RunChats with @RonRunsNYC

"After I had my first child, I suffered from postpartum depression. It was really sad, dark, and scary. Running literally saved me—along with medication, therapy, and help from friends and family. Ever since then, I have never been the same and I still struggle with mental health issues... But because I had to dig myself out once, I know what to watch out for and how to best help myself if I feel darkness coming again." Meet Kaydi Bolos, mom of three and introvert who made the brave decision to share her postpartum depression struggles on Instagram. Kaydi noticed that running stroller miles with her son would instantly help her feel better and she forged a deeper love and connection to running. By sharing her postpartum journey to connect with and help other moms, it truly transformed Kaydi and provided a deeper sense of purpose. Kaydi loves to grind, chase down big goals, and is a huge David Goggins fan. She is training hard and has a sub-2:50 goal set for her next marathon at Mt Charleston in April. We discuss: her coaching partnership with Emily from Praxis Running, nutrition, injuries, Goggins, mindset, goals, drive, challenges, and community service. I'm SO grateful to Kaydi for stepping out of her comfort zone and sharing her inspiring journey! If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on. Connect With Kaydi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaydiruns Connect With Ron: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronrunsnyc Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runchats_with_ronrunsnyc Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com ---- Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com Email: david@inpostmedia.com Social: https://www.instagram.com/_margittai © 2023 Ron Romano

Meet Jenny Hitchings, Masters running icon, 2022 USATF Masters LDR (Long Distance Runner) Athlete of the year, and USATF Hall of Fame runner. In her 50s, Jenny started running faster than ever, breaking barriers for herself and her age that she never thought possible. She holds FIVE (55-59AG) American Records—5k, 10k, 10-mile, 1/2 marathon, and marathon—and 1 World's best time, 2:45:32 at the 2021 Boston Marathon! These races and experiences shaped her and stoked her competitive fire to keep striving for more. We discuss: how Jenny found running; goals, race anxiety, and expectations; where her drive and fire come from; trying to defy the aging process and inspire others; losing her mom; coaches who've had an impact; giving back, coaching youth running clubs and other runners. Jenny's WHY: "Part of me is trying to defy the aging process. I want to show that we can still be competitive and have these crazy goals and show others what's possible as a woman and mother at near age 60... I don't necessarily run for my mom, but part of me keeps on going because it helps me defy what defines aging and the stereotypes that go along with it. Who knows what my mom would be doing from 50 on, but I am creating my own path. She would have been so proud, and I wear a ring of hers every time I race." I'm so stoked to see what's next and to continue following Jenny's INSPIRING journey! If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on. Connect With Jenny: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyhitchings Connect With Ron: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronrunsnyc Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runchats_with_ronrunsnyc Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com ---- Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com Email: david@inpostmedia.com Social: https://www.instagram.com/_margittai © 2023 Ron Romano

Meet Jereny Rivera, who has been on an inspirational, transformational journey from a childhood in poverty where she learned grit and developed her toughness and fire from watching her mom in the most challenging of circumstances. Jereny struggled to connect with others in college. She was inspired by watching a True Life episode of a girl who completed a Tough Mudder and signed up for a race, but didn't make it more than a quarter mile on her first training run and had to walk home. That led to her joining a local running club—the Orlando Track Shack—losing 50 lbs, transforming her body with running, strength training, and a better diet, and finding a welcoming community. From a 3:52 half marathon to smoking a 2:47 in Houston, Jereny is on a journey and dreaming big to one day lace 'em up at the Olympic Trials! We take a deep dive into her dreams, exploring the importance of having people around you and coaches who are fully onboard and believe, her two-year run streak, daily habits, and how doing the hard things post-run (foam roll, stretch, hydrate) are so important. We talk about mindset and the Goggins approach. There are no hacks. Show up every day like Jereny and get it done! I'm so inspired by Jereny and am stoked to share our convo! If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on. Connect With Jereny: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lolspacemonkey Connect With Ron: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronrunsnyc/ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runchats_with_ronrunsnyc/ Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com ---- Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com Email: david@inpostmedia.com Social: https://www.instagram.com/_margittai/ © 2023 Ron Romano

Meet Allan Dias, former real-life rock star, bass guitarist, and songwriter for Public Image Ltd (PiL). After twenty years of touring, the performing, partying lifestyle had taken a big toll on him—and he finally stepped away for health reasons. He came back stateside, walked into a bike shop, bought a bike, started riding again, and reconnected with his love of motion. That inexplicable feeling when propelling yourself forward through space and time. After entering a trail duathlon, he fell back in love with running after a twenty-year break. That began an incredible endurance athletics journey for Allan, immersing himself deeply into the rituals of training and mindset and focusing on pursuing his absolute best. Allan has freakish running range: he ran a 68-second 400M to place 3rd at Masters Nationals in March 2022 and ran 3:54:06 at Baystate Marathon—a 25-minute BQ at age 71, on 10/16/22. We took a deep dive into how qualifying for Boston meant so much and how he tapped into that in his training and on race day to make that dream come true. We also cover how grateful and blessed he feels to still be out there competing—running to inspire and giving back to the endurance sports community that has given him so much. Allan has also competed at the highest levels in cyclocross, mountain biking, road cycling, and once ran 65 miles on his 65th birthday. I'm absolutely blessed to call Allan a friend and supportive CPTC teammate. I'm so grateful to him for coming on and sharing wisdom from his inspiring journey. If you enjoy the episode, it would mean the world to me if you would rate the podcast or write a review and share feedback wherever you get your podcast groove on. Connect With Allan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allandia Connect With Ron: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronrunsnyc/ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runchats_with_ronrunsnyc/ Facebook: https://fb.me/runchats Website: https://ronrunsnyc.com ---- Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media Website: https://www.inpostmedia.com Email: david@inpostmedia.com Social: https://www.instagram.com/_margittai/ © 2023 Ron Romano