142. Jen Ator, Women's Running Editor in Chief
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 15 May 2019
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"You really can do anything. That doesn't mean it's going to be easy and that doesn't mean it's not going to be without sacrifice. It also doesn't mean you're going to be a rockstar at it. But you can do anything if you're willing to put yourself out there and really risk failing in a huge way."
Last month, Jen Ator was hired as the new editor in chief of Women's Running. Before joining WR, Jen was the longtime fitness director at Women's Health. On this episode, Jen talks about her decision to leave one dream job for another, and shares her hopes, dreams, and big plans for Women's Running. She shares her running story, including the heartbreaking knee injury that sidelined her just as she was hitting her running groove. Plus, she shares her advice for getting through some "really tough days." Jen also talks about the opportunity of a lifetime: getting to race Ironman Kona with training partner and Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno. She talks about her friendship with Deena Kastor, how her approach to exercise has changed over the past few years, and her book, The Fitness Fix.
Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!
What you'll get on this episode:
- How it feels to get to say "I'm an editor in chief" Plus, Jen opens up about her decision to leave one dream job for another (3:30)
- Jen's hopes, dreams, plans, and goals for Women's Running — and is anything off-limits? (9:15)
- What does the editor in chief job entail? (16:20)
- Jen reflects on her time at Women's Health, and how she rose through the ranks and really proved herself to a tough editor in chief (30:00)
- Jen's running story — how she went from college lacrosse player to runner to devastating ACL injury to competing at Ironman Kona alongside Apolo Ohno (39:30)
- On dealing with imposter syndrome leading up to Ironman Kona (54:30)
- What's next for Jen? (1:01:10)
What we mention on this episode:
Liz Plosser on Episode 72 of the Ali on the Run Show
Erin Strout on Episode 73 of the Ali on the Run Show
Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor
Roz Frazier on Episode 135 of the Ali on the Run Show
The Women's Health Fitness Fix by Jen Ator
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks. |
| 0:08.6 | Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. |
| 0:10.8 | I'm your host Allie Feller. |
| 0:12.5 | I'm a freelance writer and editor, a runner, a new mom to seven-month-old Annie, |
| 0:17.2 | and a seasoned dog mom to three-year-old Ellie. |
| 0:21.2 | Every week on The Alley on the Run Show, I talk with inspiring people who lead interesting |
| 0:25.9 | lives on The Run and Beyond. |
| 0:28.2 | And while running is what brings us all together, on these episodes, I'm looking for just a little more. |
| 0:33.9 | So join me right here every Thursday to learn about the decisions people have made to get where |
| 0:38.5 | they are today, the good ones and the bad ones, and how getting sweaty has factored in. |
| 0:43.7 | My guest today is Jen Ader, and she's the brand new editor-in-chief of Women's Running |
| 0:48.6 | Magazine, so congratulations Jen. Jen comes to Women's Running from Women's Health where she was |
| 0:54.0 | the magazine's longtime and super successful fitness director. On this episode, Jen talked to me |
| 1:00.1 | about why she decided to leave one dream job for another dream job, and what her big hoax dreams |
| 1:06.1 | and plans are for Women's Running. I'll be honest, I had stopped reading Women's Running for a while. |
| 1:11.9 | I was super into the magazine and the brand for a while, but over the past few years, it just |
| 1:16.7 | lost its steam for me. Something, I don't know, it just wasn't hitting the mark. |
| 1:20.8 | But now, the brand is seeing a massive resurgence, and I can't stop clicking. |
| 1:26.3 | When I saw the announcement about Jen taking the Women's Running reigns, I was so excited, |
| 1:30.8 | not just for her, but for the magazine and for all of us, for the readers and the community. |
| 1:35.6 | I think it's so important to have strong female voices leading the charge in the running community, |
| 1:40.8 | and Jen is one of the absolute best. I can't wait to see what she does at Women's Running, |
... |
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