183 episodes

Inspired Soles co-hosts Carolyn Coffin and Kim Sankey bring the communities of trail and road running together as they explore the parallels between running and life. Guests share the wisdom and experience they have gained through running and how it has inspired them to live deeper and more meaningful lives.

Inspired Soles Carolyn Coffin and Kim Sankey

    • Sports
    • 5.0 • 6 Ratings

Inspired Soles co-hosts Carolyn Coffin and Kim Sankey bring the communities of trail and road running together as they explore the parallels between running and life. Guests share the wisdom and experience they have gained through running and how it has inspired them to live deeper and more meaningful lives.

    Nick Kershaw | Impact Marathon Founder

    Nick Kershaw | Impact Marathon Founder

    Nick Kershaw is a man with a mission.  A runner with a background in finance and a passion for international development, Nick joins us from the UK to tell us all about how the Impact Marathon Series came to be and why it is so special.  The Impact Marathon Series was born in 2015 from a dream that we could use the simple power of running to uplift communities and empower runners all over the world.
    Throughout the Impact process, from the organizations they choose to support, to the way they engage and interact with the projects and the communities, their goal is to take the impalpable and make it real.  Nick and his crew have a goal to take their runners on a journey where they can find out what impact really means - the direct impact one can create, as well as how our lives indirectly have an impact that creates ripples across the world.
    Over the last eight years, Impact Marathon has raised $1.5 million for grassroots organizations and has built a reputation for creating entirely unique events in some incredible countries.
    Connect with Nick & Impact Marathon:
    Website: https://www.impactmarathon.com/Instagram: @impactmarathonConnect with Carolyn & Kim:
    Email us with guest ideas: inspiredsolescast@gmail.comInspired Soles InstagramKim's InstagramKim's FacebookCarolyn's InstagramCarolyn's FacebookCarolyn's websiteWe love hearing from you! Connect with us on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, subscribe or leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

    • 56 min
    Jen Shapka | On Embracing Her Run Community

    Jen Shapka | On Embracing Her Run Community

    Jen Shapka is a woman with a mission who seemingly can’t say no…and there are many runners who are grateful she says yes most of the time! Jen has moved a lot in her adult life, and it was the frequent moving that made this now 45-year old force herself to find a community wherever she landed. With two small kids at home, a husband away for work, and no family around, it was tough to get to the gym or join a team (both of which she’d have promptly quit anyway). One day 9 years ago she put on her shoes and went for a run. Or rather, mostly walking with a little bit of running. That eventually led to longer distances, a few races, and the most supportive and fun community. Currently living in Winnipeg - for the longest time ever in one place as an adult - she’s had time to really appreciate all that the running community, and now the triathlon community, have to offer.
    In this episode we learn about Jen’s personal running journey that I’m sure many of you can relate to. Her personal journey is inextricably intertwined with her experiences race directing and volunteering for numerous events around the city. Jen talks about who has inspired her and what she has learned along the way. It is an absolute pleasure to share this conversation with you.
    Resources we discussed in the episode:
    Find a Manitoba Road Race: https://mraweb.caConnect with Carolyn & Kim:
    Email us with guest ideas: inspiredsolescast@gmail.comInspired Soles InstagramKim's InstagramKim's FacebookCarolyn's InstagramCarolyn's FacebookCarolyn's websiteWe love hearing from you! Connect with us on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, subscribe or leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

    • 1 hr 3 min
    Rory Linkletter | On Running Olympic Standard at the Seville Marathon

    Rory Linkletter | On Running Olympic Standard at the Seville Marathon

    Rory Linkletter is a professional Canadian athlete who lives and trains in Flagstaff, Arizona, is sponsored by Puma, and is coached by US half marathon record holder, Ryan Hall. He is also now the 2nd fastest Canadian marathoner in history!
    We first had Rory on the show six months ago (Ep 153) after finishing 19th at the World Championships marathon in Budapest. Since then he’s been training up a storm with one goal in mind…making the Paris Olympic team this summer. Ideally that meant running the Olympic Standard of 2:08:10, which was no small feat considering he’d have to shave over 2-minutes off his personal best. But on February 18th 2024, Rory got the job done in Seville Spain with nine seconds to spare, running the race of his life in a new personal best of 2:08:01!
    In this conversation, we discuss:
    How he got fired up watching the US Olympic Marathon trialsWhat Pumas he wore on race dayWhat it meant to have his family’s support in Spain, andWhat it feels like to run a 1-second negative split. Even though Rory is at the very top of the sport, so much of what he talked about was relatable to the average runner. Just like you and me, he experiences taper crazies in the weeks before a big race, he ceases to be able to do math in the final stretches of a marathon, and he sometimes hesitates to put his big goals out into the world in case he fails to reach them. You’ll have to listen to the end to hear about his Olympic Marathon dreams this summer in Paris should he be named to our Canadian Marathon team, which we’ll know by May 5th.

    Resources we discussed in the episode:
    Rory's first interview on Inspired Soles: Top Canadian Men's Marathon at 2023 World ChampionshipsUS Olympic Marathon Trials RecapBen Flanagan | Deep Dive on World ChampionshipsConnect with Rory:
    YouTube: @LinkletterRoryInstagram: @rory_linkletterConnect with Carolyn & Kim:
    Email us with guest ideas: inspiredsolescast@gmail.comInspired Soles InstagramKim's InstagramKim's FacebookCarolyn's InstagramCarolyn's FacebookCarolyn's websiteWe love hearing from you! Connect with us on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, subscribe or leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Sasha Gollish, Dr. Georgia Lefas & Jamie Donaldson | The Run Retreat Speakers

    Sasha Gollish, Dr. Georgia Lefas & Jamie Donaldson | The Run Retreat Speakers

    Today’s episode features three incredible ladies who all have speaking roles at The Run Retreat, an inaugural women’s event that will be taking place in beautiful Hecla Provincial Park, 2 hours north of Winnipeg, MB, from June 7-9, 2024. 
    Three-time Inspired Soles guest Sasha Gollish is our keynote speaker and in addition to being an elite Canadian runner, she is also the Director of Community Engagement at the University of Toronto’s Mental Health & Physical Activities Research Centre. A lover of moving her body in nature, Sasha brings the fun to everything she does and welcomes every level of runner – including the run-curious folks! – to show up as their authentic selves.
    Obstetrician Gynecologist Dr. Georgia Lefas joins as our women’s health expert and invites us to lean into our intuition and see it as somewhat of a superpower. A marathon runner with a passion for giving back to her community, Georgia hopes to provide women with more language and a safe space to advocate for themselves.
    Jamie Donaldson is a pelvic floor physiotherapist practicing in Winnipeg, MB. She is a huge proponent of empowering women to safely move their bodies, and she’s currently taking her own advice as she gets back into running herself.
    Each of these women got a full body hell yes when they were asked by The Run Retreat’s founder, Robyn Penner, to be involved. Robyn was on our show back in the spring of 2023 if you want to learn more about her and hear what inspired her to create this awesome event for women and those who identify as women.

    Learn more about The Run Retreat:
    Website: https://therunretreat.ca/Instagram: @therunretreatFounder, Robyn Penner on Inspired Soles Social Media Giveaway contest for a free hat from The Run RetreatFollow @therunretreatFollow @inspiredsolescastTag your friends in the commentsContest closes Tuesday, March 12th, 2024Connect with Sasha Gollish:
    Instagram: @sgollishrunsPrevious Inspired Soles episodesDec 6, 2023: Perimenopause & the Competitive AthleteOct 25, 2022: 3rd at Canadian Marathon ChampionshipsConnect with Dr. Georgia Lefas:
    Website: vulvarhealth.com  (it has links to curated resources)Connect with Jamie Donaldson:
    Instagram: @PelvisPhysio and @protaclinic and #pelvicfloorphysiotherapyWe love hearing from you! Connect with us on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, subscribe or leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

    • 50 min
    Couple of the Quarter | Jonelle Koop-Yumang & Melvin Yumang

    Couple of the Quarter | Jonelle Koop-Yumang & Melvin Yumang

    Our COTQ series is meant to highlight the different aspects of what it means to be in a partnership when one or both people are runners and do we ever have a power couple to feature today in Jonelle Koop-Yumang and Melvin Yumang.
    Melvin is the runner of their duo but as you’re about to hear, his 6-year running journey has aligned very closely with the couple’s fertility journey…and what a wild ride it has been for them! Their story is filled with love, loss, grief, hope, setbacks, serendipity, more hope, more setbacks, and eventually an 8-lb 2-oz miracle in the form of baby Jameson, who at 4.5 months can be heard cooing in the background for most of this interview. 
    Fertility can understandably be a sensitive topic and we want to put that disclaimer on this episode. For many years Jonelle & Melvin kept their struggles private, but baby Jameson is a direct result of letting their guards down and in that sense they’ve found unexpected beauty in opening up and being vulnerable.

    Resources we discussed in the episode:
    Arli Cruikshank | Running Through SurrogacyCouple of the Quarter | Bo Huang & Mingdi ZhouJonelle's tumor: Myxopapillary EpendymomaEmbryo adoption (US)Embryo donation (Canada)Connect with Melvin & Jonelle:
    Instagram: @emjaywhyConnect with Carolyn & Kim:
    Email us with guest ideas: inspiredsolescast@gmail.comInspired Soles InstagramKim's InstagramKim's FacebookCarolyn's InstagramCarolyn's FacebookWe love hearing from you! Connect with us on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, subscribe or leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

    • 1 hr 40 min
    Evan Birch | Running Into the Storm

    Evan Birch | Running Into the Storm

    Evan Birch is a partner, father, friend, colleague and ultra runner who has been running his entire life, in more ways than one. While his accomplishments range from competing in the Sinister 7 100, the Canadian Death Race and the Divide 200, Evan’s foray into ultra running began in 2017, born out of running away from a two-decade career in emergency services. He assisted thousands of people, saved countless lives and comforted many more on their worst days…until it broke him.  In January 2022, Evan finally asked for help and slowly developed a new relationship with running through hours of intensive therapy. He forged a path towards healing from a diagnosis of PTSD, anxiety, and depression and eventually found he was no longer running away. He was facing his trauma head-on, leaning into the storm and the fear. His goal is to show others that there is a path forward and that you are not alone. He believes that you are more capable than you perceive yourself to be and that stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow. It is through shared experiences that we can make a difference for ourselves and others.

    Connect with Evan:
    Instagram: @ultrabirch Connect with Carolyn & Kim:
    Email us with guest ideas: inspiredsolescast@gmail.comInspired Soles InstagramKim's InstagramKim's FacebookCarolyn's InstagramCarolyn's Facebook

    We love hearing from you! Connect with us on Instagram @inspiredsolescast or email guest ideas to inspiredsolescast@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, subscribe or leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

    • 1 hr 5 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
6 Ratings

6 Ratings

Duane Scotti ,

Conversations to Inspire and Grow as a Runner!

Absolutely love Carolyn and Kim and their approach to viewing running as that outlet we all need and I have learned so much from them in my personal running journey as running physio and coach! Keep up the inspiring guests and sharing your tips and tricks to help us all enjoy lifelong running 🏃🏻‍♂️

Chris Knighton ,

Fantastic Podcasts

These conversations are wonderful! I loved Episode 59 "Masters Sprinting: Why Not You?" with Dala Bortolussi. The hosts Carolyn and Kim are wonderful interviewers and go deep into why running is so meaningful for their guests.

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