The Running for Real Podcast

Whether it's serving as Race Director of the Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run , leading the Global Parkinson's Genetic Program at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research , or advocating for non-binary inclusion in races, J Solle supports and raises up others.  For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode390 . Photo credit (podcast player in...

Today, March 8th, is International Women's Day , a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. To celebrate it, Tina reached out to some of the women who inspire her and asked them to answer one of these questions: What is one piece of advice you would give to women listening? What do you wish the women listening knew? What is your favorite thing abo...

Ian Gonzalez is a trailblazer. He co-founded 7 on Sundays,   a run crew on Chicago's South Side, an area where running as a pastime had been virtually nonexistent. 7 on Sundays created a community of runners, but there was nowhere for them to buy running shoes, clothes, or nutrition. Ian filled that void by opening Last Lap Cornerstore , the only running store on the South Side, and the only Black...

There isn't a new  Running for Real episode this week, and here's the reason why...

A conversation with her mother and a television documentary changed the trajectory of Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell's life. They led her to take up running; become a Certified Run Coach; and create the Game Changers and L.E.A.D. programs, redefining who is seen as the experts and leaders in the run industry. This year she was honored with Running USA's Award of Excellence, which recognizes "outstanding...

In October 2022, Tina released a podcast episode called "I Felt So Lost." At the time, she knew she wanted to combine running with sustainability, but she wasn't quite sure what direction that would take. Now, just a little over a year later, she says, "I feel like I've got my path; the train track is in front of me and I can see it, and I feel very excited about where it's going." For complete sh...

On March 16, the Selma to Montgomery Relay will follow the route taken by Civil Rights Movement activists in March 1965, as they walked from Selma, Alabama to the state capital of Montgomery, to protest the blocking of Black Americans' right to vote. It's a history lesson, an opportunity to honor those who risked so much for justice, a way to give back to their communities, and a party for the run...

Before he was "Ricky from St. Louis," Ricky Hughes was rapper and music producer Ricky Rock. He was also caught up in a wild lifestyle that he knew he needed to escape. As part of his evolution to a new version of himself, he started distance running and founded the St. Louis Run Crew, for "all faces, paces, and laces." For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/epi...

Lucie Hanes is a professional ultra runner, a professional climber, a journalist, and a sports psychologist. Those potentially conflicting pursuits actually complement each other, as evidenced by her second place finish in her debut 100 mile race, the 2023 Leadville 100 Trail Run. Remarkably, that achievement came after health issues forced her to stop training the year before. She discovered how...

Kayla Jeter has always been athletic: she was a professional volleyball player after a stellar high school and college career, and moved onto coaching at the University of Cincinnati. But running became an important part of her life when she was caring for her dying mother and was embraced by the running community. Since then, she's helped that community grow through the 100 Miles of Summer challe...

It's been an eventful year for Tina and Running for Real! In this episode, Tina looks back on the highs and lows of 2023, and in the tradition of Together Runs , offers space for you to reflect on your own experiences. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode381 .   Thank you to Tracksmith, AG1, and Allbirds for sponsoring this episode.    Tracksmith is an...

Jason Suarez dreamt of going to the Olympics. He ran track in high school and college, but when he went to Tokyo in 2021, it wasn't as a runner, but as a photographer. He shoots for major running brands, has published three collections of running photos and stories, and his handle, @notafraid2fail, is well-known in the running world. But as in demand as he is, Jason still takes time to give back t...

William Faulkner said, "The past is never dead. It's not even past." As James Fell recounts it, the past is alive, kicking, and throwing f-bombs. Volume I of his self-published, two-volume On This Day in History Sh!t Went Down has just been republished by Bantam Books. Before he became the "Sweary Historian" though, James was a fitness columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, a...

From the outside, Tim Tollefson appeared to have everything as a runner. He was a collegiate steeplechase champion, a 2-time US Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, and is one of the country's most accomplished ultra runners. He podiumed at UTMB in both his 100K and 100 mile debuts, and went on to win the Javelina Jundred, Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120K, and the Ultra Trail Australia 100K. But appearance...

Two weeks ago, Kayleigh Williamson became one of the first, and quite possibly the first, women with Down syndrome to complete the New York City Marathon. She crossed the finish line alongside her mother, Sandy, and their friend, Tina Muir, both of whom had been with her for the entire 26.2 miles.  Kayleigh's finish went viral, and she, Sandy, and Tina were invited to appear on the "Today Show" wi...

This guided run with Tina is the closest to running with someone else without actually doing it. Tina takes runners on a nature check in, body scan, senses check in, and mental health check in before sharing about all the excitement of the past few weeks. Being a part of a viral video with Kayleigh Williamson and the TODAY show, there has been a lot going on! Check out Kayleigh's viral video TODAY...

With wars raging in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan; political polarization; the after effects of the COVID 19 pandemic; and the climate crisis, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the state of the world. With his new book, Your Heart Was Made for This: Contemplative Practices to Meet a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love , Oren Jay Sofer offers a practical guide to living a meaningful life in...

This week we're highlighting the third section of Tina Muir and Zoë Rom's book, "Becoming a Sustainable Runner." We've shared chapters about sustaining your runner's mind and body and your running community ; in this episode, we'll look at sustaining the planet.  In the "Be an Eco-Conscious Traveler" chapter, Tina and Zoë explain how you can develop a pro-environmental lens, consider the benefits...

Tina and Sarah are justifiably proud of these times when they stood up for themselves.   Thanks for listening! If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast!. And if you enjoy "For Real-Isodes", please leave us a review! Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our website . Follow Tina on Instagram , Faceb...

On last week's podcast, we shared a chapter from the first section of Becoming a Sustainable Runner, by Tina Muir and Zoë Rom. In this episode, we're highlighting the second section, "Sustain Your Running Community."  This chapter, "Find Your Place," explores the ways in which connecting with others can enrich our lives as runners. Even if you've never had any desire to run with a group, you may c...

Missing running with others, run with Tina on this Together Run and you will feel like you are right beside her. Grounding and connecting exercises start each run; a nature check in, body scan, senses check in, and mental health check in. This is the closest you can get to running with someone else...without actually doing it. Check out Order Becoming a Sustainable Runner Order Precision Gels and...

What is something you did that you'd rather forget? Sarah and Tina reveal mortifying - but funny! - incidents from their pasts.   Thanks for listening! If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast!. And if you enjoy "For Real-Isodes", please leave us a review! Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our w...

Tina Muir and Zoë Rom's book, "Becoming a Sustainable Runner," takes a three-pronged approach to sustainability. Part one, "Sustain Your Runner's Mind and Body," examines how runners can strengthen their entire being, including ways to increase self-confidence and practice mindfulness, run and cross train to reduce injury, and replenish themselves to keep running strong throughout their life. This...

A special piece of furniture can have meaning far beyond what it was intended for, as Tina and Sarah recall.   Thanks for listening! If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast!. And if you enjoy "For Real-Isodes", please leave us a review! Keep up with what's going on at Running for Real by signing up for our weekly newsletter on our website . Follow Tin...

Join Tina for a Together Run in Toronto Canada! Tina takes runners through grounding exercises to connect with your surroundings through nature check ins, body scans, senses check in, and a focus on mental health. It will feel like you are running with a friend, come join! Check out Order Becoming a Sustainable Runner Order Precision Gels and Hydration (get 15% off) Sign up for the Running For Rea...