The Checkpoint

Black Trail Runners

A podcast hosted by Black Trail Runners which discusses access to, skills for and representation of Black people who want to experience, or are experienced in, trail running. Featuring tips, tricks, events, guest interviews and much more.

  1. 28/05/2022

    Ep 36. The Speed Project

    This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is supported by Adidas Terrex. Earlier this year, Black Trail Runners won a grant from Ciele Athletics to send a team to compete in The Speed Project. If you don’t know what The Speed Project is, you’re not alone. Taking place once a year in non-Covid times, it’s an extreme challenge that proudly espouses a ‘no spectators’ philosophy. In simple terms it’s a running relay. But it’s much more than that, because it’s a relay over 340 miles, from Santa Monica on the California coast to Las Vegas in Nevada. It’s a relay that traverses Death Valley. It’s a relay with effectively no rules. Teams self-navigate and self-support, with runners and crew sharing large RVs (that’s a Recreational Vehicle, or camper van, to our UK listeners). Technically it’s not a trail race, but it has many of the features of one. Varied terrain. Extreme weather conditions. A need to manage nutrition, pacing and logistics. And frankly, it’s epic! BTR’s team of six flew into Los Angeles a couple of days before, some of them meeting for the first time, and some of them being in America for the first time. Angela, Deo, Jazmin, Laurence, Nethliee and Tony were supported by a three-man crew from the US – Dan, Gordon and Kevin. Having had only 10 weeks or so to train for the event, our team’s goal was about challenging themselves, about the experience, and about representing the BTR community in what, despite, or perhaps because of its mystique, is an iconic event. A couple of weeks after they returned from the US, Sonny spoke to some of the team about their experience. First Jazmin, then Laurence, Deo, Angela and Tony.

    1h 3m
  2. 23/04/2022

    Ep 35. Miranda Brawn

    This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is supported by Adidas Terrex. Miranda Brawn is a multi-award winning philanthropist. She has more than 25 years of experience in the financial markets and legal industry, and has served on more than 30 boards and committees across the private, public and third sector. She is a non-practising barrister-at-law and a former hedge fund derivative sales trader, being one of the first women of colour on the London trading floor of a tier 1 global bank.  She is the creator of the world’s fastest success course (The 60 Second Coach) and an international public speaker who champions diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainability, success, human rights and opportunities for diverse young people including women and girls. She serves as an independent non-executive director for global corporate boards, including electric vehicle manufacturer Switch Mobility Ltd, making her one of the most senior women in the global engineering boardroom.  In 2016 she founded The Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation, where she chairs the Board of Trustees and launched the UK’s first Black Women on Boards initiative.  In Episode 35 of the Checkpoint, Miranda talks to Sabrina and Sonny about her career, what has driven her success, the importance of giving back, and the work of the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation. Follow Miranda on Facebook @MirandaBrawnEsq, on Instgram @mirandabrawn, on LinkedIn @mirandabrawn and at www.mirandabrawn.com. Follow the work of the Miranda Brawn Diversity Leadership Foundation at www.tmbdlf.com.

    57 min
  3. Ep 34. Sophia Danenberg

    09/04/2022

    Ep 34. Sophia Danenberg

    This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is supported by Adidas Terrex. In episode 34 Marcus and Sabrina speak with Sophia Danenberg, an American mountain climber. In 2006 Sophia became the first African American and first Black woman to climb Mount Everest in the Himalayas. Additionally she has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Mount Rainier, The Matterhorn and Cotopaxi plus many more. Born in Japan to her Japanese mother and African American father, who was stationed at a U.S. military base in Japan at the time, Sophia and her family eventually settled stateside, in the Chicago area. She went on to Harvard University and became one of the first five students to earn an environmental sciences and public policy degree from the prestigious institution. In her day job she specialises in environmental sciences and public policies. Whilst we cover the topics previously mentioned, we also have to talk about the time that she partied with Jay-Z, Beyoncé, President Obama to name a few. It is a really honest and insightful conversation into what it means to be a pioneer in your field, all whilst being true to who you are and what you believe in. Sophia talks about the importance of using her role to inspire the next generation, to show that the climbing world is a space for young girls, demonstrating that women have the power to accomplish incredible things. You can learn more about these groups by going to the links below. https://www.browngirlsclimb.com/ https://www.flashfoxy.com/ https://www.fullcircleeverest.com/ You can follow her on Instagram: https://instagram.com/sophiaclimbs?utm_medium=copy_link You can watch her Ted talk here: https://youtu.be/mMDr9Psdmrw TEDxUChicago

    1h 17m
4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

A podcast hosted by Black Trail Runners which discusses access to, skills for and representation of Black people who want to experience, or are experienced in, trail running. Featuring tips, tricks, events, guest interviews and much more.