60. Emma Coburn
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 15 February 2018
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"The narrative that I couldn't do things never entered my life."
Emma Coburn is a professional middle-distance runner for New Balance. She's a world champion in the steeplechase, and competed at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games. On this episode, the Crested Butte, CO, native (and newlywed!) talks about being coached by her husband, Joe Bosshard, explains the unintentional way she got into the steeplechase, and talks about what it was like breaking her own American record in the 3000-meter steeplechase in London in 2017. Plus, she opens up about body image, posing nude for the ESPN Bodies Issue, and what inspires her.
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Here's what you'll get in this episode:
- Emma explains what exactly the steeplechase is, how she became a professional steeplechaser, and why it's such an awesome event (1:30)
- Why Emma had no interest in running in college (6:25)
- Emma's decision to go pro (9:45)
- How Emma found her mental strength (11:20)
- Emma's most recent record-breaking performance — at 7,000 feet! (14:30)
- What it's like breaking your own world record (18:00)
- How Emma met her now-husband — and coach! — Joe Bosshard (22:20)
- Why Emma wanted to gain 10 pounds for her wedding (23:25)
- What Emma's relationship with her body is like (28:10)
- Emma's advice for improving your confidence and body image (31:30)
- What it was like posing nude for the ESPN Bodies Issue (33:45)
- What's going through Emma's head when she's on the starting line (40:05)
- What it was like medaling at the Rio Olympics in 2016 — and becoming the first American woman to medal in the steeplechase at the Olympics (41:00)
- How Emma stood her ground against Rule 40 (44:15)
- What inspires Emma every day (46:10)
- Emma's advice for how to make running fun (48:35)
What we mention on this episode:
Western State Colorado University
Do You Believe in Miracles documentary
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Strava, the social network for athletes. |
| 0:10.4 | Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. I'm your host Allie Feller and today you're listening to episode 60. |
| 0:16.7 | On this episode, I'm joined by professional middle distance runner Emma Coburn. |
| 0:21.5 | Emma is a world champion in the Steeple Chase. In event she happily explained to me a Steeple Chase novice in awesome detail. |
| 0:29.5 | In addition to her long list of running accolades, Emma is also a newlywed, so of course we chat all things wedding |
| 0:36.0 | and she's an avid adventure in the kitchen. Plus we talk all about those famous photos from the ESPN |
| 0:41.7 | bodies issue in 2016. You're going to love every minute of this, so let's get right into it. |
| 0:52.4 | Emma Coburn, welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. Thanks for having me. |
| 0:56.8 | So before we get into all the good stuff, start us off like you start any good run, which of course is with a warmup. |
| 1:03.1 | So tell us who you are, where you're from, and what it is that you do. |
| 1:07.2 | My name is Emma Coburn. I am from Crested butte Colorado. I primarily train in Boulder, Colorado, |
| 1:15.2 | and I run the 3000 meter Steeple Chase. Yes, you do. And I had never even heard of this Steeple Chase |
| 1:21.9 | until a couple of years ago. I didn't grow up. We didn't, my school didn't even have a track and field team. |
| 1:25.6 | I was from like a teeny tiny school in New Hampshire. So I, and I think most people probably haven't heard of this |
| 1:31.4 | Steeple Chase. So what is the Steeple Chase? The Steeple Chase is 3000 meters of hurtling. It's seven |
| 1:40.3 | and a half laps around, you know, a normal 400 meter track. And every lap there's four 30 inch barriers is what we call them. |
| 1:50.8 | They're like hurdles. And then one water jump and the water jump is a 12 foot water pit that we have to jump on top of a barrier |
| 2:01.5 | and like propel ourselves off of the barrier to clear the water. It's tough. Yeah, and it's crazy to watch. |
| 2:08.0 | So ever since I found, I think I was during the Olympics one year or something, I was like, what is this water pit situation? |
| 2:15.2 | So you kind of came into the Steeple Chase by accident, right? Yeah, I grew up in Colorado and in Colorado, we didn't have it offered in high school. |
| 2:25.0 | I'd seen it once at an out of state meet, but didn't really know what was going on. And when I was a junior, we were going to race |
| 2:34.6 | at a meet in Albuquerque. And I was going to run an 800 and my dad thought it was a waste of time to drive |
... |
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