March 14, 2024

#12 Top Form in Her 50s— Endurance, Hormones, and Redefining What’s Possible

#12 Top Form in Her 50s— Endurance, Hormones, and Redefining What’s Possible

"By mile 80 you are questioning life choices" 🎯 At 62, enduring champion ultra-runner, Megan Canfield, is not slowing down. In the past 3 decades, Meghan has qualified and run in the US Olympic marathon trials 4 times, has completed the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run 13 times, with 10 of those being in the top 10, and all but one under 24 hours. She has also represented the USA in the World 100k Championships for 9 consecutive teams. 🇺🇸🥇 And the most remarkable thing is that sh...

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Season 1

"By mile 80 you are questioning life choices" 🎯

At 62,  enduring champion ultra-runner, Megan Canfield, is not slowing down. In the past 3 decades, Meghan has qualified and run in the US Olympic marathon trials 4 times, has completed the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run 13 times, with 10 of those being in the top 10, and all but one under 24 hours. She has also represented the USA in the World 100k Championships for 9 consecutive teams. 🇺🇸🥇 And the most remarkable thing is that she found her best performances in her 50s! 

We dive into her running, her peak performances, her training, diet and other juicy stuff. I also got so excited finding new parallels between ultra-running and rock climbing! Tune in for:

  1. Secrets behind 3 decades of podium performance as well as continuing to excel in her 60s
  2. Her specific diet and why it may not work for you 
  3. Advice on overcoming post-menopause decline
  4. Relatable joy in the shared community of outdoor athletes world over 
  5. Sex sells, or the business world's fixation on younger stars 

References:

Meghan's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runningmegleg/ 📷

Zenith Coaches - https://zenithcoaches.com/

Books:

Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris
https://www.amazon.com/Estrogen-Matters-Revised-Hormone-Controversies/dp/0316348345 📘

Roar by Stacy T. Sims
https://www.amazon.com/Roar-Instructional-Barbara-Oakley/dp/B07MZBVP31 📗

Races/Events Mentioned:
Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run - https://www.wser.org 🏃🏽‍♀️
Tarawera Ultramarathon (New Zealand) - https://taraweraultra.co.nz 🇳🇿
Marathon des Sables (Multi-day Sahara stage race) - https://www.marathondessables.com 🏜️

Women's Running/Menopause:
Stacy Sims, PhD - https://www.stacysims.com 👩🏻‍🔬

Ultrarunning Organizations:
International Association of Ultrarunners - https://iau-ultramarathon.org 🌐

Meghan's sponsors:

  1. Squirrel Nut Butter
  2.  Injinji socks and 
  3. USWE Sports Hydration Packs



---

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WEBVTT

00:01:12.977 --> 00:01:14.117
Welcome back friends.

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Do the ageless athlete podcast for your next dose of fireside chats with adventure sports, legends.

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This is Kush.

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I could deal while from my sunny window in Sanford.

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San Francisco.

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Celebrated my birthday this weekend.

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Which happily coincided with the change to daylight savings time.

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For us.

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The U S so glad for these longer days, again and more time outside.

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Share the show now with a friend.

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It helps discover us.

00:01:43.997 --> 00:01:48.707
Twitter for today's show where we meet with an ultra running all time.

00:01:48.737 --> 00:01:49.127
Great.

00:01:50.057 --> 00:01:52.127
Who really embodies the word ageless.

00:01:52.967 --> 00:01:54.557
At 60 to make an cancel.

00:01:54.587 --> 00:01:55.937
It is not slowing down.

00:01:56.657 --> 00:02:03.527
Over the past few decades, Macon has qualified and run in the us Olympic marathon trials four times.

00:02:04.217 --> 00:02:04.638
She has.

00:03:06.038 --> 00:03:09.841
Hi Meghan, would love to know How old are you?

00:03:10.155 --> 00:03:11.384
Where are you today?

00:03:11.774 --> 00:03:13.905
uh,what u have for breakfast?

00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:17.298
okay, I am 62 young.

00:03:18.088 --> 00:03:26.017
I'm in Corvallis, Oregon, and I had eggs with, rice and avocado for breakfast

00:03:26.365 --> 00:03:29.165
We immediately have two things in common.

00:03:29.644 --> 00:03:32.444
One is we are in the same time zone.

00:03:32.925 --> 00:03:35.935
I am just south of you in San Francisco.

00:03:36.351 --> 00:03:38.555
I also had eggs for breakfast

00:03:38.576 --> 00:03:39.005
Nice.

00:03:39.478 --> 00:03:43.528
I actually want to talk about something that you were just doing.

00:03:43.629 --> 00:03:49.927
You were in New Zealand running a famous race that I read about.

00:03:50.427 --> 00:03:52.377
I happened to see your blog as well.

00:03:52.526 --> 00:03:53.546
Really well written.

00:03:53.596 --> 00:03:55.367
Thank you for sharing the story.

00:03:55.646 --> 00:03:59.737
And one thing that immediately struck to me was that there you.

00:04:00.237 --> 00:04:10.427
has been, or there is this community of runners, people such as yourself who, do these ultra runs in different places.

00:04:10.927 --> 00:04:18.416
made me immediately think about some other outdoor communities where you have these great bonds and these great friendships.

00:04:18.826 --> 00:04:27.737
So maybe just starting off, can you describe a little bit of the, this culture around ultra running and, how it brings you.

00:04:28.106 --> 00:04:29.137
all together.

00:04:29.971 --> 00:04:30.692
I think you're right.

00:04:30.692 --> 00:04:32.671
It's a very, cohesive.

00:04:33.101 --> 00:04:34.322
And supportive group.

00:04:34.718 --> 00:05:06.961
And I would say that we all have this one thing in common and that is that we love to run and we love to run for a time and I am not afraid to reach out to Any ultra runner that haven't met if I'm going to city and just connecting and say, Hey, would you like to take me on a long run and I'll go run for eight hours with a you know, a stranger, because there's a certain, faith and expectation that they're not going to be a serial killer.

00:05:07.418 --> 00:05:10.379
and I met, a lot of people that way, not only in you know.

00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:28.281
That sort of situation, but in races are so long and there's such an ebb and flow with the runners that you could end up running with, you know, a stranger who becomes a friend because you're going to run with them for two or three hours and you just end up talking about kind of everything.

00:05:28.405 --> 00:05:31.585
I think it's that one common thing we have is we're going to be outside all day.

00:05:31.585 --> 00:05:32.725
We love to be outside.

00:05:33.115 --> 00:05:36.504
And then let's talk about your kids or let's talk about, you know, where you're from.

00:05:36.504 --> 00:05:38.754
And, I've made some friends around the world

00:05:39.362 --> 00:06:10.492
That sounds so beautiful and sounds like you connect with new people, sometimes strangers, because you have this, love for the shared sport, but then people that you already know well, you keep Reconnecting and keep those bonds fresh because you choose to take part in races and beautiful locations like the one that you were just in, in New Zealand, we should actually clarify for the people listening.

00:06:10.521 --> 00:06:15.132
Some people may not clearly understand what an ultra run is.

00:06:15.151 --> 00:06:18.492
I think most of us know what a marathon is.

00:06:18.992 --> 00:06:21.122
what is an ultra

00:06:21.322 --> 00:06:23.882
So technically anything over 26.

00:06:23.992 --> 00:06:24.802
2 miles.

00:06:25.662 --> 00:06:30.052
So, um, typically, um, typically in the U.

00:06:30.052 --> 00:06:33.341
S., the, there's four basic distances.

00:06:33.352 --> 00:06:34.442
That's 50K.

00:06:35.151 --> 00:07:11.137
50 mile, 100K, and 100 mile, and as our sport has grown, um, internationally, um, if you go to Europe or if you go any place besides the US, people who do, who use metric, they're mostly, you know, every, all the races are in kilometers, um, and also More and more races aren't a specific, you know, a traditional distance because I think we're leaning towards somewhere in the ballpark of 160K, but if a loop is 170K, then we're going to run 170K.

00:07:11.716 --> 00:07:14.737
So it's a little more organic that way.

00:07:14.766 --> 00:07:22.107
And I kind of like that gives it more purpose to an actual route, but those are the more common distances.

00:07:22.667 --> 00:07:25.956
And now there are even longer runs.

00:07:27.406 --> 00:07:37.896
There's been a recent uptick in the number of 200 mile ultras, and those are more, um, I would say akin to fast packing.

00:07:37.917 --> 00:07:39.867
I haven't done one, so I, I don't want to,

00:07:40.492 --> 00:07:40.552
Yeah.

00:07:40.656 --> 00:07:51.947
you know, put too much, uh, description to it, but they take a lot longer than, say, twice a 200, twice a 100 mile run, um, and they're they're structured a little bit differently.

00:07:51.947 --> 00:08:00.162
There are aid stations, but, Um, you know, runners can take little dirt naps along the way if they want, just on the side of the trail.

00:08:00.692 --> 00:08:03.021
Um, so those are getting popular.

00:08:03.572 --> 00:08:06.891
Um, and then there are stage races as well.

00:08:07.352 --> 00:08:16.057
Uh, I think the most famous one is Marathon to Saab, is a, uh, six day stage race, and there's five.

00:08:16.961 --> 00:08:29.062
Um, legs to it basically, um, and those are, they're each section, each day is timed and then the clock stops when you stop and your time is accumulated over those days

00:08:29.468 --> 00:08:32.688
Starting from anything over 26.

00:08:33.188 --> 00:09:40.960
2 miles to sound like almost limitless to whatever, one's imagination or Capacity endure might be one thing.

00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:48.916
I immediately love about how you described it how The exact length doesn't have to be a specific number.

00:09:48.926 --> 00:09:55.616
So yeah, you have these arbitrary, titles, let's say it's a hundred K or a hundred mile run or one 60 K.

00:09:55.777 --> 00:10:03.747
But really sounds like the actual course has as much weight in determining how long the run is.

00:10:03.757 --> 00:10:10.086
So for example, if a run is maybe connecting two trail systems together.

00:10:10.446 --> 00:10:14.376
And that might be a determinant to how long the.

00:10:14.876 --> 00:10:16.336
actual race, maybe.

00:10:16.626 --> 00:10:26.916
And I think that that's beautiful because I like how our niche spooks, they refuse to conform to say an arbitrary number.

00:10:27.186 --> 00:10:29.406
Let's say the length of a basketball court.

00:10:29.977 --> 00:10:31.146
Nothing wrong with basketball.

00:10:31.477 --> 00:10:34.386
Or the size of a Dennis gourd.

00:10:35.466 --> 00:10:37.686
It's determined in so many.

00:10:38.227 --> 00:10:42.096
Ways by mother nature and what she offers to us.

00:10:43.047 --> 00:10:54.412
There, there's um, one sort of caveat to that is there are road Ultra marathons, and those are, um, a different sort of beast.

00:10:54.451 --> 00:10:58.692
They're not quite as popular because they are harder on your body.

00:10:59.311 --> 00:11:17.951
Um, They're faster, and that's only, um, avenue that you can actually set a time on that is measured and stated down, and you know, the International Association of Ultra Running will have your world records, um, for different distances.

00:11:18.102 --> 00:11:23.942
It can only be on a course that's measurable, and I mean, you can measure a trail, but you're going to get a different measurement every time.

00:11:24.346 --> 00:11:25.227
So tried.

00:11:26.217 --> 00:11:35.596
So there's, uh, there are records for the 50k road, 50 road, 100k road, 100 mile road.

00:11:36.037 --> 00:11:41.017
Um, I don't think they'd go above that at this point.

00:11:41.116 --> 00:11:47.707
Then there's also 24 hour and 48 hour and more events.

00:11:48.027 --> 00:11:50.517
And in the 24 hour you can also set.

00:11:50.704 --> 00:11:53.644
records for, you know, how much distance has been covered

00:11:53.961 --> 00:11:54.471
Got it.

00:11:54.471 --> 00:12:08.861
It sounds like, yes, there are all these, different types of ultra runs, but there is maybe a core distinction between road or let's say a man made ultra run versus.

00:12:09.351 --> 00:12:12.861
A, uh, ultra trail run, which takes course.

00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:14.540
let's say natural features.

00:12:15.040 --> 00:12:17.070
Appreciate that, uh, that distinction.

00:12:17.101 --> 00:12:20.275
I'm guessing for the ones where people can set records.

00:12:20.275 --> 00:12:29.415
And I know that I think you have also set records because I think you've also had a long career with, these road races, with the US team and others.

00:12:29.756 --> 00:12:38.128
Does ever climate conditions or things such as, any hills you might have to run over, like, uh, change in gradient.

00:12:38.149 --> 00:12:39.578
Does that also take place?

00:12:39.578 --> 00:12:40.098
I'm trying to see.

00:12:40.598 --> 00:12:52.028
different, uh, road ultra runs, one takes on a flat road versus one, which might include the hills of San Francisco are being measured the same way

00:12:52.239 --> 00:13:00.221
They're measured the same, but it's, trying to set a world record at Boston Marathon, probably not going to happen, even though it is record eligible.

00:13:00.447 --> 00:13:08.557
so if you want to set a record, the best thing you should do is go to someplace where it's 55 degrees Fahrenheit and completely flat and no wind.

00:13:09.126 --> 00:13:10.616
And that's not easy to do.

00:13:11.007 --> 00:13:12.396
So, um.

00:13:12.987 --> 00:13:15.096
That's why some records do take a while to fall

00:13:15.431 --> 00:13:18.651
between all these different types of ultra runs.

00:13:19.151 --> 00:13:22.161
What is your favorite type?

00:13:22.201 --> 00:13:31.780
If there was only one kind of, I guess, I don't know, this might be a silly question, but if there's only one kind of an ultra run that you could do, how long would it be?

00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:33.490
Where would it be?

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:35.540
And what would make it so special

00:13:35.726 --> 00:13:41.455
Um, for me, my favorite ultra is Western States 100 mile.

00:13:41.655 --> 00:13:42.756
and it's all trail.

00:13:42.955 --> 00:13:44.195
It's point to point.

00:13:44.215 --> 00:13:45.615
It's very historical.

00:13:45.986 --> 00:13:48.695
It was my first hundred mile run.

00:13:50.766 --> 00:13:53.346
and I, I love the Sierra Nevadas.

00:13:53.405 --> 00:13:54.266
I love.

00:13:55.151 --> 00:13:56.351
All the canyons.

00:13:56.371 --> 00:14:02.750
I love how the terrain changes from the down to, um, almost down to the valley floor.

00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:08.550
Um, I mean, it's just so diverse and, and so beautiful to me.

00:14:09.121 --> 00:14:16.861
Um, and I've sort of built my own personal community by doing that race multiple times.

00:14:16.891 --> 00:14:18.601
And I did live down there for eight years.

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:37.400
so the whole, the story that is not just the race, but the story of living there and training there and just sort of living in, on that trail, um, it really spoke to me and I was really lucky to be able to, to be there, but that is definitely my favorite.

00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:40.059
I, I choose trail over road any day.

00:14:40.529 --> 00:14:41.039
And.

00:14:41.605 --> 00:14:48.434
I say a hundred miles is my favorite distance, by golly mile 80, I'm sort of always, you know, questioning my life choices.

00:14:48.434 --> 00:14:50.325
But I'm always happy when I finish.

00:14:50.673 --> 00:14:55.502
When you're deep in that type two, uh, uh,

00:14:56.853 --> 00:14:57.272
Mm-Hmm?

00:14:57.768 --> 00:15:03.272
guess one can really fathom what one might be feeling.

00:15:04.877 --> 00:15:13.327
Until one is actually in the middle of that and at that point, one is, uh, one is too late, but hey, you know, some, you're able to keep going.

00:15:13.337 --> 00:15:23.087
And, uh, one other thing before I forget, which also struck a little chord is you mentioned how community is so strong and there's.

00:15:23.587 --> 00:15:37.748
know, deep, deep sense of passion where you could be in a new place and you could reach into the community and find another, uh, running zealot join you for like an eight hour or so push.

00:15:38.008 --> 00:16:07.958
And I find that is such a great parallel with another, let's say, outdoor sport like rock climbing where, where, I could be visiting, for example, recently I was in, in Peru, in Juarez, and I needed a climbing partner there, and I just reached, reached, And I was able to get somebody who's, and we spent the next three days climbing together in the mountains and, you know, from being complete strangers, you know, one is literally holding the rope and trusting the other person with their lives.

00:16:08.354 --> 00:16:11.024
And then as you do that, you start sharing all these.

00:16:11.774 --> 00:16:18.884
Beautiful things, your life story, it's kind of a combination of, uh, putting your life in somebody else's hands.

00:16:19.423 --> 00:16:22.723
And maybe sharing an overnight Greyhound ride where you.

00:16:23.564 --> 00:16:26.294
divulge, all your dirty secrets with yeah.

00:16:26.324 --> 00:16:26.864
The person.

00:16:27.288 --> 00:16:27.738
Yeah.

00:16:27.738 --> 00:16:28.367
No, I agree.

00:16:28.373 --> 00:16:30.077
It's, it's very similar to that.

00:16:30.434 --> 00:16:34.857
trusting somebody to take you running through mountains that you've never been.

00:16:35.232 --> 00:16:41.923
you're putting your life in their hands, just like maybe not quite as on the edge as rock climbing, but yeah, very similar.

00:16:42.012 --> 00:16:48.103
Um, just, uh, and it's for me with somebody were to come to Corvallis and ask me to take them for a run.

00:16:48.103 --> 00:16:48.843
I would love that.

00:16:48.843 --> 00:16:50.942
I would love to show them my backyard.

00:16:51.303 --> 00:17:02.252
So incredible how you would share some of your most treasured backyard trails with a new person and you would actually find joy in that shared experience.

00:17:02.634 --> 00:17:05.515
A little bit about your background.

00:17:06.015 --> 00:17:08.454
Where did you grow up, Meghan?

00:17:08.535 --> 00:17:12.548
And, uh, Were you a natural athlete growing up?

00:17:12.608 --> 00:17:16.019
Were there runners in the family and you would run with them?

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:26.199
And then, yeah, how did you go from whatever you were doing as a kid to, uh, running 100 mile races?

00:17:26.522 --> 00:17:28.833
I grew up in rural Oregon.

00:17:29.076 --> 00:17:37.125
my parents were educators and we had a hobby farm and I know I spent a lot of time driving a tractor around in circles.

00:17:37.553 --> 00:17:40.002
and it never seemed to, you know, bore me.

00:17:40.293 --> 00:17:48.566
So I think is just, An innate ability to just keep going, not done yet, just got to keep going.

00:17:49.155 --> 00:17:58.185
And the other piece was I would look at the, the hills to the west of our little farm, and I've always want to know what's on the other side.

00:17:58.375 --> 00:18:06.280
I really wanted to just get on a horse and ride over those hills, but you know, it was somebody else's property, never did it, but, um.

00:18:07.026 --> 00:18:10.195
I've always had that curiosity and that desire and basically travel bug.

00:18:10.955 --> 00:18:16.445
Um, according to my brother, I was a pretty good athlete because he once said, well, I was never the athlete that you are.

00:18:16.556 --> 00:18:21.395
Oh, Um, I did ball sports in high school.

00:18:21.435 --> 00:18:24.605
It was much as such a small school that everybody did everything.

00:18:24.996 --> 00:18:28.395
So I was lucky to be able to play volleyball, basketball.

00:18:28.635 --> 00:18:30.385
I ran track, but I wasn't.

00:18:30.766 --> 00:18:36.135
That good because I wanted to do, like most kids I wanted to do, you know, I want to jump the hurdles and stuff.

00:18:37.175 --> 00:18:45.385
Um, I didn't really do any distance until I was in my twenties and I just, I like to be fit.

00:18:45.385 --> 00:18:48.455
I don't I don't really want to sit around and not be fit.

00:18:48.506 --> 00:18:56.016
So I started running because that was the most convenient thing And over time I just sort of became addicted that.

00:18:56.016 --> 00:18:57.986
And I'll start with a 5k.

00:18:58.036 --> 00:18:58.675
Oh, that's pretty fun.

00:18:58.675 --> 00:18:59.766
Let's do a and just.

00:19:00.655 --> 00:19:02.046
It's sort of a natural progression.

00:19:02.046 --> 00:19:03.266
I took a long time.

00:19:03.826 --> 00:19:05.026
I was never in a hurry.

00:19:05.076 --> 00:19:16.625
I never really envisioned myself You know, I was a pretty good marathoner never really saw that coming and then started Yeah, I just it just evolved.

00:19:16.635 --> 00:19:23.796
It wasn't I never I look back, you know 50 years ago This life I could not imagined

00:19:24.276 --> 00:19:35.635
Was it a conscious decision to transition from running shorter races and marathons, let's say, into doing these longer, uh, monstrous runs?

00:19:36.058 --> 00:19:37.048
was it gradual?

00:19:37.318 --> 00:19:39.169
Or, and then once you, once you start doing.

00:19:39.589 --> 00:19:40.919
These super long runs.

00:19:41.296 --> 00:19:45.066
what convinced you that this was, you know, I don't know, maybe what you were born to do?

00:19:45.538 --> 00:19:46.189
I'm curious.

00:19:46.199 --> 00:19:48.243
So I just kept you know, try the next thing.

00:19:48.253 --> 00:19:49.222
Cause it looked fun.

00:19:49.263 --> 00:19:50.253
Like, look at those people.

00:19:50.253 --> 00:19:51.593
They look totally destroyed.

00:19:51.623 --> 00:19:52.613
They just ran 50 miles.

00:19:52.663 --> 00:19:53.962
I want to do that too.

00:19:55.233 --> 00:19:59.383
and I did see, um, one of the older documentaries on Western States.

00:20:00.013 --> 00:20:02.653
And that was like, I really want to do that.

00:20:02.712 --> 00:20:04.523
I want to see this for myself.

00:20:04.603 --> 00:20:05.952
I want to experience for myself.

00:20:05.952 --> 00:20:10.623
Yeah, people are totally wrecked, but um, let me have a taste of that too.

00:20:11.086 --> 00:20:19.853
you know, they are really kind of ridiculously hard and It's like giving birth, you know, when you're done, you're like, yay, I have this baby.

00:20:19.913 --> 00:20:22.323
Now I'm going to go do it again because it wasn't all that bad.

00:20:22.749 --> 00:20:32.999
the people I know who have given birth and some of them have given birth, uh, you know, more than once like my mom, I don't think they seek out more occasions to give birth.

00:20:33.028 --> 00:20:35.439
So I'm sure it's just as hard.

00:20:35.749 --> 00:20:46.199
but something about, uh, these races keeps calling you back despite, uh, uh, you know, the, the depth of, uh, suffering and hard work that it takes.

00:20:46.699 --> 00:20:50.669
You, you use the word curiosity, which is quite interesting.

00:20:51.169 --> 00:20:53.568
What is that curiosity for?

00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:59.639
Is it for figuring out what you're capable of?

00:21:00.038 --> 00:21:05.199
Is it curiosity for knowing if you're better than other people?

00:21:05.699 --> 00:21:08.439
What is that, uh, force for you?

00:21:09.094 --> 00:21:16.104
think it's mostly curiosity about what I'm capable of, um, because it changes.

00:21:16.274 --> 00:22:20.504
And so I, you know, I, I peaked, I peaked in my fifties, which is nice that I waited that long to peak.

00:22:20.953 --> 00:22:24.183
Um, so now the curiosity is more about.

00:22:24.828 --> 00:22:34.009
At what rate am I going to keep slowing down and, uh, what can I, are there things I can do to Slow down the slow down.

00:22:34.669 --> 00:22:39.679
Um, and can I keep enjoying it?

00:22:39.709 --> 00:22:57.639
it's it's a little more of a challenge physically, um, to enjoy it because the amount of work, for one thing, I can't do the amount of work and the amount of work isn't as quite as fun as it used to be.

00:22:57.669 --> 00:22:59.709
It used to be, you know, you go to the track.

00:23:00.068 --> 00:23:11.919
Do a hard workout and you, you know, you see your splits and you're like pretty jazzed because you've either had a great workout and you're a little bit faster or you're kind of the same, but it feels so good.

00:23:12.149 --> 00:23:19.233
And now I haven't been to the track in a while because it's so discouraging, but I worked so hard and, um.

00:23:20.098 --> 00:23:23.429
Yeah, it's it's not as rewarding for sure.

00:23:23.479 --> 00:23:37.919
Um, so that's, you know, kind of where I am now is just trying stay curious enough to keep myself and, you know, make some data points for Um, Other people to,

00:23:38.707 --> 00:23:39.326
Absolutely.

00:23:39.826 --> 00:23:49.136
What, maybe what brings you curiosity and joy today could be a little bit different than what it was in your fifties a few years ago.

00:23:49.177 --> 00:24:01.537
And it could be different yet from what it might've been when you were, uh, maybe, uh, more of a swashbuckling spring chicken, if you may, running all these races, winning all these races.

00:24:02.457 --> 00:24:04.037
So this question I have, which.

00:24:04.826 --> 00:24:08.567
Which, uh, comes from our common friend, Carling, Carling Ursim.

00:24:09.507 --> 00:24:17.076
And Carling wants to know, you have been running for such a long time all kinds of life phases.

00:24:18.764 --> 00:24:21.153
have you kept your stoke up?

00:24:21.828 --> 00:24:24.719
it hasn't been hard until the last few years.

00:24:24.739 --> 00:24:25.348
Honestly.

00:24:26.489 --> 00:24:28.409
I, I'm not sure.

00:24:28.409 --> 00:24:32.358
I know I had a, I had some struggles very early on with motivation.

00:24:33.868 --> 00:24:35.588
but there were there were few and far between.

00:24:35.588 --> 00:24:36.969
I think I would get to this point.

00:24:36.979 --> 00:24:40.098
Like, if I just like, Oh, I don't know if I really want to train or run.

00:24:40.098 --> 00:24:43.939
And then I would think about how it's sort of like the Nike just do it.

00:24:43.959 --> 00:24:46.469
It, I know that if I go out and do it.

00:24:46.798 --> 00:24:47.749
I'll glad I did it.

00:24:48.368 --> 00:24:49.788
And I, that's still true.

00:24:50.038 --> 00:24:51.439
That is very much still true.

00:24:51.449 --> 00:24:54.558
If I like, oh, do I really want to keep training?

00:24:55.088 --> 00:24:56.209
Just go out and do it.

00:24:56.259 --> 00:25:03.706
You're going to feel better for doing it it is sort of this just conscious awareness that you're going to feel better if you do it,

00:25:04.196 --> 00:25:04.846
Absolutely.

00:25:05.226 --> 00:25:13.786
I think a lot of people can relate that, uh, sometimes, One can be happy and in a good state of mind and go do something.

00:25:14.286 --> 00:25:19.956
One can also create that state of mind by doing first, if I may.

00:25:20.425 --> 00:25:34.381
But for, I think for, uh, the vast majority of us that let's say if it's running related, that doing might be, uh, you know, a few miles around the neighborhood or the track, uh, not let, not a 50 mile, uh, run.

00:25:34.451 --> 00:25:35.211
So maybe, Yeah.

00:25:35.211 --> 00:25:35.411
that's it.

00:25:35.911 --> 00:25:40.300
what makes, uh, ultra athletes special because your appetite

00:25:40.698 --> 00:25:50.518
Most of us also have a lot of FOMO and the more races that pop up and your you know, your friend just said, I just did this amazing race and, you know, it's like, well, I want to do that one too.

00:25:50.887 --> 00:25:52.887
So I think that helps keep it going.

00:25:53.323 --> 00:26:02.260
I agree that I think, peer pressure plus the bond have with others who are doing the same thing and that shared experience, uh, is so treasured.

00:26:02.770 --> 00:26:14.068
just staying on the theme what makes you talented where do you think you lie, Meghan, between being super naturally gifted as.

00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:19.719
A runner versus putting in insane amounts of hard work.

00:26:19.929 --> 00:26:21.399
Where are you in that

00:26:22.848 --> 00:26:29.556
I would say I'm more on the, gifted with good genetics, I've never really had a serious injury.

00:26:29.556 --> 00:26:35.796
I've had a few, you know, bouts of tendinitis that I would like, Oh, learn why I got it.

00:26:35.796 --> 00:26:38.246
And then I would, Like not get it again.

00:26:38.816 --> 00:26:40.796
I've never had a stress fracture.

00:26:41.188 --> 00:26:45.458
so I've been very, you know, lucky that way.

00:26:45.958 --> 00:26:48.908
And I think cardiovascularly, that's all inherited.

00:26:49.365 --> 00:26:54.444
and I work don't think I work as hard as a lot of people do, I like to do other things.

00:26:54.924 --> 00:26:57.075
So I think, yeah, I've just been lucky.

00:26:57.544 --> 00:26:59.423
and I've been able to be consistent.

00:27:00.064 --> 00:27:02.894
And I think that's probably the biggest part.

00:27:03.403 --> 00:27:11.034
Is because of the genetics, you know, my, my body being good at running, uh, I've been able to be consistent year after year.

00:27:11.104 --> 00:27:28.131
And so that body of work, you know, it took a long time to build it up, but I think in doing so, created a stronger machine than if I had been maybe a little less biomechanically, blessed and then, you know, work really hard and then continually getting injured

00:27:28.550 --> 00:27:41.151
I can imagine that, uh, generics and gifts are so crucial, but you've still had to put in the, uh, relentless miles and all the other training.

00:27:41.651 --> 00:27:44.966
Do you think that your contemporaries, people who.

00:27:45.466 --> 00:27:52.635
Have been running with you think you could you could extract more out of the same level of training effort.

00:27:53.135 --> 00:27:59.770
Also, if other people were also putting the same effort, perhaps they might have gotten injured

00:27:59.996 --> 00:28:00.125
Mm

00:28:00.270 --> 00:28:03.181
and and had not been able to keep up with you.

00:28:04.016 --> 00:28:08.425
If they've done exactly what I did, um, maybe, maybe not.

00:28:08.446 --> 00:28:19.196
I I, think because I I do a lot of really easy running and then the, you know, speed sessions I would do were, you know, basically I would only do one speed session a week.

00:28:19.256 --> 00:28:23.882
They were pretty, you know, pretty hard, but mostly my runs were easy.

00:28:24.132 --> 00:28:33.052
you know, if if everyone ran as easy as I did and then hard when you should, and then maybe don't over race, don't race too much.

00:28:33.741 --> 00:28:44.251
Um, maybe, but then there's just also just some structural things like I've never been prone to stress fractures and I think some people are and I think that's partly biomechanics.

00:28:44.662 --> 00:28:49.612
Um, but I don't know, that would take another, you know, some research or something.

00:28:49.942 --> 00:28:50.572
For sure.

00:28:50.912 --> 00:28:54.832
A different kind of question on the subject of, perseverance.

00:28:55.332 --> 00:29:02.971
Do you think you are just as dogged at other things in your life as you are with your running accomplishments?

00:29:03.031 --> 00:29:05.711
So let's say if one was to ask your parents.

00:29:06.211 --> 00:29:11.959
If Meghan was just as driven with other things growing up, what might they say?

00:29:12.405 --> 00:29:12.935
I think so.

00:29:12.959 --> 00:29:16.858
I'm sort of a B plus person, I think, not quite type A.

00:29:17.221 --> 00:29:23.902
but I always took anything that was asked of me to would take it seriously.

00:29:23.902 --> 00:29:25.592
And I'd want to always a good job.

00:29:26.021 --> 00:29:30.922
because that's, I don't know, it feels good to me to do, you know, as best as I can.

00:29:31.271 --> 00:29:34.416
I mean, there's, Some things in my life that I don't really care about.

00:29:34.416 --> 00:29:36.697
Like I don't do a very good job with my laundry.

00:29:37.104 --> 00:29:39.173
and I really don't like, you know, to dust my house.

00:29:39.173 --> 00:29:41.453
I just dust just comes back.

00:29:41.903 --> 00:29:45.262
other things, yeah, like my garden, I I take things like that pretty seriously.

00:29:45.732 --> 00:29:52.363
Music, I play flute and saxophone and I practice quite a bit and I I have pretty high standards.

00:29:53.153 --> 00:29:58.103
in my mind and goals of, you know, how I'd like to sound and I'm, you know, never quite there.

00:29:58.103 --> 00:30:01.063
And I would say that was probably true of my running as well.

00:30:01.442 --> 00:30:04.823
I always had, I always like to set the bar high.

00:30:05.627 --> 00:30:13.857
And know that it's going to be unlikely that I'll reach it, but I'm going to sure try because if I'm hitting the bar every time, then I'm not working hard enough.

00:30:14.578 --> 00:30:19.639
I think I remember there's this poem I read somewhere a long time ago, dust if you must, you know.

00:30:20.118 --> 00:30:22.598
I think that, that is actually a poem, yes.

00:30:23.649 --> 00:30:26.669
Yes, one can, uh, buy one's life with so many things.

00:30:27.017 --> 00:30:28.287
thank you for sharing all of that.

00:30:28.733 --> 00:30:35.874
changing tracks a bit and, uh, would love to dive a little bit into, uh, the maintenance and the training.

00:30:36.355 --> 00:30:46.925
Starting off the gates with asking you this, how do you train prepare yourself for something as, again, as ridiculous to most of us as a hundred mile run?

00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:49.629
used to be a lot more miles than I do now.

00:30:49.629 --> 00:30:53.949
And I kind of wonder like maybe I never had to do as many miles as I thought I did.

00:30:53.969 --> 00:31:13.913
But, basically, six months out from a race, basically I will run easy most days, but I'll have some pretty fast intense workouts, like once a week, short intervals, really high power just to get my VO2 max kind of, Stimulated, see if it's up where as high as it can be.

00:31:14.321 --> 00:31:33.923
for a month or two with just easy runs, not very long runs, maybe 12 miles or so, and then shift into longer intervals that are a little bit slower, but kind of like 10 K efforts for a couple months as the one speed workout a week, and then I'll start increasing my long run.

00:31:34.307 --> 00:31:37.027
And I'll probably get up to like a 30 mile long run.

00:31:37.294 --> 00:31:44.733
it used to do, I haven't done this too much in the past few years, uh, back to back long runs.

00:31:45.064 --> 00:31:51.094
maybe, a 30 mile run one day and then, uh, you know, 10 or 15 mile run the next day.

00:31:51.504 --> 00:31:55.324
I don't recover as well as I used to, so I haven't really done that as much.

00:31:55.983 --> 00:31:57.153
But I don't think I need to.

00:31:57.153 --> 00:31:59.814
I mean, I know how to, I know how to do this distance.

00:32:00.213 --> 00:32:04.223
as Yogi Berra said, 50 percent of the game is 95 percent mental, something like that.

00:32:04.243 --> 00:32:05.663
So I, you know, I know how to do it.

00:32:05.663 --> 00:32:07.134
I'm not afraid of the distance.

00:32:07.703 --> 00:32:10.973
Um, so I don't feel like I have to do back to back long runs.

00:32:10.973 --> 00:32:13.703
I think they're harder on me now than they used to be.

00:32:14.564 --> 00:32:22.213
Um, in the last few months before the race, I'll still do intervals, but they'll be much longer and more like a marathon effort.

00:32:22.642 --> 00:32:30.761
all of it's just to basically trickle down to that all day effort is going to be a little bit faster than if I hadn't done any any speed work at all.

00:32:31.216 --> 00:32:37.576
because that's basically the bottom line is you want your, slog to be not as slow as it was six months before.

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:41.209
and yeah, just spend a lot of time outside running around in the hills.

00:32:41.652 --> 00:33:10.527
sounds like you have a plan usually, and I'm guessing your plan and the way you train has has been instructed by all the years of, uh, running and racing prior to that, between feeling and science, trying to get a sense of how, you know, Carefully you track and measure your performance and educate your training versus how you feel.

00:33:10.943 --> 00:33:23.134
it's a topic that fascinates me as I talk to, other athletes, in our, uh, age group and, uh, genre of how they, use the, the biofeedback and the data feedback where do you use that information?

00:33:23.510 --> 00:33:30.326
I used to use it a lot when I was still fast, faster than I am now before I started to slow down.

00:33:30.787 --> 00:33:33.723
I definitely, would look at it a lot.

00:33:34.116 --> 00:33:37.024
I look at it mostly as as information.

00:33:37.534 --> 00:33:41.824
Years ago, I did heart rate training because that's what people did.

00:33:41.824 --> 00:33:48.473
And I learned from that, how to run slower on my easy days instead of just always run on the edge.

00:33:48.903 --> 00:33:49.804
so that was very useful.

00:33:49.804 --> 00:33:55.943
We don't really use, heart rate as much as we use, you know, your rate of perceived exertion, because it's kind of more meaningful.

00:33:56.396 --> 00:33:59.713
yeah, in the past I'd do a run and then I'd go back and I'd look at it.

00:34:00.134 --> 00:34:10.173
And that would tell me tell me how I and, and I'd think, well, that's about what I thought, you know, I didn't feel so great and it shows, or I might've felt like, I felt really good.

00:34:10.173 --> 00:34:10.844
And look at that.

00:34:11.124 --> 00:34:11.653
It's true.

00:34:11.653 --> 00:34:12.634
I did feel really good.

00:34:12.634 --> 00:34:14.354
I ran really fast today.

00:34:14.634 --> 00:34:16.774
I'm not too obsessed with numbers.

00:34:17.134 --> 00:34:18.134
I just don't have time.

00:34:18.134 --> 00:34:20.084
I, I'm not that curious about the numbers.

00:34:20.454 --> 00:34:22.423
my training log is Strava.

00:34:22.961 --> 00:34:24.101
I don't have a book and write it down.

00:34:24.101 --> 00:34:25.441
I go back and look at Strava.

00:34:25.841 --> 00:34:27.501
Oh, so that's how much I ran this week.

00:34:27.501 --> 00:34:28.211
Okay, cool.

00:34:28.631 --> 00:34:35.001
but I know people do love numbers and they love spreadsheets and I'm just not one of those people for my own running.

00:34:35.411 --> 00:34:57.751
I'm guessing that you've learned so much, you know, you have your body and your, your heart and your muscles have this, deep internal memory bank, and you can, uh, subliminally tease out things about your performance and whatnot, that, maybe younger runners or less experienced people haven't quite developed the capacity for.

00:34:57.751 --> 00:34:57.771
Yeah.

00:34:58.191 --> 00:35:12.817
A question here, which also is something that is very fascinating to me, which is, in running as well as other sports, the age span of peak performance seems to have kept going up.

00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:19.980
so when one looks at marathon runners, one looks at even a different kind of sport, like.

00:35:20.655 --> 00:35:21.465
American football.

00:35:21.766 --> 00:35:26.185
One sees that people are peaking later and later in life.

00:35:27.045 --> 00:35:31.085
Is that also true for ultra runners?

00:35:31.511 --> 00:35:32.661
Yeah, I think so.

00:35:32.661 --> 00:35:39.679
I think it takes a while to really find your potential as an ultra runner because you can't go run one every weekend.

00:35:39.688 --> 00:35:41.978
I mean, if you did, you wouldn't last very long.

00:35:42.068 --> 00:35:44.788
You would burn out or get injured.

00:35:45.281 --> 00:35:48.092
so many things that happen in one race.

00:35:48.561 --> 00:35:52.862
so let's say you had three in your first ultra, like, okay, I got blisters.

00:35:52.902 --> 00:35:53.981
Um, I threw up, Yeah.

00:35:54.501 --> 00:36:07.241
I, um, was And so, okay, those three things, okay, I'm going to make sure that I, get my feet in the right shoes and socks, I'm going to lube my feet up, and I'm going to make sure that whatever I eat I've practiced with, and it's going to be fine.

00:36:07.251 --> 00:36:08.572
And then I'm going to make sure that I drink enough.

00:36:08.592 --> 00:36:09.991
Okay, so you got all those three things.

00:36:09.991 --> 00:36:13.092
You go to the next ultra, and you have five different problems.

00:36:13.831 --> 00:36:17.052
So, it's like, oh, I thought I fixed everything.

00:36:17.061 --> 00:36:19.931
Or if you're like me, You still do rookie mistakes.

00:36:20.041 --> 00:36:26.501
It's like, well, I figured this one thing out, but then I forgot to do it again, you know, it's like you figured that out five years ago and you just blew it.

00:36:27.382 --> 00:36:29.221
So, so it does take a while.

00:36:29.371 --> 00:36:31.121
I think it takes a while to peak.

00:36:31.121 --> 00:36:45.983
I think I probably took, um, maybe four or five years to, you know, have my best Western states, best hundred miler, because of mistakes I would make along the way and, Sort of figure those out.

00:36:45.983 --> 00:36:56.853
And the biggest thing is just that everyone has to learn is just how to problem solve and to do it quickly, not just realize, Hmm, got a hotspot on my foot or whatever, what that's going to do.

00:36:56.864 --> 00:36:57.844
Well, you're at mile 30.

00:36:57.844 --> 00:36:59.893
You're probably going to have a blister by mile 50.

00:37:00.203 --> 00:37:01.643
You need to take care of it soon.

00:37:02.172 --> 00:37:06.302
you said this yourself that you peaked in your, fifties, right?

00:37:06.311 --> 00:37:08.251
Some of your best, uh, performances.

00:37:08.398 --> 00:37:15.145
So Yeah, this is not gymnastics, you know, when you're peaking at, peaking and, and reaching puberty at the same time.

00:37:15.205 --> 00:37:16.385
This is a different sport.

00:37:16.841 --> 00:37:23.821
if you were 30 years old again, and somebody was to ask you, uh, Meghan, when do you think you would be peaking?

00:37:24.401 --> 00:37:25.771
What would you have said then?

00:37:26.386 --> 00:37:36.930
And then, uh, in your case, uh, beyond what you have said already about, uh, everything else I've mentioned, what do you think helped you, uh, keep pushing your, uh, performance, as you

00:37:37.105 --> 00:37:37.505
Yeah.

00:37:37.505 --> 00:37:44.255
I think in my thirties, I would have thought I'd probably peak in my forties maybe just because I didn't I didn't run in college.

00:37:44.510 --> 00:37:52.726
You know, so it was like the age of myself as my runner age, you know, and I and I felt like I had a very good, cardiovascular system.

00:37:53.120 --> 00:37:55.540
yeah, I probably would have thought maybe my forties.

00:37:55.953 --> 00:38:06.353
when I was in my forties, I was having a fair bit of hip pain and some sort of imbalances, and this goes back to like being injured and figuring out what was going on.

00:38:06.353 --> 00:38:13.863
And I honestly, I was ready to like, okay, um, when I'm turned 50, I'm going to retire from competitive running because this hip thing is just hurting so much.

00:38:14.273 --> 00:38:20.237
And I, um, got connected to a physical therapist who, just did amazing things.

00:38:20.317 --> 00:38:22.237
She really unwound a lot of.

00:38:22.317 --> 00:38:25.857
A problems that I had developed and from repetitive stress.

00:38:26.217 --> 00:38:30.017
but my mind was definitely on this whole idea.

00:38:30.017 --> 00:38:34.207
Well, you know, there, there is a problem with some imbalances and we can fix those.

00:38:34.227 --> 00:38:38.038
And I fixed them and it, it turned everything back around.

00:38:38.247 --> 00:38:52.017
And so then I had even more time again, to continually, to build on my distances, build up more strength, and so I think it just took that much longer, so maybe it's more of a, okay, I peaked, let's see, when did I start running ultras?

00:38:52.642 --> 00:38:54.778
My 40s peaked in my 50s.

00:38:54.838 --> 00:38:56.928
Maybe it takes 10 years to peak.

00:38:56.988 --> 00:39:00.948
Maybe the 30 year olds are going to peak when they're 40, or the 20 year olds are going to peak when they're 30.

00:39:01.068 --> 00:39:01.558
I don't know.

00:39:01.578 --> 00:39:03.759
That's just a, that's just a wild guess, really.

00:39:03.759 --> 00:39:06.688
But, you know, at some point, we're not going to keep improving.

00:39:07.058 --> 00:39:09.098
but it can take a while, I'm sure.

00:39:09.490 --> 00:39:10.000
Got it.

00:39:10.490 --> 00:39:15.440
you also dispense, uh, some of your, uh, hard earned lessons and wisdom.

00:39:15.770 --> 00:39:20.310
with running to others as a coach yourself.

00:39:20.743 --> 00:39:29.384
Could you share a little bit more about your coaching program and if there are people listening who might want to avail of your, uh, services,

00:39:29.973 --> 00:39:30.403
Sure.

00:39:30.580 --> 00:39:32.380
they can email me.

00:39:32.971 --> 00:39:35.785
Meghan Canfield at gmail.

00:39:35.795 --> 00:39:36.395
com.

00:39:36.748 --> 00:39:39.308
we have a website called zenithcoaches.

00:39:39.358 --> 00:39:41.888
com, which you can also reach out that way.

00:39:42.315 --> 00:39:45.145
so it's all virtual pretty much.

00:39:45.488 --> 00:39:58.012
what I would say is because, you know, I can tell you about my coaching platform and, how I set up schedules or whatever, but really what it comes down for me is to getting to know each athlete and setting up really good communication.

00:39:58.408 --> 00:40:00.178
because everyone's, different.

00:40:00.422 --> 00:40:25.235
their goals are different, how much they can train is different, what their lives are like is different, but the more I can connect with them as a human being, the better I can help them achieve their goals, because there's just so many variables, everybody has in their lives, and I want people to succeed, I just love getting to know runners and, and helping them achieve their goals.

00:40:25.658 --> 00:40:26.048
Beautiful.

00:40:26.259 --> 00:40:32.358
And do you only focus on ultra running aspirants, Meghan, or.

00:40:33.093 --> 00:40:35.616
Did you have like a wider range of, athletes

00:40:36.090 --> 00:40:38.530
I do have a wider, um, range.

00:40:38.530 --> 00:40:41.360
Most everybody is running ultra marathons.

00:40:41.743 --> 00:40:43.913
some who run mostly marathons.

00:40:44.313 --> 00:40:56.263
I did have a gentleman who was in his seventies who was competing at a master's level, like in the 800 meters, and he was so much fun to coach he was trying do well in his age group on the track and that was super fun.

00:40:56.716 --> 00:41:09.286
Yeah, I was actually going to ask you if there are any, uh, people you coach or others in your milieu who are, uh, also setting examples of, achieving, the high bar with aging.

00:41:09.416 --> 00:41:22.338
Obviously you are one of them, but it sounds like this gentleman is, is another somebody who, uh, is inspiring and, uh, loves running, uh, regardless of where he might be with his life.

00:41:22.547 --> 00:41:22.856
Right.

00:41:23.216 --> 00:41:24.856
That's one of the nice things about.

00:41:25.276 --> 00:41:44.146
USA track and field is they do have recognition recognition for, um, age groups, um, at the national level and they are, you know, track meets that they can go to and, you know, do the best in the country on the 800 meters for 70 to 74 year old, you know, that's that's pretty special day and they can do that.

00:41:44.610 --> 00:41:46.520
You peaked in your fifties.

00:41:46.680 --> 00:41:56.006
Do you think that's, uh, somewhat, common now for, uh, ultra runners or people peaking at that age, maybe younger, maybe older?

00:41:56.006 --> 00:41:56.547
I don't know.

00:41:56.556 --> 00:41:59.067
I think, again, it depends on how long they've been running.

00:41:59.463 --> 00:42:01.676
from age 40 to 50.

00:42:01.736 --> 00:42:03.936
I ran very consistent marathon.

00:42:03.976 --> 00:42:13.436
My, my PR in the marathon is 245 and I did that over the span of 10 years and then I started to slow down.

00:42:13.886 --> 00:42:18.146
but had I done that from my thirties might have best been my thirties to my forties.

00:42:18.176 --> 00:42:18.756
I'm not sure.

00:42:18.766 --> 00:42:30.513
Maybe I could have kept going up to my fifties, but, so I think it's really how long an athlete's been doing it, um, like, how long did it take you to get there to achieve that peak?

00:42:30.863 --> 00:42:32.753
And then how long can you hold on to it?

00:42:33.166 --> 00:42:33.406
Yeah.

00:42:33.406 --> 00:42:37.047
It's the, uh, quantum of work that's preceded it.

00:42:37.746 --> 00:42:40.176
And then the sustenance at that level.

00:42:40.176 --> 00:42:46.036
As you coach other, uh, other athletes and actually as you have.

00:42:46.781 --> 00:42:59.371
Seeing other people progress through their careers, are there, are there any common, let's say, mistakes people make as they transition from, let's say, shorter races to ultra runs and you're like, oh, gosh, you know, people should.

00:42:59.806 --> 00:43:00.596
should not do that.

00:43:01.013 --> 00:43:04.860
They should stop doing this, but they should continue doing that.

00:43:04.890 --> 00:43:06.850
But then they should also do more of this other thing.

00:43:07.270 --> 00:43:14.820
I think the main thing that runners get a little little hung up on if they're coming from the roads is their pace.

00:43:15.730 --> 00:43:21.340
And, you know, expecting their pace to be not too far off from what they ran on the roads.

00:43:21.610 --> 00:43:26.350
And it's one of those questions you get like, you know, you run a hundred miles and like, how long did it take you?

00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:27.770
Oh, it took 24 hours.

00:43:28.010 --> 00:43:29.260
What kind of pace is that?

00:43:29.606 --> 00:43:32.416
I mean, I do know now, well, it's a 15 minute pace.

00:43:32.866 --> 00:43:35.516
But I'm not running 15 minute pace for 24 hours.

00:43:35.556 --> 00:43:40.266
I'm running, sometimes I'm 20 minute pace, sometimes I'm 10 minute pace, sometimes I'm 6 minute pace.

00:43:40.276 --> 00:43:42.266
It all depends on on the terrain.

00:43:42.696 --> 00:43:47.226
it's one of the first things you want people to let go of is, just don't think about pace.

00:43:47.567 --> 00:43:49.843
Because it's just, it's not worth it.

00:43:50.276 --> 00:43:54.113
That's such a big difference because, marathon runners are very pace obsessed, right?

00:43:54.333 --> 00:43:54.703
Yeah.

00:43:54.986 --> 00:43:55.846
So I think It yeah.

00:43:56.596 --> 00:44:09.093
It is, and I think, most people take it apart in distance between aid stations, and they'll, really want to geek out, they'll look at, like, okay, I have a goal time of 20 hours at Western States.

00:44:09.588 --> 00:44:29.721
They'll go and look at the, runners in the past that have done 20 hours and then they'll download the, splits for these runners and they'll study all their splits and they'll average them out and they're like, okay, well, I think if I'm more like this runner, so I'm going to get to this aid station at this time and this aid station at this time, and so they get obsessed over that sort of thing, how long is it going to take to get to these aid stations?

00:44:29.721 --> 00:44:30.942
And it still isn't pace.

00:44:31.181 --> 00:44:33.511
They're not like looking at, oh, and it's this pace.

00:44:33.521 --> 00:44:33.922
It's like, okay.

00:44:34.301 --> 00:44:35.511
This is how much time it took.

00:44:35.511 --> 00:44:37.971
I think it's going to take me about the same or something like that.

00:44:38.251 --> 00:44:39.631
Yeah, different obsession.

00:44:40.063 --> 00:44:40.343
Got it.

00:44:40.931 --> 00:44:43.911
I do think awareness is is coming along, but.

00:44:44.270 --> 00:45:04.080
That transitioning from road to trail first of all, understand it's going to take longer and then prepare yourself with fuel, you know, make sure that you've got fuel with you and, you know, a decent hydration pack and all those things that are a little more necessary because it does.

00:45:04.080 --> 00:45:05.070
It takes longer.

00:45:05.317 --> 00:45:05.956
Absolutely.

00:45:06.370 --> 00:45:09.445
yeah, good segue into Another listener question.

00:45:09.901 --> 00:45:19.411
A friend of mine who's a ultra runner and a rock climber from India, Mohit Oberoi, he wanted to ask you about your diet.

00:45:20.541 --> 00:45:27.509
How do you fuel yourself during a race and what are you eating when you're not running

00:45:27.916 --> 00:45:34.323
when I'm not running, basically a whole foods, I like food to look like it, like the source it came from.

00:45:34.646 --> 00:45:37.416
I avoid highly processed foods.

00:45:37.416 --> 00:45:46.276
I like to, eat rice and vegetables and meat, you know, sourced locally, not tainted with antibiotics and hormones.

00:45:46.276 --> 00:45:49.706
And, I grew up on a farm, so it's sort of how I ate growing up.

00:45:50.063 --> 00:45:53.080
I just don't do junk most of the time.

00:45:53.150 --> 00:45:55.180
Sometimes, but it's pretty rare.

00:45:55.685 --> 00:46:12.198
do you watch your, uh, nutrient intake as well, like the balance between the larger nutrient types, carbs versus protein fats, any supplementation that you take that has worked for you, maybe something that has not worked for you.

00:46:12.593 --> 00:46:21.283
I don't count my macros, but I am currently working on consuming more protein.

00:46:21.433 --> 00:46:26.803
This is very important for post menopausal women because we lose muscle mass when we lose our estrogen.

00:46:27.280 --> 00:46:30.253
So I do supplement with a whey powder.

00:46:30.746 --> 00:46:31.416
when I remember.

00:46:32.381 --> 00:46:43.738
it's not it's not very tasty, but when I remember to do that, I will add like sardines or, you know, they're not local, but they are a very good source of, of protein.

00:46:43.788 --> 00:46:47.378
And so I will often just throw a can of sardines on whatever I'm eating.

00:46:47.798 --> 00:46:53.598
I take vitamin D cause I live in the Northwest and it's really disgusting and gray here most of the time.

00:46:54.015 --> 00:47:00.071
I take creatine, which is also shown in women, especially to help maintain muscle mass.

00:47:00.701 --> 00:47:12.210
I take a variety of immune support, mushroom immune support, and I take ashwagandha for stress because postmenopause now I'm a stressed person.

00:47:12.710 --> 00:47:14.580
I was like, I don't know what that's about.

00:47:14.640 --> 00:47:17.013
But anyway, there's something else.

00:47:17.023 --> 00:47:20.173
I'm on hormone therapy for postmenopause also.

00:47:20.496 --> 00:47:28.223
that's because, for one thing, I have anxiety that I didn't have before, I still have vasomotor issues with heat.

00:47:28.550 --> 00:47:29.070
at night.

00:47:29.280 --> 00:47:32.930
and also I have osteoporosis, which is genetic.

00:47:33.040 --> 00:47:38.658
Both my grandmother and my mother have had osteoporosis, so I'm on medication for that.

00:47:38.658 --> 00:47:48.788
And, um, that's again where I'm surprised I haven't had a stress fracture, but I think my mechanics must be helping me out in that in that sense, because, um, pretty thin bones.

00:47:48.938 --> 00:47:59.514
so those are the the supplements I take and and they're helping for and then when I'm racing, I actually do almost all liquids.

00:48:00.024 --> 00:48:07.675
I don't generate any spit when I'm running and I just have the worst time trying to ingest food.

00:48:08.435 --> 00:48:10.665
I mean, it just doesn't want to go down.

00:48:11.035 --> 00:48:13.665
So, I've been pretty lucky that I can drink.

00:48:14.110 --> 00:48:17.221
Um, most sports drinks, I have to be a little bit picky about them.

00:48:17.553 --> 00:48:28.643
The big molecules like a maltodextrin don't absorb very well, but some of the um, the glucose sucrose, those ones I can, um, get in pretty well.

00:48:28.643 --> 00:48:33.173
And then I will stop at an aid station and I'll eat bananas.

00:48:33.173 --> 00:48:34.593
I can get bananas down.

00:48:35.000 --> 00:48:36.430
I can also drink chocolate milk.

00:48:36.783 --> 00:48:40.983
I will drink chocolate milk when I have a drop bag or if I have crew.

00:48:41.493 --> 00:48:47.373
Um, but generally if I just keep drinking the sports drink, um, and even soda.

00:48:47.513 --> 00:48:49.413
I mean, I've done a lot on soda.

00:48:49.793 --> 00:48:50.413
it's calories.

00:48:50.943 --> 00:48:55.433
They go in and that can keep me going better than trying to eat a sandwich.

00:48:55.513 --> 00:48:57.763
It's just like I'm gonna fail.

00:48:58.148 --> 00:48:58.678
Sure.

00:48:59.173 --> 00:48:59.543
Yeah.

00:49:00.418 --> 00:49:00.698
Yeah.

00:49:00.698 --> 00:49:03.268
It sounds like some, some hard one lessons

00:49:03.509 --> 00:49:10.098
when I have tried just to eat food, I just get way behind on calories because I just won't power through and get it down.

00:49:10.568 --> 00:49:16.509
Um, but I know I can drink a 200 calorie bottle of electrolytes and that keeps me going.

00:49:17.047 --> 00:49:21.927
It's so, so fascinating that you can run continuously for.

00:49:22.348 --> 00:49:26.478
hours and hours without needing solid food.

00:49:27.268 --> 00:49:31.778
Are you doing a lot of like, let's say, nutrition loading pre race?

00:49:32.378 --> 00:49:33.858
Is that how you have, uh,

00:49:34.698 --> 00:49:35.198
Not really.

00:49:35.283 --> 00:49:41.993
I mean, I do go in with my glycogen stores are pretty high, but because I haven't, I won't have run much that during that week.

00:49:42.363 --> 00:49:44.513
So anything I'm going to eat is going to be stored.

00:49:45.213 --> 00:49:46.903
Um, so yeah, I'll get through that.

00:49:47.103 --> 00:49:53.483
And we, you know, we're at a low intensity and when we're at low intensity, we're burning a lot of fat anyway.

00:49:53.483 --> 00:49:57.003
You don't even have, you don't necessarily have to train your body to burn fat.

00:49:57.003 --> 00:50:01.233
We already do it most of the time by our low intensity running.

00:50:01.703 --> 00:50:03.323
It's nothing really magical about it.

00:50:03.543 --> 00:50:04.303
So, um.

00:50:04.853 --> 00:50:08.823
As long as you keep some sugar in there for your brain, you're going to be accessing that.

00:50:09.378 --> 00:50:19.528
one of the key keywords is the level of intensity and, uh, you know, what kind of, uh, stores are you burning through these, through these efforts?

00:50:20.005 --> 00:50:23.945
Like, for example, when I go on a long, like, uh, let's say day long.

00:50:24.363 --> 00:50:26.003
multi pitch or big wall climbs.

00:50:26.453 --> 00:50:30.373
I know that I'm constantly eating or trying to force food down.

00:50:30.413 --> 00:50:37.893
I know that if I try to do a liquid only thing, I would crash and literally and figuratively, I would probably, probably crash.

00:50:38.593 --> 00:50:39.893
And I'm wondering if.

00:50:40.278 --> 00:50:53.358
Even, even with these like lower endurance, not, sorry, not low endurance, um, yeah, these different types of like long duration endurance efforts, the types of nutrition change.

00:50:53.448 --> 00:51:07.918
And this is a little bit, uh, uh, maybe Hollywood or cliche, but for example, I saw this, you know, I don't know if you saw NIAID, the movie about, uh, this woman who, did you see that movie that who ran, who swam from,

00:51:08.148 --> 00:51:08.948
Diana and I had.

00:51:08.948 --> 00:51:09.148
Yeah.

00:51:09.592 --> 00:51:09.882
okay.

00:51:09.902 --> 00:51:12.152
So one of the scenes in that movie, which I don't know, I can't.

00:51:12.427 --> 00:51:42.592
Get rid of is, uh, her in the middle of her monstrous effort stopping to slurp down pasta while she's swimming and bobbing up and down and she's slurping her pasta and sounds like the way she's fueling up is totally different and I guess I don't, didn't really mean to compare two very different sports, but maybe there are different sports and what you need as an ultra runner is different than, uh, As a swimmer.

00:51:42.592 --> 00:51:44.762
And I don't even know if that's what all swimmers do.

00:51:44.782 --> 00:51:47.012
I just happened to see that in a Hollywood movie,

00:51:47.042 --> 00:51:47.442
Right.

00:51:47.572 --> 00:51:48.342
That's a good question.

00:51:48.342 --> 00:51:55.132
I mean, there's people who run ultras who can slurp down some pasta to or eat a burrito or eat some and I'm just not one of those people.

00:51:55.622 --> 00:52:00.932
Um, probably if I were swimming like she did, I would probably be drinking a milkshake or something.

00:52:00.932 --> 00:52:05.012
I'm not sure i would get pasta down just at that level.

00:52:05.012 --> 00:52:05.082
Oh, yeah.

00:52:05.582 --> 00:52:06.622
Yeah, I don't know.

00:52:06.622 --> 00:52:07.182
I don't know.

00:52:07.192 --> 00:52:08.082
I've never tried it.

00:52:08.572 --> 00:52:21.663
maybe synopsis is maybe there are some guidelines with ultra running or endurance, uh, types of, uh, events where you want to do ABC, but then a lot of that also comes with.

00:52:22.677 --> 00:52:28.967
the individual and what works for them and what they have learned and applied over, over a period.

00:52:28.967 --> 00:52:31.973
And maybe there is no substitute for learning,

00:52:32.387 --> 00:52:46.677
That's absolutely right, and that's one of the key things that I have my athletes do is on their long runs, practice your nutrition and your hydration that you're going to use in the race so that there's, you know, no surprises when, Oh, I'm using this goo.

00:52:46.677 --> 00:52:49.427
I have never used this before and and I'm sick.

00:52:49.427 --> 00:52:51.607
And it's like, well, did You practice with it?

00:52:51.607 --> 00:52:58.203
You know, having said that, I always say, you know, they say, don't try anything new on race day.

00:52:58.833 --> 00:53:00.023
Well, if everything that you've

00:53:00.543 --> 00:53:03.134
And,

00:53:03.283 --> 00:53:03.753
wise.

00:53:04.218 --> 00:53:09.598
isn't working, you gotta try something else because you gotta get something in.

00:53:09.618 --> 00:53:12.838
So that's the only time I'll say, well, if something looks good, try it.

00:53:13.270 --> 00:53:19.020
you know, a race day for an ultra run, like you said, you know, it's not like you're doing one every weekend.

00:53:19.550 --> 00:53:21.610
You might only do that a few times a year.

00:53:22.940 --> 00:53:28.180
So one has to use that as an opportunity to do a little bit of experimentation.

00:53:28.190 --> 00:53:31.370
Otherwise you would never learn new things.

00:53:31.460 --> 00:53:37.310
If you didn't try new things, moving on to a subject that, you touched on very briefly.

00:53:37.810 --> 00:53:42.134
Around aging and menopause for women.

00:53:42.263 --> 00:53:51.773
How have you seen menopause affect your running and what are you doing about it?

00:53:52.003 --> 00:53:52.453
And.

00:53:53.028 --> 00:54:08.142
Maybe some, words of wisdom for, for both menopausal and, uh, perimenopausal women on how they shouldn't get discouraged and should continue, uh, certain things and, and move forward.

00:54:08.347 --> 00:54:09.757
that's a really great question.

00:54:10.170 --> 00:54:18.230
menopause effects didn't really hit me until I was probably five years post menopause, so that was a little surprising.

00:54:18.693 --> 00:54:29.113
I just suddenly and probably wasn't suddenly, but it felt like suddenly I was having trouble like jogging up mild hills and I was flummoxed.

00:54:29.113 --> 00:54:32.893
I like, I don't know what's going on, you know, and I was talking to a friend and I'm like.

00:54:33.423 --> 00:54:34.903
I can handle slowing down.

00:54:34.933 --> 00:54:37.673
That's part of, you know, the whole cardio system.

00:54:37.673 --> 00:54:39.983
Our hearts don't, you know, beat as fast as they used to.

00:54:39.983 --> 00:54:42.853
So, of course, we're not gonna be able to run as fast, but this is ridiculous.

00:54:44.073 --> 00:54:47.753
And so she handed me a book and it's, um, oh, I'm going to forget the authors.

00:54:48.843 --> 00:54:50.683
One of them is Avram, A V R U M.

00:54:51.003 --> 00:54:53.643
Um, can't remember the woman's name.

00:54:53.643 --> 00:54:59.738
Um, physicians who, well, he's a physician and she's It's a psychologist, I think.

00:54:59.748 --> 00:55:02.138
But anyway, the book is Estrogen Matters.

00:55:02.898 --> 00:55:14.098
Fascinating book, um, especially if you're a science geek, which I am, um, debunking the myths around using, um, hormone therapy for post menopause and diabetes.

00:55:14.098 --> 00:55:14.113
Um.

00:55:14.403 --> 00:55:15.053
I read that.

00:55:15.053 --> 00:55:18.203
I'm like, I need I need some hormones back.

00:55:18.634 --> 00:55:25.797
the first doctor I went to, said, Oh, well, we don't prescribe those unless you're just having severe hot flashes.

00:55:25.837 --> 00:55:28.357
And I'm like, okay, I'm going to go to a different doctor.

00:55:28.547 --> 00:55:29.177
And I did.

00:55:29.427 --> 00:55:37.477
So that's lesson number one, find someone who will listen to you and treat this as not a disease, but an actual thing that happens in your life.

00:55:37.507 --> 00:55:38.157
And You have, okay.

00:55:38.732 --> 00:55:40.682
You know, it could be years of dealing with it.

00:55:41.122 --> 00:55:47.962
So the doctor I have now, he prescribed sort of typical hormone replacement of progesterone and estrogen.

00:55:48.712 --> 00:55:53.832
And he's the one who then said, let's get your bones scanned because you probably are osteoporotic.

00:55:54.259 --> 00:55:58.678
so that was the first thing I did, went on hormone therapy and I did start to feel.

00:55:59.009 --> 00:56:00.278
A little more normal again.

00:56:00.632 --> 00:56:04.808
and then I took Stacey Sims, um, course.

00:56:04.818 --> 00:56:11.013
Stacey Sim is is a PhD in exercise science focusing on, um, Women in sport.

00:56:11.683 --> 00:56:13.073
And she's written two books.

00:56:13.603 --> 00:56:18.953
Uh, one is called Roar and it's subtitle is Women are not small men.

00:56:19.403 --> 00:56:28.867
that's coming from the fact that so many human studies are done on men and particularly, you know, usually a certain age group.

00:56:29.637 --> 00:56:31.577
and then applying it to everybody.

00:56:32.437 --> 00:56:35.837
And that women were excluded from research because we have hormones.

00:56:36.237 --> 00:56:41.827
It's like, well, you're damn right we have hormones and that's why you need to study us so we can have quality of life.

00:56:41.887 --> 00:56:46.647
You know, just because we can't make babies anymore, why should we not have quality of life?

00:56:47.317 --> 00:56:56.737
So anyway, that got me, um, more understanding the physiology, um, behind what happens when our estrogen basically disappears, estradiol.

00:56:57.150 --> 00:56:57.640
yeah, I learned it.

00:56:57.640 --> 00:56:57.990
Okay.

00:56:58.235 --> 00:57:04.195
Estrogen is an anabolic hormone for women and meaning it makes our muscles.

00:57:04.245 --> 00:57:08.365
So as we lose our estradiol, our muscle mass begins to diminish.

00:57:08.842 --> 00:57:12.142
Taking estrogen doesn't reverse that.

00:57:12.492 --> 00:57:18.762
It can help with other symptoms like the vasomotor, the hot flashes and mood.

00:57:19.158 --> 00:57:32.552
heavy lifting, you know, strength training with heavy weights stimulates muscle cells to, produce more muscle mass and can regain, muscle and maintain muscle.

00:57:32.925 --> 00:57:38.485
So that was the main takeaway from that and high intensity interval training, hip training or sprint training.

00:57:38.935 --> 00:57:40.965
All of those things help stimulate muscle.

00:57:41.425 --> 00:57:45.515
And so I have incorporated strength training into my.

00:57:45.813 --> 00:57:49.050
Routine, and I try to make myself.

00:57:49.635 --> 00:57:55.535
Emphasize that strength training over running because I'm not going to forget how to run and I can run for a really long time.

00:57:55.958 --> 00:58:07.848
I don't really like the strength training, but as again, it's like that medicine I need to take if I want to continue to It's one thing like, well, I can slog through a race, but it's not going to be much fun.

00:58:08.078 --> 00:58:09.088
I want to perform.

00:58:09.548 --> 00:58:13.208
And that's how I felt at that race in New Zealand at Tarawera.

00:58:13.518 --> 00:58:14.688
tell me the last 10 miles.

00:58:14.838 --> 00:58:25.868
I didn't feel like I was really performing anymore as much as struggling to the finish line, but, it's an improvement for sure from where I was when this whole thing sort of came crashing down on me.

00:58:26.468 --> 00:58:27.108
Fascinating.

00:58:27.685 --> 00:58:28.472
a couple of reflections.

00:58:28.832 --> 00:58:36.282
sounds like you had a, like, maybe almost like a distinct episode with your heart flashes while you were running, where you.

00:58:36.677 --> 00:58:44.243
felt that this was this sort of onset of menopause that was the, uh, the culprit I'll ask a couple of questions and I'll let you answer.

00:58:44.613 --> 00:59:01.347
So is that, is that somewhat common for, for women athletes, or you feel a certain event and you know, that, that might be a body changing or is it more common where women are feeling a more gradual.

00:59:01.721 --> 00:59:06.653
Shift in, performance, mood, behavior.

00:59:06.683 --> 00:59:08.900
So, that's one, question.

00:59:09.160 --> 00:59:10.600
The second is just a simple reflection.

00:59:10.923 --> 00:59:21.260
And maybe you can confirm that, as I'm talking to other athletes and even coaches, people tell me that, strength training, especially with heavy weights is.

00:59:21.800 --> 00:59:25.627
like a magic cure for all the athletes.

00:59:25.647 --> 00:59:40.103
And it sounds like you're confirming even for, this kind of athlete, which is, menopausal or postmenopausal women that other things one should do or not do, but strength training should in most cases.

00:59:40.477 --> 00:59:41.788
only help with aging.

00:59:42.205 --> 00:59:47.045
first answer for me, it was, I, I wasn't having a hot flash during the run.

00:59:47.055 --> 00:59:48.395
It was more like I lacked.

00:59:48.980 --> 00:59:54.520
any steam, like any oomph, like I, like I'm ever going to get to the top of this hill that I used to sort of charge up.

00:59:54.520 --> 00:59:55.610
I had no charge left.

00:59:55.610 --> 01:00:00.201
I'm like, you know, I can be slow, but how about some power, you know, some sort of strength.

01:00:00.201 --> 01:00:02.790
But I think I just sort of totally bottomed out.

01:00:03.227 --> 01:00:04.087
So that was that part.

01:00:04.507 --> 01:00:06.813
but it's incredibly variable.

01:00:07.120 --> 01:00:17.250
It's variable in terms of age of onset of symptoms, like man, again, mine weren't until post menopause, like for five years, I thought I breeze through that.

01:00:17.250 --> 01:00:18.280
That's not a problem.

01:00:18.677 --> 01:00:23.977
for a lot of women, it's, you know, starts perimenopause, you know, 5, 10 years of.

01:00:24.420 --> 01:00:25.540
Vague symptoms.

01:00:25.540 --> 01:00:26.780
or big symptoms.

01:00:26.951 --> 01:00:39.100
Um, and these are the reasons that, you know, you need to find a provider who who is well informed and can help you navigate the symptoms that you're having and not just, you know, poo poo them and say, Oh, you'll be fine.

01:00:39.110 --> 01:00:39.860
You'll get through this.

01:00:39.880 --> 01:00:44.600
And then I'll be over with find someone that can help you with your symptoms.

01:00:44.973 --> 01:00:50.910
it's very quite variable and then the, the strength training, I mean, there's no panacea.

01:00:50.910 --> 01:01:00.180
We're not going to or, you know, get young again or feel as strong as we ever did, but we can hold on to the muscle that we have.

01:01:00.180 --> 01:01:03.080
We can build some of it back and.

01:01:03.096 --> 01:01:08.285
Feel like during a race, feel strong, you know, and that's what I like.

01:01:08.285 --> 01:01:09.485
I like to feel strong.

01:01:09.495 --> 01:01:17.705
I like to feel like I'm putting a good effort in and not just along a trail and, and, you know, I'll get done someday.

01:01:18.145 --> 01:01:19.545
That doesn't float my boat at all.

01:01:19.846 --> 01:01:21.035
It's like, I want to feel strong.

01:01:21.326 --> 01:01:25.685
I want to feel gritty again, you know, and I feel like I got some grit and I'm, you know, digging in.

01:01:26.022 --> 01:01:32.732
I think strength training and, high intensity interval training, those really are key to that.

01:01:33.012 --> 01:01:40.292
And when, you know, we talk about lifting heavy, it's a five rep max.

01:01:41.227 --> 01:01:43.727
you know, something that's really hard to do.

01:01:43.877 --> 01:01:49.987
Not 20 reps of something that's, oh I can do that, I'll rest a minute, I can do 20 more.

01:01:49.997 --> 01:01:51.747
That's not what we're after.

01:01:52.193 --> 01:02:11.693
Thanks for clarifying that difference that it was not a hot flash, but it was this sudden, uh, Lost of power that you are accustomed to, or maybe, you know, that you have and that suddenly, uh, disappeared and the thing with lifting heavy, it is interesting.

01:02:11.693 --> 01:02:29.793
I've been lifting weights off and on for most of my adult life and you always see this and maybe this is somewhat anecdotal, but you always see this phenomena where the men are doing that heavy lifting thing and the women are out there, uh, with the lighter weights and multiple reps.

01:02:30.718 --> 01:02:37.418
And that, as I used to see that 25 years ago, I still see that, that phenomena.

01:02:37.418 --> 01:02:42.592
And I really wish that, I don't know, wherever people are getting their education wish that would change

01:02:43.022 --> 01:02:48.682
women fear they're going to bulk up and we don't really, most women are not going to bulk up.

01:02:49.052 --> 01:02:52.092
but you will get muscle mass and that's what you want.

01:02:52.102 --> 01:02:53.132
You want to be strong.

01:02:53.142 --> 01:02:55.072
And it also, it's really good for your bones.

01:02:55.522 --> 01:03:01.468
I'm not going to say, you know, doing high reps with dumbbells that are light, isn't bad for you.

01:03:01.588 --> 01:03:02.828
You know, I think that's great.

01:03:02.828 --> 01:03:03.678
You're exercising.

01:03:03.698 --> 01:03:04.438
That's really good.

01:03:04.438 --> 01:03:06.788
You're moving your joints, probably getting some tone.

01:03:07.195 --> 01:03:08.390
but if you really want to.

01:03:08.833 --> 01:03:12.713
Really to be strong, strong, lifting the heavy weights is the way to go.

01:03:13.112 --> 01:03:13.522
I agree.

01:03:13.522 --> 01:03:17.422
And not to sound facetious, but unless women started taking.

01:03:18.877 --> 01:03:21.437
Testosterone injections, you know, and lifting heavy.

01:03:21.437 --> 01:03:23.677
They're not going to bulk up, you know.

01:03:24.050 --> 01:03:31.138
we have, we have different bodies and, different stimulants, but the benefits of, uh, strength training are, universal.

01:03:31.579 --> 01:03:33.759
I know my mom is going to listen to this at some point.

01:03:33.759 --> 01:03:36.849
So mom, I hope you are, uh, taking note.

01:03:37.318 --> 01:03:39.738
Moving on, I know time is flying.

01:03:40.160 --> 01:03:45.942
How long, Meghan, do you think you can, uh, keep pushing yourself and also maybe deeper?

01:03:46.372 --> 01:03:51.142
How are you preparing for aging, for, uh, for getting older, that is?

01:03:51.602 --> 01:03:53.502
hasn't been super gracious so far.

01:03:53.803 --> 01:04:04.956
but I, I guess that's what I want to work on is being a little more, I want to be accepting, but I don't want to be passive about it.

01:04:05.096 --> 01:04:09.166
I want to accept it but I kind of want to accept it with a grain of salt.

01:04:09.206 --> 01:04:10.726
You know, it's like, I don't want to give up.

01:04:10.756 --> 01:04:11.526
I'll put it that way.

01:04:11.526 --> 01:04:14.492
It's like, I want to, you know, keep doing what I'm doing.

01:04:15.022 --> 01:04:20.792
And not be hard on if, you know, when I see that my time was, ugh, really?

01:04:21.202 --> 01:04:22.042
Not be hard on myself.

01:04:22.042 --> 01:04:32.212
Stop doing that and reflect on how I felt while I did it and how I feel after I did it and, you know, be glad that I did it.

01:04:32.615 --> 01:04:35.515
but not to like, give up at the same time.

01:04:35.993 --> 01:04:39.692
Your life and your accomplishments seem quite exemplary.

01:04:40.201 --> 01:04:42.860
Are you satisfied with yourself?

01:04:43.323 --> 01:04:44.253
Yeah, I think I am.

01:04:45.043 --> 01:04:45.773
I can accept that.

01:04:45.773 --> 01:04:48.384
Yeah, I've been pretty lucky.

01:04:48.807 --> 01:05:00.840
Like I've, I've traveled the world because I run and that just seems ridiculous to me because it's running, and I've cultivated so many great friendships, around the world.

01:05:01.221 --> 01:05:05.397
through running, I've been able to sort of make the world seem smaller.

01:05:05.918 --> 01:05:14.303
Which I think is so important you know, you and climbing and talking to people and sharing our humanity.

01:05:14.734 --> 01:05:16.484
you know, it's gotta be better for the planet.

01:05:17.404 --> 01:05:18.364
it's, just gotta be.

01:05:18.364 --> 01:05:27.694
I mean, it's, I mean, so many horrible things going on in the world, caused by humanity, and it's like, well, if more people just get outside and connect, the better off we'll be.

01:05:27.694 --> 01:05:27.993
Um,

01:05:28.420 --> 01:05:42.329
Absolutely, and I'm glad you're not too hard on yourself you do feel what seems to me has been a life Well lived how are you preparing though for the next decade 20 years?

01:05:42.339 --> 01:05:46.159
I think, honestly, emphasizing other things that I like.

01:05:46.199 --> 01:05:53.179
Like I said, I love playing flute and saxophone, and those are things that have just really not gotten my attention over the years.

01:05:53.578 --> 01:06:04.824
It does both with running and working a more full time job, um, you know, now coaching is more like, you know, part time, or half time, so I could fill it with more running, but I don't.

01:06:05.375 --> 01:06:07.855
Need to, and I don't think it would be good for me.

01:06:08.245 --> 01:06:19.775
so, but playing my instruments and being in, you know, a couple different bands is really satisfying and I can see that part of my life actually getting better.

01:06:19.815 --> 01:06:21.725
I can be, always be better musician.

01:06:22.122 --> 01:06:24.232
until my fingers slow down, I guess.

01:06:24.252 --> 01:06:24.722
I don't know.

01:06:24.732 --> 01:06:25.663
Hopefully they won't.

01:06:26.144 --> 01:06:27.884
and it's so much, it's so good for my brain.

01:06:28.326 --> 01:06:32.605
so I, I look forward to continuing to get better at music.

01:06:33.038 --> 01:06:38.862
and I'll just run as much as, as I can without, thinking, Oh, this, you know, this is too hard to do anymore.

01:06:38.862 --> 01:06:39.913
We'll just do less.

01:06:40.439 --> 01:06:51.766
I I recently heard some wise sage say that always good to be a beginner at something and you don't sound like a beginner.

01:06:51.856 --> 01:06:53.556
You are playing in a band.

01:06:53.567 --> 01:07:06.706
And by the way, if you ever come by San Francisco, I would love to see your show, but sounds like it's an area where you're finding learning and growth and progression where with running you obviously get enormous satisfaction.

01:07:07.666 --> 01:07:08.356
You have.

01:07:08.786 --> 01:07:09.976
Push yourself a long time.

01:07:09.976 --> 01:07:14.866
So I play the Congress a little bit.

01:07:15.426 --> 01:07:20.006
I'm not qualified to play in any band, but I also love banging away.

01:07:20.006 --> 01:07:23.326
Uh, it's, it's good for me in, in all kinds of ways.

01:07:23.356 --> 01:07:44.129
So you have your music and you have your other, uh, ventures, including coaching, which sounds like that also gives you a fulfillment and, A way to give back in the last five years, Meghan, what new belief behavior or habit has most, uh, improved your life?

01:07:46.349 --> 01:07:47.019
Getting divorced.

01:07:53.589 --> 01:07:54.750
It's true, honestly.

01:07:56.859 --> 01:07:57.789
I learned a lot.

01:07:58.019 --> 01:07:58.619
That's good.

01:07:58.619 --> 01:07:59.946
Yeah.

01:07:59.946 --> 01:08:03.496
That sounds like a not insignificant, life event.

01:08:03.699 --> 01:08:04.049
Correct.

01:08:04.359 --> 01:08:06.589
Powerful yet 600 answer.

01:08:06.826 --> 01:08:08.047
No one's asked me that before.

01:08:08.436 --> 01:08:08.706
Huh?

01:08:08.817 --> 01:08:11.366
That kind of seems like it was pretty life changing.

01:08:11.719 --> 01:08:14.619
A couple other, questions before we, wrap it up.

01:08:15.119 --> 01:08:18.960
If there was a giant billboard out there.

01:08:19.460 --> 01:08:21.409
there was a message you could, write for the world.

01:08:21.659 --> 01:08:22.539
What would it say?

01:08:23.114 --> 01:08:23.555
Peace.

01:08:24.231 --> 01:08:25.755
Yes, we need peace.

01:08:26.217 --> 01:08:29.057
You are obviously a keen reader.

01:08:29.297 --> 01:08:32.488
We talked about a few books already that you, you mentioned.

01:08:32.538 --> 01:08:33.707
We will link to them.

01:08:34.207 --> 01:08:40.891
Any other book that you read recently that, or actually book, it could be another kind of media as well.

01:08:40.891 --> 01:08:42.341
I don't know if you watch movies.

01:08:42.862 --> 01:08:48.082
I listen to audio books, but it's not one of those, you know, I don't think about it a lot.

01:08:48.152 --> 01:08:49.792
I'm sort of, it's entertainment

01:08:50.492 --> 01:08:55.912
When you're on these long runs, are you, vibing with nature or are we vibing with nature?

01:08:55.981 --> 01:08:58.612
And are you also, to something?

01:08:58.761 --> 01:09:03.402
I am vibing with nature and trying to keep my two dogs in control.

01:09:03.835 --> 01:09:04.635
They're, working dogs.

01:09:04.704 --> 01:09:06.225
they're come from the herding stock.

01:09:06.225 --> 01:09:08.324
So I got them for that reason.

01:09:08.324 --> 01:09:10.274
So they could run with me all day and they're lovely.

01:09:10.305 --> 01:09:11.015
they're wonderful.

01:09:11.024 --> 01:09:13.954
But I don't listen to music.

01:09:14.014 --> 01:09:17.804
I like to just, you know, be in nature and hear that with a caveat.

01:09:18.044 --> 01:09:25.694
If there is a, you know, a really important ultra happening that's being live streamed, I will listen

01:09:26.957 --> 01:09:29.857
there is one other like, uh, question that I neglected.

01:09:29.857 --> 01:09:38.987
If you have time, one thing that I'm also exploring is there is so much, uh, more media attention on younger athletes.

01:09:39.487 --> 01:09:52.577
And this is again, something that Carling pointed out to me, which is that she would much rather get an endorsement, so to speak for a product or something else from.

01:09:53.057 --> 01:09:58.687
you rather than a 20 year old person that she doesn't relate to.

01:09:59.187 --> 01:10:07.787
Why do you think the industry has been so slow recognizing the importance of older athletes

01:10:08.205 --> 01:10:09.055
I feel the same.

01:10:09.333 --> 01:10:10.503
I'll represent your brand.

01:10:10.503 --> 01:10:18.419
I think there's a lot of people in my age group that would, you know, identify with me and buy your product.

01:10:18.809 --> 01:10:23.209
But what I know is proportionally, really, how many are there?

01:10:23.459 --> 01:10:28.299
How many are, how many 50 year olds are there versus how many 20 to 50 year olds are there?

01:10:28.799 --> 01:10:35.594
And I mean, it's, it's, I think a tradition that's hard to Break from, I'm guessing, it's like, you know, sex sells.

01:10:35.604 --> 01:10:43.174
These young, pretty, people, you know, even if they last for two years and then they're gone, they're just gonna go to the next young, beautiful person,

01:10:43.639 --> 01:11:02.259
Yeah, I think when it comes to mass marketing, hard to argue with evolutionary forces, but when it comes to the ability of the world we live in today where one can be very picky and about the person that we choose to be influenced by.

01:11:02.630 --> 01:11:14.492
because again, it's not, maybe not always the, the number of followers you have, but it's about the depth of the relationship the followers have with you that I think is more important.

01:11:15.109 --> 01:11:24.572
I do have like, I don't know, 2, 500 followers or something on Instagram and it's like, well, I don't really know that many people, but I feel it's better than like having 10, 000 followers.

01:11:25.503 --> 01:11:27.073
There's just no way you could know them.

01:11:27.563 --> 01:11:36.495
I think on every podcast, I say this, like, I'd be happy to sponsor, you know, where your logo, you know, happy to travel the world on your behalf.

01:11:36.535 --> 01:11:38.726
You know, I, you know, I've been sponsored in the past.

01:11:39.176 --> 01:11:45.786
it is a little bit of kick in the gut when you're like, they drop you and it's like, well, I know why they dropped me is because, because I'm aging.

01:11:46.136 --> 01:11:50.816
I haven't had any, you know, major injuries that have sidelined me for years.

01:11:50.816 --> 01:11:53.046
And while she's not even out there anymore, I'm still out there.

01:11:53.665 --> 01:12:01.623
And you're out there and you're crushing, I mean, you have think a band of people out there who need to find and discover you because.

01:12:02.123 --> 01:12:09.007
They want to be inspired and, athletes like you will provide the relatability that they are seeking.

01:12:09.367 --> 01:12:17.671
note to potential sponsors, uh, find Meghan because if you support Meghan, then Meghan's, uh, followers will be supporting you.

01:12:18.171 --> 01:12:34.597
And just final, two questions, I'm sure your dogs are waiting to go out for you for an evening uh run you mentioned Western States was your favorite run any run or any place in the world you haven't, had the pleasure of running in that you would love to check out.

01:12:34.946 --> 01:12:36.486
I have not been to South America.

01:12:36.999 --> 01:12:39.361
been to, you know, pretty much everywhere else.

01:12:39.371 --> 01:12:40.331
I've been to Asia.

01:12:40.541 --> 01:12:41.371
I've been to Europe.

01:12:41.836 --> 01:12:41.976
Oceana.

01:12:43.001 --> 01:12:45.241
I have not, been to South America.

01:12:45.761 --> 01:12:46.821
So I need to

01:12:47.441 --> 01:12:53.925
One place I would recommend I spent a few months in South America last year is, Peru and Juarez in Peru.

01:12:54.047 --> 01:12:58.416
It's a mountain town, uh, all kinds of, fun mountain activities.

01:12:58.772 --> 01:13:02.412
last question, we talked about food briefly.

01:13:02.912 --> 01:13:05.352
What is one food that you could eat every day?

01:13:05.781 --> 01:13:07.501
Oh, I think I could probably eat.

01:13:07.501 --> 01:13:09.591
with pesto every day.

01:13:09.891 --> 01:13:13.384
Ooh, would you make your own pasta and pesto?

01:13:13.807 --> 01:13:14.957
I make my own pesto?

01:13:15.297 --> 01:13:17.867
when my garden isn't in the middle of winter.

01:13:17.947 --> 01:13:20.567
And if I had frozen enough over the summer.

01:13:20.997 --> 01:13:24.197
Are you traditional with your pesto with let's say pine nuts?

01:13:25.542 --> 01:13:31.470
And they sell, or I recently made a pesto with walnuts and arugula, turned out well.

01:13:31.715 --> 01:13:33.925
Yeah, I've it with arugula before.

01:13:34.434 --> 01:13:36.204
I think I've used walnuts also.

01:13:36.431 --> 01:13:37.376
but lots of garlic

01:13:37.786 --> 01:13:39.206
Parmesan or no parmesan

01:13:39.586 --> 01:13:40.426
I put parmesan in it.

01:13:40.946 --> 01:13:43.166
Cheese, or should I say parmesan?

01:13:43.346 --> 01:13:45.026
makes everything better.

01:13:45.440 --> 01:13:46.760
Meghan, it's been a delight.

01:13:47.216 --> 01:13:49.003
You are such an inspiration.

01:13:49.183 --> 01:13:51.033
Thank you for what you do.

01:13:51.410 --> 01:13:53.920
Thank you for having me and asking me fun questions.

01:13:54.380 --> 01:13:54.970
Thanks a lot.

01:14:03.987 --> 01:14:04.227
Wow.