Human Race

Candice Caesar is 44 years old with a son in college, a master’s degree, and a job as a speech pathologist. A dedicated runner, Candice spends her weeks training with several running clubs and her weekends traveling. She’s in the process of running 50 half marathons in 50 states by the time she’s 50. But 17 years ago, a life like this was unthinkable. First of all, she hated running. But then, a near fatal car crash left her paralyzed and unable to speak. But even in the darkness of her new reality, Candice realized she had to keep moving. When a doctor told her she may never walk again, Candice replied: “I’ll walk a marathon.” That reply set in a motion a process that allowed Candice to rebuild herself, to become someone new. Through running, she discovers what matters most to her may not have been lost in the accident after all. This episode of Human Race is sponsored by Stamps.com. Buy and Print official U.S. Postage using your own computer and printer. Get a 4-week trial plus a $110 dollar bonus offer by

A few years ago, Don Bravo was “one WrestleMania buffet” away from weighing 400 pounds. After his doctor warned that his weight would shorten his lifespan, Don started climbing stairs in his neighborhood...which led to the Harvard Stadium steps. And then the BAA 5k. His story of triumph is unexpected and funny. It might just make you stand up and cheer. It’s our election special—an uplifting story in what has certainly been a stressful time. This episode of Human Race is sponsored by Stamps.com. Buy and Print official U.S. Postage using your own computer and printer. Get a 4-week trial plus a $110 dollar bonus offer by going to Stamps.com and using the promo code “HUMAN.” Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Casey Martin, Rachel Swaby Editors: Audrey Quinn, David Weinberg Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey Human Race is a proud part of Panoply Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In April 2015, a viral post on Facebook about the Boston Marathon kicked off a wave of controversy. In this week’s episode, we explore how that controversy turned into a full-blown movement. Today, a league of at-home vigilante race investigators are changing the way we police marathons online for everyone to see. The story takes us from a race in Pennsylvania to the Boston Marathon to a set of spreadsheets (yes, really) to a runner in a suburb in New Jersey. For those outed online, we wonder if the punishment fits the crime. This episode of Human Race is brought to you by Brooks. Sign up for the Brooks Big Endorsement and become a sponsored athlete at www.BrooksAthlete.com/rw. Additional Reading: “Dozens Suspected of Cheating to Enter Boston Marathon” by Kit Fox Marathon Investigation, Derek’s blog Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Kit Fox, Rachel Swaby Editor: David Weinberg Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey Human Race is a proud part of Panoply. Follow us

Anthony Butler, a native of the Bronx in New York City, lost his sight eight years ago. For many people who lose their ability to see in adulthood, the decline is inevitable and gradual. Often a degenerative disease will chip away at someone’s vision to the point that they become legally blind. That’s not what happened to Anthony. One second, Anthony was hanging out with friends. The next second, his sight was gone. But even through a series of struggles—learning to navigate a new world, getting kicked out his home—Anthony found ways to turn his life around. One of those ways: running. It was last spring when Anthony met Kate Dixon on a group run in Central Park with Achilles International. Neither was a great runner, but something clicked when they began running together that made them decide to get serious for their own, important reasons. In this episode, we explore what happens when you lose something so essential. And what, perhaps, you might gain in its place. Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Produc

About half of all runners who enter the Leadville Trail 100 don't finish. What stands between them and a finisher's belt buckle? Sandy Monahan. In this episode of Human Race, we follow Sandy as she dashes runners' dreams by enforcing the event's very strict cut off schedule. As she breaks countless timing chips in two, there are tears, hugs, and only the occasional death threat. And yet, Sandy keeps coming back. And so do the runners. There's something special about Leadville.This episode of Human Race is brought to you by Brooks. Sign up for the Brooks Big Endorsement and become a sponsored athlete at www.BrooksAthlete.com/rw.Episode Credits:Host: Rachel SwabyProducers: Willow Belden, Rachel SwabyEditor: Audrey Quinn, David WeinbergThanks to Amanda Jamrogiewicz, Tom Kleinman, Caolan MacMahon, Jon Perz, and Scott SchaunamanTheme music: Danny CockeHuman Race editor-in-chief: David WilleyAdditional Listening:Producer Willow Belden has a podcast called Out There. Here are two episodes she thinks Human Race liste

We have reached the end of the first season of Human Race. But don't worry. We won't be gone for long. Season two will resume in about a month.

Greg O’Brien is 66 years old and open about his struggles with early onset Alzheimer’s. When a story about Greg appeared on NPR detailing how he uses running to combat mental decline, Runner’s World editor Christine Fennessy reluctantly decided to reach out. Reluctantly because up until this point, Fennessy had done whatever she could to avoid personal stories about Alzheimer’s. They hit too close to home. This week, Fennessy meets O’Brien in person—and confronts her biggest fears about the disease.  Additional Resources: On Pluto by Greg O’Brien Outrunning the Demons by Greg O’Brien, edited by Christine Fennessy Inside Alzheimer’s: NPR Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby  Producers: Christine Fennessy, Rachel Swaby  Editor: Audrey Quinn  Production help: Mervyn Degaños  Theme music: Danny Cocke  Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The last time someone broke the record for the fastest crossing of America on foot was 1980. Frank Giannino Jr. traveled from San Francisco to the Brooklyn Bridge on foot in 46 days, 8 hours, and 36 minutes. His journey was marked by an almost military-like routine—a routine that has yet to be replicated. Three people have attempted to break Giannino’s record this year. Human Race goes out on the road with one of them. In the process, we find out what happens to your body when you run more than 50 miles every day, and what it is about this 36 year-old record makes it so tough to beat. Further Reading: Ultrarunning Newcomer Will Run Across America Trying to Break 35-Year-Old Record by Kit Fox Renowned Ultrarunner Attempting Trans-America Record by Kit Fox Episode Credits:  Host: Rachel Swaby Producer: Rachel Swaby Editor: Audrey Quinn Production help: Mervyn Degaños Theme Music: Danny Cocke Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the Barkley Marathons' thirty years, only 14 people have ever completed it. But it’s not for lack of trying. Some 1000 runners have attempted to complete Barkley’s five loop course of agony through Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. The route is supposed to be 100 miles, but Barkley veterans guess that it’s more like a very hilly 130. With no GPS, no course markers, and not an aid station to speak of, sleep deprived runners are challenged more than just physically. For the vast majority of runners, this race isn’t about finishing. It’s about pushing themselves to their absolute limits.This episode of Human Race is brought to you by Brooks. Sign up for the Brooks Big Endorsement and become a sponsored athlete at www.BrooksAthlete.com/rw.Further reading:The 2016 Barkley Marathons: One Person Finishes! by Brian DalekNotorious by Charlie EngleEpisode Credits:Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Brian Dalek, Rachel Swaby Editor: Audrey Quinn with help from Christine Fennessy Production help: Mervyn De

Human Race is taking a two week hiatus. We'll be back on July 5th with a new episode.

This week’s episode is a sprint—a short story—about how a chance meeting kicked off one woman’s incredible running career. But between that first surprise encounter and this runner’s eventual success, so many surprising things happen. There’s hate mail and poetry and a run in with a famous runner and a national movement. If there is a typical athlete coming into her own story, this is not it. This is the story of Katy Schilly. Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Danielle Thomsen, Rachel Swaby Production help: Mervyn Degaños Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey

For over 20 years, the so-called World’s Longest Urinal was a New York City Marathon institution. At the height of its glory, it was an astonishing 350-feet long. The story of this urinal is one of DIY problem solving, triumph, and liquid tragedy. And behind this open air trough: An unknown legend named Vic Navarra. Vic was a fixture at the New York City Marathon for over a quarter of a century. He was a New York City firefighter who conducted the race start from the top of a fire truck's 85-foot ladder. When tens of thousands of runners poured onto multiple levels of the Verrazano bridge at the start of the marathon, Vic was the one conducting them. As the race start coordinator, he was the steward of this storied urinal, too. Together, their history gives us a glimpse into how the New York City Marathon scaled up to be the world class race that it is today. Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Rachel Swaby, Mervyn Degaños Editor: Audrey Quinn Editing help: Christine Fennessy, Sylvia Ryerson

A series of unfortunate (and hilarious) events just minutes before the start of one of the world’s most prestigious races. This week’s episode is a sprint—a short story. And you might want to hold your nose because it’s a pretty surprising, very unsettling story about a port-o-potty from Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray. Or, to up the stakes, a story about that time McGillivray nearly missed the start of the race he directs. Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Rachel Swaby, Audrey Quinn, Christine Fennessy Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey

Sylvia Weiner is a prolific runner. She’s 85 years old, and she estimates that over the course of her running career she’s completed somewhere near 2,000 races—and she’s got an extensive collection of race medals and trophies to prove it. In 1975, Sylvia even claimed a very special spot in Boston Marathon history. But her most significant legacy has nothing to do with race accolades. When Sylvia runs, she shows others what’s possible. Her long-term dedication to the sport is impressive. “I stick to running for dear life,” she says. That’s because running is more than a passion; it’s a way of dealing with her traumatic past. On this week’s episode, Sylvia shares her incredible story. Let’s just say, there’s a reason Sylvia’s longtime running buddy greets her with an enthusiastic, “Sylvia! She’s our hero!” Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Rachel Swaby, Audrey Quinn, Christine Fennessy Editing help: Brian Dalek Special thanks: Gordon Asmundson from the University of Regina for sharing his research

This week on Human Race, we’re sharing a sprint—or a short story. We’ll be alternating long stories, like the Tin Man story last week, with shorter stories, like the one you’re getting this week. Our first sprint is a story we’re featuring from the Runner’s World Show, our really wonderful sister podcast. It will be rare that we’ll air the same story on both shows, but this one is really special. Chris Kraft, site director for RunnersWorld.com, gets text alerts that reveal when the International Space Station (ISS) will be flying over his house. He even schedules his (very, very early) morning runs so that he can catch a glimpse of these flyovers. Chris’s passion is so appealing that we asked him to record himself out on the run. In the story, we also meet a fellow sky gazer and astronaut Sunita Williams. Suni has been up to the International Space Station twice. On one of those trips, she ran the Boston Marathon virtually, while in orbit. This is their story of wonder, passion, and running. Episode Cre

A story about a man who lost his heart. And what he gained in its place. On this episode, we meet Randy Shepherd, one very unlikely runner. Randy is 42 now, and never enjoyed running very much. He was more of a team sports guy. But beyond that, he had a rock-solid excuse for staying on the couch. Back when he was in his 30s, Shepherd’s already compromised heart rapidly began to fail. There was no time to match him with a transplant donor. Certain that Shepherd could die at any moment, surgeons removed his heart and replaced it with a machine called a total artificial heart. Right out of the surgery, he faced difficult questions. What happens when you lose such an essential part of yourself? What can you physically do (and not do) when a machine powers your body? His choice ultimately transformed his life. Episode Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Rachel Swaby, Audrey Quinn, Christine Fennessy Editing help: Brian Dalek, Chris Kraft, Sylvia Ryerson Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race editor in chief: D

Coming in May. Subscribe now. Human Race is a new podcast from Runner's World. Hosted by Rachel Swaby, Human Race focuses on long-form storytelling. It will bring the depth and reporting you’ve come to expect from ambitious features in the magazine—but with the intimate and immersive aspects only audio can provide.