Cocodona Mom: Running 250 miles with your kids

Today we have one of the most inspiring runners I know—Jennie Chisholm. She’s a mom of four boys, a Triple Crowner, and a two-time Cocodona 250 finisher. But she didn’t find ultrarunning the usual way. She stumbled into it—literally—on a whim while thru-hiking the Arizona Trail.

She tells the incredible story of how her family went from watching Cocodona as curious hikers to toeing the start line with hand-me-down running vests and brand-new shoes. We talk about how her sons became ultrarunners, what it’s like racing 250 miles while constantly worrying about your kids (who are also racing), and the chaos of coordinating multiple crews and pacers as a full-on family affair.

She shares the highs and heartbreaking lows from this year’s Cocodona—dealing with sickness, hypothermia, and emotional breakdowns on the trail, all while pushing through to the finish herself. We also dive into training, nutrition (or the lack thereof), trail names, and how thru-hiking helped shape her kids into some of the toughest young runners in the sport.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jenny Chisholm's Journey

03:10 The Accidental Entry into Cocodona

05:59 Family Dynamics in Ultra Running

09:06 Logistics of Racing as a Family

11:52 Challenges Faced During the Race

15:05 The Emotional Toll of DNFing

17:56 Finding Focus Amidst Chaos

21:00 The Role of Family Support

23:52 Reflections on the Race Experience

39:33 The Emotional Roller Coaster of Racing

48:12 Navigating Nutrition and Training Challenges

55:02 Building Confidence Through Thru-Hiking

01:01:08 The Future of Family Adventures

01:09:31 Embracing the Journey and Lessons Learned

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