This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Rachel Abernethy ( @runnergirlrach on Instagram), an accomplished runner with multiple marathons and ultramarathons under her belt. Rachel shares her journey into running, the importance of community, and her experiences with major marathons, having run London (twice!) and Chicago. She discusses the role of Parkrun in her training, her major marathon goals, running the San Francisco marathon and the joys of running as a lifestyle. Rachel also offers insights into her goals for upcoming races, her role with Asics, the Phoenix Flyers Run Club and encourages new runners to join the community. 11:30 Introduction to Rachel Abernethy 12:37 Rachel's Journey into Running 15:23 The Evolution of Running Passion 17:09 First Half Marathon Experience 20:01 Transitioning to Marathons 21:45 Experiences at Major Marathons 23:42 The Excitement of Major Marathons 24:54 Goals and Motivation in Running 26:21 Running with a Partner 28:35 Comparing Marathon Experiences 30:29 Favorite Running Locations 32:50 The Importance of Parkrun 34:32 Encouraging Newcomers to Parkrun 37:20 Building Community through Running 40:42 Becoming an Ambassador for Running 42:20 Navigating Social Media and Brand Ambassadorship 48:37 Running as a Lifestyle: Mental and Physical Benefits 49:53 Racing Insights: Recommendations and Experiences 52:04 Training Strategies: Balancing Goals and Recovery 61:55 The Debate: Pace vs. Intensity in Training 67:45 Exploring Ultra Marathons: Challenges and Joys You can follow us on Instagram: @anygivenrundaypodcast You can now get 20% off all Perform Nutrition products, including their new Electrolytes+, using the code 'AGR' at checkout PerformNutrition.com This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories and their Ultrapure Sports Recovery prducts. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store or visit their new online store Ultrapurelabs.ie
