The Rambling Runner Podcast

In this episode, Laura Pifer shares her remarkable journey from her early days of national record performances in high school to running her first marathon at age 40, culminating in a third-place finish at the Masters Division at the Boston Marathon. We delve into her life balancing family, her creative endeavors with sewing and upcycling, and her fresh approach to running in her 40s. Also, Laura shares the remarkable story of her husband offering up his gps watch to Sharon Lokedi on the bus to the Boston starting line!

Key Topics:

Laura Pifer’s high school running success, including a national 5K record

Transition from collegiate athletics at Colorado to family life and less structured running

Her late start in marathon training, debuting at age 40 with a 2:45 finish

Recovery from illness during taper week leading to her Boston race

Boston marathon race strategy: conservative start, feeling great in the second half, negative splits

The mental and emotional boost from passing runners late in the race

Unique story of her husband's watch being borrowed by Sharon Lokedi on race day

Perspectives on aging in running and the importance of health, nutrition, and consistency

Laura's entrepreneurial journey: founding and growing Trash to Couture, her upcycling fashion blog

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.
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Join us as Esteban Trujillo shares his inspiring story of returning to marathon running after a seven-year break, fueled by a passion for pushing limits and defying age. From his Oregon cross country days to ultra-competitive Masters racing, Esteban's journey highlights resilience, strategic training, and living the sport authentically.

In this episode:

Esteban's early days at Oregon with stars like Galen Rupp and Matthew Centrowitz

The dramatic story of quitting running at age 27 and living in Alaska

How he rediscovered his love for racing and transitioned back into competitive marathon running

His approach to training, injury prevention, and mental toughness as a master's athlete

Insights on his recent performances, including CIM sub-2:15 and Boston Masters placement

The role of coaching with Brad Hudson and the significance of athlete-supported programs like Puma Project 3

Future goals leading to the 2028 Olympic Trials and beyond

Unique perspectives on balancing passion, health, and ambition in master’s athletics

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.

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Discover how top ultra runner Damian Hall challenges age-related decline in his new book Run Forever: The Secrets to Becoming an Ageless Athlete. Damian's book includes exhaustive research into many topics that can help runners of all abilities and ages. This episode dives into science-backed strategies for runners looking to stay strong and motivated.

In this episode:

Damian Hall's journey from late start to ultra legend

The role of adventure and curiosity in building endurance

Critical insights from Damian’s new book, Run Forever

The importance of strength training, sleep, and nutrition for longevity

Examples of athletes thriving into their 60s and beyond

Practical tips for incorporating speed work on safe platforms

The mental side of aging and how perception impacts performance

Personal stories of late bloomers achieving competitive success

Run Forever: The Secrets of Becoming an Ageless Athlete by Damian Hall

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.

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

In this episode we learn how to unlock the power of running as a source of joy, community, and meaningful impact. Jess Sikorski shares her personal transformation of using running in a way that negatively affected her health to running with purpose for charity and mental health.

Key Topics:

Jess's journey from health struggles to joyful running

The evolution of her big "why" for running

The importance of community, social running, and making fitness accessible

Inspiring stories of fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Tips for integrating enjoyment with health and performance goals

The role of therapy and self-redefinition in overcoming food and body image issues

Collaboration between run clubs and local fitness communities

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.

Amazfit - The GPS running watch I trust is Amazfit. It is loaded with features, top tier GPS technology, and is incredibly well-priced. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/47AOxzW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more and use code RAMBLING to save 10%.

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In his newest book, The Long Run: Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Grete Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool, U.S. Track & Field Foundation board member, life-long runner, high school track coach, and bestselling author Martin Dugard takes us through the historical moments that sparked the running boom across America, including Frank Shorter’s Olympic marathon win in 1972, Steve Prefontaine’s career that ended too soon—and not to mention Greta Waitz and Joan Benoit, both with their own historic marathon wins that inspired women all over. 

Along the way, Dugard shares the history of the sport—from the myth that originated the modern marathon, to how it became 26.2 miles (and how the British Royal family had a hand in it), how the sport saved NYC from bankruptcy, and more!

Martin's perspective and research into the race we love is awe inspiring and worth a read (or listen if you're an Audible fan like me).

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.

Amazfit - The GPS running watch I trust is Amazfit. It is loaded with features, top tier GPS technology, and is incredibly well-priced. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/47AOxzW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more and use code RAMBLING to save 10%.

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