Episode 139 - Adam Bitchell; Former UNM All-American from Wales, Corrective Exercise Specialist

This week I talked to Adam Bitchell. Originally from Wales, he is the former UNM runner and 3 time All-American. He is also a provider at Speegle Sport and Spine where he specializes in assessing and correcting movement.   Adam talks about getting his start in soccer before transitioning to running. He also talked about running the U23 European Championships in 2011 and coming to run for UNM.   He talked about his work with Speegle and Spine and that anyone interested in a run gait analysis can reach out to him at [email protected]. It was a great talk and I enjoyed getting to know Adam. I hope you enjoy it as well.   We got some much needed rain recently and I hope everyone enjoyed a little cool down, even if that meant the humidity jumped up. It's not something we are often used to here. I know I'm not. Keep up the training, stay hydrated, and keep running, New Mexico.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking to one of the best coaches in the state, Coach David Nunez of Organ Mountain High School. Coach Nunez recently retired from coaching and teaching after 35 years of commitment. During our time we talked about his start in running and the amazing coaches he got to learn from and on to his own start to coaching. He told me what it means to be a coach and what he learned from the first time he was called coach to now. We also talked about what went into his decision to retire. It is not something he took lightly and you can still hear his passion for the sport as we talked. We briefly spoke about a couple of his great athletes that are graduating this year and what it has been like to coach athletes of that caliber. I'll have to have him back on to talk about some of the actual training they were doing. I really enjoyed our time and I hope that you enjoy it as well. I can understand how his passion has helped his program over these years. It's been a few months, but I hope that this is the start of getting back on a steady schedule. In the meantime, enjoy this episode and hydrate as we start hitting these higher temperatures again. By smart in your training, listen to your body, and keep running, New Mexico.

Patterson Yazzie III, a remarkable 24-year-old Navajo runner, motivates others through his running, weightlifting, and storytelling. Initially, running helped him lose weight, but it ultimately played a vital role in saving his life. Patterson's diverse pursuits include podcasting, as well as being a devoted brother and uncle. His impressive running career encompasses a wide range of distances, from 5Ks to 50-mile races, including celebrated marathons in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Berlin. We touch on all of these topics in our conversation and more, including putting his goals out there for everyone to see. He's chasing big things and I think that's great motivation for all of us. Patterson has a great attitude and tons of energy that make him a great follow on his own podcast, PY3. I hope you enjoy the energy and the first episode of 2025.  We are coming off of our first major cold snap of the year and it looks like the temperatures will be rising to something a little more moderate (at least in the Duke City). Personally, I will always take the cooler weather over the summer heat, but either way, make sure you dress appropriately, hydrate, and listen to your body. Good luck with your own goals in this new year. Be kind, help each other out, and keep running, New Mexico.

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Jeff Cuno. He is a trail runner and founder of Primal Genes Coaching. He was 3rd at this year's Mt Taylor 50k and has a couple of fastest known times to his name.   We talked about how he got into running a little later in life and just jumped into trail running. We also talk about the differences between trail running, ultra running, and road racing and how you can take lessons from each to help the others. He talks about some of the races he's done and what he has on the schedule currently.   We talk about coaching and Primal Genes Coaching, which is run by him and his wife. He talks about some of the different aspects in his coaching and we talk a little about weight training and mileage. If you're interested, reach out to him through his instagram or Primal Genes Coaching's instagram.   It was a fun conversation that I hope you also enjoy. It was great to get to know someone that has been in similar circles, but who I haven't had a chance to meet yet.    I'm not sure if I hate the straight heat or the heat with humidity worse, but either way, it is hot out there. I hope you are getting your training done early, before it gets unbearable, or that you are taking the right precautions. Listen to your body, hydrate, and keep running, New Mexico.  

This week I had the pleasure to talk with David Krummenacker. He graduated from Las Cruces High School, ran for Georgia Tech, and went on to have a great professional career. He was a two time NCAA Indoor 800 meter Champion, a three time US 800 Champion, and a World Indoor 800 Champion. He holds an 800m best of 1:43.92 and a 1500m best of 3:31.91.   We talk about how he got into running, via basketball and even one of his first cross country races when a young phenom from El Paso just blew everyone away. We talk about him going to Georgia Tech and his professional career. He talks about his mileage and being a middle distance guy that could hang in the middle of a cross country race and out kick some guys.   We also talk about the current running scene a bit. David talks about being passionate and using running and what he learned training to feed into other aspects of his life. He talks about how running helped lead him to the work he is currently doing. We also talk about some of the people he met in Albuquerque between his time at Georgia Tech and moving to Arizona for training.   It was a shorter conversation that I look forward to continuing. There's a lot of ground that we didn't touch on, but I really enjoyed getting to know someone that I personally looked up to as a runner. I remember watching some of his races as I was starting to fall in love with the sport and being so inspired that someone from New Mexico was out there doing it at that level. With the Olympic Trials currently on and the Paris Olympics coming up, I love that a new generation of New Mexicans have athletes from our state that they can look at to inspire them as well.   With the heat, the fires, and the flooding going on in the state, it's easy to be down. It's heartwarming then to see organizations like Organ Mountain Outfitters, Bosque Running Shop, and many others raising money for the people affected. So look to the positives, get out before the heat hits, stay hydrated, and keep running, New Mexico.

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Anicka Newell. She is a Highland High School graduate, with a state championship in the pole vault in 2009. She went on to have a great collegiate career at Texas State University winning two outdoor Sun Belt Conference pole vault championships. She has since competed professionally and has represented Canada in two Olympic games in 2016 and 2021. She is currently preparing for the Canadian Olympic Trials June 26th-30th. We talked about her time at Highland in Albuquerque and the coaches that influenced her. She talks about her preparations and teaches me a lot about pole vault in the process, including the joys of traveling with a 15 foot bag of poles. She talks about coaching younger athletes and how that has influenced her own preparation. We also talk about the newly announced Grand Slam Track and the exclusion of field events. She also talks about how tough it is being an un-sponsored athlete and how a league like what is proposed could help athletes like her. It was a really fun conversation and I learned a lot about an event that I don't know enough about. She is a wonderful person and I hope you'll join me in cheering her on with her trials and hopefully on to Paris. I am so happy to be back at the podcast, talking to passionate people and building connections within our sport. We've got a lot of amazing people doing some great things. I hope you enjoy this episode and the little break in the heat we got with the rain. Stay motivated, listen to your body, and keep running, New Mexico.

The podcast is coming back! I've got a few guests lined up and I'm talking others. It may not be weekly, but the goal is at least two a month. 

This week I had the pleasure to speak with Pablo Vigil. We talk about his humble beginnings in the Mora Valley of North New Mexico and how running helped propel him to greater things.  He went to school at Adams State in southern Colorado, which has a long history of New Mexican runners, which we touch on. He also talked about learning from the great Coach, Dr. Joe Vigil. Pablo talks about this time and what it meant to learn from Coach Vigil. He goes on to talk about his journey into marathon training and how he got involved with Frank Shorter's training group in Boulder. It's a fascinating story that he says changed his life. Pablo also talks about getting into mountain running and touches on how different it was then to now. At the time, it was a great way for him to extend his running career. We also talk about his journey into teaching and education. It was a fun conversation that I hope you enjoy and get something from. Pablo is passionate about running and really wants people to find what inspires them. This heat has been rough. There's not much you can do, other than try and run early or late. Listen to your bodies and slow down in the heat. Stay hydrated, stay cool, and keep running, New Mexico. Photo Credit: Alexis Berg

This week I had the pleasure to talk with Leah Purucker. She is a Trail runner and chef at Daily Grind. It was great to have her on and talk about how she got started in running at a young age, but never competed in running until later in life. She talks about learning about running and training for her first race, a marathon! We also talk about how she became a chef and some similarities in competing between running and cooking.  She isn't competing currently and it was interesting to learn about an injury she's been dealing with and the doubts that can creep up for any runner when we have a longer hiatus. It was great to talk with someone that I've seen out in my running area and really get to know her better. I hope you enjoy our conversation. The heat is really starting to come on with some triple digit numbers in the metro area and down south dealing with even higher temps. It's always important to hydrate, but in the heart of summer, it's especially important. So listen to your body, wear that sunscreen, and keep running, New Mexico.

This week I had the pleasure to talk with AJ Beach. He is a Sandia Prep and UNM graduate. He is an athlete performance therapist and has helped many people get through injuries and back to performing the way they are comfortable with. We talk about how he got into running and competing at the New Mexico State meet. He talked about some of the expectations and how that can be a burden when you are not performing the way you want or are expecting to. We also talk about how that disappointment helped him find something he became more passionate about. We talk briefly about his brother, Curtis Beach, and how AJ never really felt in competition with him and was able to do his own thing. That can be a difficult thing for many families, so it was good to hear about their relationship and the positives. AJ also talks about the specifics of what he does and who he works with. He has worked with high school athletes to Olympic caliber athletes, from pets to grandparents. He truly wants to help anyone he can. If you are interested in seeing AJ, you can check out his website here. It has been a crazy beginning to the summer for me, but I am happy to have some guests lined up. I'm also excited for a new cross country season. There is a wonderful new group of athletes at my school and no doubt around the state. I'm excited to see what everyone is able to do this Fall. Hopefully everyone is taking care of their bodies, hydrating, and preparing well for any upcoming races or challenges. So keep on moving, listen to your body, and keep running, New Mexico.