One week after finishing the Dopey Challenge, I finally had the space to sit down and reflect on what this experience truly gave me beyond the miles, the medals, and the early mornings.

In this episode, I walk you through the full experience from how I found out about the Dopey Challenge, why I chose to run with Team Fox in honor of my grandfather, and what six months of training really looked like, to the unexpected lessons that followed me long after crossing the finish line.

This wasn’t about pace. It wasn’t about PRs. It was about learning how to listen to my body, fuel myself without guilt, say no without fear, and allow something hard to also be joyful.

Here’s what I reflect on in this episode:

• What the Dopey Challenge actually is and why it’s such a unique experience.
• What 28 weeks of training taught me about commitment, boundaries, and self-trust.
• How fueling, hydration, sleep, and recovery completely changed how my body responded.
• The deeper “why” behind running.
• How these lessons are now showing up in my life and business in small, meaningful ways

I also share why this won’t be my last Dopey and how this experience reshaped the way I make decisions, trust myself, and show up without overthinking.

This episode isn’t really about running. It’s about what happens when you commit to something that stretches you, and allow the journey to change you along the way.

Resources:

Connect on Instagram – @cat.roten

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Most people plan their year from a place of obligation, over-functioning, and blind optimism. In this episode, I lay the strategic foundation for planning & designing 2026 in a way that actually works, with desires that serve your life, not steal from it.

You’ll walk away with a clear framework to assess what needs to go, what needs to be completed, and what kind of life you’re actually building your business to support.

What You’ll Learn:

• The #1 planning mistake even seasoned entrepreneurs make in Q1 (and what to do instead).
• How to audit your calendar to uncover hidden energetic drains.
• Why I don’t believe in vision casting without infrastructure to hold it.
• 5 foundational decisions to anchor your year in sustainability, not stress.

You can’t create alignment by accident. You need desires, intentions, & a structure that supports your energy, your family, your business, and your next evolution.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing my word of the year for 2026. This isn’t about picking a trendy word or something that sounds impressive. It’s about choosing a word that actually shapes how I show up in life, work, and every single day.

If you listened to last week’s episode on my 2025 reflections, this will feel like a natural continuation. If you didn’t, this episode still stands on its own as an invitation to simplify what doesn’t need to be so complicated.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why I choose a word of the year.
• Moving from worthy in 2025 to simplicity in 2026.
• How my priorities are shifting from business-first to a more holistic life focus.
• Simplifying my business offers, systems, launches, and team structure.
• A reminder that your word doesn’t need to be mine, but it should support real change

Also highly recommend listening to the below episode to explore your word through human design, including Nicole Laino’s work: https://nicolelaino.com/podcast/episode434

Resources:

• Connect on Instagram – @cat.roten
• Interested in weekly updates? Join our weekly newsletter!
• Prefer Video?- Checkout our Youtube channel.