With fall race season upon us  (yay for cooler weather!), it’s a good time to look ahead—and glance back, just a bit, because my family had an epic up north outdoor adventure—during the latest episode of the Michigan Runner Girl Show. And I’ve got a special guest, my 17-year-old daughter Emma Durocher, joining me. {To listen to this episode, click on the player at the top of this post, or tune in using your favorite podcast app}

Emma, who is in the midst of her final high school cross country season, shares how she got started in the sport, the reasons she gave it up for awhile, and why she later decided to pursue longer distances (she’s completed four half marathons in the past year and a half!) in addition to her year-round cross country training. We have an honest discussion about running as a family—and how, realistically, kids aren’t always going to want to run with mom and dad.

Emma and me, running a local 5K together in 2010. She was in 5th grade and I was early on in my running and racing.

Emma also talks about what running has come to mean to her. “In places in my life where I didn’t have a lot of friends or was sad, I would turn to running … It’s just something where I just do it and feel so much better after, like something has been lifted off my shoulders. [That feeling] doesn’t always happen during the run … but I guess just using it as a tool to be a better person, that’s always how it’s helped me.”

Emma and her friend Sofie at the Spring Half Marathon in Chicago this May. This was Emma’s fourth 13.1.

She also shares thoughts on those early miles of a run: “When I am out on a long run, it’s always around this mark, 2.66, when I think that’s enough for me. But once I get past that, for me, I feel super strong and I think, ‘Ok, I can do this.’ I think in every run, there’s a hump to get over.”

Also during this episode, we share some details of our family trip to the Porcupine Mountains this summer, as well as our upcoming mom-daughter tradition of attending the American Home Fitness Detroit Women’s Half Marathon, 10K & 5K on Belle Isle in Detroit. This year’s race weekend is Sept. 16-17. We have run the half marathon there together in the past and this year will take on the 10K.

Made it to the podium together! Emma and me at the 2015 Detroit Women’s Half Marathon, 10K & 5K.

Speaking of race weekend, the Expotique is Saturday, Sept. 16 and MRG will again have a booth—stop by to say hello and check out all-new Michigan Runner Girl fall apparel. These items can be found at the online store, too. Shop here. Just a few of the new items:

All-new performance long sleeve (with thumbholes!). This comes in Superior Blue and Heather Gray.
Raglan Pullover Hoodie (comes in four different colors)
Long sleeve scoop neck (comes in three different colors)


The Michigan Runner Girl Show is made possible in part by the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

 If you enjoy what you’re hearing on the Michigan Runner Girl show, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a few moments to write a review on iTunes. This will help more runners and Michigan lovers like yourself find the podcasts. Thank you!! Also, the quickest way to get the podcasts is to subscribe to the show via iTunes or via Stitcher or your favorite podcast app. 

A special thanks to Mike Moran, Mike Youker and Jonny Tornga of Quarter After Productions in Traverse City, Mich. for producing the show. Check out this studio’s work here.

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