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!

Jade Belzberg never viewed herself as an athlete, let alone a professional - making a career out of sport. In fact even now, she describes herself as a writer, before a runner.

Yet over the past year, she's raced everything from the VK to the 100k, with snowballing success - most recently, ending the year with a win at the JFK 50 Mile (the first Canadian woman to do so) and the fourth fastest time in the course's long history.

In this episode, Lauren and Jade discuss her early belief that athletics were not her strong suit; her interests in writing, animals, and connection to nature; her discovery of trail running and ultra-distances through her husband; and the culmination of external belief and proof over time that she has real aptitude in this sport.

You can find and follow Jade at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/jadebelzberg

and read her Substack at https://jadebelzberg.substack.com

Find and follow W.o.D. at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/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!

Sarah Biehl is a marathoner turned trail and ultra athlete, who experienced early and natural success as a distance runner. She earned her OTQ standard in the marathon just shortly after college, and made a transition to ultrarunning almost immediately after running in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials.

She ran the JFK 50 Mile three years in a row, "projecting" the race and ultimately winning in 2022 with the then-fastest women's time in the race's extensive history (still, currently, the third fastest). But after that historic run, a series of changes in her life, including a cross country move from Ohio to Colorado, disrupted the smooth upward trajectory she'd been on.

In this episode, Lauren and Sarah discuss the impact of that move on her physical and mental health, as well as her performance. We also talk about how she made her way back to herself, and spent 2025 putting together a string of strong trail and ultra racing across a wide variety of terrain!

You can find and follow Sarah at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/biehlharas

Find and follow W.o.D. at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/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!

Carla Molinaro is one of the fastest ultrarunners in the world, with top finishes at many of the fastest ultramarathons in the world (50k/100k road world champs, Comrades, Two Oceans). She's also a community builder, a coach, a cake connoisseur, and currently in the chase for a WSER Golden Ticket.

Carla brings a lighthearted energy to a sport she takes seriously, and in this episode she and Lauren discuss where that came from: from her history as a multi-sport athlete, to marathoner, to multi-day fast packer, to ultrarunner... Finding or creating community has been a common thread throughout her life, and the foundation for both competing well and living well.

We also talk through her recent experience at the Javelina Jundred, post-race reflections, and her plans to continue the pursuit of a Golden Ticket at the Black Canyon 100k in February!

You can find and follow Carla at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/carlamolinaro

Find and follow W.o.D. at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/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!

Addie Bracy is fresh off of a third place finish and her fastest 100-mile race ever at the Javelina Jundred, where she earned a Golden Ticket to return for her third appearance at Western States.

With a running career spanning 25-years on the track, the road, and the trails - Addie is still finding ways to learn, grow, improve, and compete at the top of the sport!

In this episode, Lauren and Addie go back to her origins, where she was raised with a strong work ethic and the guiding principle that success is only earned, never given. We discuss her path through collegiate and post collegiate competition, her decision to retire from the track and roads, discovering competitive trail running, and the deep curiosity that led her to ultra-distances.

Of course, we spend time discussing how her experience paid off at Javelina, and the confidence she built to accept the Golden Ticket she earned.

You can find and follow Addie at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/addiebracy⁠

Find and follow W.o.D. at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/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!

You've seen Courtney Coppinger's name everywhere this season, from the Golden Trail Series to the World Champs to the WMRA World Cup to the USATF Mountain Running Champs and more... but, you haven't heard her full story.

Courtney describes the past year as a rebirth for her as a person, which has fueled the discovery of her talents in sub-ultra trail running - seeking joy as the top priority on her path.

In this episode, Lauren and Courtney discuss her history as a collegiate and professional track athlete, primarily in the steeplechase; the curiosity that helped shape that career and also led her to the trails; the impact of an abusive relationship on her personality and her relationship with the sport; and the empowerment of escaping that relationship and healing herself into a new life and purpose.

*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!

You can find and follow Courtney at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/cpcop_

Find and follow W.o.D. at

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/womenofdistance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠