Maryellen Branna - New Jersey, Achilles International

Automated Transcription

Interview

  Joe Borchard: [00:00:02] welcome to the run because podcast, we all have a reason why we run.

Each person has a unique purpose to answer their, why your, why moves you? Your, why get you across the finish line? Your why can motivate others? I run because seeks to inspire others by exploring the why of athletes who run for charitable organizations. I'm your host, Joe Bashard and I have my lovely guide of life.

My wife, Christine. Hello, and tonight we're so excited. We have Mary Ellen from Achilles New Jersey, and she's going to join us tonight. Welcome Mary Ellen, how are you doing?

Maryellen Branna: [00:00:37] Good. How are you, Joe? And Christine, are you.

Joe Borchard: [00:00:40] Doing good. Doing good Marianne, we're going to jp right into it. , we've been friends for awhile. We're both, , , , affiliates of Achilles New Jersey, but you have such an amazing story that we wanted bring you on the show. And so you could kind of tell us a little bit about how you got into running.

So let's take it back 

Christine Borchard: [00:00:58] actually. This is new for me, 

Joe Borchard: [00:01:01] I'm very excited because I follow Mary Ellen on, on, on social media. And I know she's been posting like a, like a phenom, , on her social

Maryellen Branna: [00:01:10] Oh, Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. A daily kind of,

Joe Borchard: [00:01:14] and I love it. I read it every day. So now we're going to w w we're going to dive in a little bit deeper, Mary Ellen.

So when to tell us, , when did you start running?

Maryellen Branna: [00:01:23] well, the. No before I got to, , Sergio and ms. Strong, I guess I was part of the, kind of late eighties, early nineties, , , jogging around with my Reeboks and , my big Walkman, , system and, , just, , after work, I mean, I just, there was no Watts, there was no races. It was just, I was trying to.

, kind of in shape. And, , I did some other fitness classes and nothing, , nothing really ever stuck, but, , about six years ago when I was, , gonna be turning 50, I, , one of my friends at, , she was actually, , one of the moms of teacher, , like the kids that I teach, , I'm a preschool teacher.

So, , Julie had joined this group and she was. , running and coming back and telling me about it. And I said, Oh, that sounds pretty cool. I, , my girls were older. I wasn't really, , doing the soccer mom thing anymore. So I thought this would be something good for me to really try to get back into doing something for myself.

And, , , maybe seeing if it's something that I would like. So I joined the group, , six years ago, it was Memorial day weekend, actually. And I went to the park in Ridgewood and there were so many other moms there that I used to teach their kids. So I kind of knew a lot of women already, , they kept, they call me by my teacher.

Her name is Brianna. So it was, it was kind of funny to be seeing some familiar faces. And, , almost immediately, I just started the couch to five K program and just started running. And in a couple of weeks I did my first five K and then a couple months I did my first. Half marathon. And I just felt in love with the group and being with women who were supporting each other and, , and running, I found, I really, I guess it's racist more so than when I ran before and didn't really stick with it.

I think being, , being a part of the race community kind of, , propel me forward. And I think also having other women supporting me and kind of cheering me on, , really, , motivated me to keep moving.

Unknown: [00:03:31] So 

Joe Borchard: [00:03:31] you ran, you've been running with a Jersey women's strong for six years now and a Memorial day, which is just this past, , past week.

Maryellen Branna: [00:03:39] Yeah. Yeah. So it was my, yeah, my rent, I run a bursary. , but , the thing about the women's shelter was that.

Joe Borchard: [00:03:45] I said, I like that. The run a verse, or I'd never heard that before. That's a cool term.

Maryellen Branna: [00:03:50] Yeah. , and , the, the other thing, I think that really. Made me connect with these women is, , Dana white is the, , coach who's the head of the group. And her mission was not only to, , get women together to, , work out and go to races, , and kind of get healthy and stay healthy and have this connection with each other.

But also there's the community involvement. There's the giving back. , Our motto is get fit, , give back to change lives. So not only are you changing your own life and your own, , fitness ability or your mental health, or, , just gaining new friends, you're also giving back to other people and changing their lives.

So, , it's, it's one of the wonderful components of the group that I really love.

Joe Borchard: [00:04:43] So that's, that's some really great things that you're doing with, , with Jersey women strong. Have you done races with them? And if so, , what was one of your favorite races that you've done with 

Unknown: [00:04:51] them?

Maryellen Branna: [00:04:53] , one of my favorite races, I think probably was the perfect 10. , it was down near the Princeton area. I'm not, I speak to, I was the racing group and I'm not sure if they run that race anymore, but it was, , 10 miles. It was, , all women. And it was probably, it was my first, really big writing with the team where, , I went to a hotel room.

I, I stayed with my friend Kim. We went out to dinner, , had the big pasta dinner before. And, , that was just, , one of the really big. Racist that I remember really feeling, , part of the group. I had rarely met a lot of different women over the smer. , luckily being a teacher, I could, , show up to practice every day and, , cause I really was so anxious to, , get connected with the group and , and just being, that was my first, really big race where it's just seeing how.

Runners support each other on their course. And, , it just felt so nice to be a part of that, , and obviously to being very new to running and in that way, finishing those 10 miles, it was, it was a big achievement at the time.

Joe Borchard: [00:05:57] That's great. So Mary Ellen had, , I, how did you end up finding 

Christine Borchard: [00:06:01] Achilles? Was it the bright yellow shirt? 

Joe Borchard: [00:06:05] Must've been the bright yellow shirts.

Maryellen Branna: [00:06:08] let's see that. That's my coming up in June. Well, technically I guess the Brooklyn half is when I saw, , all your shirts and the team. So, , I've technically, , I guess you could say celebrated my Achilles anniversary. , since I found guys and , my friend was with me for the Brooklyn half were doing the nine plus one races.

So she was, , I had a marathon the following weekend. I think, yeah. And she said, Oh, so what's your plan? And I said, Oh, I don't know. I'd like to get this time maybe. And she said, okay, I can help you. And so, , she was kind of guiding me to a PR that day. And in the meantime, , I see all these Achilles and, , , I was kinda like just really inspired and looking at that, like, look at you guys.

Bringing somebody across the finish line, , guiding somebody obviously. And I kind of felt like, , my friend just did that for me. And with, because running has given me so much in terms of friends and opportunities to volunteer and just makes me so happy. I was kind of like, it was like, Oh, here it is.

This next opportunity for me to give back and help out and, guide somebody else. So I contacted Joe urban LA right away. And it took a little while to get some practice. I think there were a couple of storms and I think I probably was finishing up with this my school year. So, , my first practice is June 12th, I believe in.

And I ran with Barbara Brown that night and just instantly again, another group of people, another group of runners that I just instantly felt connected to and welcomed. So

Joe Borchard: [00:07:47] Oh, we're so glad that you joined the Kelly's New Jersey. I can't believe it's only been a year. For some reason, I feel

Maryellen Branna: [00:07:52] I know right.

Joe Borchard: [00:07:53] I feel like it's been so much longer.

Maryellen Branna: [00:07:56] I think because it was another one of those opportunities where, , the smertime I was off and again, just felt instantly connected and really wanted to continue to get to know people in the group. And, , I kind of, again, just jped in with both feet. And so, , every opportunity I was like, you need a guide and, , can you come ready to do it?

He was like, yes, we great. , so it was kind of like every race that was out there. , , I just kind of jped in and helped out wherever it was possible. And, , kept going to practices and meeting you and Jamie and Maddie and , Katie and parent, I mean, the list goes on and on

Christine Borchard: [00:08:37] it's a different 

Maryellen Branna: [00:08:38] every week 

Christine Borchard: [00:08:39] Like when you run for yourself and you're crossing the finish line and you're trying to get a PR and then like everything switches when you're guiding somebody it's like a whole other, it's not even, it doesn't even feel the same for me. it's a completely different field.

Maryellen Branna: [00:08:51] Feels so much

Joe Borchard: [00:08:52] Yeah. I think it's better to. 

Maryellen Branna: [00:08:53] so it's so much better. I mean, I, at the same time with Achilles, I was also, , , because I run every day and I was, , I guess I'm in better shape, but I don't know, but I was able to get, , kinda my PRS in my own race and doesn't even compare to the joy that I felt helping, , , guiding Achilles athletes.

Across the finish line, whether it was race or a training run, or even just the practice run. , I really it's really been a gift to find you guys. I have to say, it's just given my, my connection to running. It just kind of makes it even, I always feel like running is for me. And I don't know about if you guys still this, but in braces and in the running community, I just feel like we're all so supportive of each other.

Right. I feel like. , you meet somebody in a race and they're cheering for you and you're caring for them. And , nobody's ever really in a bad mood, even if you kind of had a bad race, I kind of feel like it's still like, wow, I made it through, ? And, , so with Achilles, it's just been so great to, , meet so many different athletes and see them cross the finish line.

It, it doesn't compare

Christine Borchard: [00:10:07] You made mention about like always, , , whenever there was a race you were filling in, I find that I, I stopped having opportunities to run a race. I hate to say for myself, cause that seems selfish, but I felt like. , I was so busy running all the different races in New York or guiding here in New Jersey that I try to find time to have one race.

And, , that I, I run from, I hate to say myself. And then when I take, when I have the opportunity and I do it and I'm like, wow, that wasn't so much fun. Like I realized, like try to do one for myself because I don't even know what my pace is anymore. So I do like to get out there and just try to run, but then when it's over and I'm by myself, I'm like, it wasn't as.

Greatest. I thought it was going to, but Joe and I, this year, we decided for Christmas, we were going to run a race together. We were, we, we like to try to do a one a year. So last year we did, , Myrtle beach and this year was going to be the, , Atlantic city. , rock and rock roll. And it was the same weekend as, , Brooklyn.

And then I know we were talking about, and people need the guides. And then I started feeling selfish because Joe and I were going to do something rogue and just go off on our own. So like, it's it, it's a commitment. And then, , it's a commitment that you love.

Maryellen Branna: [00:11:15] right. And I think there's nothing wrong with, , you guys doing your own race and, , Achieving your own goals and PRS, I think that, , that fills you up and then, , it's kind of like your tank is full and then you can, , give back when you're ready. ? I think it's, I think it's all good.

So I think it's wonderful that you guys both run together. I think that's very cool.

Unknown: [00:11:37] Yeah, 

Christine Borchard: [00:11:37] well, during this whole pandemic, Joe's been stuck with me because there's no one else to run with. And 

Joe Borchard: [00:11:44] it's under a governor's order though. I don't even have any options. 

Christine Borchard: [00:11:49] , I've been getting slower. I haven't really been putting the time in and the other, he comes home. He's like, I just had an eight minute pace.

And then when he comes out with me, he's like, that was an 11 minute pace. And then I'm always like, I feel guilty that he has to be stopped. Fuck running slowly with me. I enjoy 

Joe Borchard: [00:12:02] the time. Thank you, 

Christine Borchard: [00:12:03] Joe. That's 

Joe Borchard: [00:12:04] what I have to say. Right. Because I'm stuck in the house. I guess the good thing is she can't kick me out.

Christine Borchard: [00:12:10] Right. Because I'm nowhere to go. That's right. 

Joe Borchard: [00:12:14] , so Mary Ellen, I know you're also into, , , involved with other organizations. , I think you, you're a coach for girls on the run,

Maryellen Branna: [00:12:22] Girls on the run. Yes, I, that was, , another opportunity that I got through Thursday. Women's strong. , on our Facebook group, one of the teammates said, girls on the minus looking for coaches, they, they have so many girls waiting. And they won't have a team unless we get coaches. So was kind of another, their thing.

I kind of checked with Dana. I said, do you think I can do this? And she was like, absolutely. , I mean, I had three girls of my own and I had been a girl scout leader, but I had never been a running coach. Like I didn't really feel like I was trained. Okay. Teach somebody to do that. But really what girls on the run is, is a program that just uses running as a tool to teach lessons for girls ages, grades.

Third, third grade to fifth grade, too. , just feel good about themselves and, and take care of themselves and make friends and kind of speak up for themselves. And, , we talked about healthy habits and, , basically train for the  it's a 10 week program. And, , there's also a program for sixth to eighth grade girls as well.

, so this, this spring week when we went. Virtual that's going to be this weekend, actually work well, June 6th is the, , virtual race and the team. I have five girls. , I've been zooming with them and we're gonna, , try to do the virtual race together, , obviously social systems. , but it's, it's been another opportunity for me to, , Kind of teach girls how running is a great way to relieve stress, , to, to keep your mind and body healthy, to support other people, ?

, and just like with Georgia women, strong girls on the run, we have a, , volunteer opportunity as well. So the girls do a volunteer project as part of their season. And, , it's just been another great opportunity for me to use running and as a, as a tool to, , Showgirls that it's a good thing to have in your life.

And it's nice to be a part of a team, ?

Joe Borchard: [00:14:24] What a great program that is. And, , I'm sure, especially now more than ever, like, like some, some amazing lessons are probably shared through just. Hanging 

Christine Borchard: [00:14:35] out with other girls. 

Joe Borchard: [00:14:36] Yeah. And just even keeping your mind clear right now. I mean, it's, it's so easy to get distracted with, , this quarantining and, , sort of have that outlet.

What a great idea. That's awesome. 

Christine Borchard: [00:14:48] Mary Ellen, is this, are these, these ladies all in the same area, is this site, , do you have to go somewhere, , for this, or is this all done around this area?

Maryellen Branna: [00:14:57] no. Well, girls on the run, you can grow so nine dot Oregon, , they're, it's an international group. So, , we have the chapters in New Jersey. , I mean, Ramsey said there was a Mahwah team. , Ridgewood, , there are teams in Florida, there's teams all over New Jersey. So the chapter that I'm part of is the North, , chapter.

And, , anybody he can are, we made out of a church, but you can't, , some teams made out of school and, , again, it's all volunteer based and, , it's just been, I kind of wished I, I had this program was around when my girls were younger, , because. To me, I kind of combined the girl scout lessons and, , community and working together and confidence building with the support, , whereas, , sometimes when you'd be on a sports team, you weren't good.

Maybe you didn't get a chance to play, but ,

Christine Borchard: [00:15:49] everybody can run. Yeah.

Maryellen Branna: [00:15:51] right. Everybody's a runner. It doesn't matter. Even if you're walking, right. Like we tell the girls, if he runs today, pop dance, it doesn't matter just as long as you get across the finish line.

Christine Borchard: [00:15:59] especially like with third grade and, , you start trying out for teams and there are children who don't make the team, , the rec starts to go away. So this is a great opportunity to, to be able to do something. It's almost like an art. , I teach as well. , some of our students are really leaning toward the technology.

They're doing the, , what's that called? Joe? , what do you do with the robot or robotics? And I like it, it's fun to do with 

Joe Borchard: [00:16:20] the robot 

Christine Borchard: [00:16:21] robotics. , you see kids that get cut from teams and, , it's just something else that you don't have to be super athletic to do to be part of a, of a group.

Maryellen Branna: [00:16:31] Right. 

Christine Borchard: [00:16:32] What a great organization. I never heard of it before. 

Joe Borchard: [00:16:34] I'll have to

check it out. 

Maryellen Branna: [00:16:35] well, yeah. I hope everybody says it's a wonderful program. So.

Joe Borchard: [00:16:40] Where do you find time? Jersey women's strong. Girls girls on the run 

Christine Borchard: [00:16:46] Achilles takes a lot of time. And then I saw her in the park one member, Mary Ellen. When I first met you, I was, I was training with Katie and we saw you in the park and you were just doing your own training run for whatever marathon you were doing.

Like you must be very busy with running.

Maryellen Branna: [00:17:02] I love it. I run every day and, , I've I started a run street two years ago and, , cause I was coming off an injury and runner's world. They host the run streak on Memorial day and. I kind of felt like I needed to get my groove back a little bit from being out for a couple of months, then it just was really the right thing for me.

, and just, I love it. It's, it's a great it's, , it's hard to explain unless you,

Joe Borchard: [00:17:30] So what's, , what, what's your run streak out of curiosity?

Maryellen Branna: [00:17:36] I just celebrated two years Memorial day. So may or may 26, 27. Two years of running every day, at least a mile a day

Christine Borchard: [00:17:45] Treadmill run to Mary Ellen are only outside. 

Joe Borchard: [00:17:48] He stops the stop. The presses wait, every

day. 

Maryellen Branna: [00:17:54] every day.

Joe Borchard: [00:17:55] Holy 

Christine Borchard: [00:17:56] smokes. What happens when you're sick? Marianne? Cause I'm sick often. I'm always achy or something on the couch. You still make yourself go everyday.

Yeah, there are just so many days. I can't.

Maryellen Branna: [00:18:10] Yeah, I I've run very late at night, especially, , with your, your teacher, , at the beginning of the school year, when you're getting the classroom ready

Christine Borchard: [00:18:18] That's the worst because we're training for marathons and that's September is the worst, getting the classroom ready. And just the exhaustion from being off in the smer, then working and training is awful.

Maryellen Branna: [00:18:31] and yeah. And then, so I would come home some, , maybe be eight, nine o'clock and. 10 o'clock and I would just be like, Nope, I'm just going to go around the block. Or I have a route that is just one mile and it's just kinda like, listen, you got to me the whole day. And after a while, I mean, it became, I think once I hit a hundred days, it was kind of, it's kind of a no brainer because it's like, do I really want to break the streak for this?

Do I really want to break the streak for fever? ? , I just. There's something about it that it just, it's another thing that I've accomplished. It's another thing that running, , give to me, it helps me feel really good when I'm done. I never, never regret a run, even, even a bad run, even feeling well.

And, , and 

Christine Borchard: [00:19:17] on your that's 

Joe Borchard: [00:19:18] really cool. Yeah, we, ,

we are podcast. I run, I run because also partners with, , we have a running coach that does a segment at the end. His name is, , hella DB and he's.

Maryellen Branna: [00:19:30] that

worked. I'm following him now on Instagram.

Joe Borchard: [00:19:32] Oh, that's great. That's great. Yeah. Hello. He's been running since may of 2017 every day. So he 

Christine Borchard: [00:19:41] comes such a slacker.

I am such a slacker. I'm Mary Ellen. Since this, the whole thing went down, I averaged three days a week and I I've I've kept it. I've I've done nothing more than three math, three, four miles. I'm not overextending myself, but like. Without a race. , in the distance, I have a very hard time, like I run for the carrot.

So if I'm not with the Achilles or if I, not that Joe isn't motivation, but I definitely realized with this whole thing that I am not self motivated. I need that. , I signed up for a race in November, or I need to look at my calendar and see like, , , my training schedule just to do this on my own.

It's 

Joe Borchard: [00:20:22] hang on this, Justin, what Christine and I are going to accept the Mary Ellen challenge. We are going to run every day, this week. We're going to start off small every day, this week. So Mary Ellen, we're going to 

Christine Borchard: [00:20:37] it. So is signing me up for something that I am not prepared to sign up for. 

Joe Borchard: [00:20:42] We're in it, seven days we could do it.

We could do it seven days.

Maryellen Branna: [00:20:46] seven days. I love it.

Joe Borchard: [00:20:49] We're in Mary Ellen. You've inspired me. I'm in it. I can't believe every day for two years. Like that's, 

Christine Borchard: [00:20:55] that's crazy. Do you want to know some of my, the laziness on my part though? When I come home from work, I kick off my shoes. 

Joe Borchard: [00:21:02] The last thing I want to do, no, I know that, 

Christine Borchard: [00:21:04] but when I was at work, put on the sports bra to throw on the run and then sometimes I would say, Oh, it's not worth it.

Just for two miles. I'm going to get all on dress and, , It's just excuses is all really what I'm coming down with. It's just excuses. 

Joe Borchard: [00:21:21] Seven days. We're doing it. We're doing a run streak. 

Christine Borchard: [00:21:24] I'm going to say yes, because I'm being paid. 

Maryellen Branna: [00:21:29] have this right? We do. This

Joe Borchard: [00:21:31] it? We w w we we've got this memorialized. We are starting our own run streak. 

Christine Borchard: [00:21:37] Tomorrow's national running day. 

Joe Borchard: [00:21:39] Oh, are you kidding me? 

Christine Borchard: [00:21:40] Am I wrong? Did I just make that up? Mary Ellen? Is that true?

Maryellen Branna: [00:21:45] that's true. June 3rd is world's running

Christine Borchard: [00:21:47] Oh my God.  what? That could be our anniversary, Joe, we just, we just fist pping Mariel. And 

Joe Borchard: [00:21:53] just to tell you what we did on 

Christine Borchard: [00:21:54] our end,

Maryellen Branna: [00:21:55] meant to be, , happy to snake me. I am so excited. You have no idea.

Joe Borchard: [00:22:00] that's it you've motivated us. 

Christine Borchard: [00:22:02] Mary Ellen. What is that? Metals to metals that you mentioned one other time to me.

Maryellen Branna: [00:22:08] So this is another organization that I have been, , involved with and I'm hoping to become one of the New Jersey chapter coordinator. The metals for metal is it's been around for 15 years. I'm a doctor. I believe he was in from Indiana. He had done a triathlon and a friend of his was, , battling an illness and he gave me and there's metal.

It's kind of like a, a way to boost the spirit. And from there metal, metal was born. So they award a marathon, half marathon and triathlon metals that people donate to. , people, patients and children, adults who are battling cancer. Or have suffered some sort of traa. , and even like currently now the COVID patients are receiving them and they put a new lanyard on the metal and give them to patients and the metals for metal.org.

If you look that up, there's scientific proof that it helps people, , getting that metal, , kind of like we, we crossed the finish line in a race, but they're in a much. Bigger race, right? The race for their health and, , to get better. So, , I've been donating my metal, all my metals for, , since I started, since I started running, , and it kind of helps me get across the finish line to, , there's some races and some really struggling, I gotta, I gotta finish this race because for needs my medal, ?

So, , that's been a really wonderful, another other way that I've found that I can give back with my running.

Christine Borchard: [00:23:39] Well, now that we know this Joe and I run many races, , together. So we always have like that two metal. So now I know where to give it to him for real, 

Joe Borchard: [00:23:47] , I'm sorry. So on a serious note.

Maryellen Branna: [00:23:49] Oh, sorry. Yeah.

Joe Borchard: [00:23:50] We're not going to lose you. Are we like you're involved with metals for metals girls on the run Jersey.

Women's strong, Achilles. 

Christine Borchard: [00:23:58] She comes to every achilles' event. I don't want to. 

Joe Borchard: [00:24:01] Mary Ellen, Holy cow.

Maryellen Branna: [00:24:06] It makes me so happy. It brings me such joy and I, , really the running is just the means of. Being connected to so many different people, which is really, , when you think that the question for this podcast is, , why do I run? , I run because I love being connected to so many other people.

I love learning their stories, hearing their struggles, helping them, , move through a race, but , learning more about them and, , kind of broadening my circle of life, , my, my community. , if you will, , It's something that I've really felt like has made me so much happier in my life is to know all of you through Achilles girls on the run, , , Georgia women's strong.

I mean, just even volunteering at different races. It's just been, so it just fills me up so much that it's, , I'm just grateful. So

Joe Borchard: [00:25:01] Well, we're so glad. We're so glad we got connected. Like I said, you inspired us. We're starting our run today. I 

Christine Borchard: [00:25:07] remember the first time we met you. I cause Joe and I talk cause we lived together and I would say she was so nice, Joe. And he goes, she really was so nice. Like, , I just knew when I met you, like you had, , that, what's the word I'm looking 

Joe Borchard: [00:25:17] for?

Like the good yes. 

Maryellen Branna: [00:25:20] Oh, thank you. That's so nice.

Christine Borchard: [00:25:24] Mary Ellen,  what? I, , I don't really have much going, like I don't have any side gigs. I'm not really, , I don't have any other hobbies. 

Joe Borchard: [00:25:33] We talked about this. I'm one of the other podcasts. You're making some, some serious progress on your crochet. 

Christine Borchard: [00:25:39] No, it wasn't crushing.

It was crust edge, but the only thing I ever like, yeah, I was bored during this whole thing and I, I had a starter kit. It's still sitting on top of it. I don't really have like a mud. Like, I always try things like I, like I read, but then I, I'm not a reader. And I like, but running was the one thing that I, I did and I, and I kept with, and I'm not great at it.

And I'm, and I'm not the typical runner. I'm a little heavier than. Than most, but I always feel like when I did Achilles, it was, it was a way for me to give back doing something they already love. Like I'm not, , some people, , could work at a soup kitchen or some people could, , , give back in different ways and I could do it, but I don't know if my heart, , I, I could volunteer and do anything, but I don't know if I would have the longevity as I do with Achilles because I love running.

I don't know if that makes sense.

Maryellen Branna: [00:26:35] no, it does. And , just also know that you're a runner. If you run you're a runner, so

Christine Borchard: [00:26:40] , I

giggle, I, , I teach middle school this year and, , the kids, I, this year I was on the third, , The third floor, but coming from the basement, it would be four flights of steps and the kids would Huff and puff. And my, my line, I always said to them, I said, I'm a 46 year old overweight woman who runs marathons if I can get up these steps.

So can you and the kids started saying that, like, it would be a joke, Tommy, we get to the top of the stairs and they would hop in puff. Yeah. Mrs. Burchard, we know you're a 46 year old overweight runner. And if you could do it, we could do it. Like it became like, , Something. I said all the time, and then the kids would say to me, like at the kids, I don't even really teach.

They would see me in a hallway and say, do you run any races this weekend? Like, and then I became like the runner in school, which, and like, even like some overweight girls would say to me, when did you start running? So I think it was, I'm talking. I'm not hongous, but I'm not your typical runner size.

And I think just being there for other girls to talk about running whatever size you are is empowering.

Maryellen Branna: [00:27:40] Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I think that's a very big thing. I mean, I was not a very sports oriented girl either when I was younger. I did not. , really make any teams or was not athletic in any way. So, , I definitely feel like I kind of feel like an athlete when I'm out there, , with my bid bond weather, , when I am running for myself or running for Achilles, I'm just, I'm like, Oh, look at me.

Like all like best friend and me too. Like, , but I think that's what running is, is such a great thing. And the running communities, that's a great community. Be a part of. Because we all, we all belong, , like you, it doesn't matter what you look like. You, , you put the bed on, you run the race.

You're you're part of the community,

Christine Borchard: [00:28:27] Joe always says, I get the same metal at the back of the pack as the people in the front of the pack. It's the same metal 

Joe Borchard: [00:28:32] you don't, you're doing the same course too, ,

Maryellen Branna: [00:28:36] Yup. Yup. That's 12, nine mile is the same as a six minute

Christine Borchard: [00:28:39] Correct. Just takes me a little bit longer. The fresh bagels are gone by the time I crossed the finish line.

Maryellen Branna: [00:28:48] Hey, as long as the beer is there, I'm fine. That's my motivation sometimes.

Joe Borchard: [00:28:55] So Mary Ellen, we're going to jp into another segment of our, , our podcast and it's called the finish line questions. So Christine's going to hit you with a series of questions and, , Just, , answer ms is honest and as quickly as you can, whatever comes to the top of your head. 

Christine Borchard: [00:29:10] Okay. Ready? 

Joe Borchard: [00:29:10] No pressure, 

Christine Borchard: [00:29:12] really difficult 

Unknown: [00:29:13] questions.

Maryellen Branna: [00:29:15] no, it feels, I feel like I'm on a game. So

Christine Borchard: [00:29:17] Now 

Joe Borchard: [00:29:17] there's wait to see the prices. Oh my gosh. 

Christine Borchard: [00:29:20] All right, Marianne. Okay, 

Joe Borchard: [00:29:21] here we go. 

Christine Borchard: [00:29:22]   , what is the favorite distance that you run, , your favorite race? So far of all the races you ran.

Maryellen Branna: [00:29:37] Marine Corps.

Christine Borchard: [00:29:39] Your go to post race meal.

Maryellen Branna: [00:29:46] Pasta and a salad.

Christine Borchard: [00:29:50] And is there a song that gets you motivated or pps you up? I know we don't really listen to music a lot, but is there a song that you like that gets 

Maryellen Branna: [00:29:56] , I would say just the girl, but I, no doubt,

Christine Borchard: [00:30:03] Okay. Yes. I'm just the girl in the world. Yep. 

Joe Borchard: [00:30:07] Keep going. I want to hear more. 

Christine Borchard: [00:30:10] That's all I have. Those are the questions. It was, you did a great job. You passed 

Joe Borchard: [00:30:12] it. You passed with flying colors, marathon Marine Corps. That's awesome. Pasta and salad. And just a girl. 

Christine Borchard: [00:30:20] I know. , our races were, , , canceled this year.

Was there one that you were really looking forward to that, , you were not able to do.

Maryellen Branna: [00:30:28] Oh, , there was, , There was a marathon in Newport, Rhode Island, , that my friends and I were going to do together. And, , that was kind of a, I think it was supposed to be a pretty decent course. So I'm still trying to get a sub five marathon right now. I, my personal best is five 1602, and that was Marine Corps.

So I'm pretty proud of that. Cause that was a tough course and it was a pretty bad weather day, but that's, , the ones. , cause I like to go to different races and , , trying to run races in different States and travel around with my friends. So that was one, I was a little disappointed with, with not making, so

Joe Borchard: [00:31:05] There'll be next year. And that's it. I mean,

at this point. 

Maryellen Branna: [00:31:09] deferred.

Joe Borchard: [00:31:10] Yeah. So are there any questions, Mary Ellen, that we, , we didn't ask you that you'd like us to ask to

share with us? 

Maryellen Branna: [00:31:19] No. I mean, I guess just if people listening want to join Jersey women, strong.com, that's the website and we're also on Facebook. , and , women are, , female group. And if you're interested in joining our group and being a part of a wonderful, , community of women who, , give back to the community and.

Support each other. And , we've done a lot of virtual races and been able to raise money for charities and then the same time. So, , but it's just a really great group to be a part of. If you kind of feel like you need a little motivation with running, , you're always, , you meet somebody.

I never leave anybody hanging. So if I, want it is, yeah. So if you want to get out the door, you text me and say, I want to run tomorrow. I'll show up, , so. , there's always people kind of, we're all trying to keep each other moving, so to speak. So sometimes it's hard to take it out by yourself, but if , you have a friend waiting for you, , and , it's, I would rather, we would love to have more people join our group or, , try it out.

Joe Borchard: [00:32:31] Okay. Alright, great. Listen everyone. Thank you so much, Mary Ellen, we found out why you like to run. We also found out that you. Somehow are able to cram eight pounds of potatoes in a three pound sack and all the different organizations that you do. , and we're so grateful that you're part of Achilles New Jersey, and we're so glad to have you as part of our team.

So Mary Ellen be safe and thank you so much for joining. Yes, tonight 

Christine Borchard: [00:32:56] by Mary Ellen.

Maryellen Branna: [00:32:58] Thank you so much for having me guys have a good night. 

Christine Borchard: [00:33:00] Alright.  All right. Time to connect with Joe Borchard: [00:33:03] hella and get an update on the run everyday challenge.

Take it away. Hello.

Hellah Sidibe: [00:33:07] What's up my beautiful people. Welcome back to our podcast. My name is hella. I have a run sheet going on today. We completed day 1,152. So over here, we are building ourselves up to I'm running a marathon at the end of this series of the podcast we're currently on week nine. So we're going to go from there and let you guys know what's been working for me and what can work for you as well, to help you achieve your goal to running 26.2 miles or whatever miles you want to run at the end of this series.

Okay. And then now I'm gonna just start with week nine. Is that good? Alright. So with nine, we're going to change things up a little bit, , especially with the heat. So let's say for week nine, first day of the week, Monday, for example, we're going to go really low in mileage. , coming from a go and high, we're talking about running 10 miles to finding higher elevation.

We're going to just run four miles the first day of the week for week nine. And let's say on a Tuesday, if you sat on a Monday, Do a hit day. , don't even go for a long run, do a hate to anything that's high intensity interval, just to get your heart rate up, , to build that stamina that you need. And, , we'll go back to.

Easy three miles. We're going to bring it down again, just to get everything back in order with the heat, and then you don't want to be fatigued and exhausted, , and then take a rest day and, , once or twice during week nine, and then the Saturday or Sunday of the week nine, you need to try to push and go for a half marathon distance.

, that's completing 13.1 miles. So would this pace, if you're wondering how fast it should go, just go as comfortable as you can. And with all this training that you've been doing, you're going to find your own rhythm and you'll find a comfortable pace that you're good with to push it through for that half marathon distance.

Joe Borchard: [00:34:20] thanks everyone for listening. We really hope you enjoyed those amazing stories.  Make sure to share this episode with your friends via social networks. We need these athletes and guides stories to get out there.

So until next time, I'm Joe 

Christine Borchard: [00:34:33] and 

I'm Christine. Thank you for listening.