Women's Running Stories

Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin, and I share a deep love of all things running, and we've never interviewed each other, so it's about time (we have had each other on our respective podcasts in the past; see links for those below).  Both Julie and Lisa are competitive masters runners and they share a love of the Boston Marathon, having run it over 35 years combined. They are also outstanding coaches, having coached together for years, guiding hundreds of runners through their running journeys. In this episode we talk about our own training and racing, as master runners who love to compete (we are all over 50). Julie and Lisa focus much of their efforts on marathon and longer road distances, while I focus on track racing and short road races. It was really fun to share our different passions for this sport!  Lisa Levin on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lisa-levin-over-25-years-racing-and-still-as/id1495427631?i=1000735267498 Julie Sapper on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/julie-sapper-returning-to-marathons-post-acl-tear/id1495427631?i=1000735267620 Chérie Louise Turner on Run Farther & Faster: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-166-exciting-boston-marathon-update-with/id1438350876?i=1000605849254 Ways to Connect with Run Farther and Faster  Instagram: @runfartherandfaster  Facebook: facebook.com/RunFartherFaster  Website: runfartherandfaster.com  Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories  Instagram: @womensrunningstories  Website: womensrunningstories.com WRS Instagram:⁠⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠

Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin, and I share a deep love of all things running, and we've never interviewed each other, so it's about time (we have had each other on our respective podcasts in the past; see links for those below).  Both Julie and Lisa are competitive masters runners and they share a love of the Boston Marathon, having run it over 35 years combined. They are also outstanding coaches, having coached together for years, guiding hundreds of runners through their running journeys. In this episode we talk about our podcast journeys as women with running podcasts, and we talk about some of the trends we're seeing in the running world. We also have a brief conversation about hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We had so much fun in this episode that we decided to save talking about our own running and racing for a part 2, which will publish next week.  Enjoy this fun and lively conversation!  Mentioned in this Episode Blanche Moila on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blanche-moila-comrades-marathon-inspiring-change/id1495427631?i=1000473773849 Lisa Levin on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lisa-levin-over-25-years-racing-and-still-as/id1495427631?i=1000735267498 Julie Sapper on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/julie-sapper-returning-to-marathons-post-acl-tear/id1495427631?i=1000735267620 Chérie Louise Turner on Run Farther & Faster: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-166-exciting-boston-marathon-update-with/id1438350876?i=1000605849254 Ways to Connect with Run Farther and Faster  Instagram: @runfartherandfaster  Facebook: facebook.com/RunFartherFaster  Website: runfartherandfaster.com  Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories  Instagram: @womensrunningstories  Website: womensrunningstories.com WRS Instagram:⁠⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠

In addition to being internationally competitive runners, Mary and Lisa also have careers outside of running, and they are moms: Mary is the founder of the Nala Track Club for girls in Kenya, and Lisa is a banking executive. We were excited to explore not only the expertise these athletes possess in running, but also their experiences and perspectives as role models, leaders, and moms.  Among the topics we asked Mary and Lisa about: how their running and non-running careers have influenced each other; how they approach and structure their training while managing obligations outside of running;  how they manage stress and expectations, particularly in competitive situations; and much more. We also learned about their running backgrounds and their leadership roles outside of running.  You will be inspired!  Mary Ngugi-Cooper first started running in primary school, and has been competing internationally for 20 years. Among her many accomplishments, Mary earned a bronze medal in the 5000 meter event at the world junior championships in 2006, and then in 2014 she earned silver at the world half marathon championships. In 2016 she won the prestigious Houston Half Marathon, and in 2019 she debuted in the marathon here at Boston. With this year's running, Mary has competed in the Boston Marathon a total of seven times: she has always finished within the top 11 runners, and with this year's 3rd place finish, she's been on the podium for a total of three times: in 2021, 2022, and this year, 2026. These days, Mary, who is now 37, continues to compete at the highest level of the sport, going after her own personal goals and also to inspire the girls she coaches, as well as her daughter. Lisa Weightman has a long career as a marathon runner: she’s represented Australia at that distance four times at the Olympics—her first Olympics was in 2008. Lisa has won several marathons, including the Melbourne Marathon and Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon, and she’s been on the podium twice at the Commonwealth Games. Lisa continues to compete at the highest level of the sport, now at 47 years old, and she has a passion for, as she says, demonstrating that perseverance leads to real change and leadership is about leaving a lasting legacy. How to Keep Up with Mary Ngugi-Cooper and Nala Track Club Mary on Instagram: @maryngugi Nala Track Club on Instagram: @nalatrackclub How to Keep Up with Lisa Weightman Instagram: @lisaweightman Ways to Connect with Run Farther and Faster  Instagram: @runfartherandfaster  Facebook: facebook.com/RunFartherFaster  Website: runfartherandfaster.com  Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories  Instagram: @womensrunningstories  Website: womensrunningstories.com WRS Instagram:⁠⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠

In this episode, I focus on getting back to racing indoor track, a highlight of my year. After a long build back from burnout through a lot of 2025, I was really looking forward to returning to racing strong. As with any season of racing, there were highs and a few lows. Regardless, a steady pulse of curiosity and purpose grounded my training and racing. I continued to learn and grow.  This athlete journey is fundamental to my well being and to staying strong for the rest of life, with whatever challenges and joys present themselves. I get into what's happened over the past few months, and what I have planned looking ahead. Please join me on the journey. Thank you so much for being here.  Mentioned in this Episode The series of episodes that feature my running and racing journey: https://womensrunningstories.com/episodes/over-50-sub-20-5k-project To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of ⁠⁠Playtoh⁠⁠ ⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠ Music of the Future, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Camila_Noir,⁠⁠ via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram:⁠⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠ Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Lauren Nutter’s story has so many interesting threads and I’m excited for you to hear about all of it. First up, Lauren will be running Boston for the very first time, and that has been a goal that she has had in earnest since 2019. Between then and now, Lauren discovered the majors. At the time there were six major marathons, and Lauren decided she was going to run them all and earn her six stars, as it’s called. In addition to Boston, those marathons include London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Tokyo. When Lauren crosses the finish line on April 20th, she will not only have run the Boston Marathon, but she will have also completed her six star journey. In addition to all things running, Lauren also created her business Race Day Rangers as part of her running journey. It began with a sticker that Lauren created to help raise funds for her charity entry to Boston in 2020 (the marathon that never was), and that has grown into the business that it is today, which features marathon themed stickers, patches, flags, and more. For this year’s Boston Marathon pre-race festivities, Lauren has teamed up with four other women (they’re all also moms) who own small running-related businesses to create Brandhaus, which will be a pop-up store that’ll be open over marathon weekend, Friday to Sunday. In addition to Race Day Rangers, Brandhaus includes Running with Grace, selling mantra bracelets; Pen and Paces, selling custom name bib kits, shoe bags, and more; TWENTYSIXDIAMOND, selling running jewelry; Running Peas, selling athletic apparel for kids; and Swift Running, selling carbon plated running shoes. Brandhaus will also have a full calendar of activities and activations. Find them at 332 Newbury Street.  There’s an additional part of Lauren’s story that’s important to acknowledge, and I’m very thankful to Lauren for being so open about sharing this difficult part of her journey: during her six-star pursuit, Lauren experienced a miscarriage. Miscarriages are far more common than most people realize, and many people who experience them suffer in silence. Lauren let me know that she wishes people could feel more comfortable talking about these experiences, which is why she’s decided to be so open about sharing this part of her story. Miscarriages are a deeply painful yet natural part of the reproductive process for so many people. So, yes, Lauren has been through many ups and many downs to get to where she is today—and so much will come to fruition around this year’s Boston Marathon. It has been a truly transformational journey, and she shares it all in this episode.From this Episode Lauren Nutter on Instagram: @marathonlauren Race Day Rangers on Instagram: @racedayrangers More from WRS WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DELOSound, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music of the Future, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

Dipsea Generations follows the stories of five young San Francisco Bay area runners who take on the historic Dipsea trail race. The Dipsea is the oldest trail race in the United States, started in 1905, and it covers 7.4 miles of incredible terrain between Mill Valley–just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County–and Stinson Beach. One interesting twist about this race is it has a handicap format determined by age and gender, so it makes for a more level playing field in those regards.  Nicole grew up in Mill Valley, so she's very familiar with the Dipsea, and she studied cinema, with an emphasis on Documentary and Editing at SF State before going over to England to get her master's degree in documentary filmmaking. Nicole now lives back in the San Francisco Bay Area not far from where she grew up. In addition to being a filmmaker, Nicole is the video producer, editor, and a board member for the Trail Running Film Festival. This means that she sees a lot of documentaries about trail running.   In her own filmmaking Nicole has a strong interest in sharing stories about women runners. That is where she focused her master's thesis documentary, which is titled Finding Her Stride. The documentary follows the stories of several women ultra runners, and weaved throughout, Nicole chronicles her first trail marathon, which at the time was the farthest she’d ever run.  Nicole talks about that experience and her film in this episode, in this story of coming into her own.  From this Episode Nicole Amyx on Instagram: @nixamyx9 Nicole Amyx's website: nicoleamyxfilm.com Finding Her Stride documentary: vimeo.com/393933541?fl=pl&fe=vl Dipsea Generations website: dipseagenerations.com Trail Running Film Festival: trailfilmfest.com More from WRS WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ikoliks, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music of the Future, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In addition to testing her limits on the trails, Tania is a coach and she has a podcast called the Ultra Happy Podcast, which she cohosts with her husband, Andy, and it follows her running journey.  Tania is also a world citizen: while she is from Mexico and now lives in Dubai, she has also lived in Canada and the US, in addition to living for several years in Scotland, which is where her husband is from. You’ll hear about Tania’s time in Scotland in this episode because it does figure strongly into her running story. As Tania says, she was born in Mexico, but she was built in Scotland, especially when it comes to trail running.  Tania came to running as an adult and initially hated it. But when she found the trails, she was hooked and now challenging ultra adventures are a driving force in her life. And, as if it weren't enough that Tania ran the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus in a 12-month period—which took place in Namibia, Mongolia, Jordan, Antarctica, and Chile—there is more. She did that with an even bigger goal in mind: the Cocodona 250, which she went after just weeks after the final stage race.  Tania’s story is all about developing into the ultra-endurance athlete she is today, and especially how that’s played out over the past few years. Tania provides excellent insight into what it takes to develop the mental, physical, and emotional skills to be able to take on these huge adventures.  Her strength, fearlessness, and patience, as well as her ability to focus on solutions, however uncomfortable they might be, instead of lamenting the tough situations she finds herself in—and her ability to always be so nice to herself, are all exemplary. There’s a lot we can learn from her.  From this Episode Tania Carmona on Instagram: @taniaruns_theworld Tania Carmona's website: taniacarmona.run The Ultra Happy Podcast: taniacarmona.run/podcast Racing the Planet: racingtheplanet.com Grand Slam Plus: racingtheplanet.com/4-deserts-grand-slam-plus More from WRS WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

These days, Steph Cloutier lives in Eau Claire, WI, but she grew up in the Minneapolis, MN, area, which is only about 100 miles away from Eau Claire.  Steph coaches for North Coast Running (NRC), a coaching business out of the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul.  With the surge in ICE activity in Minneapolis, NRC founder and runner Tyler Morey decided he wanted to do something to support the immigrant communities being targeted by the ICE crackdowns, so he created Love Thy Neighbor.  Steph immediately got on board with the initiative, and both she and Tyler ran for Love Thy Neighbor at the Black Canyon 100k, which just took place on February 14.  At the core of all of this is also Steph’s love of running, which these days focuses on trail ultras, but that’s a pursuit she started in 2023 with the very same Black Canyon race: at that time, she ran the 60k. Steph’s running journey, however, began long before that, and she shares about that, too—and how it led to today, with Steph using her running pursuits to make an impact on and show her support for her larger community; how she turned her frustration about wanting to help and not knowing what to do, into action.  Mentioned in this Episode Steph Coutier on Instagram: @seestephrunn North Coast Running on Instagram: @northcoastrunning Love Thy Neighbor Webpage: northcoastrunning.com/lovethyneighbor More from WRS WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this conversation, Atim shares how she got started in running, and what got her out on the trails, running ultras. She also gets into how the running group she founded, Ultra Black Running, came to be, and why she's so passionate about carving out space on the trails for other Black women and nonbinary runners. Atim goes deep, sharing empowering, joyful moments in running and on the trail. And she shares experiences of racism and exclusion. Once a shy, quiet kid, today Atim is known today for being boldly herself. But that's been a process. Atim and Désir discuss how Atim navigates making change and overcomes times of self-doubt, why Atim doesn't view herself as an activist, and how community is at the core of it all.  WRS will be back with a new episode next week.  Find EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast  Find EARTHMOVERS on Substack: earthmoverspodcast.substack.com Our Seasons 1 and 2 Presenting Sponsor  Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at ALTRArunning.com From this Episode Dora Atim on Instagram: @doradontexplore Ultra Black Running on Instagram: @ultrablackrunning EARTHMOVERS Hosts  Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4 Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

Today, Naseemah Palmer is a licensed clinical social worker, running coach, and entrepreneur. She owns and operates the running, wellness, and apparel brand Vivid Belle. How Palmer's life changed, beginning on that May day, is what this story is all about.  Palmer's current running focus is coaching Girls on the Run, and one of the athletes she coaches is her daughter. She is training for the upcoming Philadelphia Half Marathon, Nov. 23, 2024, and a big goal is running the Chicago or New York City Marathon in 2025: she's entered in those lotteries once again. Palmer also recently completed the Game Changers program, which certifies women of color as run coaches.  Thank you to Kiera Smalls, executive director of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition, for connecting me to Palmer. I am grateful.  This episode first aired November 5, 2024.  Keep Up with Naseemah Palmer Instagram: @_naseemahp Website: vividbelle.com Mentioned in this episode Running Industry Diversity Coalition: runningdiversity.com Game Changers: vcpm.com/game-changers To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh Coma-Media, via Pixabay RomanBelov, via Pixabay SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay RoyaltyFreeMusic, via Pixabay Rockot, via Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: @womensrunningstories WRS Substack newsletter: womensrunningstories.substack.com Website: womensrunningstories.com

Daisy Martinez started running when a friend suggested she come to a night run in LA, hosted by Blacklist LA. At the time, Daisy was a young single mom working multiple jobs and going to school, and she was struggling with her physical and mental health. From that very first run, Daisy started a journey that would reshape her life; she credits finding the trails for saving her life. Today, Daisy has been exploring the trails for over a decade, and she is the co-founder of Chingonas on the Run. In addition, a few years ago, Daisy was diagnosed with MS. And just last October, she ran what she considers her comeback race: the Javelina 100k. It was an honor to hear Daisy tell her story, and I am so happy that now you get to hear it, too. Mentioned in this Episode Daisy Martinez Instagram: @elementsofdaisy Chingonas on the Run Instagram: @chingonasontherun WRS Substack newsletter: womensrunningstories.substack.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To be clear, Allison’s story is not about weight loss or chasing thinness, perse, but more so about being a regimented, disciplined athlete who wanted to see what she was capable of as a runner—and who wanted to leverage her nutrition to support that pursuit.   In addition, Allison was coming into running as a young adult in this time of thriving influencer culture, so this is also a story about negotiating popular narratives around nutrition and athletic performance. Narratives that often fail to clarify who they truly benefit, if anyone, and the fact that what they’re proposing can actually be harmful for some populations, like women endurance athletes.  And then, there are just the garden variety persistent narratives like thinner is better: it isn’t. And, that menstrual cycle disruptions are normal: they are not.  Not getting a regular period is a big red flag that something is seriously wrong. And yes, it’s very common with women athletes, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal. That sort of thinking—that losing one’s period is a normal part of being a woman athlete—just emphasizes how much we’ve normalized under-fueling for women athletes. And, we know very well now, and have for a long, long time, that under-fueling has both short-term and long-term consequences. Left unattended, under-fueling can have serious and lasting, sometimes permanent health issues, like poor bone health and fertility issues, including infertility.  And in the short-term, under-fueling impacts training, recovery, and mood. You’ll hear Allison talk about these issues in her story. As she learned, you cannot fire on all cylinders when you aren’t eating enough, often enough.  Through her time experiencing and then recovering from reds, Allison learned a lot. But it wasn’t easy; it never is. The whole journey had such an impact on her that she’s now focused her career on coaching and sports nutrition. Her aim is to help provide the comprehensive support she didn’t have during her recovery from reds. She has also come to a place in her running journey that is both, as she says, flexible and sustainable.  Allison’s story is both cautionary and inspirational. Mentioned in this Episode Allison Yamamoto Instagram: @allisonyamamoto WRS Substack newsletter: womensrunningstories.substack.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dena Lewis has been a runner for over two decades and running is a core part of her life and well-being. But also, Dena has been attacked twice while running. She talks about these attacks in her story, and she talks about returning to running afterward—because running is such an important part of her life. These are the difficult realities of running as a woman, and I’m really thankful Dena is willing to share her story publicly. As you’ll hear, this wasn’t her first instinct: through and through, being assaulted is horrible. These assaults did clarify for Dena what she now sees as her life’s purpose: she came to the point where she wanted to commit herself to helping to make runners safer. Through her experiences, Dena realized that there was a service she would have loved to use to help her feel safe while running, but it didn’t exist. So, she created it. Dena is the founder and CEO of Running Mate, which she describes as UBER for runners. In addition to providing the service of being able hire someone to run with you, Running Mate is also involved in numerous safety awareness, support, and educational efforts. Mentioned in this EpisodeRunning Mate Instagram: @getrunningmateRunning Mate Website: getrunningmate.comWRS Substack newsletter: womensrunningstories.substack.comTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Maddie Barrett is a long-time runner, and these days she focuses primarily on the marathon. In this episode, she shares her whole running journey, including going through a time of disordered eating. Now Maddie sees food as a way of healing her body. Her story also includes her experiences of going through these recent two major surgeries and subsequent recoveries, and how that impacted her running life. Maddie’s taken lessons from past periods of recovery—most notably from childbirth—and this learned wisdom has served her well.  Maddie’s story is very personal, and it’s also one that so many women can resonate with. I’m really thankful she’s so open about her experiences.How to Keep Up With Maddie BarrettInstagram: @joyful_runner_minneapolisMentioned in this EpisodeFor All Mothers: forallmothers.orgWRS Substack newsletter: womensrunningstories.substack.comTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New Hampshire-based Tammie Robie’s health issues appear to have started during her teenage years and continued, with increasing intensity, until just a few years ago. Over the years, Tammie saw doctors and specialists, had test after test after test, and followed a variety of prescription protocols. But her symptoms persisted: high blood pressure, a spiking heartrate, migraines, water retention in her face and legs. But, throughout, she ran and went after big racing goals. Even with all these health problems, Tammie was able to earn her spot on several pro/elite marathon start lines, and she had some notable race success. In particular, she ran a marathon PR of 2:49 at the 2010 Houston Marathon. For context, the Olympic Trials Marathon qualifying standard at that time was 2:46. But there were also the ongoing struggles and many deeply disappointing race days. The root cause of Tammie’s condition remained a mystery for many, many years. In the end, it was discovered by chance. And today, she is cured. Tammie tells her story in much greater detail in her book, Misdiagnosed for Miles: A Competitive Runner’s Journey through Misdiagnosis and Discovery. This episode follows that story.Tammie’s journey is remarkable and heartbreaking, and it shows grit and determination that is stunning. Throughout, Tammie’s love of running is a steady companion.Mentioned in This EpisodeMisdiagnosed for Miles, blog and links to book: misdiagnosedformiles.comTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RoyaltyFreeMusic⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I sat down with friend, colleague, community organizer, and racial equity advocate Verna NezBegay Volker, who lived for 16 years in Minneapolis, and recently moved just outside the city. The neighborhood where Verna and her husband raised their children is a focal point of ICE raids and crackdowns. Central to this conversation: how running and politics are inextricably linked. Running requires freedom of movement and some semblance of safety. Increasingly, we are seeing those liberties threatened, thwarted, and extinguished because of political decisions. It's a reality people of color in this country have always understood; awareness in white communities is much less. I wanted to acknowledge and address these realities and this moment and also expand my own awareness.So, I turned to a trusted source, to learn and to develop strategies for how to keep moving forward and be a better community member.We talk about what Verna's recent and past experiences have been around civil unrest, as a runner, community leader, native woman, and mom living in Minnesota. And we discuss how this isn't new for her and her community, or other communities of color. We also discuss what she's seeing in the running community and ways that this community can be more supportive of those who are being targeted--specifically, runners of color. We talk about how difficult this time is and also how empowering it is to see community coming together to resist and to help each other. I'm grateful to Verna for sharing her perspective and expertise. We're in this together. We are stronger together. Keep Up With Verna NezBegay Volker and Native Women RunVerna NezBegay Volker on Instagram: @hozhorunner4NWR on Instagram: @native_women_runMentioned in This EpisodePow Wow Grounds: powwowgrounds.com; @powwowgroudscoffee: ; Venmo, @powwowgroundsAmerican Indian Movement: @aimmovtAmerican Indian Center: maicnet.orgTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Anjali Saraogi hasbeen an ultra runner. She started running in her early 40s and pretty quickly discovered a love and talent for running far, and running fast. She ran the Comrades Marathon in 2017, in a time of 8 hours, 38 minutes: a huge accomplishment and at the time, it was the fastest time run by an Indian woman at that race. Anjali then went on to solidify her place as one of India’s best ultra runners, and she is a pioneer in the sport in her country; distance running, as Anjali talks about in her story, is relatively new in India. So not only was Anjali a role model for what’s possible as an older woman, having begun competitive sports in her 40s, she became a role model for what’s possible for women, period. Anjali has represented India in international championship races, including the 100k world championships and 100k Asia and Oceania championships, which you’ll hear about in her story. But with the onset of health issues around menopause, Anjali had to give up running competitively and then altogether. Now, she’s back. And she shares the whole story here. It’s a story that’s rooted in one constant: Anjali loves to run; it’s a feeling she's has had since the beginning of her running journey, and it continues to this day.How to Keep Up with Anjali SaraogiOn Instagram: @runjali1973Anjali Saraogi's Comrades episode: womensrunningstories.com/anjali-saraogi-the-comrades-marathon-a-first-timers-journeyTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music of the Future, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lisa Jackson has completed over 100 marathons; she's run the 90km or roughly 56-mile Comrades Marathon; and she's run many other races of various distances, too. She's a well known writer, covering health and running, in addition to being an author; she's also a hypnotherapist. Many people also know Jackson as the "flamingo lady" for wearing her distinctive flamingo hat, and they know her for jubilantly embracing her place at the back of the pack—she has come in last in many races. Over the past several years, Jackson has experienced life-altering challenges: looming large among them is her husband's terminal illness.This is a very sad story. It not only involves the death of her husband, but also her father, as well as the delayed grieving of her mother, who had died tragically many years ago—in addition to other challenges that came along with the cancer journey. And, this is a story about surviving life, and learning to thrive again, in the face of this sadness and processing grief. How Jackson went from deep despair to returning to running joyfully again and the central role running played in that journey and throughout her life is what this episode is all about. It's about death, grief, life, living—and running. How to Keep Up with Lisa JacksonOn Instagraml: @lisaflamingojackson"Still Running After All These Tears," publishers website: summersdale.com/titles/lisa-jackson-3/still-running-after-all-these-tears/9781837997374/To support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music of the Future, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lidérc Bell⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, I focus on a huge win in dealing with my anxiety around training and racing. It's opened a whole new chapter in my running journey. Healing anxiety has been a dedicated focus for the past few years, and it's resulted in some breakthrough moments over the past few months. This includes the terrific experiences I just had at my indoor track season opening races which just took place last weekend, on December 13. There, I ran the mile and the 800, my first time doubling with those two events. Hear why I had a truly remarkable time for reasons that went beyond paces and times. Plus, a positive update on working to lower my cholesterol, and details about working with my new coach, Molly Huddle. This episode is full of inspiration and joy. And, this is the final episode of 2025; WRS will return in January: there are already new stories in the works. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any of them. A very happy finish to the new year, however you celebrate. And here's to a wonderful start of 2026! Mentioned in this EpisodeThe last update from me, Cherie: womensrunningstories.com/wrs-host-cherie-louise-turner-a-running-journey-update-may-aug-2025Breath with Sandy: youtube.com/breathewithsandyTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of ⁠⁠Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠DELOSound, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠ via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesOver 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: ⁠⁠@over50sub20_5k_project⁠⁠WRS Instagram:⁠⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠Email host Cherie: [email protected]

In recent times, Caryn—who lives in Texas and also spends a lot of time in Colorado—became the first person (as far as we can find) to qualify for and run the Boston Marathon after a knee replacement surgery, thanks to a procedure done by Dr Richard Berger. And, Caryn’s story is about that, but also so much more. Caryn has faced significant traumas in life, among them experiences with disordered eating, and she has been impacted by suicide.In her story, she talks about this, and also how the challenges and struggles she’s faced have resulted in fueling her purpose in life. So, for instance, Caryn’s had a long career as a dietician specializing in helping people to overcome disordered eating. She’s been a leader in this field, beginning at a time when so little was known on the topic and treatment was rare to nonexistent. Caryn founded and ran an eating dis outpatient clinic for over 20 years; it grew to become the largest of its kind in Texas and one of the largest in the nation. Her career has spanned over 30 years. She’s also worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston for over 20 years. In addition, Caryn founded Poppy’s Run for Life, which she talks about: the organization raises funds for suicide education and prevention through running events. Currently, Caryn is also going after her latest big personal running challenge: running a marathon in every state! There are many powerful moments in Caryn’s story, and it is truly inspirational. Mentioned in this EpisodeDr. Richard Berger: outpatienthipandknee.comMainly Marathons: mainlymarathons.comPoppy's Run for Life: poppysrunforlife.comTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lidérc Bell⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠RoyaltyFreeMusic⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DELOSound, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

Elizabeth Sheridan has developed a great love of ParkRun, and it has inspired travel all around the US and to many other parts of the world; currently ParkRun happens in 22 countries, and Elizabeth has done a ParkRun in every one of those countries, except Australia.  If you aren’t familiar with ParkRun, it’s a free, weekly, timed 5k. No registration, no bib numbers. It’s not even a race: some people run fast, some people jog, some people walk; there are dogs, kids, people pushing strollers—it's truly a come as you are event and complete the 5k however you like. You can learn more about ParkRun in the episode and by following the links below. One important thing to know about ParkRun is that it is as much about completing 5 kilometers as it is about community. The community aspect is ultimately what drew Elizabeth in to become as deeply involved in ParkRun as she is today. And it all really got going once Elizabeth had finished raising her five children. As she says, "they're grown and flown." Elizabeth tells the story of how she first got into running as a teen and how she got involved with ParkRun, and she tells the stories of some of her many adventures running ParkRuns all over the world, and here in the US, where she has been and continues to keep up with being US Countrywoman—meaning she does every ParkRun in the US. With ParkRun always growing and expanding, this is a quest that is ongoing. Be prepared to be delighted and inspired by Elizabeth's love and enthusiasm for the incredible and ever growing community that is ParkRun. Mentioned in this EpisodeParkRun World Wide on Facebook: facebook.com/parkrunParkRun USA on Facebook: facebook.com/parkrunUSAParkRun Worldwide Website: parkrun.comParkRun US Website: parkrun.usTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grand Project⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ikoliks, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mikka Kei has been running since childhood, and the significance of running has shifted as she’s moved, grown, and evolved through life. For Mikka Kei, running has taken different forms, but it’s been a nonnegotiable part of her life, whether she’s had to negotiate with her parents to run as a teenager in Nepal, jumped at the chance to discover the Appalachian Trail with family friends,  or challenged herself in marathons and ultras. Running and the space it occupies has also seeped into Mikka Kei’s day to day life: it has become integrated into her advocacy work, community involvement, political mindfulness, and her graphic design work.Running is something Mikka Kei considers deeply. All of this shines through in her story, which is poetic, interesting, and inspiring. How to Follow Mikka Kei Ito MacdonaldOn Instagram, Personal: @meeks_macdonaldOn Instagram, Graphic Design: @akaiitodesignWebsite: mikkakeimacdonald.comTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lidérc Bell⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠RoyaltyFreeMusic⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Bord had a dream to run the six major marathons, and she started on that path with the 2024 New York City Marathon, which she ran for her 40th birthday. How she managed to get into, travel to, and run all these major races within 12  months is what this story is all about. And of course, Emma's story is about so much more: it’s about facing fears, processing mom guilt, developing rock solid mental and emotional strength, and navigating the aftermath of a traumatic near-death incident that happened to her husband. It's also about reclaiming a sense of self and discovering how that benefits her, and her family. For Emma, this journey is additionally about role modeling for other women and moms that it’s possible to achieve big dreams, too, even when you have young children at home.It's beautifully telling that when all was said and done, one of her daughters asked when she was going to run the new seventh major: Sydney. How to Follow Emma BordOn Instagram: @emmabordptMentioned in this EpisodeFind Emma's blog posts about her husband's accident and her Tokyo Marathon experience here: emmabordblogging.blogspot.comTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlexGrohl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Starre’s story is a little different from many of the stories you’ll typically hear on WRS. It isn’t only about running: Starre is a runner, but she’s also a swimmer, dancer, and weightlifter. And Starre doesn’t compete in running: she doesn’t have marathon dreams or go after PRs.However, being a runner, being an athlete, has been fundamental to her understanding of just how capable and strong and resilient and tough women’s bodies naturally, innately are.As she’s noted, her own experiences and role models left her questioning the messages she was getting about women being the weaker sex and of aging women being frail.So, she pointed her science research in the direction of answering her own questions about the strengths and capacities of the female body, and she wrote The Stronger Sex.This book has profoundly evolved my own thinking about women’s bodies and our abilities, and it shines an even brighter light on how underestimated, disrespected, and held back we have been in modern times. Much more so than I’d ever fully appreciated.Starre’s book has also left me feeling even more confident and thankful in the body I have, and also even more optimistic about its abilities as I age.Starre’s own story embodies much of what her book is all about, living the strong, athletic life women’s bodies have always been built for. And in writing her book, she too has developed an excitement about being strong and powerful as she ages.Starre’s story is beautiful and powerful, and her book is exceptional.And, there’s more to come. Listen through to the end, when Starre announces her next book project, which I am very, very excited about.How to Follow Starre VartanOn Instagram: @starrevartanWebsite: starrevartan.comMentioned in this EpisodeThe Stronger Sex book: starrevartan.com/the-bookTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grand Project⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Over the course of her life, Liz has overcome a lot, and running plays a central role in the peace she has today.Liz’s story follows her larger health journey, up through her most recent big goal, to mark the end of her 40s, and welcome in her 50th birthday.  How to Follow Liz AndersenOn Instagram: @pnw_introvertedrunnerMentioned in this EpisodeWRS episode, We Out Here Trail Festival: on ⁠Apple⁠, on ⁠Spotify⁠Stefanie Flippin on Instagram: @stefanieannflippinVerna NezBegay Volker on Instagram: @hozhorunner4Native Women Run on Instagram: @native_women_runAlison Mariella Désir on Instagram: @alisonmdesirEARTHMOVERS podcast on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcastWe Out Here Trail Festival, follow Seattle Running Collective on Instagram: @seattlerunningcollectiveTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lidérc Bell⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stephanie self-describes as a wife, mom, and running coach, yoga teacher and  podcast host: she hosts The Runner’s Round Table Podcast. Stephanie also founded Correr Running Retreats. In addition to all that, she is a distance runner and run community advocate. Stephanie came to running in her adult years, and has run over 200 races of various distances, in various places all over the world. This includes one ultra marathon and over a dozen marathons, including, most recently, the 2025 Chicago Marathon, a race she has a long history with. Throughout, Stephanie has explored various ways of setting goals and approaching the challenges that running presents—and in her story, she shares the wisdom of what she has discovered.Mentioned in this EpisodeStephanie Diaz on Instagram: @thecookierunner⁠Runner's Round Table podcast: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/runnersroundtable/To support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠prazkhanal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode features elite runner Ari Hendrix and how she is refinding her joy in the sport.This is Ari’s second time on the podcast; her first appearance was back on December 1, 2023. At that point in time, she was putting the finishing touches on her preparation for the 2024 Olympic Trials Marathon.That earlier episode covered her running journey to that point: how Ari got into running and how she first broke three hours in the marathon, which happened back in 2018. That accomplishment put Ari on The List, an accounting of all the American-born African-American women who have broken three hours in the marathon.Ari would go on to smash that time, eventually running 2:35 at the California International Marathon ( CIM) in 2022. And that's the race that qualified her for the Olympic Trials Marathon (the qualifying time for the OTM was 2:37).In this episode, Ari catches us up with everything that happened since the last time she was on the podcast, up to today.There have been a lot of changes, including a period when Ari considered ending her racing career altogether. Today, however, she’s looking forward to racing her first 100km trail race at the Javelina Jundred, October 25, 2025.How Ari got from running the 2024 Olympic Trials Marathon to this point is what this part of her running story is all about.How to Keep Up with Ari HendrixInstagram: @ari_hendrix1Mentioned in this EpisodeAri Hendrix: @ari_hendrix1An Olympic Marathon Trials Journe y, a Quest to Top The List, on WRS, Dec. 1, 2023: on Spotify, on Apple, on WRS website,To support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

This In Memory reair marks the deeply sad occasion of the tragic death of legendary racer and running community leader in South Africa, Cheryl Winn. Winn passed on October 5.  This episode first aired on October 16, 2020. Cheryl Winn is the 1982 Comrades Marathon champion and was the Chairperson of this historic event 2017 to 2021. This episode tells her Comrades story, from her early days of running through to her experiences and reflections on this great race.  Cheryl has a decades-long and multifaceted relationship with the Comrades Marathon. In this episode, we touch on all of it. Cheryl was an elite runner in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning many local events, and she became the Comrades champion in 1982.  During her running career and up until her passing, Cheryl was also involved with race production. At the time of this recording, she was the Chairperson of Comrades Marathon Association. She is the only chairperson to also be a former winner of the race.  Cheryl Winn is a trailblazer in both long-distance running and event leadership. This story of her enduring love of and accomplishments in the sport and this historic 90-km race perfectly capped off our season focusing on the mighty Comrades Marathon.  This episode is the last one in our first season, and the theme of this season is experiences in and around the Comrades Marathon, a 90-kilometre, or roughly 56-mile, road race that takes place each year in South Africa. It is the oldest and largest ultra-distance foot race in the world.  Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠ Twitter:⁠ ⁠⁠@WomenRunStories⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠womensrunningstories.com⁠ Email host Cherie: [email protected] Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network:⁠ ⁠⁠https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

This is a special Part 2 episode featuring runner, role model, and groundbreaking racer Shawanna White. If you have not listened to part 1 of Shawanna’s story, which is just above this episode in your feed, I suggest you go back and start there.  This episode picks up where that episode left off. Shawanna had finished that part of her story discussed being inducted into the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame, which happened in 2022. And, she mentioned that, looking ahead, she has big goals. She talks about those goals here. Shawanna also shares her guiding motto: some positive wisdom we can all take with us. How to Keep Up with Shawanna White Instagram: ⁠@peachrunner26.2⁠ Mentioned In This Episode National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame: ⁠blackmarathoners.org/nat.-black-distance-running-hall-of-fame⁠ To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

This episode features Shawanna White, a very prolific competitor who has been recognized for her many accomplishments and contributions to the running community. Among her accolades, White was featured in the running documentary Breaking Three Hours, Trailblazing African American Women Marathoners; in 2022, she was inducted into the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame; and she helped create The List, which keeps an accounting of all of the American-born Black women who have broken 3 hours in the marathon. And not only is White the 11th fastest runner on that list, she’s broken 3 hours 16 times, more than any other American-born Black woman ever. This is Part 1 of a two-part story covering White’s running journey. This episode tells White’s running story up through about 2022. Part 2 will catch up with White’s running to today. White has been running since she was young: she runs a lot and she runs very fast! She also goes after big goals, and indeed, she has been groundbreaking in her accomplishments; White is also a role model.And, White has a contagious positivity that inspires those around her and far beyond. This positivity also keeps her focused on running and racing her very best, through all the ups and downs that come with being a competitive runner. Listening to her story here, you’ll come to appreciate how all of this came to be, beginning with how White first got into the sport.How to Keep Up with Shawanna WhiteInstagram: @peachrunner26.2Mentioned In This EpisodeBreaking Three Hours: blackmarathoners.org/breaking-three-hoursNational Black Distance Running Hall of Fame: blackmarathoners.org/nat.-black-distance-running-hall-of-fameNational Black Marathoners Association: blackmarathoners.orgThe List: tedcorbitt.com/black-female-marathon-historyTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠Grand Project⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesWRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

This episode features Nadia Ruiz, who is a hugely prolific runner, with a special fondness for the marathon. This is a love that began when she was a teenager. Running has been a source of strength, empowerment, and self-confidence, as well as healing: running has seen Nadia through good times and also through some dark moments. Up to today, when Nadia is hitting new highs in the sport, in her 40s.   In addition to her long history with the the marathon, Nadia Ruiz has raced many other distances as well, from 5ks to ultras: she runs and races on the road as well as the trails. She’s also been a triathlete. And, Nadia races a lot: she’s run over 160 marathons, and in 2013, she became the youngest person to run 100 marathons.  Nadia is also a running coach and she is an uplifting, influential presence on Instagram. She’s also well known for sharing her running journey with her father, who’s run with her since the beginning, and continues to run with her to this day.  Nadia has had her share of challenges. She’s navigated some very dark days, and a time when alcohol use became destructive. And, she’s emerged on the other side, reaching big goals and lifetime PRs, at age 40.  In this story, Nadia shares it all. How to Keep Up with Nadia Ruiz Instagram, running: @irongirlnadia Instagram, coaching: @movementisplay To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AlexGrohl⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

This episode features Marwa Ali, who is from Kabul, Afghanistan, and now lives in exile as a refugee in Paris, France. How and why she left her home country and the part running and sports played in that journey is what her story is about. Moreover, it's about the power of being an athlete. Marwa Ali, who is now 24 years old, has been an athlete since childhood. She grew up in Afghanistan during a time when the rights and freedoms of women and girls had been improving. That all changed, however, when the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The Taliban quickly and harshly stripped women of all autonomy or the ability to move freely outside the home. Marwa shares that in her story to that in her story, along with the difficulties of life under the Taliban and becoming a refugee in a foreign country all on her own: she left her entire family behind. Marwa also talks about discovering the joy and power of being an athlete at 8 years old, and how that led her to become a leader within sports and beyond. It also instilled a strong sense of self-confidence. Marwa’s athletic pursuits have been a throughline of support, empowerment, hope, and healing, all along her very difficult journey. Also a steady force in Marwa’s journey is that all her athletic pursuits are to both help herself and to also raise up the dark times Afghan women and girls are facing. “In this difficult time,” says Marwa, “if they cannot run, I can run for them.” Mentioned in This Episode Afghan Parkour Society: @afghanparkoursociety Ring O'Fire: ringofire.co.uk To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Verna Volker first started running as a way to improve her health. Over time, however, her relationship to the sport has grown and changed, to become a more personal and powerful part of her life. She started out pursuing road marathons and then moved to the trails, stretching her limits in ultra trail running. As her journey has evolved, so have her motivations. This is a story about how Volker has shaped her running journey to best serve her, her family, and her community. Volker is from the Navajo Nation: she clarifies, "My clans are the Tódích'íi'nii (Bitterwater) nishlíi, Hashtl'ishnii (Mud People) bashishchiin, Ta'neeszahnii (Tangle) dashicheii, and Tó' áheedlíinii (Water Flows Together) dashinalí." As she got more involved in running, Volker noticed the absence of stories and experiences of other Native women in the media and online. She decided to help change that by launching Native Women Running, to highlight those experiences and also to support and create community and running opportunities for women like herself. Volker's running pursuits have also brought her closer to her own ancestry; running is integral to Navaho culture. This was something Volker had known throughout her life, but she hadn't felt that connection until experiencing the sport for herself in adulthood; she is now passing that lived knowledge on to her children. In hand, Volker has also discovered the healing powers of running, which have helped her work through past traumas. And she has a strong appreciation for the strength created through developing a supportive running community. Keep Up with Verna Volker Instagram: ⁠@hozhorunner4⁠ Keep Up with Native Women Running Instagram: ⁠@nativewomenrunning⁠ Website: ⁠NativeWomenRunning.com⁠ Mentioned in This Reair Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/59JRTV51UFMt0za35viDGf?si=6b10498ca4044c90 Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on YouTube: youtube.com/@EarthmoversPodcast Ep. 4, EARTHMOVERS, on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/co-hosts-verna-nezbegay-volker-and-stefanie-flippin/id1831613264?i=1000724956434 Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Instagram:⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠ Twitter:⁠ @WomenRunStories⁠ Website:⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠ Email host Cherie: [email protected] Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: ⁠https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

This episode features Mary Cass, one of New England's most competitive masters racers. At age 63, she is crushing it, and she's also one of the most generous racers you'll meet. Mary has that wonderful combination of being really open about sharing her knowledge and advice before and after races, and then from the time the gun goes off to the finish line, she's a fierce competitor. Mary is undoubtedly an inspiration, and she has a great appreciation for the racing community. She also has a deep love of competition. This is matched by her dedication to putting in the work in training: Mary does the hard work to get the speed she has. And while Mary's been a competitor for decades, it's only been over the past few years that she's had the time, energy, encouragement, and support to really up her racing game. Hear the whole story in this episode, from the start of her racing, through running races pushing her two girls in a stroller, all the way to Mary lining up at the famed Hayward Field for an invitational masters exhibition race, leading into the 2025 USATF National Championships. Mentioned in This Episode Sue McDonald, live interview, Feb. 2025: womensrunningstories.com/live-sue-mcdonald-8x-masters-world-record-holder-from-the-boston-tracksmith-track-house Sue McDonald, 9 Times a Masters World Record Holder: womensrunningstories.com/sue-mcdonald-9-times-a-masters-world-record-holder To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

It's been a summer of training and getting back to racing; surviving the heat, building back speed and strength, and looking ahead, with a new coach.Plus, a shout out to the power of breathwork, especially for managing anxiety.Mentioned in this EpisodeThe last update from me, Cherie: womensrunningstories.com/wrs-host-cherie-back-to-training-running-update-mid-mar-mid-may-2025To support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠Music CreditsCormac O'Regan, of ⁠⁠Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠Grand Project⁠, via⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠ via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesOver 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: ⁠⁠@over50sub20_5k_project⁠⁠WRS Instagram:⁠⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠Website:⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Arielle Knutson has been an athlete since she was young, and this has shaped her life. She starting with gymnastics and then moved on to road running, triathlon, and trail running. As she developed in her adult years and her career life, Arielle discovered strong connections between her work and athletic life. She went with it, and the two became strongly intertwined. And, in both realms of her life, Arielle goes all in. In this episode, Arielle shares her athletic journey and the process of becoming the CEO of the beloved women's running apparel brand: Oiselle. Get ready to be inspired. How to Keep Up with Arielle Knutson Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@arielledora Mentioned in This Episode Oiselle: Oiselle.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ prazkhanal, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Summer Confuorto, a Gros Ventre, Cree, Mi’kmaq woman, tells the story of running her first marathon: the 2025 Boston Marathon, representing the Ohketeau Cultural Center Natives Run Initiative. Summer tells her story, from running along the water during her youth in her hometown of Falmouth, MA; to how running connects her to her own and also the local native communities; and then about her first marathon, the 2025 Boston Marathon. For Summer, running this marathon was about so much more than completing 26.2 miles. For starters, it’s a reclaiming and reconnecting with this space: like many major routes all across this land, the Boston Marathon course largely follows pathways that have been traveled by native people going back hundreds of years. And there's more. Hear the whole story on the podcast. How to Keep Up with Summer Confuorto Instagram: ⁠@sconfuorto Mentioned in This Episode Ohketeau Cultural Center: ohketeau.org Natives Run: ohketeau.org/events1/natives-run 26.2 Foundation: 26-2.org To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music of the Future, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Ultra runner and long-distance fast packer Jessica Pekari on the podcast! She shares the story of her most recent fastest known time (FKT) adventure: completing the 500 mile Colorado Trail. Jessica is an Army veteran—having served as a medic in Iraq—and mother of three, with Blackfeet and Mexican heritage. She started exploring ultra running in 2015, and ran her first 100 miler the next year. Jessica then went on to win the triple crown of 200 milers in 2018, which consists of the Bigfoot 200 miler in Washington, in August; the Tahoe 200 miler in California and Nevada in September; and it finishes with the Moab 240 miler in October, which Jessica won, on her way to winning the overall title for these three events.  Jessica went on to become an accomplished backpacker. She made her first FKT attempt in 2020, going after the southbound Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) record. She was thwarted by fires that year and didn’t set the FKT, but she did write a book about her experiences: Bombs to Trails: Interweaving Heritage, Life, and PTSD on the Pacific Crest Trail. Jessica returned to the PCT in 2023 and set that FKT. In this episode, Jessica tells the story of setting her latest FKT: the 500-mile Colorado Trail northbound, collegiate west, unsupported record.  Her story covers the ups and downs, highs and lows of such an incredible adventure. Be ready to get inspired!  How to Keep Up with Jessica Pekari Instagram: @jessicapekari Website: adventuresonthetrail.com Bombs to Trails book: adventuresonthetrail.com/bombs-to-trails To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Professional runner for Oiselle and social media influencer Allie Ostrander is on the podcast! Allie is here to share what running and racing has looked like from her over the past couple years as she returned to elite level competition, in all the many running disciplines that she pursues, after going through treatment for disordered eating—a journey she’s been very public about.  Allie Ostrander has been an exceptional runner and racer since she was young. And her running abilities span just about every type of discipline available to runners: Allie races on the track, the roads, in cross country, and on the trails. While many top level runners will race a few different disciplines, it’s rare to see someone race at the top level in so many different types of races. Among Allie’s many accolades, in 2014, she won the prestigious Nike cross country championships. The next year, 2015, she was the Under 20 Mountain World Champion and placed 2nd in the NCAA D1 cross country national champs. Then in 2016, she placed 8th at the 5000m at the Olympic Trials. Then for the following three years, she dominated the steeplechase: Allie was the NCAA D1 national champion in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Allie forfeited her final year of collegiate eligibility to turn pro, signing with the Brooks Beasts.  But then, things began to shift. Allie was plagued by numerous injuries and a pattern of disordered eating began to catch up with her. At the strong urging of her team, she entered treatment. In 2021, Allie left the Brooks Beasts Team and continued on the road to recovery. Allie needed to discover what a strong, healthy body, mind, and emotional state meant, for her. That’s exactly the journey Allie's been on, and she shares that story in this episode—how she’s made her way back to not only racing well in the many disciplines that call to her, but racing with renewed passion and excitement, returning to disciplines she’s excelled at in the past as well as testing herself at longer distances. Next up for Allie, the USATF Track National Championship, where she'll be racing her specialty, the steeplechase. The first round of competition for Allie is on Thursday, July 31, 2025. How to Keep Up with Allie Ostrander Instagram: ⁠@allie_ostrander YouTube: @allie_ostrander To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Welcome Amy Ortiz to WRS! Amy is a runner who, over the past several years, has become a community builder and leader in the running scene, and now she's a coach, with a focus on creating space for women, especially women of color. In this episode, Amy shares how she arrived where she is today in the running world. A long-time resident of the Bronx, Amy's running is deeply intertwined with her interest in community building. She’s a founder of the all women run club Bronx Femme Run, a pacer for the No Name program, and she recently completed the NYC Game Changers program. For Amy, running is more than miles. As she says, "It was the connector of what I was looking for." How to Keep Up with Amy Ortiz Instagram: @alocurls Mentioned in This Episode EARTHMOVERS Instagram: ⁠⁠@EARTHMOVERSpodcast⁠⁠ EARTHMOVERS Kickstarter campaign: ⁠⁠kickstarter.com/projects/earthmoverspodcast/earthmovers-a-trail-podcast-reclaiming-the-narrative⁠⁠ Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/vanessa-c-peralta-mitchell-founder-of-games-changers-redefining-who-is-a-leader-in-running To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

In this episode, Lisa Levin tells her running story through to today, where at 51, she’s more excited than ever to challenge herself and set motivating goals.  In addition to being a longtime runner with a particular interest in running marathons, especially Boston, which she has run an astonishing 22 times, Lisa is also a coach and podcaster, with Julie Sapper, who was featured on WRS last week. Lisa and Julie co-host the terrific podcast Run Farther and Faster, and they also coach together, through their coaching business under the same name. For the the past four years, I've teamed with with Lisa and Julie to host  panel discussions over Boston Marathon weekend. Now I get to have Lisa telling the story of her running journey (after Julie told her story last week). Here, Lisa tells her running journey from how she got starter, through IVF treatments and two pregnancies, to right now, with a look forward to her next goal. For Lisa, aging is a time of new, exciting possibilities.  How to Keep Up with Lisa Levin Instagram: ⁠@runfartherandfaster⁠ Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/RunFartherFaster⁠ Website: ⁠⁠runfartherandfaster.com⁠ Mentioned in This Episode EARTHMOVERS Instagram: ⁠@EARTHMOVERSpodcast⁠ EARTHMOVERS Kickstarter campaign: ⁠kickstarter.com/projects/earthmoverspodcast/earthmovers-a-trail-podcast-reclaiming-the-narrative⁠ Live Panel Discussions, with co-hosts Sapper and Levin 2025, ft Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, and Dot McMahon: ⁠womensrunningstories.com/live-event-stephanie-bruce-erica-stanley-dottin-dot-mcmahon-2025-boston-marathon-expo⁠ 2024, ft, Alisa Harvey, Bri Boehmer, Kelly Bruno: ⁠womensrunningstories.com/live-event-alisa-harvey-kelly-bruno-briana-boehmer-at-the-2024-boston-marathon-expo⁠ 2023, ft Marilyn Bevans, Patti Dillon, Jacqueline Hansen: ⁠womensrunningstories.com/live-event-podium-pioneers-panel-boston-marathon-expo⁠ 2022, ft Marilyn Bevans, Maegan Krifchin: ⁠womensrunningstories.com/live-event-marilyn-bevans-hosted-by-strides-forward-run-father-faster-podcasts⁠ To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ prazkhanal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Runner, running coach, and podcaster Julie Sapper is on Women's Running Stories! Her story here is focused on  her return from a long-term injury: an ACL tear. She tells about her thorough approach to healing and recovery and the nonlinear path to returning to running injury-free, all the way to reaching her ultimate goal: running the Boston Marathon, for her 13th time. Sapper was so thoughtful and complete through this process—"I wanted to get a PR in recovery," she says—she has a lot of great experience and wisdom to share. Julie Sapper is part of the super coaching and podcasting duo behind Run Farther and Faster, with Lisa Levin. For the the past four years, I've teamed with with Sapper and Levin to host  panel discussions over Boston Marathon weekend. Now I get to have Sapper telling this inspiring part of her running journey. And, next week’s episode features Levin, telling her running story. Stay tuned! How to Keep Up with Julie Sapper Instagram: @runfartherandfaster Facebook: facebook.com/RunFartherFaster Website: ⁠runfartherandfaster.com Mentioned in This Episode EARTHMOVERS Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast EARTHMOVERS Kickstarter campaign: kickstarter.com/projects/earthmoverspodcast/earthmovers-a-trail-podcast-reclaiming-the-narrative Live Panel Discussions, with co-hosts Sapper and Levin 2025, ft Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, and Dot McMahon: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-stephanie-bruce-erica-stanley-dottin-dot-mcmahon-2025-boston-marathon-expo 2024, ft, Alisa Harvey, Bri Boehmer, Kelly Bruno: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-alisa-harvey-kelly-bruno-briana-boehmer-at-the-2024-boston-marathon-expo 2023, ft Marilyn Bevans, Patti Dillon, Jacqueline Hansen: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-podium-pioneers-panel-boston-marathon-expo 2022, ft Marilyn Bevans, Maegan Krifchin: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-marilyn-bevans-hosted-by-strides-forward-run-father-faster-podcasts To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

This episode features runner, adventurer, and creator of the wildly popular Tough Girl podcast and Tough Girl Challenges, Sarah Williams. These days, Sarah is well known for taking on incredible challenges, but it wasn't always that way. Here, Sarah tells her adventuring lifestyle origin story: how she transitioned from working in wealth management in London to exploring the world through epic adventures to challenge herself, to motivate other women, and to raise the visibility of women adventurers. Among her many, many adventuring accolades, Sarah has completed the 500-mile Camino Francés, the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, and she recently finished Te Araroa, the 1,860-mile hike across New Zealand, covering both the north and south islands. In her story, Sarah talks about what first inspired her to pursue the adventuring life in her mid-30s, and her first big challenges: Marathon des Sables, the notoriously difficult multi-day running race in Morocco, in the Sahara Desert, and hiking the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in the US in 100 days. Sarah shares the many challenges and doubts she experienced on her way to becoming the adventurer she is today. And how, in the end, she discovered how to believe in herself. That's a strength she carries to this day. Beyond her own adventures, Sarah is passionately focused on inspiring and highlighting women adventurers all over the globe. This year, the Tough Girl podcast will reach over 800 episodes, and counting! How to Keep Up with Sarah Williams Instagram: @toughgirlchallenges⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: toughgirlchallenges.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠ aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠chillmore⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

This episode features the running story of Mireille Siné, a marathon and ultra runner, a coach, and so much more. And intertwined into Mireille’s running journey is an autoimmune condition she’s been navigating since college: lupus. Since childhood, being active and participating in sports has been part of Mireille’s life, and that included running. Running became a more central part of her athletic journey through college and after. Now in her mid-30s, Mireille has completed numerous half marathons, over a dozen marathons, and several trail ultras. She was also on a relay team for the Speed Project, a 340-mile event that goes from Santa Monica, CA,  to Las Vegas, NV, and she ran from Boston to New York City as part of a group of women who completed the 200-mile journey in 11 days. All to say, Mireille loves the challenge of running  long distances, and she has for years now. Throughout her running journey, Mireille has met the challenges presented by lupus. And that is the story Mireille is going to tell. How her pursuit of running and a lupus diagnosis have shaped her life and her athletic pursuits, as she continues to run far, and now coach others to go after their running goals. How to Keep Up with Mireille Siné Instagram: ⁠@heycoachmireille Website: ⁠⁠coachedbymireille.com To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Lidérc Bell⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠AlexGrohl⁠, via ⁠Pixabay ⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

I am bringing you a reair of a terrific episode. I'm taking this one-week break because I've been working on a new project that we just announced, and that I know you'll be excited about: the podcast EARTHMOVERS, with Alison Mariella Désir, Stefanie Flippin, Verna NezBegay Volker. It will launch Aug 14. Keep up with news and information about EARTHMOVERS now on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast. I'll be back next week with a new episode of WRS. In the meantime, this is a great one: enjoy again or for the first time. Wynonna Curely-Fulgham first discovered the life-changing impact running could have on her during her Kinaaldah, the Navajo puberty ceremony. She's carried the teaches from that transformative time into her adult life. Wynonna has continued to be drawn to running, and specifically ultra trail running, as a way to test her own limits and also to process life's challenges and find her peace. It is a deep well of connection, discovery, and release: a physical endeavor that is also spiritual and healing. In this episode, Wynonna shares the story of the pivotal moments she's experienced in ultra trail running, up through today. Her journey includes taking part in the Transrockies, a multi-day stage running race that takes place in Colorado, traveling through the mountains and over peaks, at altitude. Wynonna often runs as a member of the Native Women Run team. Wynonna's story is powerful and beautiful. One women's incredible journey of self-discovery, evolution, and inspiration. Keep Up with Wynonna Curely-Fulgham Instagram: ⁠@blacksheep_running⁠ Keep Up with Native Women Run Instagram: ⁠@native_women_run⁠ Website: ⁠nativewomenrunning.com⁠ Information about Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, MMIW ⁠mmiwusa.org⁠ Information about Native American Boarding Schools ⁠boardingschoolhealing.org/education/us-indian-boarding-school-history⁠ ⁠boardingschoolhealing.org⁠ ⁠www.irsss.ca⁠ ⁠nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/30/us/native-american-boarding-schools.html⁠ Mentioned in this podcast Live with Team Native Women Run at the 2024 Chicago Marathon: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-native-women-run-team-at-the-2024-chicago-marathon-expo Support Our Supporters Lagoon Pillows: ⁠lagoonsleep.com/WRS15⁠ Use the discount code WRS15 for 15% off your first order To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of ⁠Playtoh⁠ ⁠Coma-Media⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠penguinmusic⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠RomanBelov⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠Grand Project⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Instagram:⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠ Instagram: ⁠@over50sub20_5k_project⁠ Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠ Website:⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠ Email host Cherie: [email protected] Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: ⁠https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

This is a special live report from the inaugural We Out Here Trail Festival that just happened this last weekend on June 7, 2025. It took place outside Seattle, WA, at St. Edwards State Park.  The trail scene is and has long been the whitest, most male dominated sector of the running world. Instead of continuing to wait for the system to change, RDs Aaliyah Earvin and Alison Mariella Désir stepped up and made the event that they have wanted to see for a long, long time, and that they knew was possible.  Their vision: “We imagine a world where everyone feels welcome to find joy in the trails, free from fear or intimidation, and surrounded by a supportive community.” Welcome, We Out Here. An event that, by all accounts, not only met, but exceeded expectations. Event participation featured the largest percentage of people of color at a trail event, ever. And 66% of participants were first timers. And, the day was nonstop full of joy! Which you will hear reflected in this episode.  Not only did these women create a successful event, they created a new model. It's not often that you get to be at a history making groundbreaking event. And, I'm really excited to share this with you.  This episode comprises a series of on-the-spot interviews featuring women talking about their experience of the day. Many of these women you will likely not be familiar with, but several you probably will: Verna Volker, founder of Native Women Run; Carolyn Su, founder of Diverse We Run and co-host of the Making Strides podcast with Stefanie Flippin; Flippin, a pro racer, is also featured in this episode: she is one of the fastest a 100-mile racers in the country; and you’ll also hear from Mirna Valerio, author of the book, A Beautiful Work In Progress. Also, you’ll hear from the two race directors, Earvin, who is a coach, fitness professional, and community builder, and Désir, who, among many other accolades, is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black.  Get a taste of what it was like, live at this historic event, the inaugural We Out Here Trail Festival. See More About the Event on Instagram on these accounts Seattle Running Collective: @seattlerunningcollective Aaliyah Earvin: @confidentaaliyah Alison Mariella Désir: @alisonmdesir Mentioned in this Episode Stefanie Flippin on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/stefanie-flippin-pro-ultra-runner-transforming-through-difficulties Verna Volker on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/verna-volker-founder-of-native-women-run-a-running-journey-of-healing-and-community Alison Mariella Désir on WRS, Running While Black: womensrunningstories.com/alison-mariella-desir-running-while-black-her-story-her-book Alison Mariella Désir on WRS, Kilimanjaro: womensrunningstories.com/alison-mariella-desir-climbing-mount-kilimanjaro

Sara Aranda is a trail runner and outdoor adventurer who has developed a strong interest in going after FKTs, fastest known times. But her outdoor passions are about much more than setting records: Aranda's motivations are spurred by processing life and death, grief and hope, fear and joy. Aranda's passion for trail running began while she was in college. It was a space where she could process the death of her mother, who'd died after many years of fighting breast cancer. Aranda herself then had to face some tough decisions. She first decided to learn whether or not she carried the same genetic abnormality her mother and other family members had, a BRCA mutation, which puts the carrier at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. She did. Aranda then had a decade to decide if she wanted to take the preventative steps that would lower her chances of getting cancer, beginning with a double mastectomy. This episode traces how running and moving through wild spaces have become intertwined with how Aranda has navigated big life questions and experiences that clarify how short this life can be. The meaningful experiences found out on the trail are integral to how she chooses to live. How to Keep Up with Sara Aranda Instagram: @oyesaranda Website: bivytales.com Mentioned in this Episode FKT Website: fastestknowntime.com Becky Croft on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/becky-croft-running-endometriosis-and-post-hysterectomy-menopause To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Lidérc Bell⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠, via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠ SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠, via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠ PaulYudin, via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Becky Croft’s life experiences have led her to becoming not only a performance minded runner but also a sought-after running coach. She’s developed a specialty in guiding runners through their menopausal years—pre and post. Croft brings her own experience of post-hysterectomy menopause, which resulted from of a long history of endometriosis. Croft shares her whole running story, which began later in life, in her 30s. She discovered her competitive mindset early in her running journey, and has been training with performance-focused goals ever since. Becky Croft is a native woman, representing the Cherokee and the Yakima nations. She is part of the Native Women Run community, and has run as a member of the NWR team. Croft's journey has also led her to become a Chi Running instructor, an RRCA certified running coach through the Game Changers program, and a She Runs this Town group leader. And Croft is on the board of ReNew Earth Running. Becky Croft shares how running has empowered her, helped her process and heal through challenging health issues, brought her closer to her native roots and community, and been a pathway to leadership as a coach who brings much needed wisdom, knowledge, and experience to others. How to Keep Up with Becky Croft Instagram: @coach.croft Mentioned in this Episode ⁠Native Women Run: @native_women_run Running Industry Diversity Coalition: runningdiversity.com ReNew Earth Running: renewearthrunning.org Game Changers: vcpm.com/game-changers Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/vanessa-c-peralta-mitchell-founder-of-games-changers-redefining-who-is-a-leader-in-running To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Lidérc Bell⁠, via ⁠Pixabay ⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠ ⁠RoyaltyFreeMusic⁠, via ⁠Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram: ⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

Jessica Mena is a longtime runner now focused on ultra trail running. She’s continually driven to discover what she is capable of: beginning with her first marathon, at age 12!, to today, as she explores running long distances on the trails. This episode focuses on Mena reaching one of her biggest goals yet: running 100 kilometers (62 miles) over hilly trails. She shares how it all went down, along with the running journey that got her to this point. In addition to being a runner, Mena is a physical therapist, coach, and running community builder—she’s the founder of the Tempo Training Run Club. Mena is driven to find out just how far she can push herself in running. This 100k is the latest adventure in that quest. How to Keep Up with Jessica Mena Instagram: ⁠@tempo_with_jess⁠ To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple:⁠⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of⁠⁠ Playtoh⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Coma-Media⁠⁠, via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠, via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠ ⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠, via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠ via⁠⁠ Pixabay ⁠chillmore⁠, via ⁠Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories WRS Instagram:⁠⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠ Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network:⁠⁠ https://evergreenpodcasts.com/⁠

This is an update from me, WRS host and producer Cherie Louise Turner, about my running, training, and racing. This picks up from where the last episode of the Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project, Part 9, left off. As I mentioned in my last episode, I have decided to stop focusing so completely on this sub-20 minute 5k goal, so am just calling these running updates. I still have a sub-20 goal, but it's not my all-consuming singular focus. This update covers the time period between mid-March and mid-May 2025. I left off in the midst of a break from running, and in this episode, I share details about my return to a formal training program. I'm experimenting with some new approaches to training that I'm very excited about. Feel free to join the journey from here; it's not mandatory to listen to previous episodes of my running story (which includes parts 1-9 of the Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project, and two Comrades race reports, from 2022 and 2023) in order to enjoy this one. Previous episodes will provide more context around my running story and provide details about the many lessons I have learned so far. Come along for the journey. Mentioned in this Episode Find the whole Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project series ⁠here⁠. Gwen Jacobson on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/gwen-jacobson-masters-marathon-champion-120-plus-marathons-and-counting Cherie's Comrades Race Report 2022: womensrunningstories.com/cherie-turner-2022-comrades-marathon-a-hear-her-sports-special-collaboration Cherie's Comrades Race Report 2023: womensrunningstories.com/cherie-louise-turner-2023-comrades-marathon-experiencing-the-magic-again-and-better To support WRS, please rate and review the show iTunes/Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa⁠ Music Credits Cormac O'Regan, of ⁠Playtoh⁠ ⁠Coma-Media⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠penguinmusic⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠RomanBelov⁠, via ⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠, via⁠ Pixabay⁠ ⁠Lidérc Bell⁠, via ⁠Pixabay ⁠Camila_Noir,⁠ via⁠ Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: ⁠@over50sub20_5k_project⁠ WRS Instagram:⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠ Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠ Website:⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠ Email host Cherie: [email protected] Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: ⁠https://evergreenpodcasts.com/