#336: How Our Parents Influenced Us as Runners

Sarah Bowen Shea is joined by dear Ellison Weist to discuss how parents (in their cases, their respective fathers) started them down their path to becoming dedicated runners. Laugh along at the “jogging” attire Ellison remembers her father sporting—and why it got him pulled over by the police while out on an early morning jaunt! SBS talks about how her father’s devotion to two water-related sports—swimming and rowing—launched her on her running journey.Then, one after another, three mother runners hop on to tell their stories. First is Carla Burke, a mom of two preschoolers who’s training for her debut marathon, and who was influenced by her dad to take up running. Carla talks about his “Rocky-esque” running attire. Find out why that reference is especially apt, given the marathon Carla is training for—and which her father is volunteering for.

Next is Carolyn Rock, a mom of two grown daughters, who tells how she joined Weight Watchers and started running to avoid following her mother down a road of unhealthy choices. (Spoiler alert: Carolyn is running her 57th marathon this weekend!!) Laugh along as Carolyn calls a recliner “a chair of death” and laments her “weak side-butt.” Carolyn posits an intriguing theory about grief and physical running ailments.

The final guest is Sarah Axelrod, a mom of a daughter, who was deeply influenced by her own dedicated-runner mom. Hear how Sarah literally follows iher mother’s footsteps around Boston, including during an amazing recent 10K road race. SBS hopes this episodes causes you to reflect on the forces that shaped you into the runner you are today (or hope to become).In the intro, there is much talk of police procedurals/thrillers—find out which ones E and SBS are currently addicted to! The two books Ellison recommends are Washington Black and Witch Elm.

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