Episode 95 | Martha Slocomb on Running as a Spiritual & Mindful Practice

by Nikki Parnell — July 23, 2023

We’re back this week with an awesome conversation with Martha Slocomb – an ultrarunner, mom, ordained minister, and yoga instructor out of Omaha, Nebraska! We talk with Martha about (all the) things like how she became who she is today, the integrated connection between body and soul, and how “we were made to run – mind, body, spirit” because of the healthy, rejuvenating place it puts us in as humans. Martha shares a saying from yoga, “May all beings benefit from this practice”, which can be applied to our running and how it is a ripple effect. If you do something that makes you feel whole and calm, everyone you interact with afterwards will benefit from your calmness and maybe become more regulated themselves.

We also hear how running can be a spiritual and mindful practice by shifting our attention to the present, slowing our breathing, and being curious and noticing (not judging) what is around us and the feelings inside our bodies. While training and racing, we can take our focus off achievement – instead, tuning into gratitude and seeing races as opportunities, recognizing that not all opportunities work out or can be taken as parents but opportunities flow and we can believe that more will come down the road.

We hear about some of Martha’s FKT endeavors and she encourages women to get out and try it – especially routes that have never been logged by a woman (you don’t have to be fast, you just have to be first)! They are fun, low pressure challenges that set the stage for other women doing FKTs too.

It was really enjoyable having a chance to reflect on our relationship with running, ponder why we do it and wonder how we could be more intentional about it. Huge thank you to Martha for giving us her time and wisdom!