In this episode, the last of Season 6 I'm sharing my personal journey. It has been a challenging season since the pandemic. I faced various obstacles, including COVID-19, two knee surgeries, financial struggles, and my most recent surgery. Many athletes find their identity in their sport, but it has been difficult to compete due to a plethora of reasons which I discuss.. It led me to reflect on who I am and the roles I play in life.I underwent another surgery recently. I share my fears surroundi...
Apr 05, 2023•21 min•Season 6Ep. 100
Navy officer, college president, and entrepreneur are only a few of Tom Scheer's many accomplishments. In this inspiring episode. Tom shares his story of growing up in a racist neighborhood and finding acceptance through sports, leading to a passion for fitness and endurance races, including over 30 Ironman competitions. It all began at the Boy and Girls Club and he is passionate about giving back to the organization that gave him so much. Tom shares his strategies for managing a busy life, emph...
Mar 15, 2023•52 min•Season 6Ep. 99
Do you find it difficult to define yourself beyond your sport? As athletes, we often identify ourselves with our sport and struggle to find our identity outside of it. In this episode, we sit down with psychotherapist Anna Marcolin to explore this topic and learn about her own journey in finding her identity beyond sports. Anna shares her love for sports and how she believes that athletes should enjoy every moment of their sport and be consistent while being easier on oneself. She emphasizes the...
Mar 08, 2023•54 min•Season 6Ep. 98
David Redmond started his triathlon journey following his divorce. He has a family history of high blood pressure. He knew he was at risk if he did not get off his couch and become active. Watching an IronMan World Championship on TV was his initial inspiration. As a young man growing up in Indiana, David was very active in sports. He played basketball, football and even some baseball. After college, he did some boxing at the gym but pretty much remained inactive until his divorce in 2010. David...
Mar 01, 2023•35 min•Season 6Ep. 97
On today’s episode, we will hear from renowned wellness expert and distance running enthusiast, Dr. Nina Cherie Franklin . Also known as That Salad Lady across multiple media including YouTube and TikTok. Dr. Franklin will talk us through her journey of keeping fit since the age of 12 to date even through motherhood. Dr. Franklin has extensive knowledge about food and nutrition given that she has a plethora of academic degrees and certifications. She will talk to us about her passion with food a...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 96
Alex Torres, an Ironman Triathlete, shares his journey of overcoming challenges and realizing his potential to become an Ironman. Alex started his athletic journey as the "runt of the Torres family," but through hard work and determination, he proved everyone wrong and accomplished his goal of becoming an Ironman. One of the key pieces of advice that Alex shares is to never forget your "why." This is what will keep you motivated and inspired during the long and tedious moments of training. He al...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 94
This episode features two athletes sharing their journeys, successes, and challenges. This mother-and-son duo in sports always finds a way to support each other! Dr. Petriece Culberson started her fitness journey while serving in the US Army. Her son Jullien “Jules” CulbersonJules was exposed to sports even while in the womb. He was pushed in a stroller as his mom ran with her mom group. Dr Culberson attributes her time in the armed forces and participating in sports in making her disciplined an...
Feb 01, 2023•52 min•Season 6Ep. 93
Some of the most important lessons are the ones we learn from failure. Lloyd Henry is a 32-time Ironman & long-course finisher. He overcame the stigma of athletes losing their drive after a loss. He had no background in sports, but progressed to become a sub-3-hour marathoner He has competed in numerous running events (5k to ultra-marathon) including the Boston Marathon and Comrades Marathon (South Africa). He has been running since 2002 and coaching triathletes since 2004. He uses all his p...
Jan 25, 2023•49 min•Season 6Ep. 92
Pivoting can provide stress and uncertainty as it is changed from an original plan. Change can also be somewhat scary. It can mean changing one's life, whether it's a job, a move, or a new journey. Pivoting can be risky yet beneficial. Pivoting lets people follow their passions, although with a new or renewed focus. Pivoting can foster growth. Adapting to a new setting may help one grow and further find themselves. It may allow a new sense of purpose, and a renewed passion. Changing one's life c...
Jan 18, 2023•25 min•Season 6Ep. 91
As we go into a new season, let me start by thanking everyone who has taken even a minute of their time to listen to my podcast. It has been a challenging journey balancing podcasting with a full-time job and other adventures and I have learned a lot along the way. I am a strong black woman who may act as if nothing bothers me, but life sometimes sucks and we all need inspiration. My podcast is called Running is Cheaper Than Therapy. It features runners, triathletes, other athletes, and others w...
Jan 11, 2023•26 min•Season 5Ep. 71
Welcome to Season 4 of Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy Podcast. Happy New Year, I pray you all have a blessed and prosperous year. Let's dive into the benefits of staying focused this new year. I have found that with goal setting, less is more. The problem we can face each January is creating plans that we are not ready for. Whatever goal you set it is not going to magically happen because it's January of a new year. I'm going to share with you some of the things that I will be working on in 202...
Jan 04, 2023•24 min•Season 4Ep. 51
We all know the obvious physical benefits when it comes to running, but what about the mental health benefits? Please tune and listen to Dr. Gina Meyer as she goes through the many reasons why women should start their own journey in running. Most of us (if not all of us) understand that every woman finds strength from their hearts and it empowers them in everything that they do, so why should running be different? Episode Highlights: The Mental Health Benefits of running Understand how ARC empow...
Dec 28, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Do you believe in divine intervention and that everything happens for a reason ? Today, I welcome Dr. Shannon Goode to the show. She is a primary care sports medicine physician who lives in New Orleans. She joined the staff of Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute in September 2020. After completing a fellowship in Sports Medicine at U F. H. Wilson Memorial Hospital in New York. She went to undergrad at Howard University, another HBCU. She also is an athlete, she was a competitive swimmer. She swam ...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Mirna Valerio has made it her life’s purpose to live and experience the fullness of humanity each day. She is a Brooklyn native with many talents. Her recognition as a runner has grown after a viral post from her blog, FatGirlRunning. Since then, she has appeared in various publications and was chosen as 2018 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. We discuss how she started running, her growth as a running, writing, singing and advocating for kindness. This is a great episode that will moti...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 53
Tony Drees is a Purple Heart Desert Storm Veteran; as well as an adaptive athlete who uses skiing as a vehicle to serve the community. He survived the deadliest scud missile attack of the Iraq war thirty year ago. Twenty-eight members of his unit lost their lives. Tony survived but his right leg was severely injured. He endured over seventy surgeries to save his right leg. He actually was able to function and live for a while with his injured leg, a feat that he doctors called a miracle He was s...
Dec 08, 2022•53 min•Season 4Ep. 67
Where did the fun go? Have you ever felt that you did not fit in when participating in a triathlon or other sporting event? You are not alone. Camille Baptiste Chief Race Architect and Fun Director the brains behind Swim, Bike, Run Fun Events. When Camile no longer had joy in training for the races, she knew something had to change. As she looked to bring her love of triathlons back, she began planning fun races for women where community overrides competition. She created a safe space for women ...
Nov 30, 2022•58 min•Season 4Ep. 55
Today I am discussing a very interesting topic “ Homecoming: What Does It Mean to Come Home”. I stumbled across the topic during my Homecoming to my Alma Mater, Florida A & M University (FAMU) a few weeks ago. Those of you who know me, and/or are regular listeners know that I love FAMU. My mother helped spark my interest in physical therapy. FAMU A&M was one of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that had physical therapy at the time. FAMU was within driving distance...
Nov 23, 2022•25 min•Season 5Ep. 90
Aaron Hickman started his fitness journey at 15 years of age because the requirement to join the high school basketball team was also to be on the cross-country team. After high school, Aaron took an 8-year hiatus from running before emerging into running events in the Chicagoland area. Since then, Aaron has competed in 10 obstacle courses, 5 triathlons, and about 15 endurance running events. Initially, Aaron did not take triathlons seriously, but his first Chicago Triathlon experience was an aw...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 89
Stacy Winters has had a more than 30-year running career. She's participated in countless 5k's, 10 k’s, half marathons, marathons. Her longest distance race was a 50k trail distance. Starting with duathlons, Stacy ventured into multisports. She eventually started participating in triathlons after she learned how to swim at the age of forty-five. Stacy’s philosophy is that endurance sports are for everyone. She is a member of several groups, such as Mid Maryland Triathlon Club. She also enjoys vo...
Nov 09, 2022•57 min•Season 5Ep. 88
Colonel Yvonne Spencer is an eight time full distance Ironman finisher. She is a 2020 long course triathlon team member, and multi-year all world athlete. In addition to the numerous triathlon finishes in all distances, she's an avid runner. She has completed 16 marathons and completed the Boston Marathon in 2021. She has also been coaching since 2017. Colonel Yvonne Spencer has a 28-year military career serving in a variety of leadership positions and has commanded organizations ranging from 3...
Nov 02, 2022•48 min•Season 5Ep. 87
This is a very special episode. Tomorrow is my two-year podcast anniversary. It is also the day my mother transitioned from this world due to breast cancer. I wanted to do something positive and meaningful during the midst of COVID and I started this podcast. I thank you so much for listening, a special thank all of my past and future guests. Thanks for all the suggestions, the recommendations. I appreciate all the love. This week's guest I met shortly after I moved to Chicago. Thanks to Gabriel...
Oct 26, 2022•55 min•Season 5Ep. 86
Valerie Tyler is one of my former coaches. She taught me how to swim and how to overcome my fear of the deep end of the pool. A self-proclaimed tomboy, Valerie has been active all her life but she only got into running at the age of 50 on a dare. Over the next 20 years, Valerie has run thirty-five marathons qualifying for the Boston Marathon four times. She also started competing in triathlons, also on a dare. After she learned how to swim, she started with sprint triathlons. She progressed to t...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 85
Today the focus will not be on post-race recovery, but on post-surgery and post-injury recovery. I have received many questions regarding rehab and physical therapy related to my latest surgery and I will attempt to answer them in this episode as well as give an update on my own recovery journey. I have had a plethora of injuries in my running and triathlon career as well as some from ski racing. I have had plantar fasciitis, meniscal tear, tendonitis, iliotibial friction band syndrome etc. I ha...
Oct 12, 2022•27 min•Season 5Ep. 84
Shauna Anderson is a Mechanical engineer and mathematician who has taught for 25 years in the United States, Ethiopia and Taiwan. She is a a graduate of an HBCU, Howard University. She obtained a master's degree from Harvard University. Shauna considers herself a citizen of the world having visited forty-seven countries and with the full intention of seeing more. Not only has Shauna completed all of the six major world marathons, but also, run a marathon on all seven continents. She has also com...
Oct 05, 2022•45 min•Season 5Ep. 83
Liz Yerly has been my physical therapist since 2014. I initially saw her with plantar fasciitis but she has since seen me for a plethora of other injuries as well as post-surgery. She sees many endurance athletes and has a world-class facility. I enjoy working with her because she challenges me and keeps me from getting bored. She also uses a variety of methods to help me reach my goals. Besides being a physical therapist, Liz also is a certified athletic trainer and massage therapist. She teach...
Sep 28, 2022•42 min•Season 5Ep. 82
Coach Maurice (Mo) Wills is the man who is responsible for getting to the start and finish line of all my major races minus my one DNF ( did not finish). Mo, taught me to swim and believed I could do more than I ever thought possible. I also told him he was the first coach that didn’t fire me- long story. Mo is a USA Triathlon, a level two coach, certified total immersion swim instructor, certified Chi running instructor, and master trainer for heart zones. He is a two-time Boston Marathon finis...
Sep 21, 2022•46 min•Season 5Ep. 81
Many people who lead active lives, particularly athletes, are guilty of sacrificing sleep in pursuit of other responsibilities. It’s not just athletes who fail to get enough sleep. Life is hectic and it’s hard to get everything done within the right amount of time available in a day. I personally have been sleep-deprived for years. From college balancing schooling with a social life, to medical school, residency, etc. Now with work, training six days a week, this passion project of hosting this ...
Sep 14, 2022•25 min•Season 5Ep. 80
McKenley Mason is an old friend of mine whom I met back in 2015 at the Football Hall of Fame Half Marathon.. He is a marathoner turned triathlete. He used to casually run up to the age of 50. At the age of 50 he decided to quit smoking and drinking and become a more serious runner having prayed on it. Hoping to outlive his parents who had both died in their early 50s, his casual runs became longer and longer and soon found himself running 3 hours straight. His goal at first was to run only one m...
Sep 07, 2022•50 min•Season 5Ep. 79
Dr. Tiencia James is a physician, a wife, mom, marathoner, and a triathlete. This mother of three started running as a child to spend time with her father who was a runner. She eventually fell in love with the sport. She ran track in high school and in her early college days but left the college team to concentrate on her medical studies. She however kept running for her own pleasure. After the birth of her first child, she decided to start racing. Her first marathon was Disney, she ran so well ...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 78
TJ Bryan is a career educator, an author and a runner who continues to run well into her seventies. TJ is a member of a small group of women over 70 who run in marathons. She is a rare African American woman competing at this distance. After TJ retired from a 30-year career in higher education, she became a runner. She was 64 years old at the time--hardly the point at which most people embrace a demanding sport. No one was more surprised than she was when she demonstrated ability as a runner at ...
Aug 23, 2022•1 hr 24 min•Season 5Ep. 77