For Human Race's final episode, we share several of your stories. 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. Credits: Host: Rachel Swaby Producers: Rachel Swaby, Brian Dalek, Christine Fennessy Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race is a proud part of Panoply Special thanks to: David Willey, Christine Fennessy, Brian Dalek, Sylvia Ryerson, Audrey Quinn, Mervyn Deganos, David Weinberg, Danielle Thomsen, Kit Fox, Casey Martin, Willow Belden, Tennessee Watson, Scott Carrier, Karen Given, and Cindy Kuzma.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his 20s, after running cross country in high school and college, Tim Manzer swore off running completely. Then, in his early 40s, his doctor told him that running would not be a part of his future. “I wasn’t running anyway!” Tim laughed. In 2010, Tim was trimming some apple trees in a little orchard right next to his front yard, when he backed up into a wasp’s nest. “They're after me. I'm zigzagging across my yard and over in the neighbor's yard.” After 10 or so stings, Tim finally loses them. As he recovers on his front porch, he thinks to himself, “You can run. You just need the right motivation, but you can run!” Tim’s is an unbelievable tale: it has a summer camp, a motorcycle club, poop, and wasps, of course. Oh, and love. 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 & producer: Rachel Swaby Editing help: Brian Dalek Theme Music: Danny Cocke Human Race is a proud part of Panoply.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

​When Amy Downs thinks about her life, it splits into two distinct sections: before the bombing and after the bombing. Before the bombing, Amy’s life had fallen into a predictable pattern. She went to work, came home, ate dinner, watched TV and went to bed. After she moved away from her hometown and gotten married a few years earlier, she’d gained weight quickly—100 pounds in one year. “And I was too embarrassed to come home,” says Downs. “This was before cell phones and email and all of that.” Relationships with her friends and family suffered. But then, one spring day, when Amy was 28, a tragedy ripped Amy’s life in half. She vowed to change her life completely. 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. Credits: Host and Producer: Rachel Swaby Editing help: Christine Fennessy, Brian Dalek Theme Music: Danny Cocke Human Race is proud part of Panoply Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2011, at the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run, Noe Castanon Mendez was a pacer in need of a runner. Thomas Wong was a runner in need of a pacer. They were strangers when they met and decided to pair up with more than 30 miles still to go. But the meeting got off to a tense start. Thomas was in pain and exhausted, close to the cut off time, and uncertain he could finish on his own. Noe, on the other hand, still had fresh legs. He was cheering on runners with a cowbell and excited about the prospect of hopping onto the course. They weren't on the same page, and it wasn’t clear that they’d get there. This is the story of a self-professed odd couple. It’s the story of what happens in the dark of night, through pain and doubt, when a runner is at their worst. And the unique relationship formed in extremely challenging circumstances. Episode credits: Host & producer: Rachel Swaby Editing help: Christine Fennessy, Brian Dalek, Kit Fox Theme music: Danny Cocke Human Race is a proud part of Panoply 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm taking this week off. But you'll get a new episode of Human Race next Tuesday (8/8). In the mean time, I want to hear from you. Email me stories about why you started running and you could be included in a future episode. You can email me at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices