Women Who Run

Women run for all kinds of reasons -- for health, to ease the tension, for strength, to challenge themselves, to be social with friends, as professional athletes or the dream of being one, to turn their minds on, and to turn them off. Whether running a marathon, taking a quick jog around the neighborhood, or trying to reach the top of Pikes Peak, women of all ages and abilities have discovered running. In "Women Who Run, a broad range of women, including Olympians, marathoners, ultra runners, young track phenoms, and recreational runners, talk about why they run, what drives them, and what continues to spark their interest in the sport. Whether it is Katharine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon; Shirley Matson, "the fastest Grandma in the West" and a 64-year-old competitive speed walker; Sarah Reinersten, amputee competitive runner and spokesperson for athletes with disabilities; Louise Cooper, breast cancer survivor and finisher of the grueling 135-mile Badwater Marathon; or Kristin Armstrong, who found solace and camaraderie in running with other women post-divorce, all speak of the ways running has become necessary in their busy lives.Sosienski, Shanti is the author of 'Women Who Run', published 2006 under ISBN 9781580051835 and ISBN 1580051839.