
"Change comes first from saying something, then following that with action."This is a special episode featuring the women of Team USA for the 2025 50k road world championship. This is not a "preview" episode, but rather a panel discussion about the state of road-based ultrarunning under the current IAU system.The 2025 championship was scheduled to be held on December 7th in New Delhi, India. But just two weeks before the race, it was postponed due to wildly toxic air quality.This is the third consecutive year that the 50k/100k championships have been held in India, where the air quality and the health and safety of the athletes has been proven to be at risk.In this episode we're talking with the athletes:Courtney Olsen ( instagram.com/courtneymarieolsen )Allison Mercer ( instagram.com/onewomendanceparty )Melissa Tanner (instagram .com/melissartanner )Christine Guerrero ( instagram.com/christineeguerrero ) (Special mention to Alexandra Niles and Sophie Seward who are on the team but were unable to make the recording)As well as team leaders:Lin Gentling ( instagram.com/lingentling )Meghan Canfield ( instagram.com/runningmegleg )We discuss how and why the IAU has gotten to this state; the challenges of competing under this system; ideas and paths for change; why this team shows up despite the challenges; and why road ultrarunning is special and deserves participation, support, and viewership!As of this recording, the championship has been rescheduled for March 14, 2026 in the same location. There IS time between now and then for change, and this avenue of our sport deserves it.Please share this episode or your favorite clip with someone you know, and be part of enacting that change and bringing awareness.You can find and follow Women of Distance on YouTube and Social Media at: linktr.ee/womenofdistance*This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!*And also by my own team at More Miles Run Coaching.With a team of four coaches and a combined more than 25 years of coaching experience, we offer one-on-one coaching for athletes of all abilities: from beginners to veterans, 5ks to 200milers, roads to trails, your first to your fastest. Learn more at: www.moremilestogo.comWe'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!
Dec 4, 2025
1 hr 20 min

Jade Belzberg never viewed herself as an athlete, let alone a professional - making a career out of sport. In fact even now, she describes herself as a writer, before a runner.Yet over the past year, she's raced everything from the VK to the 100k, with snowballing success - most recently, ending the year with a win at the JFK 50 Mile (the first Canadian woman to do so) and the fourth fastest time in the course's long history.In this episode, Lauren and Jade discuss her early belief that athletics were not her strong suit; her interests in writing, animals, and connection to nature; her discovery of trail running and ultra-distances through her husband; and the culmination of external belief and proof over time that she has real aptitude in this sport.You can find and follow Jade at instagram.com/jadebelzbergand read her Substack at https://jadebelzberg.substack.comFind and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistance*This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!*And also by my own team at More Miles Run Coaching.With a team of four coaches and a combined more than 25 years of coaching experience, we offer one-on-one coaching for athletes of all abilities: from beginners to veterans, 5ks to 200milers, roads to trails, your first to your fastest. Learn more at: www.moremilestogo.comWe'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!
Dec 1, 2025
1 hr 6 min

Sarah Biehl is a marathoner turned trail and ultra athlete, who experienced early and natural success as a distance runner. She earned her OTQ standard in the marathon just shortly after college, and made a transition to ultrarunning almost immediately after running in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials.She ran the JFK 50 Mile three years in a row, "projecting" the race and ultimately winning in 2022 with the then-fastest women's time in the race's extensive history (still, currently, the third fastest). But after that historic run, a series of changes in her life, including a cross country move from Ohio to Colorado, disrupted the smooth upward trajectory she'd been on.In this episode, Lauren and Sarah discuss the impact of that move on her physical and mental health, as well as her performance. We also talk about how she made her way back to herself, and spent 2025 putting together a string of strong trail and ultra racing across a wide variety of terrain!You can find and follow Sarah at instagram.com/biehlharasFind and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistance*This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!*And also by my own team at More Miles Run Coaching.With a team of four coaches and a combined more than 25 years of coaching experience, we offer one-on-one coaching for athletes of all abilities: from beginners to veterans, 5ks to 200milers, roads to trails, your first to your fastest. Learn more at: www.moremilestogo.comWe'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!
Nov 24, 2025
1 hr 10 min

Carla Molinaro is one of the fastest ultrarunners in the world, with top finishes at many of the fastest ultramarathons in the world (50k/100k road world champs, Comrades, Two Oceans). She's also a community builder, a coach, a cake connoisseur, and currently in the chase for a WSER Golden Ticket.Carla brings a lighthearted energy to a sport she takes seriously, and in this episode she and Lauren discuss where that came from: from her history as a multi-sport athlete, to marathoner, to multi-day fast packer, to ultrarunner... Finding or creating community has been a common thread throughout her life, and the foundation for both competing well and living well.We also talk through her recent experience at the Javelina Jundred, post-race reflections, and her plans to continue the pursuit of a Golden Ticket at the Black Canyon 100k in February!You can find and follow Carla at instagram.com/carlamolinaroFind and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistance*This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!*And also by my own team at More Miles Run Coaching.With a team of four coaches and a combined more than 25 years of coaching experience, we offer one-on-one coaching for athletes of all abilities: from beginners to veterans, 5ks to 200milers, roads to trails, your first to your fastest. Learn more at: www.moremilestogo.comWe'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!
Nov 14, 2025
1 hr 3 min

Addie Bracy is fresh off of a third place finish and her fastest 100-mile race ever at the Javelina Jundred, where she earned a Golden Ticket to return for her third appearance at Western States.With a running career spanning 25-years on the track, the road, and the trails - Addie is still finding ways to learn, grow, improve, and compete at the top of the sport!In this episode, Lauren and Addie go back to her origins, where she was raised with a strong work ethic and the guiding principle that success is only earned, never given. We discuss her path through collegiate and post collegiate competition, her decision to retire from the track and roads, discovering competitive trail running, and the deep curiosity that led her to ultra-distances.Of course, we spend time discussing how her experience paid off at Javelina, and the confidence she built to accept the Golden Ticket she earned.You can find and follow Addie at instagram.com/addiebracyFind and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistance*This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!*And also by my own team at More Miles Run Coaching.With a team of four coaches and a combined more than 25 years of coaching experience, we offer one-on-one coaching for athletes of all abilities: from beginners to veterans, 5ks to 200milers, roads to trails, your first to your fastest. Learn more at: www.moremilestogo.comWe'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!
Nov 10, 2025
1 hr 3 min

You've seen Courtney Coppinger's name everywhere this season, from the Golden Trail Series to the World Champs to the WMRA World Cup to the USATF Mountain Running Champs and more... but, you haven't heard her full story.Courtney describes the past year as a rebirth for her as a person, which has fueled the discovery of her talents in sub-ultra trail running - seeking joy as the top priority on her path.In this episode, Lauren and Courtney discuss her history as a collegiate and professional track athlete, primarily in the steeplechase; the curiosity that helped shape that career and also led her to the trails; the impact of an abusive relationship on her personality and her relationship with the sport; and the empowerment of escaping that relationship and healing herself into a new life and purpose.*This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!*And also by my own team at More Miles Run Coaching.With a team of four coaches and a combined more than 25 years of coaching experience, we offer one-on-one coaching for athletes of all abilities: from beginners to veterans, 5ks to 200milers, roads to trails, your first to your fastest. Learn more at: www.moremilestogo.comWe'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!You can find and follow Courtney at instagram.com/cpcop_Find and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistance
Nov 3, 2025
1 hr 27 min

Jazmine Lowther just completed an epic summer of world class racing. In the past three months alone she raced the Speedgoat 50k (4th place), set the Supported FKT on the Grand Teton (modern route), 8 days later set the Unsupported FKT on the same route, raced OCC (8th place), and raced the Long Trail World Championship representing Canada (4th place)!In this episode, Lauren and Jazmine discuss her experience and history as a mountain athlete: from rock climbing and backcountry skiing to trail and ultra running. We talk about how those skills and experiences have shaped her abilities as a trail runner, as well as informed the types of races, adventures, and projects she chooses to pursue. We went in depth on her training, racing, recovery, and motivations for this season's projects; as well as what she's learned and gained for the seasons and years ahead.This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!We'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!If you enjoy this and other episodes, please leave us a rating or review and share with a friend - it really helps us out!Be sure to like, follow, subscribe to stay in the loop!You can find and follow Jazmine at instagram.com/jazmine_lowtherFind and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistanceThis podcast is also produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. www.moremilestogo.com
Oct 27, 2025
1 hr 15 min

The Golden Ticket chase is on, folks! This is the Javelina Jundred Mile women's field preview!Javelina is the second race of the 2026 WSER Golden Ticket series (CCC, in August, was the first), and is a notoriously fast and competitive event.In this episode, you'll hear from ten of the top women chasing their best, and one of the two tickets available in the 100 mile race.In order of appearance:-Tara Dower (00:01:53)Javelina Jype song: "Girls in the Hood", Megan Thee Stallion-Anna Louden (00:15:19)Javelina Jype song: "Come Alive", The Greatest Showman-Carla Molinaro (00:29:00)Javelina Jype song: "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels", Todrick Hall-Lauren Puretz (00:40:17)Javelina Jype song: "I Don't Fuck With You", Big Sean-Addie Bracy (00:53:29)Javelina Jype song: Anything from Lane 8 (we chose "Run" for the playlist)-Careth Arnold (01:07:04)Javelina Jype song: "Free", Broods-Valerie Arsenault (01:18:17)Javelina Jype song: "Love Takes Miles", Cameron Winter-Brier Youngfleish (01:32:52)Javelina Jype song: "Bread", Sofi Tukker-Nicole Laughton (01:42:18)Javelina Jype song: "Ella Es Mi Fiesta", Carlos Vives-Amy Cameron (01:51:51)Javelina Jype song: "Crazy Train", Ozzy OsbourneFind the complete Javelina Jype playlist here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Sj8d0UekgY158pjmiFoJ2?si=cD51HfsGR4WAXOcCMCueWw&pi=dRnVJvSYTD29GThis podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!We'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!If you enjoy this and other episodes, please leave us a rating or review and share with a friend - it really helps us out!Be sure to like, follow, subscribe to stay in the loop!Find and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistanceThis podcast is also produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. www.moremilestogo.com
Oct 20, 2025
2 hr 3 min

Sandi Nypaver just won the 2025 Grindstone 100k, returning to the race where her ultrarunning career began - winning her second 100-mile race ever at the 2010 Grindstone 100 mile, at the age of 22.The full circle moment shined a light on the longevity of her career in ultra-endurance; and the stories of growth, change, and experience she's gained along the way.In this episode, Lauren and Sandi discuss her urban upbringing in Cleveland, discovering a love of nature and her place in it, running and winning the Mohican 100 mile as her first ultrarunning race ever, the pressures of instant success, her growth through trial and error/success and failure along the way, her entry in coaching, and the way her training and racing philosophies have changed over time.Of course we also talk about her race at Grindstone, and where she's headed next!This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!We'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!If you enjoy this and other episodes, please leave us a rating or review and share with a friend - it really helps us out!Be sure to like, follow, subscribe to stay in the loop!You can find and follow Sandi at instagram.com/sandinypaverAnd find all that Higher Running has to offer at www.higherrunning.com or instagram.com/higherrunningFind and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistanceThis podcast is also produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. www.moremilestogo.com
Oct 10, 2025
1 hr 4 min

Tabor Hemming is a true "trail, track, and road" athlete, most recently representing Team USA on the Short Trail team at the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships! She is also a true student of the sport, learning her way up through each race and each season, together with her husband, Eli.*Tabor and I had a great pre-race conversation that did not make it into our preview episodes due to technical difficulties. Thankfully, the post-race conversation was even better!In this episode, Lauren and Tabor discuss her early exposure to Olympic and elite sport, and her parents intention to instill lifelong activity and adventure as a core of her childhood. Tabor competed on the Junior world trail championship team as a high school athlete, before returning to cross country and track as a collegiate athlete. It wasn't until the Covid-era that she rediscovered competitive trail running, and her talent and love for it. Hear the lessons she's learned, experiences gained, opinions formed, and thoughts on the sport as a whole and her place in it.This podcast is produced with support from our friends, and fellow trail runners, at www.summit-roasters.comUse code WOD15 for 15% off your order every time!We'd love to see Women of Distance listeners supporting those, supporting us!If you enjoy this and other episodes, please leave us a rating or review and share with a friend - it really helps us out!Be sure to like, follow, subscribe to stay in the loop!You can find and follow Tabor at instagram.com/tabor_hemmingFind and follow W.o.D. atinstagram.com/womenofdistanceThis podcast is also produced with support from More Miles Run Coaching. www.moremilestogo.com
Oct 6, 2025
1 hr 3 min
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