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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: April, 2018
Apr 30, 2018

If Traverse City is among your summer travel destinations -- or you've been looking for an excuse to spend some time in this northern Michigan town on the shores of Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay -- you'll love this episode featuring a conversation between Heather and Coryn Briggs, a runner whose enviable job is digital content manager for Traverse City Tourism. 

Coryn is a return guest on the show -- she previously was on to talk about destination races with Kelly Yauk -- and she has lots to share about upcoming races, bike activities, and delicious food and wine events happening in the area this spring and summer. Coryn also shares her favorite routes to run in the Traverse City area -- and Heather chimes in with her favorites, too.

This "City Spotlight" episode kicks off a series of shows Heather will have focusing on different towns and regions of Michigan (and the cool things to do and places to run when you're there). If you have thoughts on what city Heather should focus on next, please email her at heather@michiganrunnergirl.com 

 

Apr 24, 2018

Spots still remain for the 3rd Annual MRG Spring Getaway, set for May 4-6 at Timber Ridge Resort in Traverse City, Mich. Heather is joined on the show by co-hosts Pam Carrigan, MRG event coordinator, and Meranda Lambert, who oversees events at Timber Ridge. The trio talk about the upcoming girls' weekend, which includes everything from running and biking and hiking, to dining and shopping downtown, to relaxation and sunrise yoga -- and lots more. They also share details (and their hard-to-contain excitement) about the weekend's featured guest: 2018 Boston Marathon Champion Desiree Linden. 

Weekend registration is here: https://mkt.com/michigan-runner-girl

More event details are here: http://michiganrunnergirl.com/2018-mrg-spring-getaway/

Latest Retreat News: Desiree Linden, 2018 Boston Marathon champion, is the featured guest at the third annual Michigan Runner Girl Spring Getaway this May 4-6 at Timber Ridge Resort in Traverse City. Following her historic win on April 16 -- she is the first American woman to win the race since 1985 -- we are offering a special Friday evening-only option. Here's your chance to: go for a trail run with Des and enjoy drinks and heavy apps (and fantastic conversation) with Des as well as other like-minded women. We'll also have time to sit around the campfire with Des, who trains in Rochester Hills, Mich. and lives in Charlevoix with her husband Ryan and their dog Boston, and take in a cool slack-line demo by Sam at Backcountry North. Giveaways also will be part of the evening. And if you decide you'd like to stay the night, Timber Ridge has several lodging options -- you can also stay the entire weekend with us (simply sign up for the MRG Spring Getaway here at the online store; this Friday evening described above is all part of the weekend price.) For those who are interested only in the Friday evening option, simply purchase this option here. We're capping the event at 40 women, so please sign up soon if you're interested! We look forward to seeing you!

Apr 16, 2018

Wow, what a day! History was made when Michigan's own Desiree Linden, a 34-year-old runner who trains with Hanson-Brooks Original Distance Project in Rochester Hills and lives in Charlevoix, was the first woman to cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Her epic victory marked the first time an American woman has won this race since 1985. The first in 33 years! Des also demonstrated incredible sportsmanship when she slowed to make sure friend Shalane Flanagan (a fellow 2016 U.S. Olympic team member) was OK after she stopped for about 13 seconds to use the bathroom near the race's halfway mark.

Des, the two-time Olympian and 2011 Boston runner-up, pulled away at the end of Heartbreak Hill to finish in 2 hours, 39 minutes, 54 seconds. That was more than four minutes better than second-place finisher Sarah Sellers, one of seven Americans in the top 10.

"I'm thrilled. I'm exhausted. I left it all out there. Now I'm ready to warm up," Linden told CBS Boston. "It hurts right now, but it's a perfect day for me. This is a grinder's day. That's why I keep showing up here, and I think that's why I have success here is because I can kind of tough it out through anything.  

On this short-and-sweet MRG update episode (recorded a few days pre-Boston), Heather shares details of exciting things happening with Michigan Runner Girl, including having Des Linden be part of the upcoming 3rd Annual Michigan Runner Girl Spring Getaway on May 4-6 in Traverse City.

Lots more cool stuff shared during this update show! (Hint: new web site, Gazelle Girl info, fresh MRG designs!)

If you haven't yet listened to the MRG interview with Des Linden, take a listen here: http://michiganrunnergirl.com/desiree-linden-2-time-olympian-michigan-lover-ready-boston-2018/

 

Apr 9, 2018

For the fourth year, students in Kristy McDonald's business communications class are behind the popular BIG Little Hero Race at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. The race, which features a 10K, 5K & kids' fun run, is set for this Saturday, April 14. All proceeds of this run benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan.

As anyone who has planned a running event knows well, lots of time and energy go into bringing a race to fruition. Each year, a new crop of college students take on this task, handling everything from seeking and finding sponsorship and volunteers, to figuring out race-day logistics and marketing the event. On this episode: three of the students involved in this year's event -- Noah Britton, Lauren Peterson and David Filkins -- talk with Heather about what it's like to tackle this kind of real-life project as a college student. Race Director Kyle Brownley, a college graduate who returned to this project after starting with it as a student himself, also joins the conversation. They all give the scoop of how this race has come together this year, what runners can expect on race day, and why their post-race party is among the best around. 

Runners and walkers typically dress in costume for this race -- there will be lots of Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Ironman, and Captain America kids and families (among other fabulous costume choices). Free superhero capes are given to the kids. Races are timed and awards are handed out post-race.

While online registration has ended, day-before and day-of signups are available. The race takes place on part of the Bayshore route, making it a perfect training run if you're participating in the Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon or 10K this Memorial Day weekend! 

Learn more and get signed up at biglittleherorace.com 

The race's Favebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BigLittleHeroRace

 

Apr 3, 2018

Sara Plumstead and Amy Haenick are friends who met through their shared passion for running and living healthy. And in recent time, they've become business partners -- the Detroit-area moms are behind Run Strong Project, which offers coaching and run-specific strength training. They join Heather on the show to talk about becoming friends (Sara also coaches Amy) and their interest in helping other athletes take their running and strength training to the next level. They also share solid tips for incorporating strength training into our routines and improving our running performance.

"Sara began coaching me as a runner about a year ago," Amy says. "We became fast friends and started Run Strong Project in January 2017. I absolutely love being a strength coach and helping others to become stronger and faster!" 

"I started running at the age of 30," Sara says, "after the birth of my second daughter. It was a wonderful stress relief as I adjusted to life as the parent of a special needs child who has a rare chromosome deletion. I ran my first half marathon in 2007, and my first marathon a year later, finishing in 3:31. Since then I have completed at least 20 marathons." As Sara "embarks on my 40s," she is attempting to lower her marathon PR from 3:04 to sub 3:00. She's also an ACE certified group fitness instructor and a VDOT O2 certified distance running coach. 

Amy says she's always loved fitness. "I grew up playing sports. In high school, I was a three-sport athlete participating in swimming, volleyball and softball." She was named Female Athlete of the Year of her high school and went on to Michigan State University and graduated with a degree in Recreational Therapy.  Amy talks about how during her freshman year of college she became anorexic. "It was a tough transition from high school to college and I felt a loss of control. Once I became healthy and recovered (still an ongoing struggle sometimes), I started running. Running helped me so much in my recovery," she says. She ran her first marathon in 1996 and qualified for Boston on her first try. She has since run 10 marathons, including Boston and holds a PR of 3:35.

Links:

Sara's blog (she is currently training for the Bayshore Marathon): Michigan Marathoner

Sara on Instagram: MichiganMarathoner

Amy on Instagram: AmyRunsDetroit

Run Strong Project 

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