Ali on the Run Show15 Huhti 2021

361. Cynthia Martinez, Filmmaker & Journalist

"It's hard for me to be back here in a lot of ways. Because it sometimes brings me back to being that little Cynthia, and feeling like my voice doesn't matter because of the color of my skin or my hair. Like people don't care about what I have to say. And that's why this film is so important to me. I want these kids to be heard. I want them to know that they do matter."

Cynthia Martinez is a 12-time marathoner and four-time Boston Marathon qualifier who has run races on four continents, completed 16 international races, and won races in Thailand and Dubai. She's a mom, a journalist (she earned her Master's degree from Columbia), and a filmmaker. And right now, Cynthia is producing a film inspired by her own life experiences and her pursuit of higher education. First Voice Generation follows six first-generation Latinx college students, and documents how they are overcoming the challenges of a global pandemic while pursuing their own collegiate careers. On this episode, Cynthia reflects (powerfully; have tissues nearby) on her own childhood as the granddaughter of Mexican migrant farm workers and hard-working parents who worked multiple jobs, and talks about the struggles her family faced. She talks about abuse and alcoholism in her home growing up, and talks about how she is rebuilding her relationships with her parents now, as a mother herself. She talks about the jobs that led her to becoming a filmmaker — including nannying for the 1% in New York City and working at Univision — and explains the role running has played along the way.

(Want to support First Voice Generation? Check out the film's Kickstarter here.)

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you'll get on this episode:

All about First Voice Generation (4:27)
Cynthia reflects on her own childhood (12:00)
How Cynthia found running (20:00)
Why Cynthia is a fan of only running three days a week during marathon training (23:00)
Cynthia talks about her running travels (31:45)
Cynthia's road to becoming a mother, and her postpartum experience (35:00)
Cynthia's career evolution, and how she became a filmmaker (51:30)
How to support First Voice Generation (59:35)

What we mention on this episode:

First Voice Generation on Instagram @firstvoicegeneration

First Voice Generation Kickstarter

Upward Bound

Chris Heuisler on Episode 265 of the Ali on the Run Show

Kate Pallardy on Instagram @katepallardy

Lynn McGrew on Episode 339 of the Ali on the Run Show

Follow Cynthia:

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(900)

897. Jay Holder, USATF Chief Content & Communications Officer

"I'm starstruck every time I'm at a track meet and I get to be side by side with some of these incredible athletes. That has not worn off and I don't think it ever will. And I hope it never does." It...

30 Heinä 1h 43min

896. Ask Ali!

"I am pro people and I am pro human rights." It's surgery week! I had a prophylactic laparoscopic bilateral salpingo oophorectomy on Monday (I had my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed), and I'm tryi...

23 Heinä 1h 43min

895. Molly Seidel's 2026 Western States Recap (With Special Guest Molly Reidy)

"Being able to go into a race where you are a rookie, it opened me up to take chances I wouldn't necessarily take. In the marathon, I felt like I got so scared of failing that I was really hesitant to...

16 Heinä 1h 41min

894. Alyssa McElheny, Hyrox World Champion & OTQ Marathoner

"A lot of these things that seem like world-enders at the time can lead to bigger, better, happier things." Alyssa McElheny had a dream: to qualify for the Olympic Trials Marathon. When the qualifying...

9 Heinä 1h 23min

893. Rachel Entrekin, 2026 Cocodona 250 Champion

"If the winner thinks that everyone's important, then goddamnit I must be right." Rachel Entrekin arrived at the start line of the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon in May having already won the women's race...

2 Heinä 1h 22min

892. Emma Coburn & Parker Valby, Training Partners

"We're basically the same person, just 12 years apart." Emma Coburn and Parker Valby are professional runners, Olympians, New Balance athletes — and now, they're training partners. In this conversatio...

25 Kesä 1h 11min

891. Laura Thweatt, On Athletics Club Assistant Road Team Coach

"When she said those words to me on that run, I was like, 'It's the same thing, Laura. You're gonna do the same thing that you've done. You were OK after every decision, after every scary thing you di...

23 Kesä 1h 27min

890. Lee Glandorf, Creator of The Sweat Lookbook

"I don't think that the run girlies are respected within the sport the way they should be!" As a longtime marketer and creator of The Sweat Lookbook, Lee Glandorf truly has her pulse on industry trend...

18 Kesä 1h 10min