Women's Running Stories

Wynonna Curely-Fulgham first discovered the life-changing impact running could have on her during her Kinaaldah, the Navajo puberty ceremony. She's carried the teaches from that transformative time into her adult life.

Wynonna has continued to be drawn to running, and specifically ultra trail running, as a way to test her own limits and also to process life's challenges and find her peace. It is a deep well of connection, discovery, and release: a physical endeavor that is also spiritual and healing.

In this episode, Wynonna shares the story of the pivotal moments she's experienced in ultra trail running, up through today. Her journey includes taking part in the Transrockies, a multi-day stage running race that takes place in Colorado, traveling through the mountains and over peaks, at altitude. Wynonna often runs as a member of the Native Women Run team.

Wynonna's story is powerful and beautiful. One women's incredible journey of self-discovery, evolution, and inspiration.

Keep Up with Wynonna Curely-Fulgham

Instagram: @blacksheep_running

Keep Up with Native Women Run

Instagram: @native_women_run

Website: nativewomenrunning.com

Information about Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, MMIW

mmiwusa.org

Information about Native American Boarding Schools

boardingschoolhealing.org/education/us-indian-boarding-school-history

boardingschoolhealing.org

www.irsss.ca

nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/30/us/native-american-boarding-schools.html

Support Our Supporters

Lagoon Pillows: lagoonsleep.com/WRS15

Use the discount code WRS15 for 15% off your first order

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

penguinmusic, via Pixabay

RomanBelov, via Pixabay

Grand Project, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories

Website: womensrunningstories.com

Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie 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 Katie first discovered her interest in running; how that led to her racing just about every type of race available in the sport; on to her starting a blog dedicated to stories of older women runners, and then women's running history; to today, when she's combining her passions for the sport after a period of grief and time away from running due to injury.

Katie Holmes's story clearly demonstrates it is truly never too late to discover new passions and new powerful parts of yourself.

Keep Up with Katie Holmes

Instagram: @runyoung50

Website: runyoung50.co.uk

Support Our Supporters

Lagoon Pillows: lagoonsleep.com/WRS15

Use the discount code WRS15 for 15% off your first order

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

penguinmusic, via Pixabay

RomanBelov, via Pixabay

SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay

chillmore, via Pixabay

Grand Project, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories

Website: womensrunningstories.com

Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professional distance and marathon racer for Asics Savannah Berry shares how it all went down for her at the 2024 USATF National Championships, which just took place in New Haven, CT, on Sept. 2.

Berry is having a stellar season this year, reaping the benefits of consistent, tough training, month after month, year after year. She's coming into her own on the national scene. It started in Feb. at the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials, where she placed an incredible 12th place, just seconds off of her PR. Berry followed that up with a 4th place finish in May at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon.

This 20k Championships further emphasizes that Berry is now in a position to compete with the best.

Becoming a competitive marathon runner wasn't something Berry necessarily had in mind after graduating from Utah Valley University in 2018. But encouragement from her boyfriend to go after qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Trials revealed a talent for the distance and Berry's never looked back.

She's had an incredible progression ever since, learning and developing and gaining confidence all throughout the process. And, she's backed by a rock solid support crew, who she's quick to credit.

Hear the whole story of how Savannah Berry is becoming a racer to watch on the national scene. How her day-to-day commitment and hard work, supported by a team that believes in her, came to fruition at this championship event.

This episode is part of the WRS Race Report series. Each episode features a top 10 performer sharing her experience at one of the USATF Road Circuit series of races. And because a race is never just about what happens on race day, you will get to know a little bit more about each one of the runners featured and how this race figures into their larger running story.

The USATF Running Circuit championship series of races happen throughout the US all year long. Each race serves as a national championship for the distance or the type of race being run. The 10k National Championships is next: September 22.

You can catch up on all the Race Reports on our website or on your favorite podcast app.

Keep Up with Savannah Berry

Instagram: @savv_berry

Previous Women's Running Stories Race Report Episodes: https://womensrunningstories.com/podcast/women-running-stories

Support Our Supporters

Lagoon Pillows: lagoonsleep.com/WRS15

Use the discount code WRS15 for 15% off your first order

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

Rockot, via Pixabay

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

penguinmusic, via Pixabay

RomanBelov, via Pixabay

SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

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

Dakotah 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 making Team USA; and up through racing on the greatest stage of sports: The Olympics.

Lundwurm's story is all about big dreams that weathered big challenges, bolstered by the power of support and self-belief.

Lindwurm ran an incredible race at the Paris Olympics, where she placed 12th. She was the top American finisher, running 2:26:44.

And, she's already looking ahead: Lindwurm will be lining up at the 2024 NYC Marathon on November 3.

One fact is now clear, Lindwurm is no longer underdog: she is and will forever be an Olympian.

Keep Up with Dakotah Lindwurm

Instagram: @dakotahlindwurm

Keep Up with Minnesota Distance Elite Team

Instagram: @minnesotadistanceelite

Website: minnesotadistanceelite.org

Photo Credit

Clay Shaw, Runner's Gazette: @clay50sub4

Listen to Unexpected Curves, Hosted by Marielle Hall

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unexpected-curves/id1750120522

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3sx2j12qArDW5uJ9NoO9ks

Support Our Supporters

Lagoon Pillows: lagoonsleep.com/WRS15

Use the discount code WRS15 for 15% off your first order

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

RoyaltyFreeMusic, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories

Website: womensrunningstories.com

Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Women's Running Stories is taking a break and bringing you Unexpected Curves. This is a terrific new podcast hosted and created by Olympian and professional runner Marielle Hall. Unexpected Curves is a topic-driven show that dives into women's sports in ways that, true to the show's name, are unexpected. In the most interesting ways.

Tune in to Unexpected Curves each week, where Hall interviews athletes and experts to explore women's sports from new angles.

To quote the show description: A unique listening experience for the next generation of sports fans to interact with the stories about the people, and the plays that make an industry. In each episode we will get into the culture of women’s sports. Breaking down what’s good, what’s bad, and what’s weird. We’ll hear from athletes and experts paving the way for the future, and sometimes we will go back in time to see how we got here in the first place.

This is the sports show where we give the girls some support.

In the episode highlighted here, Hall talks with Professor Amira Rose Davis about the high participation of Black American girls in track and field. They explore why this trend exists ,and how the cultural tradition of hand games shapes the sport we watch today. Rose Davis is also the co-host of the exceptional feminist podcast Burn It All Down, which is currently on hiatus.

Keep Up With Unexpected Curves

Instagram: @unexpectedcurves

Listen to Unexpected Curves

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unexpected-curves/id1750120522

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3sx2j12qArDW5uJ9NoO9ks

Keep Up With Marielle Hall

Instagram: @mariellehalll

Keep Up With Amira Rose Davis

Instagram: @mirarose06

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just 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 part-way through college, Sarah returned to running.

Intertwined in her athletic journey, Sarah developed an eating disorder. Over the years, as she mindfully surrounded herself with healthy role models and a strong support system, Sarah was able to establish a healthy relationship with her nutrition.

As part of her adult running life, Sarah reignited her involvement with GOTR, now as a volunteer. For her own running goals, Sarah found great joy in running longer distances on the road and set her sights on qualifying to run the Boston Marathon. Sarah both qualified for Boston and ran to support GOTR, the organization that first got her into the sport.

Hear the whole story of how it all came together in this episode.

A special thank you to Rochelle Solomon and Kate Yenrick for bringing me this story.

Keep Up with Sarah Pardus

Instagram: @sarahpardus

X: @sarahpardus

Girls On the Run, Boston

Instagram: @gotrboston

Facebook: facebook.com/GirlsontheRunGreaterBoston

Website: girlsontherunboston.org

WRS Roads to Boston series, featuring Rochelle Solomon

womensrunningstories.com/home-2/roads-to-boston-9-runners-1-finish-line

Support Our Supporters

Lagoon Pillows: lagoonsleep.com/WRS15

Use the discount code WRS15 for 15% off your first order

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

RoyaltyFreeMusic, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories

Website: womensrunningstories.com

Email host Cherie: [email protected]

Women's Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olympian, professional 400-meter runner for New Balance, and now author Micha Powell tells her running journey through a series of transformative racing stories.

Micha's first book, Sprinting through Setbacks: An Olympian's Guide to Overcoming Self Doubt and Imposture Syndrome, came out in July 2023. It highlights big racing and life lessons Micha has taken from her competitive career. Each chapter focuses on one race and one major takeaway. At the end of the chapter, there's a journaling section with journaling prompts for the reader to use, making this also a terrific personal growth workbook.

Among her many accomplishments in track, Micha Powell is an Olympian, having been named to the 2016 Canadian Olympic team for the 4x400-meter relay. She was also a member of the gold-medal-winning 4x400-meter team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Micha is the daughter of track superstars and Olympians. Her father is long jumper Mike Powell, who set the record in that event in 1991: that record still stands today. Micha's mother is three-time Olympian in the 400-meter hurdles and television personality Rosie Edah. Just recently, Micha switched coaches and now her mother is also her coach.

Despite her early exposure to elite level track and field, Micha came to the sport late, at 17. She intentionally followed her heart, and discovered her passion for the 400 meter. Micha raced collegiately for the University of Maryland, and set records in the 400, on both the indoor and outdoor track: those records both still stand. Post-graduation, she turned pro, with a single-minded focus on the 400 meter.

Mirroring the structure of her book, Micha's story on the podcast highlights some of her most poignant race experiences, and the lessons she learned. Lessons that you can take with you into your own running pursuits and life outside of running.

Keep Up with Micha Powell

Instagram: @michajadapowell

Strong Girl Publishing and where to purchase Sprinting through Setbacks

Website: stronggirlpublishing.com

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

penguinmusic, via Pixabay

SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay

Rockot, via Pixabay

RoyaltyFreeMusic, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

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

Mary 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 for helping her through these dark times, the traumatic experiences of polio and her home life took years to overcome. 

And that is what Mary’s story is all about, overcoming and healing. Persevering through times of darkness and struggle, with a strong belief in her ability to heal. Which is where Mary focused her energies, becoming a social worker for the VA, a wife and a mother, and ultimately, a marathon runner.

Running entered Mary's life in her 50s, after a diagnosis of post-polio syndrome. And, she continues to go after running goals to this day, at the age of 70.

Mary's story is powerful: about healing and never giving up, and how it is never too late to start a running journey that just might change your life.

Keep Up with Mary McManus

Instagram: @mary_mcmanusrunnergirl

Facebook: facebook.com/mary.mcmanus.507

Website: marymcmanus.com

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

Grand Project, via Pixabay

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

penguinmusic, via Pixabay

SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay

Lidérc Bell, via Pixabay

chillmore, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

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

Professional runner for the BAA/Adidas, Annie Rodenfels shares how it all went down at the 2024 USATF 6k National Championships, held July 13 in Canton, OH. Rodenfels is a Dayton, OH, native now living in Boston, MA, so this is something of a "hometown race" for her. And, she has raced her twice before, coming in 2nd in 2022 and 3rd in 2023.

Rodenfels is also the reining 5k National Champion, having won that title in November 2023. Last year she also won her first 10k race, the prestigious Boston 10k for Women. Over the past year or so, Rodenfels has indeed been finding her groove in the pro ranks—the result of years of dedication and focus.

Annie Rodenfels is a competitor by nature, and that has shone through in her athletic life. She developed into a top performer during her collegiate running career, racing for the NCAA D3 school Center College in Danville, KY. While there, she became a three-time national champion, twice in the steeplechase and once in the 5000m.

Coming out of college, in 2019, with the D3 ranks being the less competitive of the collegiate ranks, even with this stellar record, Rodenfels wasn't a top prospect for a pro team. And indeed, most D3 runners don't turn pro after college. But Rodenfels had other ideas: she wanted to see where she could take her running career.

First she raced for the Asics Greenville Trek Club Elite out of South Carolina, and in 2021, Rodenfels signed with the BAA. All along the way, step by step, Rodenfels has developed her skill and ability and risen to the occasion, fueled by her strong competitive spirit.

It's that steady build and all-in determination that has gotten Rodenfels to where she is today: a contender to watch in the US pro field. This Race Report traces that progression—through ups and downs, including the recent Olympic Trials—and how it's playing out in Rodenfels's racing these days. This 6k performance exemplifies what a fierce combination hard work, experience, and an inherent drive for peak performance can be.

In this story, discover the journey of a born competitor coming into her own as a professional athlete; it's exciting!

This episode is part of the WRS Race Report series. Each episode features a top 10 performer sharing her experience at one of the USATF Road Circuit series of races. And because a race is never just about what happens on race day, you will get to know a little bit more about each one of the runners featured and how this race figures into their larger running story.

The USATF Running Circuit championship series of races happen throughout the US all year long. Each race serves as a national championship for the distance or the type of race being run. The 20k National Championships is next: September 2.

You can catch up on all the Race Reports on our website or on your favorite podcast app.

Keep Up with Annie Rodenfels

Instagram: @andrearodenfels

Previous Women's Running Stories Race Report Episodes: https://womensrunningstories.com/podcast/women-running-stories

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

Rockot, via Pixabay

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

penguinmusic, via Pixabay

RomanBelov, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Instagram: @womensrunningstories

Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project

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

In this, part 6 of this series, WRS host and producer Cherie Louise Turner shares how she set a new time milestone, getting 10 seconds closer to her goal of breaking 20 minutes in the 5k, and how this ushered in a time of focusing on training.

At the close of the previous episode, Cherie was addressing some 5k and racing burnout, but she also knew she was fit and ready for a great performance. So, she took advantage of a local flat, fast race and let it rip. Race magic was in full effect.

Post-race, it was time to regroup and focus on training. Cherie also decided to freshen things up and set her sites on some longer races, with a 5 miler and 10k on the schedule for August. In training, Cherie was focused on getting pacing dialed in, and not relying on the watch. She's begun to recognize and feel the freedom this brings to her running and racing.

Cherie continues to fully enjoy the process of getting faster and racing better. To wrap up the episode, coming off of some solid weeks of training, Cherie notes the need to balance hard work with rest, especially to keep injuries at bay. And, she is looking forward to getting back to racing.

In June of 2023, Women's Running Stories host and producer Cherie Turner closed the chapter on running longer distance races (at least for now), like marathons and ultras, and turned her attention to the 5k. Her goal: break 20 minutes in the 5km. Cherie is currently 54 years old and she has never dipped under 20 minutes at this distance. The closest she's ever gotten was back over a decade ago, when she ran 20:19.

This update spans late May to late July 2024. Part 1 of this series concluded with Cherie setting a baseline time of 21:10 on August 30. Part 2 ended with Cherie learning more about how to train well and some of the lessons she's continuing to work on. In part 3, Cherie discusses how she experienced a non-running injury that took her out of structured training and workouts for 8 weeks but ended up being a healthy reset. Part 4 traces Cherie's return to training and racing, and how she realizes the need to address race anxiety and develop belief in herself. It's not a prerequisite to this episode to listen to the previous episodes in this series, but they do provide valuable details and context.

In part 5, Cherie shares that she is focused on getting away from being so reliant on the GPS watch and committing to learn how to run and pace by feel. Cherie also addressed race anxiety and confidence and how these are challenges that take time to overcome. The journey is not linear. And she got into how expectation can lead to frustration and burnout, and how applying the well-known advice of breaking a big goal into smaller pieces is really important.

Find the series here.

Come along for the journey.

To support WRS, please rate and review the show

iTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44fa

Music Credits

Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh

penguinmusic, via Pixabay

Coma-Media, via Pixabay

Rockot, via Pixabay

RoyaltyFreeMusic, via Pixabay

SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram account: @over50sub20_5k_project

WRS 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