Mindful Marathon Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk sits down with Dr. Tolulope Olabintan, the founder of Livingspring Family Medical Center in Mansfield, Texas. As a wife, mom, and new runner herself, Dr. Tolu knows firsthand the challenges of starting something new. She shares how she overcame her hesitations about running and now uses her personal journey to inspire her patients to embrace movement, find joy in exercise, and build healthy habits that last. Tune in to hear how Dr. Tolu integrates running and wellness into her practice, encouraging others to live long, well, and with purpose.

You can...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Coach Michelle Quirk sits down with Aly Giampapa, one of the amazing athletes she coaches, who recently did something extraordinary: she donated a piece of her liver to a friend in need. We talk about how she made this life-changing decision, what recovery looked like, and how she navigated her return to running after such a major surgery. Aly shares the physical and emotional journey of healing, how she rediscovered joy in movement, and what it means to approach running (and life) with patience, purpose, and deep gratitude. Whether you're returning to running...

What’s the foundation of every good run? Your feet! In this episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk is joined by Dr. Tea Nguyen, a foot and ankle specialist who shares how to keep your feet strong, healthy, and pain-free, whether you're training for a race or just getting started with running.

Dr. Tea takes a preventive, holistic approach to foot care, with a focus on helping people stay active without pain or deformity. She offers insights into spotting potential foot issues before they become major setbacks and discusses how to care for your feet with intention, especially for ru...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk sits down with licensed professional counselor Hannah de Groot, founder of Stride Counseling, for a candid conversation about eating disorders and OCD in runners. As a lifelong athlete and recovered person herself, Hannah brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the discussion.

Together, they explore the unique challenges athletes face around food, body image, and identity, and how disordered behaviors can often go unnoticed or even be praised in sport. Hannah shares insight into the recovery process, what compassionate support can look like, and how we can...

In this episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk is joined by Dr. Ngozi Ude for a practical and empowering conversation on self-care, what it really means, and how to make it a part of everyday life. Dr. Ude shares 5 effective strategies to help you set boundaries, prioritize your well-being, and surround yourself with the right support system.

Dr. Ude is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and the owner of Apple Valley Family Medicine and aesthetic practice in Martinsburg, WV.

You can connect with Dr. Ude on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applevalley_dr.ude

***

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk sits down with Dr. Rino Dizon, a seasoned marathoner with 25+ races under his belt, to explore how running can become a sustainable, lifelong habit. Together, they share personal stories and insights on making room for movement through every season of life.

As both physicians and mentors to residents, Dr. Quirk and Dr. Dizon reflect on the unique challenges faced during medical training and offer mindful strategies to support physical and mental wellness, even in the busiest phases of life. Whether you're new to running or looking to rediscover your motivation...

What is it about running that lifts our mood and clears our minds? In this episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk is joined by sports psychiatrist Dr. Sarah Pospos for an uplifting and insightful conversation on how running and aerobic exercise support our mental well-being.

Together, they explore how running helps build confidence, fosters a sense of mastery, and strengthens social connection. Dr. Pospos also shares expert insights on how movement impacts our brain chemistry, and offers practical strategies for navigating common mental health challenges like injury setbacks, anxiety, and burnout.

Whether you're training for a race...

Planning to run a half or full marathon this fall? Now is the time to start laying the foundation. In this episode, we explore what base training really means, why it matters, and how to approach it mindfully, so you can build endurance, stay injury-free, and train with purpose.

I also share key fall race dates like the Berlin, Chicago, & NYC Marathons, Philly's Half & Full Marathon weekend, and Disney's Wine & Dine Weekend.  Plus, we discuss how to reverse-engineer your training plan from race day.

Whether you’re running your first or aiming for a personal bes...

What does it really mean to “move beyond busy”? And how does that mindset shift impact our running? This week, Dr. Michelle Quirk welcomes Dr. Robyn Alley-Hay, a retired Ob/Gyn, Physician Development Coach, and author of Meditations for Women Physicians (and Others) Who Do Too Much. Together, they explore how to reclaim your time, attention, and energy - on the run and in your daily life.

Dr. Alley-Hay shares tools for managing overwhelm, cultivating clarity, and embracing mindfulness, all of which can support runners in training and racing. Don’t miss her powerful book excerpt and the wi...

Feeling a little lost in your running off-season? You're not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing 5 ways to keep running fun, intentional, and joyful.

From family fun runs and destination races to creative goal setting and mindful movement, these off-season tips will help you stay connected to your running routine without the pressure of a full training block.

Whether you’re prepping for a fall race or wanting to stay active through the summer, there’s something in here for you. Let’s make this off-season one of growth, reflection, and fun!

***

To...

Can you really fuel your running with plants alone? And what’s the deal with protein and carbs when you’re logging miles?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Kavita Patel, an Internal Medicine physician with a certification in culinary medicine, and founder of CulVita Consulting. Dr. Patel specializes in helping people prevent and manage diet-related diseases through a "food as medicine" approach — and she's also passionate about supporting active lifestyles through plant-forward eating.

Together, we explore:

*What it means to be a plant-forward runner
*How to meet your protein needs wi...

In this special solo episode, I’m sharing a recap of my RunDisney Springtime Surprise race weekend, and it’s more than just a play-by-play! I’m reflecting on three things that went really well, lessons I’m taking with me into future races, and a few of the magical moments that reminded me why I love this sport and coaching so very much. Whether you’re thinking about a Disney race or just want some gentle inspiration for your own training, I hope this episode feels like a warm conversation with a running buddy. 

Plus, I share a fre...

Join Coach Michelle Quirk as she sits down with her dear friend and fellow pediatrician, Dr. Rose Marie Thomas, for an inspiring conversation about bringing joy to family fitness. Originally recorded in 2021, this episode is filled with simple, practical tips to help families incorporate more movement into their daily lives.

Dr. Rose Marie, the original founder and CEO of Frontier Kids Care in Trinidad and Tobago, shares her wisdom on making exercise fun, building healthy habits, and creating a lifelong love of movement - lessons that are just as valuable today.

Sadly, about a year...

With warmer weather here, let’s talk about keeping our skin healthy on the run! In this episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk chats with Dr. Stephanie Campbell, a board-certified dermatologist and fellow runner, about the most common skin concerns in runners and how to protect yourself year-round.

You'll learn:
✅ The best sunscreen ingredients & SPF level for runners
✅ How to reapply sunscreen on the go
✅ The best hats & visors for sun protection
✅ Tips for protecting your skin from wind, rain, and more!

Hit play and run smarter in the sun.

You can find D...

Dr. Michelle Quirk sits down with Dr. Karen Kaufman, a double board-certified expert in Allergy Immunology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Kaufman shares invaluable insights for runners who struggle with allergies, including practical tips to minimize pollen exposure, so you can keep running outdoors, even during peak allergy season. She is the founder and owner of Kaufman Allergy Asthma and Immunology in Vienna, Virginia.

You can find Dr. Kaufman on her website: https://kaufmanallergy.com

And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.kaufmanallergy

****

Download Coach Michelle's free Couch to Confidence Training...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her guests this week from the Students Run Philly Style, for an episode that will inspire you to lace up your sneakers! Joining Coach Michelle for this conversation include student runners Justin and Qwazir, as well Associate Director of Youth Initiatives, Madison Helmick.

The Students Run Philly Style transforms students’ lives through running and mentorship, pairing volunteer Running Leaders with teams of students. Together, they train for and complete a full or a half marathon. Along the way, an environment is created that supports goal setting behavior and builds resilience, while also fo...

Run coach Dr. Michelle Quirk sits down with ultra marathoner and physical therapist Matt Leocha to uncover the wisdom gained from running 100-mile races. As Matt puts it, “I picked a hundred miles because it was a nice round number.” But there’s nothing ordinary about the insights he shares - from the importance of listening to your body to embracing the journey, not just the finish line.

This episode will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even inspire you to take on your next challenge - whatever the distance!

A few key takeaways from Matt:<...

Running and the fertility journey may seem like two different paths, but both require resilience, patience, and a strong mindset. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Erica Bove, a double board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist, as well as the founder of Love and Science: Thriving Through Infertility. Together, we explore the parallels between endurance running and navigating fertility challenges - highlighting the importance of self-compassion, mental strength, and trusting the process.

Dr. Bove shares her unique perspective on blending evidence-based medicine with intuitive knowing, offering insights to help women move through their fertility journey with...

Your feet and ankles are the foundation of your running, so how can you keep them strong, mobile, and injury-free?

In this episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk sits down with Dr. Brianne Showman, a physical therapist, running coach, and barefoot training specialist, to dive deep into injury prevention strategies for runners. Brianne shares expert insights on common foot and ankle issues, how to improve movement patterns, and why better mechanics lead to stronger, more resilient running. Whether you're dealing with nagging aches or looking to prevent future injuries, this conversation will help you train smarter and move more...

Join Coach Michelle Quirk and special guest, Dr. Dolapo Babalola, as they speak about the common hurdles to exercising, and the small, easy steps we can take to overcome them.

Dr. Babs is the Founder of her Holistic Wellness Company, Living At Your Finest. Her mission is to provide an evidence-based and holistic approach to achieving optimal health and wellness through an accessible, affordable, and appropriate Direct Primary Care Model. She helps her patients and clients to live at their finest by being empowered to nourish their bodies, minds, and spirits, so they can flourish as whole...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her guest, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, aka “The Intimacy Doctor,” for a conversation about running and marriage - balancing training, relationships, and intimacy.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to start running when your spouse isn’t a runner

Breaking the news: “I signed up for another marathon!” and navigating long-run weekends

Moving beyond logistics and shifting the culture of your marriage

Honoring each partner’s experiences while embracing fitness, vitality, and passion

Dr. Stockwell is a physician coach, Intimate Marriage Expert, and best-selling...

Join Coach Michelle Quirk as she chats with Dr. Karen Pinsky, a dedicated athlete who recently completed her very first marathon!

In this inspiring conversation, Karen shares:

Her marathon training journey.

The importance of understanding the intent behind each run.

How she stayed motivated and committed.

Encouragement for new marathoners to trust the process and believe in themselves!

Whether you're training for your first marathon or just curious about the experience, this episode is packed with insights and motivation to help you on your running journey!

In this powerful episode, Dr. Michelle Quirk is joined by ultramarathoner and author Charlie Engle to explore the transformative power of movement. Charlie shares his deeply personal journey of overcoming addiction, the role running has played in his recovery, and how it continues to anchor his life of sobriety. Whether you're a seasoned runner, new to movement, or simply seeking inspiration to overcome life's challenges, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and heartfelt stories that will motivate you to keep moving forward - one step at a time.

If you haven't read Charlie's book, Running Man...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and sleep specialist, Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, for a conversation about the amazing power of sleep to help us feel and perform our best. In this episode, Dr. Brown gives us ALL of her best tips to make sleep a priority.

Dr. Brown is a triple-board-certified sleep medicine physician. She is passionate about helping people discover sleep as their superpower. She is a clinician, speaker, consultant, and coach, and she helps busy professionals and their children prioritize sleep to thrive, achieve optimal health, and live to their fullest potential.

You can find...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Dr. Rachel Beanland, for a beautiful conversation on incorporating mindfulness as part of a daily routine. Dr. Beanland shares how mindfulness has been crucial to her recovery from injury and return to running.

Dr. Rachel Beanland is a Public Health Medicine specialist (M.D.), physician coach and mindfulness & meditation teacher. Rachel lives in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains in France where she supports clients with online offers and lives a low-carbon lifestyle. She is passionate about holistic approaches to well-being and is on a mission to help doctors...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Dr. Una, for a powerful conversation on unlocking consistency. In terms of putting in the reps and playing the long game in fitness, Dr. Una has much to teach us all. 

Dr. Nneka Unachukwu is the founder of EntreMD, a company on a mission to help 100,000 physicians build profitable 7 and 7+ figure businesses so they have the freedom to live life and practice medicine on their terms. Dr. Una, as she is fondly called has also been featured in Forbes and her company hit #315 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing p...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Dr. Dena George, for an insightful conversation about the journey to her first marathon and the many lessons learned along the way. Dena is passionate about living a life filled with love and service. She’s most proud of the depth and connection in the relationships with her husband, son, and circle of friends. Professionally, she works with GreenCloud Apparel as the Chief Connector, and is a Hospitalist in her local community.

You can find Dr. George on her podcast, Create an Unstoppable Life: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her guest, nutritional therapist and integrative herbalist, Shelley Swapp, for an insightful conversation on running without running our bodies into the ground. “We can’t run on fumes.” Learn about adrenal fatigue and how to achieve more balance in our training. 

You can find out more about Shelley on her website:https://shelleyswapp.com

And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelleyswapp

Be sure to check out her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wellness-restoration-project/id1546118587

****

Download Coach Michelle's free Couch to Confidence Trainin...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her guest, Dr. Laura Suttin, for an inspiring conversation about the journey of running - coming back from lingering injuries, and how running goals take shape and shift over the years.

Dr. Suttin is a family physician, coach, business owner, and author. She is the Founder of The Purposeful MD, providing individual and group coaching, as well as speaking, to physicians and medical groups.  She loves running both for the physical and mental aspects of the sport. 

You can find out more about Dr. Suttin on her website: https://www.th...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her guest, Dr. Terry Nguyen, for a discussion about run training as an example of a mind-body-spirit practice to help relieve stress and anxiety.

Dr. Nguyen is a pediatrician who practices integrative medicine. She is passionate about integrative whole-person wellness for her patients and her physician colleagues.

You can find out more about Dr. Nguyen on her website https://www.resilientmd.org

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Dr.TerryNguyen 

****

Download Coach Michelle's free Couch to Confidence Training Plan to g...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and Dr. Alicia Shelly, for a candid and inspiring discussion about bouncing back after a DNF (did not finish).

Dr. Shelly is a fitness enthusiast and has completed 7 marathons and two Ironman 70.3. Dr. Shelly is a Board Certified Internal Medicine / obesity medicine physician in Georgia.

You can find Dr. Shelly on her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-on-track-achieving-healthy-weight-loss/id1573676523 

And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshellymd/

****

Download Coach Michelle's free Couch to Confidence Training Plan to get started with a regular walking o...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Dr. Cheruba Prabakar, for an important and open conversation about running and the pelvic floor. The doctors discuss common complaints from runners and a stepwise approach to going about addressing the issues!

Dr. Prabakar is a board certified OBGYN and fellowship trained minimally invasive surgeon. She is the owner of Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery in Lafayette, CA.

You can connect with Dr. Prabakar on her website: https://www.lamorindagyn.com

And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefibroiddoc 

****

Download Coach Michelle's free C...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Dr. Dana Gibbs, for a conversation about the effects of stress on running performance. 

Dr. Gibbs is an educator, hormone expert, board-certified ENT, and allergist. She recently retired from her ENT practice and opened Consultants in Metabolism, a direct care practice for thyroid, metabolic and hormone management for Women and Men.

You can connect with Dr. Gibbs here: https://www.danagibbsmd.com/

On her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-thyroid/id1756413327

And on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danagibbsmd/

****

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk as she chats with her friend and colleague, Dr. Kerry Reller, about marathon training lessons. This episode contains great tips about nutrition and fueling the marathon.

Dr. Reller is a board certified physician in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine practicing in Clearwater, FL. She has always had a passion for wellness, nutrition, and fitness but finding the field of Obesity Medicine has been truly eye-opening for her. She loves helping patients manage and prevent chronic disease by sustainable lifestyle improvements.

You can connect with Dr. Reller here: http://www.linktr.ee...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her guest, Dr. Sara Ionescu, as they discuss the mental health benefits of running and how the mental strength carries over into other aspects of life.

Dr. Sara is a board certified family medicine physician, who is passionate about wellness, preventative care, and exercise, and she loves to inspire others to move. She was a competitive athlete growing up and continues to strive to stay physically active as she sees and feels the benefits daily. On navigating how to fit running and exercise into a busy schedule, Dr. Sara is an expert...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Jaime Vining, as they chat about Jaime's journey to the marathon and marathoning for a cause. Jaime is running the NYC Marathon for Team AWF, which provides 'Life Interrupted Grants' to young adult patients diagnosed with cancers, to ease their financial burden so they can concentrate on healing. Let's shine a light on the word "rare" in cancers!

Update December 2024: Jaime will be running the Berlin Marathon in 2025 for Team WellChild UK. You can check out Jaime's Marathon Fundraising page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jaime-vining-2025?fbclid=IwZXh0...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Dr. Marie Dona, as they chat about the healing power of running. Dr. Dona is a youth, adult, reproductive psychiatrist and therapist with a private practice in Riverview, Florida. She is passionate about advocating for mental health and overall wellness. She is able to see patients remotely throughout the state of Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.

You can connect with Dr. Dona on her website: https://www.donawellnessclinic.com/

And on social media: https://www.instagram.com/donawellnessclinic

****

Download Coach...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her special guest, Dr. Sumana Moole, for a conversation on running and gut health. We know running is good for us. Turns out, it’s really great for our gut too! Dr. Moole helped us troubleshoot some of the common GI symptoms that runners experience like bloating, reflux, uneasy/queasy stomach, nausea, and diarrhea. Dr. Moole is the lead practitioner/founder of Merus Gastroenterology & Gut Health, LLC, focusing on the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders with a focus on improving gut health. She is passionate about implementing lifestyle management that promotes and maintains go...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk, and her special guest Dr. Laurie Boge, for a discussion on running toward, instead of away. Dr. Boge is a wife, ER doc, combat veteran, founder of GreenCloud Apparel, dog mom, and runner! She says, “Running is my meditation, time for self-reflection and inspiration. It is how I survived a really hard deployment to the busiest trauma center in Baghdad, Iraq.” She provides reflections on our reasons to run and how the why can change over the years. Join us for this insightful conversation.

You can find Dr. Boge on her website: https://www...

Join Dr. Michelle Quirk and her guest, Dr. Amy Raynes, for a wonderful chat about running while traveling! Dr. Amy is a pediatrician and travel lover who has started a new adventure as a travel planner. She is using her experiences from overseas living and travel to 20+ countries over 5 continents to create custom travel itineraries for clients. Planning and organizing vacations is one of her favorite parts of traveling, and the itineraries she creates are unique and special for every client. She is also a “foodie” and can point you in all the right directions for the best culinary expe...