Anna Gibson drops by this week to teach us all about Skimo ahead of it's debut in the 2026 Winter Olympics next month!

In this episode, Lauren and Anna discuss her entry into the sport and rapid learning curve in the lead up to qualifying for and competing in the Olympics, as well as how her trail experience and fitness translates.

She explains the Olympic format specifically; the course, the rules, technique, and things to watch for... and of course we have a brief discussion on Skimo's Olympic debut as a potential template for Olympic trail running.

If you'd like to hear Anna's full story prior to 2026, you can find it here (or scroll down to episode 38 in our previous episodes)!

⁠⁠⁠You can find and follow Women of Distance at: ⁠linktr.ee/womenofdistance⁠

*This podcast is produced with support from ⁠Open Fuel⁠!

Open Fuel is taking initiatives to reduce excess waste and unnecessary consumerism in sports nutrition - fueling your needs, for your adventure. Check out their Ultra Fuel (60g carbs, 500mg sodium) at ⁠openfuel.co⁠ . Passion Mango Tango is my current fav. And stay tuned for their gel mix, coming soon!

Use code: WOD for 20% off your order, every time!

Women of Distance is also kept caffeinated by our friends, and fellow trail runners, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.summit-roasters.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Use code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!⁠⁠⁠ (Trolley House, medium roast, is my top choice.)

We'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!

Jess Brazeau had a heck of a year in 2025 - consistently stepping into deep international competition in trail and mountain running, at a variety of different distances, and consistently proving to herself that she belongs there.

But Jess isn't defined by her running alone - she's also a community builder, a conscious and connected consumer, a public lands advocate, and someone who cares deeply about making an impact on the world around her.

In this episode, Lauren and Jess discuss her journey through sport - from gymnastics to rock climbing to road and trail running; lessons learned in finding her own path; creating community and connection through the trails; and cultivating a conscious and intentional lifestyle. Of course we also talk through her year of racing, and the curiosity it opened about what she might be capable of in the year(s) ahead.

You can find and follow Jess at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/jbrazeau

⁠You can find and follow Women of Distance at: linktr.ee/womenofdistance

*This podcast is produced with support from Open Fuel!

Open Fuel is taking initiatives to reduce excess waste and unnecessary consumerism in sports nutrition - fueling your needs, for your adventure. Check out their Ultra Fuel (60g carbs, 500mg sodium) at openfuel.co . Passion Mango Tango is my current fav. And stay tuned for their gel mix, coming soon!

Use code: WOD for 20% off your order, every time!

Women of Distance is also kept caffeinated by our friends, and fellow trail runners, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.summit-roasters.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Use code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!⁠ (Trolley House, medium roast, is my top choice.)

We'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!

"Change comes first from saying something, then following that with action."

This is a special episode featuring the women of Team USA for the 2025 50k road world championship. This is not a "preview" episode, but rather a panel discussion about the state of road-based ultrarunning under the current IAU system.

The 2025 championship was scheduled to be held on December 7th in New Delhi, India. But just two weeks before the race, it was postponed due to wildly toxic air quality.

This is the third consecutive year that the 50k/100k championships have been held in India, where the air quality and the health and safety of the athletes has been proven to be at risk.

In this episode we're talking with the athletes:

Courtney Olsen ( instagram.com/courtneymarieolsen )

Allison Mercer ( instagram.com/onewomendanceparty )

Melissa Tanner (instagram .com/melissartanner )

Christine Guerrero ( instagram.com/christineeguerrero )

(Special mention to Alexandra Niles and Sophie Seward who are on the team but were unable to make the recording)

As well as team leaders:

Lin Gentling ( instagram.com/lingentling )

Meghan Canfield ( instagram.com/runningmegleg )

We discuss how and why the IAU has gotten to this state; the challenges of competing under this system; ideas and paths for change; why this team shows up despite the challenges; and why road ultrarunning is special and deserves participation, support, and viewership!

As of this recording, the championship has been rescheduled for March 14, 2026 in the same location. There IS time between now and then for change, and this avenue of our sport deserves it.

Please share this episode or your favorite clip with someone you know, and be part of enacting that change and bringing awareness.

You can find and follow Women of Distance on YouTube and Social Media at: linktr.ee/womenofdistance

*This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.summit-roasters.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Use code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!

*And also by my own team at More Miles Run Coaching.

With a team of four coaches and a combined more than 25 years of coaching experience, we offer one-on-one coaching for athletes of all abilities: from beginners to veterans, 5ks to 200milers, roads to trails, your first to your fastest. Learn more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.moremilestogo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!