YogiTriathlete Podcast Jess & BJ Gumkowski

Today we are so excited to be talking with professional ultrarunner, podcast host, dog mom, and scientist Keely Henninger who is so much more than those labels I just rattled off.

During her ten years of racing, Keely has seen great success but also has faced the limitations of a runner trying to fit a mold. She has under-fueled, over-trained, and resisted rest until one day when Keely said "no more" as it became clear that her health was hanging in the balance.

She became curious about the kind of runner she desired to be. And this curiosity led to positive change dictated by her desires, not the expectations of others. As a result, Keely now dedicates herself to assisting women in overcoming the detrimental impacts of improper training while she races strong at the top end of her field.

Keely is no stranger to the podium and most recently set a new course record at the Black Canyon 100k, where she walked away with one of two coveted Golden Tickets for the Western States 100, which takes place this coming June.

We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with this impressive woman and hope that she inspires you to appreciate your own unique journey. Thank you for tuning in!

In this episode, we discuss:

- studying for the MCAT
- mindset going into a practice test vs trails races
- working with the doubt of doing enough training
- saying your goals out loud
- Black Canyon Ultra recap
- mindset training for races
- practicing the calm
- choosing to not engage in other energy/not calm
- being true to yourself
- sucks enough moment
- asking for help
- see vulnerability to be vulnerable
- resistance to pushing as well as easing off
- thoughts on having a coach
- training on feel vs pace
- embracing hills and running strong up & down
- Western States and goals for 2023
- going all in on something
- how do you know you’re present

Namaste-
Jess

We are delighted to welcome professional gravel racer and ultra runner Heather Jackson back to the show.

Our first episode with Heather launched in January 2020. So much has transpired since then, including her retirement from racing triathlon at the professional level and Heather and her husband Wattie becoming parents with the arrival of Stevie pup, who was introduced to the world via Instagram last September.

Heather finished off 2022 in a huge way, having raced her final Ironman in Kona at the World Championships, then two weeks later placing 14th female at the Big Sugar 100-mile gravel race, and then one week later took the ultra running scene by storm with her 5th place finish at Javelina Hundred 100-mile after leading the race through mile-60.

And most recently, she just crushed the Black Canyon 100k after an iconic battle with heavy hitters like Keely Henniger and Ida Nilsson. She finished 2nd on the day, coming in under the previous course record with a time of 8hrs 47 minutes, and 59 seconds.

So much newness and unknown during this conversation, and of course, we dig for her treasures of wisdom which she always shares so generously.

Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoy the show, please consider making your statement known on Patreon - this community is solely responsible for keeping the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free.

In this episode, we discuss:

- moving to the dirt sports
- going out too hot
- Ironman endurance on the trails
- beginners mindset
- the art of downhill running
- trail running requires presence
- nutrition practices for these longer trail races
- Heather's support crew
- joy and gratitude
- epic trail battles
- gravel riding to support healthy running
- Western States 100 Endurance Run
- what are you waiting for?
- 2023 race calendar

Namaste-
Jess

Today we’re excited to be joined by two female entrepreneurs who are assisting athletes in feeling better in their bodies, which, as we all know, has such an impact on our minds. Heather Sloan and Enwei Li are healthcare practitioners, friends, and working moms with almost 30 years of combined healthcare experience. In their over 15-year friendship, they have shared many patient success stories, methods of healing, and wellness go-tos.

From their experience with injury coupled with assisting their athlete clients with injury prevention and healing, they kept running into a wall when it came to being mobile and healing simultaneously. They became frustrated with the gap in the healthcare products market, and out of this came Heali, the first-ever tape that offers pain relief, recovery, and support at the same time. Addressing an untapped market area, these ladies won over the investors on Dragon’s Den and walked away with a deal.

Beej and I have been using this tape since November. Our athletes on Team YogiTriathlete are also using it, and we couldn’t wait to get these ladies onto the show so that more and more athletes can experience the support and recovery we have been experiencing over these last few months.

The product is impressive, but we want to shine a light on the women behind the offering because knowing who we are supporting is just as important as the support this product offers us all. Thank you for tuning in!

In this episode, we discuss:

- background of Heali
- so stylish you may even want to fake an injury
- turning inspiration into action
- biggest roadblocks in the development of the product
- creating the winning formula
- keys to the success of a partnership
- Dragon’s Den experience
- why menthol and magnesium
- how it works
- importance of mobility in recovery and injury prevention
- confident movement
- easy application
- empowering athletes to take ownership of our health
- vision for the future of Heali Medical

Namaste-
Jess

Our guest today is Mike Reilly, a true legend in the hearts and minds of many and someone who has witnessed the finish point of hundreds of thousands of dreams.

As the lead announcer for Ironman triathlons across the globe for over three decades, Mike is most celebrated for creating a universal language consisting of four simple words.

"You Are An Ironman" has been a primary motivator for countless triathletes to get out of bed each morning and get after their goal of finishing the iconic Ironman distance triathlon.

Mike was our guest for the 100th episode of this podcast in 2018, on which we dive into his back story, the journey to his reign on the red carpet, and the Big Island moment when that famous phrase was born.

Enjoy this meaningful conversation with not just a voice but the kind and compassionate heart of this Ironman hero.

In this episode, we discuss:

- life after Ironman
- trusting it will all work out for you
- family as his anchor
- his final Kona
- living a life of no regrets
- we have one thing we can control on race day
- we must motivate ourselves
- sharpening your skill of presence
- no limits mindset
- playing the role of a connector
- we are not alone in not knowing who we are
- teach to learn
- exercise is the best medication

Namaste-
Jess

Welcome to a special edition of the OH Show focused on Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, less than seven weeks away. We answer questions from listeners, coaches, and YT athletes looking to express their greatest success on race day. We cap off this episode with a personal message from race director Sabrina Houston who emphasizes the most important quality to bring to race day.

We intend this episode to assist you all with your Oceanside experience and future races. Thank you for tuning in.

In this episode, we discuss:

- how to stay calm during the surf entry
- when we are calm, we are invincible
- the benefit of more touches in the water
- training practices to increase confidence and reduce anxiety
- fear and excitement - we have a choice
- technique for getting past the break
- official practice swim the day before Ironman 70.3 Oceanside
- preparing for the Oceanside bike course
- strategy for the run course
- YogiTriathlete workout meetups before race day
- Carlsbad 5000
- Prep tips for a great race day
- a message from your Ironman 70.3 Oceanside Race Director, Sabrina Houston

Namaste-
Jess

In this episode, BJ takes the role of host and interviews Meg Leighton, Valerie Griffiths, and me. These women are dear friends of ours and my retreat co-hosts. Throughout the show, BJ assists us in articulating our yoga stories and sharing how the practice has positively affected our lives and relationships.

Meg's business, Awake Minds, has become the entity under which the three of us consciously curate meditation and yoga retreats across the globe. These have become sell-out offerings, and we look forward to announcing some new locations for 2024. So please stay connected with us by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Instagram to be the first to learn about upcoming retreats.

We hope you absorb many tangible teachings in this episode, thank you for tuning in and supporting the show through Patreon.

In this episode, we discuss:

- background stories
- when work feels meaningful
- intellect vs. experience
- trusting where you are in your life is exactly where you need to be
- the difference between intellect and intelligence
- working to become more detached
- disturbance inside is a sign of your work
- how yoga has influenced
- aware of the limitations of the mind
- no limit vision for your work in the world

Namaste-
Jess