Faye Morgan is a Spartan Pro athlete with a wide range of experiences and skills. She has top-ten finishes in the USNS and you can catch her on the podium at any SoCal spartan race.
She has a background in ball sports, gymnastics, and CrossFit and uses her diverse background in training to help keep her at the top of the game.
We talk about:
Follow Faye @ fayemocr
Follow along Reinforced Running
Apply for One-on-one Coaching here
IG Rich - @reinforced_running_rich & Josh @Ja_shua_ried
Twitter @ReinforcedRun
Join our private training group on facebook here.
Get your free Guide to faster running @ reinforcedrunning.com/runfaster
Faye Morgan is a Spartan Pro athlete with a wide range of experiences and skills. She has top-ten finishes in the USNS and you can catch her on the podium at any SoCal spartan race.
She has a background in ball sports, gymnastics, and CrossFit and uses her diverse background in training to help keep her at the top of the game.
We talk about:
Follow Faye @ fayemocr
Follow along Reinforced Running
Apply for One-on-one Coaching here
IG Rich - @reinforced_running_rich & Josh @Ja_shua_ried
Twitter @ReinforcedRun
Join our private training group on facebook here.
Get your free Guide to faster running @ reinforcedrunning.com/runfaster
Hello, my name is Ryan bringing you a fresh installment of the reinforced running podcast. Today. Our guest is Fe Morgan and Faye. Morgan is a sport and pro athlete with a wide range of experience and skills. She has top 10 finishes in the U S national series, and you can catch her on pretty much any podium in so Cal.
So she has a big background in ball, sports, basketball in particular. She also has gymnastics in our background and has. Practice and coached CrossFit for a long time. So she has a big diverse training background. And so we talk about how she's able to take all of her experience and continue to train at a high level while raising a family as well.
So we talk about ways you can use your gymnastics to help your OCR and some things that you should be able to practice in your training that will help for your OCR results. We'll talk about what drives her to keep pushing at a top level. Well, she enters her forties and we talk about how to develop grit as an athlete.
So I loved chatting with Fay. I think you'll get some really good strong takeaways from this op before we get to it as some real quick housekeeping. We're going to be shifting the release days of the shows. So Mondays will be the reinforced running podcast and that's where we will find guests and occasionally an ADH MC and the reinforce running podcasts.
You can always count on getting actionable information. We'll help you improve your training. And we'll talk to some of the top coaches and athletes in the sport. On Thursdays, we will be bringing you torque talks. And the past two Tuesdays we've had talks with Sean Stevens, whale and. Lacy Burgess. And that's what we're going to sit down with some of the best athletes in the sport who are part of the obstacle, racing collaboration, and give you insight on how those athletes live and how they train and how they set goals.
And just a lot of cool information that will help you follow some of the athletes stories as we move into 2021. So give those a listen, if you haven't go ahead and listen to Lacey and Sean these past two weeks, some really cool stuff, and there'll be really great athletes to follow along as we bring you.
Torque talks on. Thursdays and reinforce ranked podcast on Mondays. So if you like what we're doing here, just give us, take a minute, give us a five star rating and review. We would really appreciate that. Okay. Enough. Here is Fe Morgan.
I'm really excited to dive in some of your training. It was really extensive background as an athlete, and you've since excelled at a high level with OCR and OCR stars is a great example of that. But once just real quick, just kind of give the listeners an idea of, of who you are and kind of what you're up to as an athlete and as a coach.
All right. Well, so background wise, like I mentioned, I have four sisters and a dad that was our coach, you know, I'm new sports and then kind of pushed us through the high school level and onto college. So we always just like played sports. It just wasn't an option in our household. My mom was a really good runner.
She did triathlons and marathons and choose it. Group exercise instructor. So like golden aerobics. So we kind of grew up in like a pretty nice gym or we were just like, Oh, just doing stuff. So that transition to, you know, just doing like five Ks, 10 Ks with my mom on the road at a young age, like eight and nine years old.
And then. Just always kind of had a love of running in that sense, but always played, you know, like the group, the team sports. And then, like I mentioned, I was a gymnast up until I was 14. So I ran in my senior year of high school, turned out for the track team. I'd always played fast pitch, shop all in up to that point and just decided, Hey let's switch it up a little bit.
I knew I love running. So I wanted to see what track was all about and. Only two females were on the distance side of the track team. And one of them being a young woman that ended up getting a full ride to Stanford on the Stanford, obviously cross country track team. So she really drew the runner out of me, I guess trying to keep up with her, keep her in my sights.
And that's when I knew, Hey, I really, I love the sport and it just kinda stuck at that point. So even though I went on to college and played basketball, I did turn out for the cross country team. And I realized, I think this is more where I was being pulled. And so Once I joined the Marine Corps after college.
They have a pretty unique setup with the sports teams. So anyone that goes on to play or join the military, either enlisted or on the officer side, they've got basketball teams track, they've got wrestling and you basically get to represent your country wearing the uniform and you compete against other branches of service from not just in the United States, but also all across.
The world. So we got to run a marathon in Kuwait, you know, in the UK. And, you know, it was just pretty cool to like where United States Marine Corps and be able to run and almost felt like we were professional athletes, even though, you know, it was far lower level than our actual professional athletes. So that was a pretty unique experience.
And being able to just dive right into the competition side of things, it seems to be a thread, right. You've always been a competitive athlete of saw to some respect. And you mentioned before you were, your first love was gymnastics and My only background with gymnastics is like during like doing CrossFit and in CrossFit, the gymnastic moves are very basic.
Right. But for cross the people they're very hard, like the ring muscle up isn't that just called getting on the rings and gymnastics. It's like the easiest thing to do.
Basic thing that they all learn.
And it's like the gold standard of CrossFit where it's like, I'm just working real hard. My 20, 21 goal.
Muscle up.
And so, and like, for that to train for that, I haven't done too much of the gymnastic piece because OCR, I don't necessarily know how well that's going to translate. Like so do you think there is value to learning gymnastics or to knowing domestics for OCR? Or like how has it helped you or how has it helped like the people around you, do you think?
So? I think, yeah, that's a great question. I think the biggest piece of that would be. I mean, there's a little bit of a fear factor. I know in the Spartan race, the obstacles aren't crazy hard or scary. But there's a lot of people that have like a fear of Heights or even grabbing onto the monkey bars and, you know, maybe doing the L hold when it's super wet or icy.
You know, that background comes in huge. So just being able to just hold on. I mean, that's like. You know, 30 burpees in the pit is, is a big deal on some of those races, especially the sprint. So, you know, that's helped me out a ton, like last year, Castaic Lake, for example just holding onto those money bars made a huge difference.
And I really attribute that to just. The upper body strength that, you know, not so much in the men's side, but women just were not born with it. And we got to work. We got to work for it. And so, you know, where you'd see maybe 80, 85% of the men getting through the monkey bars there, it could be like 40 or 50% of the women getting through.
So it's definitely good to have that background, but it's. It's not something that you, you can work towards it and you can, you can get it if you don't have it. So I think it helps out a ton. I mean, there's other obstacles, like, you know, stairway to heaven, you get to the top and you're a little wobbly when you're going to get through that one regardless, but I've heard a lot of my friends talk about, well, they have a fear of Heights and Natalie Miano, Casey, they have a fear of Heights.
And so just like, I don't even think about it, you know, you're just up there, you're down, you know, kind of a non-factor, but Even things like the eight foot wall and like being able to spring off that and almost have like the Ninja warrior skillset. That's another big one too, because I mean, the men have the height.
Well, we got to kind of use our skills to get up and over that stuff. So definitely think like that Acrobat background helps for that. I
didn't even think about it in terms of just like a willingness to do it or just like practicing. Like trust in yourself so that you're not going to get hurt, but it totally makes sense in that respect.
So when you're doing things like the monkey bars, do, do you believe that practicing our, the gymnastic background has helped with the technique? Or is it more on the strength side?
I think it's a little bit of both. I, there's no fear factor for me. Like it's just like approaching, like I did so many competitions where you just salute to the judge and you walk up to the bar and you go like, there's no hesitation.
I mean, think about the dunk wall and how that's like a fear issue for a lot of people seem like they're going to go when they don't go. Like. The gumbo, like, it's just like, Oh, I'm almost diving in with you. I know you're sweating. Not supposed to do, but like, just like that, that, that moment of like hesitation is just, you got to throw that out the window, you know, when these races are as close as they are, it can matter.
So, yeah, for sure. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. That's interesting that it would, that it would translate to things beyond just gymnastics and I see you do spend yeah. You do spend a lot of time on your hands, right? Like you have that skill as well. Is that something that, is it kind of the same thing? Because I don't necessarily know how well, you know, handstand walking or handstand pushups might transferred OCR, or what do you think, do you think doing things like that?
A
practice? I think more the CrossFit gymnastics in terms of like bar work and. The pull ups and the ring muscle ups and in the bar muscle, it's all that. I think that definitely translates better. I think just like being upside down and that for me is just kind of like, I've been doing it since I was five.
And so it's kind of bringing it's like my equilibrium and brings you that happy place. So I don't know how well the handstand pushups translate. We don't really, we're not asked to go upside down often in our sport. But I think it does attribute to just being like an all around good athlete, like.
You know, that CrossFit touts, just the whole mentality of like learn a new sport, you know, get uncomfortable. And like these races, like you're uncomfortable, you know, we're not asked to get out there and like get upside down, but like that's an uncomfortable place for a lot of people. So just adding that in and feeling that discomfort and then getting out on the race and just like letting it settle and like, okay, I'm good with this.
I've been into these weird, uncomfortable places I can get through this, this beast or whatever. I
like that. And, and it is uncomfortable. It is like, really, it's not, it's not natural. And I guess when I was thinking about it, maybe you could, could be like, all right, we're crawling through barbed wire, maybe shoulder strength, instability would help if you're, if you want to stretch it.
But I think it's better in terms of like, Yeah, get uncomfortable and figure out, you know, where that line is. And like, are you consistently comfortable or like, like, should you push yourself out of that? If I was to practice to enhance dance, What like what's like, how should I go about getting better at them?
Because it's something that I think about a lot. It's like, I'm really bad at them. I don't like it. And and just, and when I would practice, I would just kind of like do it. And I was just like straight.
Right. So like, you're a great athlete. So I would say immediately bringing you to a wall and just like having you kick up, if that's a struggle that I would like guide you, hold you.
And then just like, just like you would learning how to do a pull up, like. Maybe doing the negatives and like fighting down where as the Hanson pushup, I would have you just get up on the wall and hold, just feel like that feeling. And then kind of like playing with it, like, okay, where are my feet?
Like, where's that center of gravity? You know, what can I kind of like, come off the wall with one foot. It's just, it's something that you just have to kind of like play with and let your brain kind of feel that feeling. So that's a really good progression is just using the wall. Another one is actually using a box.
So you're almost in like an L and you're just like half your body's in a handstand. And the other half is in an L and then at some point, just like slowly kicking up from the box. A lot of this is you should be guided by a coach, obviously, but There's so many great progressions. I follow someone who's.
She was like the lead CrossFit, gymnastics coach, Pamela gag, non, she was a gymnast at Rutgers and she's got such amazing progressions. Even for like the toes, the bar. I was kind of watching her because I kind of stepped away from all the, when I, if I don't go to across the gym, which I don't anymore, I kind of don't have that push of like getting on the bar and doing toes to bar every day or knees elbow, or, you know, Kipping pull-ups or chest to bars.
But she's got some amazing like progressions to lead up to all that stuff. And, and one of them was, yeah, just progressing from the wall or progressing from a box for the handstands.
Yeah. Yeah. Just kind of taking it slow and fi kind of mentioned finding where that, how that feels. Do you even have to think about it anymore or do you know exactly what your balance?
Yeah, I'm just up and it's just like, yeah. It's, it's just like, I mean when you started, when you're so young, it's just second nature. And it's just kind of part of, you know, I don't know when you've been doing it and people look at me like, how do you do that? And, yeah. It's kind of an unfair jumping off point for me to start it so young.
And I can see some videos of these little kids doing like Olympic lifting and there they have the perfect snatch and like these kids have been doing it since they were like four and five. You know,
you don't have to unlearn
memory for years and years. So. Yeah, but it's not something that you can't learn as an adult.
I'd like, and I would encourage anyone to try. And especially right now, we're home. Everyone has a wall, right. Everyone. Maybe a box or whatever. So it's a good one.
Yeah. What would you kind of push people to start trying went in in terms of gymnastics and say, just tilt it towards something that could help their obstacle course racing performance.
If it's from the approach of this is going to help you be uncomfortable or it's going to help you. Be able to accept fear a little bit more, or it's just going to be something that's going to be better for like the actual task itself. Like what would be like the first gymnastics thing you'd have somebody work on.
The key one would just be in because it's functional fitness, but also it's like something you might need to do, like in life, like just being able to hold your body weight, you know? So hanging from a bar, like where are you at with that? And progressing from that, like letting go with one hand and maybe doing a shoulder tap on each side and moving on from that, like doing half hold and then the slow negatives, like I mentioned before.
So. Just being able to hold your body weight, you know, like yeah. Chances are, we're not gonna be hanging from a cliff or anything like that. We've in the movies, but like you never know. And but it's just such a great, you know, overall, not just the fear piece, like holding on and like, Not falling, but use working that upper body strength.
And it's not, like I said, I think it's more of a challenge for women typically, cause we're not born with it, but yeah, anyone can work that. And plus that translates huge into our race is not just with monkey bars, but then now we have twister and then. You know, all the different rigs set ups that they throw at us and then pulling up onto like, you know, muscling up over a wall or, you know, whatever it might be holding onto the Z wall, upper body strength is just huge for us.
So
yeah, that makes total sense. And that's typically where a lot of people are going to want to go. Right. It's like, all right, let me try this. Do some dead hangs and see how well my grip can be. But from again, my limited experience of gymnastics, it's all through CrossFit. Like they sometimes teach that like hollow position, like the body position of like hanging from a bar.
So
would you
encourage someone to, could you explain what that is and could you like, and would you encourage people to right from the jump, like when they start to do some Hanging practice or kind of moving around, holding their body weight. Would you encourage them to, to think about the body as well?
Cause I think a lot of times people are just thinking about their hands, you know?
Yeah. So that's actually a really good question because you know, you get the haters online with all the kipping pull-ups and it's not a real pull up and you know, it's not designed to be a real pull-up, it's two different movements.
So it's basically like an efficient way to be able to do it and pull up. So I always encourage my athletes to first learn how to do a strict pull-up. Okay. So then we're going to work in an at hollow rock hall hold. So yeah, getting on the ground and learning that, that boat position, hollow rock, and then translating that to the bar.
So getting on the bar and learning how to push out and then push back into the hollow rock. So it really, for me, I want to see someone. Be able to do a pull-up first you know, at times as a CrossFit coach, it got kind of scary when you had these women up there. Like she could get the kipping, but we couldn't do it.
No, I do like 10 kipping poles with like nothing.
Yeah. So my thought process is, Hey, you need to really be able to learn how to do that. Pull up first and, and it's possible with the progressions. So yeah, I think at that point then I would introduce the hollow, but the Apollo rocks can be. In anything. I mean, that's great for core strength and if you have back pain, you know getting rid of that.
So yeah, I definitely would start with just the progression of doing a native pull-up and then pushing into the full pull-up. And then at some point incorporating that KIPP,
do you want them to be hollow while they're doing a pull-up? Is that how you'd like to see it
more engaged? The shoulders have placed so much into it.
You wouldn't think, but yeah, having. Almost thinking about pushing off in a way from that bar and then coming up into the pool.
Yeah. Right. Where a lot of times it's like we're hanging dead and everything is pulled just from the upper body. And like the whole, like from your hips down, like what you see are people either, you know, pumping their knees up or like kind of dangling there.
Yeah. And it, it just seems less efficient. And when you do put yourself in that hollow position yeah. If it feels harder, but you feel like you're engaged more through like your lats and back at least that's how it feels for me. Yeah.
Yeah. And that's, that's the key right there as engaging in, in fact, one obstacle that we run across where the engagement is, is critical.
Is that her quest like, like you have to engage those labs. I mean, yeah. Now is a big part is pulling down with your body weight too. But if you're not engaged, you're not doing it right. And you're not going to get it.
That's a great point because when people are doing the pull-ups without being engaged, it's mostly going to be a lot of bicep, lot of arms.
Right. And if you're trying to do that, her is late in the race, all arms and like yeah. Getting biceps and pulling it down. You're probably going to fail, like your grip is going to go, but if you get all engaged throughout your back and be able to use your whole body to pull it down. Yeah. Huh. That's a good point.
I like that.
I think the key is just to maximize the muscles that we have to use and not just relying on the biceps, relying on the forearms. Like you got to engage the whole body and get into it. So yeah, the KIPP definitely comes in handy. Not so much in our sport, but if you are doing straight CrossFit, for sure, you got to learn that Kip.
And it leads to not just, you know, doing good pull-ups, but then getting into the chest to bars and then doing the ring muscle ups and then the knees to elbows and all, all those movements. So there is a place for it, for sure.
It's like body awareness, right? Like it's practicing, moving through space and having everything connected and moving in, in different ways.
So if there's any type of crossover into our sport, like maybe that's it, like you're not going to be doing a standard. Kipping over anything. I, I tried to do that once or a couple of times, sometimes I try to do it with bender then I'll I do it. And like, I'll do like a big up and out KIPP and try to like skip up.
But it's, it's slower,
good point. And that's kind of my technique too. Like I'll definitely get my body into it, like a true Kip. So yeah.
Yeah, I saw someone one time. It was Matt Kempson. One time. It was a one of, one of the tough Mudder ones that were, it was like an inverted wall and just jumped up and did a muscle up straight over to us.
Like, I guess that's one way to do it.
Yeah.
So yeah, you've been in, you've been involved in CrossFit. I mean, all of the sports that you did grow, like gymnastics, moving into endurance, sports and ball sports, and then kind of coming out of that, like CrossFit seems like a logical place to go, you know, outside of obstacle course racing, which.
Eventually you did, you did find so when did you start doing CrossFit?
So we moved to Temecula in 2010. I was pregnant with my second Wyatt and my husband had been doing it in oceans, where we were living at the time. And then we joined this gym that was co-located with a CrossFit gym and. I decided to just give it a try one time and he encouraged me to do so.
And I loved it right away, just because I think that gymnastics background, I was like, Oh, we get to go upside down and do handsome. I can do those. And then, you know, being on the bar was super comfortable. So it was like a really good transition. And then, you know, the movements. But I wasn't good at everything.
I was not good at Oli. I was not good at, you know, the snatch, the clean and jerk. That was still challenged, but I loved like incorporating the running piece. So we would do like a mile for time at my gym. I was like, Oh, this is right up my alley. And then, you know, I'd stopped dead in my tracks when I had to do a heavy snatch or the heavy clean and jerk.
So it was like still super challenging and I'd never experienced, like, I was so compartmentalized in my training before it was like, Only running or strength. Like it was always either, or, and even when I was on the Marine Corps marathon team, it was like, we just ran and I did strength just because I grew up doing it with my mom.
And, you know, then we would start through the pushups, pull ups, all the calisthenic piece of like being a Marine. And then the CrossFit world kind of put them together in a really unique way for me. So I did well. And the, like I said, the pro the, the hard part for me was when I'd have to go heavy and I was just rushed into the load.
And that was similar to like my experience in the Marine Corps. Like, I was a fit Marine, but you throw a pack on me and I was not worthless. I could get through it, but we had to carry the same weight as the men, our male counterparts, as we should. And, you know, definitely slowed me down. So. Was that a great sport in that way, where I'd feel on top of the world and then I'd go lift heavy and then it would like kind of crush me.
And so just kind of pushing past that and trying to stay competitive in the leaderboards and all that, you know, definitely helped me gain strength. I can
certainly relate to that. Especially when the first time I saw CrossFit, it was on TV. It must have been the games in like 2010, 2009, maybe. And I was like, this is so cool.
Like, I need to be part of this. Like I should be fine. But then like you realize how heavy the weights that people are actually using. And you're like, Oh, nevermind. This is
yeah. Unbelievable. I think for us runners, it's tough. Cause you know, we got that leg speed, but yeah. We're not huge and yeah, same with you.
I actually went to the CrossFit games and like 11 down in Carson and it was just that whole culture, like Holy crap. And just like the amazingness of watching what these bodies were capable of and, and, you know, super inspiring. You just want to be a part of it. And,
you know, that's kind of, when I think of OCR, it's kind of.
In term, like against CrossFit, like CrossFit it's it's, you know, whatever constantly varied, like the whole definition, whatever it is. And, but when it boils down, it's definitely skewed towards strength. Right. If you're not going to be strong enough, like you're not going to be able to do well where I feel like.
OCR has almost flipped. It's the same thing. You need to have a good variety skewed toward endurance, right? So like you can't get through it doesn't matter how strong you are as a CrossFit athlete. You're not going to do well. If you don't have endurance, does that matter? How much endurance you have? You won't do well on CrossFit if you don't have strength.
But like the two, like the training methodology and cross, what makes sense to me for OCR when it comes to blending both of the endurance and the strength, and also like the transitions between. Like the different movements and just being able to use different energy systems when you're like working at a high rate.
So did you find that to be beneficial for you when you came into OCR or like, did you lean on CrossFit when you found the sport? Or like, how did that work?
Yeah. So that was actually, that's a good point because that was one of my strong suits was just being able to transition while off the obstacles. So we're like, you know, some of the athletes would go through and do the monkey bars and they're just taxed, you know?
And they're like taking a second. All right, we'll regroup. Then let's go. Like, I was able to just like jump and go. And I still feel like I did. I've done well in the stadium series because of the ability to transition well off, you know, doing all the strength and like. Getting your heart rate up and then boom, you just got to run.
You don't even have time to take a breath like that definitely crossed it, set me up well for that. And I've actually found that like, I stopped CrossFit in like 18 going into 19 and definitely felt a difference of going to those, you know, the group workouts where I'm like, Oh, I gotta win the workout.
Like, why wouldn't I win the workout? Just working out on my own, you know, like, I'm like, Oh, the kids need something or something's going on. Like, I just didn't have that level of intensity. And I felt it in races where I'm like, I could feel, I wasn't training in that group setting where people are pushing me and all that.
But yeah, absolutely. CrossFit gives you that edge where you're transitioning, just like in a more calm state, like you you're like, ah, I'm fine. Okay. I'm just going to go. And you know, it doesn't feel as taxing.
Right. Like, yeah. When you're doing a CrossFit workout, like we'll just use like Fran as an example, if you go unbroken on all of the thrusters and all of the pull-ups, but you rest a ton in between, like they won't have a good friend time.
Right. It doesn't matter. And goes through that. And you'll see that in obstacle course racing people waiting to do their monkey bars as they run up to it and like finishing and then waiting to run. And you'll see that in CrossFit as well. Like people like. Hunched over waiting to do their neck movement, but that like defeats the purpose it's like running is from the barbell to the pull-up bar or from the running to the monkey bars.
Like that has to be where where you make your money on that. Yeah. And so when you, you know, it makes sense that I do the same thing when I'm working out on my own, the intensity isn't quite to where it would be, especially in a class setting. So. But I've also found that that style of training can be almost like addicting to be in a class setting and like pushing like really hard all the time.
And then it's almost detrimental to the training and what you need to be doing, which is probably better off spent running. So it's like kind of hard to figure out where to work to balance the two, like, what would you suggest? Like where's the line, like where is too much CrossFit and whereas like, Not enough working on those like transitions.
Yeah. That's the toughest part. It's funny you bring that up cause that's kind of why I stepped away. I loved being a part of the group, but like I, can't not push as hard as. I can, I, can't not be a top leader board. So it kind of led to some stuff where like I tore my meniscus and like lifting probably too heavy for, you know, trying to still be a runner.
And then I found that like the heavier, the more I would PR my snatch or my clean and jerk, the slower I was getting. So it was like in my true love beyond anything else is like, Being a runner and being able to run fast, like that's and I knew it's Spartan race, like it's 85%. Would you say running sport?
Yeah. I mean, yeah, of course don't miss a spiritual halts and monkey bars, like, but like our races are, you know, however long to up to now, you know, half marathon and if you're doing it, like you have to be a good runner. So, and I feel like that slowly kind of was wide crept away from being a really good CrossFitter.
Of course I was never going to be huge and lift heavy like Lauren or, you know, Corrina. But I was good at all the other stuff, so yeah, it's, it's tough because that reason alone, the question you pose is why like, I've wanted to have a coach to kind of figure it out for me. Cause I, throughout my life, like, I feel like I'm constantly just like throwing shit on the wall and it kind of works.
For me, because I have a little bit of a grit with my background being in the Marine Corps and all that. So yeah. I just can kind of suck it up, but I think it's my plan of attack on my training regimen. Isn't isn't dialed and it isn't precise. And I definitely, there's a fine balance and I haven't found it yet.
There's no real way. Yeah. You know, like that's why we're here, like talking it out. I was trying to figure out like what it is that is going to make the biggest bang for your buck, because I feel the same way. Like I knew I kind of had to move away from CrossFit at the same, the same way I was like this isn't.
Like spending like 30 minutes on a snatch on my snatch technique is doing nothing for my OCR results. Right. Like, and that's just what the class called for that day, or that's what you have to prepare for the open. Like you won't, you can't do necessarily both of the things. So yeah, just trying to figure out like where, where that line is is, is really hard.
Have you, are you like,
so how does that look in your training now? Are you. Doing CrossFit oriented things or are they mostly, you know, tilted toward running or what's that look like?
So we definitely got a good setup. Thanks to COVID. We got a Rose bar for like, pull-ups and toes, the bar and all that stuff.
Then we've got heavy weights and off. You know, anything you would see in like a traditional CrossFit gym. So I've been doing a lot of wear and I got an incline trainer too for mother's day, which was like the most amazing, sorry, a lot of transitions between like, you know, the incline, like up 20, 30% then jumping off and doing.
You know, anything from cleaning drugs or snatch, or even like the handstand pushups. So just building it in but kind of being like my CrossFit gym, we didn't do it. It was in a parking lot. So the most we would run was it would be like a 400. So now I have a great like mile repeat loop that I can run a mile, come in.
Do you know, five different exercises to get back out and run that mile. So that's kind of been like the basis. I do follow Yancey camp and he kind of just has figured out like what the OCR athlete needs and that's a lot of running and then a good and like, well thought out approach to the strength piece that translates well to our obstacles.
So. I feel like that's kind of dialing in for me as well. And then I coach it an outdoor class now three times a week that came about because of COVID. And that's been amazing. We can run on this huge soccer field and then we're coming back and doing weights and I bring the Rams out and even bring it horrible out.
So it's always the running piece with the strength piece. Like I can't now like. Even if I go for a run with, so my runner friends I'll come back and do strength later, like always kind of just naturally want to do the strength piece of it. Instead of where being in the, on the Marine Corps marathon team, it was like 80 mile weeks of like running and then maybe doing like two 15 minute strength sessions.
Right.
And just doing like, you know, single Legarde ELLs or something clamshells and so was that class was that class like that you're teaching.
So it was just a group of like three people. We have a really big horse community here and they. When the gym shut down, they'd all been going to orange theory and they brought their trainer out there to them and they, he would charge him so much per hour per person.
And then once the gyms opened back up in June, which they did, he left, but they still wanted to do this outdoor thing. So then they asked if I wanted to come and train them. I was like, no, I'm not really, I'd taken a break from coaching. It was just too much with the four kids and then the distance learning and then doing my training and then.
And we didn't really need the money. So it was just kinda like a fun hobby for me on the side. Well, so then I started coaching a few of them. I'm like, Oh, this is awesome. And they're working side-by-side with them and coaching with them. So it just kinda. Transitioned into now doing it three times a week and it's a good group and we're outside and it feels safe and yeah, it's been a really good thing to come out of coven.
And
you you've taught, you know, you were in the CrossFit and you were, were you coaching, you were doing some endurance classes as well.
Yeah. So regular CrossFit, but then also the CrossFit injury.
Those are things. I mean the endurance classes, I think they are a need in. CrossFit gyms. But a lot of times, at least even like where you CrossFit endurance certified.
Yeah. I would do that too. But even like, that was still just like do some four hundreds. Like it wasn't really like. Based off of like distance running. I felt like it was very, it was very CrossFit. It's like, Hey, let's try to get the most bang for our buck. Let's let's perfect. The running form and then not run that much.
And we should so like the elements of these endurance classes I find there is there's a little disjointed and, and what I've seen in my experience. And that's what, like, how would you like. Program an effective like endurance class.
Yeah. So ours was almost like it was called CrossFit endurance, but it was like a CrossFit light.
It was for people they're kind of, yeah. Overwhelmed with the barbell and like trying to teach a 45 year old woman, how to snatch when she's never cut. Like it's a lot. And I think that's where kind of CrossFit gets a bad name because these people are trying to do it and then they're getting injured and they're like across the interest, people will back off, let's do a med ball clean.
Let's kind of like go through them. Let's get good at an air squat and really working the basic. So I was coaching like a CrossFit light class, which was kind of awesome because trying to teach, you know, adults. How to clean and jerk and all that. It's pretty like you, you need to be good at that stuff.
And you used to know what to look for and know the cues. And like, I got my CrossFit certification in a weekend, you know, I have a bad sound and all that, but like, you know, you have a lot of CrossFit coaches that don't have a huge background. So I think that probably leads to some injuries and all that.
But yeah, so the class I coach was, you know, running and CrossFit light, so we would never go super heavy. A lot of endurance always have like rolling or the air assault, bike, or running corporated with like a lot of body weight movements. And I think it's a cool, perfect start for new CrossFitters or new people to fit fitness.
Yeah. And it essentially cross, it would be an endurance workout if it wasn't for the really heavy weight, sometimes it would just completely slow you down. And yeah, there's no need to have an incredibly heavy barbell for most of the, the general public for most people. You know, like working a barbell, doesn't make a ton of sense.
Heating for like the games or you're going to go do the open or like, you know, Olympic lifting meet, I think. Absolutely. Like,
or if like for whatever reason, something like OCR stars next year has a barbell in it. Like, okay, then train with the barbell. If like that's something that you're going to see, like, or yeah, like DECA fit and depending on like a deadlift station or something, then okay.
Use that. But like, Other than that, it's kind of, it's, it's kind of unnecessary. So you had mentioned this kind of grit that has kind of been with you, your, your life and has helped you you know, you mentioned you cited your experience in the Marine Corps is kind of having that there, but, you know, we probably, we got on and talking, it seems like that's kinda like the person you were.
Anyway. So is that something that you feel like you have to continue to facilitate or is there a way that you think people can facilitate that in their own training? Because there is definitely this part of obstacle course racing that is hard to like grasp it's like, why are some people who aren't that fast?
And aren't that strong, really good at obstacle course racing. And a lot of times it's like this grit factor, you know? Have you found that like, is there a way that. You practice or that other people can practice this,
like to learn grit.
Yeah.
It's funny. I was thinking about this last night because I was thinking I should be coaching my kid's basketball team right now.
And I was thinking about, you know, how some kids come. With hustle. They come with this heart, like they're diving on the ball on the floor, or they scrape their knees. Like they can't. And then other kids are just like, could give two craps to be there. And their parents would just sign them up to do it.
And you know, you're trying to like teach his team of like, there were some kids I wanted to be like, Hey, watch, watch him like you to want to dive in the ball. You got to want, you know, that, that factor of just like wanting it. And I feel like with our racing. Yeah. There's people shown up cause it's like a group and they're doing it for fun together.
And you know, they get through, I think it's really, once they get a taste of it and do it, they're like, okay, I see why that feels good. I see why it's fun to like want to dive under the dog wall or get muddy. And all those things. I think, I, I think grit is a part of who you are, but it it's not really tapped into yet by.
The majority of our population, once you kind of get a taste of it, it kind of feels good. And then you kind of build from there. So then you have these, you know, Spartan racers who all of a sudden, now they're setting up for the trifecta. Now they're flying to races all over the place. Like, you know, you've talked about like the pro team flying everywhere.
There's a lot of just, you know, everyday racers that. Are running atrial, we're running open that are flying all over the country. They've gotten that taste of it and they love it and they want more of it. And I think, you know, hopefully we can survive this pandemic enough to like get our races back up and running because people love it.
Yeah. And like before, when there wasn't as much adversities, like something that people look forward to is getting muddy. Maybe now with the adversity that we've been handed, people were like, all right, I'm good on the mud from out.
But does it something you think about with your training? Do you, do you like do things that are intentionally, intentionally just like. Like hard that are going to test your grit that might be outside of the box of like, you know, interval training or just strength training stuff. Or is it that when it comes time to racing, like, you know, it's going to be there so you can always kind of rely on it?
Yeah, I think a little bit of both. So we have a pool in our backyard and it's gets down in the fifties, which is called. No, it's not like Tahoe cold, but it's super uncomfortable. You're losing your breath. So I'll sit in that like 10 minutes a day and just force myself the cold shower thing. Just like, you know, in our everyday comfortable lives, where we're at now modern society.
Like there's not a lot of opportunity to get grit and get gritty and to put yourself in uncomfortable positions. But I think that's a really good one for me. And I don't have to like deal with like, Getting bags of ice and all like, you know, that's kind of a pain in the butt, but it definitely gets me to uncomfortable place.
Those cold showers. You like stare at the water, like, all right, I'm going to be okay. You all right?
Like anything else? And then, you know, like we go on family hikes and my five-year-old daughter's like over it after a 10th of a mile. So just like getting her on my back and like, Yeah, keep it up there maybe longer than I should let her, but I'm like, ah, this is good.
Like make it hard for a little bit and then sat her down and make her walk a little bit. So I mean, opportunities like that and just, you know, try not to be my husband's like a super hard worker. We'll go camping and he's doing all the hard stuff and I'm just doing like all the mom's stuff and I'm like, All right.
Let's get dirty a little bit. Let's help him do all the traditional, you know, that stuff. So, you know, there's, there's opportunities for it here and there, but, you know, it's definitely something where I get in a race and I just, I don't know. I think, I think there is a piece, like you mentioned, the Marine Corps where me joining the military was like, not something.
Organic at first, I went to a very liberal college. Like there was very few people that joined the military out of our college. But for me joining, like I knew, I mean, there was like 2% of our population was, was female. And so I knew like in a way, I'd have a lot to prove. And I had the fitness piece to like, kind of keep me up, but I mean, I got eaten alive on many occasions and you stand out big time as a female.
So I feel like I kind of had to figure out that grit piece where like, suck it up. Don't flag yourself. Don't be, you know, just an, another one to like fall into that attrition because you're a girl and you know, I'd never want to say, Oh, there's a, there's, there's a difference between male and female, especially in combat and especially, you know, serving in the military and.
You know, so I definitely, there are moments where I'm like, you just keep your mouth shut and suck it up. And so I think that actually helped me later on in these races where I'm like, all right, just keep your head down and move. Like, you don't have a choice.
Yeah. And that kind of comes back to the question of like, being able to facilitate that grit, like, as you came out of undergrad, did you, do you feel after you came out of the Marines that you feel like your grit level was at all a whole different place?
Or did you go in thinking like, Oh, I'm going to be able to be okay to get through this? Or were there times where you did have to. Really like have those conversations with yourself and be like, is this something I'm capable or willing to do?
Yeah, I think a little bit of all of that. I think there were like we had to run through an obstacle course called the endurance course in Quantico.
Virginia was like a 10 K six miles worth of running, carrying a weapon, carrying on full combat gear. Like here I'm like tiny little 22 year old Fe trying to, you know, Prove myself, but also just like not fail. And it was hard and uncomfortable and many times like a question, like why did I join it all? I never felt like I really belonged in that.
Now I'm in charge of all these men who have to listen to it, you know, what I Tom to do. And yeah, you definitely have to tap into like, grit that you didn't know that was there. And then it kind of just becomes who you are. And not the rest of my life. I spent, you know, holding my chest up and like, You're needing people, the follow me, cause I wasn't, I wasn't a cross or big deal.
It just, it just kind of becomes who you are and it's helped me in motherhood, you know, and racing in, in coaching and all those things.
Hmm. And so you can't, you did full four years, right? Of undergrad came out with a degree. Why did you end up coming, going back into the military?
I was commissioned as an officer.
So the great thing about having a degree and then joining is like, you can choose, you can go enlisted route or you can be commissioned as a, as an officer. I didn't know what I wanted to do here. I'd spent like hundreds of thousands of dollars in my parents' money. Some on scholarship, but not clearly, not enough.
And I know what I want to do. And I knew that joining the military, like you're automatically going to be put in these leadership positions and challenged from the start, you know, from day one at officer candidate school, like you're you, you're in charge of your little squad. And then that. Transitions to being, you know, you be, you're putting these billet positions and you just have to step it up and figure it out.
And I had like zero leadership experience of that point. I was the captain of my basketball team. That's the new year, but let me, what does that really require? Right. So, so I needed like life experience. I needed to travel. I needed to kind of be put in these uncomfortable positions and kind of claw my way out to figure out who I was and what I wanted.
And. You know, it, it did all that for me, fortunately, we all got to serve overseas. And like I said, like I showed up to my first platoon and like I'm in charge of 45 men, three women, like, Oh, I gotta figure this shit out. And I got to act like I'm competent and I need to have a command presence about myself.
And that's not something, especially for today's 23 year olds. Like it's not natural. And so when you're forced to do it, like. You gotta figure it out quick.
I had this flash just come through. My brain is like, like just arriving and seeing, I didn't even have 40 some other people and just being like, okay,
it's hard to lead, like group of like three, it's hard to lead anybody. It's not like something that you can just do. Like you said, like, especially as a 22 year old, you don't know how to do anything. No.
Yeah. And I mean, so for any young person that's like lost right now, or it's a great experience, not after college, before college serve your country and serve something bigger than you.
I mean, these contracts are as short as three and a half years, like do it and then figure out maybe who you are and like push your body, you know, physically and mentally. It was a great experience for me.
Yeah. And sometimes I think back and I just wish that that was something that I had considered because I feel like I didn't miss out on a lot of experience that way.
And, and just. It really helped facilitating that kind of growth. But you know, when you're looking back, it can look back several years later and you could think, you know, three and a half years, it's really not much time, but when you're 22 or when you're 18,
you're a little bit more squared away than that.
The average 22 year old today.
But still like when you're like, there you're like, that seems like a lot. Yeah,
no, it does. Right. And it seemed like forever. And now it's just like, we know as adults, like it's just a blink.
Right. Exactly. So like when in hindsight it seems like, Oh, it's definitely something that I should have been.
What was that decision? Like? Do you remember, like when you were like,
Like
even like the option. Cause that's something I pressured, like after, when I was 22, I was kind of the same, but I was like, I kind of had an idea, but I really wasn't necessarily like set up for anything. And that would have been a, not like a viable option for me, but I didn't even consider it, but I could imagine what it would be like to balance those options.
What was it like facing that. And like making that
call. Well, fortunately I was pretty much an idiot and went into it like totally blind and clueless. So I'm like, ah, I'm going to be a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Like what's the big deal. And it wasn't really until like OCS officer candidate, school, Quantico, Virginia, where you have like, Very large, senior enlisted, Marines, yelling at you.
And that's when it became very real. Like what in the hell have I gotten myself into? And you know, I'm five foot one. I was tiny back then. And they would say things to me like, does your, does your mother know you're here? Totally razzing me. I think about halfway through, I was like, okay, I think this is something I, I want to be a part of.
And like, I kind of alluded to before just like serving something bigger than you really goes a long way. So I love that piece of it. And then, so I actually went through OCS the summer between my junior and senior year and they kind of structure it in a way, well, that recruiters, the sales people, you can go through those OCS the 10 weeks.
You don't have to accept your commission. So for me, it was like, I don't usually, I was like a coach at a basketball camp during the summers. I'm like this, you got like, sergeant's pay for 10 weeks. They, they fly you out to Virginia and then you don't have to accept if it's not for you. Well, I decided it was for me and that's kind of where the decision was made from there.
So it was sort of gradual, but also like. Just went into it with an open mind and that I was kind of just clueless to what I was getting myself into. And to put that into perspective, we started out with 63 women. We graduated 21. So I think there were a lot of other women with the same, like, Oh, let's go do this.
And fortunately, like I was athletic and I could keep, and that's a huge part of it. And they really praise like. With my gymnastics background to max the, their PFT, the PFT is max pull-ups, max sit-ups and max runtime for a three mile run. And at the time I could get 20 pull-ups and the women were only required to do like a flat starving.
So they just thought that was like, I just blew their minds with that. Set ups was fine. And then I was running like high sixteens for my three mile at the time on the, you know, very flat blacktop men screaming at you. So you definitely like
your speed.
And so that was like that help. Like, even though I was like, kind of this mousy little quiet, like, Oh, well she's, she can be a great Marine cause she's physical.
And so that helped me a lot. But anyway, the attrition rate was big and yeah, so that just, I think the decision point really came later.
I didn't realize there was that that ability to kind of like. See it out once they saw that you were physically capable, were they, did you feel like they kind of want
like
brought you in
Oh, a hundred percent, got more respect. And even like, she went up to my first platoon and still not having any role, true leadership experience and.
The fact that that time I was able to do 30 dead hangs. And so that was like this little female Lieutenant shows up and she's busting out, he's pulled, they're like, Oh shit. So that garnered respect from the start and then had some amazing senior enlisted Marines who like. Helped mentor me and just, you will put like, kind of like put me in positions like, Hey, this is what you need to be telling them is what you need to be saying right now.
This is how, this is how you lead. So it's kind of this unique relationship to where the senior enlisted Marines really mentor the young second Lieutenant and kind of get them to where they need to be, you know, cause there are these salty dogs and I've been in the fleet Marine force for 20 years. So they helped me for sure.
So just like kind of a gradual, you know, Got me to where I was as far as the leader. And then yeah, the physical piece was big as far as, you know, at least having some ground to stand on.
Yeah. I mean, it sounds like something that you do hold very close and that you would really encourage. And now with.
You, you know, you have four kids, right? Is this, do you take those principles that you had and kind of going back on the grit thing, do you think about facilitating these type of leadership qualities or these type of toughness in terms of your parenting or like seeing how your kids are. Being raised or growing up, like, do you think about that a lot or is that something that kind of naturally happened?
Yeah,
for sure. I will say I don't have the same response of respect for my kids that I had from my Marines, but I definitely like try and when they're in a good place and we're having some good teaching moments calling on some of my extreme experiences from the past you know, like. I, I paid to have someone personal train my kids because they don't care what mom says and I can yell to my face is real and it's just different.
But yeah, I translate so much into Parenthood and just like on the hardest days, cause there've been hard days being, especially home. Like I. I have no business teaching or distance learning. Like I'm not a homeschool mom. And this is just not working. If anyone wants to like write a letter to Congress like this isn't, this homeschool thing is not working for us, considering holding back a few of our kids and we have good days and not so good days.
So I just parenting is hard. So I, and I do, I think back on like the shittiest days, when, when, when we were in Iraq and, you know, things were not going great and we're getting shot, like, there's always that like, All right. Today's not that day. That was a hard day. You know, you think you're in the hardest day at the time, but like you can kind of call on these experiences.
Like this is not that hard or thinking about people who have it a lot harder. Like we've been fine financially. My husband still has his job and all that. Like there's people that are hurting right now. So you kind of like qual on those things. And
so call him back on that experience where like, you know, there's good days and there's bad days.
Some days are really not that good. And you know, now's a prime example of that, where there are really poor times. You mentioned people about having it being in much worse, worse off than. Then any other person potentially, you know, there's always a worst case scenario. Have you been able to use it? Like, how are you explaining that to your kids who are having like such a hard time with this?
I think they recognize it. My oldest is in seventh grade 12. You know, their dad was in combat saw a lot worse than I did. At the time females really weren't we were more like a service support. Entity then, like he was a recon reign. So he was like knocking down doors and, and all that. So, you know, they, they kind of have an idea of what we went through and you know, that there've been some super hard days, but it's just hard for a kid to really grasp like their world, like when their iPad isn't charged.
Like that's like. That's it for them, like that's a hard day, but there's, you know, we try to find teaching moments where we're talking a little bit about maybe some day we went through or, you know, the kids have done Spartan races and they've seen me where it's just like an ugly beast battle. And I, you know, at the end of the race and they know that we push ourselves and do hard things.
So I think they can kind of grasp that, you know, in a way, but they're just kids. And I think, you know, it's hard for them to really. You know, grab a hold of like some of these lessons, but I think they, they, they think it's pretty cool. Like, Oh, Hey, you know, like I hear that, you know, telling them pride when they talk about their mom to Spartan racer and their dad was a recon Marine and they think that's pretty cool.
But I guess we'll see what time, you know, as they get into their teenage years and. Yeah. And that's when the real lessons take hold.
I know it has to be, that has to be just, we have no idea what's going to happen, but this generation of kids, like how, how much is this going to affect them? It's going to be unprecedented, right?
They're going to pave the way for how they're going to respond to what they're going to be like. It's just going to be like, kind of waiting and seeing, I guess.
And so with having four kids, like the. And being able to compete at such a high level, like obvious the obvious thing that pops into my head, I'm sure not the only one it's like, how do you do it with all with like your time? Like, how were you able to manage your time to compete at any level? Let alone at a really high level?
That's a good question. And it kind of leads also to like, okay, what point am I shutting this down? Like in 43? And I was even questioning, I had originally signed up for OCR. I started to do the master's level. I'm just kind of like, I just feel like I'm a little bit tired.
You beat everybody in the mile by like a minute.
I think I've got a couple of good years left in me. So we'll see. But as far as like, time. Like I just incorporate them into it. So now with the good outdoor gym set up, like that's the one I have scout my Scouts, my PegaWorld I'll have them outside, running their bikes around the cul-de-sac. So making them a part of it, or just like super early alarm clock that goes off at four 45, getting it done early.
I've got an understanding husband that gets to go on a couple hunts a year and he gets to go back country ski and he gets to do his thing. I get to do my thing, like. You just make it work. Like it's not ideal sometimes, but you know, you just sort of take turns and when we're just a super active family too, so like we're all doing it together.
We're going on hikes or we're skiing or, you know, whatever it might be, but, you know, it's not ideal. And some days my training suffers because. You know, I'm getting interrupted or whatever it is, but you know, there's always a chance to make up for it. Like, all right, I'm going to do it tomorrow then. And then go hard.
Then you can always find an hour or two, you know, you hear a lot of those excuses. Well, I just don't have time or have kids. And if you want it bad enough, like you just kind of have to make it work and do.
And along those lines, is there a reminder that you have, is there something that you constantly have to be telling yourself?
Because I'm sure some days are harder than others, especially now where the kids are always home. So, yeah. Like how do you, do you have something there that pulls you to, to continue to train or race when you might not want to?
Well, so definitely for. You know, this year, we don't have like already the, my big race in January is canceled.
And then I was going to go to Arizona in February. That's canceled. Yeah, they did cancel Arizona. The Vegas zona one, which is. In March is still on Jacksonville and February is still on because for a baby
coming
through Florida. And for me, like, I think you had actually, I'd listened to a podcast recently that you mentioned, like just kind of always being at the ready.
And that was kind of like how. We were in the military. Like you didn't know when you're going to deploy, you're constantly just training. Like you just had to be. Is that, that readiness level. And I feel like I'm kind of always add that just because it's what I love to do. And I mean, we, we could probably spend an entire other podcast talking about like some hard times I went through losing a sister and then another sister, and then my mom and like my, my fitness has sort of become like.
Where pain can can't touch me like my, like the dark stuff. Like I think a lot of people might use it as an escape and maybe too much at times for me, but it's actually helps me training in the weird, you know, weird way. So that piece is, you know, my mom was like the person that taught me to run and, you know, she, she passed away at 62 from melanoma skin cancer.
And so every time I run, I think her, every time I race, I remember her dragging us to races as kids. And you know, so that piece is always there for me too. And then, you know, another piece, this might be coming, getting off the tangent of your question, but Having served in the military, coming home from Iraq without all the Marines that you deployed with, like, you know, or, or guys coming back with one leg or having their, their Facebook, like you realize, like, life's pretty precious, like what we do, and like having the ability to wake up every day and like I'm stepping out of bed with two feet and like nothing hurts today.
Like, Oh, and I get to like breathe, you know, it's kind of cliche, but also like we get to do this shit. Like take advantage of it.
I want to reframe that. Yeah. I think I've, I've heard, I've seen, you mentioned that like switching, like I have to, to, I get to, and just that reframing of those of that is just, it is really powerful when you, it,
yeah, it's basic, but like very meaningful.
Absolutely. And in terms of like, you know, mentioning, just kind of using it as an escape and absolutely like, yeah, like there's there, that's what a lot of us are doing like stress reliever, or it is just a time where you can revisit these these warm feelings that you've had. And it's just like, it's just a happier place.
Do you, do you then find that that helps translate to. Other parts outside of your life, like once you're done and you're, you're able to kind of escape for a little bit. When you come back, are you in a better spot or is it strictly for the escape?
No. Yeah. I kind of like bleeds into everything, right. So, yeah, we don't get to race, but we still get to run and then you get back from that run and like all of a sudden I'm a happier, better mom and a better mood and I can kind of respond.
Better than the stress. And I mean, kind of, like I said, bleeds into everything, so yeah.
Yeah, yeah. And that's another reason, right? Like it's not, it doesn't necessarily have to be like an escape or whatever, or something on your own. Like if we didn't everything.
Yeah. And you know, for me, like I don't not drink, but I don't drink a ton.
And you know, I don't have like this thing that I'm doing where I'm. You know, running and fitness and getting a good workout in the gym. That's like kinda my equilibrium, like my happy place. And then, I don't know. I feel like I can function better as, as a mom and as a person, as a friend and all those things.
So.
Hmm. And then along kind of the similar lines you'd mentioned, even just signing up for the OCR stars and the age group, and just having those thoughts, like, ah, you know, maybe we don't need to push that hard. Maybe I'll be here. When you think about those things or, you know, you mentioned your age being 43 and now like when is it going to be time to back off like.
You think about that a lot and like what keeps you from making either decision with that?
Yeah, so it's, you know, I've missed racing, but it's been kind of a good time to reflect on like, okay, what's the, what am I doing? Like I've kind of experienced some injuries. I've dislocated toe right now. And I had kind of a knee scare that ended up being fine, but I can tell like, Things are starting to break down more and more with time.
And as I get deeper into my forties. So I feel like, I mean, what more? Yeah. I would love to keep standing on the podium. I love that feeling and all of that, but. At some point, like me racing a ton and traveling, like it takes away from family. Yeah. We have good balanced all that, but like, like can be like, when's mommy going to be home and you know, like I'm missing out on some pretty cool stuff with them when I do travel.
So. You know, I just, I feel like I might just write out this next year, see what happens with the protein, get to as many races as I can, and then maybe start dialing it back. But I've also said that like every year for us
right. Every year is the last year,
but it's true. And like, we'll just kind of see, and I need to like really kind of get a grip on like, Is my identity defined by where I'm standing on that podium or is it defined by like how good of a mom I am and it, my whole life has been driven by podiums, like from gymnastics.
Like I still don't even, I was second place for the state of Washington and eighth grade. And I don't even view that second place. Like I only talk about the time that I won state when I was like 11 at some other lowly level, but it's, it's that way that we define ourselves as athletes. Like I still do it and I really need to tap into some therapy or figure out like, okay, there's other ways to define me.
I'm a good wife. I'm a good friend. I'm a good mom. Like. I don't need to podium to like, feel good about what I'm doing. So I think at some point, like my body's just gonna be like, you're done.
Right. It's like, that's kind of what I'm hoping for someone else makes. Right. But yeah, like have you, have you felt a different, like a change in now without races this year?
Like have you like, or is it because that it's not. That we don't have the option to race, or like, felt that identity thing with,
because there's no FOMO, like usually like, Oh, like I didn't go to the Montana race, you know, so we don't have that so much. So I feel like this is kind of a good gradual, like pulling off the bandaid and we'll just kind of see how the rest of it plays out.
I'm going to definitely get to the, like what races I can and see how I do. And. You know, I look at someone like Heather, Gawlik, who's 50 and she's still going and hitting it and racing elite. But I think it'd be kind of fun to tap into that masters field and see how that goes too. And still like have energy to be like a decent mom, but not like kill myself chasing after.
It's 28 and 29 year olds who don't have kids. And,
and your age group is the most competitive age,
so he could go after for sure.
They'd be like, are you serious phase coming in now? It's already stacked. Yeah. So what are some of the goals you got to this year? If like things happen
right. I do want to do the, the U S national race series.
If it's on, see how that looks and then get to worlds. I'm sorry, back up. I don't want to race if it's in. Doha or in Robbie deli. It's probably weird, but you're good with like doing the Tahoe thing. If that's like the, you know, the clammy chip for the national race series. I just don't like meat.
Like I've been over there. I don't want to be that far from my kids. I don't know. I'm not going to golf. That's what's happening, which is, you know, We'll see how that plays out, but definitely want to do as many races as I can. I would love to, at some point, do an ultra just to do an ultra not an ultra, like an, a Spartan ultra.
But other than that, I might throw in a couple just straight trail races. But I just, I don't know, 2020, one's gonna look like, like I'm not hopeful because it always already feels like canceling is happening and. We'll see how it plays out.
I was thinking about that the other day. It's like it's 20, 21 turns out like 20, 20, again, like, I don't even know what are we going to do?
Stars comes back. I might get, give out another go. Maybe just be smarter about how I attack those workouts. I feel like. No, I knew toes to bar were coming, but I didn't really work on that much because I relied on, Oh, I used to be good on toes to bar, you know, like, I don't know. I just feel like there's some good, fine tuning I could do to do better at that competition.
Yeah. I did the same thing. I was like, ah, I've crossed the background. I'll be fine. And then they were rolling hard
and it was like movement that like. Yeah, just the way I was structured. You had to be good at them.
It was the only thing it might as well been a hundred toasted Barford time.
Yeah, exactly.
Cool. And you're on team ultra red ultra ultra red.
Yeah, the red team's the same. As like Alyssa is on, it's basically like the JV version of being sponsored by Austra, but I'm not complaining. I love the shoes and it's a good brand to represent. It's helped my feet. I was wearing BJ's before, which I loved.
But this was like a good transition shoe for me. And then, yeah, I mean, Lucas sports, another one based out of London, but now they're going to be available to order on Amazon prime. So it's like. Menuca honey. Well, well, it's like a energy gel and Ian homesick was, was taken for a while. And then Ashley Heller, you might see posts from it's like menuca honey, basically.
So but yeah.
What are, what are your favorite ultras for trail for, Oh, for OCR in particular, what are the best ultra ones? I'm always on the hunt for.
Yeah. So I love the lone Pines are kind of like the old standby. And then they have the King mountains, which they made a Spartan shoe out of.
They have like a Velcro strap. Those are great Torrens. I love you can't, you really can't go wrong with that weird flipping I have going on just that wide room in the toe is kind of a big factor for me. So if you were more narrow that I don't know. Yeah,
just try them all. Yeah. There's definitely, definitely a certain feel like if you don't, if you would like to be kind of closed in, these are the opposite of that.
But I do have the King mountains and they're, they're sweet, but they're yeah, they're really, they got that plate in them, which I like, cause I can just like run over everything and not feel like I'm going to. I don't like feeling much at the bottom. I like that. Well, cool. Fair. Well, I do appreciate you taking time to chat with me today.
I had an awesome convo. Where can people find you?
So I'm on Instagram, same OCR. I'm on Facebook a little bit say Morgan, but yeah, just mostly Instagram and I try to keep it organic and just kinda do talk a little bit about like training and fitness stuff, but there's a lot of just like, Shit, show family stuff on there too, with my family and kind of showcasing our life.
So, yeah.
Yeah. It's cool. It's definitely a good follow it's authentic. You know, you can tell that it is to you which is, which is nice on Instagram because it's not typically how it's like, so I appreciate that. Cool. Well, I'll hit stop here, but we'll stay on the same screen, but what would you be signing off then?
All
right.
Right. That was awesome. Again, I loved that conversation. It has a wealth of knowledge and I'm glad she was willing to share. And thank you again for checking in on the reinforcement podcast. Again, Mondays will be reinforcement and podcasts. Thursdays will be torque talks a lot of fun, exciting things heading into 2021.
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