Pathways for opportunity through running with Gabby Thomas and Vanessa Ong. MTR x TSS Minisode 3.

Welcome back to more than running with Dana. I’m your host Dana Giordano, and on this show, I talk to the women in and around the running community who inspire me daily. I started this podcast while running professionally and felt like the deeper stories of women were not being amplified. Stay for real conversations about confidence, mental health, body image, motivation, and running.

This episode of More Than Running is supported by New Balance. This is a mini-series featuring New Balance’s Stolen Starts ambassadors and Team New Balance athletes.

I have often felt like the ends of our running community have felt so separate and what better way to celebrate women in running than round table conversations with the women making change within their communities and reaching new heights on the professional track circuit.

On the community end of the spectrum are the women of The Stolen Starts, a women’s running collective started in 2021. 10 ambassadors make up The Stolen Starts and include women from London, South Korea, Berlin, LA, Paris, and more. Each woman in the collective was selected because they are each powerful advocates for specific causes in their respective communities. In this episode, we meet Vanessa One a Los Angeles-based graphic designer and marathoner r championing fundraising for athletic-based youth organizations in LA.

On the other end of the running spectrum and the world, we met Gabby Thomas, USA 200m Olympian. Gabby graduated from Harvard and is now pursuing her Masters in Epidemiology at the University of Texas in Austin. Gabby is also a vocal advocate for athletes' mental health.  I can't wait to see what she does this season.  

Over the next 45 minutes, you will hear an incredible conversation about mental health, motivation, community, and more. It’s like going on a run with your favorite people. Heather and Harky are both more than running, and I hope you enjoy this series!

MTR is a CITIUS Mag podcast and is edited by Mike Zurzolo.