Women's Running

“The women whom I love and admire for their strength and grace did not get that way because sh*t worked out. They got that way because sh*t went wrong, and they handled it. They handled it in a thousand different ways on a thousand different days, but they handled it. Those women are my superheroes.”—Elizabeth Gilbert That’s one of my favorite quotes. And as we put the finishing touches on our third annual Power Women of the Year list (p. 60), it’s the quote that keeps coming to mind. There are 15 women on this year’s list. Each of them have created substantial impact within the running community, but what stands out to me through each and every one of their stories is how deeply and authentically they care about the women…

For the 2021 New York City Marathon, Maria Solis Belizaire was encouraged to submit the names of everyone who expressed interest from Latinos Run Club. Solis Belizaire, 43, who was born in the Bronx and is of Belizean, Mexican, and Puerto Rican descent, is the founder of the joint clubs Latinos Run and Latinas Run. Clubs registered with New York Road Runners are normally given three to six non-complimentary entries each year, which Solis Belizaire distributes to her members on a first-come, first-served basis. But in 2021, nearly all of the runners she submitted got cleared from a waitlist, adding up to more than 100 runners (more than half women) representing the club and several of the 33 countries that make up Latin America. Solis Belizaire created Latinos Run after stepping…

For many reasons, running and reading go hand-in-hand. A motivating book gets us pumped for the next race, a favorite novel helps us unwind after a training run, and that engrossing new audiobook keeps us going, mile after mile. Reading can also help us create a better community and understanding of the experiences of BIPOC runners. It’s not just about recognizing how athletes of color might feel because they look different from the typical media portrayal of recreational runners. It’s also about appreciating how the experiences of training, racing, and embracing the sport can be viewed very differently (and very similarly) through the many lenses in the BIPOC community. To start your journey, here are seven memoirs by BIPOC runners. Spirit Run: A 6,000-mile Marathon Through America’s Stolen Land by Noé Álvarez There…

“When I saw this schedule unfold in January, I realized we were all being presented with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I remember thinking, ‘Man, someone should do all six.’ I kept waiting for someone to announce it, and then I was like, ‘Maybe I should do it,’” Flanagan said to Women’s Running in September. When the time came, she ticked each race off her bucket list, crushing her goal to run 26.2 miles six times in under 3 hours. Take a look at the statistics behind Project Eclipse. Berlin — London — Chicago — Boston — Tokyo (ran virtually in Oregon) — New York 6 Marathons / 42 Days / Total Miles Ran: 157.2 Longest recovery: 3 weeks Shortest recovery: Less than 24 hours Average pace per mile: 6:02 (2:38:16 marathon) Fastest race: NYC (2:33:32) Slowest race: Chicago…

If you want to run multiple marathons in close succession, it’s important to consider the effects this feat will have on your body. If you’re a newer runner, there is a higher chance for injury. The cardiovascular system develops faster than your muscular system and often leads to an “I Can Do It” feeling, when the question is not can you do it, but should you? A runner of any level should also consider the amount of cumulative fatigue on the body, as well as whether there’s enough time for you to recover. Tapering is the last chance for your muscles to repair before race day, so you’ll want to be precise about it between your races. You don’t want to skip all running, but you definitely don’t want to overdo…

How often do you really think about the color of your running gear? You might pick an outfit based on what’s clean or your favorite color at the time. Subconsciously you might also pick something based on the mindset you’d like to be in. “For something like yoga or meditation, calming, cool colors assist in shedding the stress of the day,” says Bradley Erickson, adjunct professor of fashion design at Fashion Institute of Technology. In contrast, warm colors can help you recharge for higher energy exercise, he says. Trends in color often disseminate in a “seen and heard” manner, says Erickson. But sometimes they can be identified by the mood of the collective, as we’re seeing in 2022. For example, the color experts at Pantone have called out a wide palette of…