Keeping Track Evergreen Podcasts

Check out their website for inquiries on joining or supporting!
Social media announces events: @angelcityelite
Angel City Elite is a women's running group based in the Los Angelese area. Their athletes have competed at the US Olympic Trials Marathon and other track and road races around the country. They are a small group of runners now but hope to support more women who want to contitnue to train at a high level post collegiately and also offer support to youth athletes as well as host community events. Their mission is to bridge the gap:
Angel City Elite's mission is to bridge the disparity gap of BIPOC representation in the running community, raise awareness, empower, educate, and inspire by creating a supportive platform and establishing partnerships in LA and surrounding communities.

Liberty AC is the oldest all women’s track club in the country, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. I speak to president of the board Viki Bok and official- unofficial team historian Alda Cossi (both women are competitive members of the masters running scene).

Liberty has run through the gauntlet of sea changes in society via womens sport:
It began as a new england sports club for young boys, and soon also became an opportunity for girls in sport when there were none-as schools did not offer this to girls in the 50s. During the 60’s and 70’s they had women athletes from many events in track and field competing for them and some went on to become Olympians and National Team Members and Champions like sprinters Betty Selman and Kathy Lawson to name a few. On the distance side of things, women like Darlene Beckford, Lynn Jennings and Joan Samuelson came through the program, and eventually professional contracts came into the picture to offer more support. (We didn’t talk about it as I wasn't sure who else had been traumatized by this but one of the eras of coaching in the club was that of John Babbington-who has recently been named as a serial abuser of his young athletes, which is extremely upsetting and a sadly not unheard of piece of the womens sport landscape . Currently, athletes and supporters are pushing for prevention and better protected against this.)

Their website statement:
“Liberty is a community of women committed to inclusive athleticism, compassion, and fairness. We are deeply disturbed to learn of the behavior that led to SafeSport’s investigation and findings of sexual misconduct by John Babington. We acknowledge the extraordinary strength it takes to share the pain associated with sexual misconduct, including assault. Liberty’s current board and membership want Lynn Jennings, Darlene Beckford Pearson, and others who suffered similar abuse to know that we stand with them and will do whatever we can to support their healing and justice.”  

“today-Liberty is mostly adult women actively engaged in career and community in addition to being dedicated runners”
The club is a hub for masters women athletes -some of which only tried competitive running once reaching this age. The fulfillment, community and healthy habits cultivated in the group are a benefit to women of all abilities and show you don’t become invisible or have to give up parts of your life when you hit a certain age. 

Julia Lucas was a multi time All American at North Carolina State and Professional Distance runner for 8 years. She talks about how that's informed her own coaching approach and she tells us about the 2 NYC groups she is guiding and some other stops along the way on her coaching journey:
Julia is currently working with the womens Elite Group Atalanta , the Atalanta community group training team online which you can join, a few private clients and the No Name Program (@thenonameprogram) community group.
More from Julia here and on our blog Keeping-Track follow her on instagram @justrunjulia

Molly Talks to co founder Abeo Powder and Run LeadHer Alia Qatarneh about Boston Based women's running group TrailBlazHers Run co . They touch on topics like their big event -The Bra Run- their weekly events and other activations and how they are crearing a welcoming space for women to enter the running world and find community through all paces and levels of running. As they say they "Value and nurture the diversity in sisterhood!"

Molly will also link the resources mentioned in the National Women and Girls In Sport Day recap on www.keeping-track.com , but here is more info on
Vaughn Childcare Fund for college Mothers
Books: Good For A Girl
How She Did It
Sites:
Voice In Sport online mentorship program for girls
Womens Sports Foundation

Molly catches up with Betsy Saina on her new journey as a Mother and American Citizen who has stepped from the track into the Marathon and road race world. 
Betsy recently signed with Asics and won the Seville half. Betsy talks about her struggle for motivation and lack of opportunities during Covid, her decision to have a baby in the middle of her running career and how her agent and new sponsor Asics reacted to this. She also talks about how much more support she has in Kenya around childcare and pacing duties compared to the USA. look for Betsy at the Tokyo Marathon next month !
(note-baby noises in the background due to two Moms talking !)

Molly, Ro and Alysia all speak with their mutual friend Lauren about her new NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING BOOK Good For A Girl: A Woman Running In A Man's World.
They talk about how the system (from NCAA to the professional side) could better serve a women's life cycle, body and needs and how playing in a system built by men for men has harmed women athletes by minimizing or not adequately addressing common pitfalls that young women athletes encounter, like eating disorders, negative body image and navigating puberty and pregnancy.