Leah Flickinger

I am an award-winning editor, storyteller, copywriter, and creative leader. I edited "12 Minutes and a Life" by Mitchell S. Jackson for Runner's World that won both the 2021 Pulitzer Prize and the National Magazine Award for feature writing. I've written and edited hundreds of print and digital stories from celebrity and athlete profiles, to gear reviews and health/fitness/nutrition features, to photo essays and long-form narratives. I've handled subjects as varied as the controversial redesign of an academic art museum, undiscovered bicycle routes in Colombia, and the struggles of a Syrian national cycling champion seeking refuge in Germany.

During my tenure at Bicycling, as Executive Editor then Editor-in-Chief, I helped lead its transformation from a legacy print publication to a multimedia brand. I steered Bicycling to four National Magazine Award nominations, including General Excellence and Feature Writing, as well as inclusion in The Best American Sports Writing. I also launched the brand’s Instagram account, establishing Bicycling as the dominant cycling media brand on the platform.

Prior to Bicycling, I was on the launch team for Women’s Health magazine. Later, as Deputy Editor, I directed all fitness/nutrition/weight-loss content, coauthored The Women’s Health Diet, and edited Slim, Calm, Sexy Yoga by Tara Stiles. I began my career at Rodale, Inc., as a fact checker in the book division, and rose through the ranks to Senior Editor, acquiring and editing more than 25 non-fiction books in the areas of health, fitness, and sports. Notable titles include Get Your Own Damn Beer! I’m Watching the Game by Holly Robinson Peete and Duel in the Sun: Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America’s Greatest Marathon by John Brant. I've done commercial copywriting for brands like Trek and Cervélo, and my journalism portfolio includes such publications as ESPN, The Red Bulletin, Bicycling, and The Dartmouth Alumni Magazine.