458: Dimity McDowell - The 27th Mile

Dimity McDowell has done it all. She's been a sports journalist, co-authored three books including her newest release "The 27th Mile", and co-founded Another Mother Runner, an inclusive community that has inspired and supported countless female runners. She's also a personal trainer and coach who has taken on major endurance events, including IRONMAN Coeur d'Alene and the Pikes Peak Ascent. But perhaps Dimity's greatest passion is helping women stay strong and keep moving forward on the roads, trails, and through life. In this live episode, recorded at Summit Brewing in Minnesota, nothing is off limits as Dimity and Carrie dive into her incredible journey. Dimity explains her relationship with running, facing adversity when a doctor told her to stop running, and the difficult process of eventually accepting that advice. She also opens up about why runners can become so attached to the sport, why stepping away can be incredibly difficult, and what happens when your identity has been closely tied to running for so long. Together, Carrie and Dimity explore the power of community, coping with life's biggest challenges, and finding new passions and purpose when life doesn't go according to plan.This episode is brought to you by Tailwind Nutrition. Please Visit tailwindnutrition.com and use code TOLLE20 for 20% off your order.

You've probably seen the viral video of a father pushing his daughter to a world-record mile. That father is Stephen Biebelhausen, and this week, he's joining C Tolle Run! Last month at the Guardian Mile in Cleveland, Ohio, Stephen pushed his adorable daughter, Blake, in the mile race with the goal of setting a course record. What happened next was even bigger! He not only smashed the course record but set a new world record by an incredible nine seconds! But there's so much more to Stephen than one unforgettable race. In this episode, he shares his own running background and current goals, along with how he balances training and racing with life as an emergency room doctor and father. He also talks about how his work in the ER has prepared him for the challenging moments that can arise during races. Of course, we also talk about his favorite part of running with Blake, what's next for this record-setting duo, and so much more. This is a fun and inspiring conversation about running, fatherhood, big goals, and sharing the joy of the sport with the people you love.This episode is brought to you by Tailwind Nutrition. Please Visit tailwindnutrition.com and use code TOLLE20 for 20% off your order.

You've probably seen the viral video of a father pushing his daughter to a world-record mile. That father is Stephen Biebelhausen, and this week, he's joining C Tolle Run! Last month at the Guardian Mile in Cleveland, Ohio, Stephen pushed his adorable daughter, Blake, in the mile race with the goal of setting a course record. What happened next was even bigger! He not only smashed the course record but set a new world record by an incredible nine seconds! But there's so much more to Stephen than one unforgettable race. In this episode, he shares his own running background and current goals, along with how he balances training and racing with life as an emergency room doctor and father. He also talks about how his work in the ER has prepared him for the challenging moments that can arise during races. Of course, we also talk about his favorite part of running with Blake, what's next for this record-setting duo, and so much more. This is a fun and inspiring conversation about running, fatherhood, big goals, and sharing the joy of the sport with the people you love.This episode is brought to you by Tailwind Nutrition. Please Visit tailwindnutrition.com and use code TOLLE20 for 20% off your order.

Craig Engels is no stranger to the C Tolle Run podcast, and if you've listened before, you already know he's never short on stories. Last time Craig joined Carrie, they talked about his accomplishments in the 800m and 1500m. This time, fresh off USATF Nationals in New York City, Craig shares what happened when he decided to explore the city a little more than planned. And if that wasn't enough excitement, he packed up his dog, Roo, and embarked on a bike adventure across North Carolina. But there's much more to Craig than his epic adventures. Now training and living in Flagstaff, Arizona, he's setting his sights on the 2028 Olympic Trials with big goals and plenty of motivation. Craig opens up about what has kept him in the sport, how he handles the tough moments, what he does to escape when life gets overwhelming, and perhaps most importantly, his secret to always finding a reason to smile. Craig is as entertaining and effervescent as ever, and this conversation is guaranteed to leave you smiling.This episode is brought to you by Tailwind Nutrition. Please Visit tailwindnutrition.com and use code TOLLE20 for 20% off your order.

Sydney Vaught is one of the newest names on the professional running scene, but after winning the 2026 USATF 10,000m Championship, she's quickly becoming an athlete you’ll want to know. Before turning pro, Sydney was a standout at the University of Arkansas, where she became an All-American, SEC Champion, and one of the top distance runners in the NCAA. But her journey to the professional ranks wasn't always a straight line. In this episode, Sydney shares what it was like growing up in a small Wyoming town, how she connected with her college coach Mike Burns (who continues to coach her today) and the moments when she questioned whether running was really the path she wanted to pursue. She also opens up about making the leap to running professionally for Nike immediately after college and what that transition has been like. Sydney takes us inside her first national championship race, reliving the emotions of the moment she crossed the finish line as a USATF champion. She talks about what's next in her career, life away from the track, and a few of her favorite things!This episode is brought to you by Tailwind Nutrition. Please Visit tailwindnutrition.com and use code TOLLE20 for 20% off your order.

Sydney Vaught is one of the newest names on the professional running scene, but after winning the 2026 USATF 10,000m Championship, she's quickly becoming an athlete you’ll want to know. Before turning pro, Sydney was a standout at the University of Arkansas, where she became an All-American, SEC Champion, and one of the top distance runners in the NCAA. But her journey to the professional ranks wasn't always a straight line. In this episode, Sydney shares what it was like growing up in a small Wyoming town, how she connected with her college coach Marc Burns (who continues to coach her today) and the moments when she questioned whether running was really the path she wanted to pursue. She also opens up about making the leap to running professionally for Nike immediately after college and what that transition has been like. Sydney takes us inside her first national championship race, reliving the emotions of the moment she crossed the finish line as a USATF champion. She talks about what's next in her career, life away from the track, and a few of her favorite things!

Jessica Kain is a professional 1500-meter runner, fitness model, and coach from Santa Cruz, California, who is quickly making a name for herself in the running world. After competing for San Diego State, Jessica has continued chasing big goals on the track while balancing modeling, coaching, and sharing her journey on social media. This season, everything started to click. Jessica entered her first USATF Outdoor Championships seeded 21st in the 1500m and finished sixth, while dropping her personal best to 4:06.21 (more than six seconds faster than her college PR). But Jessica's breakthrough didn't come overnight. She once considered walking away from professional running before deciding to give herself one more chance and go all in. Now, she's headed to Europe for her next stretch of racing. Carrie catches up with Jessica to talk about her breakthrough season, balancing life and running, growing up in an athletic family, and why she believes the 2028 LA Olympics could be within reach.

Emily Mackay is one of those athletes you can't help but cheer for. Steady, consistent, and incredibly talented, 2026 has been the biggest year of her career! The Olympian, two-time global medalist, and New Balance professional with Union Athletics has already won two USATF titles this season, including the USATF Outdoor 5,000m Championship. She also earned her second global indoor medal at the World Indoor Championships this past spring. Emily last joined C Tolle Run in 2023 and three years later, there's plenty to catch up on. In this episode, Emily joins Carrie to talk about her incredible season, transitioning to a new team and coaches, what she's learned competing on the world stage, and what's next as she prepares for her fall wedding. From championship performances to major life milestones, this is a fun conversation with one of the brightest stars in American distance running.

Elise Cranny is one of the most versatile runners in American history. A two-time Olympian, Nike professional athlete, American record holder, and four-time USATF champion, Elise has found success at every distance. Most recently, Elise finished runner-up to Emily Venters at the USATF 6K Championships, marking her first competitive road race in a decade. Elise joins Carrie to catch up on everything that's happened since her last appearance on the podcast. They talk about where she's living, how training is going, her transition to racing on the roads, and what's next as she continues chasing big goals. They also dive into one of the most important topics in endurance sports: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Elise has become a leading advocate for athlete health, sharing her own experiences in hopes of helping others prioritize both performance and long-term well-being. From Olympic dreams and championship racing to honest conversations about health, growth, and the future, this is an inspiring and insightful catch-up with one of the best athletes in the sport.Visit tailwindnutrition.com and use code TOLLE20 for 20% off your order.

David Roche is one of the most recognizable names in the ultramarathon world. While he continues to run and compete himself, David has recently expanded his coaching beyond the trails and into track and road racing, where he now works with some of the fastest women in the sport. In this wide-ranging conversation nothing is off limits. David shares how he found running, the injuries he has navigated throughout his own career, how he balances coaching with his own training, and the philosophy that guides his work with elite athletes. David and his wife, Megan, also host a podcast called “Some Work, All Play” where they talk about everything from their love story to the health challenges and injuries that have ultimately strengthened their bond. David opens up about all of it here, along with a few of his coaching secrets and some hot takes on recent happenings in the running world. This episode is packed with coaching insight, personal stories, and plenty of opinions from one of the most known coaches in the sport.