Women's Running Stories
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Top 10 Women's Running Stories Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Women's Running Stories episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Women's Running Stories for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Women's Running Stories episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Barbara Hannah Grufferman: How Menopause and a (Literal) Sign Ignited a Passion for Running and Aging-Well Advocacy
Women's Running Stories
04/12/21 • 32 min
We 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. And now those choices were catching up to her. And, she’d just gone through menopause, which had had it’s own challenging impact. The spark and grit she’d had before seemed to be fading into the past.
Maybe this is what getting older and seeing the other side of menopause was all about? she thought.
And then, a pointed comment by her then young daughter and a well-timed Wall Street Journal article changed everything. Barbara, who’d never been a runner, set down a path of marathon running, health and wellness, and discovering how to age the very best she could.
Since that day, 15 years ago, Barbara has completed over a dozen marathons and one ultra, and there’s more to come. She also shares her wisdom and lived experience of achieving wellness and health after 50 with a growing number of woman in her work as an advocate for aging well. Barbara has written two books, writes a newsletter, has spoken in public on many occasions, and so much more. In a word, Barbara is vibrant.
Ways to follow Barbara Hannah Grufferman
Barbara’s website: barbarahannahgrufferman.com
Subscribe to Barbara’s Menopause Cheat Sheet
Follow Barbara on Instagram: @barbarahannahgrufferman
Follow Barbara on Twitter: @BGrufferman
The Coach Parry Running Through Menopause Training Program
The Coach Parry webinar, where we first "met" Barbara
We recommend the podcast Hear Her Sports: hearhersports.com
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/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Megan Flanagan: A Young Runner's Journey through RED-s (relative energy deficiency in sport)
Women's Running Stories
07/16/21 • 36 min
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 to navigate away from the seriously harmful syndrome of RED-s.
This story follows Megan’s journey through her early days of discovering her love of being an athlete, to her frustrations and struggles with RED-s through her NCAA Division I career, and on to how she’s created and found strength in community and taken hold of her own health. Megan is the founder of Strong Runner Chicks, a community to support and uplift women runners.
Ways to follow Megan Flanagan
Follow Megan on Instagram: @meginspire
Follow Strong Runner Chicks on Instagram: @strongrunchicks
Learn about Strong Runner Chicks on their website
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/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Roads to Boston 2021: How We All Got In (part 6/8)
Women's Running Stories
10/02/21 • 48 min
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 making. Our nine runners earned their entries in a variety of ways, and we share the stories behind them all. For each and every one of us, getting a race number to this historic event is a victory all its own. Discover why.
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 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 have to earn your way in. Get an inside look at what goes in to getting to the finish line of the 125th Boston Marathon. Whether Boston is in your future or your running interests take a different shape, join us to energize your own aspirations.
In episode 1, we met the 9 women of this series and learned about how they got started in this sport. We're in the midst of discovering why we all started marathoning. In episode 2, we learned about Patty's and Amanda's journeys to running marathons, which is inextricably linked to the Boston Marathon; in that episode we also learned about the Boston course. In episode 3, we featured the marathoning stories of Rochelle, Marija, Zarah, and Jonna, and episode 4 explored why Yao, Nicole, and Cherie run marathons. And, in our last episode checked in on what living the marathon life looks like for all nine runners.
Stay tuned for our next episode where we check in with the runners one final time before the race.
Join us on the journey, to energize your own running goals!
The runners featured
Rochelle Solomon, Randolph, MA, USA; hospital and healthcare compliance officer; Boston first-timer
Patty Hung, Orinda, CA, USA; retired high school math teacher turned pediatric nurse; 34 Bostons run
Yao (Yaowapa) Hoisungwarn, Bangkok, Thailand; singing teacher; Boston first-timer
Marija Desivojević, Belgrade, Serbia; mathematician; Boston first-timer
Nicole Spaulding Pinto, Los Angeles, CA, USA; cardiovascular perfusionist; Boston first-timer
Zarah Hofer, lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada; nutritionist; Boston first-timer
Amanda Watters, Ashland, MA, USA; editor, K-12 science curriculum development, 15 Bostons run
Jonna Maas, Spicer, MN, USA; medical doctor, Boston first-timer
Cherie Louise Turner, Somerville, MA, USA; podcaster, writer, editor; 1 Boston run
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/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sue McDonald: 9 Times a Masters World Record Holder
Women's Running Stories
11/24/23 • 37 min
The 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 in, she targeted several. In the end, Sue set 9 world records in the W60-64 category: indoors 800 and 1500; outdoors 400, 800, 300H, 1500, and Mile, as well as the Steeplechase and the Heptathlon.
For her stellar achievements, Sue McDonald was named the 2023 USATF Masters Track and Field Athlete of Year.
This is the story of what it took for Sue to be ready for a record-setting year. She left no area unconsidered: nutrition, mental prep, coaching, strength, lifestyle, physical training. And she gets into it all. This is what it took her to become a champion, many times over, and raise the bar for masters athletes.
Ways to Keep Up with Sue McDonald
Instagram: @suemcdonaldfitness
Website: SueMcDonaldFitness.com
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/
Women's Running Stories is proud to be featured as one of the top 20 Women's Running podcasts by Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/womens_running_podcasts/
Women's Running Stories is proud to be featured as #4 on the GoodPods top Running podcasts list
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Alison Mariella Désir: Running While Black, Her Story, Her Book
Women's Running Stories
10/18/22 • 38 min
Alison 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 her own voice.
In this episode, Alison tells her running journey and touches on many of the topics that are featured in her book. Let this serve, then, as an inspiration to read her whole story in Running While Black, a book that will certainly become a best-seller and an important read for all runners, especially white runners.
On Women’s Running Stories, we often feature running journeys that highlight how running is about more than the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. Alison's story is exceptional in this regard.
Her new book is the latest example of how Alison interweaves her running with her commitment to leave the world a better place than it was when she found it. Over the years, she has become a leader in the running world, with a clear, powerful voice. She has shown how running can be a vehicle to create change. She’s also working to create change within the running industry so that this sport can some day truly live up to the claim that it is open and welcoming to everyone.
Alison not only does the work herself, but also inspires and encourages and helps make space for other people doing the work to move the sport of running toward being a space where everyone feels not only welcome, but that they belong.
This episode is sponsored by The Feed, the largest online marketplace for your sports nutrition, offering the brands you know and love, from Skratch Labs, Clif Bar, to Maurten, plus their athlete customized supplements called Feed Formulas. In addition to supporting Strides Forward, this sponsorship supports Hear Her Sports and Keeping Track: together we are a collective of women-hosted podcasts focused on women in sports.
As part of this sponsorship, you can get $80 in credit at The Feed: just go to TheFeed.com/forward to claim your $80 in credit at The Feed.
Keep Up with Alison Mariella Désir
Alison’s website: http://alisonmdesir.com/
Alison on Instagram: @alisonmdesir
Links to Organizations Mentioned in this Episode
Harlem Run: http://www.harlemrun.com/about
Run 4 All Women: https://www.run4allwomen.com/
Meaning Through Movement: https://www.meaningthrumovement.com/
Running Industry Diversity Coalition: https://www.runningdiversity.com/
Take the Lead on Instagram: @woctakethelead
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/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Enie Manzini + Comrades Marathon: Embracing Your Power
Women's Running Stories
07/21/20 • 34 min
South 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 worked in her training around motherhood, household duties, and a demanding career.
And then Enie came face to face with the biggest hurdle of all: her home life turned violent. For a decade she would endure increasingly severe domestic abuse from her husband.
Enie shares her very personal and ultimately triumphant story of how her passion for running and desire to be a positive role model to her children were instrumental in her decision to end a destructive marriage. Enie has gone on to become one of South Africa’s best ultra-marathon runners. She is also a member of Team Massmart, South Africa’s first all-women’s elite long-distance running team.
Enie’s journey demonstrates how a deep belief in yourself and commitment to standing your ground and following your dreams can give you strength even in the darkest of times.
This episode is part of our first season, and the theme of this season is experiences in and around the Comrades Marathon, which is a 90-kilometer, 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.
Recommended Resources
The recommendation for this episode is the blog Free to Run, which is part of the Free to Run organization. The organization works with females in conflict areas to involve them in outdoor activities, including running. To quote the website, their goal is to increase opportunities for women and girls to engage in public life, using sport as a tool of empowerment and education. The blog follows the work of Free to Run.
Learn more about Free to Run on their website: https://freetorun.org/
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/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gwen Jacobson: Masters Marathon Champion, 120-Plus Marathons and Counting
Women's Running Stories
04/22/25 • 35 min
This episode features prolific marathon runner and internationally competitive masters racer Gwen Jacobson.
Jacobson, who is 66, got started running in 2010, when she was in her 50s. She has run many distances, but without question she has the greatest affinity for the marathon: in the last 15 years, Jacobson has run over 120 marathons as well as one 50k.
In addition to loving the 26.2 mile distance, Jacobson loves big challenges and she is very goal oriented. So, for instance, she has completed a marathon in every state, under 4 hours. She also wants to win her age category in a marathon in all 50 states, so where that hasn’t already been the case, she’s going after that goal, too. Jacobson has 7 states left in that challenge.
She’s also chasing a sub-3 hour marathon on a downhill course, and she’s gotten very close. Her current downhill marathon PR is 3:04, which she set at the end of 2023. She has plans to better that time at the end of 2025.
Jacobson has gone through her fair share of trial and error when it comes to staying injury free, and she’s learned a lot about bone health. She’s landed on healthy habits that work for her, and she shares that in her story, too.
In this episode Jacobson shares so much: about her running progression, her goals and how she continues to run fast and far now in her mid-60s.
How to Keep Up with Gwen Jacobson
Instagram: @gwenjacobson
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
penguinmusic, via Pixabay
Grand Project, 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
Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michelle Wheeler: Becoming a Professional Wheelchair Racer
Women's Running Stories
04/05/24 • 40 min
Michelle Wheeler is an internationally competitive marathon and distance road racer. Last year saw Wheeler race marathons in Boston, Berlin, Sydney, London, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, in addition to traveling throughout the US to shorter-distance races. And, this year, she'll also be returning to shorter distance racing on the track. Wheeler will be competing at the Paralympic Trials in the 800, 1500, and 5000, vying for her play on Team USA.
Wheeler has been an athlete since childhood in a number of sports, including wheelchair racing. Her early focus was on the track, in sprinting events. Back then, she had no interest in anything longer than those short bursts of speed, the 100, the 200, the 400 meters.
As she entered adulthood, Wheeler's focus shifted to other parts of life. She became a mom. She moved from her childhood home in New Jersey to New York City, where she earned her bachelor's degree. Competitive wheelchair racing wasn't top of mind, but as it would turn out, fate stepped in to change that.
Today, Wheeler is a professional marathon wheelchair racer, earning invitations to line up at races all over the world.
That is what this story is all about, how Wheeler returned to racing and discovered her passion for competing in marathons; and how she's learned to navigate life as a mom, full time rehabilitation and mental health counselor, and professional athlete. As Wheeler goes into, finding balance and focusing on mental health has been key to this journey.
Wheeler opened her 2024 season at the NYC Half-Marathon on March 17, where she finished a strong 4th place. Next on her schedule is the Boston Marathon, taking place on April 15. At Boston, Wheeler will be racing as a member of Team Bevans. Team Bevans comprises exceptional Black women marathoners running the Boston Marathon. They run in honor of Marilyn Bevans, the first American born Black woman to run the marathon in under 3 hours. This is just one of many accolades Bevans earned as one of the best marathoners of her day. Wheeler and the other women on the team embody the spirit of Black woman excellence in marathon running sparked by Bevans, and help solidify her incredible legacy.
Keep Up with Michelle Wheeler
Instagram: @shellyrunstheworld
Mentioned in This Episode
Black Unicorn Marathoners: blackunicornmarathoners.org
Team Bevans: facebook.com/blackunicornmarathoners
Roads to Boston series: womensrunningstories.com/home-2/roads-to-boston-9-runners-1-finish-line
Boston Marathon Expo Live Stage event, Sun., April 14, 2pm: "Making a Statement: Breaking Barriers in Women's Running" featuring Briana Boehmer, Kelly Bruno, Alisa Harvey; moderated by Cherie Turner, Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin; presentation of Team Bevans takes place immediately following this conversation
Oiselle, the apparel brand rooted in running; made by women, for women: oiselle.com
Music Credits
Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh
SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay
Coma-Media, via Pixabay
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/444164966663627
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: [email protected]
Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Reair Celebrating the Return of Comrades!: Blanche Moila + Comrades Marathon: Inspiring Change
Women's Running Stories
08/12/22 • 41 min
Running 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 2019, she has completed the event 16 times, and in 2004, she was the face of Comrades.
Blanche, a psychiatric nurse, continues to be an inspiration to young girls and women and works to change negative beliefs about women and running. She does this by continuing to set an example with her own running, as well as public speaking, mentoring, and coaching. Also, Blanche runs Comrades for charity: in 2019, she ran for the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust.
You can learn more about the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust on their website.
I first learned about Blanche through Bob de la Motte’s book Runaway Comrade.
Additional audio for this episode comes the 2017 Comrades Marathon Promotional Video
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/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
LIVE EVENT: Podium Pioneers Panel, Boston Marathon Expo
Women's Running Stories
04/24/23 • 54 min
This is a special live recording of the Podium Pioneers Panel, which took place at the 2023 Boston Marathon Expo live stage. Women's Running Stories host Cherie Turner once again teamed up with Lisa Levins and Julie Sapper of the Run Farther and Faster podcast to co-cost a live Boston Marathon event.
This year we welcomed three women who helped form the foundation of marathoning; they have each also placed among the top three at the Boston Marathon. Please enjoy the panel discussion with these three groundbreaking guests:
Marilyn Bevans: Marilyn was the first African-American woman to break 3 hours in the marathon and the first Black woman to podium at Boston also in 1977. Two years later, Marilyn ran her PR on the Boston course in 2:49. Among her many honors, just yesterday, Marilyn was inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame. She is also featured in the documentary Breaking Three Hours, and this year, four women ran the Boston Marathon as Team Bevans in Marilyn’s honor. Marilyn resides in Baltimore, Maryland, where she continues to coach youth runners.
Jacqueline Hansen: fifty years ago, Jacqueline won the Boston Marathon. After her Boston win, Jacqui set two world marathon records and became the first woman to break 2:40. Jacqui is also a leading advocate for women’s running. Among her many roles, she served as the president of the International Runners Committee, which advocated for more women’s distance races at the Olympic Games, including the addition of the marathon in 1984. Jacqueline resides in California where she continues to coach and advocate for women’s running.
Patti Catalano Dillon: Patti started running at age 23 in an effort to lose weight. Just a few years later-in 1980, Patti became the first American woman to break 2:30 in the marathon. She is a three-time Boston Marathon runner-up and a NYC Marathon runner-up. She is also the first Native American woman to achieve all of these accomplishments. Patti is the head coach for the Wings of America Elite Team Program for Native youth athletes, the first team of its kind.
Learn more about the Breaking Three Hours documentary: http://mobile.breakingthreehours.com/
Ways to Connect with Run Farther and Faster
Instagram: @runfartherandfaster
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RunFartherFaster
Twitter: @RunFartherfast
Website: https://www.runfartherandfaster.com/
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/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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FAQ
How many episodes does Women's Running Stories have?
Women's Running Stories currently has 176 episodes available.
What topics does Women's Running Stories cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Running, Podcasts and Sports.
What is the most popular episode on Women's Running Stories?
The episode title 'Roads to Boston 2021: How We All Got In (part 6/8)' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Women's Running Stories?
The average episode length on Women's Running Stories is 38 minutes.
How often are episodes of Women's Running Stories released?
Episodes of Women's Running Stories are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Women's Running Stories?
The first episode of Women's Running Stories was released on Jan 17, 2020.
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