We’re back! In this episode, we catch up on our summer activities and personal lives, including family trips abroad and ultra races. We also discuss our evolving perspectives on training, as well as the rapidly-changing running culture. Carolyn talks about a food-run-tour she led through Boston’s Chinatown, and the ancestral connection she discovered through that experience, and Stef shares about an exciting upcoming project in the works that is also tied to their Asian American ancestry.

As always, we are so grateful that all of you are here in this space, in the sport, and in this world! #Keepshowingup and keep making strides in being the change we wish to see!

Special thanks to our Audio Engineer, ⁠⁠Mark Kalagayan⁠⁠, from the non-profit, ⁠⁠SPARC Worldwide⁠⁠.

Don't forget to grab your ⁠Pen & Paces⁠ Custom Bib Kit for any of your upcoming races and get 20% off when you use code MAKINGSTRIDES at checkout!

The Making Strides Podcast is about building representation and about changing the ways we expect ourselves and others to show up in the running world. If you enjoy this convo please share about us with your friends! And of course, we would appreciate you subscribing and leaving a rating and review.

#MakingStridesPod

#letsFlippindothis

#diversewerun

“I think the experience I had is what EVERY straight, white male has at EVERY race.”

Consider this convo as a part-two follow up to our most listened-to episode, "Allyship, Intention, and Impact" (episode 12), as we parse out what exactly made the ‘We Out Here’ Trail Fest so incredibly special.

In a time when there’s constant pushback and criticism of what DEI actually means or looks like, we hope this conversation gives practical examples of how create events and spaces that move beyond tokenizing to celebrating the diversity of excellence that already exists in our sport!

“It doesn’t have to be: we choose representation and inclusivity OR we choose excellence and competitiveness. There can be overlap!”

Have you ever been to a race or running event where you felt fully seen, celebrated, and free to be your authentic self? What factors do you think helped make that happen? Drop a comment here or send a message to let us know!

Special thanks to our Audio Engineer, ⁠⁠Mark Kalagayan⁠⁠, from the non-profit, ⁠⁠SPARC Worldwide⁠⁠.

The Making Strides Podcast is about building representation and changing the ways we expect ourselves and others to show up in the running world. If you enjoy this convo please share about us with your friends! And of course, we appreciate your subscribing and leaving a rating and review.

#MakingStridesPod

#letsFlippindothis

#diversewerun

Show Notes:

05:50 - Stef’s upcoming racing plans

12:00 - takeaways from the We Out Here Trail Fest: the excellence displayed and the power of representation!

33:15 - the role representation plays in helping others understand different lived-experiences

38:10 - what led Carolyn to create a trail event with her local lululemon team, in the Boston area

56:25 - Stef’s athletes who ran Western States 100 this year

1:09:20 - shoutout to our ongoing sponsor, Pen & Paces!

Links:

David Jaewon Oh Photography

OtterPawz Native, family-owned design company who made the custom medals for the We Out Here Trail Fest

Rubato HK Cafe

Gyee O’Malley, Train Ambassador for Boston lululemon

Don't forget to grab your Pen & Paces Custom Bib Kit for any of your upcoming races and get 20% off when you use code MAKINGSTRIDES at checkout!

Find Stef ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

Find Carolyn ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

“We hope that this trail race shows that it is possible to welcome new people to the sport, that trail running doesn't have to be rooted in white culture, that we can show up as our authentic selves.” - Alison Desir

This is a special episode that is near and dear to our hearts, as we got to not only record a live show with our friends, but also be a part of the inaugural trail festival, We Out Here, that was specifically centered on and powered by the BIPOC community!

Our conversation is on the topic of DEFIANCE, as defined by professor and author, Dr. Sunita Sah: to defy is to act in accordance to one's values when there's pressure to do otherwise.

With this definition, a trail event specifically designed for BIPOC athletes is in itself an act of defiance against the status quo, expectations, and gate-keeping around the sport, and of course, the ways that each of us show up in our various spheres each day are also daily acts of defiance in a world that expects (and often demands) our compliance.

We truly hope this conversation resonates and speaks to you in many ways. #Keepshowingup in your various spheres of influence, and keep making strides in being the change we wish to see!

Special thanks to our Audio Engineer, ⁠⁠Mark Kalagayan⁠⁠, from the non-profit, ⁠⁠SPARC Worldwide⁠⁠.

The Making Strides Podcast is about building representation and about changing the ways we expect ourselves and others to show up in the running world. If you enjoy this convo please share about us with your friends! And of course, we appreciate your subscribing and leaving a rating and review.

#MakingStridesPod

#letsFlippindothis

#diversewerun

Show Notes:

01:30 - intro: Aaliyah Earvin

02:10 - intro: Alison Desir

03:45 - intro: Kayla Jeter

04:25 - intro: Mirna Valerio

05:55 - topic and definition of DEFIANCE

07:30 - what inspired Aaliyah to create the ‘We Out Here’ Trail Festival weekend

13:15 - what Alison’s goals are for the future of this race event

15:40 - what practicing defiance looked like for Mirna, growing up, and how it shapes the way she lives in the day to day

19:35 - who inspired Kayla to prioritize self care and wellness for herself, and what drives her to bring this message to her community

25:10 - how can all of us practice acts of defiance on a daily basis?

32:20 - Q&A

Links:

Grab your Pen & Paces Custom Bib Kit for any of your upcoming races and get 20% off when you use code MAKINGSTRIDES at checkout!

Find Aaliyah here

Find Alison here

Find Kayla here

Find Mirna here

Find Stef ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

Find Carolyn ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠