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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: May, 2016
May 31, 2016
The Hawk Island Triathlon, set for this coming weekend, June 4-5, features both sprint and Olympic distances as well as a kids event. Andrew Cusmano, special events coordinator at the South Lansing Community Development Association, which is behind the triathlon, joins Heather on this episode to talk about the upcoming event. Andrew, who just graduated from Michigan State University, talks about the Hawk Island Triathlon, now in its 10th year, is beginner-friendly. Each finisher receives a cool medal and there are plenty of cool prizes, too. The kids' race, held on Friday June 4, attracts about 200 kids each year, and is also very beginner-friendly -- kids come out and just have a lot of fun, Andrew says. Heather and Andrew also talk about his impressive running career -- he ran at MSU, was able to run in two NCAA Championships and was an all-region selection for cross country. He also has a super cool new job and coaching position that they talk about on the show. Registration for this year's Hawk Island Triathlon -- the sprint and Olympic distances take place Saturday, June 5 -- closes Thursday, June 2.
 
Link: 
http://www.southlansing.org
May 25, 2016
The 43rd annual Dexter to Ann Arbor Run, which includes a half marathon, 10K, 5K, kid's fun run and all-new half marathon team challenge, takes place Sunday, June 5 (kid's run is Friday, June 4). Race director Doug Goodhue joins Heather on the show to talk about this year's event and also shares wisdom from his long running career. Doug, 74, returned to running (and really started racing) at age 40. He joined the Ann Arbor Running Club and realized he was quite speedy, actually -- he continues to run competitively and recently was inducted into the USATF Long Distance Running Masters Hall of Fame as an active athlete. He holds an age group world record in the 12K of 48:38 (6:31 pace!) -- he's won 43 USA track and field individual national championships -- and is a five-time age group USA record holder. The Dexter to Ann Arbor Run, also known as "DXA2," attracts some 6,000 runners each year, with 400 volunteers helping put on the event. Doug and Heather talk about the courses, the post-race celebrations, race expo (and 2016 Taste of Ann Arbor) and lots more during this episode.
 
Links:
 
Dexter to Ann Arbor Run: www.dxa2.com 
 
Ann Arbor Running Company: www.annarborrunningcompany.com
 
Taste of Ann Arbor: www.mainstreetannarbor.org
May 18, 2016

Episode #42: Flint runner Lottie Ferguson on Disney racing & her community's resilience

Lottie Ferguson, a Flint runner and mom of three, is the publisher of a FlintFamilyFun, a site offering free and low-cost family-friendly events in Genesee County. She joins Heather on the show to talk about her love of Disney races (she'll run her next ones this November, Disney's Wine & Dine Half Marathon and Disney's Super Heroes Half Marathon), her big decision to sign up for her first marathon this fall (the Detroit Free Press Talmer Bank Marathon in October), and the local running community she loves so much. Lottie, who has a full race calendar this summer and into the fall, shares her favorite Michigan races, including Flint's Crim Festival of Races in August. As Heather and Lottie recorded this episode, President Obama was arriving in Flint to talk with residents about the city's water crisis. Lottie, who works at the Ennis Center for Children, was looking forward to attending the president's talk later that afternoon and shares with Heather how the water crisis has affected her beloved community.

Links:

Flint Family Fun - http://www.flintfamilyfun.com

Crim Festival of Races: www.crim.org

Detroit Free Press Talmer Bank Marathon: freepmarathon.com

Ennis Center for Children: http://www.enniscenter.org

May 11, 2016

Episode #41: Vineyard to Bay 25K, two-person 15K/10K relay & 5K in Suttons Bay

 
Ross Deye, founder of the Vineyard to Bay 25K, two-person 15K/10K relay and 5K, joins Heather in the studio to talk about his popular summer race (he shares a race discount code, too). Deye, a longtime track & field and cross country coach in Ohio and Michigan, started this Suttons Bay race a few years ago, with this year's event taking place Sunday, Aug. 28. 25K runners start at a winery, with the race ending at Lake Michigan in Suttons Bay. Runners can choose to run the entire 25K themselves -- Ross and Heather talk about why he chose this 15.5 mile distance -- or split it up as a relay (one runner takes on the 15K, while the other runs 10K). The 5K is also an option. Ross says the course is incredibly scenic. "First and foremost I think it offers a variety of looks throughout the race -- you have the six vineyards which are beautiful in the late summer/early fall and you have a great view of Grand Traverse Bay when descending Hill Top Road and again once you finish," Ross says. "Nearly half the 25K is on the Leelanau Trail, which is a nice change of pace from just running roads." There's also variety in how far participants choose to run. "We are trying to provide something for everyone without it being too much of an organizational issue and I think we've accomplished that." Post-race activities and awards also are covered during the show. 
 
Links:
Www.vineyard2bay.com 
May 5, 2016

Exploring Michigan's great outdoors and getting a great workout in while doing so is what Cari Draft's company EcoTrek Fitness is all about. Cari, who lives in Spring Lake with her husband Jeff and their son Austin, is one of west Michigan's most active and community-involved personal fitness trainers. She talks with Heather about her active lifestyle and the ways in which she is helping others embrace an active and healthy lifestyle. Her EcoTrek Fitness business now operates out of several locations in Michigan as well as a location in West Virginia, and she is behind a line of whole food bars. She's a popular fitness guru on Facebook and Twitter, with thousands of followers who know her as @FitGirlCari. Learn all about EcoTrek Fitness during the show, including memorable moments on the trails and in the woods with fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Cari and her company, EcoTrek Fitness, were one of only three organizations in the state named 2012 Governor's Fitness Awards/Michigan Fitness Council Extraordinary Event/Organization Award Honoree. In June 2012, Cari was one of 12 women nominated as West Michigan Woman Magazine's Most Influential Woman. In October 2013, Cari was an Honoree at the GVSU Women in Sport and Physical Activity event, as well as the Keynote Speaker. Most recently Cari was named one of 48 Women's Health Magazine ACTION HEROES for 2016.

 
Link: www.ecotrekfitness.com 

 

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