Summer Confuorto, a Gros Ventre, Cree, Mi’kmaq woman, tells

Summer tells her story, from running along the water during her youth in her hometown of Falmouth, MA; to how running connects her to her own and also the local native communities; and then about her first marathon, the 2025 Boston Marathon.

For Summer, running this marathon was about so much more than

How to Keep Up with Summer Confuorto

Instagram: ⁠@sconfuorto

Mentioned in This Episode

Ohketeau Cultural Center: ohketeau.org

Natives Run: ohketeau.org/events1/natives-run

26.2 Foundation: 26-2.org

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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music of the Future, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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

Ultra runner and long-distance fast packer Jessica Pekari on the podcast! She shares the story of her most recent fastest known time (FKT) adventure: completing the 500 mile Colorado Trail.

Jessica is an Army veteran—having served as a medic in Iraq—and mother of three, with Blackfeet and Mexican heritage. She started exploring ultra running in 2015, and ran her first 100 miler the next year. Jessica then went on to win the triple crown of 200 milers in 2018, which consists of the Bigfoot 200 miler in Washington, in August; the Tahoe 200 miler in California and Nevada in September; and it finishes with the Moab 240 miler in October, which Jessica won, on her way to winning the overall title for these three events. 

Jessica went on to become an accomplished backpacker. She made her first FKT attempt in 2020, going after the southbound Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) record. She was thwarted by fires that year and didn’t set the FKT, but she did write a book about her experiences: Bombs to Trails: Interweaving Heritage, Life, and PTSD on the Pacific Crest Trail. Jessica returned to the PCT in 2023 and set that FKT.

In this episode, Jessica tells the story of setting her latest FKT: the 500-mile Colorado Trail northbound, collegiate west, unsupported record. 

Her story covers the ups and downs, highs and lows of such an incredible adventure. Be ready to get inspired! 

How to Keep Up with Jessica Pekari

Instagram: @jessicapekari

Website: adventuresonthetrail.com

Bombs to Trails book: adventuresonthetrail.com/bombs-to-trails

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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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

Professional runner for Oiselle and social media influencer Allie Ostrander is on the podcast! Allie is here to share what running and racing has looked like from her over the past couple years as she returned to elite level competition, in all the many running disciplines that she pursues, after going through treatment for disordered eating—a journey she’s been very public about. 

Allie Ostrander has been an exceptional runner and racer since she was young. And her running abilities span just about every type of discipline available to runners: Allie races on the track, the roads, in cross country, and on the trails. While many top level runners will race a few different disciplines, it’s rare to see someone race at the top level in so many different types of races.

Among Allie’s many accolades, in 2014, she won the prestigious Nike cross country championships. The next year, 2015, she was the Under 20 Mountain World Champion and placed 2nd in the NCAA D1 cross country national champs. Then in 2016, she placed 8th at the 5000m at the Olympic Trials. Then for the following three years, she dominated the steeplechase: Allie was the NCAA D1 national champion in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Allie forfeited her final year of collegiate eligibility to turn pro, signing with the Brooks Beasts. 

But then, things began to shift. Allie was plagued by numerous injuries and a pattern of disordered eating began to catch up with her. At the strong urging of her team, she entered treatment. In 2021, Allie left the Brooks Beasts Team and continued on the road to recovery. Allie needed to discover what a strong, healthy body, mind, and emotional state meant, for her.

That’s exactly the journey Allie's been on, and she shares that story in this episode—how she’s made her way back to not only racing well in the many disciplines that call to her, but racing with renewed passion and excitement, returning to disciplines she’s excelled at in the past as well as testing herself at longer distances.

Next up for Allie, the USATF Track National Championship, where she'll be racing her specialty, the steeplechase. The first round of competition for Allie is on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

How to Keep Up with Allie Ostrander

Instagram: ⁠@allie_ostrander

YouTube: @allie_ostrander

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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠

⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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

Welcome Amy Ortiz to WRS! Amy is a runner who, over the past several years, has become a community builder and leader in the running scene, and now she's a coach, with a focus on creating space for women, especially women of color.

In this episode, Amy shares how she arrived where she is today in the running world.

A long-time resident of the Bronx, Amy's running is deeply intertwined with her interest in community building. She’s a founder of the all women run club Bronx Femme Run, a pacer for the No Name program, and she recently completed the NYC Game Changers program.

For Amy, running is more than miles. As she says, "It was the connector of what I was looking for."

How to Keep Up with Amy Ortiz

Instagram: @alocurls

Mentioned in This Episode

EARTHMOVERS Instagram: ⁠⁠@EARTHMOVERSpodcast⁠⁠

EARTHMOVERS Kickstarter campaign: ⁠⁠kickstarter.com/projects/earthmoverspodcast/earthmovers-a-trail-podcast-reclaiming-the-narrative⁠⁠

Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/vanessa-c-peralta-mitchell-founder-of-games-changers-redefining-who-is-a-leader-in-running

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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠

⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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

In this episode, Lisa Levin tells her running story through to today, where at 51, she’s more excited than ever to challenge herself and set motivating goals. 

In addition to being a longtime runner with a particular interest in running marathons, especially Boston, which she has run an astonishing 22 times, Lisa is also a coach and podcaster, with Julie Sapper, who

For the the past four years, I've teamed with with Lisa and Julie to host  panel discussions over Boston Marathon weekend. Now I get to have Lisa telling the story of her running journey (after Julie told her story last week).

Here, Lisa tells her running journey from how she got starter, through IVF treatments and two pregnancies, to right now, with a look forward to her next goal. For Lisa, aging is a time of new, exciting possibilities. 

How to Keep Up with Lisa Levin

Instagram: ⁠@runfartherandfaster⁠

Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/RunFartherFaster⁠

Website: ⁠⁠runfartherandfaster.com⁠

Mentioned in This Episode

EARTHMOVERS Instagram: ⁠@EARTHMOVERSpodcast⁠

EARTHMOVERS Kickstarter campaign: ⁠kickstarter.com/projects/earthmoverspodcast/earthmovers-a-trail-podcast-reclaiming-the-narrative⁠

Live Panel Discussions, with co-hosts Sapper and Levin

2025, ft Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, and Dot McMahon: ⁠womensrunningstories.com/live-event-stephanie-bruce-erica-stanley-dottin-dot-mcmahon-2025-boston-marathon-expo⁠

2023, ft Marilyn Bevans, Patti Dillon, Jacqueline Hansen: ⁠womensrunningstories.com/live-event-podium-pioneers-panel-boston-marathon-expo⁠

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

prazkhanal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠SergePavkinMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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

Runner, running coach, and podcaster Julie Sapper is on Women's Running Stories! Her story here is focused on  her return from a long-term injury: an ACL tear.

She tells about her thorough approach to healing and recovery and the nonlinear path to returning to running injury-free, all the way to reaching her ultimate goal: running the Boston Marathon, for her 13th time.

Sapper was so thoughtful and complete through this process—"I wanted to get a PR in recovery," she says—she has a lot of great experience and wisdom to share.

Julie Sapper is part of the super coaching and podcasting duo behind Run Farther and Faster, with Lisa Levin. For the the past four years, I've teamed with with Sapper and Levin to host  panel discussions over Boston Marathon weekend.

Now I get to have Sapper telling this inspiring part of her running journey. And, next week’s episode features Levin, telling her running story. Stay tuned!

How to Keep Up with Julie Sapper

Instagram: @runfartherandfaster

Facebook: facebook.com/RunFartherFaster

Website: ⁠runfartherandfaster.com

Mentioned in This Episode

EARTHMOVERS Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast

EARTHMOVERS Kickstarter campaign: kickstarter.com/projects/earthmoverspodcast/earthmovers-a-trail-podcast-reclaiming-the-narrative

Live Panel Discussions, with co-hosts Sapper and Levin

2025, ft Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, and Dot McMahon: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-stephanie-bruce-erica-stanley-dottin-dot-mcmahon-2025-boston-marathon-expo

2023, ft Marilyn Bevans, Patti Dillon, Jacqueline Hansen: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-podium-pioneers-panel-boston-marathon-expo

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

⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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

This episode features runner, adventurer, and creator of the wildly popular Tough Girl podcast and Tough Girl Challenges, Sarah Williams.

These days, Sarah is well known for taking on incredible challenges, but it wasn't always that way. Here, Sarah tells her adventuring lifestyle origin story: how she transitioned from working in wealth management in London to exploring the world through epic adventures to challenge herself, to motivate other women, and to raise the visibility of women adventurers.

Among her many, many adventuring accolades, Sarah has completed the 500-mile Camino Francés, the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, and she recently finished Te Araroa, the 1,860-mile hike across New Zealand, covering both the north and south islands.

In her story, Sarah talks about what first inspired her to pursue the adventuring life in her mid-30s, and her first big challenges: Marathon des Sables, the notoriously difficult multi-day running race in Morocco, in the Sahara Desert, and hiking the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in the US in 100 days.

Sarah shares the many challenges and doubts she experienced on her way to becoming the adventurer she is today. And how, in the end, she discovered how to believe in herself. That's a strength she carries to this day.

Beyond her own adventures, Sarah is passionately focused on inspiring and highlighting women adventurers all over the globe. This year, the Tough Girl podcast will reach over 800 episodes, and counting!

How to Keep Up with Sarah Williams

Instagram: @toughgirlchallenges⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: toughgirlchallenges.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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠

aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠

⁠chillmore⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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

This episode features the running story of Mireille Siné, a marathon and ultra runner, a coach, and so much more. And intertwined into Mireille’s running journey is an autoimmune condition she’s been navigating since college: lupus.

Since childhood, being active and participating in sports has been part of Mireille’s life, and that included running. Running became a more central part of her athletic journey through college and after. Now in her mid-30s, Mireille has completed numerous half marathons, over a dozen marathons, and several trail ultras. She was also on a relay team for the Speed Project, a 340-mile event that goes from Santa Monica, CA,  to Las Vegas, NV, and she ran from Boston to New York City as part of a group of women who completed the 200-mile journey in 11 days.

All to say, Mireille loves the challenge of running  long distances, and she has for years now.

Throughout her running journey, Mireille has met the challenges presented by lupus. And that is the story Mireille is going to tell. How her pursuit of running and a lupus diagnosis have shaped her life and her athletic pursuits, as she continues to run far, and now coach others to go

How to Keep Up with Mireille Siné

Instagram: ⁠@heycoachmireille

Website: ⁠⁠coachedbymireille.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

⁠⁠⁠Lidérc Bell⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠AlexGrohl⁠, via ⁠Pixabay

⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

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/⁠

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I am bringing you a reair of a terrific episode.

I'm taking this one-week break because I've been working on a new project that we just announced, and that I know you'll be excited about: the podcast EARTHMOVERS, with Alison Mariella Désir, Stefanie Flippin, Verna NezBegay Volker. It will launch Aug 14. Keep up with news and information about EARTHMOVERS now on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast. I'll be back next week with a new episode of WRS. In the meantime, this is a great one: enjoy again or for the first time.

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

Mentioned in this podcast

Live with Team Native Women Run at the 2024 Chicago Marathon: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-native-women-run-team-at-the-2024-chicago-marathon-expo

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

This is a special live report from the inaugural We Out Here Trail Festival that just happened this last weekend on June 7, 2025. It took place outside Seattle, WA, at St. Edwards State Park. 

The trail scene is and has long been the whitest, most male dominated sector of the running world. Instead of continuing to wait for the system to change, RDs Aaliyah Earvin and Alison Mariella Désir stepped up and made the event that they have wanted to see for a long, long time, and that they knew was possible. 

Their vision: “We imagine a world where everyone feels welcome to find joy in the trails, free from fear or intimidation, and surrounded by a supportive community.”

Welcome, We Out Here. An event that, by all accounts, not only met, but exceeded expectations. Event participation featured the largest percentage of people of color at a trail event, ever. And 66% of participants were first timers. And, the day was nonstop full of joy! Which you will hear reflected in this episode. 

Not only did these women create a successful event, they created a new model. It's not often that you get to be at a history making groundbreaking event. And, I'm really excited to share this with you. 

This episode comprises a series of on-the-spot interviews featuring women talking about their experience of the day. Many of these women you will likely not be familiar with, but several you probably will: Verna Volker, founder of Native Women Run; Carolyn Su, founder of Diverse We Run and co-host of the Making Strides podcast with Stefanie Flippin; Flippin, a pro racer, is also featured in this episode: she is one of the fastest a 100-mile racers in the country; and you’ll also hear from Mirna Valerio, author of the book, A Beautiful Work In Progress. Also, you’ll hear from the two race directors, Earvin, who is a coach, fitness professional, and community builder, and Désir, who, among many other accolades, is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black. 

Get a taste of what it was like, live at this historic event, the inaugural We Out Here Trail Festival.

See More About the Event on Instagram on these accounts

Seattle Running Collective: @seattlerunningcollective

Aaliyah Earvin: @confidentaaliyah

Alison Mariella Désir: @alisonmdesir

Mentioned in this Episode

Stefanie Flippin on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/stefanie-flippin-pro-ultra-runner-transforming-through-difficulties

Verna Volker on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/verna-volker-founder-of-native-women-run-a-running-journey-of-healing-and-community

Alison Mariella Désir on WRS, Running While Black: womensrunningstories.com/alison-mariella-desir-running-while-black-her-story-her-book

Alison Mariella Désir on WRS, Kilimanjaro: womensrunningstories.com/alison-mariella-desir-climbing-mount-kilimanjaro

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