Episode 28: Race Directors and Abbott World Marathon Majors: Carey Pinkowski of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and Angela Anderson of the Marine Corps Marathon

Episode 28: Race Directors and Abbott World Marathon Majors is available on most podcast apps: Google, Anchor, Apple and Spotify!

Carey Pinkowski with new female Marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei

https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/

With the Bank of America Chicago Marathon since 1990, Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski has been a key player in building the marathon's dynamic relationships with the city of Chicago, the corporate community and local neighborhoods along the marathon course. In 2006, Pinkowski also became one of the original architects of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series set to recognize and challenge the world's top adventurous marathon runners. Carey explains how these marathons must meet stringent guidelines for runner experience/logistics and other marks, and now includes the original 5- Chicago, New York, Boston, London, Berlin, and most recently Tokyo was added to round out the number at six. He tells us about how the Marathon Majors began and why, as well as why sharing "best practices" with races across the globe is so important as a goal of this group, and he highlights the importance of the running community for these cities. He also shares a bit about the changing culture of marathons and the culture of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series, and where he sees it headed in the future.

Carey's page: https://www.facebook.com/CareyRunsChi/
The official Bank of America Chicago Marathon site: https://www.chicagomarathon.com/

Angela Anderson at one of many marathon finishes

The Marine Corps Marathon Deputy Director Angela Anderson has been with MCM since 1994. She oversees the various branches within the MCM organization and develops new projects to enhance the event experience. Originally from Germany, she has participated in the United States Marine Corps' Civilian Leadership Program and Toastmasters International. Anderson discusses her current World Marathon Majors attempt and 1/2 way through has some insight to share about the experience (including Chicago, Boston and most recently NY Marathon). She also tells us about "the Oprah effect" and its impact on women's running since Oprah ran the MCM in 1994, this event ushering in a new era of distance running for women, or at least her reflection as a cultural symbol of new women marathoners.  Lastly, she highlights the work of race organization and logistics of “The People’s Marathon” and reveals exciting things to come!

All the yearlong MCM Events and more that we discussed can be found at: https://www.marinemarathon.com/events

Please follow/message us on Facebook/Instagram @runninganthropologist

Episode 27: Marine Corps Marathon LIVE from Washington, D.C.

Episode 27- our "Ultra Episode" features Wear Blue Run to Remember members (including Rosanna Powers), Jorge Garcia (former service member, featured in previous episode), Matt O'Neil (3rd Place Overall Marathon Finisher) and Michael Wardian (First Overall 50K Finisher), as well as many others... Spectators, Marine volunteers and a winning Para/Duo dad and son.
It is available on most podcast apps, including Google, Anchor, Spotify and Apple...

Above: Podium of 50K winners
Bottom: Me, Michael Wardian (Center) Lisa Reichmann (right, 3rd 50K Womens)

This episode attempts to take us along on a play by play of the MCM weekend, bringing stories, sights and sounds from various parts of a very inspiring event, and historic one in someways being the first running of the Ultra as part of MCM's series!  We attempt to capture the culture behind the event, and do a bit of ethnography work; following the people that have made Running Anthropologist's coverage of MCM possible, pulling everything together from their training and experience at MCM this year.  Hope you enjoy it, and share it with others!

Photos from the Day, corresponding to the podcast interviews and locations:

Kids Race Day, Saturday 1 Mile and medals by Marines (as with all races)

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Wreath Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington: Wear Blue Gold Star Race Runners, Meet to visit and plan

Expo Meetups: Jorge Garcia Left, Mark Center

Metro to Race Start: Ponchos and Costumes (Santa and Waldo showed up early)

Medical Tent Volunteers

Matt O'Neil FINALLY getting some sun post-Podium, with the MCM Marathon Trophy

Episode 26: Marine Corps Marathon Part I - Featuring Matt O'Neil, Rosanna Powers and Mike Parks

Episode 26 is available on most podcast apps, including Apple, Google, Anchor and Spotify!

Perhaps no other marathon inspires more self-acclaimed "non-distance runners" to run a marathon than the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM), and perhaps no other races commands more allegiance and dedication than this one.  Those who run it say the emotions and support are visceral, tangible and undeniable.  It could be the Marine Corps Bands, the brothers and mothers running in honor of their siblings, sons and daughters, or simply service members who take great pride in their affiliation to the Nation's Capitol and their fellow service members' participation.  Finally, the entire course is laden with tributes and music, monuments and national treasures to be seen around every bend. If you are looking for some inspiring and harrowing stories this fall, look no further than MCM.


For those that aren't aware, MCM is a year-round venture and our first guest Matt O'Neil knows this extremely well, having won all the major MCM events this past year, after having to cut his first MCM marathon attempt short in 2018 due to "poor training/unpreparedness".  He also gives us a great preview rundown of all of these events throughout the year, and the culture of a year-round MCM runner, from trails to pavement.  He talks about some of his development and work as a runner since cross country teams in college, and why the marathon was a logical next step for him.  As a hometown favorite from the DC metro area, he has lofty goals (hoping to place in the top 3 finishers), and has a unique perspective and also shows us what it's taken to reach this place-- the benefit of sticking it out and learning from mistakes of the past, in terms of training especially.

Mike Parks also tells us about running a first, attempting his first Ultra with the MCM, after 4 years of running the marathon with Team Leidos.  He explains all that the team does, including his work in nearby Reston, Virginia and around the globe supporting medical systems. As part of its company mission to make the world safer, healthier and more efficient, scientists and engineers work every day to solve critical challenges across the globe. In fact, 21% of Leidos’ workforce are military veterans, and the company has a long-standing commitment to supporting military veterans and their families. In addition to the Marine Corps Marathon, they support many non-profits geared towards members of our armed forces. To name a few: Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Wreaths Across America, Association of the US Army Aberdeen, Air Force Aid Society, Coast Guard Foundation, American Veterans Center, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. This year, Team Leidos which Mike runs with will have 346 runners participating in the Marine Corps 50k, marathon, and 10k events. If you’re running the race, say hello to Team Leidos volunteers at Water Point 10 and at the Finish Festival where they will be on hand to support all racers!

Rosanna Powers embodies the spirit of the Marine Corps Marathon in many ways, and became a runner after having lost both her brother and fiance during their service abroad as marines in Iraq 15 years ago.  Rosanna is herself a marine, and therefore shares a special history and comraderie with many families and service members that she runs with.  The "Wear Blue Run to Remember" movement and MCM running community were a lifeline to her at an important stage in her recovery from loss, and have provided a way to both give back and to stay connected to them. She describes how volunteers share to run miles for lost loved ones of others across all branches of military, and this makes her get out every day and run. In her interview, she encourages us all to support this movement and help spread the word about it to others... As such, we have provided links below and hope that you would consider sharing and supporting this awesome team of runners & MCM year round events.

https://www.wearblueruntoremember.org

https://www.marinemarathon.com/

Episode 25: Marathon Series Kickoff with the Chicago Marathon & More: Randa Mahmu-Ulankiewicz, Co-hosted by Meghan Lane-Holbert

Episode 25 is available on most podcast apps, including Anchor, Spotify, Google and Apple! Just search "Running Anthropologist"...

Randa's Team During 2018 Chicago Marathon

In this special 25th episode we take ten minutes to introduce our upcoming series on the Marathon Season in North America... Meghan and Mark Lane=Holbert discuss why they have chosen to cover the Chicago and Marine Corps Marathons the next several episodes, as well as what to expect after that from local Florida Marathons:  Space Coast and Disney races.  They go into a bit of their own favorites and race background developing as a runners, first marathons, etc.

Randa runs...

Speaking of first marathons, our guest Randa Mahmud-Ulankiewicz rounds out the majority of our episode, describing what it is like to be a recent and unlikely new "marathoner", and serving as Co-Captain to organize a group of runners for a charity close to her heart, in the Chicago Marathon. She also explains passionately about her motivation of helping children, a relief effort with The Palestine Children's Relief Fund that brings needed medical care to a conflicted area of the world. She furthermore tells about what it's like to run her first marathon and why it is "a positive, productive thing to do so as part of a team"... In this way, she brings out the best in The Chicago Marathon, explaining how to join as a charity runner, and how to be creative if you can't find what your heart is set on running for. This is a great one to hear about drive and personal inspiration around a cause turning someone into a runner for life, and pulling others along with them!

***Please let us know if you have suggestions or ideas for future episodes, and what it was like to run your favorite marathon, message @runninganthropologist on Facebook or Instagram!

ALL CHARITY TEAMS possible for the Chicago Marathon, signup and learn more

2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Team Palestine Link

Episode 24: Dynamic Running Therapy (DRT) with William Pullen

Episode 24 is available on most Podcast Apps!  (Apple, Spotify, Anchor, Google, etc.)

Our guest this week is the third in a series of 3 Episodes featuring different approaches to running therapy.  This is the perfect one to wrap up our series, because it has components of partner running (empathy runs), as well as opportunity to work through William Pullen's Dynamic Running Therapy on one's own.  A Therapist who values and has studied philosophy and psychology, and applies many key aspects of mindfulness to his work. DRT can be used in so many ways, many of which we discuss in this episode.  Furthermore, this movement therapy is incredibly accessible through the free app he has developed, as well as his book/interactive workbook "Running with Mindfulness: Dynamic Running Therapy to Improve Low-Mood, Anxiety, Stress and Depression". It has been called a radically simple approach combining elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, relational philosophy and exercise. 

We discuss why it is ideal for individuals that want to deepen their running practice, and get more in touch with themeselves and their emotions through self-introspection questions.  Pullen's voice navigates us in this episode, but also he does so even more eloquently through his App for each area of therapy, an explanation and guidance. Movement and getting moving is especially valuable to those that are dealing with any difficult emotions such as self esteem issues, anger, stress, depression or anxiety on a regular basis. There is also a healthy relationship practice, which deals with questions together through "empathy runs", in which a couple/pair practices active listening and deep sharing in organized turns. Pullen developed DRT to "bring the mind into perfect harmony with the body through the healing experience of mindful running". Channeling running energy into personal change in all aspects of our life is made both simple and effective by this insightful step-by-step process, developed through years of therapy and mindfulness practice. In everything we do, he encourages us to just get moving, make small changes and positive results will naturally flow from them. His guidance has helped countless people to do so, and his story is both uplifting and inspiring! Please visit his website and see the following videos to gain some perspective on the work, and give the app a try:

His Therapy page, where he explains more about methods and types of therapy offered:  http://williampullenpsychotherapist.com/

Video Explanation:  

His TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq6393AreD4

Find his Books on Amazon:

Running With Mindfulness:  https://www.amazon.com/Running-Mindfulness-Dynamic-Low-mood-Depression/dp/0735219796

Run for Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Your-Life-Mindful-Running/dp/B01MSYFBYI

Episode 23: UNBREAKABLE with Dan McGann of "RxRun", Founder David Harris and Coordinator Nils Blondon- on Mental Health & Group Running Therapy

Episode 23  UNBREAKABLE with Therapist Dan McGann of RxRun, Founder David Harris & Coordinator Nils Blondon, on Mental Health & Running Therapy

Dan McGann, Running Therapist

Therapist Dan McGann is the second of our 3 part series featuring running as therapy, and offers some groundbreaking insights into work with groups of young people and families in Ontario, Canada.  The results of his years of work honing the program are no less than astounding, with now groups of graduates of the program becoming public speakers for other new runners. Now in his 14th year of doing so, Dan has witnessed incredible impact on the mental health and resilience of young people in group therapy and seen running's ability to completely change lives.  It has been so successful that he has extended it to families and now has several groups meeting twice per week (in two different seasonal sessions) throughout the year.  The idea is that individuals will "get moving" and see themselves as successes involved in something life-affirming. This helps achieve something together with a group or family, and builds up to something greater in life. "Running as a training ground to overcome obstacles in our lives / way of thinking", and this is the life goal of Dan's work, especially to change the view of those that perceive themselves as "broken"...

Nils Blondon

Coordinator/Manager Nils Blondon of "Team Unbreakable" also joins us for a bit to explain his work, giving others tools to replicate this important youth work thru running model, and paving a new way of thinking about mental health. He coordinates the curriculum and helps schools/youth program set up their own programs, including motivational speakers and group running focused on young people expressing their feelings, struggles and developing mindfulness.  This is a free service and effort to spread this approach to youth groups throughout the schools in the Toronto area, with hopes to share with organizations and youth groups throughout North America and beyond, so that no one will have to suffer alone.

Unbreakable Group lining up for THE 5K

Lastly, it has been supported continuously by Founder of Unbreakable & CEO David Harris of what was originally "Cameron Helps", created as a lifeline after experiencing the loss of his own son to mental illness.  He explains his own struggles with depression and health, and the solace he has found in running, that he wants to share with others, especially young people who are struggling with depression. This ongoing outreach today is provided through grants, offering resources for anyone hoping to impact mental health access for young people, through running and inspiring role models!

Below you will find amazing stories, inspiration and film demonstrating this work:

TEAM UNBREAKABLE Website: http://www.teamunbreakable.ca/

Rx Run Documentary (available on Amazon): 

https://vimeo.com/270142934

 https://filmfreeway.com/RxRun

“I Eat Hills for Breakfast”  – interviews with teens and parents. https://vimeo.com/12099959

Media:

https://runningmagazine.ca/bloggers/one-documentary-explores-benefits-running-struggling-mental-health/

http://www.teamunbreakable.ca/creator-of-run-therapy-programs-modelled-by-team-unbreakable-still-inspiring-youth/

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2010/11/30/running-up-that-hill-teens-run-to-battle-depression/

https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2011/12/02/teen_suicide_chasing_down_demons.html

Episode 22: Certified Running Therapist Rachel Reingewirtz

Episode 22 with Running Therapist Rachel Reingewirtz is available on most podcast apps, including Apple, Spotify, Google and Anchor!  This is our first in what we hope will be a series of episodes on running as therapy, hosting leading Running Therapists from across the globe...

Rachel on a daily run with young people in Israel

In this episode Rachel guides us on a very down-to-earth realistic view of the start and development of Running Therapy, and how she has seen its usefulness in action, from treating anxiety/depression to working with at risk youth in Israel. Being trained by its founder Thaddeus Kostrubala, MD (The Joy of Running and Paleoanalysis) who spearheaded research into slow long distance running actually being good for the body-mind-spirit in the 70s , she saw his foundation of all that would follow in neuroanalysis research and mindful running movements today. Through talk therapy while running, she is able to achieve much deeper and much quicker breakthroughs than in traditional therapy. We also discuss the overall therapeutic benefits of running, and hope for its development as a holistic mental health therapy and human connector, inspiration and possibility for treating many more mental health challenges in the future.  More details also on Rachel’s website: www.rachelrun.com

• Links to Dr. Kostumbala's groundbreaking work starting running therapy:

THE JOY OF RUNNING by Thaddeus Kostumbala  (book on Amazon)

PALEOANALYSIS AND RUNNING THERAPY: The Joy of Running 2 (book on Amazon)

• Dr. Wolfgang Shu:ler's work and the German Running Therapists Network Homepage (only in German at this time): https://www.lauftherapie-vdl.de/de/
• "Outside Magazine" Article featuring running as therapy: https://www.outsideonline.com/2373501/running-therapy-william-lent-sepideh-saremi

*Other Running Therapists whose work is widely available: 

* SCOTT DOUGLAS's book "Running is my Therapy" (Runners World writer mentioned in podcast)
* WILLIAM PULLEN (UK Therapist) has been featured in several podcasts and articles as well for his work and book "Running with Mindfulness", as well as DRT Therapy method including a free APP (link below)

Therapist Dann McGann in North America, known for innovative work with 
teens and outstanding documentary film on this work, "Rx Run":

http://danmcganntherapy.com/

Trailer & Film Website:

https://filmfreeway.com/RxRun

Film on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Rxrun-Dan-MacGann/dp/B07DTYMWW2

*Hey, there's an APP for that:

1. You can find Dr. Pullen's free "DRT" (Dynamic Running Therapy) itunes/android.  
2. You can also find several Mindful Running Meditations on INSIGHT TIMER (world's largest free meditation app) by searching for "Running Anthropologist".