is an endurance coach for Magnetic North, teaches strength and conditioning classes and is a yoga instructor. We’re a little in awe of how she accomplishes these many incredible endeavors. Oh, and she’s training for her first 100 miler this fall as well.
Boom. Drop the mic.
In this episode, we cover all kinds of topics such as training for 50 and 100 milers and how to fine-tune the 50-mile race distance by having a coach, paying attention to what kinds of food/fuel best serve your body and performance, and as a woman training according to your cycle. By leaning into your own physiology and taking advantage of your body’s natural rhythms, you can maximize how you feel during training cycles if you’re also lined up with your body’s cycle. You can plan your hardest workouts and biggest training weeks for when you’re naturally the strongest and have the most power. On the flip side, you can incorporate more rest and recovery during your “reflect week” or when your body is at its lowest energy and is whispering for you to go easy. Our minds were blown by this.
We also hear about how Emily gets her running in as a mom training for these big ultras and how it has gotten easier through the years as her kids have grown up a little (which feels so far away for Stef and I who are in the thick of little kid years). But there’s hope! We see that now by watching Emily do her thing! She gives some practical examples of how she takes care of herself and gets her long runs in. And let me tell you, it’s all in the prep! She preps for a long run the night before in order to decrease extra obstacles that hinder all us mamas from getting out the door in the morning. She sets the coffee pot timer, organizes her fuel, AND organizes her post run survival needs – her protein shake and snacks for the kids because we all know how the kids flock to mama as soon as she walks through the door. It’s necessary to have an attack strategy for this because “a runner only performs as well as they recover.” So a mama has to be able to start the recovery process right when they get home and begin switching back into mom mode. Simple, brilliant, and crucial things for mamas anywhere.
Last but very not least, we speak with Emily about her work with Adventure Mamas, which is an amazing nonprofit organization that promotes women’s health and wellness after having babies. This group recognizes that a woman needs to keep taking care of herself, following her passions and goals, and doing what she loves even after becoming a mom and that there is a beauty in their partners and kids getting to see them fulfilled and alive in this way. There is a cultural perspective of women having to sacrifice everything (their whole selves, their hobbies, their dreams) if they want to be a “good” mom but people like Emily are turning that around and pointing out that moms are humans first with worthy goals who can do both motherhood and live an adventurous life. Plus the organization has regions all over the country where mamas can gather together to go on adventures or try new things. We all need our mom tribe and we all need the reminder once in a while that we are capable of far more than we think.
The message of women supporting women was so evident throughout this episode. One of my favorite quotes of Emily’s (besides “I’m vegan with a side of steak!”) was, “Let’s just do away with judgment, shall we? …We are all doing really great things, we are all fully capable of whatever is on our plate and lets cheer each other on.”
Amen to that! If you want to be inspired and uplifted and reminded that you got this, I would highly recommend giving this episode a listen!
Episode Two Show Notes
Find Emily on Instagram: @adventuringmama
For Endurance Coaching: Magnetic North
For Adventure Mamas: Adventure Mamas Leader for the Upper Midwest
Adventure Mamas Instagram: @adventuremamas
Favorite Fuels: Rx Nut Butter, Untapped Maple Syrup, NOKA Superfood Smoothie Pouches, Orgain
Emily’s Favorite Race: Superior 50 Miler
Nikki’s Favorite thing this week: Oiselle Triple Threat Running Tights
Stefanie’s Favorite thing this week: Honey Stinger Waffles
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