The Rambling Runner Podcast

In this episode, Claire Bartholic shares her inspiring journey from running a sub-3:00 marathon despite starting her running journey later in life to redefining her relationship with running, emphasizing the importance of joy, adaptability, and perspective as athletes age. We explore how athletes can find fulfillment beyond peak performance and embrace new goals at any stage of life.

Main topics covered:

Claire's transition from competitive running to a more relaxed, enjoyable approach

The significance of redefining success and setting micro-goals in later years

The mental and emotional aspects of aging as an athlete

How to maintain motivation when peak performance is no longer the focus

The role of physical activity as a vehicle for overall health and happiness

Comparing athletic identity and dealing with the loss of former self

Strategies for staying in love with running and avoiding pressure and burnout

The value of trying new sports and activities for variety and fun

The concept of running as a lifelong, adaptable journey, not just a race to the finish

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

CurraNZ - CurraNZ is a natural runner’s recovery supplement made from New Zealand blackcurrant extract, with over a decade of peer‑reviewed research showing real‑world gains for everyday runners – better performance, smarter fuelling, and faster muscle recovery. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more, and use the code RAMBLING20 to receive 20% your first order from their website.

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Head to ⁠⁠⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠⁠⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prepare to be inspired by Dr. Kathryn Zioto, a remarkable athlete balancing a busy medical career, motherhood, and ultra-distance running. In this episode, she shares her incredible journey, including running the double Boston Marathon, her insights on mental resilience, and how her diverse background in figure skating, road, and trail running shapes her approach to challenges. Discover how prioritizing joy, process, and support keeps her motivated to pursue ambitious goals.

Main topics:

Kathryn’s journey from figure skating to ultra running

The wild story involving a airplane emergency that led to her first trail race

Her experience running the double Boston

Balancing athletic pursuits with a demanding career and family life

Mental toughness and the role of patience and delayed gratification

The group dynamics and pacing during her ultramarathon efforts

How her professional background informs her resilience and self-talk

The importance of love for the process in long-term consistency

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

CurraNZ - CurraNZ is a natural runner’s recovery supplement made from New Zealand blackcurrant extract, with over a decade of peer‑reviewed research showing real‑world gains for everyday runners – better performance, smarter fuelling, and faster muscle recovery. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more, and use the code RAMBLING20 to receive 20% your first order from their website.

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Head to ⁠⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover Hildee Weiss's inspiring story of late-life fitness, self-belief, and overcoming self-doubt to become an active runner and author. In this episode, Hildee shares her candid journey from a sedentary lifestyle to embracing health, all while balancing a large family and personal challenges.

Main Topics Covered:

Hildee Weiss's motivation to write her memoir about her fitness transformation

How self-belief and confidence evolve through the physical activity journey

The challenges of starting fitness in midlife, especially after pregnancy and raising five kids

Overcoming setbacks, including surgery and re-engaging with running and cross-training

The importance of mindset shifts: from "I have to" to "I get to" in fitness routines

Strategies for cultivating self-confidence and resilience as a parent and individual

The role of community, coaching, and persistence in achieving fitness goals

Future plans for trail running, races, and personal redemption

Embracing My Inner Athlete - Hildee Weiss’s memoir, out June 9th

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

CurraNZ - CurraNZ is a natural runner’s recovery supplement made from New Zealand blackcurrant extract, with over a decade of peer‑reviewed research showing real‑world gains for everyday runners – better performance, smarter fuelling, and faster muscle recovery. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more, and use the code RAMBLING20 to receive 20% your first order from their website.

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Head to ⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Kelsey Boyer shares her inspiring journey from competitive snowboarding and traumatic brain injury to embracing marathon running and advocacy. Her story highlights resilience, self-advocacy, and the power of neuro-recovery.

Key Topics

Kelsey's background as a competitive snowboarder and early involvement in the sport

The severity and impact of her brain injury, including the emergency surgery

The challenges of navigating medical diagnoses and the importance of self-advocacy

Recovery journey from initial hospital release to intensive brain rehab

The emotional and physical toll of sustaining a brain injury at age 23

Debunking misconceptions around traumatic brain injuries and "mild" concussions

The significance of education, prevention, and safety gear in brain health

Transitioning back to snowboarding and coaching after recovery

Setting the goal to run her first marathon, driven by a desire for challenge and community impact

The process of training with a brain injury and managing stress and nutrition

Developing a new relationship with endurance sports and embracing the beginner mindset

The importance of vulnerability, community support, and redefining athletic identity

Advocacy work through the nonprofit Save a Brain and the Running for Brains campaign

The role of neuroplasticity and dedicated rehab in her journey to regain athletic ability

Links:


Save a Brain Website — Learn more about brain injury advocacy and helmets


Save a Brain Instagram — Follow updates and campaigns


Cognitive FX Brain Rehabilitation — Innovative neurotherapeutic facility


Podcast: The Save a Brain Headquarters — Neuroscience insights and recovery stories


Running for Brains Campaign — Donate and support helmet safety for children

Kelsey's Instagram

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

CurraNZ - CurraNZ is a natural runner’s recovery supplement made from New Zealand blackcurrant extract, with over a decade of peer‑reviewed research showing real‑world gains for everyday runners – better performance, smarter fuelling, and faster muscle recovery. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more, and use the code RAMBLING20 to receive 20% your first order from their website.

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Head to ⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Amy Crain shares her inspiring journey as a master marathon runner, highlighting how mental shifts, smart training, and a love for the sport propel her to consistent high-level performances well into her 40s.

Last month Amy finished third in the 45-49 age group, and first American, at the Boston Marathon!

Whether you're an aspiring master runner or simply love running, Amy’s insights reveal how to enjoy the process while competing fiercely.

Main topics:

Amy’s memorable Boston Marathon and the mindset shift that unlocked her potential

Balancing competitiveness with fun and mental preparedness in training and racing

How aging has influenced her approach to running and training strategies

The role of external environment awareness and community support during races

Transitioning from college to lifelong running, with stories from cross-country in Scotland and Ireland

Practical tips on training, nutrition, sleep, and race-day tactics for master runners

The importance of curiosity, consistency, and joy in sustaining marathon performance over decades

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

CurraNZ - CurraNZ is a natural runner’s recovery supplement made from New Zealand blackcurrant extract, with over a decade of peer‑reviewed research showing real‑world gains for everyday runners – better performance, smarter fuelling, and faster muscle recovery. Head to ⁠⁠⁠curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠ to learn more, and use the code RAMBLING20 to receive 20% your first order from their website.

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Head to tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices