Marathoner Elizabeth "E" Sanchez: Owning Her Voice, Being an Ancestor, and Shaping the Narrative

What a way to close out 2021 Gritty Genius podcast series with none other than my former high school soccer teammate, badass Latina and marathoner, Elizabeth “E” Sanchez. In this episode, E and I chop it up about how soccer was a catalyst for empowering our identity and smashing gender roles. We talk about owning our voice and representing in spaces where there are, still, too few women have a voice. We bring to light that in the sport of running, and marathoning, there is a need to smash the “thin ideal” body type and embrace all (our) body types. E shares that her career journey is deeply rooted in her desire to create consciousness shift and help create a more empowered narrative for others. I am so honored that E took the time to chat it up on the Gritty Genius podcast. Enjoy and Happy New Year! Bio: Elizabeth Sanchez grew up in Adrian, Michigan, but has been at home in Chicago for the past 17 years, raising her family of three kiddos with her husband while working in sports communications. Her first love is soccer, and she was in the Communications Department at the U.S. Soccer Federation for 15 years, serving as an interpreter, youth national team press officer, media operations officer and overall jackie of all trades. She was one of two venue press officers to manage four matches in the historic Copa America Centenario, where she oversaw three group matches (Lio Messi hat-trick, anyone?) and a semifinal at Soldier Field in 2016. In 2019, she transitioned from the international game to the Chicago Fire Football Club, where she was also hyped into signing up for the Chicago Fire Foundation's Chicago Marathon team. Despite being on the cross country team for two years in high school, she would never ever have called herself a runner, but now, 21 years, three kids and one marathon later, she thinks she just might be. Elizabeth is the sister of a former guest and Mario Aguirre. For inspiration and realness follow Elizabeth on Instagram @chivet