speaker-0: Hey PR fans, welcome back to a brand new episode of pending ratification. Keenan Gray, alongside my Irish friend, Maddie Mooney, who is just getting her outdoor season underway. You just got done racing at Hayward Philly at the Oregon team invitational for your season opener. Tell us a little bit about that.
speaker-1: It was great. I ran a eight hundred at the ⁓ Oregon team invite ⁓ on the open day. And I'll tell you, racing in Hayward is always fun, even at a meet like that where it's not very busy, so it was like mostly kind of an empty stadium, it's still such a cool feeling. So yeah, it was a great opener. Excited to race some more.
speaker-0: never know what that feeling is like. I have okay, I take that back. I have ran one lap around the Hayward Oval. It was the media four hundred for the Diamond League final in twenty twenty three. And I did not break sixty seconds. I was trying to train for it. I ran in flats. I think I ended up running like a sixty two. In flats, I was actually okay with that. Yeah.
speaker-1: That's pretty good, honestly.
speaker-0: I lost to one of our my our colleagues at at Athletic Net, Logan Hannigan Downs, who he ran in spikes, he ran a fifty seven. ⁓ I know I felt I felt like if I would have had spikes, I probably could have ran at least fifty nine, maybe fifty eight seconds. Like I was trying to tra I was training hard for it. I may have had like three weeks out, so probably not enough time to do a lot of speed type work. Like
speaker-1: That's the only reason why.
speaker-0: I would go to the track right down from where I live, do reps on that, I would do hill sprints next to ⁓ where my apartment is at. ⁓ clearly that did not work because one, I didn't have enough time to prepare for that. And two, I ran sixty two seconds. So if if that's
speaker-1: I tell ya. What always makes what ⁓ humbles me is that ⁓ the top American women in the fifteen hundred will close their fifteens in sixty. Wow.
speaker-0: You know what I mean? You are making me feel very and they're and they're world class athletes. Some of them, you know, medalists, some of them American record holders, some of them, you know, that do just a fantastic job at this sport. ⁓ so that's cool you're able to, you know, get your your season underway at at Hayward Field. Anything else going on on the outside though? I mean running can't be the only thing you're doing.
speaker-1: Believe it or not, I do have some hobbies right now. I've recently picked up line dancing and I've been playing some community volleyball with some of the Eugene community members. yeah, I've been ⁓ I've been staying busy outside of the running. Something like that. Yeah.
speaker-0: So you're multi sport athlete now. Like what's what's line dancing like? I've you know, there's thoughts of me trying that, then I realize I'm am scared to dance in front of public, so then I kinda pull myself away from it, but
speaker-1: Well, you know, there is always a lesson. It starts with a lesson, Tuesday nights. This is what I'm doing on Tuesday nights. And the lesson goes well. And then they open it up to just normal line dancing and like everything goes terribly because people are very serious about line dancing in this community. You can't just jump in and try to like follow someone's footsteps. Like people will get pretty pretty upset when you're messing up the flow of the dance floor. And
speaker-0: Were you one of those people that were like, Yeah, I can go in there and do that? And then realize, No, I can't
speaker-1: One hundred percent. I thought for sure. I my my arrogant self thought for sure I could just pick it up and dancing is not my forte. ⁓ I don't maybe like I've probably gone like five times now. So Well you're that's true. I that's true. I don't know if the rest of the people would say that, but
speaker-0: How many weeks have you been doing this now? Yeah. I mean if you look at compared to where you were the first time versus the fifth time. Very true. Maybe you made like, you know, one percent improvement. I have no idea.
speaker-1: I I think of it as a form of cross training, you know. I'm really like working my brain, working my feet, trying to keep up with everybody. Volleyball, ⁓ similar ability level for me, honestly. I play. My team has four former division one volleyball players on it, one of who was a professional up until last year. So ⁓ my job is usually to just like get out of the way while they do their bumps, what is it, set bump, spike.
speaker-0: So then what's volleyball then? Well, set spike is what I was told when I was at high school.
speaker-1: See, I don't even know what's going on. But ⁓ it's fun and we crush every team we play, so I th it's confidence booster. Is that because of you? ⁓ it's absolutely not because of me. You could take you can take credit though. Well I'm I'm the moral support, I'm the personality hire. Yeah. Who's on court, hype woman on court.
speaker-0: So you're the hype woman. Yeah, so you're just you know, you s so you're just standing in the corner and just cheering everybody on and hoping, you know, the ball does not come towards you.
speaker-1: Some yeah. Sometimes when we're way ahead they'll like let me spike and it usually d I can't jump. I'm only five four. I can't like get up that high. It usually doesn't go over the net. You would
speaker-0: Be a perfect libero if that's if that's the case. So Yeah, well well on in my world, I just got back from like a 17 day trip from Los Angeles and Des Moines, Iowa. And let me tell you, at first, you know, it's a great idea. This sounds awesome. I get to go cover track meets across the country. And then, you know, you're day ten into it, and you're like, okay, I'm ready to go home.
speaker-1: Maybe one day.
speaker-0: Yeah. And that's how I got at the kind of at the tail end of it. I was getting very, very tired. I loved every minute of it. It was fun. But to a point I'm like, all right, I'm ready to go back home and get back to my own bed and get back to a routine. But, you know, I got to sa see some really cool performances, some really cool stadiums, meet a lot of cool people, and just experience, you know, track and field ⁓ up and down the West Coast, but also in the Midwest. And I gotta tell you, Drake relays. They love their track and field. And I absolutely I don't know if you got a chance to go when you were in school. I know Wisconsin had a couple of field athletes competing there this weekend, but let me tell you, if if you're a track field fa athlete and you've never been to the Drake Relays before, go to the Drake Relays. It is without a doubt one of the coolest experiences, aside from the tornado warning that I had to deal with stuck in a Mexican restaurant. Although everyone seemed like
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: It was perfectly fine. It was just another day in Des Moines and we survived it. So I think that's the best thing part of it is like I survived a tornado warnings.
speaker-1: Not everyone can say that. Can't go to a meet in the Midwest without a tornado.
speaker-0: No, no, you cannot. So well with that being said, ⁓ let's get on with our show actually. You know, let's talk about our guest who's gonna be on with us today. ⁓ she is an awesome human being. ⁓ her story is incredible from you know, growing up in Eritrea and now ⁓ being a United States citizen and running for the US. She got to run at the Paris Games ⁓ in for the for the US. ⁓ and then just most recently rebroke her US half marathon record ⁓ in Barcelona. So that's really really awesome that she's been able to do that and consistently be a presence on the road scene as well. So in this episode, let's welcome in Wayney Calotti to pending ratification. On your mind. He's going for full scribe and you've been through the worst, like nothing can break it. Have a world record ratified. ⁓
speaker-2: Like keep having fun with it.
speaker-0: Wayne Khaladi, it is always a pleasure to catch up with you. How are things going? How is twenty twenty six going for you so far?
speaker-2: Thank you, thank you for having me. It's going great so far.
speaker-0: Yeah, what's been going on in your world? Give us give us some details. What's been going on in your training? What's been going on in your racing? Obviously you had a pretty good half marathon you wanna talk about?
speaker-2: Well nothing changed. It's been ⁓ the same for me, just training with sprints here and flag staff and ⁓ working in new goals as I ⁓ thinking to do some long distances but ⁓ I'm adding a little bit of mileage at the time to get ready for that and for to tr ⁓ to talk about my ⁓ half marathon that I have done this ⁓ earlier early this year. It was just like ⁓ nothing crazy. It was just like seventy five miles a week training and trying to hit some good ⁓ workouts there, but ⁓ It's yeah, just like a a basic building for longer distances and some faster workouts.
speaker-0: Matty, you're a pro runner too. Is seventy five miles what is what is your average?
speaker-1: Well, I'm I'm not running the half marathon, so my mileage is up to sixty, which is a lot for me running the eight and the fifteen. But yeah, that's some good work that Wayne's been putting in at seventy five.
speaker-0: Yeah, so then what i I mean, if seventy five is a low base for you, Wayney, what what what's the highest you will go f in in training?
speaker-2: Well, it depends from ⁓ person to person. A lot of people they like to do ⁓ nineties and hundreds these days and I feel like whoa, I don't wanna go up there until I ⁓ change ⁓ a marathon, you know. ⁓ when I run track ⁓ when like my ten K and five K training was like sixty, sixty five. but when I do Hack Marathon you have to go a little bit ⁓ longer during the long runs and that ⁓ that put me into seventy five. ⁓ seventy five is not a lot these days, trust me. So if I wanted to run a longer
speaker-0: You're telling me 'cause I do th I do thirty five miles a week.
speaker-2: Well that's good for not doing ⁓ a longer distance like half marathon and marathon, but I don't think ⁓ seventy-five is ⁓ good enough for distance running. So definitely looking forward to improve that. probably ninety ninety I can handle ninety, ⁓ to train for marathon, but we'll see basic how I feel.
speaker-0: tha that is a lot of mileage. I mean, did you even I mean, what was the farthest you ran when you were in college, Maddie?
speaker-1: Well the highest mileage week I've ever done is seventy five and that kinda that was like exhausting for me. So kudos to you, Wayney, doing that week after week and thinking about moving up to ninety. Yeah.
speaker-0: That is that is a lot. So but of course, you know, we all get to this point in our in our lives. ⁓ we all have backstories and yours, ⁓ Wayney, is is a fun and and an interesting one too. You know, growing up in Eritrea, what was, you know, life like for you? You know, some of us, you know, have never been outside of the United States before. We don't get that perspective of what it's like to live in a in a different country, in a in a different part of this world. So, you know, what was life like growing for you ⁓ growing up for you when you were in Eritrea?
speaker-2: Well it's of course it was very different from here. It just like I had a I would say I had a normal life, ⁓ fun doing things out the door as a kid because ⁓ we don't spend our ⁓ days just wasting our time in social media and watching TVs and all that kind of stuff. ⁓ the things that we'll do is to just playing out the door with your friends, be more social and going to school, and walk a lot of ⁓ miles ⁓ to going to school and ⁓ yeah just A lot of outdoor activities and walk to school, I would say.
speaker-1: So when you were growing up in Eritrea, how did you get into running? Were you doing that with your friends or is that some like did you have family members who were runners? How did you get involved in the sport originally?
speaker-2: Well I always say this. I start running accidentally. That's funny. because so I didn't I had no n knowledge about running. I did not know anything about it. It just like of course we'll ⁓ walk and run to school as Pretty little kids like a seven years old kid, you just see you have to walk to get to school. That's how you get there because ⁓ there was no transportation. ⁓ so we'll ask our friends to hold our backpacks and then we'll erase each other on the way back from school. But I don't think running would take me this far. I did not know like it can it can it I can do something with it. So one time I was just sitting with ⁓ my friends at the sport class, that's what we call the ⁓ physical education class. and I was sitting the teacher was like, What didn't you run? And I was like, No, I I was so like I was sore from the other day. ⁓ that Because you never ⁓ done something like this, so you have to get up and run and I was like, Okay, let me show you what I can do. So it was like a mix ⁓ a boys and girls race, so I was a second, ⁓ one boy ⁓ beat me and he was like, ⁓ wow, you're really good at at this. You should continue doing it and I was like, What? What do you want me to do with this? And he was like, He can compete. And ⁓ I was like, Wow, this teacher is not gonna leave me alone. So well you get grades based on based on the perform f performance you do. You do running and a lot of different sport, that's how you get grades for that class. And I was like, I wanted to get a good grades and I ran and he wanted to me to compete and I was like, Wow, this is crazy. So I made that excuse ⁓ I'm not gonna say it in this and this ⁓ pericus because the family are gonna be watching because it wasn't a good excuse. So ⁓ and he was like but I gr like I grew up being pretty on honest. So like I can't make up things and when I it's like Telling him I started laughing. And he knew that I was just lying. He goes like no you have to you have to come at eight AM in the morning, we're gonna go to different place to compete and I was like, Wow. I thought I was gonna stop here but he wanted me to do ⁓ another race or whatever that I was thinking. And we woke up early in the morning, we walked to the race place, we were exhausted as a kid. It wasn't that long but it took us about five hours to get there to get get to Yeah, we were just like in the middle school in sixth grade. And it was just like a very long walk for us to get there. And and I was like, wow, this this kids have slept until I get here and I wake up early in the morning to get here. I don't wanna lose, I wanna win the race. So I get first place and
speaker-0: Yea.
speaker-2: He was like, ⁓ you qualified for the next one and I was like, Wow, what is it gonna be in? And I so they took me to the city. ⁓ And I raced with the professional runners that I've been training for two, three years and I got third. I wasn't happy about that and I was like, Hm I thought you always get first place but how do they end up getting third? And they were really happy. They said, ⁓ do you know this ⁓ runners they train every day and you beat them and I was like, I don't know, I just win first place. That's how I get into running.
speaker-0: So you only knew how to win because that was the only experience you really had when you first got in. You didn't know anything else. If you lost, you're like, ⁓ I don't want to do this anymore, right?
speaker-2: Yeah, I mean getting second and third place wasn't me because every time when we raced each other go coming back from school, I used to get first place. So that's what I wanted to get. It doesn't matter it doesn't matter w whether it's a boy or a girl, I just wanna win the race. So
speaker-0: So whatever it took, it no matter what, like you could go out there and trip somebody if you really wanted to. You just wanted to get first place.
speaker-2: No running gets harder when you get to know it, I try. But first I was like, Okay, I'm gonna get first place and it it happens somehow. But when I get third it was hard for me and I was like, ⁓ okay, hopefully they're gonna look they're gonna ⁓ leave me alone not to do it again but they said, ⁓ that's pretty good, you should continue and I was like, Wow, that's very interesting. And fun fact, I had another race though. It was like in the middle of ⁓ the class that they had to call me, ⁓ you have to do this race because you have to ⁓ qualify for nationals and I was like, What? I thought we were done and I wasn't training or anything. So th so they they said, ⁓ like you have to go right now. school are not gonna count as y like i it's not gonna count you miss school if they take you from school. Because they take that responsibility. So they took us to this place and they said, You're gonna run ⁓ cross country. I've never heard of it. And I was like, What is that? And they took me to this place and the race was done by the time we get there because we walked. It was far. So we found one person that was a ⁓ a coach for the professional runners and he told us, ⁓ the race is done. And I was like, Wow, we walked this far and then the race is done. What are we gonna do right now? And he told us, ⁓ we're gonna time you so you so we were five other runners from the same ⁓ town. So he said, You get a run and we're gonna time you. If you get ⁓ a good time then you get qualified. I wasn't thinking about that. All I had all it like in my mind I just how do I finish this race really quick so I don't have to worry about it. And he told me you have to run this it was two K course and he said you have to run ⁓ three times So for ⁓ and here and I was like, What? Are you crazy? That's that's pretty long. So I started, I took off, I just took off like a sprinter. So I didn't even know how to run a pace to pace myself and run the race. I ran and I finished it in ⁓ two and four minutes for six K course. It was pretty hilly and I had no running shoes and he was like, No, you're pretty good, you need a cod fight for nationals, we need you. And I joined yeah. The national I mean whatever.
speaker-0: So you you initially it seems like you try to find your way out of it and then just keep pulling your bre back into it.
speaker-2: I know, I I just like I don't wanna to do it anymore. I like, hopefully I will be done after this but they keep telling me, ⁓ you're good, you should continue, you should do this and I was like, ⁓ my goodness. Running pulls me back in and while I wanted to quit running.
speaker-0: Have you have you ever had an experience where you know and I'm sure everybody has their different running stories, but like have you ever had an experience like that, Maddie, where it's like, This sounds really fun at first and then you do it and it's like, Yeah, I don't want to ever wanna do that again.
speaker-1: I mean, for me that was probably like every cross country race ever because I've just never been good at cross country. But this is just so fascinating to hear because I feel like for a lot of athletes, especially in the US, they're specializing in track and field so early in like focusing on it trying to get, you know, a college scholarship or what you know, whatever, like from such a young age, ⁓ for better or worse with that. But like this is so you're you're just a competitor at heart. So it's just really cool to hear this story and here that you would just go and try to win, just 'cause you wanted to win, not because you were thinking about anything ahead of what was happening on that day. ⁓ yeah, that's really fascinating to hear. I feel like, ⁓ I can't relate to that at all. Like ⁓ my stories of not wanting to run are like so different than that.
speaker-0: So where did that competitive drive then come from for you, Waney?
speaker-2: I don't maybe from school. I used to be pretty good at school. I was in it so here we don't have to ⁓ place based in our grades here in the United States. But but back home y ⁓ they do that. You have to be like one two three. I was always in the top three students and if I don't get top three I used to just cry or just like don't feel like I have done enough for ⁓ school I have ⁓ I somehow maybe it comes from school I always ⁓ have had this competitive ⁓ mindset even though I don't know where running was gonna take
speaker-1: Do you have siblings who also run or were you just doing it out on your own?
speaker-2: a lot of cousins that follow in the footsteps right now, which makes me really happy. I some of them were born after I left Eritrea, some of them are ⁓ they were pretty young ⁓ when I was there, but yes, I do have a couple cousins who runs ⁓ not none of my supplements though. They used to do ⁓ cycling and one of them ⁓ running but ⁓ they quit.
speaker-0: So for so then you kinda blazed a little bit of a trail for your family to kinda get involved with this. I mean I mean it sounds like maybe your were your parents involved in running it all, or was it kinda just you found it on your own?
speaker-2: No, I mean my family they ⁓ used to tell me that they were very ⁓ I would say they were ⁓ pretty athletic in every sport but they don't do it for just ⁓ the so I don't think they know that running can bring something into their life. They were just doing it for fun when they were young but they never continue ⁓ running or other sports. So I think I'm the first one from my family and everyone is doing it right now which is good.
speaker-0: That's awesome to hear. Well, one of the first opportunities that really came for you, as you kind of pointed out about, you know, some of the younger races that you had, whether it was an elementary school or middle school, but the first time that you actually got to experience like a national championship or even like go to a global championship was coming to Eugene in twenty fourteen. How did that opportunity come about and how were you able to qualify for the world junior team?
speaker-2: Well I have repres represented Eritrea and a couple ⁓ other African championships outside of Eritrea. and Yeah, and like not in track but in cross country. Like I have represented Eritrea and many different states. I just for track it was different. I went to France to get the time ⁓ qualification because it's ⁓ high altitude in Eritrea, the time doesn't count and you have to go outside of Eritrea to run on your own to get that s the standard to be able to qualify. But I did not know that was ⁓ gonna be the next one here in the like High Workfield at the High Workfield in the United States. I was just like running to get the standard and I was lucky. I was the first ⁓ junior girl at the time that who has the only ⁓ time qualification. ⁓ yeah.
speaker-0: So did you know anything about Hayward Field or anything about the United States prior to coming over and and racing at your first World Juniors?
speaker-2: Not a lot. I w like I used to watch a lot of Diamond Leagues and other ⁓ track ⁓ race back home. all I know is ⁓ the the Diamond League that happens in YG. Yeah. That's the only ⁓ thing that that was in my mind. ⁓ Also well I knew about ⁓ Miv Kflesgie was one of the very good yes runner at the time when we watch the T V like World Championships, Diamond Leagues or other sports, his name will come up on the national TV that he represents the United States and he was an Eritrean American.
speaker-0: So you had it so you had an idea, you know, what the running scene was like in the US, just based off, you know, some of the athletes that have performed at the World Championships or as as you pointed out at the Diamond League. But when you came to the US for the first time, were w were your expectations different? Were they the same? Was your experience like what what how would you describe your experience when you first stepped onto Hayward Field?
speaker-2: Well I had I had no idea what's gonna look like, what's gonna be ⁓ as I first arrived in the United States I did not know anything about all I know as as I s as I mentioned, I know like I used to watch some races on on TV and I I I know a lot of runners, the sprinters especially. The ⁓ the Yes winners the Yes Winters were pretty competitive against the Jamaicans and I love watching them. ⁓ but rather than that I did not know, I had no idea.
speaker-0: Well, I think we did a little research, Maddie and I did. Your favorite athlete, do you wanna tell her wh who her favorite athlete was? I think it was
speaker-1: Right, we we did see, ⁓ I think it was in your college bio that your favorite athlete was Usain Bolt. Is that still true today?
speaker-2: Yes, it is. It's just like as I as I said, I had used to watch a lot of Demon Leaks and ⁓ world championships and I feel like he's a perfect example of what ⁓ athletes needs to be in the field, out of the field. And so my favorite thing about him was ⁓ giving high five for the kids who carry their s his stuff. And he handled ⁓ the I like after he went he handled everything like a pro. And ⁓ of course that's now adults. He's still my favorite athlete.
speaker-1: That's awesome. So, for those who don't know your story, you come over to the U.S., you race at Hayward Field for world juniors, and you decide to stay in the U.S. instead of going back home. ⁓ you end up going to Virginia, growing up, going to high school there. ⁓ can you tell us a little bit of just the complexity of emotions, like what that was like? ⁓ deciding to start a new life here in the US instead of ⁓ going back home at that time at what sev seventeen years old I believe.
speaker-2: Yeah, I mean like I've mentioned many times this, like I coming here I did not know anyone, I don't know what it's gonna look like. so but all I was thinking it was like I'm just gonna stay here. I don't know how though. And I found this strangers who became a family. ⁓ I saw them at the track and I was like, ⁓ I wanted to stay, can I go with you? That's how I was able to live after the competition. And after I find my find out that I have cousins here in the United States, I was able to contact them through ⁓ a decent cousin. And I stayed in ⁓ Eugene for a week and then I flew to Virginia because my cousin, my third cousin, my third distance cousin, asked me if I wanted to come and live with him and I said yes. And he was a running a runner himself. He went to college. He got scholarship somewhere in Texas. I don't remember the name of the college that he attended. But he knows a lot about running and he was pretty happy that ⁓ when he after he found out that I was a runner and I wanna continue running, but I don't know how at the ⁓ time. But once I ⁓ flew to Virginia and I said, ⁓ I wanted to work. That's when it comes to discussion that I don't wanna get I I don't wanna continue running because I don't know ⁓ what are the future gonna be. What what was the future gonna be about running. And I was like, okay, I'm just gonna work and help my family, but he said y you still can continue running and help your family and I will show you how. That's what I do like when I was young. So you can ⁓ still go to ⁓ high school and that will open a lot of doors for you to continue running. But it was amazing because ⁓ I was lucky to have him in my life. Just he knows where are the good team in Virginia and he contacted me with the schools and I was able to make quick friends and life was amazing in Virginia as I get to make a new friend and continue running.
speaker-0: What was it like that first week in Eugene and just realizing you know you had made this decision, you do not know who these people are that you are with now, and then all of a sudden you find out you have a cousin in Virginia. I mean I can only imagine, you know, I'm sure English was obviously not your first language. I'm sure you were, you know, learning a lot on the fly. You know, what was that first week like being in Eugene?
speaker-2: was it was pretty hard. I was getting very emotional that knowing I'm not gonna see my family again. ⁓ I wasn't able to sleep or eat even before the race. So and on top of that, my back doesn't make doesn't make it. Okay it doesn't make it there. I had no clothes to change. I was staying in my room almost like the entire day and night just crying and wondering what I'm gonna do. But once I see these people they were air trans, I feel safe because as I always I as I always say, the air train community are very welcoming and very connected. Connected it feels like you found you found someone from a family member. That's how it felt the first time I s like I saw them at the High War field. And I don't say I don't stay a week with them, just to clarify. ⁓ but they drove me to ⁓ someone who knows my cousin.
speaker-1: Gotcha. So are you still in contact with these these people that you found at like watching you at Hayward Fields? Are you still in contact with them today?
speaker-2: Well, not these days but I have ⁓ met them a couple of times when I was in college and I had a good connection with them and ⁓ but ⁓ when I turned pro I think I they're busy and then I became busy. I we didn't get to talk t that often but I'm pretty sure one day I would love to go and visit them.
speaker-0: Yeah, for for you then moving to Virginia to go, you know, live with your family. It sounds like you're it was your third cousin. Did things become a little bit easier then because there was some familiarity?
speaker-2: I feel like relief that I found my family member but we don't know each other at all. So but I feel like ⁓ I'm safe. I'm with my family right now. So that's all I was thinking to go back and think about.
speaker-1: Can you remember what were some of the biggest culture shocks or things that just seemed maybe like silly about the US when you first moved here?
speaker-2: Well, I don't know. I can't remember w I mean the I had the lunch bears was that's the biggest problem I would say, but I don't think I had a problem with just getting used to the culture because I know it's very different, but I had fr friends, ⁓ really nice friends that helped me to just ⁓ get used to it really quick.
speaker-0: I g I gotta ask, just from a food perspective, what was the very first American food that you had that you were like, this is so different than what I grew up eating?
speaker-2: Well everything. Even the fruit was very different for me. Not the other foods. Like the first even I would say for three months everything I tasted was very different. I can't eat. So I just like I I was eating a lot of cookies. That's pretty bad. I know. But
speaker-0: What kind of cookies?
speaker-2: It was a lot of different kind of quicks I can ⁓ list of the names ⁓ specific Yeah, I mean specifically the like the the checklist and then like the other ⁓ my goodness, what was the
speaker-0: Cho chocolate chip or
speaker-2: ⁓ Oreos, my goodness.
speaker-1: ⁓ yeah.
speaker-0: ⁓ Yeah. Double stuffed or regular stuffed?
speaker-2: It's it's very interesting. It it has the white cream inside of it.
speaker-0: Yeah, but what I'm asking is do you like the double stuffed Oreos or do you like the Oreos that are j like the the ri the or the normal Oreos, I should say? Has more cream in the middle. Okay. That is the right answer and the right the only
speaker-2: I used the double. It's really funny. And the because like every food I tasted was very different. I can't get used to it. And I rather taste something dry that doesn't have like it not like I won't say it's a food but it's just like something ⁓ a snack or ⁓ yeah, something similar to the food that I grew up with.
speaker-0: So did you have the Oreo cookie with milk, at least?
speaker-2: I do sometimes but the milk tastes very different. ⁓ mostly with tea.
speaker-0: Interest I have that's an interesting combination.
speaker-2: You ever tried that? That's very
speaker-1: Not
speaker-0: What kind of tea?
speaker-2: ⁓ the black tea, no sugar and plus the ore, I guess.
speaker-0: Interesting. I might have to I've I I'm ne I'm not a tea guy by any means, but that's I've never heard that combo. Yeah, I mean that if if it what what would you if you were on a scale of one to ten, what would you rate having an Oreo in a cup of tea? What's what what's that experience like?
speaker-2: If you ask me the like if I can eat it right now, no. ⁓ but no. But at the time it just like ⁓ better than sleeping hungry I guess. Because as I said the food taste is very, very different. It took me six months to get used to it.
speaker-0: ⁓ no. Wow. Wow. So then were you at the time when you were living in Virginia, was that kind of at the start of when you were working or was that when you started attending school as well?
speaker-2: ⁓ buzz. I mean like I start work working later, ⁓ but when I start school most of the time that is
speaker-0: Yeah. Yeah. So then what was that adjustment like, you know, going to, you know, a a public school? I mean, I know obviously you were in school back home and if you weren't top three in your grade, sounds like you would get upset about that. So, you know, what was that adjustment like being part of the the the d this type of education system over here?
speaker-2: Well the teachers were very nice and the friends my friends were trying to teach me some ⁓ like English but it was it wasn't a I won't say it was an easy ⁓ transition for me. It was very hard. I was struggling because I don't understand what they were saying in class. At the same time, fun fact Here we have to switch classes for every subject. Back home we don't have that. One time so I was in my English class. I thought another teacher would come in instead of switching classes. I stayed there. There was like another student that came in and I took class with them because I did not know what to do. It w I suppose not being that class. It was hard for me and I was like, wow, this is like different than usual. But what's happening here I don't understand a single word. So then the teachers they called to my f they called my family, I guess. They figured out that I wasn't ⁓ I did not leave school and they were trying to find me by knocking every doors and I was saying it was some students that I supposed not to be there. It was very interesting.
speaker-0: Ha ha ha.
speaker-1: ⁓ wow. I can't even imagine what that was like. also that I feel like I remember in some of my college classes if I would get a little lost and have no clue what was going on and I still I understood the language, I was just getting lost in the content. So ⁓ I can only imagine how how difficult that was for you. did you have an easier time just with your studies and stuff by the time you had decided to go to the University of New Mexico to run and get your education there? ⁓ did school become a little bit easier by that point after having a few years of high school in the US under you, or was like the switching of the classes and all of that was that just like a constant ⁓ challenge throughout getting your education?
speaker-2: I mean college was was like very easy for me. ⁓ it just getting used to the system and all the ⁓ I was able to understand and speak English. ⁓ it just it was like ⁓ the easiest ⁓ transition for me way too
speaker-1: What did you major in when you were in college? What's your degree in?
speaker-2: Publishing halt.
speaker-0: What was your experience like in Albuquerque? 'Cause you know, you come to Eugene, Oregon, completely different than I'm sure Virginia, and then you go from Virginia to Albuquerque, very probably a little bit similar to Eritrea in the sense you're at out at altitude, but like you're just going from all different all these different places and experiencing different parts of the United States. So, you know, what was that like for you to go to another place in the United States?
speaker-2: Where I love Albuquerque. That's when I feel like wow that I find this so I took my visit when I was in high school and I had ⁓ a few colleges that I wanted to attend in terms of like they have a a good running team in school. And I visited ⁓ a few colleges and But my first visit was ⁓ the University of New Mexico. As soon as I landed in New Mexico I felt like wow, I love it. Because I used to live very similar back home in Earth. It's high altitude, no lot of trees, and we don't have that humid and ⁓ hot weather back home. It was just ⁓ most of the time it's seventy-five. ⁓ the hottest can be is eighty. Sixty five is the idol weather when it goes forty people complain. And I just Albuquerque brings the memory that I grow up and it feels like a home for me. That's why I I just I love Albuquerque.
speaker-0: So how did you know Coach Franklin make that transition easy for you, along with the fact that you guys had so much success when you were in school, when he was the head coach at the University of New Mexico?
speaker-2: Chris Franklin was amazing. So Laura and Jamie ⁓ James as well Jamie, sorry, Jimmy as well. ⁓ the whole community in New Mexico is very tight. They are ⁓ gre they have a great athlet ⁓ athletics ⁓ facility I would say, especially for cross country. And I've seen their team winning NCAAs before and just I was really happy to be able to ⁓ join their team and when when I get there Joe was a great coach and always ⁓ ⁓ cares about his athletes and to coach Laura. ⁓ my goodness, she's ⁓ like a a big sister and a mom I would say she she really took care of us so it feels like I was ⁓ with my family, not in college where you have to do everything on your own and ⁓ be struggle handling things. ⁓ but in New Mexico it was very different. You create a family it just the co Which were part of ⁓ your life and I would say he Joe set me up for good ⁓ not only running but ⁓ like for future the like making decision going to ⁓ professional and all that stuff.
speaker-0: Yeah. When you look back, you know, in twenty fourteen when you had made that decision to stay and then, you know, X amount a year later, I would say what, you graduated in twenty twenty one from University of New Mexico? Yeah. Yeah, so seven years. So much has happened over that span of time. You you f you finally find something in Albuquerque that just like this is a family.
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-0: Would you have had it any other way over those seven years with the journey that you were part of, you know, just not knowing what it was gonna be like after you decided to stay and then seven years later you have an education, you have a degree, you've been a part of some very, very good cross country teams at the University of Mexico. Would you have wanted life any other way?
speaker-2: No, I wouldn't trade that for anything else. That was the best experience I've had and I'm so proud that I was able to do that. And I'm very thankful to have the right people who guide me to go the right direction instead of ⁓ working and this grocery store or other ⁓ I respect the work but ⁓ it just very different. ⁓ so I would say I I'm very thankful for the people who helped me to get here.
speaker-0: I am curious though, because your your background's a little different than some international athletes. Because, you know, some of them they don't come to the US until, you know, they are in college. Whereas you you start, you kinda got that high school experience and you got to experience what that that, you know, racing against high school athletes and that the ability to go, you know, get recruited and all that stuff. So, you know, how big of a difference is it from an international's athlete's perspective to run? in the N C double A system 'cause it is not only life changing for you, it's life changing for a lot of people.
speaker-2: Well, it's amazing to go through that because it will make you stronger for whatever you wanted to do in life. And it's it's the biggest league after World World Championship Daemon League and Olympics World Championship in Daemon Leagues. I would say it's the first biggest sport. And it's in the United States. We are lucky to have it. It helps you to grow mentally and physically. I mean like it just like every time when you do a race you know that you're racing against a lot of runners that come from across the world. And you feel like you're racing almost at the world championship. It just like we're all at the same level getting our education and trying to learn how to handle everything. So I think every runner that passed ⁓ by NCAA or college is anything can handle because we learn that how to raise fail and achieve ⁓ the goals that we want on the highest stage.
speaker-0: Yeah. Everyone's there's the phrase the American dream. Have you felt like you've lived that? Have you felt like you've gotten the American dream just based off your experiences here?
speaker-2: Well sometimes I feel like well I have achieved the part of it and sometimes I feel like no I haven't done enough for it yet. ⁓ and the reason is because my goal is or always I have like a very high goals and until I achieve that I don't feel like I've done enough for it because ⁓ I feel like I have the ability to go further.
speaker-0: I I honestly love to hear that. I mean the fact that you you're you're not satisfied. You're not satisfied with just stopping here, Wayney. It seems like you have a lot more unfinished business to take care of in in this running career.
speaker-1: It goes all the way back to when she wasn't happy with getting third place in those youth races.
speaker-0: Not even the youth racist. In the classroom, she was not happy with that. So if she's not what's the saying from Tallad have you ever seen Talladega Nights before, Wayney? If you ain't first, you're last. That's the saying in Talladega Knights. So I'm not saying you need to live by that that line your entire life, but that's the first thing that comes to mind. And I'm I'm making
speaker-2: No. That's right. That's how I feel sometimes, you know, like ⁓ when you have some big goals you feel like, wow, like I wanna to get there. I feel I feel like I'm heading into the right direction by doing this little things that can get me there but haven't accomplished or achieved anything that I want in life in terms of running. I'm pretty happy the life that I have right now and doing all the N CAAs, high schools and getting my degree and ⁓ I look back and I feel like I'm so proud of myself. I'm able to do this with ⁓ my family, you know, how much I missed them and ⁓ and I still can be like the same as the other athletes or other kids that have a family with them in the United States where they can call their they can ⁓ talk about every problem they have. I don't have that. I have to deal with wherever I'm done by myself and tell myself my family that I'm doing okay, I'm good and still try to take care of them. But in terms of where I want it to be, ⁓ I don't think I have done anything for what ha what I can do. it's just like I'm proud this little movement and little ⁓ steps that I'm taking toward to achieve some ⁓ bigger goals.
speaker-1: Yeah, your story is really inspiring. Like you're clearly a very resilient person and a resilient runner. ⁓ being able to, you know, put on a happy face for your family all the time just to make them feel at ease. Like that takes a very strong person. ⁓ c this kinda brings us to some more recent news for you. You've recently switched from running for Under Armour to Nike. ⁓ and in light of all the goals you're talking about and and everything you want to do still, how has running for Nike been for you so far?
speaker-2: Yeah, the last few years with Under Armour has been really great and it was ⁓ the hardest choice to make. ⁓ I will say every time when it comes to something to make a decision, it would never been easy for me as it's I have to deal ⁓ me and myself. But I'm very happy because Nike makes it very clear that they're very interested on working with me and I'm looking forward for the long partnership that ⁓ when we can act what we can achieve together.
speaker-0: Well, the first race that you ran in the Nike kit was pretty good, I would say.
speaker-2: ⁓ thank you, but still more to come.
speaker-0: I mean, I I was gonna say I I would think, you know, breaking your own American record is a pretty good way to start in in the new kit. Not that, you know, when you were in Under Armour, I mean the last time that you wore an Under Armour kit was when you won the US title in in Portland and and cross country and you and I got a chance to talk about that and how special that was for you. But you know, this is a new part of your life. This is kind of like it's in the year twenty twenty six where, you know, it's it's a year of new things. This is one of those things. ⁓ but you also seem like, you know, you're you're wanting to step up in distance a little bit. It sounds like, you know, you have been doing a couple half marathons, but maybe it might be time to do the full marathon. Is is that something that's on your radar this this twenty twenty six year?
speaker-2: ⁓ yeah, I mean I feel like this is the time because I always like to take my time and enjoy what I'm do like what I'm doing. At the same time I have to make sure that I'm not wasting my time on the shorter distances when I know I'm good but not gr great and ⁓ and track because it's getting crazy. And to be able to middle on track you have to you have to have that speed. I always loved the road racing but I have to make sure that I I have to do good the things that I don't like. Which isn't the track side. So I always I was like this is my last year I'm gonna go out to distance but I You so I was like, no, I haven't finished the business, I have to make the team or degrade on the track side. That's why I was keep going back to the track. But finally this gear feels like it's the right time to step up and do some ⁓ long distance racing.
speaker-0: Do you feel like ev to your point about track getting so much faster, so much quicker Do you feel like you have to do a little bit more track races now because the roads are getting quicker? I mean, I know you watched what happened in London over this last weekend, and not only, you know, you had two men break two hours in the marathon, but you had someone finish third and run two hours, and then you have a a woman running two fifteen for the fastest recorded marathon time. So do you feel like you know there's gonna be a mixture of, you know, getting some work on the track and getting quicker that can translate over to the roads? ⁓
speaker-2: Yeah, absolutely, because I'm not saying the marathon is slow, it's getting even crazier because you have to long that you have to ⁓ handle that pace, that fast pace for a very long long time. Like it's when I see it I feel like it's almost the same. They ran same ⁓ as a 10k race. And ha you have to do that like four tim four ten case? Even more than that in the marathon. That's crazy to me. ⁓ but to ⁓ I'm just like saying d it's it's very different. To be good ⁓ the track side you have to ⁓ come from the short distances distances. Like you have you have to have this like a very sharp speed where you used to run a four hundred, eight hundred or fifteen hundred ⁓ all the way to ten K. I didn't have that. I started as ⁓ five K, six K as I was a distance runner from the beginning. It's hard for me to go down than going up. So for the road racing, of course I'm gonna do some track ⁓ races that will help me to improve my speed. I'm still gonna work on my speed while I'm doing the ⁓ longer stuff. Just to To be good at it because all the renders that they do marathon are used to be like really good track renders too. You have to have that closing, you have to have the entrance, ⁓ you have to have everything.
speaker-0: Yeah. Well, and given how fast the US women right now are ra racing the marathon distance. Again, going back to Boston, what those ladies were able to do, you know, even at the half marathon distance with the the ten mile, you got Emma Grace Hurley, you know, doing her thing, Jess McClain doing doing her thing. So, you know, I I feel like in s some ways or the other everyone's just watching what they're doing and then just bettering it. Just getting faster, getting stronger. And just making it competitive, which I think at the end of the day we all want that. I mean yes, we want to win, and I know you you love winning, but we also want it to be a competitive and and make each other round each round each other much better than everybody else, right?
speaker-2: Yeah, I mean that makes you better. ⁓ we like our distance ⁓ women are getting amazing. I mean like I was like it's it's getting very competitive. ⁓ just to be a part of them and ⁓ I know we push each other to a better results and to faster times and it just makes me happy to see that and hopefully I will achieve something in the distance running as well.
speaker-0: Yeah. So I I gotta imagine then L A twenty twenty eight, would we see you run a marathon at those Olympic Games?
speaker-2: ⁓ yeah, sure, that's a goal.
speaker-1: Exciting.
speaker-0: That would be really exciting to see you to see you run that. And then, you know, of course, you know, being a US citizen and racing at the ⁓ in the United States during the Olympics would be probably just a dream come true. I know that's been on on the topic, especially when you qualified for the Olympics in Paris. And you know, that was a great moment for you to enjoy that, but I gotta imagine if you qualify for the US team, that's gonna be at like the top of one of your greatest moments of your career.
speaker-2: Yeah, I'm I'm excited what for what to come because ⁓ as you mentioned that was my first Olympic team that I made. ⁓ and the ten K ⁓ Retract team. And this one is gonna be very different and it's gonna be here in the United States at the home soil and very excited. ⁓ hopefully I will be one of the five or six women's are able to make the team in run ⁓ run to get a good result.
speaker-0: Yep. Well, and you got to experience that when you were at Tallahassee at the World Cross Country Championships earlier this year, which was a very cool opportunity, and kind of just like a little bit of a taste of what's to come for hopefully ⁓ 2028 when you can represent the red, white, and blue again. So ⁓ we're as we're getting to the end of this episode of pending ratification, we are gonna go to a segment called Records Under Review. It's kind of a rapid fire segment, and these are very light hearted type questions. I know we sent them to you. Hopefully you got some answers. Prepare for them.
speaker-1: Don't wear socks in your spikes.
speaker-0: So I'm gonna start off with mine. Give me your Mount Rushmore of your favorite T V characters.
speaker-2: ⁓ wow. It's crazy I didn't even reveal them, but you know, I don't watch TVs. Yeah, sorry I don't have none.
speaker-0: ⁓ okay.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: Well, if you don't watch T V then then give me your Mount Rushmore of your runners, all time runners.
speaker-1: Top four all time runners. You know Eusing Boltz there.
speaker-2: Mm. So in it it has to be from any events?
speaker-0: It could be anything. It'd be your any all time greatest runners. Who are your four favorite runners of all time? Mm-hmm that are on your mount rushmore.
speaker-2: ⁓ Melissa Jefferson. ⁓ can I add ⁓ someone that retired since then?
speaker-0: Yeah, I you so you Usain Bolt, you got MJW, who else?
speaker-2: ⁓ Alison Flicks because she never disappeared. I used to pick her ⁓ when I was an Air Tria and always wins. That makes me happy. And ⁓ my goodness ⁓ other else. ⁓ my goodness. I need to get some distance renders too.
speaker-0: That's three. You can throw a thrower in there if you want.
speaker-2: At throwers? Well, I don't think I watched that.
speaker-0: You could easily just say Ryan Krauser since he's arguably the greatest shot putter of all time.
speaker-2: ⁓ yeah. Okay, wait. Perfect. and do I have to find like a I mean, do you have to get fourth? The fourth one? Do you have to
speaker-0: If you if you want to just do three, that is perfectly fine.
speaker-2: Okay. I'm pretty sure I have a lot of them, but once he asked I just get lost, so I don't know why.
speaker-0: That's okay. So all right, Matty's got one for you.
speaker-1: Next question. If you could be front row for the concert of any band or singer or performer of any kind, dead or alive, what who would you choose to be front row of their concert?
speaker-2: ⁓ my goodness. Beyonce?
speaker-1: Great answer. Great answer. I would be there right next to you.
speaker-0: Beyonce, okay. What's your favorite song by Beyonce?
speaker-2: ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ No my good
speaker-0: And you have to sing it. Yeah.
speaker-2: Well I like all hors her songs. I don't know. I'm pretty bad I pick in one. Sorry. Don't don't ask me to pick one of her songs and I don't
speaker-0: That that is that is that is perfectly okay. So all right, my next question for you is how would you describe your job to a five year old? Like what you do for a living.
speaker-2: Well, fun, flexible and a lot of travel ⁓ does it count? Yeah. And I mean making friends.
speaker-0: Mm-hmm.
speaker-2: Well, in a running way. Well I would say it's fun to do it and can help you make a lot of new friends. And you can travel around the world and ooh. You have to have ⁓ you have to have a goal and work hard for it. I don't know if they can describe it.
speaker-1: No, it's Okay. Two more questions. Next question. What is something that's at the top of your bucket list? What's something you want to do non running related? What's something that you wanna do before you die one day? What's at the top of your bucket list?
speaker-0: No, I think that's perfect. That's that sums it up for running.
speaker-2: After I retired from running?
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: Well, I wanna work at the hospital just helping people as I'm a population health ⁓ major ⁓ I'm in major.
speaker-1: Yeah, that's awesome. That's wholesome.
speaker-0: Awesome. All right, last question for you. And we told you at the beginning of the show, or at the before we were started recording this, that you had to think about this one. This involves ⁓ if you were to set a world record in something non running related, what would that world record be?
speaker-2: You know, swimming.
speaker-0: Swimming, okay. Yeah. When and what what what specifically in swimming?
speaker-2: ⁓ well I would say the short dis distance. The sh I don't know how it I watch a lot but I can't describe it. It's just like a the one hundred meter sprinting. Yeah, and swimming. Fun fact though, I the the reason I picked that is I don't know how to swim and it feels like
speaker-0: Okay. All right. Yeah. So you think you
speaker-2: It feels like very fun just watching it and I feel like I wish I knew how to do that.
speaker-0: Well maybe that's on your bucket list then. Yeah. Learn how to swim.
speaker-2: Learning how to bike is my on my back list.
speaker-0: Awesome. We really appreciate ⁓ that's a good one. That's you okay, learn how to bike. Gotcha. Okay. Well that one I think we can definitely work out. Maybe we we we could maybe the next time you're in Eugene, we'll get you a bike and then we'll teach you how to ride a bike when you're here at for for USAs. How about that?
speaker-2: Yeah, sounds fun.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: Awesome. So well, Wayney, it is always a pleasure catching up with you and thank you so much for sharing your story. I know it's one that as Maddie has pointed out, it is one that is both inspiring and one that, you know, people can look up to and, you know, just get a better understanding of the you know we we only see you runners as as runners at the end of the day. We don't necessarily know what goes behind the scenes. So we are very grateful for you for sharing your story and telling us all about how you got into this sport, how You know, you found, you know, a purpose in this sport. ⁓ and we're glad that you're you're continuing to do this because you're doing an awesome job at at this sport. So ⁓ again from me and Maddie, we again really appreciate your time. Good luck this twenty twenty six outdoor season and the road season. and you know, who who knows what this year will look l look like the rest of the year, but I'm sure great things are to come and and of course the next two years when we when we look at LA twenty twenty eight. So Wayney Kalati, really appreciate your time. ⁓ thanks again for hopping on with pending ratification.
speaker-2: Thank you, thank you for having me. This was ⁓ fun to do and hopefully we will have more stories to tell outside of running when I'm ready. But thank you, that was fun.
speaker-0: Awesome, appreciate Wayney. Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to this episode of Pending Ratification.
speaker-1: If you enjoyed this episode and want to tune into more, be sure to check out runnerspace.com or subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcast. And I'm your co-host, Maddie Mooney.
speaker-0: I am your co host Keenan Gray. This episode was produced and edited by Ben McGrath and Ian Turpin. Catch you on the next episode of Pending Ratification. And the record is no more!
speaker-1: It was great. I ran a eight hundred at the ⁓ Oregon team invite ⁓ on the open day. And I'll tell you, racing in Hayward is always fun, even at a meet like that where it's not very busy, so it was like mostly kind of an empty stadium, it's still such a cool feeling. So yeah, it was a great opener. Excited to race some more.
speaker-0: never know what that feeling is like. I have okay, I take that back. I have ran one lap around the Hayward Oval. It was the media four hundred for the Diamond League final in twenty twenty three. And I did not break sixty seconds. I was trying to train for it. I ran in flats. I think I ended up running like a sixty two. In flats, I was actually okay with that. Yeah.
speaker-1: That's pretty good, honestly.
speaker-0: I lost to one of our my our colleagues at at Athletic Net, Logan Hannigan Downs, who he ran in spikes, he ran a fifty seven. ⁓ I know I felt I felt like if I would have had spikes, I probably could have ran at least fifty nine, maybe fifty eight seconds. Like I was trying to tra I was training hard for it. I may have had like three weeks out, so probably not enough time to do a lot of speed type work. Like
speaker-1: That's the only reason why.
speaker-0: I would go to the track right down from where I live, do reps on that, I would do hill sprints next to ⁓ where my apartment is at. ⁓ clearly that did not work because one, I didn't have enough time to prepare for that. And two, I ran sixty two seconds. So if if that's
speaker-1: I tell ya. What always makes what ⁓ humbles me is that ⁓ the top American women in the fifteen hundred will close their fifteens in sixty. Wow.
speaker-0: You know what I mean? You are making me feel very and they're and they're world class athletes. Some of them, you know, medalists, some of them American record holders, some of them, you know, that do just a fantastic job at this sport. ⁓ so that's cool you're able to, you know, get your your season underway at at Hayward Field. Anything else going on on the outside though? I mean running can't be the only thing you're doing.
speaker-1: Believe it or not, I do have some hobbies right now. I've recently picked up line dancing and I've been playing some community volleyball with some of the Eugene community members. yeah, I've been ⁓ I've been staying busy outside of the running. Something like that. Yeah.
speaker-0: So you're multi sport athlete now. Like what's what's line dancing like? I've you know, there's thoughts of me trying that, then I realize I'm am scared to dance in front of public, so then I kinda pull myself away from it, but
speaker-1: Well, you know, there is always a lesson. It starts with a lesson, Tuesday nights. This is what I'm doing on Tuesday nights. And the lesson goes well. And then they open it up to just normal line dancing and like everything goes terribly because people are very serious about line dancing in this community. You can't just jump in and try to like follow someone's footsteps. Like people will get pretty pretty upset when you're messing up the flow of the dance floor. And
speaker-0: Were you one of those people that were like, Yeah, I can go in there and do that? And then realize, No, I can't
speaker-1: One hundred percent. I thought for sure. I my my arrogant self thought for sure I could just pick it up and dancing is not my forte. ⁓ I don't maybe like I've probably gone like five times now. So Well you're that's true. I that's true. I don't know if the rest of the people would say that, but
speaker-0: How many weeks have you been doing this now? Yeah. I mean if you look at compared to where you were the first time versus the fifth time. Very true. Maybe you made like, you know, one percent improvement. I have no idea.
speaker-1: I I think of it as a form of cross training, you know. I'm really like working my brain, working my feet, trying to keep up with everybody. Volleyball, ⁓ similar ability level for me, honestly. I play. My team has four former division one volleyball players on it, one of who was a professional up until last year. So ⁓ my job is usually to just like get out of the way while they do their bumps, what is it, set bump, spike.
speaker-0: So then what's volleyball then? Well, set spike is what I was told when I was at high school.
speaker-1: See, I don't even know what's going on. But ⁓ it's fun and we crush every team we play, so I th it's confidence booster. Is that because of you? ⁓ it's absolutely not because of me. You could take you can take credit though. Well I'm I'm the moral support, I'm the personality hire. Yeah. Who's on court, hype woman on court.
speaker-0: So you're the hype woman. Yeah, so you're just you know, you s so you're just standing in the corner and just cheering everybody on and hoping, you know, the ball does not come towards you.
speaker-1: Some yeah. Sometimes when we're way ahead they'll like let me spike and it usually d I can't jump. I'm only five four. I can't like get up that high. It usually doesn't go over the net. You would
speaker-0: Be a perfect libero if that's if that's the case. So Yeah, well well on in my world, I just got back from like a 17 day trip from Los Angeles and Des Moines, Iowa. And let me tell you, at first, you know, it's a great idea. This sounds awesome. I get to go cover track meets across the country. And then, you know, you're day ten into it, and you're like, okay, I'm ready to go home.
speaker-1: Maybe one day.
speaker-0: Yeah. And that's how I got at the kind of at the tail end of it. I was getting very, very tired. I loved every minute of it. It was fun. But to a point I'm like, all right, I'm ready to go back home and get back to my own bed and get back to a routine. But, you know, I got to sa see some really cool performances, some really cool stadiums, meet a lot of cool people, and just experience, you know, track and field ⁓ up and down the West Coast, but also in the Midwest. And I gotta tell you, Drake relays. They love their track and field. And I absolutely I don't know if you got a chance to go when you were in school. I know Wisconsin had a couple of field athletes competing there this weekend, but let me tell you, if if you're a track field fa athlete and you've never been to the Drake Relays before, go to the Drake Relays. It is without a doubt one of the coolest experiences, aside from the tornado warning that I had to deal with stuck in a Mexican restaurant. Although everyone seemed like
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: It was perfectly fine. It was just another day in Des Moines and we survived it. So I think that's the best thing part of it is like I survived a tornado warnings.
speaker-1: Not everyone can say that. Can't go to a meet in the Midwest without a tornado.
speaker-0: No, no, you cannot. So well with that being said, ⁓ let's get on with our show actually. You know, let's talk about our guest who's gonna be on with us today. ⁓ she is an awesome human being. ⁓ her story is incredible from you know, growing up in Eritrea and now ⁓ being a United States citizen and running for the US. She got to run at the Paris Games ⁓ in for the for the US. ⁓ and then just most recently rebroke her US half marathon record ⁓ in Barcelona. So that's really really awesome that she's been able to do that and consistently be a presence on the road scene as well. So in this episode, let's welcome in Wayney Calotti to pending ratification. On your mind. He's going for full scribe and you've been through the worst, like nothing can break it. Have a world record ratified. ⁓
speaker-2: Like keep having fun with it.
speaker-0: Wayne Khaladi, it is always a pleasure to catch up with you. How are things going? How is twenty twenty six going for you so far?
speaker-2: Thank you, thank you for having me. It's going great so far.
speaker-0: Yeah, what's been going on in your world? Give us give us some details. What's been going on in your training? What's been going on in your racing? Obviously you had a pretty good half marathon you wanna talk about?
speaker-2: Well nothing changed. It's been ⁓ the same for me, just training with sprints here and flag staff and ⁓ working in new goals as I ⁓ thinking to do some long distances but ⁓ I'm adding a little bit of mileage at the time to get ready for that and for to tr ⁓ to talk about my ⁓ half marathon that I have done this ⁓ earlier early this year. It was just like ⁓ nothing crazy. It was just like seventy five miles a week training and trying to hit some good ⁓ workouts there, but ⁓ It's yeah, just like a a basic building for longer distances and some faster workouts.
speaker-0: Matty, you're a pro runner too. Is seventy five miles what is what is your average?
speaker-1: Well, I'm I'm not running the half marathon, so my mileage is up to sixty, which is a lot for me running the eight and the fifteen. But yeah, that's some good work that Wayne's been putting in at seventy five.
speaker-0: Yeah, so then what i I mean, if seventy five is a low base for you, Wayney, what what what's the highest you will go f in in training?
speaker-2: Well, it depends from ⁓ person to person. A lot of people they like to do ⁓ nineties and hundreds these days and I feel like whoa, I don't wanna go up there until I ⁓ change ⁓ a marathon, you know. ⁓ when I run track ⁓ when like my ten K and five K training was like sixty, sixty five. but when I do Hack Marathon you have to go a little bit ⁓ longer during the long runs and that ⁓ that put me into seventy five. ⁓ seventy five is not a lot these days, trust me. So if I wanted to run a longer
speaker-0: You're telling me 'cause I do th I do thirty five miles a week.
speaker-2: Well that's good for not doing ⁓ a longer distance like half marathon and marathon, but I don't think ⁓ seventy-five is ⁓ good enough for distance running. So definitely looking forward to improve that. probably ninety ninety I can handle ninety, ⁓ to train for marathon, but we'll see basic how I feel.
speaker-0: tha that is a lot of mileage. I mean, did you even I mean, what was the farthest you ran when you were in college, Maddie?
speaker-1: Well the highest mileage week I've ever done is seventy five and that kinda that was like exhausting for me. So kudos to you, Wayney, doing that week after week and thinking about moving up to ninety. Yeah.
speaker-0: That is that is a lot. So but of course, you know, we all get to this point in our in our lives. ⁓ we all have backstories and yours, ⁓ Wayney, is is a fun and and an interesting one too. You know, growing up in Eritrea, what was, you know, life like for you? You know, some of us, you know, have never been outside of the United States before. We don't get that perspective of what it's like to live in a in a different country, in a in a different part of this world. So, you know, what was life like growing for you ⁓ growing up for you when you were in Eritrea?
speaker-2: Well it's of course it was very different from here. It just like I had a I would say I had a normal life, ⁓ fun doing things out the door as a kid because ⁓ we don't spend our ⁓ days just wasting our time in social media and watching TVs and all that kind of stuff. ⁓ the things that we'll do is to just playing out the door with your friends, be more social and going to school, and walk a lot of ⁓ miles ⁓ to going to school and ⁓ yeah just A lot of outdoor activities and walk to school, I would say.
speaker-1: So when you were growing up in Eritrea, how did you get into running? Were you doing that with your friends or is that some like did you have family members who were runners? How did you get involved in the sport originally?
speaker-2: Well I always say this. I start running accidentally. That's funny. because so I didn't I had no n knowledge about running. I did not know anything about it. It just like of course we'll ⁓ walk and run to school as Pretty little kids like a seven years old kid, you just see you have to walk to get to school. That's how you get there because ⁓ there was no transportation. ⁓ so we'll ask our friends to hold our backpacks and then we'll erase each other on the way back from school. But I don't think running would take me this far. I did not know like it can it can it I can do something with it. So one time I was just sitting with ⁓ my friends at the sport class, that's what we call the ⁓ physical education class. and I was sitting the teacher was like, What didn't you run? And I was like, No, I I was so like I was sore from the other day. ⁓ that Because you never ⁓ done something like this, so you have to get up and run and I was like, Okay, let me show you what I can do. So it was like a mix ⁓ a boys and girls race, so I was a second, ⁓ one boy ⁓ beat me and he was like, ⁓ wow, you're really good at at this. You should continue doing it and I was like, What? What do you want me to do with this? And he was like, He can compete. And ⁓ I was like, Wow, this teacher is not gonna leave me alone. So well you get grades based on based on the perform f performance you do. You do running and a lot of different sport, that's how you get grades for that class. And I was like, I wanted to get a good grades and I ran and he wanted to me to compete and I was like, Wow, this is crazy. So I made that excuse ⁓ I'm not gonna say it in this and this ⁓ pericus because the family are gonna be watching because it wasn't a good excuse. So ⁓ and he was like but I gr like I grew up being pretty on honest. So like I can't make up things and when I it's like Telling him I started laughing. And he knew that I was just lying. He goes like no you have to you have to come at eight AM in the morning, we're gonna go to different place to compete and I was like, Wow. I thought I was gonna stop here but he wanted me to do ⁓ another race or whatever that I was thinking. And we woke up early in the morning, we walked to the race place, we were exhausted as a kid. It wasn't that long but it took us about five hours to get there to get get to Yeah, we were just like in the middle school in sixth grade. And it was just like a very long walk for us to get there. And and I was like, wow, this this kids have slept until I get here and I wake up early in the morning to get here. I don't wanna lose, I wanna win the race. So I get first place and
speaker-0: Yea.
speaker-2: He was like, ⁓ you qualified for the next one and I was like, Wow, what is it gonna be in? And I so they took me to the city. ⁓ And I raced with the professional runners that I've been training for two, three years and I got third. I wasn't happy about that and I was like, Hm I thought you always get first place but how do they end up getting third? And they were really happy. They said, ⁓ do you know this ⁓ runners they train every day and you beat them and I was like, I don't know, I just win first place. That's how I get into running.
speaker-0: So you only knew how to win because that was the only experience you really had when you first got in. You didn't know anything else. If you lost, you're like, ⁓ I don't want to do this anymore, right?
speaker-2: Yeah, I mean getting second and third place wasn't me because every time when we raced each other go coming back from school, I used to get first place. So that's what I wanted to get. It doesn't matter it doesn't matter w whether it's a boy or a girl, I just wanna win the race. So
speaker-0: So whatever it took, it no matter what, like you could go out there and trip somebody if you really wanted to. You just wanted to get first place.
speaker-2: No running gets harder when you get to know it, I try. But first I was like, Okay, I'm gonna get first place and it it happens somehow. But when I get third it was hard for me and I was like, ⁓ okay, hopefully they're gonna look they're gonna ⁓ leave me alone not to do it again but they said, ⁓ that's pretty good, you should continue and I was like, Wow, that's very interesting. And fun fact, I had another race though. It was like in the middle of ⁓ the class that they had to call me, ⁓ you have to do this race because you have to ⁓ qualify for nationals and I was like, What? I thought we were done and I wasn't training or anything. So th so they they said, ⁓ like you have to go right now. school are not gonna count as y like i it's not gonna count you miss school if they take you from school. Because they take that responsibility. So they took us to this place and they said, You're gonna run ⁓ cross country. I've never heard of it. And I was like, What is that? And they took me to this place and the race was done by the time we get there because we walked. It was far. So we found one person that was a ⁓ a coach for the professional runners and he told us, ⁓ the race is done. And I was like, Wow, we walked this far and then the race is done. What are we gonna do right now? And he told us, ⁓ we're gonna time you so you so we were five other runners from the same ⁓ town. So he said, You get a run and we're gonna time you. If you get ⁓ a good time then you get qualified. I wasn't thinking about that. All I had all it like in my mind I just how do I finish this race really quick so I don't have to worry about it. And he told me you have to run this it was two K course and he said you have to run ⁓ three times So for ⁓ and here and I was like, What? Are you crazy? That's that's pretty long. So I started, I took off, I just took off like a sprinter. So I didn't even know how to run a pace to pace myself and run the race. I ran and I finished it in ⁓ two and four minutes for six K course. It was pretty hilly and I had no running shoes and he was like, No, you're pretty good, you need a cod fight for nationals, we need you. And I joined yeah. The national I mean whatever.
speaker-0: So you you initially it seems like you try to find your way out of it and then just keep pulling your bre back into it.
speaker-2: I know, I I just like I don't wanna to do it anymore. I like, hopefully I will be done after this but they keep telling me, ⁓ you're good, you should continue, you should do this and I was like, ⁓ my goodness. Running pulls me back in and while I wanted to quit running.
speaker-0: Have you have you ever had an experience where you know and I'm sure everybody has their different running stories, but like have you ever had an experience like that, Maddie, where it's like, This sounds really fun at first and then you do it and it's like, Yeah, I don't want to ever wanna do that again.
speaker-1: I mean, for me that was probably like every cross country race ever because I've just never been good at cross country. But this is just so fascinating to hear because I feel like for a lot of athletes, especially in the US, they're specializing in track and field so early in like focusing on it trying to get, you know, a college scholarship or what you know, whatever, like from such a young age, ⁓ for better or worse with that. But like this is so you're you're just a competitor at heart. So it's just really cool to hear this story and here that you would just go and try to win, just 'cause you wanted to win, not because you were thinking about anything ahead of what was happening on that day. ⁓ yeah, that's really fascinating to hear. I feel like, ⁓ I can't relate to that at all. Like ⁓ my stories of not wanting to run are like so different than that.
speaker-0: So where did that competitive drive then come from for you, Waney?
speaker-2: I don't maybe from school. I used to be pretty good at school. I was in it so here we don't have to ⁓ place based in our grades here in the United States. But but back home y ⁓ they do that. You have to be like one two three. I was always in the top three students and if I don't get top three I used to just cry or just like don't feel like I have done enough for ⁓ school I have ⁓ I somehow maybe it comes from school I always ⁓ have had this competitive ⁓ mindset even though I don't know where running was gonna take
speaker-1: Do you have siblings who also run or were you just doing it out on your own?
speaker-2: a lot of cousins that follow in the footsteps right now, which makes me really happy. I some of them were born after I left Eritrea, some of them are ⁓ they were pretty young ⁓ when I was there, but yes, I do have a couple cousins who runs ⁓ not none of my supplements though. They used to do ⁓ cycling and one of them ⁓ running but ⁓ they quit.
speaker-0: So for so then you kinda blazed a little bit of a trail for your family to kinda get involved with this. I mean I mean it sounds like maybe your were your parents involved in running it all, or was it kinda just you found it on your own?
speaker-2: No, I mean my family they ⁓ used to tell me that they were very ⁓ I would say they were ⁓ pretty athletic in every sport but they don't do it for just ⁓ the so I don't think they know that running can bring something into their life. They were just doing it for fun when they were young but they never continue ⁓ running or other sports. So I think I'm the first one from my family and everyone is doing it right now which is good.
speaker-0: That's awesome to hear. Well, one of the first opportunities that really came for you, as you kind of pointed out about, you know, some of the younger races that you had, whether it was an elementary school or middle school, but the first time that you actually got to experience like a national championship or even like go to a global championship was coming to Eugene in twenty fourteen. How did that opportunity come about and how were you able to qualify for the world junior team?
speaker-2: Well I have repres represented Eritrea and a couple ⁓ other African championships outside of Eritrea. and Yeah, and like not in track but in cross country. Like I have represented Eritrea and many different states. I just for track it was different. I went to France to get the time ⁓ qualification because it's ⁓ high altitude in Eritrea, the time doesn't count and you have to go outside of Eritrea to run on your own to get that s the standard to be able to qualify. But I did not know that was ⁓ gonna be the next one here in the like High Workfield at the High Workfield in the United States. I was just like running to get the standard and I was lucky. I was the first ⁓ junior girl at the time that who has the only ⁓ time qualification. ⁓ yeah.
speaker-0: So did you know anything about Hayward Field or anything about the United States prior to coming over and and racing at your first World Juniors?
speaker-2: Not a lot. I w like I used to watch a lot of Diamond Leagues and other ⁓ track ⁓ race back home. all I know is ⁓ the the Diamond League that happens in YG. Yeah. That's the only ⁓ thing that that was in my mind. ⁓ Also well I knew about ⁓ Miv Kflesgie was one of the very good yes runner at the time when we watch the T V like World Championships, Diamond Leagues or other sports, his name will come up on the national TV that he represents the United States and he was an Eritrean American.
speaker-0: So you had it so you had an idea, you know, what the running scene was like in the US, just based off, you know, some of the athletes that have performed at the World Championships or as as you pointed out at the Diamond League. But when you came to the US for the first time, were w were your expectations different? Were they the same? Was your experience like what what how would you describe your experience when you first stepped onto Hayward Field?
speaker-2: Well I had I had no idea what's gonna look like, what's gonna be ⁓ as I first arrived in the United States I did not know anything about all I know as as I s as I mentioned, I know like I used to watch some races on on TV and I I I know a lot of runners, the sprinters especially. The ⁓ the Yes winners the Yes Winters were pretty competitive against the Jamaicans and I love watching them. ⁓ but rather than that I did not know, I had no idea.
speaker-0: Well, I think we did a little research, Maddie and I did. Your favorite athlete, do you wanna tell her wh who her favorite athlete was? I think it was
speaker-1: Right, we we did see, ⁓ I think it was in your college bio that your favorite athlete was Usain Bolt. Is that still true today?
speaker-2: Yes, it is. It's just like as I as I said, I had used to watch a lot of Demon Leaks and ⁓ world championships and I feel like he's a perfect example of what ⁓ athletes needs to be in the field, out of the field. And so my favorite thing about him was ⁓ giving high five for the kids who carry their s his stuff. And he handled ⁓ the I like after he went he handled everything like a pro. And ⁓ of course that's now adults. He's still my favorite athlete.
speaker-1: That's awesome. So, for those who don't know your story, you come over to the U.S., you race at Hayward Field for world juniors, and you decide to stay in the U.S. instead of going back home. ⁓ you end up going to Virginia, growing up, going to high school there. ⁓ can you tell us a little bit of just the complexity of emotions, like what that was like? ⁓ deciding to start a new life here in the US instead of ⁓ going back home at that time at what sev seventeen years old I believe.
speaker-2: Yeah, I mean like I've mentioned many times this, like I coming here I did not know anyone, I don't know what it's gonna look like. so but all I was thinking it was like I'm just gonna stay here. I don't know how though. And I found this strangers who became a family. ⁓ I saw them at the track and I was like, ⁓ I wanted to stay, can I go with you? That's how I was able to live after the competition. And after I find my find out that I have cousins here in the United States, I was able to contact them through ⁓ a decent cousin. And I stayed in ⁓ Eugene for a week and then I flew to Virginia because my cousin, my third cousin, my third distance cousin, asked me if I wanted to come and live with him and I said yes. And he was a running a runner himself. He went to college. He got scholarship somewhere in Texas. I don't remember the name of the college that he attended. But he knows a lot about running and he was pretty happy that ⁓ when he after he found out that I was a runner and I wanna continue running, but I don't know how at the ⁓ time. But once I ⁓ flew to Virginia and I said, ⁓ I wanted to work. That's when it comes to discussion that I don't wanna get I I don't wanna continue running because I don't know ⁓ what are the future gonna be. What what was the future gonna be about running. And I was like, okay, I'm just gonna work and help my family, but he said y you still can continue running and help your family and I will show you how. That's what I do like when I was young. So you can ⁓ still go to ⁓ high school and that will open a lot of doors for you to continue running. But it was amazing because ⁓ I was lucky to have him in my life. Just he knows where are the good team in Virginia and he contacted me with the schools and I was able to make quick friends and life was amazing in Virginia as I get to make a new friend and continue running.
speaker-0: What was it like that first week in Eugene and just realizing you know you had made this decision, you do not know who these people are that you are with now, and then all of a sudden you find out you have a cousin in Virginia. I mean I can only imagine, you know, I'm sure English was obviously not your first language. I'm sure you were, you know, learning a lot on the fly. You know, what was that first week like being in Eugene?
speaker-2: was it was pretty hard. I was getting very emotional that knowing I'm not gonna see my family again. ⁓ I wasn't able to sleep or eat even before the race. So and on top of that, my back doesn't make doesn't make it. Okay it doesn't make it there. I had no clothes to change. I was staying in my room almost like the entire day and night just crying and wondering what I'm gonna do. But once I see these people they were air trans, I feel safe because as I always I as I always say, the air train community are very welcoming and very connected. Connected it feels like you found you found someone from a family member. That's how it felt the first time I s like I saw them at the High War field. And I don't say I don't stay a week with them, just to clarify. ⁓ but they drove me to ⁓ someone who knows my cousin.
speaker-1: Gotcha. So are you still in contact with these these people that you found at like watching you at Hayward Fields? Are you still in contact with them today?
speaker-2: Well, not these days but I have ⁓ met them a couple of times when I was in college and I had a good connection with them and ⁓ but ⁓ when I turned pro I think I they're busy and then I became busy. I we didn't get to talk t that often but I'm pretty sure one day I would love to go and visit them.
speaker-0: Yeah, for for you then moving to Virginia to go, you know, live with your family. It sounds like you're it was your third cousin. Did things become a little bit easier then because there was some familiarity?
speaker-2: I feel like relief that I found my family member but we don't know each other at all. So but I feel like ⁓ I'm safe. I'm with my family right now. So that's all I was thinking to go back and think about.
speaker-1: Can you remember what were some of the biggest culture shocks or things that just seemed maybe like silly about the US when you first moved here?
speaker-2: Well, I don't know. I can't remember w I mean the I had the lunch bears was that's the biggest problem I would say, but I don't think I had a problem with just getting used to the culture because I know it's very different, but I had fr friends, ⁓ really nice friends that helped me to just ⁓ get used to it really quick.
speaker-0: I g I gotta ask, just from a food perspective, what was the very first American food that you had that you were like, this is so different than what I grew up eating?
speaker-2: Well everything. Even the fruit was very different for me. Not the other foods. Like the first even I would say for three months everything I tasted was very different. I can't eat. So I just like I I was eating a lot of cookies. That's pretty bad. I know. But
speaker-0: What kind of cookies?
speaker-2: It was a lot of different kind of quicks I can ⁓ list of the names ⁓ specific Yeah, I mean specifically the like the the checklist and then like the other ⁓ my goodness, what was the
speaker-0: Cho chocolate chip or
speaker-2: ⁓ Oreos, my goodness.
speaker-1: ⁓ yeah.
speaker-0: ⁓ Yeah. Double stuffed or regular stuffed?
speaker-2: It's it's very interesting. It it has the white cream inside of it.
speaker-0: Yeah, but what I'm asking is do you like the double stuffed Oreos or do you like the Oreos that are j like the the ri the or the normal Oreos, I should say? Has more cream in the middle. Okay. That is the right answer and the right the only
speaker-2: I used the double. It's really funny. And the because like every food I tasted was very different. I can't get used to it. And I rather taste something dry that doesn't have like it not like I won't say it's a food but it's just like something ⁓ a snack or ⁓ yeah, something similar to the food that I grew up with.
speaker-0: So did you have the Oreo cookie with milk, at least?
speaker-2: I do sometimes but the milk tastes very different. ⁓ mostly with tea.
speaker-0: Interest I have that's an interesting combination.
speaker-2: You ever tried that? That's very
speaker-1: Not
speaker-0: What kind of tea?
speaker-2: ⁓ the black tea, no sugar and plus the ore, I guess.
speaker-0: Interesting. I might have to I've I I'm ne I'm not a tea guy by any means, but that's I've never heard that combo. Yeah, I mean that if if it what what would you if you were on a scale of one to ten, what would you rate having an Oreo in a cup of tea? What's what what's that experience like?
speaker-2: If you ask me the like if I can eat it right now, no. ⁓ but no. But at the time it just like ⁓ better than sleeping hungry I guess. Because as I said the food taste is very, very different. It took me six months to get used to it.
speaker-0: ⁓ no. Wow. Wow. So then were you at the time when you were living in Virginia, was that kind of at the start of when you were working or was that when you started attending school as well?
speaker-2: ⁓ buzz. I mean like I start work working later, ⁓ but when I start school most of the time that is
speaker-0: Yeah. Yeah. So then what was that adjustment like, you know, going to, you know, a a public school? I mean, I know obviously you were in school back home and if you weren't top three in your grade, sounds like you would get upset about that. So, you know, what was that adjustment like being part of the the the d this type of education system over here?
speaker-2: Well the teachers were very nice and the friends my friends were trying to teach me some ⁓ like English but it was it wasn't a I won't say it was an easy ⁓ transition for me. It was very hard. I was struggling because I don't understand what they were saying in class. At the same time, fun fact Here we have to switch classes for every subject. Back home we don't have that. One time so I was in my English class. I thought another teacher would come in instead of switching classes. I stayed there. There was like another student that came in and I took class with them because I did not know what to do. It w I suppose not being that class. It was hard for me and I was like, wow, this is like different than usual. But what's happening here I don't understand a single word. So then the teachers they called to my f they called my family, I guess. They figured out that I wasn't ⁓ I did not leave school and they were trying to find me by knocking every doors and I was saying it was some students that I supposed not to be there. It was very interesting.
speaker-0: Ha ha ha.
speaker-1: ⁓ wow. I can't even imagine what that was like. also that I feel like I remember in some of my college classes if I would get a little lost and have no clue what was going on and I still I understood the language, I was just getting lost in the content. So ⁓ I can only imagine how how difficult that was for you. did you have an easier time just with your studies and stuff by the time you had decided to go to the University of New Mexico to run and get your education there? ⁓ did school become a little bit easier by that point after having a few years of high school in the US under you, or was like the switching of the classes and all of that was that just like a constant ⁓ challenge throughout getting your education?
speaker-2: I mean college was was like very easy for me. ⁓ it just getting used to the system and all the ⁓ I was able to understand and speak English. ⁓ it just it was like ⁓ the easiest ⁓ transition for me way too
speaker-1: What did you major in when you were in college? What's your degree in?
speaker-2: Publishing halt.
speaker-0: What was your experience like in Albuquerque? 'Cause you know, you come to Eugene, Oregon, completely different than I'm sure Virginia, and then you go from Virginia to Albuquerque, very probably a little bit similar to Eritrea in the sense you're at out at altitude, but like you're just going from all different all these different places and experiencing different parts of the United States. So, you know, what was that like for you to go to another place in the United States?
speaker-2: Where I love Albuquerque. That's when I feel like wow that I find this so I took my visit when I was in high school and I had ⁓ a few colleges that I wanted to attend in terms of like they have a a good running team in school. And I visited ⁓ a few colleges and But my first visit was ⁓ the University of New Mexico. As soon as I landed in New Mexico I felt like wow, I love it. Because I used to live very similar back home in Earth. It's high altitude, no lot of trees, and we don't have that humid and ⁓ hot weather back home. It was just ⁓ most of the time it's seventy-five. ⁓ the hottest can be is eighty. Sixty five is the idol weather when it goes forty people complain. And I just Albuquerque brings the memory that I grow up and it feels like a home for me. That's why I I just I love Albuquerque.
speaker-0: So how did you know Coach Franklin make that transition easy for you, along with the fact that you guys had so much success when you were in school, when he was the head coach at the University of New Mexico?
speaker-2: Chris Franklin was amazing. So Laura and Jamie ⁓ James as well Jamie, sorry, Jimmy as well. ⁓ the whole community in New Mexico is very tight. They are ⁓ gre they have a great athlet ⁓ athletics ⁓ facility I would say, especially for cross country. And I've seen their team winning NCAAs before and just I was really happy to be able to ⁓ join their team and when when I get there Joe was a great coach and always ⁓ ⁓ cares about his athletes and to coach Laura. ⁓ my goodness, she's ⁓ like a a big sister and a mom I would say she she really took care of us so it feels like I was ⁓ with my family, not in college where you have to do everything on your own and ⁓ be struggle handling things. ⁓ but in New Mexico it was very different. You create a family it just the co Which were part of ⁓ your life and I would say he Joe set me up for good ⁓ not only running but ⁓ like for future the like making decision going to ⁓ professional and all that stuff.
speaker-0: Yeah. When you look back, you know, in twenty fourteen when you had made that decision to stay and then, you know, X amount a year later, I would say what, you graduated in twenty twenty one from University of New Mexico? Yeah. Yeah, so seven years. So much has happened over that span of time. You you f you finally find something in Albuquerque that just like this is a family.
speaker-2: Yeah.
speaker-0: Would you have had it any other way over those seven years with the journey that you were part of, you know, just not knowing what it was gonna be like after you decided to stay and then seven years later you have an education, you have a degree, you've been a part of some very, very good cross country teams at the University of Mexico. Would you have wanted life any other way?
speaker-2: No, I wouldn't trade that for anything else. That was the best experience I've had and I'm so proud that I was able to do that. And I'm very thankful to have the right people who guide me to go the right direction instead of ⁓ working and this grocery store or other ⁓ I respect the work but ⁓ it just very different. ⁓ so I would say I I'm very thankful for the people who helped me to get here.
speaker-0: I am curious though, because your your background's a little different than some international athletes. Because, you know, some of them they don't come to the US until, you know, they are in college. Whereas you you start, you kinda got that high school experience and you got to experience what that that, you know, racing against high school athletes and that the ability to go, you know, get recruited and all that stuff. So, you know, how big of a difference is it from an international's athlete's perspective to run? in the N C double A system 'cause it is not only life changing for you, it's life changing for a lot of people.
speaker-2: Well, it's amazing to go through that because it will make you stronger for whatever you wanted to do in life. And it's it's the biggest league after World World Championship Daemon League and Olympics World Championship in Daemon Leagues. I would say it's the first biggest sport. And it's in the United States. We are lucky to have it. It helps you to grow mentally and physically. I mean like it just like every time when you do a race you know that you're racing against a lot of runners that come from across the world. And you feel like you're racing almost at the world championship. It just like we're all at the same level getting our education and trying to learn how to handle everything. So I think every runner that passed ⁓ by NCAA or college is anything can handle because we learn that how to raise fail and achieve ⁓ the goals that we want on the highest stage.
speaker-0: Yeah. Everyone's there's the phrase the American dream. Have you felt like you've lived that? Have you felt like you've gotten the American dream just based off your experiences here?
speaker-2: Well sometimes I feel like well I have achieved the part of it and sometimes I feel like no I haven't done enough for it yet. ⁓ and the reason is because my goal is or always I have like a very high goals and until I achieve that I don't feel like I've done enough for it because ⁓ I feel like I have the ability to go further.
speaker-0: I I honestly love to hear that. I mean the fact that you you're you're not satisfied. You're not satisfied with just stopping here, Wayney. It seems like you have a lot more unfinished business to take care of in in this running career.
speaker-1: It goes all the way back to when she wasn't happy with getting third place in those youth races.
speaker-0: Not even the youth racist. In the classroom, she was not happy with that. So if she's not what's the saying from Tallad have you ever seen Talladega Nights before, Wayney? If you ain't first, you're last. That's the saying in Talladega Knights. So I'm not saying you need to live by that that line your entire life, but that's the first thing that comes to mind. And I'm I'm making
speaker-2: No. That's right. That's how I feel sometimes, you know, like ⁓ when you have some big goals you feel like, wow, like I wanna to get there. I feel I feel like I'm heading into the right direction by doing this little things that can get me there but haven't accomplished or achieved anything that I want in life in terms of running. I'm pretty happy the life that I have right now and doing all the N CAAs, high schools and getting my degree and ⁓ I look back and I feel like I'm so proud of myself. I'm able to do this with ⁓ my family, you know, how much I missed them and ⁓ and I still can be like the same as the other athletes or other kids that have a family with them in the United States where they can call their they can ⁓ talk about every problem they have. I don't have that. I have to deal with wherever I'm done by myself and tell myself my family that I'm doing okay, I'm good and still try to take care of them. But in terms of where I want it to be, ⁓ I don't think I have done anything for what ha what I can do. it's just like I'm proud this little movement and little ⁓ steps that I'm taking toward to achieve some ⁓ bigger goals.
speaker-1: Yeah, your story is really inspiring. Like you're clearly a very resilient person and a resilient runner. ⁓ being able to, you know, put on a happy face for your family all the time just to make them feel at ease. Like that takes a very strong person. ⁓ c this kinda brings us to some more recent news for you. You've recently switched from running for Under Armour to Nike. ⁓ and in light of all the goals you're talking about and and everything you want to do still, how has running for Nike been for you so far?
speaker-2: Yeah, the last few years with Under Armour has been really great and it was ⁓ the hardest choice to make. ⁓ I will say every time when it comes to something to make a decision, it would never been easy for me as it's I have to deal ⁓ me and myself. But I'm very happy because Nike makes it very clear that they're very interested on working with me and I'm looking forward for the long partnership that ⁓ when we can act what we can achieve together.
speaker-0: Well, the first race that you ran in the Nike kit was pretty good, I would say.
speaker-2: ⁓ thank you, but still more to come.
speaker-0: I mean, I I was gonna say I I would think, you know, breaking your own American record is a pretty good way to start in in the new kit. Not that, you know, when you were in Under Armour, I mean the last time that you wore an Under Armour kit was when you won the US title in in Portland and and cross country and you and I got a chance to talk about that and how special that was for you. But you know, this is a new part of your life. This is kind of like it's in the year twenty twenty six where, you know, it's it's a year of new things. This is one of those things. ⁓ but you also seem like, you know, you're you're wanting to step up in distance a little bit. It sounds like, you know, you have been doing a couple half marathons, but maybe it might be time to do the full marathon. Is is that something that's on your radar this this twenty twenty six year?
speaker-2: ⁓ yeah, I mean I feel like this is the time because I always like to take my time and enjoy what I'm do like what I'm doing. At the same time I have to make sure that I'm not wasting my time on the shorter distances when I know I'm good but not gr great and ⁓ and track because it's getting crazy. And to be able to middle on track you have to you have to have that speed. I always loved the road racing but I have to make sure that I I have to do good the things that I don't like. Which isn't the track side. So I always I was like this is my last year I'm gonna go out to distance but I You so I was like, no, I haven't finished the business, I have to make the team or degrade on the track side. That's why I was keep going back to the track. But finally this gear feels like it's the right time to step up and do some ⁓ long distance racing.
speaker-0: Do you feel like ev to your point about track getting so much faster, so much quicker Do you feel like you have to do a little bit more track races now because the roads are getting quicker? I mean, I know you watched what happened in London over this last weekend, and not only, you know, you had two men break two hours in the marathon, but you had someone finish third and run two hours, and then you have a a woman running two fifteen for the fastest recorded marathon time. So do you feel like you know there's gonna be a mixture of, you know, getting some work on the track and getting quicker that can translate over to the roads? ⁓
speaker-2: Yeah, absolutely, because I'm not saying the marathon is slow, it's getting even crazier because you have to long that you have to ⁓ handle that pace, that fast pace for a very long long time. Like it's when I see it I feel like it's almost the same. They ran same ⁓ as a 10k race. And ha you have to do that like four tim four ten case? Even more than that in the marathon. That's crazy to me. ⁓ but to ⁓ I'm just like saying d it's it's very different. To be good ⁓ the track side you have to ⁓ come from the short distances distances. Like you have you have to have this like a very sharp speed where you used to run a four hundred, eight hundred or fifteen hundred ⁓ all the way to ten K. I didn't have that. I started as ⁓ five K, six K as I was a distance runner from the beginning. It's hard for me to go down than going up. So for the road racing, of course I'm gonna do some track ⁓ races that will help me to improve my speed. I'm still gonna work on my speed while I'm doing the ⁓ longer stuff. Just to To be good at it because all the renders that they do marathon are used to be like really good track renders too. You have to have that closing, you have to have the entrance, ⁓ you have to have everything.
speaker-0: Yeah. Well, and given how fast the US women right now are ra racing the marathon distance. Again, going back to Boston, what those ladies were able to do, you know, even at the half marathon distance with the the ten mile, you got Emma Grace Hurley, you know, doing her thing, Jess McClain doing doing her thing. So, you know, I I feel like in s some ways or the other everyone's just watching what they're doing and then just bettering it. Just getting faster, getting stronger. And just making it competitive, which I think at the end of the day we all want that. I mean yes, we want to win, and I know you you love winning, but we also want it to be a competitive and and make each other round each round each other much better than everybody else, right?
speaker-2: Yeah, I mean that makes you better. ⁓ we like our distance ⁓ women are getting amazing. I mean like I was like it's it's getting very competitive. ⁓ just to be a part of them and ⁓ I know we push each other to a better results and to faster times and it just makes me happy to see that and hopefully I will achieve something in the distance running as well.
speaker-0: Yeah. So I I gotta imagine then L A twenty twenty eight, would we see you run a marathon at those Olympic Games?
speaker-2: ⁓ yeah, sure, that's a goal.
speaker-1: Exciting.
speaker-0: That would be really exciting to see you to see you run that. And then, you know, of course, you know, being a US citizen and racing at the ⁓ in the United States during the Olympics would be probably just a dream come true. I know that's been on on the topic, especially when you qualified for the Olympics in Paris. And you know, that was a great moment for you to enjoy that, but I gotta imagine if you qualify for the US team, that's gonna be at like the top of one of your greatest moments of your career.
speaker-2: Yeah, I'm I'm excited what for what to come because ⁓ as you mentioned that was my first Olympic team that I made. ⁓ and the ten K ⁓ Retract team. And this one is gonna be very different and it's gonna be here in the United States at the home soil and very excited. ⁓ hopefully I will be one of the five or six women's are able to make the team in run ⁓ run to get a good result.
speaker-0: Yep. Well, and you got to experience that when you were at Tallahassee at the World Cross Country Championships earlier this year, which was a very cool opportunity, and kind of just like a little bit of a taste of what's to come for hopefully ⁓ 2028 when you can represent the red, white, and blue again. So ⁓ we're as we're getting to the end of this episode of pending ratification, we are gonna go to a segment called Records Under Review. It's kind of a rapid fire segment, and these are very light hearted type questions. I know we sent them to you. Hopefully you got some answers. Prepare for them.
speaker-1: Don't wear socks in your spikes.
speaker-0: So I'm gonna start off with mine. Give me your Mount Rushmore of your favorite T V characters.
speaker-2: ⁓ wow. It's crazy I didn't even reveal them, but you know, I don't watch TVs. Yeah, sorry I don't have none.
speaker-0: ⁓ okay.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: Well, if you don't watch T V then then give me your Mount Rushmore of your runners, all time runners.
speaker-1: Top four all time runners. You know Eusing Boltz there.
speaker-2: Mm. So in it it has to be from any events?
speaker-0: It could be anything. It'd be your any all time greatest runners. Who are your four favorite runners of all time? Mm-hmm that are on your mount rushmore.
speaker-2: ⁓ Melissa Jefferson. ⁓ can I add ⁓ someone that retired since then?
speaker-0: Yeah, I you so you Usain Bolt, you got MJW, who else?
speaker-2: ⁓ Alison Flicks because she never disappeared. I used to pick her ⁓ when I was an Air Tria and always wins. That makes me happy. And ⁓ my goodness ⁓ other else. ⁓ my goodness. I need to get some distance renders too.
speaker-0: That's three. You can throw a thrower in there if you want.
speaker-2: At throwers? Well, I don't think I watched that.
speaker-0: You could easily just say Ryan Krauser since he's arguably the greatest shot putter of all time.
speaker-2: ⁓ yeah. Okay, wait. Perfect. and do I have to find like a I mean, do you have to get fourth? The fourth one? Do you have to
speaker-0: If you if you want to just do three, that is perfectly fine.
speaker-2: Okay. I'm pretty sure I have a lot of them, but once he asked I just get lost, so I don't know why.
speaker-0: That's okay. So all right, Matty's got one for you.
speaker-1: Next question. If you could be front row for the concert of any band or singer or performer of any kind, dead or alive, what who would you choose to be front row of their concert?
speaker-2: ⁓ my goodness. Beyonce?
speaker-1: Great answer. Great answer. I would be there right next to you.
speaker-0: Beyonce, okay. What's your favorite song by Beyonce?
speaker-2: ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ No my good
speaker-0: And you have to sing it. Yeah.
speaker-2: Well I like all hors her songs. I don't know. I'm pretty bad I pick in one. Sorry. Don't don't ask me to pick one of her songs and I don't
speaker-0: That that is that is that is perfectly okay. So all right, my next question for you is how would you describe your job to a five year old? Like what you do for a living.
speaker-2: Well, fun, flexible and a lot of travel ⁓ does it count? Yeah. And I mean making friends.
speaker-0: Mm-hmm.
speaker-2: Well, in a running way. Well I would say it's fun to do it and can help you make a lot of new friends. And you can travel around the world and ooh. You have to have ⁓ you have to have a goal and work hard for it. I don't know if they can describe it.
speaker-1: No, it's Okay. Two more questions. Next question. What is something that's at the top of your bucket list? What's something you want to do non running related? What's something that you wanna do before you die one day? What's at the top of your bucket list?
speaker-0: No, I think that's perfect. That's that sums it up for running.
speaker-2: After I retired from running?
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-2: Well, I wanna work at the hospital just helping people as I'm a population health ⁓ major ⁓ I'm in major.
speaker-1: Yeah, that's awesome. That's wholesome.
speaker-0: Awesome. All right, last question for you. And we told you at the beginning of the show, or at the before we were started recording this, that you had to think about this one. This involves ⁓ if you were to set a world record in something non running related, what would that world record be?
speaker-2: You know, swimming.
speaker-0: Swimming, okay. Yeah. When and what what what specifically in swimming?
speaker-2: ⁓ well I would say the short dis distance. The sh I don't know how it I watch a lot but I can't describe it. It's just like a the one hundred meter sprinting. Yeah, and swimming. Fun fact though, I the the reason I picked that is I don't know how to swim and it feels like
speaker-0: Okay. All right. Yeah. So you think you
speaker-2: It feels like very fun just watching it and I feel like I wish I knew how to do that.
speaker-0: Well maybe that's on your bucket list then. Yeah. Learn how to swim.
speaker-2: Learning how to bike is my on my back list.
speaker-0: Awesome. We really appreciate ⁓ that's a good one. That's you okay, learn how to bike. Gotcha. Okay. Well that one I think we can definitely work out. Maybe we we we could maybe the next time you're in Eugene, we'll get you a bike and then we'll teach you how to ride a bike when you're here at for for USAs. How about that?
speaker-2: Yeah, sounds fun.
speaker-1: Yeah.
speaker-0: Awesome. So well, Wayney, it is always a pleasure catching up with you and thank you so much for sharing your story. I know it's one that as Maddie has pointed out, it is one that is both inspiring and one that, you know, people can look up to and, you know, just get a better understanding of the you know we we only see you runners as as runners at the end of the day. We don't necessarily know what goes behind the scenes. So we are very grateful for you for sharing your story and telling us all about how you got into this sport, how You know, you found, you know, a purpose in this sport. ⁓ and we're glad that you're you're continuing to do this because you're doing an awesome job at at this sport. So ⁓ again from me and Maddie, we again really appreciate your time. Good luck this twenty twenty six outdoor season and the road season. and you know, who who knows what this year will look l look like the rest of the year, but I'm sure great things are to come and and of course the next two years when we when we look at LA twenty twenty eight. So Wayney Kalati, really appreciate your time. ⁓ thanks again for hopping on with pending ratification.
speaker-2: Thank you, thank you for having me. This was ⁓ fun to do and hopefully we will have more stories to tell outside of running when I'm ready. But thank you, that was fun.
speaker-0: Awesome, appreciate Wayney. Hey everyone, thanks for tuning in to this episode of Pending Ratification.
speaker-1: If you enjoyed this episode and want to tune into more, be sure to check out runnerspace.com or subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcast. And I'm your co-host, Maddie Mooney.
speaker-0: I am your co host Keenan Gray. This episode was produced and edited by Ben McGrath and Ian Turpin. Catch you on the next episode of Pending Ratification. And the record is no more!
