#7: RAGNAR RELAY: REMEMBERING WHAT MATTERS + ENJOYING THE JOURNEY

We are Rachel Bellotti and Jenell Riesner, co-hosts of the TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE PODCAST, exploring everyday people fearlessly finding and living their true north.

We have met so many interesting people from all walks of life living fascinating and inspiring lives whose stories aren’t being told. This season we are excited to connect with and celebrate the untold stories of everyday people from Sheboygan, WI, to Santa Monica, CA, who are living their true north and inspiring each of us to do the same.

Today we check-in with our own changes and accomplishments over the last 6 months. We remember what it was like to train for the Ragnar in Zion National Park (Utah), move our lives across the country, become chill athletes, and find human connection with a group of people who were willing to throw themselves into nature without technology and limited privacy, running 120 miles in 30 hours. Whoop whoop!

*note: this episode includes explicit language appropriate for those ages 16+

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Kickapoo coffee - we miss this coffee shop in Milwaukee where we used to spend a lot of time brainstorming on the TRUE NORTH COLLECTIVE
• Garmin vivosport
• November Project Dallas
• Dallas Dirt Runners
• Tiffany Parker - lululemon ambassador + olympic athlete
• Is there such thing as working out too much? Blog post by Jenell Riesner
• Jackie Haas - former WWE wrestler that works with Rachel Bellotti
• Ragnar Relays
• Intro music from Jukedeck - create your own at http://jukedeck.com

3 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. It’s a constant journey to find a balance that works for you and your lifestyle versus trying to do more and more and more of what you have deemed as “good”. Because even good habits can become bad habits or said another way, there can be too much of a “good” thing that ultimately is no longer serving you.
2. Doing big physical feats of strength, or having a unique experience with a group of humans, on a team without technology, where you spend at least 24 hours together non-stop, and only focusing on one thing that you are all working towards really brings people together. It exposes you to people’s true colors, heightens your human connection, vulnerability, support, and presence with yourself and other humans. It’s an experience worth having.
3. In racing and in life, it’s ok to slow down, pace yourself, and be present to what you need now. Allow people to pass if they are ready to pass. Follow if it’s your turn to follow. Lead if you are ready to lead. Be where you are and allow yourself to be on the journey and appreciative of wherever that is that you are.

TIME STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

• [1:19] Moving to a new city
• [4:30] Weird pet names
• [6:46] Not getting interviews, handling rejection, + culture fit
• [11:40] Getting clear on the essence of what you want
• [21:20] Signing up for your first ½ marathon
• [24:50] Recovering from Ragnar injuries
• [26:45] Is there such thing as working out too much?
• [30:00] Heart rate variability technology - Get a free WHOOP strap and your first month free when you join with my link: https://join.whoop.com/#/8A21F4
• [34:00] Breaking good habits that have become bad habits
• [36:00] 10-min workout breaks at work
• [43:40] Ragnar Zion recap!
• [50:00] Removing cell service, being out in nature, + really feeling what it feels like being me
• [1:01:45] Unnecessary worry during training
• [1:09:15] Starting over
• [43:40] Thank you for listening + reach out on our website if inspired