In our first episode of LEGWORK, we sat down with Alison Wade—founder of the Fast Women newsletter and one of the most thoughtful voices in running media. We talked about how her relationship with running has shifted over time, especially as she’s navigated personal setbacks while continuing to spotlight the sport’s most compelling stories. We explored her decision to stay rooted in journalism in an age of content, and what it takes to remain authentic when everyone else is chasing clicks. From her reflections on burnout and creative sustainability to the evolving media landscape, Alison offered a clear-eyed look at what it means to keep going—not just when it’s rewarding, but when it’s hard.
We also dove deep into the realities of coaching and representation, particularly for women at the NCAA and professional levels. Alison shared how she’s watched the industry change, why institutional structures still fail many female coaches, and how organizations like Wildwood Running and WeCoach are helping fill the gaps. Along the way, we touched on covering trans athletes with care, managing editorial choices under public scrutiny, and the challenge of staying principled while running an independent media platform. Through it all, Alison reminded us that being different—and being honest—still matters.
Our Top 5 Takeaways
1. Journalism Over Hype
Alison’s not chasing clicks—she’s doing the work. Fast Women stands out by delivering real journalism in a content-churn world.
2. Coaching Still Isn’t Built for Women
From the NCAA to the pros, women are still underrepresented in coaching—and the system isn’t set up to change that without serious reform.
3. First, Best, or Different? She Chose “Different”
Instead of trying to be loud or fast, Alison built something thoughtful and distinct—and that’s her superpower.
4. Algorithms Are Exhausting
The best content doesn’t always “win.” Social media rewards noise, but Alison stays focused on what matters, even if it doesn’t always perform.
5. A Newsletter That Gets It
Fast Women is more than race results. It’s curation with care, clarity, and a deep respect for readers who want more than just headlines.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Fast Women and Alison Wade
05:34 The Evolution of Alison's Relationship with Running
07:52 The Impact of Community and Connection in Running
10:19 Exploring the Podcasting Journey
12:12 The Challenges and Opportunities Women Face In Coaching Especially In Collegiate Levels
21:35 The Growth of Women in Professional Coaching
27:26 Editorial Changes in the Fast Women Newsletter Required Over Time
28:39 Covering Trans Athlete In Running Media
33:22 Navigating Negative Feedback and Resilience
36:56 Balancing Passion and Workload and Managing Burnout
40:07 The Evolution of Fast Woman and Creating Engaging Editorial Content While Managing Social Media Dynamics
51:54 What is better? Being best, first, or different? Navigating How We Flex Our Style To The Times
57:02 The Balance of Making a Living, Finding Sponsors, and Journalistic Integrity
01:02:47 Positive Trends in Running and Coaching
01:11:56 The True Value of the Fast Women Newsletter
01:20:53 Closing Thoughts
Detailed Show Notes
For the debut episode of Legwork, Matt sits down with Alison Wade—founder of the Fast Women newsletter and one of the most trusted voices in independent running media. This conversation isn’t about how she puts the newsletter together each week (others have covered that). Instead, it's a deeper look at the less visible labor of what it means to build and sustain something meaningful—creatively, emotionally, and professionally—in a media landscape that rewards noise over nuance.
They talk about burnout, feedback, and evolving editorial responsibility, as well as the systemic problems and rare bright spots in women’s coaching—especially at the collegiate and professional levels. This is a conversation about staying with it, even when the work is hard, the attention spans are short, and the metrics don't always reflect the value you’re creating.
If you care about running—not just the results, but how and why stories get told—this one’s for you.
Chapters & Key Themes
00:00 – Introduction to Fast Women and Alison Wade
Matt opens with reflections on why Alison was the first guest he wanted for Legwork. Alison shares how Fast Women has shaped—and in some ways, strained—her own relationship with running and community. What began in a period of high personal mileage has since become something much more public and digitally mediated, even as her own running has taken a back seat.
05:34 – The Evolution of Alison’s Relationship with Running
As Fast Women grew, her day-to-day connection with the physical act of running diminished. She speaks candidly about that shift, her current inability to run, and how that distance reshaped her sense of belonging to the community.
07:52 – The Impact of Community and Connection in Running
Running was once her primary social time—especially as a parent of young children—and Alison reflects on what she misses most: feeling good and cruising with friends before the day starts. Despite being physically disconnected, she still finds real connection in the digital spaces that Fast Women creates.
10:19 – Exploring the Podcasting Journey
Alison opens up about launching the Fast Women-affiliated podcast Fast People with Sarah Lorge Butler: what motivated the project, what she’s learned about the medium, and how interviewing live differs from writing. As a self-described better writer than talker, she shares how much learning and satisfaction came from trying something new.
12:12 – The Challenges and Opportunities Women Face in Coaching—Especially in Collegiate Levels
This is the heart of a raw and insightful conversation about women in coaching. Alison details the structural roadblocks—from lack of turnover to institutional inflexibility—and how few opportunities women truly have to rise. She underscores how coaching systems often fail both athletes and coaches alike, with a burnout pipeline that pushes good people out.
21:35 – The Growth of Women in Professional Coaching
Matt and Alison explore professional coaching specifically. Despite stories of rising stars like Julie Benson, Alison notes that many of these hires don’t last or are done without sufficient support. She reflects on how NCAA systems, sponsorship economics, and cultural expectations shape who gets to coach and who stays.
27:26 – Editorial Changes in the Fast Women Newsletter Over Time
From a two-hour weekend summary to a full-time endeavor, Fast Women changed rapidly. In 2020, Alison’s writing expanded to address social justice, racial equity, and inclusion—topics she didn’t originally set out to cover but now feels a deep editorial responsibility for, especially when they intersect with running.
28:39 – Covering Trans Athletes in Running Media
Alison shares how her coverage of trans inclusion evolved over time, the blowback she has received, and why she keeps going. She speaks to the gap between perceived controversy and actual impact—and how her role includes helping people navigate what’s real versus what’s fear-mongering.
33:22 – Navigating Negative Feedback and Resilience
Thick skin is essential, especially for women with opinions on the internet. Alison reflects on the difference between good-faith disagreement and bad-faith trolling—and how she’s learned to keep her values intact without burning out.
36:56 – Balancing Passion and Workload and Managing Burnout
When your passion is also your job, where do you draw the line? Alison describes the reality of seven-day workweeks, the guilt of taking time off, and the quiet compromises she makes to keep the newsletter sustainable—like skipping a feature she’d normally include when the tank is empty.
40:07 – The Evolution of Fast Women and Creating Engaging Editorial Content While Managing Social Media Dynamics
Running media is no longer just about writing. It’s marketing, it’s headlines, it’s fighting algorithms. Matt and Alison unpack the exhaustion of constantly needing to shout to be heard—and why some high-effort content flops while a phoned-in screenshot goes viral.
51:54 – What Is Better? Being Best, First, or Different?
They explore the tradeoffs in content creation: do you want to be first, best, or different? For Alison, “different” is where she feels most grounded. Fast Women doesn’t compete on flash—it brings substance, synthesis, and voice. But that distinction is harder to maintain in an age that often rewards speed over insight.
57:02 – The Balance of Making a Living, Finding Sponsors, and Journalistic Integrity
The money isn’t easy. Alison shares the tough choices she’s made about sponsors, how being selective often means turning down financial stability, and the challenges of being in a niche that demands ethical care while operating in a small industry.
01:02:47 – Positive Trends in Running and Coaching
Despite all the headwinds, Alison sees hope. The depth of talent in high school running, the improved discourse around fueling and health, and the rise of independent coaching platforms are bright spots. While the structural change she wants in coaching hasn’t happened yet, she’s encouraged by more women building things for themselves.
01:11:56 – The True Value of the Fast Women Newsletter
In an era of information overload, Alison’s newsletter acts as a filter. She listens to the interviews you don’t have time for, distills what matters, and adds context. The value isn’t just in aggregation—it’s in insight, clarity, and a human voice that algorithms can’t replicate.
01:20:53 – Closing Thoughts
Matt and Alison close the episode reflecting on what it means to create from a place of care—how both Fast Women and Bakline were born out of gaps they wished someone else had filled. They discuss the joys and burdens of building something sustainable and why sometimes the greatest work we do is the kind that isn’t immediately seen.
