In S4Ep17 of the PRP, Adam breaks bread with decorated track & field athlete turned marathoner, established running & strength coach, savvy tech entrepreneur and local community steward extraordinaire Asia Rawls, who has been preparing for the Chicago Marathon on Sunday October 13th, 2024. Ben Kendell, professional marathoner, perpetual student of punctuality and one of Bambi’s machines joins the show to offer his take on all things Detroit Mercy, strength training and of course pre race duecin.
The conversation starts out hot and heavy as Coach Bam & Ben reflect on what running has come to mean to each of them over the years. For Ben, as someone participating in the sport full time and at an elite level, he’s had to learn how to manifest, perform and digress - a practice that he admits is life long and most of the time, isn’t easy. For Asia, her involvement in the world of running is much more about sharing the gifts the sport has brought her with her community in order to enhance the lives of those around her. Ain’t no gatekeeping going on with the People’s Coach! What she has gained from running has changed her life in major ways, and it’s now become her pursuit to bestow the same benefits to the people of Detroit.
Things get vulnerable when Asia shares some invaluable insight on the duty and responsibility she has found herself embodying being one of few. From running world major marathons to stepping into corporate conference rooms, oftentimes she is the only black woman. Although some may be intimidated by such an undertaking, Coach Bam offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to be that representation of a mission and a message. Change and progress occur one step at a time and applying the machine mentality to all aspects of life will allow you to overcome any obstacle society can throw your way.
What exactly does it mean to check in with yourself before checking in with training? S/O to Now & Laters! Quad duecin?! Finish line pukin?! Sound mind? Sound body? Beethoven, Big Bam and Bobsledding oh my!
This is so much more in this uplifting, outstanding and wildly inspiring episode of the PRP!
Sponsors
Ann Arbor Running Company
Recorded Saturday October 5th @ 12PM EST