The Korean Vegan

A snap of Joanne doing her beautiful thing: cooking and telling stories. Here, she’s talking about toxic family members as she rolls sushi.

Run in My Shoes continues with Joanne Lee Molinaro, known around social media as The Korean Vegan. Joanne has plenty to celebrate: not only is she taking on the Chicago Marathon this Sunday, her first book, The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes from Omma’s Kitchen, has just been released.  A short profile complements the AMR Friday Podcast, which features the profiled runner as a guest.

We’re looking for diverse writers and/or podcast guests who are interested in sharing their perspectives; please fill out this form—and please send it to anybody who you think would be a good match.

From .75 mile—with a break in the middle—to marathon: In retrospect, my transition from a beginning runner to a marathoner was a lot easier than expected–because I expected it to be impossible! In all candor, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to run a marathon, so to look back and know that I started at literally .75 miles (with a break in the middle!) all the way to running 26.2 miles (in a row!) is very empowering.  It definitely isn’t “easy” but it’s most certainly not “impossible,” which is what I think so many people believe about their own abilities.

Squeezing in the training—and fun: Training for the Chicago Marathon has been a lot more fun this cycle than prior cycles, because I’m not aiming to PR. I’m surrounded by runners, so sometimes, I forget that you can run for fun! For me, I wanted to run this marathon now, at perhaps the busiest time of my life, because I knew that I’d need plenty of heart to carry me through everything. There is nothing like marathon training to build stamina and heart.

After 26.2 miles on Sunday: My goal is to finish with a HUGE smile on my face—as opposed to dissolving into a puddle of ugly-cry tears–that I’ll save for after!Kimchi Chigae from The Korean Vegan Cookbook: An update on the Korean staple. Recipe here.

Chunking it up by smoothie packs: As a vegan, it’s hard for me to find in-race fueling options, period. For me, I need things that actually taste good: products I can look forward to instead of dreading. I’ve tried plenty of options, including medjool dates (which worked well for a half, but aren’t adequate for me for a full) to crackers (which, I found, are too drying).  Right now, I’m really into adult smoothie packs, which are plant based, have plenty of carbs, and a little protein. They’re big and bulky, but worth the weight, because they taste SO SO GOOD. It helps me to break up the marathon into chunks of “when I get to eat my smoothie pack.”

Pre-long-run nourishment: Hands down, my favorite thing to eat before a long run is oatmeal. And I like my oatmeal plain, with just a pinch of salt and pepper.  It is the most neutral on my stomach, helps me feel strong throughout the run, and fills me up without making me feel heavy.  The Korean VeganAngry Penne Pasta from The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Another good choice for running fuel. Grab the recipe here.

After a long run: I usually go to rice and tofu or rice and beans. Sometimes, if it’s been a pretty grueling run, I don’t want to eat anything, which is why I like to have everything prepared in advance before I even walk out the door for my run. My last 18-miler, I came home to a pot of tofu stew already on the stove and it was perfect!

Endorphins—and creative vibes—flowing: I think about my recipes and TikTok videos ALL the time while I run! In fact, I usually like to set aside at least 15 minutes, if not up to 60 minutes of my runs every single day to just plan out my social media posts!  It’s when I feel most inspired and creatively productive.

“Loyal to its own.”: When the APPI community was still reeling from the amount of hate crimes directed at it, it was very heartwarming to see how the running community rallied. I’d read about running groups that sort of sprang out of the pavement, aimed at facilitating safety for the community’s AAPI members, or simply as a nod to the implicit solidarity.  That was very emotional for me, because I knew, personally, just how loyal the running community is to its own.

Crossing boundaries—and self-limitations: I feel like the running community is one of the most inclusive communities out there. Running is a sport that truly crosses boundaries that others don’t and as a result, respect for all is something that’s built into the fabric of every running community I’ve ever come across, including my own running team.  I think perhaps where we could continue to make great strides (no pun intended) is thinking of how to instill confidence and empowerment in people of all shapes and sizes.  I hear so often “I’m too big to run,” or “I look horrible when I run,” or “I’m too slow to be a runner,” and I think the more we, as a community, focus on making every single person–including those with disabilities–feel as welcome as possible, the better off we all are.