Extraordinary Strides

What do Hawaiʻi hula traditions, an Idaho race called Jackass Half Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Kentucky bourbon-country relays, New Orleans vampires, coastal Maine miles, and Maryland’s historic JFK 50 Mile have in common? They are all part of Episode 2 of Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA , Extraordinary Strides’ five-part summer series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the st...

What can a great book, a bucket-list race, and a memorable local running route tell us about a state? Welcome to Episode 1 of Running, Reading, and Racing in the USA , an Extraordinary Strides five-part summer series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through the stories we read, the places we explore, and the finish lines we dream about. In this first episode, we travel alphabetically from A...

Running trends are everywhere right now, from Garmin badge chasing and runDisney friendship bracelets to Strava titles, race-day tattoos, emotional support water bottles, matching outfits, sparkle, DJ run clubs, and yes… people apparently churning butter on the run. In this fun and wildly relatable episode of Extraordinary Strides , Coach Christine is joined by Shelly Rose to unpack the viral runn...

Is Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend the best runDisney race weekend for first-timers? In this episode of Extraordinary Strides, Christine kicks off a four-part guide to the Walt Disney World runDisney race weekends with a deep dive into Wine & Dine. By the time this episode airs, most current registration dates have passed, so this conversation is perfect for future race planning,...

Running can be the most consistent thing in your life, right up until your body forces a plot twist. Shelly Rose is back, and the “first half marathon” version of her has evolved into a runner with multiple half marathons, Ragnar memories, Run Disney miles, and a very real injury chapter that includes a calf strain and plantar fasciitis. That detour sparks a bigger question we all face: how do you...

Summer can feel like it should make fitness easier, but the reality is the opposite: aggressive heat, heavy humidity, pop-up storms, travel weekends, later dinners, and the kind of schedule blur that turns one late night into three. I call it the summer fitness trap, and if you’ve been stuck in the “I’ll restart Monday” cycle, this is your reset with a plan that actually fits real life. We build a...

You made it to Day 5 of Mayday Miles: Finish Line Field Day ! ✨ Today we are celebrating every small win, because you did not have to do this week perfectly for it to count. Your mission: choose your celebration movement. Walk, run, run-walk, stretch, strength train, dance walk, recovery stroll, playlist miles, or anything that helps you finish this week feeling proud. Today’s add-in: add joy. We...

Welcome to Day 4 of Mayday Miles: Trail Buddy Thursday . ✨ Today is all about movement plus connection, because support makes consistency so much easier. Your mission: add intentional movement with a little connection. Walk or run with a friend, text someone before or after your workout, post your check-in, share a photo, cheer someone else on, or invite a friend to join. Moving solo? That still...

Your breathing is not just background noise. It is a lever you can pull to change your heart rate, calm your nervous system, and stay in control when a run starts to feel “spicy.” I’m joined by Lynn Kinney, LCSW, longtime endurance athlete, and the steady voice behind our Mindful Moment Wednesdays. Together we unpack breathwork and meditation in a way that actually fits real life: quick two to thr...

It’s Day 3 of Mayday Miles: Wind-Down Wednesday . ✨ Today is your permission slip to let your body and mind exhale. Your mission: add gentle movement, mobility, or recovery. Try a recovery walk, stretching, yoga, foam rolling, mobility work, or a few easy movement snacks throughout the day. Today’s add-in: add stress release. That could be breathwork, meditation, journaling, a breathing break, qu...

Welcome to Day 2 of Mayday Miles! ✨ Today’s theme is Fuel & Flow , because we are not powering through Maycember on stress, vibes, and leftover coffee alone. Today’s mission: add easy movement or a strength snack. Walk, run, run-walk, stretch, do mobility, strength train, or sprinkle in exercise confetti throughout the day. Today’s add-in: add fuel or hydration. That could be protein, produce...

Day 1 of Mayday Miles is here! ✨ Today’s theme is Mayday Mission , and we are starting exactly where we are. Your mission: add 10 to 30 minutes of intentional movement . Walk, run, run-walk, stretch, strength train, dance in the kitchen, or sprinkle in exercise confetti throughout the day. Today’s add-in: choose one thing you want to add this week to feel more supported. More water? More protein?...

Maycember hits hard, so we build a free five day reset that protects your rhythm with small movement and small add-ins that actually fit real life.  We trade perfection and restriction for support, community, and a plan that helps you feel better heading into summer.  • Why May feels like “Maycember” and how calendar chaos derails routines  • What Mayday Miles is and what it is not  • The “add ins...

Your toughest mile rarely needs a lecture. It needs a voice that cuts through the noise at the exact right time. Coach Christine sits down with Emily, co-founder of the Hollarhype app , to talk about what happens when encouragement stops being a post-run comment and becomes real-time support that lands in your ears mid-hill, mid-workout, or mid “I might quit.” Emily explains how Hollarhype works:...

Coming back to running after a break can mess with your head in a way nobody warns you about. You’re not just rebuilding fitness, you’re facing the memory of what running used to feel like and the fear that maybe you “lost it.” I’m Coach Christine, and I’m back behind the mic after my own unexpected hiatus to say the quiet part out loud: most of us don’t quit, we just lose momentum, and once it sl...

What if collecting your stars didn’t require juggling hotel hunts, expo lines, and start-time puzzles? We sit down with Destiny2Sport founder Victor Ortiz to unpack a smarter way to run the world; from Berlin’s fast streets and Chicago’s walkable logistics to New York’s electric maze, Tokyo’s quiet precision, Boston’s legendary grind, London’s all-out roar, and Sydney’s shiny new major status. As...

Ready to start 2026 on your terms—with movement, magic, and a community that actually feels like you belong? We’re hosting a curated Central Florida retreat built around three themes: epic adventure, extraordinary movement, and pure celebration with fellow Extraordinary Strides podcast listeners! Think flexible dates, thoughtful resort choices on the Skyliner, and a weekend you can shape to your e...

The Ghoul-Friend Gauntlet: The Coven Clash Challenge is a 31-day movement challenge designed for runners and walkers who start strong but struggle to maintain their momentum. This October challenge pairs you with one teammate in either Team Luna or Team Shadow to create accountability that prevents you from ghosting yourself. • Walk or run at your own pace every day for 31 days • Get sorted into a...

Sydney Marathon beckoned as the newest World Marathon Major, and I couldn't resist answering the call after earning my six-star medal in Tokyo. This Australian adventure would become my seventh major—a milestone I never expected to reach when I started this journey. The electric atmosphere at the expo set the tone for the weekend, with volunteers and organizers proudly showcasing Sydney as th...

Jet lag isn't just feeling tired—it's a temporary circadian misalignment affecting hormones, temperature, digestion, and athletic performance that runners feel particularly strongly. • Endurance performance depends on precise timing of biological functions that get disrupted during travel • Core body temperature minimum sits 2-3 hours before wake time and is key to understanding light ex...

We take you on a satirical journey through Taper Town, a psychological landscape every runner visits during the final weeks before race day. Through humor and relatable anecdotes, we map the strange mental territory where reduced mileage creates increased anxiety. • Exploring the "Weather Bureau" where runners obsessively check forecasts and compare contradicting weather apps • Visiting...

Coach Christine shares how she tackled Sydney Marathon training during a chaotic summer filled with caregiving responsibilities, relocation, and constant travel, discovering that romance novels became her unexpected training partner and source of resilience. • Trading structured training schedules for flexibility and adaptability • Finding companionship in audiobooks during solo runs in unfamiliar...

We saddle up for a journey through Disney's Frontierland, exploring its rich history, hidden details, and Western-inspired magic that can transform your next run into a frontier adventure for runDisney's Big Thunder Mountain Virtual Summer Series. • Frontierland was one of Walt's original lands when Disneyland opened in 1955, designed to transport guests back to the 1800s • The wood...

The countdown to race day brings a unique cocktail of nerves, excitement, and questions. What's really happening to your body during taper? Should you squeeze in one more long run? How do you handle those phantom pains that suddenly appear? Drawing from decades of experience and my personal journey completing all six World Marathon Majors, I've created the ultimate 30-day race countdown...

We’re lacing up for a sweaty sleigh ride through Christmas in July, a 30-minute express workout that brings festive fun and fierce intention to your training. Whether you're chasing a PR or just showing up in the middle of summer chaos, this workout proves that short can still be extraordinary. Coach Christine leads you through a power-packed interval session built around effort-based trainin...