863. Love on the Run with Mica Rivera & Adam Wood | Ali on the Run Show

Happy Valentine's week and welcome to the Allie on the Run show.

I'm your host Allie Feller and this is Love on the Run.

Every year on the Allie on the Run show, I try to do something a little different during my favorite week of the year, and that is, of course, the week of Valentine's Day.

This is my favorite holiday and I know people will say it's a Hallmark holiday blah blah blah we should tell people we love them every day.

Yeah, I agree, we totally should do that.

But a day that's all about celebrating love, i say, why the heck not?

And i am totally into it the way i see it and the way i celebrate it.

It is about love is love is love is love is love is love.

It is not just for couples and throuples, no judgment here.

It is a heart-filled time to honor and acknowledge and appreciate all of the love in your life, whether it is a long-term romantic relationship, a one-night fling, a special friendship, a colleague or a family member.

Today we are celebrating run love, young love, high school sweetheart love.

My guests today are Mika Rivera and Adam Wood.

You know, just a couple of 231 and 216 marathoners.

Mika and Adam live in Utah where they are content creators and runners.

They met in high school, they fell in love, and now they're pretty much living the dream together.

Running, competing, and having a ton of fun along the way.

Mika trains with Ed Eyestone's group in Utah, so she's working out with Kira D'Amato, McKenna Myler, Emily Venters and that all-star crew.

And when Adam's not doing his own training and coaching, he is behind the camera capturing all of the action.

Adam went to Brigham Young University, so he knows what it is like to be coached by Eazy-E and to train with the likes of Connor Mance and Clayton Young.

It was a big fall for the woods.

Adam ran a personal best at CIM, finishing in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 58 seconds.

And Mika made her 26.2 mile debut at the Marathon Project, where she ran 231.35.

I love, love.

I love these two.

Please enjoy this conversation with Mika and Adam Wood.

All right, happy love on the run week.

We've got the woods in the house.

Mika and adam, welcome to the alley on the run show.

I'm so excited to see you both.

Happy valentine's day week right off the bat.

Do we celebrate valentine's day?

What are our feelings?

You can be honest, you won't hurt my feelings.

We do, we do.

We do celebrate valentine's day.

We do it like a little more low-key, like we like to.

We keep it, you know, together and and just last year i think we like We just made pizza inside the house and maybe had some wine and stuff and watched some reality TV.

Ooh, okay.

What are the reality TV shows of choice?

What are we into?

All of them, basically.

Oh, yeah.

Right now, we're into Traders is a big one.

We also like Survivor.

We love Survivor.

Yeah.

Love Islands.

We literally watch everything.

All of them.

Yeah, secret lives of mormon wives we love that too, so we uh yeah, we eat it up.

So i love it.

I love it.

Well, let's go back in time a little bit.

We need to get the full woods love story here.

So i want to hear from each of you do you remember the first time that you met the other person, mika?

Why don't we start with you?

Do you remember the very first time you met adam?

Um i, i feel like so we were actually on the same high school team for cross country, so what's crazy about it was he was actually like pretty fast, like he was one of the top people and I was, you know, working my way and jv and trying to get better, and so I think for the most part, I didn't really know who he was like.

I started to really know once I like saw like him competing and like saw him winning and stuff.

But I remember the first time we really got to know each other was when I actually got better.

I got faster and I made it to the state championship.

And I think Adam was like, wait, who is this girl?

Like, she's kind of cute.

I don't know.

I feel like it was a fun way to meet each other.

But yeah, I kind of knew who he was.

I kind of had like speed goggles a little bit too.

Like, wow, he's so fast and cool.

Yeah.

Do you still have the speed goggles on though?

He's still fast and cool.

I know he is.

It's still there.

All right, Adam, your rebuttal the first time that you met or remember seeing Mika.

Yeah, honestly, that's like, that's a fairly accurate description.

I was I was pretty locked in in high school.

Like all I could think about was like running in sports and trying to run fast.

And so really I was like not paying like too too much attention to to girls or anything like that.

But I do remember like being at state my junior year and seeing like the podium for like the mile or or whatever, and Miko was on that podium and I was like wow, I was like she's on our team.

I was like.

I was like I was like who is that girl?

And so that summer we started hanging out and talking a little bit more and and stuff.

So um yeah, and then after that we started dating.

It was fun.

So So I went to.

I grew up in a very small town.

My graduating high school class had 67 kids.

So you knew everyone in your class and you knew everyone in the grade above you, the grade below you.

You knew their parents and probably their home phone number.

So it is wild to me that you were on the same team and didn't know each other.

How big was your high school?

Huge.

I think like I don't know how big the graduating classes were, but I think we had over like a hundred kids, like on our cross country team.

So we, we had a, we had a big cross country team.

We really did.

So there was, yeah.

So you had like half the population of my town on your team.

All right.

So then next steps, like you said, you started chatting, you start hanging out.

How did that happen?

Who made the first move?

What were the next steps?

Yeah, I, it's funny.

Cause I I definitely I made the first move and we started like Yeah, I asked her.

On a day we went mini golfing I think was our first date and that was really fun.

But I thought that she was like, I thought she was really cool.

And so I was, I was very like intimidated and like scared to talk to her and that kind of stuff.

And also it was like, this was my senior year as well, going into my senior year.

And so I was like, It's so funny.

Cause in high school, you, you just think like, everything's like the end of the world.

And I really want to get recruited in college.

So I was like, no, I can't like, I can't date anybody.

I gotta be focused on my running and it's just, it's funny.

So yeah, we started dating that summer, went on some dates and we didn't really like officially start like dating until like later that year.

But yeah, it was funny, it was like kind of complicated, like I feel like I started to like be like wait.

I kind of like I started getting more into him and he was like wait, I'm kind of focused, like I I have I'm a big time, you know, or crew, but I was like like I don't know, it was just funny because yeah, we'd go on like He asked someone else out to a dance, like we did school dances back in the day.

Like it was a big thing.

And like he didn't invite me.

He asked me out.

But then for some reason, we went completely separate dates.

But we were in all the photos.

Like looking back, we were just right next to each other.

Like it's just like hilarious that we were like secretly like really liked each other, but just not.

It was so and it's so like.

It's just like we were just kids, because I remember to like a big thing was like Foot Locker and like because we drive to Foot Locker on a bus with our team.

And it was like oh like, are you going to sit next to me on the bus going to Foot Locker and that kind of stuff.

And I was like, maybe.

And I remember like I didn't sit next to her.

So she's like a little upset with me or whatever.

It's just so, so high school and so fun.

I mean, I'm a little mad at you.

You take the girl mini golfing and then you invite someone else to the dance?

Are you kidding?

Yeah, I know.

I know.

Not my best word.

I mean it's working out okay, but somewhere on a very different podcast, the two people that you went to that dance with are telling the story about how their dates are now married, running royalty.

That's a different podcast.

That's not Love on the Run Week.

Or maybe they ended up together.

Who knows?

Yeah.

All right.

So Adam, like you said, you didn't want to be tied down.

You're planning you're, you're hyper-focused on going to college and running there, but obviously at some point something changed, because spoiler alert still together.

So walk us through what happens next.

When did things start to maybe feel a little more serious?

Yeah, it's like it just kind of like it slowly happened and it was just like all at like it just happened slowly.

I just remember being like, Oh wait, I actually like, I really like this girl.

I really like want to get to know her more and stuff.

And I was like, I got to stop messing around.

I really remember telling myself that I was like, I actually really like her.

She's really cool.

She's very pretty.

I was like, what am I doing?

And so I was like I should uh start, you know, respecting her a little bit more and going on dates and being more of a gentleman and that kind of stuff.

And so um, that's what, that's what we did, and and it was also kind of hard too, because she's a year younger than me and so I was graduating um that year and I was going to go to college and she was going to stay in high school.

So it was like another dynamic of like, oh well, like do I want to start like dating before I go to college and all that kind of stuff and um, but it was glad, I'm so happy it worked out and I'm so happy it was like it was just good, like I'm glad I like got my, got my crap together.

So yeah.

Good job.

And for you, where were you at?

You're a high school junior.

You're not thinking necessarily like time to find the man I'm going to marry and start a life and a YouTube channel with.

But at what point were you like, Oh, this could be something beyond high school.

Um, yeah, I don't know.

I feel like I just really enjoyed spending time with Adam.

Like we would I don't know, I guess like have like really good conversations, like honestly stay up too late and just like chat and yop together.

And like, I just started like to see him as someone like I really want in my life.

And yeah, I guess, like looking back, it is kind of crazy how I definitely like I definitely like fell in love and like was like I just want you in my life.

I want to make it work, even though we're doing long distance.

And yeah, I just I don't know.

Like, it's crazy.

But yeah, I definitely was.

I mean, I was still had my goals, too.

I also wanted to run collegially and like I wasn't just going to go to whatever college he went to.

Like I wanted to make my own decisions, also be my own, you know, independent queen.

Like I wasn't just about to. change everything for him.

But yeah, I thought that, you know, we could make it work.

So.

All right.

So then Adam goes to college, walk us through, what do you both remember most about that year?

Uh the.

The only advice that my parents gave me when I moved away to college was don't go to college dating someone from home.

Granted, I was dating like someone awful at the time.

So I think part of it was like, just please don't date him.

But it was like, go to college.

Now let me tell you also my parents, high school sweethearts who went to different colleges and are still together.

They've been married for like 802 years at this point.

They're doing just fine.

But for the two of you, what were your outlooks?

Adam, you go away to college.

Let's hear about it.

I think, like I think that was the thing that made it like, made me so comfortable with doing that was that Mika.

I learned very quickly that she's a very hard worker and she has her own goals and her own like aspirations and things like that.

And because of that, like it's like she was just very focused.

And I think that's like what made me comfortable.

She's like, oh, you want to go to BYU?

You want to run there?

Like I support that.

You do you.

And I'm going to do like what's best for me.

And I just think it's like when you have like like that mutual understanding.

It was like, oh, we're going to support each other in our goals.

And and so yeah, it's like I get to college and college is kind of lonely too a little bit, because it's like you're like leaving your like kind of hometown, all your friends, and you're like in this like new environment with new people.

And so it was it.

It was hard, but it was really nice to like have somebody, uh kind of close-ish by that I that I just knew and could talk to, and stuff like that.

And obviously Yeah, I felt like a lot of support in that as well, because I chose to.

I chose to walk on to BYU too.

So it's not like I like had a scholarship or whatever.

And that's kind of like it's like kind of a little bit of a risk.

You know, you're betting on yourself a little bit.

And so having her support with that also helped a ton, too.

So how far away is BYU from where you went to high school?

Not very far, like 45 minutes.

Okay.

That's kind of perfect.

My college, like I went to Utah State, which is like north from where we went to high school.

So from my college to BYU, Utah State to BYU was two hours.

So it was like mid, yeah, not too far.

It's like medium distance.

It's not like long.

We call it medium distance because I can still see it.

Yeah.

So Mika, when it comes time for you to choose where to go to college, like you said, you wanted to be an independent queen.

You weren't just going to go where he was.

Was BYU ever something, was that a school that you looked into at all?

Let's hear about your decision about where to go and how running factored in.

Yeah.

Um, for me, like there was, there's actually a lot of good programs here in Utah.

So honestly, I couldn't really go wrong with any of them.

BYU was obviously like a really good school.

Like academically and um for sports.

But I definitely felt like I got a strong offer from Utah state.

And it was like, I mean, that was like, it was kind of like a dream come true, honestly.

And like, when I told my dad, I was like, yeah, I got like a full ride scholarship.

Like it was like his lights just like got so big and it was like just like cute to see, like wow, I like made cause I mean he comes from um Peru and he like sacrificed a lot for me.

Um, And it's, like, I almost, like, lived this, like, dream of, like, I'm making this happen.

And, like, I'm actually getting paid to go to school.

Like, not getting paid, sorry.

Getting my school paid for.

But that was, like, a big, like, dream of mine.

So, like, I couldn't say no to the offer.

And obviously, I, like, went on a visit and, like, really liked the girls and the school.

And I just thought it was like perfect to be like a little bit further from home but also still be able to like visit like Adam and my family.

So yeah, I think like BYU was always like a good choice, but at the same time, I just wanted to to take the offer that I got and like make the most out of it.

You also have running in your DNA.

Can you talk a little bit about uh, the running in your family and how that has been such a big part of your life growing up?

Yeah.

Um, it's been good.

Like my sister, so she started running in high school and, like I, actually was like a volleyball player.

Like I was not even that good of a player.

I was honestly not the best at sports.

I, but I was, again, I was a pretty like hard worker.

Like I was persistent.

Like I tried really hard in anything I I did.

But I think running, seeing my sister do it, it kind of like I mean, I've always kind of looked up to my big sister and I think watching her like improve and running was like wait, I kind of want to do the same and so I tried it out and I naturally just got.

I feel like it came easier to run like I feel like I had a little bit of talent there, I guess.

And also, like I have my great-great-grandfather.

He ran and he was like a big deal in like Peru and like helped like build the athletics there, which is funny because I didn't even know that that was like in my DNA at all.

Like I learned that like way after the fact, after I got better at running, like I had no idea.

So it is cool to see like full circle, like oh wow, like I do have some like strong running genes.

Wait, how did you learn?

That was one day your, your family was like, and now we'll tell you the story of your great great grandfather, like how do you discover that?

So there was it's funny because, like in college, like i didn't really visit peru too much because i was very locked in.

I was like i can't miss time to go to peru.

Like i have to, like i have my collegiate season, i gotta work hard.

But there was one, uh winter, so the winters there are flipped, so it's summer there while it's winter here.

We went for christmas break and my grandma, she like showed me like there's literally a truck in peru named after my great great grandfather and it has like his statue and it's like, and I it was funny because he, she like made me take a photo in front of the the track and like at that point, like I still had he shouldn't really tell me too much about the lore of it like it was just like, oh yeah, take a cute photo.

But then, like years later, like literally like last, like the first time I went to compete at the premium championships, that's when I found out all this like stuff out.

And my grandma really told me everything.

And like, she was like, Yeah, I remember you took a photo here like four years ago.

I was like, Oh, that was that guy.

We're besties.

Yeah, that was fun.

So yeah, it's really cool to learn about that.

How much family do you still have in Peru now?

Um, pretty much basically, like my whole extended family lives there.

So yeah, like my my dad and my mom live here.

And I have like some ants, like ones in Texas, ones in Florida.

But yeah, like when I go back to Peru, it's like, it's a huge deal.

And like, it's so cool.

They're like, so proud of me.

Like, when I run at the national championships, they're like, like, they're so excited.

They're yelling, they have their signs, like you can just hear it.

It's amazing.

And so yeah, it's, it's really special.

I love that.

All right.

So you're, you're both in college at this point, you're each doing your thing.

What did your relationship look like during that time?

Yeah, it was.

Uh, it was honestly it was very fun.

Like i feel like we, on weekends that we weren't traveling, i would drive up to go see her and spend the weekend with her, and then we also, like we traveled to a lot of the same meets.

So even you know, when we were traveling, we would see each other, which which was just fun, and it was like it's kind of funny too that you know, on my team it's like the guys were like they were always giving me crap like oh, you're driving up to see your girl bro, like you got to stay here, stay focused, and stuff like that.

And it's just so funny because now that i look back at it and it's like from the outside perspective, you're like oh, it's like it doesn't really like it didn't look like it made a whole lot of sense, you know, to like be dating someone long distance in college, but it's just like it just it felt right and it was so fun And I'm happy that it worked out.

But yeah, we kind of just did this dance where we were like seeing each other on the weekends and any, any free time we got.

And I think that just made it like anytime we did see each other, just like very special and like very fun.

Like we appreciate it that time.

And it's also like, it was a great break away from like school and running.

Right.

Cause that like kind of like consumes your life when you're, when you're like in the NCAA system.

And so being able to like leave that and go like to someone separate from that was like pretty special too.

It's also funny that you're getting teased by the guys on the team when you are at the one school in the US where they have dorms for married people.

Yeah, I'm like, how come you guys are married?

How are you guys making fun of me?

Come on, guys.

Get on board.

What about the challenges?

Other than getting teased by the guys on the team.

You know we're so fortunate that in in this day and age which God, I sound old saying that, but like it's not, like when my parents were in college and my dad had to hitchhike to go see my mom we have phones FaceTime, like we have all of this access.

Even with that, were there some challenges during that time?

Did you ever question, like, are we in this for the long haul?

Were you even thinking about that?

What was on your mind, feel like there was like a few challenges, sometimes of like I don't know, because I think at that time, like you're still developing, like as a person and like getting to know who you are and like yeah, it's a lot to like also have a relationship and try to figure everything out.

Like I don't even know like what I wanted to major and like I was still kind of lost.

But yeah, I don't know.

I feel like maybe like some communication issues, like it's tough to like you know, schedules don't always line up perfect and sometimes you know, one of one of us is feeling like down and the other one is feeling like you know, ready to chat.

I don't know, like it's tough to like always be synced up.

But I feel like we did get to like grow together instead of like grow apart, like yeah, at that point, like there was a year where it's like we could have broken up or we could have stayed together and I feel like it worked out that we like grew together.

We got to like really get to know each other, even on a deeper level, like how we can support each other better and Um yeah,

Yeah.

I feel like it was just like, the biggest thing was obviously schedules.

Cause like your schedule is just so crazy.

Like when you're taking exams, when you're like studying and classes and practices and all that stuff is just so tough.

And um really, it's like I think what really helped is that we both we just kind of like understood that like we're both like doing college and running in these things for like ourselves, like individually.

And it's like these were like things that like we wanted to do, and you know we wanted to go to school.

I was like, I wanted to like, you know, be a doctor, go to PA school or something like that.

I was working towards that and my running and that kind of stuff.

And I, and she was doing her thing.

And I think we just like, we just understood that.

And so there was never like any pressure of like oh well, we have to like make this work or we have to do this.

Like it just felt like it's like we both knew kind of what we were doing and and and it just like we just respected it and we respected like each other's like process and stuff.

It just it seemed like we understood.

So, yeah, you're on the same page.

I like that.

So Adam, by the time you are getting ready to graduate, you're finishing up school.

What was your approach outlook and relationship with running at the time?

Were you hoping to go pro?

Was it okay?

I ran in college, check that box.

Now I want to go be a doctor.

Where were you at with running and what were your goals for the future?

Yeah for running.

I knew that I wasn't going to go pro and I knew that I was probably going to.

You know, go try and you know, go to med school or go to PA school.

And I knew that was kind of like the next step for me.

I knew that like I had to get like patient care hours is what they call it.

So I knew I'd have to work a little bit and probably take like a gap year between my undergrad and, you know, any secondary schooling.

And but because of that I knew that, like Mika, obviously you know she still had like a year of school left.

And so For me, it was like I was going to go to Logan, which is where she's going to school.

And I was going to work there and I was going to and we're going to be like a lot closer.

But I just like I want to get married too, because I was like well, we like we've just spent so much time together.

And this is like the time that like we spent so much time separate.

And now we're coming together.

It felt like a good time.

So that summer and we had talked about it a little bit.

But the summer after I graduated, I was like I was ring shopping.

I was looking for stuff and like kind of planning that kind of stuff.

And just so, and we knew we kind of wanted like a little bit of like a longer engagement as well.

So we didn't have to like rush into anything.

So I was like, oh, we can just get engaged.

And then, like you know, when she graduates we can get married, is like kind of a thought process behind all that.

All right, Mika, let's go to that time in your life.

What do you remember from that period?

You still have a year to go in school, but let's talk about the proposal.

Let's get to it.

Yeah, it was funny because every summer we would just go back to our hometown and like hang out at my parents house and so like we got to really the summer before my fifth was it my fifth year?

Now I'm like I think it was yeah, the summer for my fifth year we spent a lot of time together and we've talked about like getting married and all that.

But like I always thought it's crazy because living in Utah, like getting married young is like a really like big thing.

Like it's like honestly, you're late if you're past like 22.

It's like a big thing to get married early.

But I always was like I don't know, like getting married young, like if that's like the right thing.

But I definitely felt like for us it made so much more sense because like we were living apart and I mean we wanted to like live together and like really just like continue our life.

And um he, it was so funny like I just never expected the proposal like to happen that day.

Like I remember him being like oh, I'll pay for your nails.

Um, and I like I love getting my nails done.

But like yeah, she should have been suspicious.

I was gonna say that didn't tip you off.

I know it's crazy.

I'm like how did I not clock that?

Like seriously yeah, I feel like paid for my nails.

And then like I it's funny looking at the pictures too, because like my sister, my mom knew that it was happening.

And I, he like, I knew we were like going on a date.

It was right before we were going to do like long distance in my head.

Like I was going to go back to Utah State.

He was going to BYU.

And so it was like our last final date.

And like, I dressed up at the time.

I like wore like an outfit that like, I'm like, oh, why did I wear that?

Cause it was like I was like in my era where I wanted to be like boss girl, like moment I don't know, like I had like my like um, my slacks and like my blazer.

I was gonna say, tell me you were wearing a blazer, it was a summer night, like I'm, like I could have worn a cute summer dress.

So yeah, that was the vibe.

And he like yeah, it was so cool, like we went to um well, it was raining that day.

I think he, your plans were originally to go where, like in the mountains, right?

Yeah, All right.

So Mika's got her nails done.

She has no idea what's coming.

It's raining.

So plans are changed up a bit.

Adam, let's hear your side of the proposal day, how you were feeling and what you remember.

Yeah, it's kind of funny because I, again, like was not expecting to propose that day.

I was planning on doing it sometime after the cross country season because she was about to go to cross country camp and I wanted her to like be focused and not have to like think about anything.

Uh, but it's like I had ordered the ring and as soon as I went and picked it up and I was holding it in my hand, I was like I, I can't like hold onto this.

Like I want the, I have to get this, like, I have to propose right now.

So I was like, okay, I'm going to do it before she goes.

And so I planned it for like a week and we were gonna.

The plan was to go to a spot where, like we we like ran a lot and like high school and where we'd meet to run a lot, like when we were in college and stuff.

It's like just this really nice trail up in the mountains and stuff.

But it was storming and raining.

So there was like, a little bit of like a change of plans.

But it was good.

It worked out so well.

And I was I was very frazzled.

I don't think I get like nervous very easily.

But I was like, I've never been that nervous.

I've never been like no races ever made me that nervous ever.

So I was like, yeah, it was it was it was fun.

And afterwards, like, her family all knew that it was going to happen.

So The restaurant that we had originally planned on going to her family was there waiting for her and stuff, which was really special too.

So it was fun.

See you and your business casual, your boss, babe the blazer, you were ready for that dinner.

So you get engaged, but then you part ways so you can both finish up school.

So during that time, were you talking yet about wedding planning, or were you just focused on school and running?

Yeah, I feel like we definitely were thinking like wedding planning, but again, we're like me.

One thing about Autumn and I is like, we are not planners.

Like that is not us at all.

Like we fly by the seat of our pants.

Like, and so it was just like A lot of girls like dream about, like you know, their Pinterest boards or wedding boards and like planning their wedding.

And, like, personally, like, I, you know, I do like that.

But, like, I, yeah, I mean, I try my best.

But it was fun.

It was fun planning it a little bit and like getting help from you know, my mom and friends, and just like getting people's opinions.

But, yeah, we did plan a little bit.

But we waited.

Yeah.

Let's go to your last year of school, Mika.

At this point, what was the future looking like for you, both with running and beyond?

What were the hopes, dreams, goals, and plans?

Yeah.

I mean, I was like getting better.

I was consistently improving and I really, I mean, honestly, my goal was like to be an all American.

Like I think that is like a big accomplishment in college.

It's like when you get, I think, in track I don't know you qualify for nationals and you take top eight, or with cross country, you take 40th or higher.

So I was like really like driven to like reach my goals with running.

I don't necessarily think I was like trying to run professionally or like compete post-college.

I was just wanting to make the most with the time I had left.

So yeah, I was pretty driven, but like still unsure about the future.

What did you end up majoring in?

I majored in marketing.

Yeah okay, so you chose eventually.

Yeah yeah yeah, I chose marketing.

It's funny because I actually started posting like on, like TikTok, like that's when TikTok blew up too, and like it was just a fun way because, like I do take running pretty seriously and there's some times where I get like too caught up in it, like a lot of runners do and, you know, get lost in the sauce, and I think TikTok was like a fun way to like just like I don't know, post silly videos and like enjoy it with my teammates and everything.

And I think that naturally just started to like I just started doing it more and had a lot of fun with it.

And like, even before I like made any money off of it, like it was just like a fun thing to do.

And I think it just like opened the doors for me.

And it's funny, looking back like marketing, like I guess it does kind of go hand in hand with, like what I'm doing now posting on social media.

But yeah, at the time I chose marketing because it felt like the easiest out of all the business majors.

Yeah, but you're using it.

I mean, you are communicating in part for a living, like you're you're and you're very marketable, so you're definitely using it.

All right, let's go to post-college life.

At what point do we say, oh my gosh, we get to live in the same place.

We're not in college anymore.

When did that happen?

Yeah, so it was actually like i guess that's where, like the timeline.

So we were engaged for a year.

I finished up and that summer we got married and so then i moved in with her.

We moved in together, i guess her last year of college, and so for me, like that was the time it was like kind of fun because i wasn't planning on running anymore and um, so it was like i was working, i was getting like my patient care hours and i just got to be like her number one supporter.

Like I was, I was driving to all her cross country races.

Like I drove to, I flew to Oklahoma.

I drove to New Mexico.

I went to California.

Like I was going all over the place and I was, that was like really fun.

Cause I've never like been on like that side of the sport really.

I've always like been racing and that kind of stuff.

So being able to just like go all in on her running with her was like, was really fun and stuff.

And so, yeah, I think it was, it was good.

All right, Adam, what are you like on the sidelines when she's racing?

No, I honestly like I tell people this all the time and I am I get more nervous for her races than I do mine.

Cause I just like, I feel so like helpless and like out of control in that situation.

And so it's like, I can do nothing there, but like stand and cheer and cheer my best.

And so it's hard too.

Cause it's like, she's in pain and she's like running so hard and stuff.

And so it's like I like want to help her, but there's nothing really I can do to help besides just yell.

So yeah, I'm a wreck on the side.

All right.

And Mika, what about you?

What are you like when he's racing?

Oh yeah.

I, I feel like I'm the same way.

I get very, very nervous.

I like you know, as an athlete, I'm like what do you need?

Like I'm trying to like help him out so he's like less stress.

And then, like in the race, I'm like yelling, like I am so loud, like scaring people away from me, and as soon as yeah, I start to get like emotional too, especially like if it's a race where, like it's like a breakthrough, like I know he's been through a lot, like I just she'll cry.

After all of my races she cries, especially marathons.

Oh my gosh, What are the tears?

Are they tears of relief, happy, sad?

What are we crying about?

Oh my gosh.

It's just like proud tears and like happy tears.

Yeah.

I get really emotional, but I'm like, it slowly comes.

Like at first I'm just like, I feel it.

And then, yeah, then I just like start bawling.

I can relate to that.

What was your wedding like?

Like you said, you're not necessarily big planners, but you pulled it off.

How was the wedding?

Oh, so it was so good.

Yeah, like best day ever.

It was a really cool, like, little like, venue that we had here in Utah.

It was like kind of half backyard half like inside.

So we did like the ceremony outside, got the beautiful mountains.

And then we went inside for like the reception.

And yeah, it was cool.

We had both of our family there.

I had some family from Peru.

We had kind of a lot of people honestly, but it was.

It was a good time a lot of dancing, a lot of good food, a lot of fun memories.

Yeah.

All right.

Did either or both of you run on the wedding day?

Oh yeah.

We had to, I did a, it's funny.

Cause like, yeah, I did a workout.

I like, I did like a workout.

Yeah.

Cause I was like, okay, well I'm not going to be able to.

And what's funny is too, is like, I wasn't really training for anything.

I was like, maybe I'll do a marathon or whatever, but I would yeah, I just she was getting to the venue at like I don't know like 9am and I didn't have to get there until like noon, basically.

So I was like oh yeah, my friend was in town.

I was like yeah, we'll work out, I'll work out with you.

So what was the workout like?

I think it was like I think it was like 10 by two minutes on one minute off or something like that.

Like yeah, just on a little nice paved trail here but yeah, I love it, why not?

Most people are like I went for a fun 5k with my bridesmaids and you're like no no no, I went to the pain cave.

Honestly, i wish like i've seen some ideas of like people like hosting like 5ks like before their weddings and stuff, and i was like oh, we should have done that, like that would have been fun and we could have made our families like go and run a 5k.

But yeah, i like that.

It's made them.

Yeah yeah, they don't like running.

Well, you can do it for your, do it for your 10th anniversary, host a 10k for your 10th anniversary or something.

That's a really good idea.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

And you can market it.

See, bring in sponsors like we can, we can work with this, we can make it big.

Yeah yes uh mika, you went for a run on your wedding day.

I did.

Yeah, i ran with my friend.

She also like had um, we had the same, like we're on the same cross-country team.

So we ran like i think, 10 miles yeah, and it was.

It was hard because yeah, i was like i have to be at the venue to do my hair, my makeup, everything.

Like i i'm such a diva in that way like i'm very like i take my time to.

So the running was like kind of an inconvenience that morning, but we got it done.

Yeah.

Also 10 miles, but you were still.

I mean, you were still running.

You were in college, so you weren't.

You couldn't necessarily just take the time off.

So, so I get it.

And then was there a honeymoon?

Yeah.

We went to Cancun in Mexico and it was like an all inclusive resort.

There was no kids nearby.

It was perfect.

Yeah.

Amazing.

All right.

First year as newlyweds, what do you both remember most?

There's, I feel like there's always a mix of people who either say like the first year is bliss or like the first year is hard.

It's their first year being married.

What was it like for the two of you?

I feel like, I feel like it was honestly it like in terms of like being married, it wasn't that hard.

Just because it was like, I just feel like we, we're moving in together, which was like a new thing.

And I was like also working a job, you know, first time like working and stuff like that.

And so that was like a new thing.

So it wasn't like it was like we were working together to like overcome like these new, like challenges of like me working and that kind of stuff.

And it was never like I know.

It wasn't difficult like living with each other, like being in each other's space more consistently.

It seemed pretty okay and honestly, it was like it was really nice too, because I think, like we're used to, like I would be, I was used to like getting home from practice and like just like doing nothing, but it was nice that like she would come home from practice and it's like I would be there and it's like kind of like a fun little thing.

Yeah yeah, I'd say the only thing that was tough was like like we were both kind of messy a little bit and like cleaning up after each other.

That was something to adjust to, but that was fine.

That was fine.

Are you both still messy and we've just accepted it, or have we graduated into?

Like now we're neat, tidy people, no judgment whatsoever.

Let me be clear we're messy and we accept it.

We accept each other.

Perfect running though, like you, it's mostly like laundry, like the running, like we just have so much laundry.

That's what too much, too much laundry.

And in college honestly, college spoiled me because they do like at byu they would do our laundry for us, like we just like we put it on like a loop and then we put a loop down a shoe and then, like put it in our lockers afterwards.

So it's like i never had to like even do that.

And so yeah, when i was like still running, i was like, oh my gosh, i use two outfits a day.

That's a lot of clothes.

Wait, they did all your laundry, or your running laundry are running.

Are my running laundry running, which is, i mean, that's the gross sweaty stuff.

That's what you want them to do.

And they gave you like a fuel card, so like he basically didn't have to cook at all, like his whole four years of college.

Yeah, So like it was definitely an adjustment to like OK, like I'm making meals now.

Yeah.

It's like we were making meals.

We're cooking.

You're cooking.

The laundry's going.

You're really like a crash course in adult 101.

Yeah.

All right.

So bring me to the point in your lives where you have both graduated.

And I want to know about what were the running goals.

Mika, let's start with you.

After you graduate from college, what did life look like?

What were you hoping to do?

Yeah.

After I graduated college I had like honestly, I started getting really excited because I saw Adam running for a year doing marathons and honestly improving a lot and enjoying post-collegiate running.

And at first I didn't really want to do that.

But then like seeing him do it and like I was like wow, I want, I kind of want to do that too.

Um, and from there I knew I had to work though as well.

So like I got a job and I tried to, um, I actually hired Adam as my coach.

Yeah.

Hired me.

Yeah.

Did he give you a good deal?

Yeah.

Free of charge.

We love it.

Um, he would coach me and like I would work and it was just cool to be like.

Oh yeah, like because I would say for college I was kind of, I was running hard, but it was more conservative.

I wasn't like necessarily pushing myself crazy hard.

And so I think I got this like itch, this running itch, to be like.

I want to like improve, I want to like push myself and see what I can do.

And I think that At the same time, kind of opened the doors of like, oh, I could run for Peru.

Like I know some connections there.

I could see if that works out and like maybe run internationally for them.

So I guess for me, that was kind of the goals of like, let me just see what I can do.

It's improved, but I also have a job.

So I don't necessarily like, it's kind of just a fun thing.

There's nothing to lose, you know, everything to gain.

So it's kind of the vibe.

What was the job at the time?

Yeah, so this is funny.

I...

So my TikTok, like I had that and I kind of use that like in my resume.

Like I was like, yeah, I like, you know, I can help grow, you know, social media.

And so I was a social media manager for a pediatric dental office.

And it was really cool.

Like the guy that his name was Dr. Hanks, he was like a different kind of dentist.

Like he was really like.

I know a lot of people have dental fears, especially young children, and he helped combat that.

He was very open, and I kind of shared his story and tried to elevate his practice.

So yeah, it was kind of an interesting job.

I would show up at 730 in the morning and leave at 4 pm and I would have to post three TikTok videos which, like seems like you know it's just a silly TikTok, but it kind of took some time.

Three a day?

Yeah.

For a dental office?

I mean, they're killing the content.

Good for them.

Good for you.

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Okay.

So why?

Or I guess not why, but at what point did you say you know Adam, you had run a marathon.

At this point,

Yeah.

Yep.

Okay.

And why, why the marathon?

Um, to me, it just seemed like the natural, like next step.

Like I finished, I finished college and it was like, I was a little disappointed.

You know, I had, I had bigger goals.

Like I would have loved to have like been able to get like a professional contract.

I'd love to have been, it was like qualified nationals being all American and track.

And so it's like I was like a little like I just didn't want to do track, because it was like I'd spent like the past four years, eight years of my life, like doing that.

And I had some friends who were, you know racing, marathons and on the roads, and they were like hey like, before you quit running, like you should see, like what like the roads have to offer, because it's like, it's a completely like different side of the sport that, like you're just not exposed to in college.

And so I started doing that and racing some road races and And yeah, I loved it.

I think it's like a really fun part of the sport.

And I just like wanted to do it ever since then.

Were you coaching yourself at this point?

Um, so no, I actually, an old teammate of mine, his name is Rory Linkletter.

Uh, yeah, yeah.

He, uh, he was the one who was like, you should try the roads.

And he's like, and if you're looking for coaches, like I can like write your workouts and stuff.

And I was like, yeah, that sounds great.

And so, yeah, we kind of did that for, for a little bit and it was really fun.

So.

Okay, and then Mika, your marathon debut was much more recent, this past December at the Marathon Project.

So walk us through and I know we're kind of covering a big span of time here but through that time from when you're posting three TikToks a day for the pediatric dentist to making your marathon debut.

Can you walk us through the evolution of your running career and what you wanted to do with it?

Yeah, yeah.

Um, I would say, like there was.

So I was working, I was running, I was starting to see a lot of improvement.

I would literally save all my money.

Like, honestly, I was kind of broke.

But like I would spend all my money on like traveling to races, like going to Boston, going to LA, doing anything I could to like just run a little bit faster.

And I started seeing a lot of improvement.

Adam's a good coach.

He like helps me really tap into that.

And like yeah, I worked.

We were basically like just setting up our days to like do the best we could with our running workouts and like getting our mileage and all that stuff.

And obviously our like social media started to like progress.

I started to post more and like it just became a bigger thing.

And like eventually, we were able to like set most of our time doing social media and like making an income from that, and so we were able to set our own schedules.

I was able to go wake up at 7 am, go go to practice and like it was kind of a lonely time because you don't have like your teammates to work out with.

It was mostly me and like a couple friends if I linked up with workouts or whatever.

Um, so it was.

Yeah, I'm like really proud that I made it through that, because it was a cool time obviously, but it was also really hard.

And then yeah, just over time after I started getting better, I realized okay, I actually want to like make like I don't know, it'd be cool to make like an Olympic team eventually and like have like big goals, because I do think that I have like the potential if I keep improving.

And so I made the decision to join at eyestones group here in provo, which is like half an hour away, and like really just take it to the next level and like yeah, just have like kind of a structured environment, like practice, and like you have teammates and you just are all working towards, like you know, different goals but at the same time, like we're all trying to get better.

So yeah, i did that this summer and that was really cool and like i've been working with him and the team and kira love kira and yeah, i think That has set me up really well.

And I think it will continue to set me up well.

But yeah, that's kind of what was happening.

And then I decided, after doing track for a long time, I decided I'd love to do marathons, kind of switch it up.

I'd love to try one.

So yeah, that's where it lands us before a marathon project, I decided to do my first marathon.

So can you talk about the process of joining Ed's group?

How did that work?

Obviously, you know, you've got Adam here, who's a BYU grad.

You're in Utah.

You are doing really well.

But how is that like an email to Ed being like, hi, this is Mika.

You may know me from X, Y, Z. Like, how did you end up on the team?

Because not anyone can do that.

Totally.

Yeah, it was fantastic.

I mean, I've seen him around.

I've worked out with some of his girls before.

But yeah, Adam obviously knows him better.

So I think he was like, oh, I have his phone number.

Let me just shoot him a message.

And so I think Adam texted him.

And then he actually didn't get back to us for a couple of days.

And we're like, oh, no.

He's ghosting us.

Yeah, he's not going to sweat it out.

Yeah.

And I'm over here telling my friends who are on his team, like, oh, is everything OK?

But I think he was at nationals.

Yeah, he was at nationals, he's a busy guy and then also was talking to all the girls like being like, oh you know, do you know mika, like would this be a good addition, kind of like checking the vibes like of everyone involved to see if like, i'd be a good fit.

And anyways, he got back to us and he was like yeah, like let's, let's work together, that'd be awesome.

So So, when you start a relationship like that, do you have to go into it saying like hey, and I'm thinking I'm going to step up to the marathon this year and these are my goals?

Like how much information did you have to give him about your goals, plans and dreams?

Yeah, I definitely wanted him to know like I.

And trying to run the marathon.

I want to see, like give it a shot because like, that group is very marathon specific and he's had a lot of success with the marathon.

So yeah, he was just like asking me.

Like basically he's like you tell me what you want to do at races you want to do, and I'll get you ready for them.

So that's essentially what I did.

And yeah, he was excited um, and honestly ed is, so we call him.

Well, i don't call him like the byu guys and adam.

They call him easy because that's like his nickname, because he's very like low-key and easygoing and like kind of similar to how adam was as a coach, like very just like laid back and i love it.

Like it's like you yeah, it's perfect, i like i like to go with the flow, not like we definitely have our structured meetings if necessary, but it's like yeah, we just kind of bounce off of each other, which is great.

Do you remember your first run with the team?

Yeah.

I showed up for a workout.

It was my first workout.

Um, and it was around like the roads.

We did like a tempo type situation.

It was like two by two mile and then another mile at the end.

And I remember being with like Courtney Ferrix, who's like amazing silver medalist.

And then um, Kira D'Amato, who's also American record holder, like she's gotten so many accomplishments.

So yeah, I remember being there and being like wow, I feel like I know this is good for me, but I feel like an imposter, like it's definitely hard to like step into that, but it was awesome.

Yeah, it was cool.

And Adam, what had you told her about working with Ed?

Oh I, I told I knew that she would love it because like, he's just like he's such a good guy.

And he's honestly, he's like a dad or like, like a grandpa.

Like he's just like.

He's very good at making his athletes like, feel like wanted and heard and appreciated.

And I knew that, um, she would like really benefit from having a coach like that.

And so I just, I knew she'd like it.

And I know his training as well.

And like the way he likes to train, and she basically I was just coaching her, how like ed coached me.

And so I knew that like, it'd be like a fairly like easy transition from like going from me to Ed.

So yeah.

So last summer and fall, really the fall, you're both marathon training.

What is it like in a house with two marathon training, busy athletes?

How was that time in your life?

Well, it was honestly, it was good.

It was like, it's actually nice.

Cause it's like, we both like kind of understood.

And there were some days where we were like, thriving and you know and there was other days where we're like surviving and so it's like uh we just like we both understood it and honestly it was nice because it's like you know I'm falling asleep on the couch like nine o'clock and like so is she and so it's like early bedtimes like we both like appreciated that and stuff and uh eating lots of food and and just like the traveling together we did like a half marathon the same half marathon and stuff and so honestly it was like It made it a lot easier because when she was doing track and I was doing marathoning, like she was racing a lot more than I was.

And so she was traveling a lot and I'd want to go with her and stuff like that.

And so like doing the same event, kind of like just kept us on like the same schedule, if that makes sense.

Yeah.

So let's go to last winter when you both ran your respective marathons.

CIM was first.

So let's talk about that.

Adam, you're up first.

You go into it.

You've got some big goals.

How are you feeling?

What do you remember most about race day?

I want to hear all of it.

Yeah, I remember feeling, I was very, obviously very nervous.

This was like probably like my like fifth or sixth marathon maybe, but I've it'd been a long time since I'd ran a PB and like seen some improvement.

And so Like yeah, I was nervous because I felt like I had worked really hard and I'd gotten healthy and was in a good spot.

And so I was like, hey, now's the time just to kind of like prove that.

And so, but it's like, at this point it's very nice because Mika and I we've been to a lot of races together.

And so it's like we have like our system of like how we like to do things and get prepped for the race and stuff like that.

Um, like pretty, pretty down pat.

I'm a guy who like, I'll get lost in the sauce in terms of like, I'll be talking to people.

I'll be chatting.

If like my friends are there, like I'll stay up way too late talking.

I'll, you know, I just like, I'll forget that I'm racing.

And it's really nice that Mika knows that about me.

Cause she's like, Hey, like we gotta, like, we gotta protect the race a little bit.

I shouldn't.

Yeah.

So it's like, it's good to have her there.

Cause it's a very like calming presence and someone who knows me and that kind of stuff.

And, um, Yeah.

Then the race, it was just perfect.

I felt so supported.

Like Mika, she was out there on the course and it was like the marathon is like one of those things where you spend so much time like getting ready for it.

And so it's like it just feels more of like a people say this all the time and it's kind of cliche, but it definitely feels like a celebration of like the 16 weeks that you spent building towards this.

And the thing about like Mika and I being like so close together obviously, and both running so hard, is like we're both in it with each other on a day-to-day basis.

So um, like whenever I'd see her on the side of the course, like it would always just bring like a big smile to my face.

Cause I was like, I was like, we're doing it.

You know, it was like, no, I'm doing it.

Like we're doing it.

And I, I think that's like why.

Yeah.

It's like the finish lines are always so emotional too.

Cause it's like, she's, she's seen like the struggle and like the, the hard parts about running.

And it's cool that she's like, they're sharing in the good parts at the end as well.

So it's like the marathon is just so fun, especially like when you kind of have a good one too.

I got a, I got a personal best.

And so it's like it's always just a time of like celebration with like the people who were like there, you know.

So.

You two have also built up beyond being each other's biggest fans.

You've built up quite a community of fans and followers and people who are along for the ride through TikTok, Instagram and your YouTube channel.

How much of that were you feeling, especially at CIM?

Are you getting stopped a lot when you're walking around Sacramento?

Are people recognizing you a lot?

Are you getting extra cheers from the community?

What's that like?

Yeah, it's like it always.

It just blows me away, like it's really.

I'm always so grateful and happy when i get to like see people and meet people who uh like watch what we put, what we put out and that kind of stuff, because it's just like.

It's just it means a lot.

And so yeah like, when i'm out on the course and i hear people like saying my name, you know and and you know cheering and and it's just like, it's really nice and special and it's especially like, it's especially special because I put we put all our training on YouTube and and we like are very like, you know, candid with like our journey and like where we're at with running.

And so, like all the people who are like cheering for us, like they really understand, you know, like our process and where we've been and where we want to go and our goals and stuff.

So it's just like, it's so nice to connect with like that side of the community.

It's like, it's truly amazing.

And like it makes me emotional sometimes when I like talk about it and think about it just because it's it's special.

So, whose idea was the youtube channel?

His, for sure.

Yeah, it was like i've always wanted to make a youtube channel, but so is mika, like she.

She's like, as a kid, she always wanted to make one.

Yeah, i grew up in the era like i would watch, like makeup tutorials, like in 2011 2012, like that youtube was huge back then.

Yeah, i loved youtube.

So yeah, we and we started.

Yeah, i just like Yeah, I was just like.

Oh well, I'm posting on TikTok and Instagram.

I was like, might as well do YouTube.

It's like a longer form content.

So I can like be like more like slow and explain things and realistic with like what I'm putting up.

And so, yeah, it's like it was just like a fun, different way to like connect with people, too.

So.

You know some coaches are very I don't know that secretive is the right word.

But you know a lot of coaches don't have all of their workouts and training out there.

So for the two of you, once you launched this channel, was that a conversation that you had with your coaches of like Hey, we share our training.

This is part of it.

Is it okay if we share our workouts?

What did that all look like?

Yeah for me like joining Ed it was great because like Clayton Young like was already posting on YouTube and like basically every workout and they're also like him Connor the whole BYU team like they always like go on Strava and like post their workouts as well and Kira has her Strava which is amazing and so like it was never like honestly I think Ed told me he's like yeah like running well is going to help your content and vice versa like it's just all like all good so yeah it was never a problem which was really nice it's nice to be like yeah this is like a respected thing like it's not like this is kind of my job as well like i you know i want to run fast but i also want to share my journey and like yeah he was very um respectable respectful about it and excited about it and he loves to be on camera i feel like not that i get him on camera but he he's a showman like yeah he i think he was into like theater and stuff when yeah he like he it's funny because he does like uh every year he'll do like a christmas play of like in some like production theater in down in provo yeah and i and he's like the lead i swear and so like yeah the men's team we'd always go and like watch on opening night and so he's like wait how have i never heard that about any stone Yeah, he's just great.

He's such a great and nice and funny guy.

That is the most endearing thing ever of Ed starring in community theater, and his team is there to support him.

That's the cutest thing ever.

Yeah, it's fun.

It's very fun.

Oh, I love it.

So when did the shift happen?

You start posting more, whether it is for the dentist or for yourself, but I mean you're posting more.

You launched the YouTube channel.

At what point did you say, Hey, this is a viable business.

Like people are paying us enough to do this, that we can do this.

Yeah, I think it was, it's so hard.

I think we got invited to Jamaica one time in like Puma invited us to Jamaica.

We were like shocked, like what we get to go to Jamaica it's like a free trip and get to like work with this cool brand.

So I think that kind of opened the doors of like oh yeah, brands like are a big thing and running, and like we could work with brands.

And Adam got connected to Liam, who's our manager, and like he has a whole business and like really got to show us like um, that there's a lot of opportunities there and like he signed both of us and it was just like really cool to like learn that.

I had no idea that it was like a viable business, but we didn't like really like we did not expect it at all.

Like nowadays, like it kind of like you know, it makes sense, like you see a lot of like other content creators and like people who do that for their job but um, you know, at the time it just seemed like it was just like we were just making these silly videos for just like fun and so Um yeah, it was like such a shock.

And we just like, again, we fly by the seat of our pants.

Like we're not very like planning.

And so it was like we just learned as we went and that was kind of like made it feel kind of crazy, but kind of fun too.

I mean, that's so interesting to me because I, you know, I started following the two of you.

I think it was because, uh, Varin at UCAN was like, have you heard of the woods?

Like they're really cool and we're working with them.

You should check them out.

And, and that was maybe...

Two years ago.

A year ago.

Time has very little meaning in my brain right now, but at some point started following.

And I think when you see someone or or a couple like the two of you who have an established platform and are running really well, I make the assumption of like oh, that was the goal of like, let's get good at running, let's launch this channel and that's gonna be, that'll be.

The job is running and content creation, and so it's really interesting to hear that like nah, that wasn't the plan at all.

Yeah yeah, i mean mika, it's just like mika said, like she, mika started making videos on tiktok just because it like made running not as like serious and stressful, like she.

Like she likes to make the dancing videos and and all that kind of stuff, because it's just it keeps it fun, and so i think that's like how it all started was just fun.

Yeah.

Okay.

Oh, I was going to say with us, we were, we just wanted to be like get better at running.

And we're going to, like I don't know, find any way to do that.

And so like, once we learned like, oh yeah, we could keep posting and we could try and make money.

Like it was like, yeah, let's, let's really go into this.

Let's go all in.

Mika, is it you that we can credit with getting Clayton Young to dance on camera?

Oh my gosh. no I do not have that power unfortunately I it's definitely Adam like I really yes like I obviously I love like looking at the dances and like the trends and like Adam will be like oh I like that dance I'll do that one like we're not really big dancers anyways but like we have fun we do it for the vibes and I feel like Adam how did that even happen like it's it's so fun like I feel like I really love like the like at eyestones group just because like sometimes you know when we make content we feel it can you know maybe feels like a little embarrassing like oh we're not professional runners per se so it's like this is like kind of what we do but down there it's like it's so like it feels like very respected and they're like they like appreciate our hustle and so they're like They are like, oh, we want to get in like your videos and stuff.

And so like I was like, Clayton, we have this TikTok.

It's going to be really funny.

You should do it.

And he was like, yeah, absolutely.

I'll do it.

And so it's like it's fun that they they don't like laugh at us when we make our dancing TikToks and they like want to be in it with us.

I think it's like really cool.

So so, right now, what does you know in terms of making a living?

What does that look like for the two of you?

How much is it? running?

How much is it content creation?

Are we still doing other things on the side?

What makes it all come together?

Yeah, I feel like we do a little bit of both.

I'd say most of our income comes from posting on social media and working with brands.

But obviously, I've been able to make i've been able to get better at running make a little bit of prize money it's always really fun to like be like oh i took top 10 i get to bring home some money because it was for a long time like we were going like all of our money was spent on traveling to races like it was not very like sustainable yeah and we still spend a lot of our money traveling but like it feels it's a privilege i'm like very blessed that we were able to do that um so yeah i would say it's it's a little bit of both um and i think in the future, like we'd love to like, you know, sign like a great like shoe deal.

Like that'd be super cool.

And like um, just like work with a partner who, like believes in us and like is yeah, excited to see, see us keep progressing.

But for right now, like we're very blessed with what we have and excited to keep continuing.

Mm-hmm.

Mika, we have to talk about the marathon project, about your marathon debut.

You were logging 100 mile weeks leading up to this thing.

What is your snapshot moment from the day when I say the marathon project 2025?

What do you picture in your head?

Oh, I picture it was very painful, a very painful day.

But I do picture, like my family, my friends Adam, like all like supporting me like it was very.

It was a cool race because it was very like small venue, like basically you typically with marathons you're like going through a big city whatever, but The race was like.

It was kind of like a loop situation.

So you'd go out, you go on a roundabout, come back and then go the opposite direction as well.

So it was just like a bunch of little loops.

And so I got to hear like my family cheering for me, my friends, who all were there, like some of them, like flew out there.

Adam was literally right next to me, pacing me, trying to give me support and like cheering for me.

Like you got this.

But he could tell I was kind of hurting.

And so yeah, I'd say it was just a really special like moment for sure to be able to experience, you know, the pain but also all the love.

Yeah.

So much love.

Yeah.

Adam, you paced her through 21.

Is that right?

Yeah.

Through 21.

Yes.

Yeah.

How did that feel?

You were, that was like two weeks after CIM.

Yeah.

Were you good to go or were you like, I got to put on a happy face because I told her I'd do it. yeah it honestly I felt pretty terrible like it felt it was it was okay I was I was willing to I was willing to hurt for Mika and like I said before I I get very nervous when I'm watching the races so it like saved me like a whole marathon of like just being nervous on the sidelines like I just kind of got to like be in it and kind of help and so that like that helped me a little bit but it was uh yeah it was so it was so painful but there was never like a question of like if I was gonna do it or if I could do it because I knew that I could do it I was just like the most part about it is like I was very sad that I couldn't like that I couldn't go further I only made it to 21 because Mika was dropping me at that point I was like yeah I'm not helping you and I yeah I was a little like I was like dang I should have made it and I was I was worried but yeah I had to like remind myself I was like she doesn't need me like she did all like the work and the training herself and so it's like this last part this last like 10k yeah it's like the hardest part but like she's prepared for it.

And so, yeah, it was hard for me, but I think she handled it so well without me at the end.

So.

Yeah.

How did that feel?

How do you reflect on your marathon debut?

I know you went into it with really, really big goals.

You ran two 31, which is obviously an incredible marathon debut time.

But you tell us how do we feel?

How do we grade ourselves?

What are your big reflections from the marathon project?

Yeah, I think I'm like really proud of it.

Like that I fought.

Like I feel like with every race, like if you just like, if you walk away feeling like you gave it your best and like you tried really hard and you were gritty, like that's a win and so like, looking back, like I am really proud of it, I like yeah, it's funny, like it's it's a hard race, it's a very long race and I think I was very prepared, but at the same time, like you just have to experience it and so Like I needed that experience.

I am excited to like build off of that.

Cause I know I have a little bit more to give in the last 10 K and hopefully like finish a little bit stronger, but overall thoughts I'm happy with it.

And I'm excited to like continue building off of it.

Um, and just seeing where it takes me.

Do you each have your next races planned?

What can you tell me?

Uh, yeah, we do actually.

We're we're, uh, I'm doing the rotor, the Rotterdam marathon. the netherlands and that's i think it's like a week before boston so i'm like nine weeks out so yeah yeah i know and then i'm doing copenhagen i think tentatively so i'm excited that's like i've always wanted to just go to copenhagen just like visit it looks really cool um so like to be able to run a marathon there i'm really excited and like be able to travel a little bit Awesome.

So Mika, you have not been shy about your goal to represent Peru in LA 2028.

Is it safe to say that the goal is the goal to do that in the marathon?

Would we be happy with the five or the 10?

What specifically are you hoping to do?

Yeah, I feel like I've set it up where I did my debut and I'm giving myself a few years to like really kind of like figure out the marathon.

So I would ideally love to make it in the marathon, but it is competitive.

Like there was four Peruvian women who got the Olympic standard for 2024 in Paris.

So, like it is going to take a lot of hard work and I think I, I think I got what it takes, but yeah I, I would love to do the marathon.

I mean obviously, if I'm made in the five and 10 K, I would be happy to.

But I think the marathon is so special and like yeah, I just think it'd be really cool to represent Peru in the marathon.

Yeah.

And can you explain the process?

Like you said, there were four women who qualified for Paris.

What do you have to do in order to get a spot on that team?

So you have to run the Olympic standard.

Um, and I'm not sure what it is for 2028, 2024 was, I think it was like two 2650.

Um, so just running that and then um yeah, it is interesting like for like world championships and stuff and other races like that.

Like you can qualify off of points.

But if there's already three women who have ran the standard, then like obviously they're going to take them.

So yeah, I think running the standard is like the number one priority once I figure out what it is.

So yeah, it does come with a little bit of like, pressure of like okay, this is like my goal that I have to hit, but I'm excited for it.

I think, yeah, I'm excited to see if I can do it.

Yeah.

So there's no trials.

There's no.

It's not like in the U S, where it's like we have the Olympic trials and the three fastest on the day make it.

This is a totally different process.

Yeah, yeah, I think it's really interesting.

I'm still kind of learning the whole process, not gonna lie, like, I'm still so new to it.

And there are like the championships like there will be the marathon premium marathon championships.

So there might be a little bit of that if, like it comes to it, but I'm pretty sure you don't have to take top three like a championship, like it's based off of time.

Yeah.

And Adam, what are some of your biggest running goals?

Yeah like, for me it's, it's uh obviously like i want to qualify for the olympic trials.

I think that's like such a fun goal and i'm really glad that, like us, marathoning has that, because i just think it provides like a fun space for like a fun goal just to have.

And then after that, like i just i want to keep improving, i want to, i want to eventually like try and and make it into like these elite fields at these like world majors.

I'd love to just be, you know, competitive at like these road circuits and stuff like that.

And so it's just about getting better and continuing to enjoy what I'm doing.

I think is like the main goal.

But yeah.

What does a day in the life right now look like for the two of you?

Oh, we wake up early.

We have our breakfast, have our coffee. then we go run together.

It's really nice.

Actually, like we're able to run our easy runs together.

I love it.

And I will like even put like our headphones in and like connect it to our phone and listen to like a podcast together.

Okay, stop.

That's so cute.

Yeah, it's so fun.

We'll like debrief it on the like, be like, yeah, we'll just be chatting about it.

That's like our morning routine.

And then like um yeah, we'll come back.

Honestly, we spend most of our days together like it's really nice.

We spend a lot of like a lot of our day together yeah, but we do like i think right around like noon we'll, we'll sit down like work on our own, like youtube editing or like anything we want to post um, and then we'll go double together too.

So yeah, It's great.

And we'll come back and we'll have some dinner and watch some reality TV or watch a movie.

That's usually how our days go.

That's a great day.

All right.

Well, before I let you both go and carry on with that day, I do have a couple.

We call this the sprint to the finish round.

And normally on the alley on the run show, this is like What's your favorite movie?

What's your favorite TV show?

But this is specific to Love on the Run week.

So let's see how we do here with some rapid fire questions.

This one you can answer at the exact same time.

Who's more competitive?

Mika, I'd say.

You said the other.

I love when that happens.

Mika's very competitive.

You may not admit it, but she's really competitive.

I love it.

All right.

Mika, what is your favorite thing about Adam?

I'd say I love how persistent and determined he is and passionate, all the things.

He's just like, yeah, he makes me better for sure.

And I love to see his work ethic.

Adam, favorite thing about Mika?

I feel like she stole mine.

But really, it's like she works really hard and she's very focused.

And I love that.

To me, it's like when someone has a direction in life and they like are passionate about it.

Like that to me is like, that's really cool.

Like that's something I admire a lot.

So.

All right, Adam, then we'll let you go first on this one so that no one else can steal your answer.

What is something that you do that drives her crazy?

Oh my gosh.

I'm a big like um, so I'm like I'm pretty skeptical on things.

Like I'm like pretty, like I'm picky, I'm bougie with like the way I like like food and stuff like that.

So like I'll be, I'm just particular.

Like I have, like I have set things that I like to do, like I'll eat the same thing for breakfast every single morning and I'll be really happy with that.

Like I like I love that.

And she's like oh, could we like we need some variety.

I'm like no, I'm happy over here with this stuff and and so yeah, I feel like Yeah, that's probably it.

I'm also a morning person and she's, she's not a morning person.

She's like, she takes her a little bit longer to get out of bed.

Like my alarm goes off.

I'm like up and out.

And she's like, uh, just a little bit slower, which is, which is great and fine.

Yeah.

I'm more of a morning person.

And so, yeah.

All right.

So Mika, what are the things that you do that drive him crazy?

I literally was going to say the, the morning thing.

That's a big one.

Um, what else do I do?

Ooh, don't even know.

I'm trying to think i love there's nothing.

There's nothing that you do yeah yeah, i think that's a great answer and you're not allowed to chime in with anything.

I i know in your head you're like i could name a couple things, but no no, that's not the game.

Yeah, All right, let's do this one.

Mika, you and Adam are both tired, but you're also hungry.

You ask him, what do you want for dinner?

And he says, I don't care.

But you know that like he cares because like he said, he's particular.

So you're in charge.

What do you either cook or order that you know he'll like?

Oh, yeah, that's a good one.

Um, if I have the ingredients, like his favorite meal is like marry me chicken.

It's like this yummy chicken with like this creamy sauce.

Yeah, he like if I make that he's so happy um, but that it does take a lot of work.

So i'd say like, if we're ordering something thai food like is like a bit, we both love thai food we'll have like once a week and yeah, it's funny because he actually used to not like thai food and now he loves it.

It's like i'm obsessed with them now i love, i love thai food.

Now, all right adam, same question.

She's hangry.

You're in charge.

What are you putting on the table that's gonna make her happy?

Oh my gosh.

Well, that's the great thing about Mika is that she's not picky or particular at all.

So I know that I can make anything and she would be like happy and she'd eat it up.

But she, I mean we are on like we'll go through phases of like things that, like we're obsessed with.

And right now we are on our like thai food place, so we go to this like place called the big mango and we order some curry, and then she always likes sticky rice.

So mango, sticky rice.

So we'll get that at the very end as well.

So um yeah, mika's not picky at all, so i know i could make anything and she'd she'd love it and appreciate it.

Give me all the sweets yeah hello yeah, oh yeah yep, right there with you, adam.

How would you describe mika in one word?

Um, Confident is a good word.

Yeah.

Well, Mika, that looked like that surprised you that that was his answer.

Well, I don't know.

I wouldn't, that's funny.

Like I yeah no she's, I don't feel that calm.

No, she's very confident.

She's like she has to remind me to like be more confident in myself.

She's like she's like Adam, come on no.

Like we're we're doing this, like we're we're trying to be professionals here.

She's like you can do this.

I'm like oh yeah, I'm like you're right, you're right, she's your hype girl.

She is, she is yeah, she is, and so I try to be her hype guy.

So, all right.

So Mika, how would you describe him in one word?

Oh, I would say probably passionate.

Yeah.

He's, he's very passionate and like creative.

I, that's two words, but yeah.

Okay.

If Adam were an animal, what would he be?

An animal?

Oh my gosh.

This, yeah.

He'd be a cat for sure.

Yeah.

Why?

Um, he like I think like when you like cats are great because like they're kind of a little skeptical at first, like you know they, and then once they start to like love you and like really know you, they're like amazing and like they're obsessed, like yeah, he definitely has that vibe.

Yeah, she says.

She says i give cat energy, like i give like black cat energy, like i'm like kind of just like nonchalant, doing my thing is like what.

She says i like it yeah, own it.

And adam, what is mika?

If she were an animal, what would she be?

Well, I see it now.

I think I would say that she's like a.

I would say she's like a golden retriever, because she's very like.

I think we're opposite in that kind of way.

Like she's always very like happy, like bubbly, like always like wanting to do something, always like just excited for life and stuff like that.

And so I think we complement each other like pretty well.

I love that.

Right.

I want to know from each of you what is the best day that you've had together, or your favorite memory together.

Mika, we'll start with you for this one.

Favorite memory.

No pressure.

I know.

Let me think.

I mean, like, I would say like our wedding was really special.

Yeah.

Like that's so cliche, though.

But yeah, that was that was a really special moment, I'd say.

Yeah, for me, like I would say, like, besides like the wedding and like, you know, marathon finishes, because those are like easy ones, like for me, like a really like special day was when Mika, it was like, it was probably her junior year.

And she had just like, she had just missed out qualifying to regionals by like one spot.

And so like she had finished her this is track season.

She'd finished her track season and she had stopped running.

But then she got the call that someone like dropped or whatever and that she could race into regionals.

And so, uh, she like got ready.

It was like very last minute.

She like hopped on a flight and was there.

And it was very special because she was like, she was the last one in basically based off time.

And she ended up taking like I think, like 13th or 14th top 12 go.

But it was really special because, like that was her first like big breakthrough in college, i would say and it was like very.

It was so fun and rewarding to see like she was the last one in but she like stuck her nose in it, she believed in herself because she's confident and she said she thought she'd run with those girls and she was like just had this breakthrough.

That was like really special.

That was awesome like, and i was just on the sidelines like that was when.

Just that was a very special experience.

So i always like think about that and i always like tell people about that because it's cool.

Like going going in ranked last and like being able to do something like that is like amazing, It's just amazing.

I love that answer.

It's really sweet.

All right.

Well, we'll stick with the sweet vibes to bring us home with some warm fuzzies.

I want to hear from each of you about a time that your partner made you feel really loved.

Adam, you can kick us off.

What is a time that Mika made you feel really loved?

Um, really like.

I think like i it's just after these marathons is when she's just crying for me, and it's a lot of times in running it can feel like pretty isolating and like you're kind of like alone.

It feels like a very like individual sport and so like again, when she's like she's in it with me every single day and so i think like when we're both working hard and we both like understand it, and so to see her like get like just as emotional as i am after these races and and really feel it like, that's like that means a lot to me and I think that's like makes me feel like very special because I know she like really cares about like what I'm trying to do and that's appreciated.

So yeah, and I'd say like for me it's definitely the moments where I'm like at my lowest, like are like the times where he really like steps in, is like just like helps me feel again confident and like Just like Mika, you're amazing.

You are that girl, you've got this.

I love, yeah, he's just the best in getting me up on my feet.

Even recently I've been struggling with a little bit of an injury and trying to get back after running a marathon.

And it's like, yeah, it's just tough to feel like myself.

And he's just honestly always there for me, helping me realize it's gonna be okay.

I don't know.

It's really cool to be able to lean on your partner like that.

Yeah, I feel very loved.

You two are the best.

I love the way that you look at each other.

I love the way that you listen to each other when the other is listening.

And I love the way that you are each other's biggest hype people.

Never stop doing that.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Thank you so much for doing this.

I've loved getting to know you both better and getting to hear more about your relationship.

Thanks for helping us spread the love here on the Allie on the Run show.

Thanks for having us.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for being here for Love on the Run week, on the Alley, on the Run show, with my guests today Mika Rivera and Adam Wood.

Big fan.

Love what they're up to.

Just good, great, wonderful people.

Kind people.

Everyone who knows them raves about them.

That's always a good sign.

So Adam, Mika, thank you so much for doing this and for coming on the show.

Thanks to all of you for listening.

Do me a favor.

I know I always say be the good.

Today I'm going to say put a little love in the world.

Whatever that means.

Do something.

It can be something big.

It can be something teeny tiny.

It can be for someone else.

It can be for yourself.

Self-love is a real thing, too.

Whatever you do today, add a little extra love to it.

You know what they say.

And by they, I mean the Bad Bunny halftime show at the Super Bowl.

The only thing more powerful than hate is love.

Let's keep spreading the love.

Thank you so much for being here.

You've got this.

You're doing great.

I love you so much.

And thank you for joining me on the run.

[Love on the Run: The Inspiring Marathon Journey of Mika Rivera and Adam Wood]-[863. Love on the Run with Mica Rivera & Adam Wood]

📋 Summary

Love on the Run: Navigating Life, Athletics, and Partnership

The High School Roots and Early Connection

Growing Together Through Distance

The Professional Marathon Evolution

Building a Brand and a Life

A Partnership of Mutual Support

🎯Key Sentences

📝Key Phrases

📖 Transcript

[Love on the Run: The Inspiring Marathon Journey of Mika Rivera and Adam Wood]-[863. Love on the Run with Mica Rivera & Adam Wood]

📋 Summary

Love on the Run: Navigating Life, Athletics, and Partnership

The High School Roots and Early Connection

Growing Together Through Distance

The Professional Marathon Evolution

Building a Brand and a Life

A Partnership of Mutual Support

Deep Learning with ListenLeap

🎯Key Sentences

📝Key Phrases

📖 Transcript

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