Many Happy Miles: The Evolution of Fitness

Love history? Love fitness? This episode of Many Happy Miles is for you. The hosts bring on Historian, professor, and mother runner Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, the author of the brand-new book Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession, which offers a very deep (and enlightening) dive into the evolution of the fitness world in the U.S. In this episode, Dimity, Sarah WF, and Natalia cover several topics, including: 

• The fascinating origins of fitness staples like the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness and the JFK 50 Mile run
• How Jane Fonda became a fitness icon (and other women who paved the way for today’s “fit-fluencers”)
• How fitness has become both “inescapable and inaccessible” in our country, plus Natalia’s visions of creating a more inclusive, stronger future, and more.

You can purchase your own copy of Fit Nation here (we give it five stars!). And follow Natalia (including updates on her half-marathon training) on Instagram.

When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR.

We appreciate your—and their—support! 

Stress less, sleep better: Enjoy 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/amr

Pretty is as pretty does: Enjoy 15% off your first order at ThriveCausemetics.com/AMR

Say yes to pleasure: Enjoy an extended 30-day free trial at Dipseastories.com/amr

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices