Avery Matthews is on the cusp of becoming the only woman to complete the 2024 Grand Slam of Ultrarunning!

Actually, the only woman since 2022 - and one of only 60 female finishers since the challenge began in 1986.

Yet only a few years ago, she turned down a friend's invitation to run a local 5k because she thought it was too far!

In this episode, Lauren and Avery talk about her rapid progression from 5k to the challenge of running four of the country's oldest 100 mile races in a single summer - including the training, the recovery, the fueling, the unexpected obstacles, the importance of family, the growth of community, and the significance of setting the example that "girls can play too".

Avery takes on the final race of the Grand Slam this week - The Wasatch 100 begins on Friday, September 6!

Please enjoy; and like, follow, and share to stay in the loop on each new episode!

You can find and follow Avery at ⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thelowcountryrunner

Follow the Women of Distance pod at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/womenofdistance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform):

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=32ad8df4333d4d6b⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.moremilestogo.com

Amy Watson is the queen of ultra-speed!

A field hockey and lacrosse player, turned marathoner - she began running ultra-distances in her early 40s, and now lays claim to numerous wins and course records at all distances from 50k to 100 mile! But her path to the top was neither easy nor linear.

In this episode, Lauren and Amy talk about her journey to success: including struggles with her health and family life, multiple failures to complete the 100 mile distance, learning, seeking help, finding community, pursuing joy; and how she is continuing to find success, chase podiums, and PRs now as a menopausal athlete in her late 40s.

Please enjoy; and like, follow, and share to stay in the loop on each new episode!

You can find and follow Amy at ⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/acrafalski

Follow the Women of Distance pod at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/womenofdistance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform):

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=32ad8df4333d4d6b⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.moremilestogo.com⁠

Ari Hendrix is an elite marathoner, fresh off the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials, with an inspiring story of hard work, determination, failures, successes, and growth - in the sport and in life.

Over more than 10 years, she worked her way (one small step at a time) from a 3:57 marathoner, to a multi-year project to break 3 hours, to missing the standard for the 2020 Trials, and finding belief to work for the new (much faster) 2024 Trials standard.

In this episode, Lauren and Ari discuss that journey: what she has learned - about the sport and about herself, finding community and camaraderie, understanding the role of mental health, and balancing a lot of life with a lot of miles.

Please enjoy; and like, follow, and share to stay in the loop on each new episode!

You can find and follow Ari at ⁠⁠instagram.com/ari_hendrix1⁠⁠

Follow the Women of Distance pod at ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠instagram.com/womenofdistance⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform):

⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=32ad8df4333d4d6b⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.moremilestogo.com

Nicole Monette is one of the fastest female 100 mile athletes in history.

She's had success as a marathoner, a trail runner, and a road-ultra athlete on the world stage - while at the same time she's also a mother of three, a full time physical therapist, and running coach!

In this episode, Lauren and Nicole chat about balancing an elite career and all of the life that intertwines between the miles, her path both to and from professional sponsorship, and her changing and evolving motivations for running and competing at a high level.

Please enjoy; and like, follow, and share to stay in the loop on each new episode!

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform):

⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=32ad8df4333d4d6b⁠

You can find and follow Nicole at instagram.com/nblaes

And find her coaching contact and information at www.patrickreaganrunning.com

Follow the Women of Distance pod at ⁠instagram.com/womenofdistance⁠

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. ⁠www.moremilestogo.com

We welcome Courtney Olson BACK to the Women of Distance Podcast!

Courtney is a professional runner with Hoka, and the unsung hero of the 2024 Comrades Marathon - where she recently placed 3rd female overall and top American outright, in an Up year (that's 4000+ feet of elevation gain) and her first time racing the event!

Courtney is both a marathon and ultra athlete, with an affinity for road running: she has represented the United States on three(+) IAU world championship teams in the road 50k and 100k, owns a 2:36 marathon PR, and has run within striking distance of the 50-mile road world record, twice.

Damn.

She is also a true fan and student of the sport, an insightful, interesting, and intelligent human being; pursuing a true lifelong passion.

In this episode, Lauren and Courtney catch up since her first appearance on Women of Distance in 2021, uncover the range of challenges and successes she's experienced over the past several years, and discuss her path to and experience at the oldest and largest ultramarathon in the world (Comrades).

Please enjoy; and like, follow, and share to stay in the loop on each new episode!

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform):

https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=32ad8df4333d4d6b

(Courtney's is episode four.)

You can find and follow Courtney at instagram.com/courtneymarieolsen

Follow the Women of Distance pod at instagram.com/womenofdistance

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. www.moremilestogo.com

Tara Dower is an East-Coast based runner, who has been on fire over the past couple years; exploring -and dominating- all surfaces and all distances from the road marathon to the 100 mile to long-trail FKTs!

In this episode, Lauren and Tara chat about her origins in the sport, what inspires the races and projects she pursues, what she's learning along the way, and take a deeper dive into her most recent race: The Hardrock 100 mile, one of the hardest courses in the country, where she took 4th female overall!

We also spend time discussing her next project, the Appalachian Trail FKT - where Tara will be pursuing the overall record on the 2,189mile route. (Current record held by Karel Sabbe at 41 days, 7 hours, 39mins.)

Please enjoy, and like, follow, and share Women of Distance to stay in the loop!

You can learn more about Tara on her website at:

https://tara-treks.com

Or Instagram: @tara.dower

You can also learn more about her FKT project and follow along at:

https://tara-treks.com/tracking/

Or @chumpchangefkt on Instagram

Last, don't miss out on following her training, lifestyle, and adventures on YouTube at:

https://youtube.com/@taratreks?si=rl-ZbNVaJPGMSeW_

Follow the Women of Distance pod at ⁠instagram.com/⁠womenofdistance

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. ⁠www.moremilestogo.com⁠

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform): ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=⁠32ad8df4333d4d6b

Welcome to episode two!

In this episode, we're chatting with East Coast trail crusher, Jana Fridrichova!

With an impressive stack of podiums from fast ultras to gnarly courses, it was a real treat to chat with Jana about her full story - where she started, how big challenges in her personal life led to big change - personally and athletically, and where she now draws inspiration to face some of the most difficult races in the country.

This one is sure to inspire and fill your soul!

Please enjoy, and join us every other week for a new episode! Like, follow, and share to stay in the loop!

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform): https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=32ad8df4333d4d6b

You can find and follow Jana at instagram.com/jafriruns

And read all about her first experience at the Massanutten Revenge 100 here: https://new.vhtrc.org/events/mr100/2023/meeting-my-match

Follow the Women of Distance pod at instagram.com/womenofdistance

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. www.moremilestogo.com

Welcome to Women of Distance - the revival!

In 2021, elite marathon and ultra runner Devon Yanko started the original Women of Distance podcast (linked below) in an effort to bring attention to women in the sport whose stories and accomplishments were under-shared, under-reported, and deserved attention!

Inspired by her example, the podcast is back - now hosted by Lauren Cramer (much-less-elite marathon and ultra-runner, and running coach).

In this episode, Lauren and Devon chat about inspiration behind the original project, and for the revival; as well as where the running community still has room for change and growth.

Then, we catch up with Devon on her own personal training and health journey, and how she is still growing and evolving as an athlete and human.

Please enjoy, and join us every other week for a new episode! Like, follow, and share to stay in the loop!

You can find the original 50+ episodes of Women of Distance here (or by searching by name on any listening platform): https://open.spotify.com/show/043TR4TB6AaV6nx3eflrBK?si=32ad8df4333d4d6b

You can find and follow Devon at instagram.com/fastfoodie

And follow the Women of Distance pod at instagram.com/womenofdistance

This podcast is produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. www.moremilestogo.com