Valerie Constien, a newfound steeplechase Olympian, joins me on the show! Val is a University of Colorado graduate, where she was a three-time All-American (twice in the steeplechase, and once in cross-country). Last year she qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the steeplechase, where she finished twelfth in the final. However, Val's success has not come easily. She faced injury in the middle of college and faced problems with mental health. As an unsponsored post-collegiate runner, Val has to balance a heavy training load with a 40-hour workweek. She was able to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics while doing so, paying her way up until the Olympics. 

Follow along to learn about Val's running and mental health journey, as well as details on her upcoming races. 

My Instagram: @alisamfish

Val's Instagram: @valerieconstien