Podcast: Episode 213 with Alison Mariella Désir

Mario Fraioli | October 10, 2022

“There’s a huge percentage of people whose stories have never been told. So, if you look at the story of running that’s been told it’s for the most part been one particular story, which is obviously valid for a large amount of people in this country, in this world, but then there are so many other stories that have not been told and and I hope that’s it. I think about my non-binary friends who are involved in finally getting, for example, the Boston Marathon to establish a category for non-binary folks with prize money. I wanna read Lauren, Jake, two of my activist friends, I wanna read their book, I wanna read “Running While Non-Binary.” Being able to understand peoples’ experiences, my intent is not to de-value, for example, your experience, Mario—it’s just to show you [that] other people are having a different experience, maybe I wasn’t aware of it, now that I am, what can I do to expand by wonderful experience and ensure that they have it too?”

I’ve got a great episode for you this week with Alison Mariella Désir, who is making her second appearance on the podcast. If you missed our first chat, go back in the archives to Episode 168, where you can learn more about Alison, her background, how she got into running, and the work she’s done as a community builder and an activist.

This conversation was a very topical one and centered around Alison’s new book, Running While Black, which is available for pre-order now and will be available for purchase everywhere on October 18. We talked about the book, how it came to be, and how it evolved during the process of writing it. Alison shared some of her experiences of being a Black woman in a very white space, she told me about the impact she hopes her book will have, we discussed what “reimagining the run” could look like for future generations, and so much more.

Alison Mariella Désir: Book | Website | Instagram | Twitter

the morning shakeout: Instagram | Twitter

Mario Fraioli: Website | Strava

This episode is brought to you by:

— New Balance. The new FuelCell Rebel v3 from New Balance is everything I enjoyed about its predecessor but with a more supportive upper, a little more cushion underfoot, and a more durable outsole. What it doesn’t have is much more weight, checking in at under 8 ounces, making it a great go-fast shoe for tempo runs, track workouts, and interval sessions on the road. The FuelCell Rebel v3 is available in both men’s and women’s sizes on newbalance.com or at your favorite run specialty retail store.

— The Monterey Bay Half Marathon. The Monterey Bay Half Marathon is BACK! Registration is now open for this fast, scenic course along the beautiful Monterey Bay coastline. If you’re looking for a fall race with a high potential for a PR, this is your course! Sign up to #runthiscoast on November 13 at montereybayhalfmarathon.org. Use the code MARIO at checkout to save $10 on your registration for the half marathon or the Ocean View Challenge.

Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford