Michigan Runner Girl

Joel Gaff returns to the show to talk about his most recent athletic adventures, including an Ironman race in Chattanooga, TN and the scenic trail running out west he loves so much. Joel is behind Endurance Evolution, the race management and race timing services company based in Traverse City, Mich. (and also Portland, Ore., since Joel splits his time between these two cities). Endurance Evolution hosts a number of northern Michigan races, including the Traverse City Trail Running Festival each spring, the Glen Arbor Solstice Half Marathon and 5K in June, the Traverse City Triathlon in August and the popular Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K each October. Joel gives an update on this year's line-up of races, which are some of Heather's favorites. He mentions that the Sleeping Bear races typically sell out, so signing up earlier rather than later is a good idea. Joel shares how his most recent Ironman was absolutely amazing..until the run portion (a full marathon after hours of swimming and biking!). Heather asks how he stay motivated throughout 26.2, when things got especially tough (heat played a role as well), and in hindsight what he would have done differently during his training.    This episode is sponsored by Traverse City Tourism. Corn Briggs, digital marketing manager for Traverse City Tourism (and a runner herself), stops by the studio to share upcoming events in the area, including a bunch of opportunities to enjoy up north wine to celebrate Michigan's wine month in May.    Links: enduranceevolution.com  traversecity.com

This summer Heather is looking forward to running her first Lake Michigan Half Marathon. This is a longtime Muskegon, Mich. event that takes place Saturday, June 24 this year. This race weekend also includes the Mercy Health Seaway Run, a 15K and 5K run and community walk. Race Director Andrew Buikema joins Heather on the show to talk about this race tradition in west Michigan, as well as the numerous changes taking place at this year's event (the start and finish, as well as post-race party, take place on downtown streets). Andrew, who lives in Norton Shores, took on the race director role this year. He talks about his own running journey, which includes returning to running not too long ago after many years of living a pretty sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle. "I got back into running about 4 years ago after a long time of inactivity and gaining an enormous amount of weight. I led a very unhealthy lifestyle of eating and zero activity. I finally decided to turn my life around and get back in to running," he says. "My brother paced me at my first half marathon and pushed my harder than I could have imagined. It was then that I realized that I need to keep doing this if I am going to set the example for my two daughters. Andrew is also a pacer and talks about what it's like to help other runners achieve their goals. "I have had the pleasure of pacing for several races since getting back in to running all over. I've paced in Michigan, Illinois and South Carolina...with that experience I have also taken over the Race Director job for the Mercy Health Seaway Run / Lake Michigan Half Marathon, pace director for the Rivertown Half, Charlevoix Half / Full and the Fifth Third River Bank Run pacers." Andrew is a member of the Grand Haven Running Club (Grand Haven, MI) "I love the camaraderie that all runners share. Everyone has a story and it's awesome getting to know them, who they are and WHY they run." A special MRG listener/reader race discount code is shared during the episode, for runners to save money when they sign up for the June 24 race. More than 3,000 runners are expected to take part in the Mercy Health Seaway Run and Lake Michigan Half Marathon. A health expo also is part of race weekend, and Heather will be there with a MRG booth.    Link: http://seawayrun.com

Episode #89: Team Red, White & Blue: Helping veterans through running   Integrating back into civilian life is incredibly challenging for many veterans, and one national organization with a significant presence here in Michigan is helping ease that transition—and life beyond—thanks in part to running. On this week's show, Heather talks with two west Michigan runners and U.S. Army veterans—Eddie Kline and Ben Foreman—about their involvement with Team RWB Grand Rapids. Team RWB has chapters across the country, as well as internationally; there are 8 regions, 115,000 members, 209 locations and 1,999 volunteer leaders. Michigan has the most Team RWB chapters of any state and the midwest region is the most populated, too. "I really like being part of Team RWB because it aligns with what I do for my everyday life," says Eddie Kline, who is athletic director for the Holland Field Team, a sub-chapter of the Grand Rapids chapter. "Building a strong social community through positive relationships is prevalent in both RWB and my CrossFit gym. We use physical activities as our vehicle to bring people together and create bonds on top of that. It doesn't feel like a job because I love doing it—being part of the Team RWB leadership team has let me expand my reach, help my fellow veterans and give back to my community." Eddie and Ben share the different ways Team RWB is connecting veterans, civilians and communities. They also talk about upcoming races they're looking forward to, and how Team RWB will play a part in these events.    Link: teamrwb.org 
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Heather Johnson Durocher Writer/Editor/Publisher/Podcast Host Michigan Runner Girl ~ In a state of motion   3270 Autumn Leaf Drive Traverse City, Michigan 49686
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"I think one of my biggest joys was learning my love affair with fueling what my body needed, whether that was nutritionally, or finding out this was the type of shoe I needed to wear ... or these were the days I needed to run." On this episode, Heather is joined by her friend Cassy Stone to talk about the running lifestyle. This comment is just one of the nuggets Cassy shares throughout the show, which includes stories from the two of them as well as Michigan Runner Girl readers and listeners. In this more personal conversation, Heather and Cassy share what running means to each of them, how and why they got started running, how it's evolved over the years (they both acknowledge that they discovered running later in life), and what it's meant for their minds and their bodies. They cover all sorts of topics, including taking on 26.2 — "If you want to get in touch with your own self, go ahead and train for a marathon," Cassy shares — and how running has transformed their lives in interesting and sometimes surprising ways. Peppered throughout their conversation are stories from MRG readers, who responded to Heather's call-out for "what running means to me" post on the Michigan Runner Girl Facebook page. Heather, who is training for her 8th marathon, talks about her family's involvement with running, including Joe's current training for his first 26.2, the Bayshore Marathon this Memorial Day weekend. Cassy gets honest about what it means to be a runner living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). You're sure to be both nodding your head in recognition and feeling inspired as you hear these stories Cassy and Heather and fellow runners who have fallen in love with this sport.  

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Heather Johnson Durocher Writer/Editor/Publisher/Podcast Host Michigan Runner Girl ~ In a state of motion

For the third year, business students at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City are planning for the BIG Little Hero Race, held on campus on Saturday, April 15. This superhero-themed race raises funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan. Heather welcomes to the show several of the students part of this effort, along with their instructor Kristy McDonald and marathoner/Big Brothers Big Sisters advocate Tony Anderson. The students—Abby Gudith, Sam Javed and Drew Geralds—talk about this year's event, which includes a kids fun run in addition to the 10K and 5K, costume awards and post-race festivities like face painting, music, snacks, silent raffle and more. Heather talks about her family's involvement in last year's race (this race is dog-friendly, so they brought their two Labs, dressed up as "Batman" canines, too). The races start on campus and the courses take runners out Old Mission Peninsula. Each child who participates receives a free cape, thanks to NMC's College for Kids. A fun run just for kids is held on campus. Last year's race raised about $26,000, and the students have a goal of exceeding that amount this year. This year's race also honors the late Sonja Olshove, a beloved social sciences teacher at NMC. "Sonja believed that everyone should have a hero and was involved with the Hero Imagination Project ... Sonja was a NMC superhero and we wanted to celebrate and remember her," Abby Gudith says.      Link: biglittleherorace.com 

No Surrender Running Club isn't your everyday running organization. This nonprofit based in west Michigan is all about using running and mentorship as tools to empower urban youth in Grand Rapids. Kelli Zerbel, a runner in Grand Rapids, learned of this group and quickly decided to get involved. She joins Heather on the show to talk about what it means to be a part of this organization—and how it's impacted her own running. No Surrender Running Club works with 35 kids ages 10 to 18 each year, during designated spring and summer sessions; the club helps these children discover the joy (and work) involved with logging miles. And along the way, these young runners realize what they're made of and what they can accomplish, all on their own when they put their minds to reaching a goal. They run together and train for a race--the Reeds Lake 10K in the spring and the Lake Michigan Credit Union Bridge Run 10 mile race in the summer. Kelli also shares how she quit smoking and took up running, while living out west. Since returning to Michigan, she has not only gotten involved with No Surrender Running, she's also found her tribe of people in the west Michigan running community. She's run many 5Ks and 10Ks, three LMCU Bridge runs, four half marathons, three 25Ks and a marathon. Kelly mentions an upcoming fundraiser for No Surrender Running Club, taking place March 26.    Link: nosurrenderrunning.org  

 

For those of us training for spring marathons and half marathons, our mileage is increasing and we may be experiencing some typical training "aches and pains." Sometimes it's nothing more than our body acclimating to the miles we're logging. Other times, however, we may be on the brink of injury (or, worse, dealing with a definite injury). Heather welcomes Brandon Lorenz of Probility Therapy Services in Ann Arbor to the show to talk about staying healthy and injury-free during our training cycles. Both Heather and Brandon are in the midst of training for big goal races -- Heather is in week 6 of training for her 8th marathon, the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City this spring, while Brandon is gearing up for his first Ironman in California later this year -- so staying injury-free is definitely on their minds. Brandon is a physical therapist with more than 15 years of clinical experience. He also teaches continuing education courses across the country to other physical therapists. He's also been running for about 20 years. This show covers common issues that may arise during our training and how best to handle them. Heather and Brandon talk about the importance of rest days, how cross-training can help (but also how it may not be what you should focus on during race training), fueling well, treating minor aches and pains (and how to know if you've got an injury), the power of massage and ice baths, and lots more. Whether you're training for your first half marathon or marathon, or you're preparing for your 20th race, you're sure to take away some helpful information and be inspired listening to Brandon and Heather.   Link: probilitypt.com 

Kona Running Company, known for its fun and festive races in southern Michigan, is behind a new race that involves...chicken! Partnering with Buffalo Wild Wings, Kona Running Company is holding the inaugural Wild Run 5K and 8K on Sunday, April 2 in West Bloomfield. Runners will be able to enjoy boneless wings at the finish -- and they'll also have the chance to vote for their favorite wing flavor when registering for the event (top choices will be made available post-race). Alan Whitehead, marathoner and owner of Kona Running Company, joins Heather on the show to talk about the Wild Run this spring. He also shares details of the fall version of this event; a second Wild Run 5K and 8K is slated for Sunday, Sept. 24 in Canton. Another spring race coming up: the second annual Cheesecake Run on April 23 in Farmington Hills. This also includes an 8K and 5K, and features cheesecake samples from The Novi Cheesecake Factory at the finish line. Race organizers are expecting some 2,500 runners to participate in this year's Cheesecake Run -- nearly 2,000 ran it last year. Alan shares how the Cheesecake Run is partnering with Michigan State University this year, donating $3 per registered MSU member or alumnus race entry. These donation funds will go to the West Metro Detroit Spartans (MSU alumni club), which will provide two scholarships to students transferring to MSU from local community colleges. Alan gives listeners a heads up about another new Kona Running Company event, Stroh's Legend Run 5K run/walk on May 21 in Detroit as well as talks about this year's Kona Triple Crown races, which give runners the opportunity to earn an extra-special medal for completing three select Kona Running Company races.    Links: konarunningcompany.com, konacheesecakerun.com, buffalowildwingsrace.com

Imagine feeling great throughout your workout, thanks to that healthy (and tasty) pre-run fuel you took before heading out the door for your run. This is what Denise and Kara Steely -- the mother-daughter baking duo behind DoughChicks -- wants for all of us. It's what drives them in creating their nutrient-dense and convenient food "for busy and active people." "Our food will sustain your blood-sugar level while giving you the fuel needed to get through the day with natural and delicious ingredients," they say.    Denise and her daughter Denise, 33, recently made the trek from Kalamazoo to join Heather in the studio and talk about their running journeys and how they decided to create a business focused on baked goods that are good for us. Their family long has been an active one; Kara and her sister Bailey, 24, grew up watching their parents run races and participate in other outdoor activities (and took part themselves). Today, Kara and her mom aim to run a half marathon together once a year.   The business originally started in Wisconsin, where they lived at the time, but now is based in Kalamazoo. DoughChicks products -- all dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free -- are available at area farm markets and natural health stores. And Denise and Kara have plans to expand further.    Link: http://doughchicks.com  

Going from 200 runners in 2004 to more than 1,400 members today, Kalamazoo Area Runners is the largest Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) running club in Michigan. This growth has taken place under the leadership of Bonnie Sexton, president of KAR and a certified running coach. Bonnie joins Heather on the show to talk all things running in Kalamazoo and the surrounding area. This region of the state boasts a thriving running scene, and Heather and Bonnie talk not only about KAR but also the other running opportunities available, from races to training groups and camps. Two upcoming events mentioned (with race discount codes for listeners!) during the show: Winter Blast Half Marathon, 10K and 5K on the Portage Trailway System on Feb. 26, 2017 and the popular Kal-Haven Trail Run on April 8. Heather also asks Bonnie about her own running journey, from track and field sprinter to endurance runner later in life -- she has completed 38 marathons, including five Boston Marathons (she was at the 2014 race and talks about what it was like to be there a year after the Boston Marathon bombings). Bonnie is married and has three children. She and her family live in Mattawan, Mich.   Also featured on this episode: news about this spring's North Mitten Half Marathon, 10K and 5K at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Mich. Janice Davidson, race director and recreation director at the resort, joins Heather in the studio to talk about adding a 5K to this year's event the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (May 28) and the all-new post-race party at the top of the slopes. A race discount for this event is mentioned for listeners to take advantage of, too.
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Heather Johnson Durocher Writer/Editor/Publisher/Podcast Host Michigan Runner Girl ~ In a state of motion