Women's Running Stories Evergreen Podcasts

In 2016, elite ultra-distance trail runner and writer Katie Arnold experienced a traumatic river rafting accident that left her questioning whether or not she would ever be able to run again. This is the story of how Arnold healed after her accident and how that process helped her rediscover a pure joy of running and a magical return to racing. This happened over the period of time when Arnold was 46 to 48 years old.
This episode was made on the occasion of the release of Arnold’s second book, Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World. The book was just released April 16, 2024. To borrow the description that her publisher put out, “This book is a Zen study wrapped in a memoir that tells the story of a search for stillness by a woman born for wildness.” And it’s an apt description.
This book is exceptional. And this episode does focus on the same period of time that is covered in the book. Of course, Arnold's book goes into much more detail than she gets into in this episode, but in either case, the story covers the same period of time, roughly the two years between 2016 and 2018, beginning with Arnold experiencing a traumatic rafting accident through her process of healing.
Arnold studies the teachings of Zen Buddhism and she practices Zen mediation. Weaved throughout Arnold’s story is how her Zen practice manifests in this whole process.
The story, as it is told here, focuses on the power of belief, participating in your own healing, and the interesting dynamic of achieving goals while not clinging to them—or put another way, staying with where you're at instead of focusing on the finish line. 
Keep Up with Katie Arnold
Instagram: @katiearnold
Website: katiearnold.net
Katie Arnold's books, Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World and Running Home: katiearnold.net/books
Mentioned in This Episode
Sarah Lavender Smith: Ultramarathon Trail Running Longevity: womensrunningstories.com/sarah-lavender-smith-transitioning-through-competitive-running-longevity
Sarah Lavender Smith's website: sarahlavendersmith.com
Sarah Lavender Smith's newsletter, Colorado Mountain Running & Living
Sarah Lavender Smith book, The Trail Runner's Companion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trail Running and Racing, from 5Ks to Ultras
Music Credits
Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh
Lidérc Bell, via Pixabay
Rockot, via Pixabay
penguinmusic, via Pixabay
SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay
Coma-Media, via Pixabay
chillmore, 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: clouiseturner@gmail.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, Emilia Benton focuses on how she discovered the approach to marathoning that earned her a Boston Marathon qualifying time, and then how it all went down at last year's Boston Marathon.
Benton is a well recognized journalist in the running world, with a particular focus on professional runners as well as runners and stories that have typically been underrepresented and overlooked by the media.
As a runner, a big focus of Benton’s has been marathons. She has run over a dozen of them, and for about a decade, her efforts focused on what many ambitious marathoners focus on: getting a Boston qualifying time, and then running the Boston Marathon. 
Over the course of her marathon journey, Benton has become astutely aware of her own needs as a runner, and that not all conventional marathoning wisdom met her needs. She's been through a lot of trial and error, and she's found what does work for her, and she's learned how to trust that knowledge.
Benton also found a coach who backed her approach. And that coach is Nell Rojas. Rojas is both a coach and she is also one of America's very best marathoners: among her many accolades, Rojas has twice been the top American finisher at the Boston Marathon. 
Working with Rojas, Benton raced a terrific 2022 Houston Marathon to earn her BQ, and run at Boston the next year.
Benton shares it all in this episode, and more!
What shines bright here is that what works for one person in marathoning may not work for another. Every runner needs to discover their own path, which is exactly what Benton did.
Keep Up with Emilia Benton
Instagram: @emiliambenton
Website: emiliabenton.com
Mentioned in This Episode
"My Run Club Was Profiled for ‘Cheering While Black’—Here’s Why It Only Reaffirms Our Mission," Sidney Baptista, as told to Emilia Benton: https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a43878096/my-run-club-was-profiled-for-cheering
Liz Rock: A TrailblazHer's Journey, Running the Boston Marathon for Mile 21 Joy: https://womensrunningstories.com/liz-rock-a-trailblazhers-journey-running-the-boston-marathon-for-mile-21-joy
Alison Mariella Désir: Running While Black, Her Story, Her Book: https://womensrunningstories.com/alison-mariella-desir-running-while-black-her-story-her-book
Race Report: Nell Rojas + 2023 25k National Championships: https://womensrunningstories.com/race-report-nell-rojas-2023-usatf-25k-national-championships
Boston Marathon Expo Live Stage event, Sun., April 14, 2pm: "Making a Statement: Breaking Barriers in Women's Running" featuring Briana Boehmer, Kelly Bruno, Alisa Harvey; moderated by Cherie Turner, Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin; presentation of Team Bevans takes place immediately following this conversation
Music Credits
Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh
penguinmusic, via Pixabay
chillmore, via Pixabay
SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay
Coma-Media, via Pixabay
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/444164966663627
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.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

Michelle Wheeler is an internationally competitive marathon and distance road racer. Last year saw Wheeler race marathons in Boston, Berlin, Sydney, London, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, in addition to traveling throughout the US to shorter-distance races. And, this year, she'll also be returning to shorter distance racing on the track. Wheeler will be competing at the Paralympic Trials in the 800, 1500, and 5000, vying for her play on Team USA.
Wheeler has been an athlete since childhood in a number of sports, including wheelchair racing. Her early focus was on the track, in sprinting events. Back then, she had no interest in anything longer than those short bursts of speed, the 100, the 200, the 400 meters.
As she entered adulthood, Wheeler's focus shifted to other parts of life. She became a mom. She moved from her childhood home in New Jersey to New York City, where she earned her bachelor's degree. Competitive wheelchair racing wasn't top of mind, but as it would turn out, fate stepped in to change that.
Today, Wheeler is a professional marathon wheelchair racer, earning invitations to line up at races all over the world.
That is what this story is all about, how Wheeler returned to racing and discovered her passion for competing in marathons; and how she's learned to navigate life as a mom, full time rehabilitation and mental health counselor, and professional athlete. As Wheeler goes into, finding balance and focusing on mental health has been key to this journey.
Wheeler opened her 2024 season at the NYC Half-Marathon on March 17, where she finished a strong 4th place. Next on her schedule is the Boston Marathon, taking place on April 15. At Boston, Wheeler will be racing as a member of Team Bevans. Team Bevans comprises exceptional Black women marathoners running the Boston Marathon. They run in honor of Marilyn Bevans, the first American born Black woman to run the marathon in under 3 hours. This is just one of many accolades Bevans earned as one of the best marathoners of her day. Wheeler and the other women on the team embody the spirit of Black woman excellence in marathon running sparked by Bevans, and help solidify her incredible legacy.
Keep Up with Michelle Wheeler
Instagram: @shellyrunstheworld
Mentioned in This Episode
Black Unicorn Marathoners: blackunicornmarathoners.org
Team Bevans: facebook.com/blackunicornmarathoners
Roads to Boston series: womensrunningstories.com/home-2/roads-to-boston-9-runners-1-finish-line
Boston Marathon Expo Live Stage event, Sun., April 14, 2pm: "Making a Statement: Breaking Barriers in Women's Running" featuring Briana Boehmer, Kelly Bruno, Alisa Harvey; moderated by Cherie Turner, Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin; presentation of Team Bevans takes place immediately following this conversation
Oiselle, the apparel brand rooted in running; made by women, for women: oiselle.com
Music Credits
Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh
SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay
Rockot, via Pixabay
Coma-Media, via Pixabay
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/444164966663627
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.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

Jen Kanyugi is running her 20th consecutive Boston Marathon this year. Her journey to get to this point is about this one event, and so much more. In this time, Jen went from not running more than 20 minutes on the treadmill to being a steady presence at this, one of the most recognized and celebrated running events in the world.
In that time she became a mom, three times (she ran two of her Boston Marathons while pregnant). She learned the joy of completing those 26.2 miles, and that it's so special she continues to want to do it, again and again, every year. She's learned the power of support, finding groups to train with and create community with, like Girls on the Run and Black Girls Run.
Jen has also learned the tragedy of trauma, having run Boston 2014, the year of the bombing. And she understands what it means to come back and reclaim spaces that were threatened.
And she's learned the power of giving and volunteering: for years Jen has raised money for charities she is passionate about, and she regularly volunteers for the running groups she is a part of.
Jen Kanyugi shares all of this in this episode of celebration. In honor of her 20th consecutive Boston Marathon and all that she does for the running community, Jen has also been chosen to be a member of Team Bevans. Team Bevans comprises exceptional Black women marathoners running the Boston Marathon. They run in honor of Marilyn Bevans, the first American born Black woman to run the marathon in under 3 hours. This is just one of many accolades Bevans earned as one of the best marathoners of her day. Kanyugi and the other women on the team embody the spirit of Black woman excellence in marathon running sparked by Bevans, and help solidify her incredible legacy.
Keep Up with Jen Kanyugi
Facebook: facebook.com/patandjen
Jen Kanyugi's Camp Shriver donation page
Mentioned in This Episode
Black Unicorn Marathoners: blackunicornmarathoners.org
Team Bevans: facebook.com/blackunicornmarathoners
Black Girls Run: blackgirlsrun.com
Girls on the Run: girlsontherun.org
Roads to Boston series: womensrunningstories.com/home-2/roads-to-boston-9-runners-1-finish-line
Boston Marathon Expo Live Stage event, Sun., April 14, 2pm: "Making a Statement: Breaking Barriers in Women's Running" featuring Briana Boehmer, Kelly Bruno, Alisa Harvey; moderated by Cherie Turner, Julie Sapper, Lisa Levin; presentation of Team Bevans takes place immediately following this conversation
Oiselle, the apparel brand rooted in running; made by women, for women: oiselle.com
Music Credits
Cormac O'Regan, of Playtoh
SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay
artmucis.janevo, via Pixabay
Coma-Media, via Pixabay
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/444164966663627
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.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, part 4 of this series, Cherie tells the story of her return to formal training and workouts after recovering from an injury. And, back at it, Cherie returned to racing and experienced a frustrating bought of race anxiety. This set Cherie down a path to tackle this difficult barrier and think deeply about what this goal means to her and the importance of believing in abilities.
Cherie discusses the strategies she been practicing to overcome race anxiety and big wins she's experienced by putting these strategies in place. She also identifies her next big challenge in this process: pacing well in racing.
This goal, Cherie sees, is like putting together a puzzle, and piece by piece, it's coming together. And, Cherie is grateful for the support she's getting all along the way, especially from her coach, Verity Breen, and her husband.
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 January to March 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. Please click the links below to hear those episodes (they're not prerequisites to this episode, but they do provide details and context).
The release of this this episode also marks the 4 year anniversary of the podcast! In conjunction with this milestone, Cherie is launching a new Instagram account focused on this 5k project. There, you can find more details and more frequent updates about this journey, in between podcast updates, which come out every few months. Please follow! @over50sub20_5k_project.
Come along for the journey.
Mentioned in this episode
NEW! The Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram account: @over50sub20_5k_project
Cherie Turner: The Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project: Part 1, Setting the Baseline: https://womensrunningstories.com/cherie-turner-the-over-50-sub-20-5k-project-part-1-setting-the-baseline
Cherie Turner: The Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project: Part 2, Learning to Train Well: https://womensrunningstories.com/cherie-turner-the-over-50-sub-20-5k-project-part-2-learning-to-train-well
Cherie Turner: The Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project: Part 3, The Reset: https://womensrunningstories.com/cherie-turner-over-50-sub-20-5k-project-part-3-the-reset
Self Care Simplified interview with Dr. Caroline Leaf: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PbGZ4OVqbREbSNC7atvVt?si=9Q8mtfEKQl2ZwlhNQ5U-kg
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/444164966663627
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.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

Liz Rock is a marathoner and community leader, focusing on women and diversity: "We [women] are so powerful and I wish we knew that more," she says. "We are powerful and we need to lead with that more often than not."
Rock tells her running story with a focus on training for the 2024 Boston Marathon, and her journey is about so much more than putting in the miles. Rock's reasons for running Boston this year, her second Boston Marathon, are deeply embedded in her work as a community leader and her personal health and wellness journey.
This will be Rock's fifth marathon, and her motivations and approach are different this time than for marathons in the past. This year, Rock is running for community, and specifically for the Mile 21 Cheer Zone, which is organized by the TrailblazHers and the Pioneers Run Crew. As on one the co-founders of TrailblazHers, Rock has helped organize this long-standing cheer zone and she's cheered thousands of other runners on from this spot. This year, she'll be on the receiving end.
This is particularly meaningful in light of what went down last year, 2023: the police were called and subsequently surround this cheer zone, front and back, because of the way that they were cheering. The Mile 21 Cheer Zone is the largest gathering of race supporters who are Black and people of color along the race course; their cheer zone is on the predominantly white, affluent town of Newton. This unnecessarily aggressive response from the Newton police caused distrust and trauma in the BIPOC running community that continues to reverberate. Rock was there cheering, and she's returning as a runner to celebrate this cheer zone and take back this narrative and the joy that was threatened last year.
Preparation for this year's Boston also has personal significance in Rock's health and wellness journey. She's hired a running coach and a nutritionist for the first time, to help guide her through marathon training, and beyond.
Rock gets into all of this in her powerful, inspirational story.
Liz Rock is the co-founder of the Boston-based TrailblazHers Run Crew—which is created by and specifically focuses on serving the BIPOC community; she is also the co-founder of the empowering and beloved annual women's running event the Bra Run. And she is a member of the Boston Running Collaborative (BRA), an organization within the Boston Athletic Association (BAA, the organization puts on the Boston Marathon) that works to diversify the running community. And, Rock is a marketing manager for Puma.
Keep Up with Liz Rock
Instagram: @lizzy_rockz
Mentioned in This Episode
TrailblazHers website: trailblazhersrunco.com
TrailblazHers Instagram: @trailblazhersrunco
Abeo Powder coaching: @holisticwithhotfoot
Runner's World article "My Run Club Was Profiled for 'Cheering While Black'—Here's Why It Only Reaffirms Our Mission," as told to Emilia Benton by Sidney Baptista: runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a43878096/my-run-club-was-profiled-for-cheering
Boston Running Collaborative (BRC): baa.org/get-involved/boston-running-collaborative
Oiselle, the apparel brand rooted in running; made by women, for women: oiselle.com
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/444164966663627
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.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