Listen to a recorded Periscope broadcast with Kari and Jeff Paladina, who also comes on the show to share his running journey and why he created the running meet up in Mechanicsburg (a suburb of Harrisburg, PA) with the River Runners group. Several runners from the Fleet Feet store in Mechanicsburg are also featured, and they talk about the gift of running and some of their most memorable races and running advice. Dr. Marjorie Dejoie, MD, returns to the podcast to discuss how this winter has affected her running and her sickle cell disease. Serena Marie, RD, talks about when to time your carbs and protein based on your fat-burning or speed goals.
Featured Guests and Runners of the Week: River Runners
Kari meets up with Jeff Paladina at a local Wegmans in Mechanicsburg, PA, to share some inspiring River Runners runners’ stories.

Mike: He has lost quite a bit of weight through Weight Watchers and running. His quality of life has greatly improved. “Everything’s possible that wasn’t possible before,” he says. He used to have a bowl of pretzels before dinner after work, but now he is much more active (swimming, biking, triathlons), and his self confidence has soared. He never wants to forget what it was like to be heavy, so he never wants to go back to that again. His first marathon was 10/10/10 at the Steamtown Marathon.
Holly: Her favorite race distance is the marathon, because running 5Ks are hardcore; she did a 50-miler in December, and liked running slower and being able to chat with other runners. She has had to keep her weight in check and to properly hydrate in order to be able to run longer distances. For anyone thinking about running, she recommends working on your mental strength. She admits, “I never toe a starting line now without thinking I’ll get a PR [personal record].”
Katie: Her husband started running because of her running. He ran cross country in high school, and this time around is a total new experience. She was always after him to work out with her, but through running, they’ve been able to spend more time together and have met some great people. It gives them something to do together after work and to feel more excited about the area that they live in. Katie was never a runner, but last year they signed up for a 5K and haven’t stopped since.
Kathy: Her favorite/most memorable race is a half marathon in China, which was her second half marathon! She had to bring her own water to the race. Her first marathon was the Harrisburg Marathon, which was great, because there were so many people associated with the River Runners along the course. She ended up qualifying for the Boston Marathon at that marathon.
Jeff: His top tip is for being aware of lyme ticks is making sure to use socks and long sleeves or a repellent (like oregano oil) to protect yourself and remembering to check yourself once you get home for ticks. Jeff and Kari walked together during the Harrisburg meet up, and they talked a lot about Lyme disease.
Michelle: She co-founded the Facebook group once they found a need on their long runs for company and safety. For example, they do the Pennsylvania Farm Show Milkshake Run and then head over for milkshakes. Having an extended running family really keeps you motivated.
Shelly: She has been running for eight years, and the strangest thing she’s seen while out running is a man aiming at her and her dogs with a gun. One of her best memories is the Entenmann's Town of Islip Great South Bay Run half marathon in Long Island, NY, where her goal was to finish in under three hours despite the brutal wind, and she did it! She won a Side Stitch by Ginny headband at the TRLS meet up.
Brad: His new favorite marathon is the Sketchers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, but he has run the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge since 2009 every year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the TCS New York City Marathon, and so on. The crowds were so generous, and the amount of food was amazing. He was in awe of the Students