Episode 154: Emily Pifer, Author of the Memoir, The Running Body

We welcomed author and former collegiate runner, Emily Pifer, to the podcast this week. Emily shares more about her new memoir, The Running Body, which is her story of addiction, image, and healing, through the lens of a long-distance runner. In her book, Emily describes how, during her time as a collegiate distance runner, she began to run more while eating less. Many around her, including her coaches, praised her for these practices. But as she became faster, and as her body began to resemble the bodies that she had seen across start-lines and on the covers of running magazines, her bones began to fracture. Emily tells her story alongside the stories of her teammates, competitors, and others as they all face trouble regarding their bodies. The Running Body was selected by Steve Almond as the winner of the 2021 Autumn House Nonfiction Prize. Emily, who is currently pursuing her PhD at Syracuse University, can be found on Instagram at @emilydpifer. We absolutely loved this meaningful conversation! Interested in signing up for coaching with us? Email us at [email protected] and/or find us on all social media platforms. Thanks for listening!