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Michigan Runner Girl

The Michigan Runner Girl podcast is where you'll find a passion for running, hiking, paddling, and cycling crosses paths with a love of nature and outdoor exploration in the beautiful state of Michigan — and beyond. A mother, writer, gigantic Great Lakes fan, and book lover Heather Durocher, creator of the running and travel site MichiganRunnerGirl.com, hosts the show. Expect to hear informative, engaging, and inspiring conversations with others also on their own health and wellness journey. The Michigan Runner Girl podcast is about finding our way, through movement. Season One of 2022 now underway, with a theme of Reconnection.
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Now displaying: January, 2017
Jan 30, 2017
Tony Anderson, a northern Michigan runner and 54-year-old father of three and grandfather of two, is on a mission to run a marathon in all 50 states. And he's completed 35 so far. But his reason for chasing this ambitious goal is special because it is tied to an organization that's near and dear to his heart: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan. Having grown up without his father -- his dad died in a car accident at age 28 -- Tony understands both the pain of growing up without one a parent and the importance of having mentors to help guide a child following a loss. Heather talks with Tony about his dedication to running and commitment to helping children who, as he experienced, are in need of mentors. He created Marathon 4 Kids to help raise funds, through his marathon running, for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan. He's raised almost $210,000 so far for this organization. Heather and Tony talk about his most memorable 26.2 races, what it means for him to be helping raise funds for Big Brithers Big Sisters, the impact his running has had on his own family, and the marathon he is eyeing for his 50th 26.2.
 
Link: marathon4kids.com 
Jan 23, 2017
For a long time, Grand Rapids runner Sasha Wolff kept her depression a secret. "It was a diagnosis I was ashamed of and rarely talked about," Sasha says of the diagnosis she received in 2003 at age 18. "Because of that, I carried my burden of shame around for years." But Sasha, who grew up in California, realized she needed to do something to cope with her depression, and ultimately, the shame she felt. She started to run in 2012, and in 2015 ran her first marathon. Sasha joins Heather on the show to talk about her journey, which has included creating a community of runners -- Still I Run -- helping others combat depression and anxiety through our sport. "We're a community of warriors determined to take control of our physical and mental health while also breaking the stigma surrounding people who live with mental illness," she says. Since taking up running in 2012, Sasha has run two more marathons as well as completed a half Ironman, 10 half marathons, a 25K and countless 10Ks and 5Ks. She also shares on the show her involvement with Pine Rest Mental Health Services, and how she has a team of runners helping raise awareness at this year's Fifth Their Riverbank Run.
 
Link: stilliruncommunity.com 
Jan 16, 2017
With spring marathon and half marathon training getting underway for many runners, Heather welcomes elite runner and coach Luke Humphrey to the show to talk about his books Hansons Marathon Method and Hansons Half Marathon Method. Luke, who is a runner with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in Rochester, Mich., wrote these books with Keith and Kevin Hanson, elite running coaches and owners of Hansons Running Shops in southern Michigan. Their training method is used with impressive success by members of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project as well as everyday runners all across the country. Runners who follow the plan often achieve personal best times -- sometimes huge PRs -- given the method's unconventional approach (one example: the longest run in the marathon plan is 16 miles, not the traditional 20 or 22). Luke explains in detail how the method's combination of  "smart science with proven practice" makes all the difference. You'll hear about the importance of "cumulative fatigue" and how you learn to train hard and consistently by following the plan, resulting in a strong performance on race day. Luke also shares his own personal running journey, which began in high school and continued at Central Michigan University. He has qualified for three Olympic trials in the marathon -- in 2008, 2012 and 2016 -- and has a personal best marathon finish time of 2:14:38. 
 
Link: 
Hansons Coaching Services: hansonscoachingservices.com 
 

 

Jan 9, 2017

For this first Michigan Runner Girl episode of 2017, Heather welcomes wellness chef Ali Lopez and dietician nutritionist Miranda Monroe back to the show to talk about a favorite topic of runners: food. Many of us may be looking to improve upon our eating in the coming year, so we can fuel well and feel great. Heather shares how she's been spending more time in the kitchen lately, trying out new recipes specifically geared toward an active lifestyle, and Ali and Miranda -- both training for the Boston Marathon this April -- talk simple, small-step ways we all can improve upon our eating habits and enhance the experience of cooking and preparing meals that in turn help us stay strong and healthy for running. Learn the importance of "starting where you are" and planning ahead (the trio talk quite a bit about the power of a well-stocked pantry, as well as practical ways to make the most of your grocery shopping trips.) The trio also touch on how to become a mindful eater -- and how it makes a big difference in our overall health and well-being. Whether you're feeling on track with your food intake, or wish you could give it a boost, there's lots to digest (pun intended) and take away in this latest episode. 
--

Heather Johnson Durocher
Writer/Editor/Publisher/Podcast Host
Michigan Runner Girl ~ In a state of motion
 
Jan 2, 2017
From guided, lantern-lit snowshoe hikes and peaceful cross country skiing, to Yurt camping, moose-viewing and experiencing "dark sky parks," the Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation each winter. Maia Turek, statewide recreation programmer for the DNR, returns to the Michigan Runner Girl show to talk about the numerous winter programs and nature experiences available at many of Michigan's 103 state parks and 138 state forest campgrounds. "When you're there in the summer, parks have a sound - kids playing, seagulls, campers ... when you go in the winter it's completely different. You can hear nature," Maia says. Just a few of the parks Heather and Maia talk about during the show: Ludington State Park (family-friendly snowshoe programs); Rockport Recreation Area near Alpena (an old quarry that's an awesome spot for snowshoeing, who knew?); Muskegon State Park (check out the Yurt!); Blueberry Ridge near Marquette (fantastic cross-country ski trails). You'll also hear about the state's 5 "dark sky parks" as well as learn that the entire Upper Peninsula is designated a dark sky preserve. Maia and Heather also announce a joint fitness challenge kicking off this January -- the Michigan Runner Girl - Michigan DNR Fitness Challenge. The challenge is free and open to anyone interested in getting outdoors and experiencing nature in Michigan this winter. Prizes will be given away each week during the challenge, which will run through February. How it works: snap a photo of yourself, or of you and your family and friends, being active outside. It could be a run, a snowshoe, a hike, a ski -- whatever gets your body moving outdoors. Share the photo on Instagram, using the hashtags #MRGEnergy and #MIStateParks. Each week, MRG will share a reader/listener photo on the MRG Facebook page (and on Instagram, of course) and that person will win a prize from Michigan Runner Girl and the Michigan DNR. (hint: could be free camping, gear or other fun prizes!)
 
Links: michigan.gov/recsearch, michigan.gov/natureprograms 
 

 

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