Carrie chats with Jessi Gabriel and Olympian Ben Blankenship! They talk about the vision these two have for our sport, their latest projects called the Fast Forest and the Endless Mileage project, their new podcast called Call Room Banter, Ben’s training for the marathon this fall, Jess’s role in Ben’s training and what she is doing now within the sport, being the support crew for each other, and so much more!
Recorded August 21, 2023
Show Sponsors
We lost Gabe Grunewald 4 years ago, but her legacy lives on in The Brave Like Gabe Foundation, and over the past 5 years they have been able to fund more than $1.3M in rare cancer research. That’s real science bringing hope to cancer survivors, and it’s exactly what Gabe had intended. One of the ways the Brave Like Gabe Foundation is able to make these grants is by hosting an annual 5K event that literally anyone, anywhere can join! Please consider registering for this event in September and using my discount code – CTOLLERUN – for a 10% discount. Your registration and donations support rare cancer research and keep cancer survivors #RunningOnHope.
Studies show that lack of adequate sleep can lead to injury and in fact, runners were 170% more likely to get injured! What the HECK!? Lagoon has helped me improve my sleep immensely by pairing me with the performance pillow that has everything I need. I fall asleep faster, my data points are better, and more importantly, I feel better! After taking the 2 minute quiz I was matched with the Otter pillow (#teamotter), and my husband CHarlie uses the Fox pillow (#teamfox), which fits… I think he is quite the fox. Even Elite Runners Emma Bates (#teamotter), Cory McGee (#teamchinchilla), and Ben Blankenship (#teamhippo) use Lagoon pillows to help get optimal rest and recovery. Go to LagoonSleep.com and take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz to find your match. Then, use the code “Carrie” for 15% off your first purchase!
Ben Blankenship
Ben Blankenship is a U.S. middle and long distance runner, as well as the founder and Executive Director of the Endless Mileage Project. He is an Olympian, a 3-time U.S. Champion, and a world record holder. He finished 8th in the 1500m at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, 5th in the 1500m at the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, and was a semi-finalist in the 1500m at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. He has since transitioned to the marathon and will be making his debut at the distance in October. In college, Ben was the first Minnesota Gopher to break the 4-minute mile, clocking 3:57.83 in 2010.
Jessi Gabriel
Jessi Gabriel is a communications and marketing professional working in track and field. She was the Communications Director at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22; prior to that she was the Senior Director of Marketing at TrackTown USA. She is currently working with the Magic Boost, a program that invests in young creators in the track and field landscape and encourages innovative storytelling through educational, entrepreneurial, and experiential training. Jessi was a D1 sprinter/jumper and has her Masters in Public Policy from the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota.
Show Notes:
Endless Mileage Project
Jessi Gabriel on Instagram
Ben Blankenship on Instagram
Leave a Reply