Episode 47: AT Run Venture Project: Moms Taking on the Appalachian Trail
by Nikki Parnell — March 12, 2021
This week we talk with Meg Landymore and Celia Eicheldinger – two ultra running moms from the East Coast who are setting out to do the whole Appalachian Trail on foot! They plan on tackling a big section (anywhere from 100 miles to 200+ miles) every three weeks between work schedules and motherhood. We get to hear all about their plan, how they’re staying flexible, how they’re training for this kind of undertaking (from back to back to back trail runs to marching at a stand up desk with a weighted pack), worries they have about bouncing back and forth from the freedom of adventure and real life as busy moms and how to stay present in both places. These ladies are also making this journey about more than just themselves and are trying to raise $25,000 for Soles4Souls – a non profit that takes used shoes and turns them into opportunity; providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Check out the links below to donate to the cause, follow the journey, and if you’re in the area (anywhere along the AT) see how you could help these awesome mamas as they head north along the trail! They start the roughly 2,200 mile journey on March 27th!
Meg and Celia are so inspiring and we admire the examples they’re setting of moms deciding to still go after BIG things even in the midst of their real lives with fears, fatigue, the little kid years, chronic pain, but also a refreshing focus on how ultra running and projects like this one stem from passion and aren’t always convenient but are completely worth it. Like Meg said, “We’re going to make it happen, whether or not we should is a fantastic question, but we’re going to.” And Celia reminded us of what we all feel to be true when she said, “you kind of know deep down that we’re much happier when we have something like this (a challenge). Something that terrifies us enough … there’s a chance of failure and in life there’s not many things you do where there’s a real chance of failure. And it’s kind of exciting.”
We know they’re going to do great, have the adventure of a lifetime and we can’t wait to follow along! Click the link below to listen or search “Run Hard Mom Hard” on your preferred podcast platform! Don’t forget to subscribe and share!
A huge thank you to our sponsor this week, ReCORE fitness! ReCORE fitness helps women improve core and pelvic floor strength, stability and function through pregnancy and postpartum with strength programs, personal training and support bands like the Maternity FITsplint (helps mamas run through pregnancy) and the Post Natal FITsplint (helping mamas recover after having a baby). We personally LOVE the Maternity FITsplint and everything ReCORE is doing to empower women as they go through these major stages of life.
You can go to recorefitness.com and use code “rhmh15” for 15% off FITsplints or instant access to PreCORE and ReCORE online programs!
Show Notes:
Follow these ladies on instagram!
Check out more info about this AT project here!
Donate to Soles4Souls here!
Meg’s favorite race: Georgia Jewel 100 miler
Celia’s favorite race: Georgia Jewel 50 miler
Meg’s favorite meal: pizza
Celia’s favorite meal: chocolate!
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