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Imagine standing at the starting line of your first marathon, rain pouring down, wondering if your months of training will pay off. Now imagine sharing that journey with your family across three generations.

In this deeply personal episode, I bring you into the heart of my family's running journey. From my grandsons' joyful recounting of their first one-mile race in the pouring rain to my son Charles' and daughter-in-law Sarah's transformative marathon experiences, you'll witness how running creates bonds and builds character.

Charles reveals the mental fortitude required for marathon training while juggling work and family responsibilities, explaining how "95% of it's between your ears." His remarkable recovery story—completing 500 air squats the day after his marathon—demonstrates the power of cross-training. Meanwhile, Sarah takes us through her grueling trail marathon experience at Devil's Lake, where she conquered over 3,000 feet of elevation gain and pushed through unexpected additional mileage.

What makes this conversation special isn't just the physical accomplishments, but the shared wisdom about life beyond running. The family discusses practical race strategies like the surprisingly effective hat-cooling technique, but more importantly, they dismantle the "I could never do that" mindset that prevents so many from pursuing challenging goals.

This episode captures why running communities are so special—supportive, encouraging, and accessible to everyone regardless of pace or appearance. Whether you're an experienced runner or someone contemplating their first 5K, you'll find inspiration in my family's journey and perhaps discover that you're capable of more than you've ever imagined.

Follow the podcast, leave a 5-star review, and reach out if you'd like to share your own running story at carla@CoffeeCrewCoaching.com.

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What happens when a marathoner faces cancer? For Liz Krznarich, running had been her constant companion for 27 years before a breast cancer diagnosis at age 40 threatened to take away this core piece of her identity.

The parallels between marathon training and enduring cancer treatment emerged in unexpected ways throughout Liz's journey. "Having that marathon training perspective and being really familiar with discomfort was extremely helpful," she explains, "because there's a whole lot of discomfort during chemo." Yet the experience also humbled her, revealing the limitations of the "mind over matter" approach that had served her through countless long runs. As her treatment reduced her red blood cell count and compromised her digestive system's ability to absorb water, Liz discovered that some physiological challenges couldn't be overcome through mental fortitude alone.

Rather than abandoning physical activity entirely, Liz adapted. She replaced runs with long walks, discovered yoga to combat muscle tightness, and used stationary biking to maintain cardiovascular fitness when running wasn't possible. When treatment left her feeling disconnected from her runner identity, she creatively scheduled half marathons to coincide with her final treatments – giving herself something to look forward to beyond the medical appointments that dominated her calendar.

Perhaps most profound is how this journey transformed Liz's relationship with her body. The runner who once "had a history of driving my body into the ground" now approaches training with newfound respect for the complex physiological processes that make running possible. "Our bodies are amazing and they deserve to be treated nicely," she reflects. "All the tiny cellular processes going on are pretty miraculous." This wisdom extends to her approach to nutrition, hydration, and recovery – aspects she previously neglected but now embraces as essential components of running longevity.

Whether you're facing health challenges or simply seeking to become a more balanced athlete, Liz's story offers powerful perspective on resilience, adaptation, and gratitude for what our bodies can do. Share your thoughts about this episode and subscribe to hear more inspiring stories from runners overcoming obstacles on their journey over the next hill.

Hydrapatch.com code OTNH10

You can reach out to us at:

https://coffeycrewcoaching.com
email: Carla@coffeycrewcoaching.com
FB @ Over the Next Hill Fitness Group
IG @coffeycrewcoaching.com

and Buy Me a Coffee
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Carlau

https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNH20

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What happens when someone who once hated running decides to lace up their shoes at age 32? Ben Bloedorn's transformation from self-proclaimed non-athlete to ultramarathon finisher reveals the profound parallel between running and life's broader challenges.

Beginning with his first painful 5K in 2019, Ben shares how completing that initial race ignited something unexpected - the question "what's next?" That curiosity propelled him from suffering through shin splints to conquering a 50-mile ultramarathon at the Ice Age 50, despite significant setbacks including knee injuries and failed race attempts along the way.

Ben's evolution mirrors what many reluctant runners experience - that moment of looking in the mirror, not liking what they see, and deciding something must change. His candid insights about training mishaps (like the snow-covered 20-hour Arctos race he abandoned) offer valuable perspective for new and experienced runners alike. The conversation explores the psychological aspects of progress, including the counterintuitive value of rest periods and how training data can sometimes become an unhealthy obsession.

What makes this episode special is Ben's authentic reflection on how running becomes more than exercise - it transforms into a practice that builds discipline, resilience, and self-knowledge applicable to every area of life. As he beautifully notes, "I have never come back from a run and felt worse than before I left." It's this simple truth that keeps runners returning to the roads and trails despite the inevitable suffering that comes with pushing physical limits.

Whether you're contemplating your first 5K or training for an ultramarathon, Ben's journey offers both practical advice and philosophical perspective on embracing discomfort as the pathway to growth. Ready to lace up your shoes and discover what you're capable of?

https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Oconomowoc/ZachariahsAcresRunWalkRoll

Hydrapatch.com code OTNH10

You can reach out to us at:

https://coffeycrewcoaching.com
email: Carla@coffeycrewcoaching.com
FB @ Over the Next Hill Fitness Group
IG @coffeycrewcoaching.com

and Buy Me a Coffee
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Carlau

https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNH20

https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNHBOGO?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fhydrapatch%C2%AE

https://rnwy.life code: OTNH15

https://jambar.com code: CARLA20