Women's Running Stories

This episode features a conversation with Dos Pueblos High School head running coach Rosina Garcia; it's part of the Women's Running Stories ongoing series highlighting the work of women running coaches. 

Rosina Garcia is both a high school track and field and cross country coach, as well as an ultra trail runner. In this episode, we talk about her coaching. As the head running coach at DP, Garcia coaches over 200 athletes!

This team is particularly close to my heart because DP is my alma mater; I grew up in Goleta, and I am thrilled they have such a spectacular coach!

In this episode, I talk to Garcia about how she came to coaching, how she made her way to becoming the head coach for a large public high school team, how she manages a team of over 200 athletes, and her experiences as a woman of color in these spaces.

Women head running coaches are rare; women of color in these positions are all the more rare.

You'll hear about the impact Garcia's making representing as a woman of color in a prominent coaching position. In addition, Garcia came up in coaching through programs specifically designed to get more people of color and women of color into coaching: Game Changers and Coaches of Color. We touch on this, too. 

This conversation brings me so much joy; I hope it brings that same joy to you. And, I will be having Garcia back on the podcast to share her own running journey as well, so please stay tuned. 

Women's Running Stories will be coming out every two to three weeks for the foreseeable future, so please subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. 

From this Episode

Rosina Garcia on Instagram: @rosina_garcia

Game Changers: vcpm.com/game-changers

Coaches of Color on Instagram: @coachesofcolorinitiative

80/20 Endurance Foundation: 8020foundation.org

More from WRS

WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.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

Ikoliks, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Liv Paxton has been involved in the running world for as long as she can remember: her parents met through running and her father has been the head running coach at Winthrop University for over 30 years. Liv is also passionate about giving back, especially through fundraising, as well as speaking out. After competing in track and cross-country in high school and then college at the D1 level—the most competitive level of college competition in the US—Liv began to focus on marathon running. 

Since graduating college, and recovering from a serious achilles injury, Liv has evolved into a competitive amateur road racer. She is also a vocal, politically active feminist with a significant social media presence, particularly on TikTok. 

How Liv came to combine these three parts of her life—running, feminism, and her public platform—is what this story is all about. 

From this Episode

Liv Paxton on Instagram: @livfpaxton

Liv Paxton on TikTok: @things_recorded_by_liv

Liv Paxton, writing for Runner's World: runnersworld.com/author/465051/liv-paxton

More from WRS

WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this conversation we hear about the running experiences of each of the panelists and the work that's happening in the running community through their organizations. We then explored histories, current times, and possible futures through the perspectives and experiences of the three panelists. In particular we touch on the historic place running has in this area, and how many of the pathways we still follow today were laid down by the Native people who've been on this land for centuries. In this conversation we heard about the running experiences of each of the panelists and how the organizations they work with are involved in the local running community. We then explored histories, current times, and possible futures through the perspectives and experiences of the three panelists. In particular we touch on the historic place running has in this area, and how many of the pathways we still follow today were laid down by the Native people who've been on this land for centuries.

Rochelle Solomon on Instagram: @sweetroezgetsfit

Black Unicorn Marathoners on Instagram: @blackunicornmarathoner

Black Unicorn Marathoners Website: blackunicornmarathoners.org

Carissa McKinney on Instagram: @rissamckinney

Ohketeau Cultural Center: @ohketeau

Ohketeau Cultural Center Website: ohketeau.org

Kim Chisholm on Instagram: @_kc508_

26.2 Foundation on Instagram: @26.2foundation

26.2 Foundation Website: 26-2.org

Road to Wellness 5k, 2-Mile Run and summer training (all free): roadtowellness5k.com

26.TRUE on Instagram: @26.truemarathon

Girls on the Run Greater Boston: girlsontherunboston.org

More from WRS

WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I have been wanting to highlight women running coaches through conversations for a while now, so here we go! This is the first of what will be a series of conversations I have every month or so, highlighting women who are guiding athletes in this sport. And to kick things off, what better place to start than my own coach, Molly Huddle. 

Molly is well known as the legendary distance runner who’s set numerous American records and has been an Olympian, twice. Her list of accolades as a competitive runner is very long, spanning a professional career of two decades. 

Molly is also well known for her work outside of competing, which focuses on women in sport, and in particular moms and pregnancy. Molly is the coauthor with Sara Slattery of the book How She Did It, and as you’ll hear in this episode, Molly is currently writing another book with Slattery and Alysia Montaño about running through pregnancy, tentatively titled Running through Motherhood. Molly is also the cohost with Montaño and Roisin McGettigan of the podcast Keeping Track. And, she’s mom to two young children. 

In this conversation, I catch up with Molly and hear about her experiences and insights as a coach. 

From this Episode

Molly Huddle on Instagram: @mollyhuddle

How She Did It book: howshediditbook.com

Dr. Stacy Sims on Instagram: @drstacysims

Dr. Margie Davenport on Instagram: @drmargiedavenport

Diljeet Taylor on Instagram: @diljeetdosanjhtaylor

More from WRS

WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.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

Ikoliks, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Here on WRS Hildee Weiss shares her truly inspiring story of becoming an athlete and runner later in life. It is indeed a journey that has forever changed Hildee. She also shares her story in greater detail in her book, Embracing My Inner Athlete. 

Hildee's story demonstrates that it is never too late to take control of your health and to try things that are new and different and challenging, and change your life in ways that are totally unexpected. 

Back in 2014, Hilde Weiss wouldn't have imaged that just over a decade later she'd be where she is today: at that time, her wellness was languishing and she was, in her words, a couch potato. She was prioritizing the health and wellness of others over her own, and then she turned that all on its head: she went from diminishing health, struggling with body image and self-confidence, to doing something she considered truly impossible for her, becoming a runner—in her mid forties. 

Now at 57, Hildee is looking forward to running for as long as she possibly can. 

From this Episode

Hildee Weiss on Instagram: @momoffive68

Hildee Weiss blog: youwantmetodowhat.home.blog

Link to Embracing My Inner Athlete: simonandschuster.com/books/Embracing-My-Inner-Athlete/Hildee-Weiss/9798894410326

More from WRS

WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In addition to being an ultra-runner, Erika is also the author of the wonderful and thoughtfully concise book Breaking the Cycle, How I Ran My Way To a New Beginning through Ultrarunning, Resilience, and Self-Belief, and she is an entrepreneur, the owner of Lela V, a skin care line designed for athletes and, as she says, “inspired by my incredible mother, my vibrant Peruvian roots, and my love for trail running.” 

Erika is also founder and race director for Community in Motion 5k, which raises funds for families in need. The second annual race is set for October 4, 2026. On the running front, Erika has run as far as 60k, and has her eyes set on running 50 miles later this year. 

But that’s Erika’s life today. It’s a long way from where she started. 

How Erika got to this place, from a childhood of struggles—food and housing insecurity—and lacking the confidence to pursue sports, is the story she is here to share. 

From this Episode

Erika Reyes on Instagram: @erikaembracesgrowth

Erika Reyes website: lelavsport.com

Link to Breaking the Cycle: barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-the-cycle-erika-reyes

More from WRS

WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PaulYudin⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

DELOSound, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RomanBelov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Alisa Harvey has had an incredible running career. Additionally, as one of the very few African American women to compete at the elite level in both track and field, as well as in distance road racing, including the marathon, Alisa has been aware of her position as a role model and inspiration, especially for other Black women and girls. 

Over her decades-long career, Alisa has raced throughout the world, at elite level competitions as a pro, and representing the UA at championship events like the world championships and PanAm Games. Nationally, Alisa was one of the best 800 meter, mile, and 1500 meter runners, and in fact in 1993 she was ranked the top 1500m and mile runner. Alisa competed for a spot on the US Olympic team over four Olympic trials: 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000; in 2000, she also ran in the Olympic trials marathon.

Alisa’s ability, drive, skill, talent, and longevity are truly astonishing, and her list of accomplishments is enormous. 

In this episode, Alisa touches on many of the highlights of her career as well as some of her big disappointments, up to this day, running as a competitive masters racer and marathoner. 

Additionally, Alisa gets into much greater detail about her life and running career in her excellent new memoir All My Trials. This is a must read for any fan of track and field and road racing. I loved it. It is my hope that you’ll be inspired to get your own copy after listening to this episode. 

From this Episode

All My Trials, by Alisa Harvey: y42k.com/2026/03/09/all-my-trials-by-alisa-harvey

2024 Boston Marathon Live Recording, ft Alisa Harvey, Kelly Bruno, Briana Boehmer: womensrunningstories.com/live-event-alisa-harvey-kelly-bruno-briana-boehmer-at-the-2024-boston-marathon-expo

More from WRS

WRS is on Substack: womensrunningstories.substack.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

Ikoliks, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rockot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠

SenorMusica81, via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

DELOSound, via Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chillmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories

WRS Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@womensrunningstories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ womensrunningstories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin, and I share a deep love of all things running, and we've never interviewed each other, so it's about time (we have had each other on our respective podcasts in the past; see links for those below). 

Both Julie and Lisa are competitive masters runners and they share a love of the Boston Marathon, having run it over 35 years combined. They are also outstanding coaches, having coached together for years, guiding hundreds of runners through their running journeys.

In this episode we talk about our own training and racing, as master runners who love to compete (we are all over 50). Julie and Lisa focus much of their efforts on marathon and longer road distances, while I focus on track racing and short road races. It was really fun to share our different passions for this sport! 

Lisa Levin on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lisa-levin-over-25-years-racing-and-still-as/id1495427631?i=1000735267498

Julie Sapper on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/julie-sapper-returning-to-marathons-post-acl-tear/id1495427631?i=1000735267620

Chérie Louise Turner on Run Farther & Faster: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-166-exciting-boston-marathon-update-with/id1438350876?i=1000605849254

Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin, and I share a deep love of all things running, and we've never interviewed each other, so it's about time (we have had each other on our respective podcasts in the past; see links for those below). 

Both Julie and Lisa are competitive masters runners and they share a love of the Boston Marathon, having run it over 35 years combined. They are also outstanding coaches, having coached together for years, guiding hundreds of runners through their running journeys.

In this episode we talk about our podcast journeys as women with running podcasts, and we talk about some of the trends we're seeing in the running world. We also have a brief conversation about hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

We had so much fun in this episode that we decided to save talking about our own running and racing for a part 2, which will publish next week. 

Enjoy this fun and lively conversation! 

Mentioned in this Episode

Blanche Moila on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blanche-moila-comrades-marathon-inspiring-change/id1495427631?i=1000473773849

Lisa Levin on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lisa-levin-over-25-years-racing-and-still-as/id1495427631?i=1000735267498

Julie Sapper on WRS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/julie-sapper-returning-to-marathons-post-acl-tear/id1495427631?i=1000735267620

Chérie Louise Turner on Run Farther & Faster: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-166-exciting-boston-marathon-update-with/id1438350876?i=1000605849254

In addition to being internationally competitive runners, Mary and Lisa also have careers outside of running, and they are moms: Mary is the founder of the Nala Track Club for girls in Kenya, and Lisa is a banking executive. We were excited to explore not only the expertise these athletes possess in running, but also their experiences and perspectives as role models, leaders, and moms. 

Among the topics we asked Mary and Lisa about: how their running and non-running careers have influenced each other; how they approach and structure their training while managing obligations outside of running;  how they manage stress and expectations, particularly in competitive situations; and much more. We also learned about their running backgrounds and their leadership roles outside of running. 

You will be inspired! 

Mary Ngugi-Cooper first started running in primary school, and has been competing internationally for 20 years. Among her many accomplishments, Mary earned a bronze medal in the 5000 meter event at the world junior championships in 2006, and then in 2014 she earned silver at the world half marathon championships. In 2016 she won the prestigious Houston Half Marathon, and in 2019 she debuted in the marathon here at Boston. With this year's running, Mary has competed in the Boston Marathon a total of seven times: she has always finished within the top 11 runners, and with this year's 3rd place finish, she's been on the podium for a total of three times: in 2021, 2022, and this year, 2026. These days, Mary, who is now 37, continues to compete at the highest level of the sport, going after her own personal goals and also to inspire the girls she coaches, as well as her daughter.

Lisa Weightman has a long career as a marathon runner: she’s represented Australia at that distance four times at the Olympics—her first Olympics was in 2008. Lisa has won several marathons, including the Melbourne Marathon and Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon, and she’s been on the podium twice at the Commonwealth Games. Lisa continues to compete at the highest level of the sport, now at 47 years old, and she has a passion for, as she says, demonstrating that perseverance leads to real change and leadership is about leaving a lasting legacy.