428. Erika Kemp, Professional Runner for the B.A.A. & adidas

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Run, Health & Fitness, Women, Inspiration, Runner, Entrepreneur, Sports, Fitness, Health, Running

4.9 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 5 October 2021

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“That was the moment where I remember being like, ‘Oh, I’m not done yet.’ Like I know there’s more. It finally hit me, ‘If you just continue on, you have no idea where your ceiling is.’ So at that point, I just wanted to see how far I could go.”

This summer, Erika Kemp — like so many professional runners — had one really, really, really big goal race. Since going pro in 2018 and signing with the Boston Athletic Association and adidas, Erika knew she would want to compete at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in hopes of making her Team USA debut. When it came time to race the 5K at Hayward Field, Erika made it through the first round and advanced to the finals. But ultimately, she finished last that day, and didn't make the 2020 Olympic team. But! Erika has gone on to have an incredible season since then. On this episode, Erika talks about her physical and emotional recovery from the Trials, and explains her motivation for continuing to race throughout the year. Since the Trials, Erika won the USATF New England 5-mile championships, won the U.S. 20K championships at the New Haven Road Race (it was her debut at that distance, and it earned her a second national title), won the Cow Harbor 10K (and ran a personal best), and finished fourth at the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K the following weekend. This girl is on fire, and on this episode, she talks about how she fell in love with running — and how she stays in love with it.

SPONSOR: UCAN. Click here and use code ALI for 20% off your entire UCAN order!

What you’ll get on this episode:

How Erika plans her season (4:00)
All about this year’s Olympic Track & Field Trials (10:30)
On returning to running after taking a break (14:55)
Why the Trials felt so “big” (16:45)
Erika’s outlook on racing this season (20:30)
Try it: Erika’s favorite workout (24:30)
All about Erika’s childhood and how she got into running (27:45)
On falling in love with running (34:50)
On going pro (39:00)
Where to find Erika during Boston Marathon weekend (46:30)
Erika’s biggest hopes, dreams, and goals (49:50)

Follow Erika:

Instagram @imtinyrik

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by YouCan.
0:04.4	Go to youcan.co slash alley and use code alley for 20% off your entire order.
0:15.7	Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. I'm your host Allie Feler and I am here with a bonus
0:21.2	episode for you today because when professional runner Erica Kemp keeps racing and winning
0:28.8	and p-arring nearly every weekend, we need to talk about it.
0:34.6	Erica Kemp is a professional runner for the Boston Athletic Association and Adidas and she is
0:40.3	having one heck of a summer in early fall on run. In her first year as a professional athlete,
0:47.2	Erica finished second at the US 5K Championships and she won the US 15K Championships quite a
0:55.0	day view season. Like so many runners, her big goal race this year was the US Olympic track and field
1:01.7	trials. Erica competed in the 5K and after advancing through the first round on day one,
1:08.2	she ended up finishing last in the finals. She missed out on making team USA and on this episode,
1:14.2	Erica talks a lot about recovering from that experience both physically and maybe more importantly,
1:21.2	emotionally. But then, Erica has gone on to have the most amazing season. She won the US ATF New
1:30.4	England 5 Mile Championships, then she won the US 20K Championships at the New Haven Road Race,
1:36.5	earning her second national title, and then she won the Cow Harbor 10K and got herself a new
1:43.1	personal best in that distance, and then she finished fourth at the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K
1:50.3	following weekend. I was really interested to hear about what's been motivating Erica this summer
1:56.4	and what it was like getting back on the run and into racing after the trials. She's been running
2:01.7	on hate or happiness. All that and more coming right up, please join me in welcoming Boston-based
2:09.6	Erica Kemp to the Alley on the Run Show. I feel like I need Alicia Keys in here to sing this girl
2:22.0	is on fire because I have no business singing that, but you are. Erica Kemp is here and she is on
2:28.8	fire, such exciting races this summer. We have so much to talk about. Erica, thank you so much for
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ali Feller, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Ali Feller and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.