Shows
Women's Running StoriesREAIR: Verna NezBegay Volker: Founder of Native Women Run, a Running Journey of Healing and CommunityVerna 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...
2025-09-1638 min
Women's Running StoriesREAIR: Verna NezBegay Volker: Founder of Native Women Run, a Running Journey of Healing and CommunityVerna 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...
2025-09-1636 min
Women's Running StoriesWRS Host Cherie Louise Turner: A Running Journey Update, May-Aug. 2025It'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 Credi...
2025-08-2628 min
Women's Running StoriesWRS Host Cherie Louise Turner: A Running Journey Update, May-Aug. 2025This 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 update, which dropped mid-May 2025, left off.
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 Episode
The last update from me, Cherie: womensrunningstories.com/wrs-host-cherie-back-to-training-running-update-mid-mar-mid-may-2025
To support WRS, please rate...
2025-08-2629 min
Women's Running StoriesLIVE! Annie Rodenfels: 3x National Champion, Professional Runner, at the Boston Tracksmith Track HouseThis is a special live recording featuring professional runner and 3x national champion Annie Rodenfels, in conversation with WRS host and producer Cherie; that's me. We sat down at the Tracksmith track house in Boston on Sat., March 22, with a wonderful crowd on a beautiful morning to have this fantastic conversation. Annie Rodenfels is a born competitor. We get into how she progressed from being a high school soccer player who ran track and field, to a top NCAA DIII runner, and then to one of the best distance racers in the US.
2025-04-0853 min
Women's Running StoriesLIVE! Annie Rodenfels: 3x National Champion, Professional Runner, at the Boston Tracksmith Track HouseThis is a special live recording featuring professional runner and 3x national champion Annie Rodenfels, in conversation with WRS host and producer Cherie; that's me. We sat down at the Tracksmith track house in Boston on Sat., March 22, with a wonderful crowd on a beautiful morning to have this fantastic conversation. Annie Rodenfels is a born competitor. We get into how she progressed from being a high school soccer player who ran track and field, to a top NCAA DIII runner, and then to one of the best distance racers in the US.
2025-04-0854 min
Women's Running StoriesSamantha Powderhorn: A Powerful Story of HealingThis is the transformative running story of Samantha Powderhorn, who is from the Sayisi Dene First Nations community, in northern Manitoba, Canada. She currently lives in Winnipeg. Powderhorn’s story revolves around breaking cycles of addiction and healing trauma, for herself, her family, and her community.Today Powederhorn is the first Sayisi Dene woman to have ever run a marathon. She is also an inspiration to her six children, and to her community, that healing and change are possible. Hear how running was central to...
2025-03-1134 min
Women's Running StoriesSamantha Powderhorn: A Powerful Story of HealingThis is the transformative running story of Samantha Powderhorn, who is from the Sayisi Dene First Nations community, in northern Manitoba, Canada. She currently lives in Winnipeg. Powderhorn’s story revolves around breaking cycles of addiction and healing trauma, for herself, her family, and her community.Today Powederhorn is the first Sayisi Dene woman to have ever run a marathon. She is also an inspiration to her six children, and to her community, that healing and change are possible. Hear how running was central to...
2025-03-1135 min
Women's Running StoriesTherese Munthe: Her Incredible Marathon JourneyTherese Munthe, 48, has always been athletic, and she's always been competitive. But she did not like to run. She believed she wasn't good at it—until she discovered marathoning, in her 40s.
That all changed in 2021. Munthe was looking for a way to connect with her father when he was facing the end of his life. This led Munthe on a journey that has changed her life and turned her into a serious marathon runner.
Just over the past few years Munthe has discovered that she actually is a good runner, and more so, she lo...
2025-03-0436 min
Women's Running StoriesTherese Munthe: Her Incredible Marathon JourneyTherese Munthe, 48, has always been athletic, and she's always been competitive. But she did not like to run. She believed she wasn't good at it—until she discovered marathoning, in her 40s.
That all changed in 2021. Munthe was looking for a way to connect with her father when he was facing the end of his life. This led Munthe on a journey that has changed her life and turned her into a serious marathon runner.
Just over the past few years Munthe has discovered that she actually is a good runner, and more so, she lo...
2025-03-0435 min
Women's Running StoriesMolly Hurford: Ultrarunner, Author, Strong Girl Publishing FounderMolly Hurford knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age. She also loved being active outdoors. But she had decided that, as a writer, she couldn’t possibly also be an athlete. That all changed in college. Today Hurford embodies many identities, including owner/founder of Strong Girl Publishing, writer, podcaster, and athlete, including being an ultra runner. This story is all about how Hurford developed into the athlete she is today, and how her combined passions of writing and sports have become a powerful forc...
2025-02-2534 min
Women's Running StoriesMolly Hurford: Ultrarunner, Author, Strong Girl Publishing FounderMolly Hurford knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age. She also loved being active outdoors. But she had decided that, as a writer, she couldn’t possibly also be an athlete. That all changed in college. Today Hurford embodies many identities, including owner/founder of Strong Girl Publishing, writer, podcaster, and athlete, including being an ultra runner. This story is all about how Hurford developed into the athlete she is today, and how her combined passions of writing and sports have become a powerful forc...
2025-02-2532 min
Women's Running StoriesLIVE! Sue McDonald: 8x Masters World Record Holder, from the Boston Tracksmith Track HouseThis is a special live recording featuring 8x masters world record holder Sue McDonald, 61, in conversation with WRS host and producer Cherie; that's me. We sat down the Tracksmith track house in Boston on Sat., Feb 1, to a wonderful group who braved snowy weather for this terrific conversation. We get into how McDonald has stayed healthy and competitive over her 40-plus year career as a highly competitive athlete—in many sports. And how, at age 59, she looked over the record books and set to raising the bar for what's possible for women athletes her ag...
2025-02-1154 min
Women's Running StoriesLIVE! Sue McDonald: 8x Masters World Record Holder, from the Boston Tracksmith Track HouseThis is a special live recording featuring 8x masters world record holder Sue McDonald, 61, in conversation with WRS host and producer Cherie; that's me. We sat down the Tracksmith track house in Boston on Sat., Feb 1, to a wonderful group who braved snowy weather for this terrific conversation. We get into how McDonald has stayed healthy and competitive over her 40-plus year career as a highly competitive athlete—in many sports. And how, at age 59, she looked over the record books and set to raising the bar for what's possible for women athletes her ag...
2025-02-1153 min
Women's Running StoriesWeini Kelati: Her Championship Year, Breaking Records, Realizing Olympic DreamsWeini Kelati is a professional road and long distance track racer for the Mission Run Dark Sky Distance team sponsored by Under Armour. Kelati is one of the best US racers in the 10k, 5k, and, more recently, half marathon. In this episode, Kelati shares how she got to this point in her running career, with a particular focus on the transformation her racing went through over the past year. This involves hard training, of course. But Kelati also had to improve her physical and mental skills when it...
2025-01-2849 min
Women's Running StoriesWeini Kelati: Her Championship Year, Breaking Records, Realizing Olympic DreamsWeini Kelati is a professional road and long distance track racer for the Mission Run Dark Sky Distance team sponsored by Under Armour. Kelati is one of the best US racers in the 10k, 5k, and, more recently, half marathon. In this episode, Kelati shares how she got to this point in her running career, with a particular focus on the transformation her racing went through over the past year. This involves hard training, of course. But Kelati also had to improve her physical and mental skills when it...
2025-01-2847 min
Women's Running StoriesMarlinda Francisco: Ultra Trail Runner, Her Running Journey to Finishing Her First 100kmMarlinda Francisco has run many distances on road and trail. In this episode, she shares how she first got into running and how it has become such a big part of her life. Marlinda also shares how she first started out running on the roads but then discovered her love of trail running. She now runs ultras, and she shares how just this past October at the Javelina Jundred in Arizona, she finished her longest distance yet, 100 kilometers (62 miles).Marlinda is a native woman, Navajo and Tohono O’odham. Running is embedded in these cultures, and Marlinda runs...
2024-12-1031 min
Women's Running StoriesMarlinda Francisco: Ultra Trail Runner, Her Running Journey to Finishing Her First 100kmMarlinda Francisco has run many distances on road and trail. In this episode, she shares how she first got into running and how it has become such a big part of her life. Marlinda also shares how she first started out running on the roads but then discovered her love of trail running. She now runs ultras, and she shares how just this past October at the Javelina Jundred in Arizona, she finished her longest distance yet, 100 kilometers (62 miles).Marlinda is a native woman, Navajo and Tohono O’odham. Running is embedded in these cultures, and Marlinda runs...
2024-12-1030 min
Women's Running StoriesLauren Hagans: Racing the Marathon, a New Chapter for a Seasoned Professional RunnerLauren Hagans is a professional distance runner with a long racing career, and she's been a top competitor at many distances. Now that includes the marathon, which Hagans just started racing in 2023. This episode focuses on this new chapter of Hagans's running career.At 38, Hagans is just getting rolling with at the 26.2 mile distance, and she's competing among the best. For her debut in 2023, Hagans raced the prestigious Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN, where she came out flying: She won! And she clocked an incredible 2:25:55: this is the fourth fastest debut marathon by an American women, ever.
2024-12-0324 min
Women's Running StoriesLauren Hagans: Racing the Marathon, a New Chapter for a Seasoned Professional RunnerLauren Hagans is a professional distance runner with a long racing career, and she's been a top competitor at many distances. Now that includes the marathon, which Hagans just started racing in 2023. This episode focuses on this new chapter of Hagans's running career.At 38, Hagans is just getting rolling with at the 26.2 mile distance, and she's competing among the best. For her debut in 2023, Hagans raced the prestigious Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN, where she came out flying: She won! And she clocked an incredible 2:25:55: this is the fourth fastest debut marathon by an American women, ever.
2024-12-0323 min
Women's Running StoriesNaseemah Palmer: "Running Reminds Me I'm Living"Naseemah Palmer had wanted to try running, but she didn't see it as a place for someone like herself. Until, as she recounts in her story, running found her. On the fateful day of May 4, 2014, a day when Palmer was deep in the depths of undiagnosed post-partum depression, she encountered the Broad Street 10-mile Run, and it changed her life.Today, 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...
2024-11-0532 min
Women's Running StoriesNaseemah Palmer: "Running Reminds Me I'm Living"Naseemah Palmer had wanted to try running, but she didn't see it as a place for someone like herself. Until, as she recounts in her story, running found her. On the fateful day of May 4, 2014, a day when Palmer was deep in the depths of undiagnosed post-partum depression, she encountered the Broad Street 10-mile Run, and it changed her life.Today, 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...
2024-11-0534 min
Women's Running StoriesKatie Holmes: The Life-Changing Power of Running, After 40Katie Holmes started running in her 40s: she's since become a runner and racer of many distances over many types of terrain. She's also a women's running historian and she blogs about masters runners: see her writing on RunYoung50.co.uk.Through running, Katie has discovered interests and abilities she never knew she had before. In short, the sport has been life changing.And now, Katie is focused on an event that joins both her passion for running and her passion for women's running history.In this episode, hear the whole story: how...
2024-09-1740 min
Women's Running StoriesKatie Holmes: The Life-Changing Power of Running, After 40Katie Holmes started running in her 40s: she's since become a runner and racer of many distances over many types of terrain. She's also a women's running historian and she blogs about masters runners: see her writing on RunYoung50.co.uk.Through running, Katie has discovered interests and abilities she never knew she had before. In short, the sport has been life changing.And now, Katie is focused on an event that joins both her passion for running and her passion for women's running history.In this episode, hear the whole story: how...
2024-09-1741 min
Women's Running StoriesDakotah Lindwurm: A Childhood Olympic Dream Comes TrueDakotah Lindwurm is a professional distance runner for the Minnesota Distance Elite Team, sponsored by Puma. Her specialty is the marathon.Just a few short weeks ago, Lindwurm became an Olympian.This is Dakotah Lindwurm's Olympic dream story. It begins with the moment that sparked this dream, way back in childhood. Lindwurm shares how, despite not showing obvious potential in her early running, she continued to dream big: through her walk-on DII collegiate running days; turning pro; the US Olympic Trials in Orlando, Florida, back on February 2, 2024, where she was considered a strong underdog; to...
2024-09-0347 min
Women's Running StoriesDakotah Lindwurm: A Childhood Olympic Dream Comes TrueDakotah Lindwurm is a professional distance runner for the Minnesota Distance Elite Team, sponsored by Puma. Her specialty is the marathon.Just a few short weeks ago, Lindwurm became an Olympian.This is Dakotah Lindwurm's Olympic dream story. It begins with the moment that sparked this dream, way back in childhood. Lindwurm shares how, despite not showing obvious potential in her early running, she continued to dream big: through her walk-on DII collegiate running days; turning pro; the US Olympic Trials in Orlando, Florida, back on February 2, 2024, where she was considered a strong underdog; to...
2024-09-0345 min
Women's Running StoriesSarah Pardus: A Marathon Goal Met, with Girls On the RunJust this year, 2024, Sarah Pardus realized a goal that she'd been aiming toward for a decade: she ran the Boston Marathon. While her road to that finish line was full of twists and turns, it was also a full-circle moment. It both begins and ends with the terrific organization Girls on the Run (GOTR).Sarah's first organized run training came at a young age, through being a part of GOTR. Throughout high school and into college, Sarah was a highly competitive swimmer, and running helped her stay fit. And when an injury ultimately ended her swimming career...
2024-08-2037 min
Women's Running StoriesSarah Pardus: A Marathon Goal Met, with Girls On the RunJust this year, 2024, Sarah Pardus realized a goal that she'd been aiming toward for a decade: she ran the Boston Marathon. While her road to that finish line was full of twists and turns, it was also a full-circle moment. It both begins and ends with the terrific organization Girls on the Run (GOTR).Sarah's first organized run training came at a young age, through being a part of GOTR. Throughout high school and into college, Sarah was a highly competitive swimmer, and running helped her stay fit. And when an injury ultimately ended her swimming career...
2024-08-2038 min
Women's Running StoriesMary McManus: Running a Marathon, Healing from Polio and Childhood TraumaMary McManus contracted paralytic polio at the age of 5. She recovered from the paralysis, but the disease had a lasting impact on her ability to move. This led to taunting and teasing from other children, especially when it came to physical activities. In addition to experiencing the difficulties of polio, Mary experienced physical and sexual abuse from her father, who began to abuse alcohol when she was eight. She would also come to discover that her mother had an addiction to prescription pain medication. While Mary credits the love and support of adults outside of her family f...
2024-08-0633 min
Women's Running StoriesMary McManus: Running a Marathon, Healing from Polio and Childhood TraumaMary McManus contracted paralytic polio at the age of 5. She recovered from the paralysis, but the disease had a lasting impact on her ability to move. This led to taunting and teasing from other children, especially when it came to physical activities. In addition to experiencing the difficulties of polio, Mary experienced physical and sexual abuse from her father, who began to abuse alcohol when she was eight. She would also come to discover that her mother had an addiction to prescription pain medication. While Mary credits the love and support of adults outside of her family f...
2024-08-0634 min
Women's Running StoriesAngelina Ellis: Running Professionally, from Dreaming to Olympic TrialsAngelina Ellis is a professional steeplechaser for the Mission Run Dark Sky Distance team, and 2024 marks her first year running as a professional. And what an incredible year it's been.Becoming a professional runner has been a dream for Ellis since she was in high school. But back then, that's what she thought it would always be: a dream. Ellis did not have the kind of high school running career that screamed out, "Pro runner in the making." And she had some difficult and unpleasant experiences with racing in high school that made her question w...
2024-07-1638 min
Women's Running StoriesAngelina Ellis: Running Professionally, from Dreaming to Olympic TrialsAngelina Ellis is a professional steeplechaser for the Mission Run Dark Sky Distance team, and 2024 marks her first year running as a professional. And what an incredible year it's been.Becoming a professional runner has been a dream for Ellis since she was in high school. But back then, that's what she thought it would always be: a dream. Ellis did not have the kind of high school running career that screamed out, "Pro runner in the making." And she had some difficult and unpleasant experiences with racing in high school that made her question w...
2024-07-1639 min
Women's Running StoriesRebecca Mehra: Professional Track Racer, On a Season of Inspired ChangeProfessional middle distance track racer Rebecca Mehra shares her professional running story. It's been marked by great success, two years of disappointing hurdles, to now: coming into 2024 healthy and ready, with a new perspective, new coach, and new set of training partners.Rebecca Mehra is a professional middle distance track racer, sponsored by Oiselle. She specializes in the 800 and 1500 meter. For her collegiate career, Mehra raced for the legendary running powerhouse Stanford. A year after graduation, in 2018, she became a member of Oiselle's Littlewing Athletics Elite Team, coached by former professional runner, now award-winning author Lauren Fleshman.
2024-03-0832 min
Women's Running StoriesRebecca Mehra: Professional Track Racer, On a Season of Inspired ChangeProfessional middle distance track racer Rebecca Mehra shares her professional running story. It's been marked by great success, two years of disappointing hurdles, to now: coming into 2024 healthy and ready, with a new perspective, new coach, and new set of training partners.Rebecca Mehra is a professional middle distance track racer, sponsored by Oiselle. She specializes in the 800 and 1500 meter. For her collegiate career, Mehra raced for the legendary running powerhouse Stanford. A year after graduation, in 2018, she became a member of Oiselle's Littlewing Athletics Elite Team, coached by former professional runner, now award-winning author Lauren Fleshman.
2024-03-0834 min
Women's Running Stories2023 Reflections: Clips to Take With You Into the New YearFor this episode, I chose a variety of clips from 10 episodes published in 2023 that have stuck with me and made an impact. This isn't a "best of" so much as a celebration of the huge variety of experiences and motivations women have in this sport.I hope you'll find something in here to motivate and inspire you, and perhaps spark a new interest for 2024. It's incredible how much this sport brings to so many people and the myriad ways it can show up and change throughout a lifetime.Enjoy!Clips were pulled from...
2023-12-2937 min
Women's Running Stories2023 Reflections: Clips to Take With You Into the New YearFor this episode, I chose a variety of clips from 10 episodes published in 2023 that have stuck with me and made an impact. This isn't a "best of" so much as a celebration of the huge variety of experiences and motivations women have in this sport.I hope you'll find something in here to motivate and inspire you, and perhaps spark a new interest for 2024. It's incredible how much this sport brings to so many people and the myriad ways it can show up and change throughout a lifetime.Enjoy!Clips were pulled from...
2023-12-2938 min
Women's Running StoriesNatalie Barlatier: A Marathon Runner's Unwavering CommitmentNatalie Barlatier has a determination when it comes to her running that is truly remarkable. Barlatier discovered a love of track and field in her youth, but took a break from running when she entered college. She returned to the sport after being diagnosed with MS in her late 20s, and began to explore distance running. Barlatier worked her way up to marathons over time, and running has been an important part of maintaining her health: mental, physical, and emotional.She has continued to run despite a major MS relapse, and she's returned to running after having...
2023-12-2244 min
Women's Running StoriesNatalie Barlatier: A Marathon Runner's Unwavering CommitmentNatalie Barlatier has a determination when it comes to her running that is truly remarkable. Barlatier discovered a love of track and field in her youth, but took a break from running when she entered college. She returned to the sport after being diagnosed with MS in her late 20s, and began to explore distance running. Barlatier worked her way up to marathons over time, and running has been an important part of maintaining her health: mental, physical, and emotional.She has continued to run despite a major MS relapse, and she's returned to running after having...
2023-12-2243 min
Women's Running StoriesBriana Boehmer: A Marathon Runner's Difficult Decision and the Power of SupportBriana Boehmer had dreamed about qualifying for an Olympic trials since she was young. But she'd let go of that dream as she moved into her 40s. In her mind, she had aged out. That all changed in 2020.Boehmer's first competitive sport was running, which she did through college. After college, she became a competitive triathlete, eventually working up to racing the Ironman distance, which involves swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and then running the distance of a marathon, 26.2 miles.With the onset of COVID in 2020, however, Boehmer returned to running only and decided to run...
2023-12-1540 min
Women's Running StoriesBriana Boehmer: A Marathon Runner's Difficult Decision and the Power of SupportBriana Boehmer had dreamed about qualifying for an Olympic trials since she was young. But she'd let go of that dream as she moved into her 40s. In her mind, she had aged out. That all changed in 2020.Boehmer's first competitive sport was running, which she did through college. After college, she became a competitive triathlete, eventually working up to racing the Ironman distance, which involves swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and then running the distance of a marathon, 26.2 miles.With the onset of COVID in 2020, however, Boehmer returned to running only and decided to run...
2023-12-1541 min
Women's Running StoriesSue McDonald: 9 Times a Masters World Record HolderThe story behind becoming 2023 USATF Masters Track and Field Athlete of the Year.Masters 60+ track and field athlete Sue McDonald has been a competitive athlete most of her life. And she's been a competitor in a wide variety of events: she'd started out her collegiate career as a heptathlete and has since continued to enjoy working at multiple disciplines, as well as trying new events (like the steeple!).So in 2022, when Sue was looking ahead at entering the 60+ masters age bracket, she didn't have just one event she was aiming to rewrite the records books...
2023-11-2435 min
Women's Running StoriesSue McDonald: 9 Times a Masters World Record HolderThe story behind becoming 2023 USATF Masters Track and Field Athlete of the Year.Masters 60+ track and field athlete Sue McDonald has been a competitive athlete most of her life. And she's been a competitor in a wide variety of events: she'd started out her collegiate career as a heptathlete and has since continued to enjoy working at multiple disciplines, as well as trying new events (like the steeple!).So in 2022, when Sue was looking ahead at entering the 60+ masters age bracket, she didn't have just one event she was aiming to rewrite the records books...
2023-11-2437 min
Women's Running StoriesCarolyn Su: Founder of Diverse We Run, Her First Trail AdventuresCarolyn Su is a runner and the founder of Diverse We Run, a space to build racial diversity and amplify diverse voices and stories in running on Instagram.Until 2020, Su was a road runner. She hadn't run on the trails, let alone race. And when she documented her friend's experiences at the 2019 Trans Rockies, a multi-day trail running stage race, she thought it looked amazing, but it didn't even occur to her that this was something she'd be capable of.But then, on one fateful day, she got a call from her friend Mirna Valerio...
2023-09-2250 min
Women's Running StoriesCarolyn Su: Founder of Diverse We Run, Her First Trail AdventuresCarolyn Su is a runner and the founder of Diverse We Run, a space to build racial diversity and amplify diverse voices and stories in running on Instagram.Until 2020, Su was a road runner. She hadn't run on the trails, let alone race. And when she documented her friend's experiences at the 2019 Trans Rockies, a multi-day trail running stage race, she thought it looked amazing, but it didn't even occur to her that this was something she'd be capable of.But then, on one fateful day, she got a call from her friend Mirna Valerio...
2023-09-2247 min
Women's Running StoriesRace Report: Lauren Hagans + 2023 USATF Half Marathon National ChampionshipsLauren Hagans (formerly Paquette), a professional distance runner and member of the HOKA NAZ Elite team, takes us inside the 2023 USATF Half Marathon National Championships. Her bold decision and gutsy racing earned Hagans a close second place, her first podium finish at a national championship.Hagans has a long racing career and has been a top competitor at many distances. The half-marathon is the longest distance she's raced, yet.In addition to letting us know what went down in the race, Hagans shares why she had to take most of 2022 off racing, where's she at...
2023-03-0323 min
Women's Running StoriesSara Mae Berman: Three Time Boston Champion & Running PioneerSara Mae Berman started running and paving the way for other women's distance runners in the 1960s and 1970s. She is best known these days for winning the Boston Marathon three times: 1969, 1970, 1971. In those years, women weren't officially allowed to run marathons in the United States.However, there was that six year period between 1966 and 1971 when women ran Boston unofficially. It all started with Bobbi Gibb, when she popped out from behind the bushes to run the 1966 Boston Marathon. Bobbi went on to win again in '67 and '68, and then Sara picked up the torch and...
2023-02-0947 min
Women's Running StoriesLindsey Cortes: One Runner's Nourishment & Body Acceptance JourneyLindsey Cortes is a runner and dietician who specializes in helping women athletes overcome the challenges of disordered eating and negative body image through her business Rise Up Nutrition. She brings both professional knowledge and her own personal experiences with body image and nutritional challenges to her business practice.Here, Lindsey shares the personal details of how she's navigated her own unhealthy eating habits and body image challenges, to arrive at a place of peace and wellness on both fronts. Lindsey talks about how intuitive eating has led her to be able to nourish her body to...
2023-01-1045 min
Women's Running StoriesMaegan Krifchin: An Epic Marathon PR StoryProfessional runner Maegan Krifchin wanted to make the 2022 NYC Marathon an epic day. A native of Long Island, the Atlanta Track Club runner visualized bettering her 2:30 PR (2021 Chicago Marathon) while also breaking the 2:30 barrier, cracking the top 10, and shining her brightest on November 6.That did not happen, and it was heartbreaking. But it led Meagan on a marathon adventure that would see her run the Philadelphia Marathon two weeks later, on November 20, almost grabbing the win, and then CIM in Sacramento, California, two weeks after that, on December 4. Along the way, Maegan realized the importance of shaking...
2022-12-1231 min
Women's Running StoriesMaegan Krifchin: An Epic Marathon PR StoryProfessional runner Maegan Krifchin wanted to make the 2022 NYC Marathon an epic day. A native of Long Island, the Atlanta Track Club runner visualized bettering her 2:30 PR (2021 Chicago Marathon) while also breaking the 2:30 barrier, cracking the top 10, and shining her brightest on November 6.That did not happen, and it was heartbreaking. But it led Meagan on a marathon adventure that would see her run the Philadelphia Marathon two weeks later, on November 20, almost grabbing the win, and then CIM in Sacramento, California, two weeks after that, on December 4. Along the way, Maegan realized the importance of shaking...
2022-12-1228 min
Women's Running StoriesTiffany Gayle Chenault: Running Through Grief, Creating Her PlaceWell into her 30s, Tiffany Gayle Chenault didn't have any interest in running, even when she said yes to a friend who asked her to run a 5-mile event near her home in Boston, Massachusetts. But during that run, she felt something, a renewed sense of being alive that had gone quiet since the passing of her mother a few years earlier.That aliveness led to a whole new path for Chenault, whose professional life is as a professor of sociology at Salem State University. As Chenault began her running journey, she also developed a curiosity about...
2022-12-0139 min
Women's Running StoriesAlison Mariella Désir: Running While Black, Her Story, Her BookAlison Mariella Désir is a runner, mother, activist, community builder, and now author: her highly anticipated book Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport that Wasn’t Built for Us is available today, October 18. Alison’s story is one of love and gratitude for running, and the power of this sport to create change. Hers is also a story of highlighting how the running world mirrors the racism and sexism of our larger culture and history. And her story is about making a path forward, creating space for change. In this episode, Alison tells her story completely in he...
2022-10-1836 min
Women's Running StoriesGina Lucrezi: Running Toward Equity, Establishing Trail SistersGina Lucrezi started to take note of the preferential treatment that the boys got in sports in high school. Her consciousness around this grew over time and combined with her love of running and her experiences in the running industry ultimately developed into her founding the women's trail running and hiking community Trail Sisters. In this episode, Gina tells the story completely in her own voice. Gina discovered an interest in running early on and her talent for the sport was recognized by the high school running coach. The coach was onto something: Gina set a school r...
2022-10-0438 min
Women's Running StoriesPat Freeman: 30 Years Running Comrades, and CountingPat Freeman jokes that the first time her neighbor invited her to run, she thought jogging down her driveway might be enough. Now, over three decades later, she's training to run her 31st Comrades Marathon, the 90km or roughly 56-mile road race in South Africa. It's the oldest, largest, and most prestigious ultra-distance road race in the world. In this episode, Pat shares her enduring running journey. This episode celebrates the return of Comrades, which has been on hiatus since 2019 due to COVID. Growing up in South Africa, Pat Freeman had been a Comrades spectator since childhood, bu...
2022-08-2136 min
Women's Running StoriesReair Celebrating the Return of Comrades!: Blanche Moila + Comrades Marathon: Inspiring ChangeRunning legend Blanche Moila shares her story, which is a strong testament to the many ways running can be a vehicle for change. Blanche, who is now in her 60s, has been inspiring others through running since she started competing in the 1980s. Blanche found her competitive running talents in her 20s and became one of South Africa’s best middle distance, cross-country, and marathon runners. Her accomplishments broke down racial barriers and, eventually, made her an inspiration throughout the country. After her elite running career, Blanche began to regularly participate in the Comrades Marathon. As of...
2022-08-1239 min
Women's Running StoriesCamille Herron: Menstrual Health & Running Western States on Day One of Her PeriodRace photo credit: Vasily SamoylovCamille Herron, one of the best ultra runners in the world and a leading voice in the sport, speaks out about the importance of menstrual health for athletes. She tells the story of how her period played a pivotal role at this year's Western States 100 mile trail race, and also how attending to her hormone and overall health led to her navigating menstrual cramps, nausea, and general period malaise on race day. Camille advocates strongly for women athletes to understand that regular periods are normal and that not getting your period is a...
2022-07-0636 min
Women's Running StoriesNicole Pinto: Running the Boston Marathon while Pregnant (part 1/2)Nicole Pinto was a featured runner in our Roads to Boston series and she surprised everyone by revealing at the 2021 Boston Marathon that she was 18 weeks pregnant! We had to get the whole story, so we did. This is the story of how Nicole approached training for a marathon while pregnant, and how that magical day of running her first Boston Marathon went for her. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part story about Nicole's pregnancy and running journey. Part 2 (published April 28, 2023) covers Nicole's post-partum running journey and return to racing.Nicole Pinto has been a...
2022-06-2730 min
Women's Running StoriesStrides Behind the Mic 4: Listener Stories, Updates, Recommendations, Comrades Training Has Begun! ParkRun!Keep up with the women from our listener stories via these outlets mentioned on the show: Jenna: When the People Decide podcast and Democracy Works podcastTiffany: RunISee50.comSophie: What Next Mum podcast and blogIn this episode, we recommended the following stories, in honor of Juneteenth: Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport that Wasn't Built for Us by Alison Mariella Désir, available for preorderTemple’s Tigerbelles by Dwight Lewis and Susan Thomas, illustrated by James ThrealkillTigerbelle: The Wyomia Tyus...
2022-06-2222 min
Women's Running StoriesGael Henville: Life Lessons Learned, and Shared: Runner, Coach, Community BuilderGael Henville discovered a pure love of running early in life, growing up in the Caribbean. After immigrating to the US, she experienced racism and bullying, and subsequent isolation. This is the story of how Gael's love of running eventually led her to discovering her own power and a driving desire to empower others through the sport, especially women of color. Gael is recognized as a leader in the running community, sharing the wisdom of many life lessons learned and many races run. She tells her story in her own voice. Gael has run over 100 races, and c...
2022-05-2938 min
Women's Running StoriesStrides Behind the Mic: Listener Stories! Updates; Recommendations; Track Racing & A New Approach to Training for MarathonsIn this episode, we recommended the following books: How She Did It: Stories, Advice and Secrets to Success from 50 Legendary Distance Runners by Molly Huddle and Sara SlatteryRunning While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport that Wasn't Built for Us by Alison Mariella DésirBreakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Run Smart, by Neely Spence Gracey and Cindy KuzmanNext Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals through Menopause and Beyond by Stacey Sims and Selene YeagerWe also mentioned Hear Her Spor...
2022-05-0823 min
Women's Running StoriesLIVE EVENT: Marilyn Bevans & Maegan Krifchin, Celebrating 50 Years of Women Running Boston, Officially, hosted by Strides Forward & Run Father & FasterThis is a live recording featuring an intimate conversation with elite runners from then and now: Marilyn Bevans and Maegan Krifchin, to celebrate 50 years of women running the Boston Marathon. The event was co-hosted by podcast hosts Cherie Turner, of Strides Forward, and Julie Sapper and Lisa Levin, of Run Farther & Faster. This event took place April 16 at the PRX Podcast Garage in Boston. About the featured guestsMarilyn Bevans is a pioneer in US women’s marathoning. In the 1970s, she became the first nationally competitive American-born Black woman marathon runner in the US, and...
2022-04-221h 14
Women's Running StoriesBobbi Gibb: The First Woman of the Boston MarathonRoberta "Bobbi" Gibb is the first woman to ever run the Boston Marathon. That was in 1966, before it was officially allowed. It would be another six years before that ban was overturned. Gibb's brave efforts were foundational to opening up the world of competitive running to women. This episode covers Gibb's entire running journey through to how she continues to be honored today, as well as how her fight to break gender barriers didn't stop with running. This is a very special episode, honoring a momentous anniversary. April 18th, 2022, is the 50th anniversary of women finally, officially, b...
2022-04-1437 min
Women's Running StoriesSarah Lavender Smith: Ultramarathon Trail Running LongevitySarah Lavender Smith was a late bloomer to becoming an athlete, but now at 52, she's been a competitive runner for half her life. We hear how Sarah got started on her running journey and how her passion for the sport was lit on day 1. It's a passion that driven her through many, many miles on road and trail, as a marathon and ultra runner. Discover what's kept Sarah committed to challenging herself as a runner for over two decades, through many transitions of life, including motherhood—how her approach to the sport has shifted, but her love of all th...
2022-03-3134 min
Women's Running StoriesStrides Behind the Mic Mini-Ep: Listener Stories! Podcast Updates; Racing Track & Processing InjuryIn this episode, we mentioned RunYoung50, which shares stories of women's running history and stories about older women runners. You can find RunYoung50 at https://runyoung50.co.uk/We also mentioned the Milk Minute podcast, which provides evidenced-based research for breastfeeding parents. You can find the Milk Minute at https://www.milkminutepodcast.com/Submit your story for consideration to be included on a future Strides Behind the Mic episode: we're excited to share stories from you, the listener. Each Strides Behind the Mic episode, we will share three listener stories. Please record yourself telling a 1...
2022-03-1717 min
Women's Running StoriesCathy Utzschneider: A Champion After 40, A Passion for Masters RacingCathy Utzschneider has a passion for masters racing, especially on the track, as a competitor, author, and coach. And this is certainly in large part due to the fact that she didn't start racing until she was a masters runner herself, at age 40. She has since won many championship events, coached many athletes to incredible achievements, and written extensively about masters running. Cathy also created and developed the goal-achievement method M.O.V.E., which she teaches to others, and uses herself, in her own life and with the people she personally coaches. Cathy has won multiple n...
2022-03-0834 min
Women's Running StoriesSonia Samuels w/Jae Gruenke: Olympian Rediscovers (Pain-Free) FormThis is the running story of UK marathon Olympian Sonia Samuels. We follow her journey from its beginning, and go into detail about how she returned to running pain-free and with great enthusiasm after a long bout with injuries and burnout. A critical part of Sonia's recovery journey was the work she did with Jae Gruenke, a running form expert and Feldenkrais practitioner who founded The Balanced Runner. We hear from both women about the transformative process Sonia experienced to return to her passion for running.Sonia discovered her love of running at an early age, and i...
2022-02-1947 min
Women's Running StoriesStrides Behind the Mic Mini-Ep: Updates + Listener Stories (We Want to Hear from You!) + Racing 800 MetersWe're excited to share stories from you, the listener. Each Strides Behind the Mic episode, we'll give you a prompt. Please record yourself telling a 1-3 minute story related to the prompt and email it to Strides Forward producer Cherie at clouiseturner@gmail.com. You can also use the form on our website: https://stridesforwardpodcast.com/podcast/strides-behind-the-micThe prompt from this episode is: Share a memorable moment from a recent run. Be sure to include details about why this moment was so memorable. Please share where in the wo...
2022-02-0911 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: We Ran the Boston Marathon! How It All Went Down, Season Finale (part 8/8)We did it! Join us to hear how the 125th Boston Marathon experience was for all eight of our runners who toed the line on October 11, 2021. Get inspired while you get an inside look at being a part of one of the most celebrated and historic sporting events in the world. This episode is part of our Roads to Boston 2021 series, where we followed the journeys of 9 women from around the world to the 125th Boston Marathon, which took places October 11, 2021. The previous Boston Marathon took place April 2019. And finally, this legendary event was back, in...
2022-01-1441 min
Women's Running StoriesUpdate & Reair: Camille Herron at the Comrades MarathonWe've been on a break and we have a few updates to share, including the fact that we'll be back with new episodes in January to close out our Boston 2021 series. And we've got great new stories coming in 2022. In the interim, please enjoy this episode from our very first series, which focuses on experiences at the world's oldest and largest ultradistance race, the Comrades Marathon. The title of the episode is "Camille Herron + Comrades Marathon: Dream Race." Camille Herron fell in love with South Africa’s 90-kilometer Comrades Marathon as a child in Oklahoma, and it bec...
2021-11-1641 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: The Final Pre-Race Check-In (part 7/8)It's almost go time! We check in with the runners one final time before they run the 125th Boston Marathon, October 11, 2021. We'll dive into how final preparations is going, some lessons we've learned, and what we are all looking forward to. Join us for these final moments before we all toe the line to inspire your own running aspirations. This episode is part of our Roads to Boston 2021 series, where we are following the journeys of 9 women from around the world to the 125th Boston Marathon, which takes places October 11, 2021. The last Boston Marathon took pl...
2021-10-0737 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: How We All Got In (part 6/8)To fully appreciate what it means to participate in the Boston Marathon, it’s important to reflect on what it takes to get here, all of what it takes. Running Boston isn’t only about completing the distance of 26.2 miles, nor is it only about the training to get you ready for this epic race: it's also about the efforts made to even get an entry. Because Boston is not a race you can just sign up for: you have to earn your entry. There are several ways that can happen and the process can be years in the maki...
2021-10-0246 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: An Inside Look at Marathon Prep (part 5/8)For this episode, we take a look at what training for a marathon looks like, when you are in the thick of it. Learn about what runners experience and do to prepare for running 26.2 miles. From magical long runs to nutrition experimentation, working through injury and finding the mental resolve to get through hard workouts alone, this episode gets into first-person accounts of putting in the work while navigating life. This episode is part of our Roads to Boston 2021 series, where we are following the journeys of 9 women from around the world to the 125th Boston Marathon, w...
2021-09-3037 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: Why We Marathon, Nicole's, Yao's, and Cherie's Stories (part 4/8)Everyone's reason for running marathons and how they got there is different. In this episode, we learn about what inspired Nicole, Yao, and Cherie to want to go this distance. Every runner's journey to running long distances is unique, and these stories make that clear. Listen to inspire your own running goals. This episode is part of our Roads to Boston 2021 series, where we are following the journeys of 9 women from around the world to the 125th Boston Marathon, which takes places October 11, 2021. The last Boston Marathon took place April 2019. And finally, this legendary event is...
2021-09-2024 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: Why We Marathon, Marija's, Rochelle's, Zarah's, and Jonna's Stories (part 3/8)Everyone's reason for running marathons and how they got there is different. In this episode, we learn about what inspired Marija, Zarah, Rochelle, and Jonna to want to go this distance. Every runner's journey to running long distances is different, and these stories make that clear. Listen to inspire your own running goals. This episode is part of our Roads to Boston 2021 series, where we are following the journeys of 9 women from around the world to the 125th Boston Marathon, which takes places October 11, 2021. The last Boston Marathon took place April 2019. And finally, this legendary ev...
2021-09-0827 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: Why We Marathon, Patty's & Amanda's Journeys (part 2/8)Everyone's reason for running marathons and how they got there is different. In this episode, we learn about what inspired Amanda Watters and Patty Hung to want to go this distance. And their marathon stories are inextricably linked to the Boston Marathon: Amanda has run 16 consecutive times, and this marathon has been a part of her life since childhood; and Patty has completed Boston an incredible 34 consecutive times. Along the way in these stories, we learn about the course and some of the highlights experienced by runners with such a depth of experience at this history race. T...
2021-08-3028 min
Women's Running StoriesRoads to Boston 2021: How We Started Running (part 1/8)Every marathon journey begins with becoming a runner. Meet the 9 women of this series and learn about how they got started in this sport. These were their first strides toward what's led them to now being on their way to one of the greatest sporting events in the world: the Boston Marathon. We're all headed to one finish line on October 11, but we all started in very different ways. Please join us on the journey.For this series, we're following the running stories of 9 women runners, from around the world, who are all preparing for the historic 125...
2021-08-1223 min
Women's Running StoriesIntroducing Roads to Boston 2021: 9 Runners, 1 Finish LineIntroducing Roads to Boston 2021. Join us following the running journeys of 9 women from around the world to the 125th Boston Marathon, which happens October 11, 2021. From their early days lacing up, all the way to the start of one of the most beloved athletic events in the world, we're telling their stories. Listen . . . to energize your own running pursuits.The last Boston Marathon took place April 2019. And finally, this legendary event is back, in person. For every participant who gets an entry to Boston, it's a victory all its own: you can't just sign up for Boston, you...
2021-07-2004 min
Women's Running StoriesMegan Flanagan: A Young Runner's Journey through RED-s (relative energy deficiency in sport)This story follows the journey of runner Megan Flanagan through relative energy deficiency in sport, RED-s, to health and developing a community of awareness and support, Strong Runner Chicks. Megan started linking thinness with performance at a young age. Body commentary, prevalent ideals of what a winning distance runner should look, and the desire to be competitive led Megan down the path toward RED-s: she was amenorrhoeic (had stopped menstruating) by the time she was graduating high school. Her journey demonstrates the numerous challenges young women athletes face to get the health support and education they need t...
2021-07-1634 min
Women's Running StoriesBeatie Deutsch: Pregnancy, Fast Marathons, Shattered StereotypesThis is the story of how Beatie Deutsch, an Israeli and observant orthodox Jewish woman, found her passion and talent for marathon running after becoming the mother of four. Though this journey, she navigates the pregnancy of her fifth child on the road to making marathon racing her full-time career pursuit. (image credit: Kate Rifkind)Beatie Deutsch had always been athletic. But after getting married and having four children in quick succession during her 20s, she realized she’d left that athletic part of herself behind to care for her growing family. In 2015, Beatie decided to...
2021-06-0332 min
Women's Running StoriesAnn Ashworth: A RED-s Recovery to Running Healthy, Strong, and FastElite South African ultrarunner and 2018 Comrades Marathon champion Ann Ashworth shares her experience of navigating relative energy deficiency in sport, or RED-s. Soon after her outstanding 2018 performances, Ann's running and health began to falter. She was finally diagnosed with RED-s in 2019. This is the story of Ann's challenging journey to that diagnosis, and how she's reclaimed her health. RED-s is the syndrome that used to be called the female athlete triad. It's very common among women long-distance runners, and it can be a tricky syndrome to diagnose: Ann's story gets into many of the reasons why. But kn...
2021-05-0735 min
Women's Running StoriesBONUS: Keeping Track Podcast: Dawn Harper Nelson's Cinderella StorySpecial bonus introduction to the Keeping Track Podcast, featuring Olympic champion 100-meter hurdler Dawn Harper Nelson. Keeping Track is co-hosted by running superstars Molly Huddle, Alysia Montaño, Roisin McGettigan Dumas. Each episode, they interview outstanding women in sport. This episode is from January 2020 and gets deep with Nelson about being a two-time Olympic medalist. It's not the story you're expecting, and it's powerful. Dawn Harper Nelson is an Olympic gold (2008) and silver (2012) medalist in the 100-meter hurdles. In this powerful and important interview, Dawn goes deep about her experiences as a Black woman athlete who also be...
2021-04-231h 15
Women's Running StoriesBarbara Hannah Grufferman: How Menopause and a (Literal) Sign Ignited a Passion for Running and Aging-Well AdvocacyWe hear the story of Barbara Hannah Grufferman as she navigates menopause away from a glum-looking future, to a thriving today. Hear Barbara's personal journey of how she went from being a non-runner at 50 to a multi-time marathon and also ultra finisher, as well as a healthy aging advocate, author, and so much more. As Barbara Hannah Grufferman approached her 50th birthday, she was feeling, as she describes it, the “umpies”: lumpy, grumpy, and frumpy. Her health wasn’t great: she’d spent her adult life putting the needs of everyone else ahead of herself: work, family, community...
2021-04-1230 min
Women's Running StoriesSally Kipyego: Olympic Marathon Dreams RealizedSally Kipyego is one of the fastest distance runners in the world, with a long resume of incredible performances. But, she also wanted to be a mom. This is her journey navigating pregnancy and returning to elite-level competition, just in time to compete at the historic 2020 US Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. Sally was born in Kenya and started running at a young age. She discovered early on that she had talent and a will be seek the ultimate limits of her potential. She had early success as a junior, and when she came to the United States a...
2021-03-2538 min
Women's Running StoriesCharlotte Gibbs: A RED-s Journey to Rediscovering the Joy of RunningUltrarunner and marathon runner Charlotte Gibbs shares her journey navigating relative energy deficiency in sport, commonly known as RED-s; it’s a condition that used to be known as the female athlete triad. If you aren't already familiar with RED-s, you can be now, and you’ll also understand why it’s important to be aware of, for yourself and for other athletes you may know, especially young athletes: RED-s far more common than most of us realize, and it has some awful consequences. But knowledge is power, and this is a powerful story. Charlotte shares her very pe...
2021-03-1037 min
Women's Running StoriesSophie Speidel: A Menopause Journey as a Competitive AthleteSophie Speidel is a lifelong athlete: being a competitor is motivating, rewarding, and fun. But there's a simple fact that comes with aging: our ultimate potentials in speed and strength begin to fade. In a sport like running, where we generally measure getting better as getting faster, how can we adjust to a body that's slowing down and still feel like we're improving?Sophie's journey explores this very question as she takes us through her menopause experiences and how she continues to thrive and achieve as her body ages.Mentioned in this episode...
2021-02-2429 min
Women's Running StoriesCourtney Dauwalter: Problem Solving Ultramarathons, Bringing the Mental GameGet inside the process of navigating an ultramarathon with world-class runner Courtney Dauwalter. Courtney shares her evolution into the sport of ultra running, and how she's learned to problem solve the many challenges involved to get from start to finish. Central to her exploration is the mental game and excavating the hallowed space of the pain cave. Courtney is well known in the ultra running community, and news of her accomplishments has even extended into mainstream media. She started gaining wider recognition in 2017, when she won the Moab 240 Endurance Run outright: that's 240, as in miles. She’s also...
2021-01-2231 min
Women's Running StoriesThe Transformative Ability of Running: Highlights from the Comrades SeriesThis second bonus episode from season 1 features clips about how running has the ability to be transformative, for ourselves and others. You'll hear from Blanche Moila, Enie Manzini, Cheryl Winn, Ann Ashworth, Karen Williams, and Anjali Saraogi. At Strides Forward, we're always interested to learn about how running is more than the act of putting one foot in front of the other. What do we take into our everyday lives that we learn from running? How does this sport, and our participation in it, impact us and those around us? This episode speaks to those sorts of i...
2020-12-2116 minWomen's Running StoriesRunning Makes You Feel Better: Highlights from the Comrades SeriesA common motivation we heard from runners in Season 1 was that they ran for the simple reason that running makes them feel better. Host Cherie Turner takes you through six inspiring clips about how running has the power to brighten your day.This bonus episode features clips from ultramarathon runners Camille Herron, Renata Vosloo, Cathy Hopkins, Devon Yanko, Karen Williams, and Shirley Mosiakgabo. Even though these runners are very different in so many ways, they all share a common experience: running makes them feel better. Whether your looking for a little extra motivation to lace u...
2020-12-0413 min
Women's Running StoriesCheryl Winn + Comrades Marathon: A Comrades TrailblazerCheryl Winn is the 1982 Comrades Marathon champion and current Chairperson of this historic event, which is now a national treasure in South Africa. 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 through to today, Ch...
2020-10-1636 min
Women's Running StoriesKaren Williams + Comrades Marathon: The Will to TryKaren Williams was not a runner, at least not until her sister urged her to join a local running club, in Cape Town, South Africa. We follow Karen's journey from those first steps to her incredible 2019 Comrades finish. Karen follows her own instincts to get her through this incredible challenge, and she brings a delightful sense of humor, too. Karen came to running later in life and it took some encouragement. But she discovered that she actually enjoyed running, and even more, she developed a curiosity to see just how far she could go. We follow her j...
2020-08-1931 min
Women's Running StoriesShirley Mosiakgabo + Comrades Marathon: Keep Moving ForwardIn this episode, we tell the story of Botswana's Shirley Mosiakgabo, who started running 10ks as a way to lose weight after having her children and developed into an ultra runner. Shirley's story is a great testament that, if you have the desire and are consistent in your efforts and patient to let your abilities to develop, you can reach goals that previously appeared impossible or out of reach. We follow Shirley story from the early days of discovering a joy for making running a regular part of her life through to her experiences running her first C...
2020-08-0531 min
Women's Running StoriesEnie Manzini + Comrades Marathon: Embracing Your PowerSouth African marathon and utlra-marathon runner, firefighter, and mother Enie Manzini has loved to run since childhood, and now she competes at the elite level of her sport. But she has had to overcome harsh challenges to get there. This is the story about how Manzini embraced her power and continues to rise to her potential.South African firefighter and now single mother of two Enie discovered her love and talent for running at a young age and began running seriously in 2007. Not long after, Enie had the first child. Committed to excelling in her sport, she...
2020-07-2132 min
Women's Running StoriesRenata Vosloo + Comrades: Becoming An Elite RunnerSouth African runner Renata had planned to run Comrades “just once” with the challenging goal of cracking the 7:30 finishing time barrier. This story is about how not meeting that goal her first time at Comrades led to her becoming an elite runner. South African Renata Vosloo has loved running since she was young, and she had talent to run fast. For many years, half-marathons were her thing. But the pressure to run Comrades was so great, she decided, “Just once.” This story is about how Renata’s plan to run Comrades “just once” and crack the challenging...
2020-07-0130 min
Women's Running StoriesTeam Massmart + Comrades Marathon: Empowering WomenThis episode we do a little something different: instead of focusing on one runner, I focus on a team. This is the story of the creation of South Africa’s first elite and subelite all-women’s long-distance running team, Team Massmart. The team was formed by Ann Ashworth, who was the subject of our previous episode, in October 2017, before she was a Comrades champion.Ann Ashworth had a vision to make a difference and saw a lack of support for aspiring elite South African women long-distance runners. She made it her mission to create a team that brou...
2020-06-1837 min
Women's Running StoriesAnn Ashworth + Comrades Marathon: What It TakesSouth African Ann Ashworth had developed into a very good runner and had a passion for long-distance running, especially her country’s crown jewel, the 90-kilometer Comrades Marathon. Over time, she recognized that she just might have the talent and drive necessary to be among the top competitors at the race. This episode follows Ann’s journey of discovering competitive running in her youth all the way through to seizing her moment at Comrades in 2018. Ann’s story is one of hard work and dedication, overcoming and never, ever letting up. Through heartbreaking disappointment, painful injuries, and financ...
2020-06-0338 min
Women's Running StoriesCathy Hopkins + Comrades Marathon: Strength in CommunityCathy Hopkins began running alone, in the dark. She wanted to improve her health, but avoid getting harassed. Through discovering her local running community in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada, Cathy became an avid runner and has gone on to run South Africa's 90-km Comrades 9 times. This is her story of finding a greater joy in running through shared experiences and communal support. Canadian Cathy shares her journey of finding her joy in running by sharing it with others. While running can often appear to be completely solitary , the community that forms around the sport can transcend cultures a...
2020-05-2132 min
Women's Running StoriesBlanche Moila + Comrades Marathon: Inspiring ChangeSouth African running legend Blanche Moila shares how she inspired change through becoming one of the country’s best runners and then through running Comrades, as well as public speaking, mentoring, and coaching.Running legend Blanche shares her story, which is a strong testament to the many ways running can be a vehicle for change. Blanche, who is now in her 60s, has been inspiring others through running since she started competing in the 1980s. Blanche found her competitive running talents in her 20s and became one of South Africa’s best middle distance, cross-country, and m...
2020-05-0634 min
Women's Running StoriesCamille Herron + Comrades Marathon: Dream RaceCamille Herron fell in love with South Africa’s 90-kilometer Comrades Marathon as a child in Oklahoma. It became her number one goal to win this race: the oldest, largest ultra-distance running race in the world. Leading into the 2017 Comrades, Camille suffered a devastating knee injury ten weeks before the race. But her husband literally had a dream that she would win the race. And Camille was driven by a deep passion to fulfill her ultimate racing dream—of claiming that victory.Hear how it all went down: up to the very last moment, Camille’s quest for first remain...
2020-04-2237 min
Women's Running StoriesAnjali Saraogi + Comrades Marathon: Facing FirstsIndian ultra runner Anjali Saraogi shares her Comrades first-timer experience, and why this race is so special to her. Anjali came to running in her 40s, and is now one of India’s best ultra racers.When Anjali entered a half-marathon, with no training, in 2015, she had no idea about the running talents she’d discover. Shortly thereafter, she learned about the Comrades and decided she had to run; when she registered for Comrades, she’d never even run a marathon. Since her 2017 Comrades experience, Anjali has gone on to become one of India’s top ultra...
2020-04-0824 min
Women's Running StoriesDevon Yanko + Comrades Marathon: Her White WhaleDevon Yanko discusses why Comrades, the largest and oldest ultra-distance running race in the world, is so close to her heart, and why she has unfinished business there: even with three top-10 finishes, Devon says Comrades is her white whale. Devon is an elite ultra distance and marathon runner. She excels on the trail and road, an uncommon achievement. Of her many accomplishments, Devon has qualified twice for the US Olympic trials marathon, and she has also won and set course records in trail and road ultra races up to 100 miles long. You’ll also learn...
2020-03-2530 min
Women's Running StoriesIntroducing Women's Running Stories (formerly Strides Forward)Welcome to Women's Running Stories, the podcast that explores the intersection of running and life, through thoughtfully produced story-telling by host/creator Cherie Louise Turner and original music by Cormac O'Regan. On this show, the runners featured vary widely, from world record setters to mid-life fitness seekers, and the stories are as different as the runners who share them. This show will bring you into the experience of training and racing and explore what running brings to our lives that keeps us lacing up day after day. Every woman who has committed to the glorious grind of t...
2020-01-1704 min