In S4Ep9 of the PRP, Adam breaks bread with seasoned long distance runner, eccentric Afghanistan native, passionate women’s rights advocate and charismatic socialite extraordinaire Zahra Arabzada, who has been preparing for the Colorado Marathon on Sunday May 5th, 2024.

Zahra opens up and provides the PRP listenership with some eye opening insight surrounding what it’s like to come from a culture that has a different outlook on running than most of the world. In her home country, running and movement aren't things that are prioritized, encouraged or celebrated, especially if you’re a woman. As such, Zahra reflects on what running has come to mean to her over the years and explains how powerful her sense of gratitude towards it has become.  

Things get vulnerable when Zahra reflects on the collective strength it has taken to get her to the place she is now. From her amazing parents, who prioritized their children’s access to education above all else, to the mass evacuations of her family from Afghanistan in August of 2021, Zahra has not only held on to her identity as a proud Afghan woman, she has embraced it and leveraged it to help spread awareness and raise money for a variety of different women’s rights organizations. Her tremendous courage, her unique outlook on life and her ability to embrace her realties while holding on to who she is and what she represents all whilst empowering others through the sport of running is something we can all learn from. Her story, among other things, serves as an important reminder to us all that next time you’re down out and about your relationship with running, remember what a blessing it is to have access to this wonderful sport and shift your perspective to realize just how lucky we all are to be part of a society that encourages us to participate in it.

Ski masks in race pictures?! Altitude or attitude, who do ya got?? Was Zahra once the Kobe of Afghanistan?! Ice Hockey?! #vibequeen?! Protect those flip flops at all costs!! Acadia National Park?! Harbor hopping?? The Michigan? What the hell is the Manhattan Perimeter Project?!

All of this and so much more in this inspiring, enlightening and important episode of the PRP!

Explain that Strava section:

Zahra's Strava Activity

Sponsors

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ann Arbor Running Company⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded Tuesday April 30th @ 5:30PM EST