Episode 90 | Erika Hoagland on Western States, Pregnancy Deferrals, Fear of Change & Embracing the Runner You are Right Now
by Nikki Parnell — December 16, 2022
This week we had the pleasure of talking with Erika Hoagland! Erika was previously the editor for Ultrarunning Magazine and today she still writes a column called I Am An Ultrarunner as well as she owns a cookie company (she makes the most beautiful cookies), she is a mom and she trains for and races ultras. We chat about the joys and insanities of motherhood, her journey through child birth and her consistent racing through the years. Erika ran Western States this year after using the pregnancy deferral when she had her daughter in 2017. She explains her experience, how it works and why it’s so important in our sport to allow moms the freedom of not having to choose between racing and growing their family. Briefly, here’s how it works: if you raced your way into Western States or had your name drawn in the lottery but you are pregnant or get pregnant before the race and feel like it’s not the best time to be running 100 miles, you can defer your race to another year when you’re more ready to run without any punishment of loosing your place in this race that is so difficult to get into. This allows mothers to do what is best for their bodies and families (Hallelujah).
Erika shares about her race at Western States this year and the fears, anxieties and stresses she carried with her in training and the race itself. She didn’t have the race she hoped for and it brought about some heavy emotions that she has processed and thankfully shared with us because her words were so relatable and life-giving to the rest of us (at least for Stef and I!) As humans, and especially as moms, we can tend to compare our past selves to our current selves and cringe when we don’t feel like we’re “back” to where we once were athletically. We can intertwine our self-worth with our race times and be saddened by unmet expectations. But Erika is moving forward and embracing the runner she is right now, ditching the stress of outcomes and finding joy in ultra running. We loved our time with Erika and are so inspired by her! Listen to this episode by searching “Run Hard Mom Hard” wherever you get your podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe to the pod and share this with your fellow mother runners! Thank you!!
Show Notes:
Erika’s seriously gorgeous cookie business: Rosebud Cookies
Ultrarunning Magazine – such a staple in our sport!
Western States Pregnancy Deferral
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