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Remember how running was a form of punishment as a kid? Talking during gym class? Run. Not listening when the soccer coach is talking? Run. That is honestly how I got into running. Because I would end up running all of soccer practice, I figured I might as well do the sport my dad wanted me to do anyway.

Running was once a form of punishment for Ally Brettnacher, too. And then that evolved into punishing her body for unhealthy choices or the way she felt about it as a young adult

But as life went on, her relationship with running changed. And instead of being a source of punishment, it evolved into a source of pride and celebration--and an example she can set for her kids.

In this episode, Ally is open and honest about her journey. We talk about

🌀 how she ensures her relationship with running sets a positive example for her girls
🌀 how she keeps running fun while also seeking to challenge herself and get better
🌀 her passion for supporting Ainsley's Angels and the running community, and so much more.

You may recognize Ally's name: she is not just a dedicated runner and mom of two; she’s also the driving force behind Athlete Bouquets, a unique gift concept filled with goodies for runners, and the host of the Finish Lines and Milestones Podcast which is also in the Sandy Boy Productions family—just like this podcast.

With a remarkable record of almost 70 half marathons and 9 marathons, Ally is a wealth of knowledge and stories to share.

RESOURCES:

Instagram: @allytbrett_runs
Business: www.athletebouquets.com
Podcast: Finish Lines & Milestones

Ainsley's Angels

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💗RELAYACTIVE Cute & comfy run fits. Save 15% here or with code MOTHERRUNNERS.

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

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This week, we are going inside Amy Hoagland's MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH as a runner. Amy's story is inspiring and mind-blowing...her training, her demanding job, her recent recovery from anorexia and a sacral fracture, to her jump in times. WOW. WOW. WOW.

Amy works as a Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner, is a mom of two, and very ambitious runner aiming to take a major chunk off her marathon time at BOSTON THIS WEEKEND! Not long ago Amy was running marathons snugly in the 3+ hour range and now she is an Olympic Trials Marathon hopeful. Indeed, her training Boston has included a 2:45 treadmill marathon and a 1:16 half marathon.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

🌀the key factors that led to Amy's breakthrough
🌀Amy’s training which included a 2:45 treadmill marathon and a 1:16 half marathon
🌀how she manages to train at a high-level with a demanding job and a husband who also has a demanding job, and two young kids
🌀her management of "mom guilt," judgement for her training, and self-care as a busy mom
🌀the lessons and strength Amy drew from her anorexia relapse and sacral fracture injury

Amy offers valuable insights on setting a positive example for her children, carving out time for herself, and overcoming obstacles along the way. This is a candid conversation filled with motivation, resilience, and hope for all mothers striving to pursue their passions!

RESOURCES:
💗Instagram: @Tinkgoestoarizona and her coach @lewiselliotracing

💗Eating Disorder Help

THANK YOU, SPONSORS!:

💗CURE HYDRATION delicious & clean hydration: Save 15% with code MOTHERRUNNER.

💗 ZBIOTICS a pre-Alcohol probiotic drink that breaks down the byproduct of alcohol responsible for rough mornings. SAVE 15% with MOTHERRUNNER.

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

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Have you ever been so frustrated with trying to figure out why something hurts or you feel bad--and it seems like no one in the health care system can or wants to help you?

Celeste Goodson can relate.

A lifelong runner, who actually built a business helping pros like Allyson Felix and Steph Bruce keep running after childbirth, Celeste started losing control of her left leg while running. Eventually, this developed into a chronic and painful condition that made her unable to walk.

Celeste, founder of ReCore Fitness, a groundbreaking program dedicated to helping pregnant and postpartum athletes train and retrain their core and pelvic floor, went from doctor to doctor, got test upon test, and still couldn't find the right answer. Today, I am happy to share--some 8 years later, she is getting closer and is now able to run--some.

Celeste's story is one of pure perseverance--and you will leave feeling inspired to not give up on your health or yourself, even when it seems hopeless.

Some topics we dive into:

🌀 Her journey of misdiagnoses and what she’s learned,

🌀 The one thing runners should tell doctors to get the care they need,

🌀 How she has coped with the loss of running, and

🌀 The role low iron played in her running career.

We hope this conversation provides guidance and courage for anyone facing perplexing health challenges.

RESOURCES:

Recore Fitness

IG: @recorefitness

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

💗AMAZFIT offers high-quality wearable tech for half the price! Save 10% on the GPS watches.

💗CURE HYDRATION delicious & clean hydration: Save 15% with code MOTHERRUNNER.

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

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If you're a mom, a master’s athlete, or someone navigating the ups and downs of running—especially as you chase those BIG goals—this episode is for you! Lisa Goodin made her marathon debut at the California International Marathon this past December, finishing with an impressive 2:36 and qualifying for the Olympic Trials at the age of 39. This was not just her first marathon as a mom but also her first in nearly two decades, having previously sworn off the distance after a challenging college experience.

Lisa's story is one of determination and resilience. After years of competing in shorter distances and half marathons, she finally took the leap back into the marathon world, encouraged and coached by her husband, a sports science professor.

We chat about:

🌀 Lisa's unique training regimen

🌀 Explore what keeps her motivated during tough moments,

🌀 and discuss how she expertly balances intense training with the demands of being a mom.

My conversation with Lisa is sure to give anyone the courage to go after the thing they've dreamed about.

MORE ABOUT LISA:

Lisa is a wife and a mother of three kids—14, 12 and 10 years old—and a distance runner in San Diego, California. She is coached by her husband of 15 years, is sponsored by Fluid Sports Nutrition, and runs for Prado Racing Team. When she’s not driving kids all over town or training, she loves to read, write, walk with friends, and spend time with her family at the beach.

In December, Lisa qualified for her first Olympic Trials in the marathon with a 2:36:46. She’s run a 74 minute half marathon and recently placed 20th in the US Half Marathon Championships. She has a 5,000m PR of 16:23. Last summer she took a stab at breaking 5 in the mile and, as a distance runner, was thrilled to hit 4:51.

RESOURCES:

IG: @lisamichellegoodin

THANK YOU SPONSORS!:

💗AMAZFIT offers high-quality wearable tech for half the price! Save 10% on the GPS watches.

💗CURE HYDRATION delicious & clean hydration: Save 15% with code MOTHERRUNNER

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

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Too many runners are overtraining and dependent on their running for mental health—and there are physical and mental detriments and dangers to this.

Today running coach and founder of Filla Endurance Laura Filla and I discuss what overtraining or imbalanced running looks like and have suggestions for how to ensure you have a healthy relationship with running.

We begin by learning more about Laura Filla, a mom of two, and her running journey. Laura's running story began in middle school thanks to a nudge from her mom to join the track team. From there, her passion for running blossomed, though like many, she took a hiatus during her early adulthood. It wasn't until she became a mom that she rediscovered running, using it as a powerful tool to navigate postpartum challenges, including postpartum depression.

In this episode, Laura and I discuss critical topics such as:

🌀the importance of mental health for new moms and her personal struggle with low ferritin—highlighting a key sign that something may be off in your health.

🌀how a fresh perspective on our running journeys can propel us forward

🌀the often-overlooked issue of unhealthy running habits.

🌀and, the dangers of overtraining and how maintaining balance in our fitness routines are invaluable for any runner.

Laura’s truly a gem, and I know you're going to love learning more about her and her approach to running and motherhood.

RESOURCES:

IG: @coachlaura.run, @fillendurance, and @lacesandlegendspodcast

www.fillaendurance.com

THANK YOU SPONSORS!:

💗AMAZFIT offers high-quality wearable tech for half the price! Save 10% on the GPS watches.

💗CURE HYDRATION delicious & clean hydration: Save 15% with code MOTHERRUNNER.

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

Send us Fan Mail

Andi Ripley should be angry. But she is filled with gratitude.

Andi has a lot of running talent and was just getting started when she suffered serious injuries that have since stunted her competitive running career. But Andi was able to see the beauty in this disappointment and re-focus her priorities.

Starting her running journey at the young age of 8, Andi embarked on a competitive running career that carried her through college. After welcoming her first son, she embraced stroller running and unstructured training, making an impressive marathon debut with a time of 2:55—only to later discover she was pregnant. After the birth of her second son, she became coached by her husband, Zach, also an incredibly fast runner, and achieved a remarkable 2:43 Olympic Trials qualifying marathon time—with bilateral hip labrum tears.

Andi ran the Olympic Trials and then underwent surgeries for both hips but has battled injury ever since.

You might think she’d feel frustration over her untapped potential, but Andi chooses to view her challenges differently.

In this episode, Andi shares how she:

🌀Embraces the beauty of her need to pivot, shifting her focus from personal records to helping others find joy in movement through her coaching and support.

🌀How she navigated this transition, honing in on what she loves about running, and replicating it in other faces of life.

🌀Achieving “unhurried” healing.

Alongside her husband Zach, both Olympic Trials marathon qualifiers, Andi co-hosts The A to Z Running podcast, which I highly recommend.

RESOURCES:

AtoZRunning.com

@atozrunning

@andiripley

THANK YOU SPONSORS!:

💗AMAZFIT offers high-quality wearable tech for half the price! Save 10% on the GPS watches.

💗CURE HYDRATION delicious & clean hydration: Save 15% with code MOTHERRUNNER

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever felt like taking a pause in your running journey was holding you back? If so, you won’t want to miss this empowering conversation with Erica Hopper. In this episode, we explore how these breaks can transform into opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.

I’ve known Erica for many years, and while our paths diverged for a bit, we reconnected when we both signed up for the Chicago Marathon this past fall. I was blown away by her incredible running journey, which inspired me to invite her onto the show.

At 40, Erica achieved a remarkable marathon personal record of 2:57 in Chicago, shattering her previous best of 2:58—set 15 years earlier! Just a year prior, she was navigating the challenges of postpartum life with her fourth child and struggling to shed the baby weight. Erica made a pivotal change that she credits for her breakthrough, and we dive into what that transformation entailed.

In addition to her running accomplishments, Erica has launched a new business, Fueled Up Kitchen, dedicated to providing moms and their families with nutritious, wholesome meals. With her background as a seasoned pastry chef, food stylist, and food blogger, she’s well-equipped to guide others on their culinary journey.

Some topics we chat about:

🌀how she fits in her high-volume training

🌀the big shift she made to have her marathon breakthrough

🌀the power of pauses to redirect your life,

🌀and the lessons her running is teaching her kids.

Erica is just getting started. As a busy mom of four young kids and now 41, she’s not only pushing the limits of her running as she trains for her 20th marathon but also paving a new career path to inspire and uplift fellow mothers.

Join us for this uplifting episode that showcases the resilience of mothers who run!

Follow Erica on IG: @fueledupkitchen!

BONUS MEAL PREP TIPS at Patreon.com/themotherrunners.

THANK YOU SPONSORS!:

💗Amazfit offers high-quality wearable tech for half the price! Save 10% on the GPS watches.

💗Previnex offers premium supplements. Save 15% off your first purchase with code MOTHERRUNNER at Previnex.com.

💗RelayActive Cute & comfy run fits. Save 15% here.

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Carrie Pagliano wants to set the record straight on your pelvic health. Women do not need to feel broken if they have incontinence, prolapse, or pain. You can overcome these issues and come back stronger!

With 25 years of experience, Carrie is one of the foremost pelvic health physical therapists in the US and has been a trailblazer in a field that is continually evolving.

In this episode, we explore Carrie's journey into pelvic health, including the evolution of pelvic health awareness and recent shifts in knowledge.

We talk about:

🌀misconceptions about pelvic health and debunk myths,

🌀main symptoms that people don’t realize are connected to pelvic floor dysfunction,

🌀the impact of hormonal changes including from pregnancy to perimenopause on our pelvic floor function, and

🌀four crucial insights she wishes every woman knew about pelvic health.

Join us for this insightful & empowering conversation!

THANK YOU, SPONSORS!

Amazfit offers high-quality wearable tech for half the price! I love the Balance 2 watch. Save 10% on the GPS watches.

TravelRunner.com A travel booking site for runners. Get a 5% discount on your first booking with code MRUN5.

MORE ABOUT CARRIE PAGLIANO:

Dr. Carrie J. Pagliano is a pelvic floor physical therapist, running coach, and longtime advocate for helping active women feel strong and confident in their bodies at every stage of life. She has worked in women’s and pelvic health for over 25 years & is double board certified in Orthopaedics and Women’s Health.

Carrie has served on Executive Board of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, been a national media spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, & currently serves on the NIH Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Advisory Board. She's held faculty roles at Marymount and Georgetown University School of Medicine.

In addition to clinical practice, Carrie is a certified running & weightlifting coach. She speaks internationally on postpartum return to sport and is the founder of Carrie Pagliano Physical Therapy in Arlington, Virginia. She’s the host of the Active Mom Podcast, a wife, mom of two, and early-morning mover.

Resources:

@carriepagliano

https://carriepagliano.com

https://carriepagliano.com/patients/free-resources/

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com