Making Strides

Hello again, everyone! We’re back after a brief break for the summer, and, just like the quick turn into the Fall season, we get right back into racing! In this episode, we talk about some big wins — both on and off the race course: Stef has been on a solid, health-centered training trajectory, and she’s made some big wins in the ultra and trail space in the last month! Carolyn has also been working hard in her comeback-to-marathoning journey, and she talks about how her own life lessons have helped her encourage her son, who has entered the world of cross country and track. Both Stef and Carolyn will be running the NYC Marathon at the beginning of November, and they talk about plans for race weekend and beyond. Show Notes 0:05 - welcome welcome! Catching up after summer break 3:10 - Stef’s BIG WIN at the Above the Clouds 50K, and she talks about why the race and this past year’s training were so significant 8:45 - Stef talks about developing confidence and practicing assertiveness 18:20 - hunting men and strategy on the race course 22:30 - Stef’s thoughts on safety when racing in rural areas, especially as an Asian American woman 38:55 - discussion on the impact of comparison, and Carolyn talks about navigating the Comparison Trap for herself while simultaneously also helping to coach her son through it 46:20 - diving into the NYC Marathon! Carolyn shares why this training block has been so significant for her 1:01:00 - Carolyn shares about the mental training and work she’s done with sports psychologist, Emily Saul, and how it has changed the way she views the future Make sure to follow the ⁠Rising Hearts⁠ team and cheer on athlete Kali Ko Reis and Rising Hearts founder, ⁠Jordan Whetstone⁠, at the NYC Marathon! Special thanks to our Audio Engineer, ⁠⁠Mark Kalagayan⁠⁠, from the non-profit, ⁠⁠SPARC Worldwide⁠⁠. As always, we are so grateful you’re here — in this space, in the sport, and in this world! #keepshowingup, keep running, and keep on being the change we wish to see. #MakingStridesPod #letsFlippindothis #diversewerun Find Stef ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Find Carolyn ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Stef and I get more into our different experiences growing up as Asian Americans — like how I felt like I was constantly straddling two separate worlds and identities, while Stef moved about not acknowledging her Asian ancestry. We also share about the steps we’ve taken as adults to reclaim and celebrate our heritage, whether through cooking more cultural foods, amplifying Asian American runners, or participating in more Asian American-centered events. This was a whole therapy session, yall! We also start to touch upon our thoughts on how social media has shaped running culture and community — and full disclosure: this topic is definitely to be continued! There are lots of unpack! Special s/o to Alexandria Staten, the Rising Hearts athlete whom Stef has been coaching and who will be lining up to run Western States 100 this weekend! Make sure to go show her some love!! We hope you enjoy this convo (take us with you on your next run!), and of course, subscribe, leave a rating and review if you do! The Making Strides Podcast is available across all streaming platforms now. As always, we are so grateful you’re here — in this space, in the sport, and in this world! #keepshowingup, keep running, and keep on being the change we wish to see. Notes: 00:06 - Carolyn and Stef shoot the shit for awhile, reflecting on Further, the Boston Marathon, Vegas travels, and moving 05:05 - Stef cautiously getting back into training for her upcoming 100K 08:10 - Carolyn’s family participating in the Boston AAPI 5K, and how different of an experience it has been for her kids to grow up as Asian Americans, compared to when Carolyn was a kid 17:00 - Carolyn and Stef get more in depth on their different experiences growing up as Asian Americans, and how they have sought to reclaim aspects of their heritage as adults 24:10 - Stef celebrates AANHPI Heritage Month by elevating one of her API athletes, Andrew, who immigrated from Korea and has had to navigate discrimination in the trail and ultra world 36:15 - Carolyn honors AANHPI Heritage Month by prioritizing AAPI athletes in the month’s Diverse We Run features; she highlights George Rehmet, the out-going President of the RRCA 41:50 - Carolyn and Stef delve into how social media has changed the sport and the ways we feel community (and this discussion is TBC!) 58:40 - looking ahead, Stef will be coaching Rising Hearts athlete, Alexandria Staten at Western States! Carolyn will be getting through her kids’ graduations, kick-starting summer vacation, and diving into marathon training! Links: Diverse We Run feature on George Rehmet Rising Hearts Alexandria Staten Find Stef ⁠here⁠. Find Carolyn ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠.

Out in the desert of Palm Springs, CA, a team of ten women set out on a 6-day, ultramarathon, with the goal of breaking world records and going "Further" than any team of women had gone before: enter, the lululemon Further Project! When the dust settled, the ten women collectively ran approximately 3,000 miles and broke 12 world records! They also provided an unprecedented amount of physiological data that will change the course of women's running. In this episode, Stef and Carolyn -- both of whom participated in Further as an athlete and crew captain, respectively -- process their thoughts and emotions coming off this one-of-a-kind event! This episode also includes two conversations that were recorded, live, from Further -- one with returning guest, Mirna Valerio, and the other with fellow teammate, Vriko Kwok, the day after the conclusion of Further. Get ready to GO FURTHER! Special thanks to our Audio Engineer, ⁠Mark Kalagayan⁠, from the non-profit, ⁠SPARC Worldwide⁠. Show Notes: 2:45 - diving into all that was lululemon Further! 4:40 - background: the conception of Further 7:00 - background: the diversity of athletes 9:00 - background: the female-focused research component 13:55 - the implications of impact of how Further brought together representation on a global platform 17:00 - the shift mid-race from performance to presence 22:05 - *special*: live convo with Mirna Valerio on Day 5 of Further 39:40 - *special*: live convo with Vriko Kwok, the day after the completion of Further 1:20:20 - announcements and upcoming events at the Boston Marathon Links: Further Highlights, vol. 1 and vol. 2 Mirna Valerio Vriko Kwok More on Further Find Stef here. Find Carolyn here and here.

“Not everything that counts can be counted.” Carolyn and Stef are back! The first episode of the year includes a lot of reflections on 2023, both personally and professionally, as well as the plan and mindset for moving into 2024. As always, thanks for being here! If you enjoy our convos, please like, subscribe, and leave a positive review! Show Notes: 0:18 - intro and reconnecting after the holidays 3:18 - reflections on the first year of the Making Strides Podcast! 6:05 - Stef’s reflections on social media presence and usage, and how it has been connected with her growth in self-acceptance and advocacy 11:11 - how Stef’s shift towards self-acceptance happened 18:09 - reflections on the pace of Making Strides in 2023, as well as the plan for 2024 21:32- what Stef is looking forward to in 2024, particularly in coaching 25:05 - highlighting endurance athlete, Vriko Kwok 30:08 - what Carolyn is looking forward to in 2024, and shifting her mindset from being an ‘injured runner’ to a ‘healthy athlete’ Special thanks to our new Audio Engineer, Mark Kalagayan, from the non-profit, SPARC Worldwide! Noted in our convo: Emily Saul, Sports Psychologist Rising Hearts, grassroots org working to support and elevate Native communities Alexandria Staten, Diné-Mexican runner, training for Western States 100 supported by GU Energy Labs, Rising Heart, and Stefanie Flippin Vriko Kwok, entrepreneur and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu-turned ultrarunner, currently a Global Ambassador for lululemon and training for the lululemon Further project