S4 EP14 - Conversations with Runners: Verna Volker

Welcome to the Runner’s Round Table podcast. Season 4 is “Conversations with Runners”, and each episode features a conversation with an inspiring female runner who is making the running community better in her own way. In this episode, Stephanie talks to Verna Volker from Navajo Nation about her running journey, the founding of Native Women Running, and the healing power of running. Enjoy this episode and thanks for listening.  To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y62ykdVtrfU Native Lands resource: https://native-land.ca/ About Stephanie: Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers). www.instagram.com/thecookierunner/ www.thecookierunner.net About Verna: She/her/hers, Mom, Wife, Founder of Native Women Running, Hoka Global Ambassador and Suunto Ambassador My name is Verna Volker and I am from the Navajo Nation. I grew up in the Dzilnaoodilii area of New Mexico, but currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota with my husband and four children. In 2009, I started my running journey to lose weight, but it has turned into a quest to find out who I am internally. This journey has taken me from a newbie runner to a marathoner and to an ultra-marathoner. My desire is to use my running to inspire others. I am also the founder of Native Women Running. An organization I created four years ago to draw visibility to Native Women Runners, Not only are we drawing visibility but It has become a place for our women for inspiration, motivation and community in a virtual and in-person setting. www.instagram.com/native_women_running www.instagram.com/hozhorunner4/ www.nativewomenrunning.com