Today, I speak with Verna Volker, founder of Native Women Running, a source of visibility, inspiration and community of native women runners on and off the reservation/reserve. She is from the Navajo Nation but lives in Minneapolis, MN. Married with four kids, she began her running journey in 2009, and went from a newbie runner to an ultra runner, 94 miles being her longest so far, with plans to run a 100 miler in January 2025!

We talk about:

-finding running after a lifetime of athletics

-running after having kids

-common themes in Native Women Running

-spiritual aspect to running

-developing leadership

-expanding representation

-education and outreach

Time Stamps

1:00 Introduction

2:16 finding running

8:47 starting Native Women Running

14:21 safety in running

16:20 expanding representation

22:58 representation at major races

26:17 successes in Native Women Running

31:20 working with race organizers

37:26 experience working in Europe

42:08 practicing self-care

46:57 hopes for the future

48:50 rapid fire questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/native_women_running/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH VERNA

IG: https://www.instagram.com/hozhorunner4/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/native_women_running/

Website: www.nativewomenrunning.com

The Active Mom Postpartum Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to Postpartum for active moms & the postpartum professionals who help them in their journey.

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