Episode 101: Lauren Fleshman on Writing the Path Forward for Women and Girls in Sport

Runners of The Bay

This week we talk to Lauren Fleshman, whose first book, Good For a Girl, A Woman Running in a Man’s World is now available! Lauren won five NCAA championships at Stanford, is one of the most decorated American distance runners of all time, co-founded Picky Bars, is a brand strategy advisor for Oiselle, mother of two, and is married to former pro triathlete Jesse Thomas. Lauren talks about her book writing process and what it was like writing hard truths that she at times didn’t even want to admit to herself.

Some highlights from our conversation:

🛠️ The responsibility she felt to make things easier for the next generation

🗣️ Finding and balancing three voices: the expert, the storyteller, and the soap box

🤯 Unpacking what it means to be “coachable”

⏱️ How coaching Little Wing was influenced by her desire to shape a better system for female athletes

🏃‍♀️ Women in sports as a microcosm for women in society at large

🌎 How writing forces us to reflect on the stories we tell about ourselves

✍️ Her own literary influences

Order Lauren’s book here, and follow her on Instagram, and Twitter.

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This episode is brought to you by Avid Sports Medicine. AVID Sports Medicine is offering our listeners:

• 15% off New Patient Visit
• 15% off Gait Analysis
• 50% off of Avid Fitness (code runnersofthebay) Sign up here

Listeners can email [e-mail] and mention Runners of the Bay to use these offers.

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.