Episode 81 | Ladia Albertson-Junkans — Part 1: Being Human
by Nikki Parnell — May 27, 2022
This week we had the privilege of talking with Ladia Albertson-Junkans on the podcast! Ladia is a data analyst, runner for Brooks, FKT holder, Olympic Marathon Trials runner, Western States finisher, Chuckanut winner (twice), mom of a 17 month old and a really beautiful soul. We set out to talk with her about her recent 4th place finish at Canyons 100k in April but we honestly didn’t even make it to that (hence why this is part one)! There were just too many other things we needed to learn from Ladia about being human, living life fully and holding space for all the paradoxes of life – the beauty and the heartbreak.
We loved Ladia’s perspective on competition- how it is an opportunity for connection with others, a chance to surprise yourself, how it doesn’t need to be adversarial and how you can bring others along with you when racing. When you open your journey up to fellow competitors and they do the same, it allows for all of us to be invested in each other – where one person’s victory is everyone’s joy.
We hear about her dear and deep friendship with the late Gabe Grunewald who passed away in 2019 from a rare cancer and how Ladia’s life has been impacted forever from that. Gabe found a way to adjust to every interruption as it came, not fighting the circumstances of her cancer but continually fighting for the things that made her feel alive. Gabe was brimming with self-love and self-respect so she could give love away endlessly to others. She kept trying (most obviously through running as she was a professional runner through her whole 10 year cancer journey (!!!)) and she set the example for all of us to not give up on the things that bring you joy when life gets hard. (See show notes for Brave Like Gabe Foundation information!)
Ladia also put motherhood into powerful words when she said, “There’s something to grieve every moment and something to rejoice in every moment and sometimes I’m struck by how those two things not just coexist but almost belong together and are inseparable.” It’s a tough feeling to describe but we think all parents know this to be true!
Huge heartfelt thank you to Ladia for all she shared with us and her generosity in agreeing to do a part two (stay tuned)! Enjoy it and don’t forget to share this with someone else who could use these words today!
Show Notes:
Find Ladia on Instagram
If you want to hear more from Ladia, listen to some other podcasts she’s been on where she shares more inspiring and touching stories:
Check out the Brave Like Gabe Foundation and read more about who Gabe was and how you can support their mission to raise money for rare cancer research!
Brave Like Gabe 5k is happening on June 25th, 2022!! Don’t miss it – sign up and run it wherever you are while being connected to a greater purpose and all the Brave Like Gabe community.
This episode is sponsored by Treeline Coffee – a woman owned business out of Bozeman, MT who ethically source all their coffee beans from sustainable and socially responsible farms. Use code RUNHARD10 for 10% off your order of the most delicious (and necessary) mom fuel! It is liquid encouragement in a cup, no lie.