Best Mikka Podcasts (2026)

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WRS Host Cherie Turner: Anxiety Conquered! Joyful Running Journey Update, Sept to Dec 2025 43:28

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26d ago43:28

43:28

In this episode, I focus on a huge win in dealing with my anxiety around training and racing. It's opened a whole new chapter in my running journey. Healing anxiety has been a dedicated focus for the past few years, and it's resulted in some breakthrough moments over the past few months. This includes the terrific experiences I just had at my indoo…

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Caryn Honig: Transforming Trauma to Purpose through Running 39:23

1M ago39:23

39:23

In recent times, Caryn—who lives in Texas and also spends a lot of time in Colorado—became the first person (as far as we can find) to qualify for and run the Boston Marathon after a knee replacement surgery, thanks to a procedure done by Dr Richard Berger. And, Caryn’s story is about that, but also so much more. Caryn has faced significant traumas…

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Elizabeth Sheridan: ParkRun x Travel, A Story of Community and Adventures 39:59

1M ago39:59

39:59

Elizabeth Sheridan has developed a great love of ParkRun, and it has inspired travel all around the US and to many other parts of the world; currently ParkRun happens in 22 countries, and Elizabeth has done a ParkRun in every one of those countries, except Australia. If you aren’t familiar with ParkRun, it’s a free, weekly, timed 5k. No registratio…

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Mikka Kei Ito Macdonald: Running, Advocacy, Culture, Politics—A Beautiful Mix 36:58

2M ago36:58

36:58

Mikka Kei has been running since childhood, and the significance of running has shifted as she’s moved, grown, and evolved through life. For Mikka Kei, running has taken different forms, but it’s been a nonnegotiable part of her life, whether she’s had to negotiate with her parents to run as a teenager in Nepal, jumped at the chance to discover the…

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Emma Bord: Her Marathon Six Star Journey, As a Mom of Three 43:52

2M ago43:52

43:52

Emma Bord had a dream to run the six major marathons, and she started on that path with the 2024 New York City Marathon, which she ran for her 40th birthday. How she managed to get into, travel to, and run all these major races within 12 months is what this story is all about. And of course, Emma's story is about so much more: it’s about facing fea…

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Starre Vartan: Her Athletic Journey, Her Book "The Stronger Sex" 45:46

2M ago45:46

45:46

Starre’s story is a little different from many of the stories you’ll typically hear on WRS. It isn’t only about running: Starre is a runner, but she’s also a swimmer, dancer, and weightlifter. And Starre doesn’t compete in running: she doesn’t have marathon dreams or go after PRs. However, being a runner, being an athlete, has been fundamental to h…

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Liz Andersen: Claiming Her Peace, Becoming An Athlete 43:03

2M ago43:03

43:03

Over the course of her life, Liz has overcome a lot, and running plays a central role in the peace she has today. Liz’s story follows her larger health journey, up through her most recent big goal, to mark the end of her 40s, and welcome in her 50th birthday. How to Follow Liz Andersen On Instagram: @pnw_introvertedrunner Mentioned in this Episode …

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Stephanie Diaz: Redefining PRs After Over 200 Races 42:19

2M ago42:19

42:19

Stephanie self-describes as a wife, mom, and running coach, yoga teacher and podcast host: she hosts The Runner’s Round Table Podcast. Stephanie also founded Correr Running Retreats. In addition to all that, she is a distance runner and run community advocate. Stephanie came to running in her adult years, and has run over 200 races of various dista…

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Ari Hendrix: Refinding Her Joy! From Olympic Trials Marathon to Ultra Trail Racing 36:19

3M ago36:19

36:19

This episode features elite runner Ari Hendrix and how she is refinding her joy in the sport. This is Ari’s second time on the podcast; her first appearance was back on December 1, 2023. At that point in time, she was putting the finishing touches on her preparation for the 2024 Olympic Trials Marathon. That earlier episode covered her running jour…

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In Memory: Cheryl Winn & the Comrades Marathon 36:47

3M ago36:47

36:47

This In Memory reair marks the deeply sad occasion of the tragic death of legendary racer and running community leader in South Africa, Cheryl Winn. Winn passed on October 5. This episode first aired on October 16, 2020. Cheryl Winn is the 1982 Comrades Marathon champion and was the Chairperson of this historic event 2017 to 2021. This episode tell…

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Shawanna White, P2: Returning to Peak Running, Big Goals, and Positivity 12:36

3M ago12:36

12:36

This is a special Part 2 episode featuring runner, role model, and groundbreaking racer Shawanna White. If you have not listened to part 1of Shawanna’s story, which is just above this episode in your feed, I suggest you go back and start there. This episode picks up where that episode left off. Shawanna had finished that part of her story discussed…

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Shawanna White, P1: 16 Times a Sub-3-Hour Marathoner, and So Much More 31:29

3M ago31:29

31:29

This episode features Shawanna White, a very prolific competitor who has been recognized for her many accomplishments and contributions to the running community. Among her accolades, White was featured in the running documentary Breaking Three Hours, Trailblazing African American Women Marathoners; in 2022, she was inducted into the National Black …

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Nadia Ruiz: A Prolific Running Life 56:52

3M ago56:52

56:52

This episode features Nadia Ruiz, who is a hugely prolific runner, with a special fondness for the marathon. This is a love that began when she was a teenager. Running has been a source of strength, empowerment, and self-confidence, as well as healing: running has seen Nadia through good times and also through some dark moments. Up to today, when N…

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Marwa Ali: From Afghanistan to France, the Power of Sport 22:57

4M ago22:57

22:57

This episode features Marwa Ali, who is from Kabul, Afghanistan, and now lives in exile as a refugee in Paris, France. How and why she left her home country and the part running and sports played in that journey is what her story is about. Moreover, it's about the power of being an athlete. Marwa Ali, who is now 24 years old, has been an athletesin…

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REAIR: Verna NezBegay Volker: Founder of Native Women Run, a Running Journey of Healing and Community 36:49

4M ago36:49

36:49

Verna Volker first started running as a way to improve her health. Over time, however, her relationship to the sport has grown and changed, to become a more personal and powerful part of her life. She started out pursuing road marathons and then moved to the trails, stretching her limits in ultra trail running. As her journey has evolved, so have h…

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Mary Cass: On Becoming An Exceptional Racer, In Her 60s 32:08

4M ago32:08

32:08

This episode features Mary Cass, one of New England's most competitive masters racers. At age 63, she is crushing it, and she's also one of the most generous racers you'll meet. Mary has that wonderful combination of being really open about sharing her knowledge and advice before and after races, and then from the time the gun goes off to the finis…

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WRS Host Cherie Louise Turner: A Running Journey Update, May-Aug. 2025 28:20

5M ago28:20

28:20

It's been a summer of training and getting back to racing; surviving the heat, building back speed and strength, and looking ahead, with a new coach. Plus, a shout out to the power of breathwork, especially for managing anxiety. Mentioned in this Episode The last update from me, Cherie: womensrunningstories.com/wrs-host-cherie-back-to-training-runn…

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Arielle Knutson: Oiselle CEO, on Running and Career 33:35

5M ago33:35

33:35

Arielle Knutson has been an athlete since she was young, and this has shaped her life. She starting with gymnastics and then moved on to road running, triathlon, and trail running. As she developed in her adult years and her career life, Arielle discovered strong connections between her work and athletic life. She went with it, and the two became s…

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Summer Confuorto: Running Her First Marathon, Representing Natives Run 45:22

5M ago45:22

45:22

Summer Confuorto, a Gros Ventre, Cree, Mi’kmaq woman, tellsthe story of running her first marathon: the 2025 Boston Marathon, representing the Ohketeau Cultural Center Natives Run Initiative. Summer tells her story, from running along the water during her youth in her hometown of Falmouth, MA; to how running connects her to her own and also the loc…

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Jessica Pekari: Setting the Fastest Known Time on the 500-mile Colorado Trail 43:13

5M ago43:13

43:13

Ultra runner and long-distance fast packer Jessica Pekari on the podcast! She shares the story of her most recent fastest known time (FKT) adventure: completing the 500 mile Colorado Trail. Jessica is an Army veteran—having served as a medic in Iraq—and mother of three, with Blackfeet and Mexican heritage. She started exploring ultra running in 201…

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Allie Ostrander: A Full Return to Professional Running, On the Track, Road, Cross-Country Course, and Trails 36:05

6M ago36:05

36:05

Professional runner for Oiselle and social media influencer Allie Ostrander is on the podcast! Allie is here to share what running and racing has looked like from her over the past couple years as she returned to elite level competition, in all the many running disciplines that she pursues, after going through treatment for disordered eating—a jour…

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Amy Ortiz: Running, More than Miles, Building Community 38:58

6M ago38:58

38:58

Welcome Amy Ortiz to WRS! Amy is a runner who, over the past several years, has become a community builder and leader in the running scene, and now she's a coach, with a focus on creating space for women, especially women of color. In this episode, Amy shares how she arrived where she is today in the running world. A long-time resident of the Bronx…

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Lisa Levin: Over 25 Years Racing, and Still As Motivated As Ever, at 51 41:10

6M ago41:10

41:10

In this episode, Lisa Levin tells her running story through to today, where at 51, she’s more excited than ever to challenge herself and set motivating goals. In addition to being a longtime runner with a particular interest in running marathons, especially Boston, which she has run an astonishing 22 times, Lisa is also a coach and podcaster, with …

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Julie Sapper: Returning to Marathons Post ACL Tear 43:01

6M ago43:01

43:01

Runner, running coach, and podcaster Julie Sapper is on Women's Running Stories! Her story here is focused on her return from a long-term injury: an ACL tear. She tells about her thorough approach to healing and recovery and the nonlinear path to returning to running injury-free, all the way to reaching her ultimate goal: running the Boston Maratho…

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Sarah Williams: Becoming the Adventurer, Tough Girl Challenges 1:01:31

6M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

This episode features runner, adventurer, and creator of the wildly popular Tough Girl podcast and Tough Girl Challenges, Sarah Williams. These days, Sarah is well known for taking on incredible challenges, but it wasn't always that way. Here, Sarah tells her adventuring lifestyle origin story: how she transitioned from working in wealth management…

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Mireille Siné: Running Marathons, Navigating Lupus 42:15

7M ago42:15

42:15

This episode features the running story of Mireille Siné, a marathon and ultra runner, a coach, and so much more. And intertwined into Mireille’s running journey is an autoimmune condition she’s been navigating since college: lupus. Since childhood, being active and participating in sports has been part of Mireille’s life, and that included running…

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REAIR: Wynonna Fulgham: The Transformative Power of Ultra Trail Running 57:52

7M ago57:52

57:52

I am bringing you a reair of a terrific episode. I'm taking this one-week break because I've been working on a new project that we just announced, and that I know you'll be excited about: the podcast EARTHMOVERS, with Alison Mariella Désir, Stefanie Flippin, Verna NezBegay Volker. It will launch Aug 14. Keep up with news and information about EARTH…

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We Out Here Trail Festival: Special Live Report 59:15

7M ago59:15

59:15

This is a special live report from the inaugural We Out Here Trail Festival that just happened this last weekend on June 7, 2025. It took place outside Seattle, WA, at St. Edwards State Park. The trail scene is and has long been the whitest, most male dominated sector of the running world. Instead of continuing to wait for the system to change, RDs…

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Sara Aranda: Trails, FKTs, Finding Deeper Meaning in the Outdoors 52:38

7M ago52:38

52:38

Sara Aranda is a trail runner and outdoor adventurer who has developed a strong interest in going after FKTs, fastest known times. But her outdoor passions are about much more than setting records: Aranda's motivations are spurred by processing life and death, grief and hope, fear and joy. Aranda's passion for trail running began while she was in c…

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Becky Croft: Running, Endometriosis, and Post-Hysterectomy Menopause 30:27

8M ago30:27

30:27

Becky Croft’s life experiences have led her to becoming not only a performance minded runner but also a sought-after running coach. She’s developed a specialty in guiding runners through their menopausal years—pre and post. Croft brings her own experience of post-hysterectomy menopause, which resulted from of a long history of endometriosis. Croft …

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Jessica Mena: Ultra Trail Runner, Her First 100K 35:43

8M ago35:43

35:43

Jessica Mena is a longtime runner now focused on ultra trail running. She’s continually driven to discover what she is capable of: beginning with her first marathon, at age 12!, to today, as she explores running long distances on the trails. This episode focuses on Mena reaching one of her biggest goals yet: running 100 kilometers (62 miles) over h…

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WRS Host Cherie: Back to Training, Running Update Mid-Mar–Mid-May 2025 41:24

8M ago41:24

41:24

This is an update from me, WRS host and producer Cherie Louise Turner, about my running, training, and racing. This picks up from where the last episode of the Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project, Part 9, left off. As I mentioned in my last episode, I have decided to stop focusing so completely on this sub-20 minute 5k goal, so am just calling these runnin…

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Angel Tadytin: Her Magical First 50-Mile Trail Race 1:01:35

8M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

Angel Tadytin shares the epic story of her first 50-mile trail race, and how it unfolded in unexpected and magical ways. Tadytin is a wife, mother, social worker, and ultra runner, and she is from the Navajo Nation. She and her family currently live in Mesa, Arizona, but she’s originally from Page, Arizona, and the surrounding area. Tadytin is also…

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LIVE EVENT!: Stephanie Bruce, Erica Stanley-Dottin, Dot McMahon, 2025 Boston Marathon Expo 47:40

9M ago47:40

47:40

This is a live recording from Sunday, April 20 at the Boston Marathon Expo. Once again, WRS host Cherie Turner teamed up with Julie Sapper and Lisa Levin from the Run Farther and Faster podcast to co-host an excellent panel. This year's panel was titled Mental Strategies for Mastering the Marathon, and it featured exceptional masters marathoners St…

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Gwen Jacobson: Masters Marathon Champion, 120-Plus Marathons and Counting 33:51

9M ago33:51

33:51

This episode features prolific marathon runner and internationally competitive masters racer Gwen Jacobson. Jacobson, who is 66, got started running in 2010, when she was in her 50s. She has run many distances, but without question she has the greatest affinity for the marathon: in the last 15 years, Jacobson has run over 120 marathons as well as o…

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Alia Qatarneh: TrailblazHers Run Co. LeadHer, 26.TRUE Marathon Runner 41:20

9M ago41:20

41:20

This episode features Alia Qatarneh, whose running story is deeply infused with community and leadership, especially through the Boston area based TrailblazHers Run Co. Her story highlights the way the three forces of running, community, and leadership have coalesced to drive her running journey. And how that's led to her running the 2023 Boston Ma…

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LIVE! Annie Rodenfels: 3x National Champion, Professional Runner, at the Boston Tracksmith Track House 53:12

9M ago53:12

53:12

This is a special live recording featuring professional runner and 3x national champion Annie Rodenfels, in conversation with WRS host and producer Cherie; that's me. We sat down at the Tracksmith track house in Boston on Sat., March 22, with a wonderful crowd on a beautiful morning to have this fantastic conversation. Annie Rodenfels is a born com…

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Mayra Garcia: Becoming an Ultra Trail Runner 43:15

9M ago43:15

43:15

This episode features ultra trail runner and mom Mayra Garcia, who is originally from Honduras and now calls Maryland home. Garcia loves to run, and she loves to run very far: training for ultras is a big part of her life today. But not too long ago, Garcia wasn’t a runner at all. Not until one fateful day, when, instead of turning to coping with l…

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Stephanie Bruce: Fifteen Years a Professional Runner, and Counting 41:37

10M ago41:37

41:37

This episode features longtime professional runner, entrepreneur, mother of three, wife, and so much more, Stephanie Bruce. In this episode Bruce, who is 41, shares the purpose and passion that’s driving her these days, as she moves into a new chapter in her running career. It’s a time of transition and exciting new paths forward. As a professional…

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Cherie Louise Turner: Part 9, Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project: The Big Shift 29:51

10M ago29:51

29:51

This is part 9 of the Over 50, Sub 20, 5k Project, where WRS host and producer Cherie Louise Turner is sharing her journey to break 20 minutes in the 5k, in her 50s, in real time. Feel free to join the journey from here; it's not mandatory to listen to previous episodes in order to enjoy this one. Previous episodes will provide more context around …

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Samantha Powderhorn: A Powerful Story of Healing 34:13

10M ago34:13

34:13

This is the transformative running story of Samantha Powderhorn, who is from the Sayisi Dene First Nations community, in northern Manitoba, Canada. She currently lives in Winnipeg. Powderhorn’s story revolves around breaking cycles of addiction and healing trauma, for herself, her family, and her community. Today Powederhorn is the first Sayisi Den…

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Therese Munthe: Her Incredible Marathon Journey 35:29

10M ago35:29

35:29

Therese Munthe, 48, has always been athletic, and she's always been competitive. But she did not like to run. She believed she wasn't good at it—until she discovered marathoning, in her 40s. That all changed in 2021. Munthe was looking for a way to connect with her father when he was facing the end of his life. This led Munthe on a journey that has…

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Molly Hurford: Ultrarunner, Author, Strong Girl Publishing Founder 32:45

11M ago32:45

32:45

Molly Hurford knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age. She also loved being active outdoors. But she had decided that, as a writer, she couldn’t possibly also be an athlete. That all changed in college. Today Hurford embodies many identities, including owner/founder of Strong Girl Publishing, writer, podcaster, and athlete, including b…

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Katie Gunvalson: Her Epic Pacific Crest Trail Journey 49:58

11M ago49:58

49:58

Katie Gunvalson had a calling: traverse the entirety of the 2,700 mile Pacific Crest Trail. This audacious goal was something Gunvalson's younger self would have never considered. But, it's exactly what she did. The PCT, true to its name, follows the crest of the mountain ranges between Canada and Mexico, going through Washington, Oregon, and Calif…

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LIVE! Sue McDonald: 8x Masters World Record Holder, from the Boston Tracksmith Track House 53:25

11M ago53:25

53:25

This is a special live recording featuring 8x masters world record holder Sue McDonald, 61, in conversation with WRS host and producer Cherie; that's me. We sat down the Tracksmith track house in Boston on Sat., Feb 1, to a wonderful group who braved snowy weather for this terrific conversation. We get into how McDonald has stayed healthy and compe…

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Race Report: Jennifer Sandoval + 2025 USATF Cross Country National Championship 27:23

11M ago27:23

27:23

Jenny Sandoval is the 2022 NCAA DII 10,000 national champion, and now running as a post-collegiate elite/pro, she is focused on discovering her full potential in the sport. It's been a time of big ups and downs, as Sandoval navigates life as an elite runner, with a full time job. Her performance at the recent USATF cross country national championsh…

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Weini Kelati: Her Championship Year, Breaking Records, Realizing Olympic Dreams 47:32

12M ago47:32

47:32

Weini Kelati is a professional road and long distance track racer for the Mission Run Dark Sky Distance team sponsored by Under Armour. Kelati is one of the best US racers in the 10k, 5k, and, more recently, half marathon. In this episode, Kelati shares how she got to this point in her running career, with a particular focus on the transformation h…

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Heather Caplan: Redefining Running Wins through Life's Changes 36:57

12M ago36:57

36:57

Heather Caplan's running story spans many seasons of her life. And through those seasons, she has discovered how wins in her running life can show up in many different ways. Caplan is a runner, a run coach, a dietician, the mother of three children, and she is also well known for being the co-founder of the Lane 9 Project, with Alexis Fairbanks. To…

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Chantelle Erickson: From Treadmill to Ultra Trail Running, a Path of Healing and Thriving 33:12

12M ago33:12

33:12

Today Chantelle Erickson is an ultra trail runner and, as she says, a multipreneur, in addition to being a wife and the mother of two children. Erickson runs her business Be Well Chantelle, and under the umbrella of that business, she has many offerings. One of them is Baby Mama, where she offers pre- and postnatal fitness services; she is a runnin…

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Vanessa C. Peralta-Mitchell: Founder of Games Changers, Redefining Who Is a Leader in Running 52:07

1y ago52:07

52:07

Vanessa C. Peralta-Mitchell was inspired to start running after learning how hard women had fought to just participate in sports. That moment of inspiration would eventually change her life, setting Peralta-Mitchell on a path to change the running industry. How that all unfolded is what this episode is all about. Peralta-Mitchell is a runner, busin…