Episodes

  • Jessica Mena: Ultra Trail Runner, Her First 100K

    Jessica Mena: Ultra Trail Runner, Her First 100K
    May 20 2025
    Jessica Mena is a longtime runner now focused on ultra trail running. She’s continually driven to discover what she is capable of: beginning with her first marathon, at age 12!, to today, as she explores running long distances on the trails. This episode focuses on Mena reaching one of her biggest goals yet: running 100 kilometers (62 miles) over hilly trails. She shares how it all went down, along with the running journey that got her to this point. In addition to being a runner, Mena is a physical therapist, coach, and running community builder—she’s the founder of the Tempo Training Run Club. Mena is driven to find out just how far she can push herself in running. This 100k is the latest adventure in that quest. How to Keep Up with Jessica Mena Instagram: ⁠@tempo_with_jess⁠ 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 ⁠⁠aidanpinsent⁠⁠, via ⁠⁠Pixabay⁠ ⁠⁠penguinmusic⁠⁠, via⁠⁠ Pixabay⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Camila_Noir,⁠⁠ 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 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
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    37 mins
  • WRS Host Cherie: Back to Training, Running Update Mid-Mar–Mid-May 2025

    WRS Host Cherie: Back to Training, Running Update Mid-Mar–Mid-May 2025
    May 13 2025
    This is an update from me, WRS host and producer Cherie Louise Turner, about my running, training, and racing. This picks up from where the last episode of the Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project, Part 9, left off. As I mentioned in my last episode, I have decided to stop focusing so completely on this sub-20 minute 5k goal, so am just calling these running updates. I still have a sub-20 goal, but it's not my all-consuming singular focus. This update covers the time period between mid-March and mid-May 2025. I left off in the midst of a break from running, and in this episode, I share details about my return to a formal training program. I'm experimenting with some new approaches to training that I'm very excited about. Feel free to join the journey from here; it's not mandatory to listen to previous episodes of my running story (which includes parts 1-9 of the Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project, and two Comrades race reports, from 2022 and 2023) in order to enjoy this one. Previous episodes will provide more context around my running story and provide details about the many lessons I have learned so far. Come along for the journey. Links and Publication Dates to Earlier Episodes in this Series Find the whole Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project series ⁠here⁠. Cherie's Comrades Race Report 2022: womensrunningstories.com/cherie-turner-2022-comrades-marathon-a-hear-her-sports-special-collaboration Cherie's Comrades Race Report 2023: womensrunningstories.com/cherie-louise-turner-2023-comrades-marathon-experiencing-the-magic-again-and-better 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 ⁠Lidérc Bell⁠, via ⁠Pixabay ⁠Camila_Noir,⁠ via⁠ Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: ⁠@over50sub20_5k_project⁠ WRS Instagram:⁠ @womensrunningstories⁠ Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/WomensRunningStories⁠ 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
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    43 mins
  • Angel Tadytin: Her Magical First 50-Mile Trail Race

    Angel Tadytin: Her Magical First 50-Mile Trail Race
    May 6 2025
    Angel Tadytin shares the epic story of her first 50-mile trail race, and how it unfolded in unexpected and magical ways. Tadytin is a wife, mother, social worker, and ultra runner, and she is from the Navajo Nation. She and her family currently live in Mesa, Arizona, but she’s originally from Page, Arizona, and the surrounding area. Tadytin is also a lifelong hiker and outdoor explorer, and a longtime weightlifter. In addition, Tadytin is a community builder and currently is a board member of Native Women Run (NWR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and supporting native women in running. The event that is at the center of this story is the Antelope Canyon Ultras 50 mile trail race, which goes through the land that Tadytin grew up on. The longest race Tadytin had ever run before was 55 km (34 miles), also at Antelope Canyon. Not only had Tadytin never run 50 miles before, she’d never wanted to run 50 miles. She didn’t even commit to this 50-miler until a month before the event. So, her training did not take a conventional path: most athletes would have started training for an event like this several months beforehand, and they’d have run several long runs of 20 or more miles in preparation. Tadytin’s longest run leading into the event was 16 miles, which she ran once. The reasons why Tadytin decided to run this 50 mile event, and the strength, support, connection, and experience that carried her through and to the end is what this story is all about. How to Keep Up with Angel Tadytin Instagram: @angels_ventures Mentioned in This Episode Native Women Run: @native_women_run 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 SergePavkinMusic⁠, via⁠ Pixabay⁠ ⁠aidanpinsent⁠, via ⁠Pixabay ⁠penguinmusic⁠, via⁠ Pixabay⁠ ⁠⁠Rockot⁠, via⁠ Pixabay⁠ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram:⁠ @over50sub20_5k_project⁠ 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
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • LIVE EVENT!: Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, Dot McMahon, 2025 Boston Marathon Expo

    LIVE EVENT!: Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, Dot McMahon, 2025 Boston Marathon Expo
    Apr 29 2025
    This is a live recording from Sunday, April 20 at the Boston Marathon Expo. Once again, WRS host Cherie Turner teamed up with Julie Sapper and Lisa Levin from the Run Farther and Faster podcast to co-host an excellent panel. This year's panel was titled Mental Strategies for Mastering the Marathon, and it featured exceptional masters marathoners Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, and Dot McMahon. These women shared wisdom and experience on strategies for developing mental strength and resilience, mental approaches to the marathon, how to build confidence when you have self-doubt, and so much more! This is an episode to listen to again and again; it's so packed with helpful advice and useful takeaways. Stephanie Bruce, 41, has been racing professionally for over 15 years. Among her many racing accomplishments, she's placed 6th at the Chicago Marathon, and 10th at the London and NYC marathons. Bruce has also earned 3 national titles on the road, one in the half-marathon and twice in the 10k. Additionally, Bruce placed 6th at the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2020. Bruce started a new chapter in her running career this year, signing on with Tracksmith. She now runs for them professionally and will be helping to mentor younger runners going after big goals. Erica Stanley-Dottin, 51, came to marathoning later in life, at age 35. In her early 40s, she began to train seriously and joined the Black Roses racing team. She then learned about The List: an accounting of all the American-born Black women who have broken 3 hours in the marathon. As she continued to get faster at the marathon, this became her goal. Erica met that goal with room to spare at the 2022 Berlin Marathon where she ran 2:52, at 48 years old. That came just six months after running 3:01 at Boston. This year, Stanley-Dottin ran the Boston Marathon as a member of Team Bevans, in honor of marathon pioneer Marilyn Bevans. Dot McMahan, 48, has been running marathons for 19 years and she’s run for the Hanson Brooks Original Distance Project team for 20. Among Dot’s many accomplishments over her long running career, she’s qualified for and run 5 Olympic trials marathons, and she has placed in the top 10 at two of them. Last year, she was the oldest woman to compete in the marathon trials, and she qualified for last year's trials by running 2:35 at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon. Dot is also a running coach. She works with private athletes and as an assistant track coach for Oakland University. How to Keep Up with Stephanie Bruce Instagram: @stephrothstein How to Keep Up with Erica Stanley-Dottin Instagram: @estanleydott How to Keep Up with Dot McMahon Instagram: @dotmcmahon Ways to Connect with Run Farther and Faster Instagram: @runfartherandfaster Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RunFartherFaster Twitter: @RunFartherfast Website: https://www.runfartherandfaster.com/ Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Instagram: @womensrunningstories Website: womensrunningstories.com Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Gwen Jacobson: Masters Marathon Champion, 120-Plus Marathons and Counting

    Gwen Jacobson: Masters Marathon Champion, 120-Plus Marathons and Counting
    Apr 22 2025
    This episode features prolific marathon runner and internationally competitive masters racer Gwen Jacobson. Jacobson, who is 66, got started running in 2010, when she was in her 50s. She has run many distances, but without question she has the greatest affinity for the marathon: in the last 15 years, Jacobson has run over 120 marathons as well as one 50k. In addition to loving the 26.2 mile distance, Jacobson loves big challenges and she is very goal oriented. So, for instance, she has completed a marathon in every state, under 4 hours. She also wants to win her age category in a marathon in all 50 states, so where that hasn’t already been the case, she’s going after that goal, too. Jacobson has 7 states left in that challenge. She’s also chasing a sub-3 hour marathon on a downhill course, and she’s gotten very close. Her current downhill marathon PR is 3:04, which she set at the end of 2023. She has plans to better that time at the end of 2025. Jacobson has gone through her fair share of trial and error when it comes to staying injury free, and she’s learned a lot about bone health. She’s landed on healthy habits that work for her, and she shares that in her story, too. In this episode Jacobson shares so much: about her running progression, her goals and how she continues to run fast and far now in her mid-60s. How to Keep Up with Gwen Jacobson Instagram: @gwenjacobson 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 penguinmusic, via Pixabay chillmore, via Pixabay Rockot, via Pixabay Grand Project, via Pixabay Camila_Noir, via Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project 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
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    35 mins
  • Alia Qatarneh: TrailblazHers Run Co. LeadHer, 26.TRUE Marathon Runner

    Alia Qatarneh: TrailblazHers Run Co. LeadHer, 26.TRUE Marathon Runner
    Apr 15 2025
    This episode features Alia Qatarneh, whose running story is deeply infused with community and leadership, especially through the Boston area based TrailblazHers Run Co. Her story highlights the way the three forces of running, community, and leadership have coalesced to drive her running journey. And how that's led to her running the 2023 Boston Marathon—her first time running 26.2 miles—and then to running the 2024 Boston City 26.TRUE marathon, which she'll be running again this year, 2025: 26,TRUE happens this weekend, Saturday, April 19. Away from running Qatarneh is a doctoral candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education on her way to becoming a doctor of education leadership, and she has a background in science and science education. Qatarneh is a runner, as well as a LeadHer for the TrailblazHers, an organization that fosters diversity and creates a welcoming environment for all women, especially women of color. In her episode, Qatarneh traces how she started in the sport of running and how she's developed as a runner and leader throughout her journey. Get pumped up to cheer on Qatarneh and the rest of the runners this year at 26.TRUE! Mentioned in this Episode TrailblazHers: @trailblazhersrunco Pioneers Run Crew: @pioneersrc 29.TRUE: @26.truemarathon Liz Rock on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/liz-rock-a-trailblazhers-journey-running-the-boston-marathon-for-mile-21-joy 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 penguinmusic, via Pixabay aidanpinsent, via Pixabay Rockot, via Pixabay Grand Project, via Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project 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
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    43 mins
  • LIVE! Annie Rodenfels: 3x National Champion, Professional Runner, at the Boston Tracksmith Track House

    LIVE! Annie Rodenfels: 3x National Champion, Professional Runner, at the Boston Tracksmith Track House
    Apr 8 2025
    This is a special live recording featuring professional runner and 3x national champion Annie Rodenfels, in conversation with WRS host and producer Cherie; that's me. We sat down at the Tracksmith track house in Boston on Sat., March 22, with a wonderful crowd on a beautiful morning to have this fantastic conversation. Annie Rodenfels is a born competitor. We get into how she progressed from being a high school soccer player who ran track and field, to a top NCAA DIII runner, and then to one of the best distance racers in the US. This is not a common trajectory: most DIII runners don't turn pro, let alone become one of the best in the pro field. Rodenfels has worked smart and hard to get here, developing her strength, skill, and ability. It's been a years long, step by step process, and all along the way, Rodenfels continues to rise to the occasion. Among her many professional career highlights, Rodenfels is the 2023 and 2024 5k National Champion, and the 2024 6k National Champion. And she won the first 10k she ever raced, the prestigious Boston 10k for Women, in 2023. Through it all, Rodenfels's training, mental game, confidence, and racing style has evolved, and she gets into it all. How to Keep Up with Annie Rodenfels Instagram: @andrearodenfels Annie Rodenfels's Previous Appearance on WRS Race Report: Annie Rodenfels + USATF 6k National Championship 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 Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project WRS Instagram: @womensrunningstories Facebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStories 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
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    55 mins
  • Mayra Garcia: Becoming an Ultra Trail Runner

    Mayra Garcia: Becoming an Ultra Trail Runner
    Apr 1 2025
    This episode features ultra trail runner and mom Mayra Garcia, who is originally from Honduras and now calls Maryland home. Garcia loves to run, and she loves to run very far: training for ultras is a big part of her life today. But not too long ago, Garcia wasn’t a runner at all. Not until one fateful day, when, instead of turning to coping with life's challenges in unhealthy ways, like using alcohol, Garcia decided to run. That run sparked a whole new life for Garcia. In this episode, Garcia tells the story of how she got from that moment to today, having run marathons and trail ultras, keeping a well-established running streak going, and just wanting more: more miles, more mountains, more challenges. In addition to her own running goals and passion, Garcia wants to inspire other women, especially women of color, to get out on the trails and discover the powerful world of ultra running. How to Keep Up with Mayra Garcia Instagram: @colocha.runs Mentioned in this Episode Running Industry Diversity Coalition, RIDC: runningdiversity.com Naseemah Palmer on WRS: womensrunningstories.com/naseemah-palmer-running-reminds-me-im-living 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 penguinmusic, via Pixabay aidanpinsent, via Pixabay SergePavkinMusic, via Pixabay chillmore, via Pixabay Rockot, via Pixabay Lidérc Bell, via Pixabay Grand Project, via Pixabay AlexGrohl, via Pixabay Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_project 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
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    45 mins