Find Your Adventure with Manika Gamble
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Description
In this conversation, Heather McG interviews ultra endurance athlete Manika Gamble, who shares her journey from sprinting to ultra running, the challenges she faces in endurance sports, and the importance of finding one's 'why'. Manika discusses her experiences in the Namib race, the lessons learned from DNF (Did Not Finish) experiences, and the joy she finds in pushing her limits. She emphasizes the significance of igniting strength in others and the balance between grit and knowing when to quit, and the benefits of choosing to live with adventure in mind.
About Manika Gamble
Manika is an international ultra endurance athlete who takes on bold challenges and breaks barriers. She showcases the power of the human mind and body in hopes to inspire others to get out of their comfort zone and try something bold.
Follow Manika on Instagram at @manikaruns
Transcript
Heather Mcginley (00:41)
So today my guest is Manika Gamble and I am not overstating it to say I am in total awe of you. She is an ultra endurance athlete. That means she does even more than a regular marathoner. She does the most incredible races. She's an incredible athlete. In fact, last year Manika made history by completing the Namib race, which is a seven day.
155 mile foot race that takes place within the oldest desert in the world So you should already be impressed if you're listening right now And she is on a mission to ignite others and unlocking strength through movement Mindset and adventure if you are a follower of her on Instagram, and if you're not you should you have just the most fun
on there. you make running a hundred million miles look fun. I'm always happy when you post something. And she also recently completed the rim to rim to rim, which is a 43 mile distance within the Grand Canyon, as well as helped pace the Cocodona 250 mile ultra. Manika, honestly, I barely know what to say because you are so impressive. And for anyone who is following you on Instagram, you are so encouraging and very engaging. And I am so happy to have.
Manika (01:54)
Well, I thank you so much. Wow. I really appreciate it.
Heather Mcginley (01:57)
If you're having a bad self-esteem day, I hope that like pumped you up a little bit because I think you're incredible.
Manika (02:01)
That definitely boosted
me up, thank you.
Heather Mcginley (02:05)
So, Manika, can we get started by sharing just a little bit more with our audience about yourself? What should they know about you?
Manika (02:11)
Yeah. So I am 35 years old. I am new to ultra running. got into it last year. prior to that, I was a track and field athlete through college and, know, just did short runs prior to that. I went for a big race and, you know, haven't looked back since.
Heather Mcginley (02:28)
Now what made you, for anyone who doesn't do running, the difference between sprinting and endurance running is huge. And you kind of went to the biggest possible difference in terms of the kind of racing you do. What made you change from sprinting to endurance
Manika (02:43)
Well, for I've always loved, you the shorter sprints. was a 400 hurdler. And so I was no stranger to pain. The 400 hurdles for anyone who doesn't know it's, it is a very painful race, but it's short. And so I would always tell myself when I was finished with, you know, track, was going to just be able to go out for like just casual runs in my neighborhood and just, you know, run slow and just enjoy just being out running rather than sprinting off, you know. And so.
I got into 5Ks and then from 5Ks went up to 10Ks, 10Ks to a couple marathons and then I figured, hey, let's see where else I can go with this. So that's where it went.
Heather Mcginley (03:20)
Now one thing, one of your quotes that is really inspiring to me, you say something called live out of the ordinary. Can you share a little bit about what that means to you?
Manika (03:29)
Yeah, for me, I've always been a little bit different than my family. They're more traditional. and so even to my like living style, like I'm a nomadic person, I don't have a specific address right now. And I I'm doing that intentionally just to try new things, try new places. And so even with, you know, my ultra running, it's not the typical course people take. And I would just encourage anyone to just try something different. It doesn't have to necessarily be an ultra marathon, but
Just live out of the ordinary. Try something that you wouldn't ordinarily do. Push yourself beyond what you would typically try and just kind of see where it takes you. Normally it's somewhere pretty special.
Heather Mcginley (04:06)
we were talking just a little bit before we started recording and something that is a little particular, I think to endurance sports. And it's so fun. It's so wild. It's such a world of extremes because I think almost every person that does endurance sports reaches a point in a race or in training where they just have all the doubts. And they're like, why am I doing this? You really feel like you have reached your end, but then you keep going. Can you kind of talk about what that experience is for you?
Manika (04:35)
Yeah, I have that every single race. most training and most running long, you know, long run days. have that feeling. the first time I experienced that just, this was, it was on my first ultra in Namibia and I was experiencing severe blistering. And so was in a lot of pain. it was hot. My, my bag was heavy and I just felt like, like, what am I doing out here? Like, why am I doing this? There's literally no reason to be doing this.
And so, yeah, I felt like I was at my end point to where I was like, I don't have to do this anymore. Like this is, I'm good, never again. I promised myself I would never sign up for another one. And then six weeks later I'm in Mongolia doing another one. yeah.
Heather Mcginley (05:17)
story of endurance running,
I think. What? Now, when you reach that point, like I know for me, I recently PR'd my 26.2 and I reached that point, you know, I had a good training cycle, I felt strong and ready. And I hit a point at about 19 miles where I was just like, I'm ready to give up and I almost did. But like I dug deep and I found my why and I got back in there and I finished. For you, what is your why? When you reach that point, what do you do to keep going?
Manika (05:35)
Mm.
Mm-hmm.
You know, that's a good question because in Namibia, I was trying to find why I was doing it. I forgot my why. It was more so for me. I'm, in that race, I was in Africa. had come all this way. I had trained for over close to a year. and I just knew that I could withstand whatever I was going through for five more days or six days. because I didn't come that far to just.
And so that was my why that pushed me through to the end for that race and moving forward My why now is that I know I can get through it Unless there's some kind of true physical issue that I'm going through but if it's just more so I'm tired or my feet hurt or something like that my why is I'm doing this because I can it's a privilege and When I'm finished with this, it'll be the the greatest thing in the world for me
Heather Mcginley (06:33)
Can you say a little bit more about what the, and it's called the Namib race, I think, right? The 150, can you talk a little bit, I had just heard about it for the first time actually through your running account. Can you share a little bit more, it seems so beautiful and adventurous. Can you talk a little bit about what that race is for other people that may not know?
Manika (06:39)
Yes.
Yeah. So the Namib race is in Namibia, right on the border of like South Africa. And, that race is 155 miles. It's through the oldest desert in the world and it's broken up over seven days. And, you're carrying all of your own supplies on your back, all of your food, hygiene, sleeping, everything is on your back for the week. And you're going from camp to camp each day is designated a certain distance that you cover from a marathon up to two marathons.
until the end of the race. Yeah. And you're doing it, you know, just roughing it day by day, until you get through your hundred fifty five miles.
Heather Mcginley (07:27)
Now was that your first ultra?
Manika (07:30)
It was. Yeah, I did. I did. just said, hey, I had seen it on YouTube and a YouTuber that I follow, he just made it look amazing and beautiful. And I just, I didn't even take into account how hard it was going to be. It just looked like it was going to be such a fun and just amazing experience. And so I, I went for it.
Heather Mcginley (07:31)
my gosh, she went all the way.
Yeah.
What do you think endurance sports brings together? I think a really great community of people because they are dedicated, they are motivated, they work hard. For you, what do you think in what you see, what do you think draws people to endurance sports?
Manika (08:09)
You know, a lot of people, from what I've heard, for those who don't do endurance sports, a lot of times they'll feel like someone who does endurance is because they've been through this traumatic experience or they're running from something or they're trying to counteract something they're going through in a negative way. For me, endurance sports is, I mean, for me, endurance running, it's just, it creates something in me that I don't get from just a regular distance. I've been able to, you know, master
shorter distance and I'm just trying to push myself beyond that. It doesn't stem from any kind of issue I'm experiencing. And so guess each person is drawn for their own reason. But for me, I just love challenging myself and seeing what I'm capable of and just pushing the boundaries more and more within limits, I'll say.
Heather Mcginley (08:54)
Yeah, I did see in your recent Grand Canyon hike. Would you call it a hike or a run? What would be the best term for it?
Manika (09:00)
I did run a good portion of it while I could. so I call it trail runs. You know, most people hike it, walk it.
Heather Mcginley (09:02)
Okay.
Okay,
I did see that you got injured on that one. How are you feeling?
Manika (09:11)
It's getting better day by day. My ankle, it's healing. I did land on it pretty hard. I just knew it was broken. But after scans and stuff, they said it's just a sprain. So it should be healed up in the next couple of weeks.
Heather Mcginley (09:24)
How do feel about this is something that's also a really common experience in endurance sports? You know, the training cycles at a minimum are four months, you know, and you're going into those training cycles already with a good fitness space that's not starting from zero four months, you know, and for an ultra, I have to imagine it's more like a year of training. You know, how do you approach training? I know for me, I feel like it's actually like the race is the party. The training is the real grit. what's your mindset for training and how do you approach it?
Manika (09:52)
For me, I am very laid back in general. went through a lot of hard structured coaching and training through high school, college and all of that. So I didn't want to take the approach of like, okay, today I have 10 miles and I have to do it. And so if I did it like that, I wouldn't enjoy it. And so for me, like whatever I wake up and feel like doing is what I do. And I know in the end, I have to be fit enough to cover these distances. So I do.
push myself in that way, but it's not so regimented to where it becomes unenjoyable for me.
Heather Mcginley (10:23)
Now the Namib race was really hard and you did talk about how you developed blistering pretty early on, which that is always devastating. No matter how prepared you are, race day is gonna, it's gonna get you however it's gonna get you. I have to imagine that was a really difficult experience. How did you feel crossing the finish line?
Manika (10:35)
Mm-hmm.
That was just like every single day of that race because I blistered, it was a seven day race, I blistered from day one. And that was because my sand protection on my sneakers broke. so sand was able to get into my sneakers, which of course caused the friction of my feet blistered terribly. And so every single day I did not know if I was going to finish that day. And so when I would finish each day was like, which was a finish line itself, I was very proud of myself and I would just.
like boost myself up each night to like, okay, tomorrow you have 30 miles, you're gonna do this. And so getting to the finish line of the 155, was just, it was a relief. It was just so much satisfaction. And I was just really proud of myself because I really fought through that. At that point, that was the most severe pain I had ever experienced. I had never experienced anything more severe than that. And I never experienced blisters and blisters on the soles of your feet that are,
I mean, was just, every step was torture. And so to finish that was just, I was very proud of myself.
Heather Mcginley (11:42)
Yeah, well, when I read about the blistering, and of course it's on your feet, which is literally the worst part in place, you can get injured for things like this. And I was like, of course, that's how that happens. Now, endurance sports is a series of endings. We also talked about this just a little bit earlier on. Endurance sports is a series of endings. You push harder, you try again, and just because you feel like you're done doesn't mean you stop. Like that's just like the mindset of an endurance athlete. You feel...
Manika (11:52)
huh. ⁓ huh.
Heather Mcginley (12:10)
The way you feel is one thing, what you do in response is something else most of the time. You keep training, you keep fueling, you start over. What have endurance sports taught you about yourself as a person?
Manika (12:14)
Right.
Yeah, it's taught me quite a few things. So I would say it's taught me that when I think I can't go any further, I can. I'm much stronger than I sometimes give myself credit for. And so I did have a DNF in a race that was 135 mile race and I DNF pretty early. And so it also showed me in that race that when it's necessary, I do, I will take the steps that I need to do to protect myself. Cause there was a point where
I didn't know if I knew the limits of being able to just push past or just to the point of almost killing yourself. And so that race taught me like, okay, I do know there's like boundaries that I have for myself. And so with endurance sports, I've, or endurance running, I've just learned that I'm tough, but also I'm not willing to kill myself for this. so, yeah.
Heather Mcginley (13:14)
Yeah, I think that's an interesting thing to talk about too are the DNFs because it is so interesting because the mindset of an endurance athlete is you accept the pain, but you keep going, you know, and you where the limits are where it's like, think something's actually dangerous and you need to stop versus this is just painful. And I'm just going to keep going to reach my goal. Those are two different things. And I think most experienced athletes know which one it is. And if you're actually hurting yourself, you do need to stop versus this is just hard, but I can keep going. Like, you know, which one it is usually.
Manika (13:28)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Heather Mcginley (13:44)
⁓
Now for you whenever you are in the depths, I would even say The DNF thing is interesting because I the first time I got a DNF I was so hard on myself, but I talked to someone else they're like, that means you're doing it, right? I mean everyone needs to have some good DNF stories So what was that like for you when you got your first DNF? Were you hard on yourself? What was that like for you?
Manika (13:57)
Yeah.
Well, I had put a lot of hype around the race. I knew I wasn't quite as fit as I needed to be to complete the race, but I kind of thought, you know, I've willed myself or I've used my mind to get me to finish lines before I can just go in and, you know, even though I'm not as fit as I need to be. But I learned that that's your mind sometimes. It's not always enough. Like you have to actually have the physical fitness to get to finish lines. And so for that race, was
little bit disappointed and I was embarrassed I would say. And that lasted for you know a day or so. But and it was because it was so publicly that I had put on Instagram that I'm doing this race and I'm gonna you know and so to have to now go back and say okay I didn't finish. I did kind of have a little bit of embarrassment around that but then I realized like I gave it everything I had and I did the very best I could do. I knew there was nothing more I could have given and at that point I was
recovering from a surgery and so I had to myself grace in that regard and so Yeah
Heather Mcginley (15:02)
Now for you, what is the most challenging race that you've ever taken on?
Manika (15:06)
that race, the one I DNF, that was the most challenging I've taken on. Um, it's listed as one of the hardest races in the world. So 135 mile race in Northern Minnesota set on the coldest week in, um, January. And so typically the temperatures are negative 40 degrees and you're pulling everything in a sled behind you and you'd have 60 hours to complete 135 miles. And it's, mean, it was.
It was a brutal race and it would require a lot of, a lot of training to get to the end of that. The finish percentage of that race is like 40 % over the 20 years that the race has gone on. So they, they take pride in knowing that a lot of people do not finish that race. So that's, that would be a race I would be very proud. Yeah.
Heather Mcginley (15:48)
wow.
So if you finish, you should feel really good about yourself.
You know, I think people might be listening to this and be like, this is ridiculous. Who does these things? you know, can you talk about the joy you find in doing these things or what does joy look like to you?
Manika (16:02)
Yeah.
Yeah, it's, you know, it's, I know I'm going into races that are very difficult. There will be a lot of hard times. There will be a lot of struggle, a lot of pain, but for some reason it, I get so excited. Like it's like when I'm finished with one, I'm like trying to find the next leg. And for me, like the crazier, the more exciting it is for me. cause I've gotten asked before, like, you know, what about like a last man standing in someone's backyard? And it's like, like, I don't know. That doesn't like pull me as much as going off.
to some country and running through the beautiful environment. But yeah, joy for me is being able to experience places on foot and seeing beautiful landscapes and pushing my boundaries and getting to finish lines of races that I really know I've given everything I had and taking a break afterward. That's pretty nice.
Heather Mcginley (16:59)
you made me think about this when you were talking about this earlier, about how important training is, and you take it very seriously, don't go too overboard with it. Sometimes, in some of the running communities I'm in, once in a while, I will see people talk about, I'm gonna do this marathon, I'm not trained, or like, basically, they're a little bit proud that they didn't train for whatever race they're gonna do.
I never say anything because I don't know how to fix my face before I say it you can hurt yourself Like this is not something you just go out and do people do get really hurt And yet that likelihood is higher if you didn't train and prepare But I also feel like you missed the whole point like to me the gold is in the training. How do you feel when you see people say things like that? Maybe you're less judgy than I am. But what how do you feel when you see? ⁓
Manika (17:44)
Well, it's very entertaining. do watch a lot of YouTubers who, who are like, yeah, like for the ones I've seen, like, I'm going to go run a marathon in jeans with no training. I'd love to see it. I love to watch it. I would probably never attempt it only because for me, the race experience, especially, you know, some of the prices of these races are so expensive that I don't want to waste my money for one to like just go for a suffer fest.
Heather Mcginley (17:48)
you're like, it is funny with popcorn.
Manika (18:13)
So I train so that can get there and kind of, and actually enjoy it, you know, for at least a portion of it before it becomes too difficult. But yes, I try to be as fit as possible going in just so the way I can enjoy the experience. Like you said, like the race itself is like the party, the reward for all of your hard work.
Heather Mcginley (18:29)
Yeah. Now you did something that was a little different and I'm really curious. I've never done this. So I'm really curious what your experience was like. You recently served as a pacer for, am I pronounced this right? Cocodona? Is that how you? Yeah. It's a 250 mile race. Okay. It is like a big Kahuna race for sure. What was your experience like as a pacer for that?
Manika (18:42)
Yeah, that's how I say it.
That was a very unique experience for me because the person I paced, I had just met him for the first time. We had spoke over Instagram for about a year or so, and he's very experienced in ultra running. So he would give me different tips and stuff along the way. So I kind of viewed him like my mentor, kind of like just in this field. And so meeting him for the first time was really cool. When someone is going through a race of that distance, sometimes
Heather Mcginley (18:58)
Okay.
Manika (19:16)
things get a bit challenging for people and it's hard for them to be the person you originally met. And so I would say that the race pacing, you have to be very patient and know that the person is going through a lot. And so, and you also have to be covering these distances yourself as well. So I of course wasn't covering 250 miles, but each day I would cover about 20 or so miles. ⁓ So, know, keeping yourself going while trying to keep someone else going.
Heather Mcginley (19:36)
Yeah.
Manika (19:42)
who's a bit cranky or grumpy and so it was it was quite the experience I'll say.
Heather Mcginley (19:49)
Well, and for
anyone who doesn't know, for some races, you can pace. There will be pacers or support crew. You people use different terms for it, especially for ultras or for really adventurous races, I should say. Because some of them are shorter distances, but they still have pacing team. know, I think the death, you know, the race I'm talking about is the Death Valley one. I think it's a hundred miles. There's a Death Valley. Yes, Badwater. Thank you.
Like for that, can put together a crew that will help support you. And a lot of these old dress people have crews and Pacers. So what a Pacer will do in this situation is they will take shifts Like, you know, as Manika mentioned, will not do the whole distance, but you're like, just 20 miles at a time, which sounds hilarious.
They will go in and help support that person to help them finish help them stay on track help them because at a certain point your brain stops working Your brain just doesn't work and you have to release as much mental load as possible to just get it done So that's what Manika was doing for this race and I saw you met
I call her the goat for sure. Courtney Dauwalter I saw that and I was so jealous. What was that like? That sounds so fun.
Manika (20:49)
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. I mean, she was really chilled. Like I was just surprised to see her on her feet, knowing she had 250 miles the following day. And she just was up for, it seemed like hours, just greeting people and really gracious to, you know, give her time right before a big race like that.
Heather Mcginley (21:10)
Yeah, well I saw she DNF too, like even like, and she is top of her field. I would say she wins almost, like usually when she's in a race she's gonna win. And she was in the lead for that race and even she DNFs at times, which really tells you how hard these races are for anyone.
Manika (21:17)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Heather Mcginley (21:28)
in listening to you, something that I'm thinking about is there is something to the idea of, I don't love the word grit, but I don't know other word to use there, You were talking about how when things get really hard, there is something to not quitting.
when things get really difficult, it doesn't mean you stop. Whereas I think there are some individuals in life, and this is not shade, these are just differences that are more inclined to quit. Obviously you're not, you are not that version of a human. know, anyone who does these races is not. What does it mean to you to be in a really difficult situation in life or race and not quit?
Manika (21:52)
Right.
Mm-hmm.
Hmm. What does it mean to me? For me, it shows, just my inner quality and my inner self. it's just that my inner drive is to just keep trying, keep going, even if it's not going to be the outcome that I want as far as like placement or which typically in these races, I don't have a placement goal, but it's just more so getting to the finish line. But it just, it means for me to just not give up on myself. If I have it within me one more step to just keep trying and to not give up on myself.
Yeah, that's what it is for me.
Heather Mcginley (22:38)
Well, and I think too, there can be a shadow side and I'll be the first to admit I'm one of those people too. Sometimes I don't quit when I should. And I think it does come, the same mindset that serves me in endurance sports and life also serves me, but there's a shadow side of sometimes you should quit. So can you talk about what is your point of view of when it's time to take the L, quit and make, what is your viewpoint on that?
Manika (22:46)
Mm.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, and that DNF experience was when I learned that I have that ability to step back and realize like it's time to quit. And for me, that was when I couldn't control my heart rate, I couldn't control my breathing. I was just, I couldn't get into a rhythm. It was bad and I was going to not make the cutoff time anyways. I was still like 25 miles out from the checkpoint to be able to get any kind of assistance and I was gonna miss that time.
And I felt at that point that my health was just at risk. so having that fine balance of, this hurts versus I'm injuring myself. I'm hurting myself, my organs and all of that kind of stuff. I think that's that fine balance of knowing when it's time to just take the L like you said, and just walk away. Cause it's at the end of the day, it's not worth your health, your, you your life to finish these races.
Heather Mcginley (23:53)
Yeah, and the thing is too, you you've definitely mentioned this and I absolutely agree with you. There's a reason you take on these challenges. It's for pride, to feel, you know, proud of yourself for what you accomplished, for working hard, for getting through it, doing something that you didn't know if you could do and then accomplishing it. Hurting yourself is not part of that goal. So, you know, that's part of like knowing when it's time to quit and in life, I've personally gotten more comfortable with quitting.
Manika (24:13)
Right.
Heather Mcginley (24:19)
You know, because I think in the past I would just be, I would call it stubbornness. Like I would just like push and push and push and push and push, which makes me a great marathoner. But in life, there really are times where it's okay to quit and not be afraid of that ending and just let it go and move on to the next thing. Take your lessons and make your next chapter a better chapter. ⁓ Now something I really like the way you put it on your Instagram page. You talk about how you have a desire to help ignite strength in others. Can you talk about what that means to you?
Manika (24:23)
is really
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, for me, I've gotten so many DMS, even from the very beginning of me starting my page of people saying that, you me showing my experience and my journey of running has made them want to go out and try whether it's canoeing or they want to go out for this half marathon or a 10K they never thought they would want to do. And so for me, it's like, like, wow, like me sharing my experience can encourage other people to do things that they wouldn't normally do. So for me, it
kind of gave me a larger scale of, what I'm attempting to do is just ignite others to go out of their comfort zone and try something new, no matter what that is. And so, I never initially thought someone watching my running would make them want to go canoeing, but it's like, cool. Like however you take it, like take it that's what I'm after now.
Heather Mcginley (25:34)
Well, and I think, and today is the first day I've actually met you, but I will say from following your Instagram, think something I take away from the way that you share on social about your adventures, and they are adventures, and the truth since that word, is that you are so vulnerable, meaning that you show your joy. you're not trying to be cool, like, eh, it's just the Grand Canyon, or eh, that view. you are so expressive about, wow, this is beautiful and amazing, and.
The joy that you find in what you do is so obvious, I think to everyone it is inspiring, because it feels like, I want some of that. And it does inspire you to go try something new, something you're uncomfortable with, something you're not sure if you could do. Like, I will tell you, you are directly why I've thought about, hmm, maybe I want to do a trail race at some point, because you love it so much. And I really appreciate that about you. The joy is so obvious in your experience. And it makes me think about, you know,
Manika (26:22)
⁓ thank you.
Heather Mcginley (26:32)
I don't know, I think we just go through life pretending to play it cool and like I've got it together, not be emotional, not be excited. And I don't know, it makes me kind of sad. Then the people I meet like you who are open about how they feel about things do get excited about those things. It's so inspiring to me. It's like, wow, I think that's a better way to live.
Manika (26:36)
Mm-hmm.
Wow, well thank you for that. You know, I really appreciate you sharing that. And you know, on the flip side of trying to show the joy, I also do try to show the toughness of it so that no one goes into it thinking, well she only showed this part. It's like, I'm trying to show you guys, it's not easy, but at the same time, it does bring so much joy.
Heather Mcginley (27:00)
Yeah.
Yeah, it is tough. is tough and joyful all at same time. Now, this show is all about life's endings. Zooming out from running, is there anything in your life that has been a big ending for you that maybe was really tough at the time, but it pushed you to grow or to learn or maybe who you are?
Manika (27:14)
Yeah.
Hmm, that's a good question. I fortunately have not experienced too many life altering endings in my life. But there's been, of course, a lot of chapters closed where I have to begin anew. And so even with my nomadic lifestyle that I've lived now for the last eight, nine months was putting all of my stuff in storage, packing up my car, and just hitting the road.
ending a life that was more, I guess, typical of living in an apartment, you know, having that kind of lifestyle. So ending that was a bit of a challenge and just getting my feet and my bearings of like this new life I have right now has been an adjustment. But I do enjoy just kind of having the flexibility and the freedom that I have and to see what all is, you know, available to me. And so it's been good, there's been bad, but it's all apartment.
Heather Mcginley (28:23)
Now if you think back to your younger self, what would you want to say to that, Manika?
Manika (28:27)
that it always works out. Sometimes, you know, I get myself worked up thinking like, like, I'm sure the way everyone does, not knowing how things are going to end and always wanting to know the ending before it comes, just knowing and telling my younger self, like, it always works out. No matter what's going on, it's going to work out. And I actually have a tattoo that says, remember the pattern. And for me, that means it always works out.
Heather Mcginley (28:54)
that. Yeah, sometimes I think when you're going through it, it's hard to have faith that it'll be okay. And I think, I know for me, part of what's made it easier is I've gotten a lot comfortable by getting away from binary thinking. Like now, I just really try to think about what's the truth of the matter. Like right now, it's really hard, and I'm having a really hard time. But I also know I'm going to be okay. And those two things can coexist and be true at the same time, you don't have to ignore one part for the other. And I think as long as you
have even like a tiny little kernel of it's gonna be okay, that helps a lot. Even if you're not sure it's gonna be okay, just faith it's gonna be okay, that's all you have to hang on to, just a little bit.
Manika (29:27)
Mm-hmm. Yep. Yep. Exactly.
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I love that.
Heather Mcginley (29:37)
All right, well, Manika, I wanna thank you so much for being here. It is such a treat to meet you. I think everyone should follow you on Instagram. What are your plans for your upcoming races? Where can people find you if they wanna hear more from you? Where can they find you?
Manika (29:50)
Well, I'm on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok sometimes all under Manika runs. Yeah, that's where I'm posting most of my content. And he said, what's coming up next? ⁓ What's coming up next for me? I have a six day, 120 mile race out in Colorado. It's called the trans Rockies. So that is one of the races that I've, one of the elements of racing I've tried to avoid, which is high altitude.
Heather Mcginley (30:01)
Yeah!
my gosh.
Okay.
Manika (30:16)
And so that's gonna really test me because altitude we don't always mix the best so that's gonna be a fun one I'm gonna get training for that coming up soon. But yeah, that's coming up in August Yeah
Heather Mcginley (30:27)
Oh, that's soon.
Oh, that's so exciting. Well, it's been such a treat to have you here. Thank you to everyone who's listening to the Happily Never After today. I will link everywhere where you can find Manika in the show notes so you don't have to hastily scribble this down. put it in the show notes so it's easy to find her. And we hope you all have a great week. Thank you.
Manika (30:48)
Thank you.