At age 47, Rose Coleman took up running and decided to go big: train for a marathon. Since that day about six years ago, this mother and grandmother has racked up an impressive number of races -- 8 marathons, 70 half marathons, countless 10Ks and 5Ks -- and has also delved into the world of obstacle races (Tough Mudder, warrior runs and Spartan races) as well as relay races; for the past three years, she has served as captain of a team of women running The Fred, a 200-mile relay race here in Michigan. Rose joins Heather in the studio to talk about her athletic journey that began after moving to northern Michigan from Florida as a single mom. Rose, who is also a mountain biker, has big plans for the future, too: Ironman Louisville, Kentucky in October 2017. (She's been swimming in the pool a lot lately and is killing it!) No matter where you're at in your own running journey, hearing this 53-year-old talk about how running alleviated stress in her life and her favorite kinds of adventures (and what she's learned along the way) is sure to inspire. It's also a reminder that no matter how old we are, it's always a good time to give running a try!
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Thousands of women across Michigan, the midwest and beyond have taken to wearing a bright-colored flower in their hair while racing -- a symbol of what running has come to mean to them. Each flower -- 13 varying colors -- represent "different reasons, stories and purposes behind why we run." This community and movement, which began four years ago in Marquette, Michigan, is known as Fellow Flowers. Longtime friends Tori Sager and Mel Charbonneau are the co-founders of Fellow Flowers and join Heather on the show to talk about their running journeys and how their passion for women and running led them to become business partners and creators of a community that has touched more than 25,000 women across the country. Mel and Tori are both former collegiate athletes who came to running later in life. They ran their first half marathon together in Green Bay, Wis. "We always say, I think the universe knew something we didn't that day," Tori says of that race experience with Mel. A seed was planted when they crossed that finish line, they say, and years later, to celebrate her birthday, Tori and 13 of her friends (including Mel) "ran with flowers in our hair -- it was the 'infamous flower race.' There were amazing stories that came out of that day ... the flower was a symbol of connection and of our 12-week journey and what that meant to us." Mel, Tori and Heather talk about the reasons women run and how our individual "why I run" stories ultimately connect us to one another. Mel and Tori also share what it's like to operate a business together while living in two different cities -- Tori lives with her family in Marquette while Mel and her family reside in Madison, Wis. -- the growth Fellow Flowers has experienced since its inception, and the exciting plans for future adventures within their community.Link: fellowflowers.com
Episode #51: Becoming a stronger runner
Episode #50: Kathy Sebright on finding hope in the long run