17. Nia Akins’ Sky is the Limit

In this episode...

Who is Nia Akins?
Switching from soccer to running
Mom’s influence and 400m success at the University of Missouri
Draw to UPenn for nursing and people
Memories from last collegiate meet
HS experiences and goals leading into college
Transitioning from west to east coast
Turning point in realizing national caliper potential
Mindset for performing best at biggest meets
Building confidence in fitness through racing
XC as an 800m/mid-distance runner
The whole new experience of having the opportunities to race at the highest levels
Experience running at USAs
Geeking out over pro runners and finding focus in that atmosphere
Surreal racing experiences
Travel experiences: Chile study abroad winter break trip and Cornell-Penn UK summer trip
Looking back at COVID-19 and college running career
Future goals
Looking towards Olympics, consistency and mindset change 
Messages to younger & future selves and younger college runners

Some of Nia’s accomplishments

2020 University of Pennsylvania Nursing and nutritional science major
Ran second fastest 800m time in NCAA history (2:00.71) at the 2020 BU Valentine Invite
2019 NCAA D1 Indoor and Outdoor Nationals Runner-up in 800m
Seventh-place finisher at USATF Outdoor Championships
8 UPenn School records
Roster: https://pennathletics.com/sports/womens-track-and-field/roster/nia-akins/15790

More Nia Media to check out:

Runner’s World article by Nia: “I’m an All-American Runner and Ivy League Grad. I Still Can’t Escape Racism.” https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a32825698/nia-akins-ncaa-runner-racial-discrimination/
Women’s Running: NCAA Star Nia Akins Plots Her Professional Future—in Seattle: https://www.womensrunning.com/culture/news/nia-akins-signs-with-brooks-beasts/
Dyestat QUARANTINE CONVERSATIONS - EP86 - NIA AKINS: https://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=videos&video_id=298775
LetsRun Podcast: 800m Star and New Brooks Beast Nia Akins + Christian Coleman Gets Strike Three? https://www.letsrun.com/news/2020/06/coleman-nia-akins/

***Donate to the National Queer and Trans Therapist of Color Network’s (NQTTCN) Mental Health Fund: https://linktr.ee/nqttcn ***

Awesome podcast episode about NQTTCN: https://lacura.podbean.com/?fbclid=IwAR2FOvBPqZJ-CMJQYOjRsyg7Z9mU38Mxwvi4OZZ9ONqZVgZGPbPXr4w-aBQ
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Insta: @markoshaley
Email: [email protected]

Justice for the Black and Trans communities: 

Petitions: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#petitions
https://www.change.org/p/black-lives-matter-actvists-justice-for-nina-pop
Justice in June educational resource: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-Vxs6jEUByXylMS2BjGH1kQ7mEuZnHpPSs1Bpaqmw0/edit
Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in 2020: https://www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-trans-and-gender-non-conforming-community-in-2020?fbclid=IwAR2AAZmmFTAlSGlAUVJndMrLdeqqJ498Nnj93UwKgwQLv9z1VBCwo6iFKO4