Got A Running Story?
Do Tell!

Everyone's got a running story. WomenRunningTogether is all about celebrating women’s running. Here is where you can tell us your running story or about a woman runner you know.

We would love to hear all about it.

To send us your story, either scroll to the bottom or click here to skip down to the form. Otherwise contact us directly. We will convert it into a Web page, just like these wonderful features about women runners…

Joanna Harper recently caught up with World Masters Champion and W40 steeple World Record holder Lisa Valle. Lisa was born in 1966, the year of the horse in the Chinese zodiac. Each animal in the zodiac has a fixed element, and the element for the horse is fire. Joanna says this fits Lisa to a tee.
Read Joanna's latest running story here...

Carrie Parsi has been a pioneer in masters women’s running since she started running in 1977 at 37. However her most challenging physical experiences have occurred since retiring in 1999 at 60 – and they weren’t the Boston Marathon or Mount Washington.
Read Dr. Cathy Utzschneider's interview here...

Bernie Portenski fell in love with the marathon in 1981. Twenty-nine years and 107 marathons later Bernie turned 60 and started chasing world records in her age group.
Read Bernie's running story on her rocky road to four world records..."

Distance runner Joanna Harper first read Albert Camus’s essay The Myth of Sisyphus when she was in high school. Sisyphus was a character in Greek Mythology who had been sentenced by the gods to roll a rock up a hill for all eternity. Joanna says, "It wasn’t until I got to be a master’s runner that my running began to resemble the toils of Sisyphus..."

In January 2009 Portland runner Kelly Jaske burst onto the national running scene by placing 2nd in the USATF half marathon championships in Houston Texas. She beat the likes of Colleen De Reuck and Amy Rudolph in the race and captured the attention of many fans of the sport. Joanna Harper shares Kelly's story here...

Zola Budd, there is a person behind that legendary name. Her running talent was so great and times were such that she became a public figure, still a child, caught in global political turmoil: that she became a power to possess and a symbol of the conflict over apartheid and a pawn between countries.
Read Part 1 of Dr. Cathy Utzschneider's interview here...
Read Part 2 of Cathy's interview here...

Joanna Harper lists Andi Camp as one of the people she most admires and respects. Andi is an engineer by profession, has her own rock band and is an ace soccer player. And now he can add the title of World Champion to all of her other accolades.
Read Joanna's interview with Andi here...

Aussie, Amanda Coombes (W40), just returned from her first World Indoor Champs. "I always look forward to going to a major meet. You get to test the hours of training, recovery and in some cases rehab. Then there is the challenge of being able to produce your best on the day(s) that count, the opportunity to meet new friends, experience a new culture and totally immerse yourself in the world of athletics."
Read about Amanda's adventures in Kamloops here...

I have a challenge I've committed to in 2010 - which is my Running Story - and I wanted to share it with you. I will be running a half marathon a month in an effort to raise $10,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. I have chosen to partner with the MS Society because of it's personal impact on my life.
Read Michelle Rowley's story here...

Runner or not, you’ve probably seen Suzy Favor Hamilton – the blond, pony-tailed, perfectly “abbed” Olympian – if not on TV, then in a magazine… maybe Vogue, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, or Harper’s Bazaar? As an open runner Hamilton seemed the picture, in fact the epitome, of success and happiness. Underneath, there were private struggles.
Read Part 1 of Dr. Cathy Utzschneider's interview here...
Read Part 2 of Cathy's interview with Suzy here...

Last weekend I ran the club National XC championships in Lexington Kentucky. I didn’t run very well, but I don’t want to talk about my race. Instead I’d like to tell you the story that I tell myself whenever I have a bad race. It's about Portland area runner, Nancy Hinkel, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40.
Read Joanna Harper's story here...

At 74, Mary Harada is hardly sitting back and reflecting on life. She’s moving forward – and fast. On Friday it was official. She was elected to the U.S. Track and Field Masters Hall of Fame.

Dr. Cathy Utzschneider calls Mary, a "21st Century Woman". Read Cathy's story on Mary here...

Suzi MacLeod stands out on the track with her flaming red hair and world record times. She has many fans including fellow masters runner Joanna Harper, who got to spend time with Suzi recently. She's impressed with 75-year-old Suzie's spirit and energy.
Read about Joanna's visit with Suzie here...

2009 Sydney World Masters Games

There was plenty of excitement, action and color at the 2009 World Masters Games. Here are some of WRT's Sydney souvenirs.

Women at the Games...
Check out our snaps of blokes at the WMG...

Snaps and Chats From Oshkosh

The action was hot and the women were fast and strong. Here are WomenRunningTogether's Snaps and Chats from the National US Masters in Oshkosh...

Nikki's Reno Tahoe Odyssey
The Reno Tahoe Odyssey is a great event for adventure runners. It's a 178-mile, 12-person, 2-van relay race. The organizers suggest runners do the pre-training, hydrate, stretch and implement a “No Whining” Rule. Nevada's Nikki Reynolds is a team player and no whiner. She took on the steep climbing sections for her team again this year.

Another Boston Marathon for Carrie

Some of us can't contemplate running a marathon and others keep coming back for more. Carrie Parsi (W70) has run so many Boston Marathons she's lost count. Maybe it's 12 or perhaps it's 13. You'd think each one would be seared in her memory. Well it's April 2009 and guess who's back in Boston...

Anne Conquers Comrades

Aussie, Anne Ziogas loves going the distance. She runs her hometown Melbourne Marathon every year (body permitting). She celebrated her 50th birthday, a few years ago by running the King Island 32K. And this year Anne partied by running her first Comrades Marathon. Runners World describes it as "Fifty-five brutal miles, five torturous climbs, with a ruthless clock."

Jacqueline's Boston Memories

Often success in business, love or sport comes after many set backs....bankruptcy, divorce, injury or illness. Somehow it makes the success taste even sweeter. So it was for Jacqueline Fein taking on the famous Boston Marathon. Here's her story.

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Share Your Running Story

Everyone's got a running story. Tell us your running story or about a woman runner you know. Thanks in advance for sharing.

Click on the links below to read other running stories...