The Terra Girls Podcast

Jennifer Vega

Jen Vega never planned on being a business owner. Originally a teacher, she and her husband Martin got started on their business ventures by selling Martin's truck for some start up funds. One thing led to another, and eventually Jen and Martin found themselves buying the local running store in their town of Midland, Texas. 7 years later, Midland Athletic Company has grown to include a running store, a bike shop, a holistic health center, and a race timing and event business. Listen in to this episode to learn more about Jen, how she balances her time between being a business owner and a mom of 3 boys, and what it's like to build an active community in the heat of Texas. Listeners can check out Midland Athletic Company online at: https://midlandathleticcompany.com/

Blake Riley

Growing up in the Florida heat, Blake Riley used to hate running. But growing up in a turkey trot family and having a natural love of being active eventually turned Blake into a runner. Fast forward a few years, and Blake found himself from one extreme to the other: immersed in the running world, working in a run specialty shop, and running in college, to burnt out on the sport and injured. But one thing led to the next, and those old running connections brought him back to the running world to work for his favorite brand: On. Listen in to hear more about Blake, as well as On, in this episode of the Terra Girls. 

George Destin Bell

Though he hasn't always been a runner, George Destin Bell has always been entrepreneurial. From his early days as a kid selling candy bars to classmates, to more official ventures as a university student, being business-minded has always come easy. But no amount of business acumen could shield Destin from the circumstances of graduating college in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Opportunities were lost, job offers rescinded, and life seemingly put on hold. Listen to this episode to learn how Destin went from being jobless and broke to creating a successful new running app - Card.io - with no upfront funding, no official industry connections, and no app development experience. 
 

Caroline Daniel

Caroline Daniel still remembers the magic of her first pair of Brooks Ghosts. A middle schooler at the time, she had no idea that she would one day work for Brooks as a Guru Field Representative, helping other people fall in love with running one pair of Brooks shoes at a time. But roads rarely run in a straight line, and for Caroline, the path from middle schooler to professional in the running industry wasn't always smooth. Listen in to this episode to learn more about how Caroline went from soccer player, to college runner, to law school student, to embracing the joy of working in the run specialty industry for one of the most respected brands out there. 

Melanie Harsha

If you are a Hoka fan in Tennessee, there is a good chance that you have met this episode's guest, Melanie Harsha. Melanie is the Hoka Field Representative for the state of Tennessee (and Mississippi and a smidge of Virginia!) which means there is a good chance that you have met her at a Hoka demo run, a Hoka-sponsored race, or just out and about at general running events. What you might not know about Melanie is that, besides being a runner, she is an incredibly accomplished hiker, having completed the "Triple Crown of Hiking," that is thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. Listen to this episode to learn more about Melanie's experiences on the trail, her job with Hoka, and what it is like to leave your life for a season to accomplish your dreams. 

Heather Trainor

The Terra Girls are back and interviewing with their new friend Heather Trainor! Though Heather is unassuming, she is an incredibly accomplished runner, having completed well over 130 marathons and counting. Heather has not only run a marathon in every US state, she has also run a marathon on all 7 continents (yes, Antartica included)! Her new goal? Run 150 marathons by her 50th birthday.
Listen in to learn a bit more about Heather, her job as the official "Maker of Friends and Purveyor of Fun" at Big Peach Running Company in Marietta, Georgia, and laugh along with Brittany and Tiffany as they kick off Season 4!

Season 3 Wrap-Up

With their signature hilarity and chaotic energy, Brittany and Tiff put a bow on Season 3 by asking each other the Warm-Up Questions, reflecting on their favorite moments from the season, and looking ahead with their answers to the Final Lap Question. 

Brennan Humphreys

A runner long before his two years working at Terra Running Company, Brennan reflects on how the sport he loves fits in with the big life changes he has recently experienced. From starting a career to getting married, life looks different than it did a few months ago. In this long-anticipated episode, Brennan joins Brittany and Tiff in the podcast studio to share with listeners how he is balancing the new season he finds himself in. 

Injuries and Setbacks

In running, as in life, injuries and setbacks are inevitable. Our best preparation can't anticipate a torn muscle, a twisted ankle... or a worldwide pandemic. So what do we do when our running goals get derailed? In this episode, Brittany and Tiffany talk about their running setbacks and mindsets that have helped them come back after longer periods away from the activity that they love. 

Cameron Fisher

Like many of us, Cameron Fisher got his start running as an adult. But what began as a simple way to connect with friends turned into a personal quest to run a half marathon in all 50 states -- which he just finished this year. If that weren't enough, Cameron's love of running has had the chance to impact hundreds of thousands of people through his service as the Chairman of the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway Board of Directors.
From all over the country to right here at home, Cameron's story is a testament to the power running has to enrich lives.