Episode 8 is about running through life, not just miles. I reflect on what happens when goals don't fit your life, when pressure builds in running communities, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is adjust your plans.

From Chicago Marathon overstimulation to the quiet stretches of racing at Walt Disney World, I explore how movement helps process anxiety, how to coach yourself through every run, and why your running goals should belong to you, not someone else.

Whether you're chasing big races or just looking for space to move, this episode is about finding the freedom in the sport we love.

In this episode, I sit down with Marissa (@therunninghippie IG) to talk about movement, longevity, and the role cross-training can play in supporting runners.

Marissa brings a deep background to this conversation with 20 years of yoga practice, 10 years of running, and 7 years of Pilates. She’s also a certified personal trainer, a certified mat and reformer Pilates instructor, and a certified yoga instructor.

Together we talk about how different movement practices can complement running, how strength and mobility influence the way we move through our training, and why learning to listen to your body matters just as much as logging miles.

This conversation isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about building a sustainable relationship with movement as a woman, understanding how different disciplines support each other, and exploring what it means to move well for the long run.

runDisney used to feel different. Slower, quieter, and more accessible. But as the community grows, so do the dynamics, the expectations, and sometimes the exclusion.

In this episode, I unpack my own experiences navigating friend groups, intentional and unintentional exclusion, and the rise of toxic behavior, while exploring how you create your own meaningful experience.

From registration chaos to the pressure of costumes, from finding your why to choosing your hard, this episode is about showing up, connecting authentically, and preserving the heart of a community that is supposed to be inclusive for everybody.