Mikah Meyer is the first person to experience all 419 U.S. National Park Service sites in a single journey. He also made a different kind of history along the way, becoming the first openly gay man featured in an outdoors recreation campaign, for REI. Now he advocates for greater inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoor space. His documentary short film, "Echoes in the Canyon," will have its world premiere later this month. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode394.   Thank you to HydraPak, AG1, and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode ..read more

As a runner and fitness professional herself, Erin Bailey understands how difficult it can be for athletes to represent themselves on social media and in their brand relationships. Her talent agency, Momentum Management, helps them present themselves authentically and forge business relationships that align with their values. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode392.   Thank you to HydraPak, AG1, and Precision Fuel & Hydration for sponsoring this episode.    HydraPak is the number one original equipment manufacturer of reservoirs ..read more

Many people define themselves in one way: “I am a runner.” “I am a DJ.” “I am an artist.” Matt Green, on the other hand, describes himself as a “multi-hyphenate.” The co-founder of the  District Running Collective (DRC) combines his talents to explore different ways of impacting the world. For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode391.   Thank you to Precision Fuel & Hydration, AG1, and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode.    Precision Fuel & Hydration helps athletes crush their fueling and hydration so they can perform at ..read more

Whether it’s serving as Race Director of the Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run, leading the Global Parkinson’s Genetic Program at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, or advocating for non-binary inclusion in races, J Solle supports and raises up others.  For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode390. Photo credit (podcast player inset): Da Ping Luo/NYRR   Thank you to AG1, HydraPak, and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode.    AG1 is the daily Foundational Nutrition supplement that delivers comprehensive nutr ..read more

Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. To celebrate it, Tina reached out to some of the women who inspire her and asked them to answer one of these questions: What is one piece of advice you would give to women listening? What do you wish the women listening knew? What is your favorite thing about women supporting women? If you want to be inspired yourself, be sure to listen to this episode. To learn more about the women you’ll hear from, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode389. &n ..read more

Ian Gonzalez is a trailblazer. He co-founded 7 on Sundays,  a run crew on Chicago’s South Side, an area where running as a pastime had been virtually nonexistent. 7 on Sundays created a community of runners, but there was nowhere for them to buy running shoes, clothes, or nutrition. Ian filled that void by opening Last Lap Cornerstore, the only running store on the South Side, and the only Black/Latino-owned running store in the city. He was forced to close the store, but is determined that Last Lap will return to serve the area’s runners.  For complete show notes and links, visit ou ..read more

There isn't a new Running for Real episode this week, and here's the reason why ..read more

In October 2022, Tina released a podcast episode called “I Felt So Lost.” At the time, she knew she wanted to combine running with sustainability, but she wasn’t quite sure what direction that would take. Now, just a little over a year later, she says, “I feel like I've got my path; the train track is in front of me and I can see it, and I feel very excited about where it's going.” For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode386.   Thank you to Precision Fuel & Hydration, AG1, and Tracksmith for sponsoring this episode.    Precision Fuel ..read more

Before he was “Ricky from St. Louis,” Ricky Hughes was rapper and music producer Ricky Rock. He was also caught up in a wild lifestyle that he knew he needed to escape. As part of his evolution to a new version of himself, he started distance running and founded the St. Louis Run Crew, for “all faces, paces, and laces.” For complete show notes and links, visit our website at runningforreal.com/episode384.   Thank you to Tracksmith, AG1, and Precision Fuel & Hydration for sponsoring this episode.    Tracksmith is an independent running brand inspired by a deep love of the spo ..read more

Lucie Hanes is a professional ultra runner, a professional climber, a journalist, and a sports psychologist. Those potentially conflicting pursuits actually complement each other, as evidenced by her second place finish in her debut 100 mile race, the 2023 Leadville 100 Trail Run. Remarkably, that achievement came after health issues forced her to stop training the year before. She discovered how much mental health affects athletic performance and now helps other athletes through her mental performance counseling practice, Inside Out Athlete.  For complete show notes and links, visit our ..read more