S4 Ep 5 How Two Friends Trained Smarter, Fueled Better, And Found Joy In Distance with Jana McCarron and Denise Smith

Send us Fan MailThe first climb always humbles you—and sometimes it shows you who you can become. We sit down with Denise Smith and Jana McCarron to unpack how two friends stretched from casual runs to gritty trail miles, including a six-hour loop event with 1,600 feet of gain per lap that rewired their sense of “hard.” Denise shares how a post-college fitness push grew into 10Ks, triathlons, and now a half marathon goal, while Jana talks about returning to running later in life, embracing the Galloway run-walk method, and discovering that endurance favors patience over pace.You’ll hear the practical details that actually move the needle: how to fuel without wrecking your stomach, when to switch from gels to real food, and why electrolytes matter more than you think on warm days and hilly courses. We get specific about trail strategy too—time on feet, recalibrating expectations on steep terrain, carrying your own water when aid runs out, and small gear wins like waterproofing shoes and packing extra socks for creek crossings. Denise breaks down sprint vs Olympic triathlon distances in plain terms, and explains why training seasons shift with real life. Jana offers a grounded view on zone two training and how mostly walking through a training block still led to a half marathon PR.Threaded through the stories is a mindset that keeps runners healthy and engaged: don’t compare, stay consistent, and let community carry you through the tough miles. From wrong start lines and knee-deep creek surprises to the quiet joy of finishing loop two because it beats freezing at the aid tent, this conversation is a field guide to sustainable endurance. If you’re eyeing your first half marathon, curious about trail running, or searching for fueling strategies that actually work, you’ll leave with practical tips and a steadier outlook on progress.Subscribe, rate, and share to support the show, and tell us your toughest mile or funniest race mishap—we might feature it next time. coaching highlights You can reach out to us at:https://coffeycrewcoaching.comemail: [email protected] FB @ Over the Next Hill Fitness GroupIG  @coffeycrewcoaching.comand Buy Me a Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/Carlauhttps://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNH20https://hydra-patch.com/discount/OTNHBOGO?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fhydrapatch%C2%AE https://rnwy.life code: OTNH15 https://jambar.com code: CARLA20