When the doctor told Yolanda Holloway that she needed to turn her life around, it was the beginning of her endurance sports journey. What started as a few steps around the block led the Florida native to one of her greatest running adventures in Antarctica for the White Continent Marathon.
The greatest lesson for her has been building up mental toughness.
There was a time when she didn’t believe that she could do this, but each race pushed her limits. She believes that anything is possible and we can do hard things. To date, she has completed 70 marathons and 33 half marathons.
You will learn that anything is possible in this episode, Yolanda’s 2-day experience in Antarctica, taking swimming classes for her first triathlon and how running has shaped her.
Episode Highlights:
How she started a 3-mile route around the neighbourhood
Running her first 5k and feeling motivated
Progressing to her first 10k
Racing in her first marathon in Disney
Her greatest running adventure, the White Continent Marathon
Taking swimming classes for her first triathlon
Her bucket list to race in all 7 continents
Guest Bio:
Yolanda Holloway Stevens began her journey into endurance sports in 2012. What merely started as a desire to get active after two ACL surgeries and subsequent weight gain, turned into attaining goals beyond her wildest dreams.
In April 2012, Yolanda completed her goal of finishing a 5k race. The feeling of accomplishment sparked a fire that led her to register for her first half marathon in December later that year. Since 2012, she has completed 17 marathons and 33 half marathons. Her greatest marathon adventure occurred in January of 2020, where she traveled to Antarctica to run 26.2 miles on the White Continent.
In 2016, Yolanda set out to conquer a new challenge…triathlon! There was just one problem. She didn’t know how to swim. She registered for her first race, then set out to find a coach to teach her how to swim. Yolanda finished her first sprint triathlon in 2017, and has since completed in 3 half Ironman races, 2021 USAT National Championship-Olympic Distance, and crossed the finish line of her first full Ironman race in Cozumel, Mexico in November 2021.
Yolanda is a mother of two, and works as a Senior Director of Human Resources for a multimedia publishing company, and is a 4th year brand ambassador for Betty Designs.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
We all in this life have goals, aspirations, things we’re trying to improve on, whether it be relationships, whether it be professionally, whether it be an athletic endeavor, we all have goals.
We all are in a process of learning, evolving, trying to be a better version each and every day. In this process of this journey, called life, we all will fail at something.
Though I hate to fail, I learned the most from my failures. I learn the most when I’m down, I learn in the process of failing how to succeed. I learn to be humble.
In order to succeed, we all need help, we all learn from those who come before us. We need to learn from those who paved the way. It is in this process that we grow.
This episode is an appreciation of how failures shape us.
Episode Highlights:
My journey into medical school
Tough seasons in medical school and failing tests
Getting into Orthopedics
Surviving the loss of my parents
Seeking professional help for my depression
Lessons you need as you get into endurance sports
My biggest lesson as a recovering perfectionist
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Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
Annette Melecio, an Ironman Triathlete, shares her journey of finding triathlons and how it saved her life. Annette is my very close friend and one of my favorite triathlon people. Annette has been on active military duty for over fifteen years and is currently serving as, a Military Police Officer in the army. She has four years of service left before she retires.
Annette has always been a runner. She always liked to run and wanted a challenge so she progressed to running half marathons. She even made her unit run a half marathons while on deployment. Following a really bad deployment where many people were lost, she was not in good headspace. She suffered from survivor’s guilt and went through a rough patch mentally. Anette even contemplating taking her life. It was then that she discovered triathlons. She liked the structure, and loved the group of people. Annette felt it was similar to the military with a lot of camaraderie. Everyone motivated and pushed each other and encouraged each other. It was the first time that she ever felt welcomed and accepted in the civilian world. Annette loves triathlons and is so dedicated. She has qualified for the Legacy Program for the Ironman World Championship at Kona by competing in 12 Full Ironman Championships, and one extra one just for fun. She has also competed in one half-Ironman 70.3 race, two 55k ultra-marathons and a 50k ultra-marathon with hopes of competing in a 100k ultra-marathon.
Episode Highlights:
Annette started running in high school.
Annette joined the army and continues to run
Annette started her endurance sports career to help cope with her depression.
Annette memorable races
Endurance sports and mental health.
The importance of finding the right coach
How Annette committed to Kona Legacy Program.
Annette tells us how she does it all, being a mother, career, triathlons
Dealing with injury.
Annette life lessons and words of wisdom
Guest Bio
Annette Melecio is active duty Army as a Military Police Officer. She has been on active duty for over 15 years and has 4 years left to retire. She has always been a runner and being in the Army running and rucking has always been something she is used to. She has completed 13 full Ironman triathlons, 1 Ironman 70.3 triathlon, two 55k ultra marathons, and one 50k ultra marathon. She completed IronMan #12 in September for a chance to apply for a legacy spot for Kona Ironman World championship. Her goal is to complete a 50 Miler maybe next year and a 100 Miler once she has competed in Kona IronMan World Championship.
Listen to your body because your body is always talking to you. The day Dawn paid attention to stubborn chest pain is the day she saved her life. That’s why she is still here today.
80% of heart disease can be prevented.
Eating right and exercising often is not enough. Dawn advocates for a regular check-up. As an athlete, she was a most unlikely candidate for heart disease. By knowing and understanding her body, she was determined to know the root cause of her chest pain.
Listen to learn more about her running experience, surviving her heart condition, advocating for your body and how to find the right doctor.
Episode Highlights:
Her running experience since middle school
Her favorite race
How she got into coaching and race management
Her health scare in 2019
Why her persistence saved her life
Knowing your body and advocating for your body
Guest Bio:
Dawn Angelique Roberts is an energetic detail-oriented team player and an award-winning communication professional with over 25 years of experience in journalism, media relations, sports marketing and event management.
Roberts is the owner of Elite Access Running, a full-service race management and wellness company that specializes in event management, public relations, social media and wellness for athletes, organizations, and premier races.
As a USATF certified coach Roberts provides one-on-one and group coaching for runners, pace team coordination for races and her company Elite Access Travel organizes destination races for athletes and organizations.
A native of Philadelphia, Roberts is passionate about running and traveling, and enjoys encouraging and teaching youth and adults the values of healthy living and active lifestyles.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
What does it take to be a great coach? What do you need to find a coach? As Tammy Whyte explains, it takes more than just feeding an existing need. Compatibility is different to everyone and the longer you stay in the game, the easier it becomes to identify your ideal client.
After working in education for 12 years, Tammy chose to follow her passion for coaching and fitness and started her own coaching business, TW Training and Wellness. Her business is different from others in that she focuses on running smarter. She focuses on injury prevention, strength training, and building a welcoming community for all runners. While she loves coaching runners of all levels, she has found a particular fondness for coaching runners who consider themselves middle to back of the packers.
Episode Highlights:
Why she stopped teaching to follow her passion for coaching
What drives her to coach each day
Coach-client compatibility
Business lessons from running a coaching business
Being a first-generation college student
Accepting help as an independent woman
Guest Bio:
After working in the education field for 12 years, Tammy chose to follow her passion for coaching and fitness in 2017 and start her own run coaching business, TW Training and Wellness. She puts a strong focus on running smarter, injury prevention, strength training, and building a welcoming community for runners. While she loves coaching runners of all levels, she has a particular fondness for coaching runners who consider themselves mid-to-back of the pack runners. In addition to the run coaching and strength training services she provides through TW Training and Wellness, she’s also a Group Fitness Instructor at Equinox in Chicago. Personally, she has a goal of running a half or full marathon in all 50 states, with 27 completed thus far. Tammy is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, attended University of Michigan for college and had stops in NC and DC before making her way back to the midwest in 2020.
Get a copy of the book Running Is Cheaper Than Therapy: A Journey Back to Wholeness👉🏾here. It is available in hardback, paperback, and newly released audio form
