Running Free w/ Lisa Jhung

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How Dogs Make Running Joyful

About The Episode

Lisa Jhung grew up in San Diego, California, where she spent a lot of time doing outdoor activities with her dog, Kimba, a mix of a Golden Retriever and Rhodesian Ridgeback. They would explore her neighborhood forests, navigating through trees and canyons. This foundational adolescent experience gave Lisa a lifelong love for dogs and nature.

As an adult, a yellow lab named Hannah was the first dog to come into Lisa’s life. Through her late twenties, Hannah was a reliable and constant companion during a period otherwise filled with many moves to new homes and through multiple relationships. But she could always rely on spending time outside with Hannah, like running through snow trails in Tahoe.

Later on, Lisa met her husband in Colorado, where they got a house and started a family. When she was pregnant with her second son, her furry soulmate Hannah got cancer and soon passed. At the time, they had formed such a strong bond that it was hard for Lisa to consider another dog. She ended up waiting several years before considering it again. After all, she had her hands full while raising two young sons (though she did feel more prepared to raise them after being a dog parent).

It wasn’t until several years had passed that her mind would change. One day, Lisa was dogsitting and took her friend’s dog on a run. She was quickly reminded how much she missed having a canine running partner and how happy and relaxed it made her. As a result of this feeling, Lisa decided it was time to adopt a new dog: another yellow lab, Lulu.

Lulu quickly became an important part of her sons’ lives, a constant for them during their childhood. Even though Lulu wasn’t as well-behaved as Hannah, she still brought plenty of love and excitement to the family with her barking and antics. It took Lisa some time to accept the new dog, Lulu, for who she was and truly recognize their connection, which has continued to this day on running trails together.

About The Guest - Name

Lisa Jhung is a freelance writer, editor, and author primarily focusing on the outdoors and running. She currently writes for Outside Magazine, where she publishes a regular column reviewing gear, and in the past, has written extensively for Runners World. Her work also appeared in publications such as Men’s Health, Details, Cosmo, and more. Lisa is also the author of two books, Trailhead: The Dirt on All Things Trail Running in 2015 and Running That Doesn’t Suck: How to Love Running (Even if You Think You Hate It) in 2019. In addition, she writes advertising copy, freelances as an editor, and writes and manages content marketing projects. Lisa is based in Colorado with her family – including her yellow lab, Lulu.

Featured Links

  1. Lisa Jhung on Journo - lisamjhung.journoportfolio.com

InterviewJack Sommer