Meet Nikkia Young. Nikkia is breaking barriers as a runner!

She lives in Richmond, VA, where is part of a supportive running community. She coaches new walkers and runners in 5K., 8k, and half marathon distances. She has served as the President and Treasurer of the Richmond Road Runners Club where she is also a race director. Nikkia represents a myriad of amazing companies such as SaltStick, ProCompression, SPIBelt, and Fitness Protection Program.

To date she has completed 27 half marathons, and 4 full marathons. Her top accomplishments so far is PRing the Chicago Marathon in 2018. When she is not training for her next road race she is a financial analyst, an active volunteer for her beloved sorority (Alpha Sigma Alpha) and dog mom to a cute basset beagle mix named Ranger.

In this episode, we talk about how she is breaking barriers as a plus size runner and a woman of color. And her story on how she started running will surprise you. Lots of laughs in the episode.

Meet Sharon Mosley. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 20 years of experience and is a runner! We are going to talk about movement and how it impacts your mental health.

Meet Warrior Becky Croft! Yes, you read that correctly. And when you finish listening to this episode, that is exactly how you will see her. She is a runner and certified Chi Running instructor and RRCA run coach in Oklahoma.

After enduring several surgeries, 2 rounds of menopause, and eventually a full hysterectomy caused by Endometriosis, she searched for younger menopausal endurance athletes like herself. Unable to find anyone in a similar situation, she had to make her own way back to faster paces and longer distances in a new body without hormones. She now advocate for women in similar situations and have strived to create some sense of community to support them in their journeys so they don't feel alone.

In this episode, we get real talking about menopause and Becky's journey on how she had to advocate for herself through her journey.

Meet Sharon Mosley. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 20 years of experience and is a runner! We are going to talk about movement and how it impacts your mental health.

Sharon's educational background includes degrees in Agency Counseling (M.S.) and History (B.A) from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is the owner of The Fit Talk PLLC and her approach to therapy is person centered combined with cognitive behavior therapy and mindfulness practices. Sharon offers counseling and health coaching services to individuals and groups. She has experience providing individual, family and group therapy for those struggling with a variety of mental health issues including anxiety and depression. She also holds an A.C.E. health coach certification.

Sharon is committed to healthier living and believes one of the best ways to approach this is through walk and talk therapy. She encourages clients to move beyond the office setting and take their sessions outside for a walk when possible. Sharon enjoys giving back to her community and served 15 years as a volunteer Mental Health Disaster Therapist with the American Red Cross, assisting families and individuals in crisis. She is also a member of the American Counseling Association. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming and participating in races including 5ks and half marathons.

Meet Alexandra Ellis. She is a Mobility Coach and wellness expert who helps active people move smarter, maintain their bodies, and maximize strength with customized wellness plans so they can enjoy life without pain. Everything a runner needs!!

She is the creator of AE Wellness and host of The Body Nerd Show. Her teaching and studies focus on injury prevention, rehabilitation and wellness, inspired by her studies at UC Davis where she earned a BS in Exercise Biology. Her programs have helped people worldwide get stronger and out of pain so they can step into their greatest potential.

Meet Kari-Ann Wanat. Kari-Ann is leveling up the running community by creating a space for all runners to meet, cheer, race, and train.

Kari-Ann has started running over ten years ago. She's ran in over 40 half marathons and 14 marathons. But it really started with Jamaica! Yes! Listen to how she started this running community where you can even find set up a cheer squad during a race. The community is predominantly in NYC but Kari-Ann is thinking BIG.

Listen to the episode and connect with Kari-Ann on her website Run-N-Race NYC

Meet Vicki Bentley-Condit. Vicki started running marathons at the age of 46 in 2003. Do the math!

She is a biological anthropologist and a college professor at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. Her research has been on mother-infant relationships in baboons and baboon nutrition, conducted in Kenya. She is semi-retired but still actively teaching.

Her first race was the Peachtree 10k in the mid-90's while she was finishing grad school at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Her first distance race was a half marathon in Des Moines, IA in 2003. Since then, she has completed over 108 marathons with 50 miles being the longest distance. She completed her first round of the 50 states in Hawaii in 2017 and finished the 50 States Sub-4 (a marathon in under 4 hrs in each state) in January of 2019 at age 61 in Mobile, AL. Vicki was the 24th female to complete the 50<4. She is also a Boston 50 Marathon Club 5-Star Finisher . This means she ran a Boston qualifying marathon in all 50 states. For Vicki, age is not a deterrent to be limitless!

CONNECT WITH VICKI:

BENTLEYC@grinnell.edu

Tes Sobomehin Marshall is a Race Director and Atlanta running community leader. Tes has been organizing group runs, training teams and road races since 2011 through runningnerds, LLC. An Indiana native and graduate of University of Virginia, she has been in Atlanta since 2010 and currently resides in Southwest Atlanta in the Cascade neighborhood with her husband and daughter.

Runningnerds offers a variety of road race experiences and distances and a weekly run group for all paces. Partnering with corporate, charity and community organizations since 2011, runningnerds has produced and directed over 200 races, large group runs, and training seasons.

Runningnerds, LLC continues to strive to be an excellent social forum, resource and service to the contemporary running community.

Dr. Kimberly Melvan is a board-certified physical therapist with more than 12 years experience in sports medicine. She specializes in running-related injury prevention and treatment, video gait analysis, and run coaching.

Dr. Melvan developed an interest in amateur running after playing collegiate basketball; running her first half marathon during her graduate studies. After earning her doctorate in physical therapy, she moved to a reviving New Orleans, Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Thriving in the city’s rebirth, she developed an active outpatient physical therapy practice and completed her strength and conditioning certification. Driven by the allure of a larger healthcare network, Dr. Melvan moved to Atlanta to join Emory Healthcare, the largest healthcare provider in Georgia. In less than two years, she achieved the role of outpatient clinic manager, the first woman and youngest individual to hold this position at Emory. With the help of her leadership, she developed one of the lowest performing clinics into a top earning physical therapy clinic in less than 5 years time. During her time at Emory, she actively engaged in volunteerism at local at-risk women’s shelters, participated in weekly running groups, and supported high school football players on the sideline. Moreover, she earned her board certification as a sports certified specialist (SCS), founded Emory Healthcare’s first running clinic, earned certifications as a kinesiotape practitioner and assisted soft tissue mobilization provider. It was also in Atlanta, that Dr. Melvan and her husband began growing their family, welcoming their first son. Juist prior to the Covid pandemic, Dr. Melvan and family relocated to Fort Lauderdale, where a second son was soon born. As a young mother, Dr. Melvan has recently began focusing on developing her own practice, looking to assist both amateur and professional runners alike prepare for and enjoy an active running lifestyle.

Heather Hart is an exercise physiologist, full time running coach, mom of two, and ultra runner who believes that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary feats.

Together with her husband, Heather co-founded Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, an in person and virtual coaching service specializing in helping people balance training with family, work, and "real life". Over the last 15 years, Heather has participated in a gamut of endurance sports, from road running, to triathlon, to obstacle course racing, and even adventure racing. But her heart and soul is running on the trails. When she's not training for ultramarathons, you can find Heather as a regular in the weight room at the gym, or writing educational posts and sharing personal stories on her blog Relentless Forward Commotion.

Heather Fuselier is an author, speaker, and board-certified health coach. And she is a runner!

Heather earned her nickname “Healthy Heather” from her enthusiasm to help everyone around her connect with all the elements in their lives that help them sustain balance in health and wellness. Her main gig is working with organizations to help them create and deliver employee wellbeing programs. Whether she’s working with one client or speaking to hundreds of people on her radio broadcast and podcast, Heather Solves Everything, she approaches healthy living like a journey. Her book, "Happy, Healthy You: Breaking the Rules for a Well-Balanced Life," is available wherever books are sold.

Maggie Seymour, a Major in the US Marine Corps Reserve and Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State, and (drum roll please)......an avid ultra runner. But not just any runner. She is a runner on a mission. Check out this episode where we talk about her mission and the stigma of running while pregnant. So random! But we go where the conversation needs to take us.

She's a small-town Midwestern girl at heart who believes in the power of hard work, education, community, and carbs. In 2017 she ran across the nation to raise awareness and support for those who supported her during her military career. Now she’s setting out to run across the rest of the 50 states benefitting the causes you care about the most. You can read about that at www.runfreerun.com She is an ACE certified personal trainer and health coach, an RRCA Level II certified run coach, and USATF Level I certified track and field coach with Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching.

In her off the road life, she holds a BA in Political Science, an MA in Military History, an MA in Journalism, and a PhD in International Studies. She is currently working on a Masters in Sociology and a Masters in Joint Leadership. When Maggie is not running she's working, writing, cooking/baking, studying, or chasing after her 1 yr old son with the help of her 11-yr-old stepdaughter and partner.

Jessica Payne is not only a runner with many running miles under her belt, she's also a published author!

Jessica grew up in Kansas City, later moving to the Pacific Northwest where the mountains and Puget Sound became home. Beyond writing, she loves to run, rock climb, and explore the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. She is an RN and recently finished her degree as a nurse practitioner. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat or dog in her lap. Jessica writes suspense and thriller and is the host of #MomsWritersClub on Twitter and YouTube. Her debut novel, MAKE ME DISAPPEAR, is a twisty psychological thriller about a woman on the edge who is willing to do anything to escape her sociopathic—potentially dangerous—boyfriend, including arranging her own kidnapping. It releases May 16th.

Wendi Berger is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Nutrition Consultant, Personal Trainer, and Runner.

Wendi's journey into health and fitness started 28 years ago after many years of working in the restaurant and catering business.

In 1995, she graduated from The Desert Institute of Healing Arts in Tucson Arizona and received a Degree in massage therapy specializing in Sports/Deep Tissue Massage. She opened her own massage studio with the sole purpose of helping people heal their bodies through massage therapy. She soon realized that healing doesn’t just happen…It’s a process.

This led her to personal Training. In 2005 she was certified through NCSF and started training clients and teaching them how to take ownership of their own health and wellbeing through hard work, discipline and consistency. It was amazing for her learn that our bodies can do incredible things if we are willing to put in the time and effort. She saw clients quickly see that they are much stronger and capable than they give themselves credit for.

In 2013, she moved to Houston and established a new massage and training clientele. The first thing she did was join a gym and just by chance met some incredible women, all around her age who were triathletes. She had always been a gym rat but this was something entirely new and challenging. She decided that if they could make their bodies do what they were doing, then so could she. So she started training.

She soon realized that all of the training in the world wasn’t taking her anywhere without learning how to fuel her machine (body) correctly. So, she hired a nutritionist who changed her whole world!

The more she learned, the more she wanted to share with others.

She earned her nutrition certification through NAMS, and her new focus then became teaching people how to integrate good food and healthy habits into their daily lives.

Not everyone is an athlete, or a gym rat. Whether a person is a Mother, Father, Student or C.E.O, everyone’s primary goal is the same—to be healthy, fit and able to enjoy their time on this earth.

With WBWellness it is not only her job but her mission to be a coach and support system without judgement or pressure. Her job is to help anyone looking for positive change to recognize their goal, reach for it and succeed.

Life is short. It’s time to make the most of it and be the best YOU that YOU CAN BE!

T.J. Bryan is the phenomenal 76-year-old marathoner.

T. J. Bryan is a member of a small group of women over 75 years of age who run in marathons. She began running at age 64 and has experienced success at a range of distances. From 2009 to 2019, T. J. completed 53 races, including ten marathons. In eight of these 26.2-mile races, she ran fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon. She has run in the Boston Marathon three times. She has registered for the Boston Marathon five times, and each time her registration has been accepted.

T. J. belongs to two Maryland running groups—the Baltimore Pacemakers and the Baltimore Road Runners Club. T. J. also belongs to a number of online running groups: Black Runners Connection, Forever Runners over 50, Marathon Runners, National Black Marathoners Association, Runners over 50, Running after 60, and Runners 70 and over.

After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Morgan State University and a doctoral degree in English language and literature from the University of Maryland at College Park, T. J. became a professor, academic administrator, and university chancellor, respectively. During her professional career, she published articles on women writers and on a range of higher-education topics. She lives in Pennsylvania and runs both in her state of residence and in Maryland. She has been married since 1980 to David Preston, a runner. They are parents of an adult son, Bryan Preston.

Kim Sundling is living proof that your mental health cannot stop you from living your best life ever.

Kim is a Board Certified Psych Pharmacist and a Mental Health Advocate. She shares her inspiring story that you are more than your mental health.

"I have struggled with many things over my life, but I refuse to let it hold me back. I have bipolar disorder, OCD, GAD, bulimia, and lupus, which impacts my everyday life. My diseases will be with me my whole life, but that doesn’t mean I can’t live my life."

YES! This woman is incredible. Listen to her near death experience story that started her on this journey to run a marathon. And the journey has not stopped. This Boston Marathoner will convince you that the human body and the Woman spirit is LIMITLESS!

Shannon Paterson is living her truth

Shannon is a Health, Fitness, and Mindset Coach. As a coach for over 25 years, Shannon have motivated and empowered thousands of men and women, from CEO's and entrepreneurs to world class athletes to mother's of six. Each and every one has achieved life-changing goals by tapping into the #1 most powerful, plentiful, and free resource -- MINDSET.

Shannon is the founder of two businesses focused on Empowering Women. ACHIEVE Multisport Coaching & Personal Training, helping clients achieve fitness goals from running their first 5K to doing an Ironman. She is also the founder of Live Your Truth Women. Coaching women 40+ to thrive in the three pillars to success & joy: Mind, Body, and Spirit. Strengthening mindset by increasing self-awareness & self-acceptance to take control of your thoughts. Strengthening the body to elevate self-respect and self-confidence. Strengthening the spirit by cultivating healthy relationships in all areas of life.

Shannon says the only way to truly feel your best is to take a healthy whole woman approach. That when you do, you are limitless!

Other fun facts… Shannon is a 3X Ironman World Championship triathlete, 43X Marathoner, just remarried at age 48, has 2 fur babies (yorkies), and proudly identifies as a Confidence Crusader, Sisterhood Creator, Life Learner, and Love Radiator.

Kate Mroz is the Running Theologian.

She is a professor, triathlete, runner, and mental health advocate in Boston, MA. She has a PhD in Theology from Boston College and is currently Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Emmanuel College. After passing her comprehensive exams in 2015, Kate began training for a marathon as a way to de-stress. Since then, she has qualified for the Boston Marathon three times and won her age group in several triathlons. Kate is currently training for the 2022 Boston Marathon and raising money for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). Kate has been volunteering as a support group leader with ANAD for several years. As someone who has recovered from her own battle with anorexia, Kate is passionate about making sure others do not feel as alone as she once did. In 2021, she founded the Athletes Against Diet Culture community on Facebook intended to be a space to talk about sports that is free of diet ads, food-shaming, and other triggering content found in many sports communities. She is also a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America and loves talking to about running and triathlons with athletes at all different levels.

Meet Tara Geraghty, founder of the Hey Girl You Can community, top 5 TEDx speaker, author, entrepreneur, and mother. She has spent over 24+ years in leadership development leading a team of women across the nation. She holds a degree in theater, has a background in improvisation and is both Counseling Practitioner and REBT certified. She is the founder of Hey Girl, You Can a community of over 40,000+ women from around the world.

I interrupt your regularly scheduled program..... Spring is here! So of course I have to share with you all the new running programs and new podcast season coming up! So excited to launch in a couple of days. Listen in on how Ella-Go is going to help you level up.

Meet David Heath, an award winning investigative journalist. His work has appeared in various platforms such as the CBS Evening News, the Huffington Post, and Newsweek to name a few. If that's not impressive enough, David recently published a book, LONGSHOT, The Inside Story of the Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine.