About this episode
Today we have one of the most inspiring runners I know—Jennie Chisholm. She’s a mom of four boys, a Triple Crowner, and a two-time Cocodona 250 finisher. But she didn’t find ultrarunning the usual way. She stumbled into it—literally—on a whim while thru-hiking the Arizona Trail. She tells the incredible story of how her family went from watching Cocodona as curious hikers to toeing the start line with hand-me-down running vests and brand-new shoes. We talk about how her sons became ultrarunners, what it’s like racing 250 miles while constantly worrying about your kids (who are also racing), and the chaos of coordinating multiple crews and pacers as a full-on family affair. She shares the highs and heartbreaking lows from this year’s Cocodona—dealing with sickness, hypothermia, and emotional breakdowns on the trail, all while pushing through to the finish herself. We also dive into training, nutrition (or the lack thereof), trail names, and how thru-hiking helped shape her kids into some of the toughest young runners in the sport. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jenny Chisholm's Journey 03:10 The Accidental Entry into Cocodona 05:59 Family Dynamics in Ultra Running 09:06 Logistics of Racing as a Family 11:52 Challenges Faced During the Race 15:05 The Emotional Toll of DNFing 17:56 Finding Focus Amidst Chaos 21:00 The Role of Family Support 23:52 Reflections on the Race Experience 39:33 The Emotional Roller Coaster of Racing 48:12 Navigating Nutrition and Training Challenges 55:02 Building Confidence Through Thru-Hiking 01:01:08 The Future of Family Adventures 01:09:31 Embracing the Journey and Lessons Learned Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside