88 - Sophia Torres; Artist & Ultra runner, 2021 Mt. Taylor 50k Women‘s Champion

More episodes from "Running New Mexico Podcast"

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  Episode 93 - Coach Elena Schrader; Head Cross Country and Girls Track at Volcano Vista, 5A State Cross Country Champions

  7 hours ago

  1:10:22

  This week I had the pleasure to talk with Coach Elena Schrader. She is the head cross country and girls track coach at Volcano Vista High School. This year her boys and girls teams both won the 5A State Cross Country Championship. We start off talking about her start in running, continuing through high school and college, and how she got into coaching. Some coaching will tell you they fell into coaching, but Coach Schrader really fell into it. We don't go into a lot of detail, but she talks about taking the time to educate herself in coaching, taking USATF training among other things. She talks about the last cross country and track season and when she knew she had something special with the boys. She then talks about the surprise with the girls and getting to watch both teams really grow into their own this year. It was fun to hear her talk about her excitement in both coaching and teaching. It was a lot of fun talking with Coach Schrader and getting to know her. She is someone that is easy to root for and you know her teams are having fun while competing at a high level in the state. I hope you enjoy our conversation and also have fun getting to know this amazing coach. With the holiday season upon us, it is easy to get into the rut of preparing for the holidays without taking the time to think about their meanings. Whatever the holidays mean for you, I hope you are able to find time for yourself on your runs and time for your family. Stay focused, stay warm, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 92 - Bob DeYoung; Trail Runner

  11/21/2021

  59:16

  This week I had the pleasure to speak with Bob DeYoung. Through the pandemic I hear stories of people that took up running as gyms and other places to workout closed down. Bob was one of those runners and has literally run with it. In his short time finding and falling in love with trail running, Bob has completed five races. Some shorter, half marathon range, and his longest and first, was a 30k. He's learned a lot in a short period and has plans to run at least one trail run a month. It was really fun talking with Bob and hearing his excitement about his runs and training. It's great to hear that new runner eagerness. If you happen to be at the Bosque Bigfoot, find Bob and say hi for me. It's that time of the year again to gather with family and think about what you are grateful for. I know that is something I often think about while on my runs. I hope you take time to think about what this season means to you and those around you. I also hope you are healthy and ready for a wonderful Thanksgiving day run. So, be safe, stay healthy, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 91 - Phil Keller; Dukes Track Club Runner and Youth Coach

  11/14/2021

  1:10:32

  This week I had the pleasure to talk with Phil Keller. He is a wonderful master's runner here in Albuquerque, running for the Dukes Track Club and a coach of their Youth Club. We talked about his start to running, conditioning, and coaching college and high school. It was fun talking about his own college running and his short break from running. We talk about motivating runners you coach at all levels. He talks about his own running and breaks, or lack of, and being able to go from the youth state championship to the high school state championship and the issues with that. We also had a fun conversation about music at the end. I learned a lot about Phil and I hope you enjoy our conversation. If you are interested in getting your own kid involved in the Dukes Youth Track club you can email them at [email protected] The time change has messed with my sleep, but I think I"m finally catching up. I hope you are adjusting well. It's nice to see a little light at the end of my runs in the mornings. So enjoy your runs, layer, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 90 - Lionel Ortega; Former UNM Athlete and Professional Runner

  11/7/2021

  1:04:17

  This week I had the pleasure to talk to Lionel Ortega. He is a former UNM Athlete and Professional Runner. He covers a lot about his career in this conversation. We go from how he got into running, into some highlights, and into his work for Nike and Adidas. It was great to hear him look back on his career and express that running is a part of his life, not his life. He talked about the three words that changed his life and about scrapping by to get to marathons and other races. I really enjoyed hearing him talk about how running is still a part of his life. He may not compete anymore, but he still gets something from it. Lionel learned early to not be afraid to ask for your worth. I think that is an important lesson. It's important to have a healthy idea of what you are worth in your own eyes. And we also get to the story of him getting arrested for running on UNM's track.  Yesterday was the 2021 NM Cross Country State Championships. It's easy to look at the champions and think about what they will accomplish, but hopefully we'll be hearing from all of the athletes that competed. Maybe that's fun runs, maybe it's running in college. I just hope the love of running sticks with them. So the seasons change and we start looking toward track season, cooler weather, slower runs. Stretch, layer, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 89 - Lindsey Herman; Ultra Runner & Coach at Western Colorado University

  10/31/2021

  59:08

  This week I had the pleasure to talk with Lindsey Herman. She is an Ultra runner and coach. She graduated from Albuquerque Academy and then Western Colorado University, where she is still located and coaching. Lindsey has had a different path to running than a lot of people. Even though she was part of an active family, with running and skiing, and even though she ran a marathon in high school, she saw herself as a skier and soccer player. We talk about how she moved into running and that idea of feeling like a runner. Lindsey talks a little about her insecurities around food, but if you want to hear about journey in more detail, check out this interview by Run Spirited. They do a good job of interviewing and asking good questions. Lindsey may have come to running a little differently, but she is enjoying what she is doing and has a big upside. Her involvement in the trail racing program at Western Colorado University is really unique. So I hope you enjoy our conversation. Those mornings are getting a little chilly lately. It doesn't help that the days are getting shorter. Make sure you layer, bring light, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  88 - Sophia Torres; Artist & Ultra runner, 2021 Mt. Taylor 50k Women‘s Champion

  10/24/2021

  59:57

  This week I had the pleasure to talk with Sophia Torres. She is a Pojoaque graduate, UNM graduate, trail runner, and artist. Her dad is Senovio Torres, a great ultra runner in his own right, and an influence for Sophia's running. We talk about the pressures of running from external sources and when she made running her own. She talked about being put in kid races and 5k races as a child and how it was just a part of her life. We also talk about her time at UNM as a walk on. It was a hard transition and we talk about pressure once again. She talked about how she found the joy in running through helping some friends and it sparked where she is now.  Sophia talks about her artwork and how her creative side goes hand in hand with her running. It was fun talking to her about these things that she is passionate about and I think you hear that in her voice. As always, I really enjoyed talking with her and getting to know her. The days are getting shorter and the mornings are getting cooler. It's time to break out those gloves and other cooler weather attire. But it's an exciting time for running, getting to see the big races coming back. So dress for the weather, be safe, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 87 - Matt Gonzales; 7xNCAA All-American & 2x Olympic Trials

  10/17/2021

  1:09:37

  This week I had the opportunity to talk with Matt Gonzales. He ran for St. Michael's and Santa Fe High and then UNM, with 7 NCAA All-American honors to his name at UNM. He also ran professionally for Nike and competed at 2 US Olympic Trials. Matt talks about his influences, including his dad and coaches, as well as the relationships he built. He talks about his time running and the challenges he faced, but also that he has come out the other side. He talks about why he left competitive running and why he hasn't looked back. Matt is very open and talks about loving competition and not so much the training, and so much more. It was a great time talking about his journey and his joy in talking about his sons. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I had recording it. A lot of this episode is about finding peace within yourself. Your perspective has a lot to do with your outlook. So think about your goals and think about what is important.  As the weather cools it's important to remember to dress in layers, get a good warm-up, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 86 - Kellie Nickerson, Teacher, Coach, Sole Sister

  10/10/2021

  1:04:26

  This week I had the pleasure to speak with Kellie Nickerson. She's a PE teacher and after school coach at Cottonwood School in Corrales. She is also a member of the Sole Sisters, a local running group.  Kellie ran at Sandia High School and followed that up with a year running for UNM. She learned to train on her own and continued her running through the Runfit races. Her biggest goal is to keep running fun and she has been able to do that and be competitive. This week, Kellie is also competing in Boston this week. I hope you tune in to cheer for her as she gets to compete at a unique Boston Marathon. We know that she is going to keep it fun and enjoy her time out there. Listen to Kelly talk about teaching, her after school running group, and so much more. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I did.  This cooler weather is great for me. I love it and hopefully you are enjoying it as well. It's great to watch these fall marathons and the great performances and people able to be a part of them. So make sure you have those cool weather clothes nearby, check the forecast, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 85 - Keith Gerrard, Teacher, Coach, UNM Graduate, Former Great Britain Athlete

  10/3/2021

  59:41

  This week I had the opportunity to talk with Keith Gerrard. He is a middle school teacher, volunteer coach at Rio Rancho High School, private coach, a graduate and All-American for UNM, and a former Great Britain athlete competing at the European Championships and World XC Championships. He has had quite the career and we dig a little into that, but really we talk about his journey to where he is now. We talk about his home country, the Isle of Man and the differences in running in the European system and NCAA. We talk about his transition into road racing (not his favorite) and where he is at now with his running. Keith has a healthy view of his running and what he accomplished. He talks about running being a part of who he is, not his whole identity. We also talk a little about teaching and what his experiences bring to his coaching. All-in-all, I really enjoyed talking with him and I hope you enjoy the conversation as well. That crisp air is finally coming in. The leaves haven't turned, but you can feel it around the corner. It might not be time to break out the long sleeves yet, but we're getting close. So watch the weather, fuel up, and keep running, New Mexico.
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  Episode 84 - Andy Murray, Highland High School Cross Country Coach

  9/26/2021

  47:09

  This week I had the opportunity to speak with Andy Murray. Although doesn't doesn't consider himself to be a good runner, he is a fantastic coach. We don't cover it in the episode, but he has done a lot for the kids that he coaches, as most good coaches do. He started out his own running as an extension of rugby and soccer. When it was rainy in London, they would send them out on runs to save the fields. He moved to US, met his wife and hasn't left. I think we're better for it. He's a fantastic person and I hold a lot of respect for him. We talk about his early years, getting into teaching, and a little rugby and soccer with the running. I hope you enjoy hearing a little about his journey. The weather is just starting to turn, that means we are getting closer to championship cross country season. But it also means that marathon season is here and what a season it will be. Whichever you are looking forward to, make sure you eat right, stretch, stay safe, and keep running New Mexico.