The Mother Runners Podcast with Whitney Heins
This podcast features in-depth and fun interviews with mother runners (aka moms who run). Some names you may recognize, and some you may not. Every mother runner has an incredible story regardless of how far or fast they run. Embedded in each story are chapters of strength, hope, and overcoming. This podcast exists because we need to hear each other's stories to not only lift each other up, but learn, grow, and be inspired. This podcast will motivate and entertain you--while on the run, in the car line, or folding the laundry. Thanks for being here!This podcast is a...
The Mother Runner’s Permission Slip: 7 Things You’re Allowed to Let Go Of
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What if you gave yourself permission to stop doing everything “right” with your running?
In a special solo episode of The Mother Runners Podcast this week, I explore what happens when training, mileage, paces, fueling, and race goals become another source of stress—especially when you’re already balancing motherhood, work, family, and life.
I am sharing seven permission slips every mother runner may need...Because running should add to your life—not become another place where you feel like you're failing.
In this episode, I discuss :
🌀Why...
CAITLYN GERMAIN: The Surprising Power of Self-Awareness in Overcoming Pain, Injury, and Life’s Hardships
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If you’ve ever felt like your body is working against you, this episode is for you. We’re joined by Caitlyn Germain, a former standout runner and mom who battled mysterious lower-leg pain before discovering she had popliteal artery entrapment syndrome.
Caitlyn shares her journey from being sidelined from running to finishing the Boston Marathon, and how self-advocacy, patience, and trusting your body helped her move forward. This conversation is a powerful reminder for runners and moms to listen to their bodies, protect their health, and keep going.
In...
CLAIRE BARTHOLIC: Pre-Race Mental Prep Hacks & Embracing “Type B” Running
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Most runners let self-doubt sabotage race-day confidence, until they learn how to rewrite their mental story.
In this episode, running coach and mental training expert Claire Bartholic shares how to turn pre-race anxiety into activation, excitement, and fuel for performance.
You’ll learn:
🌀 practical tools runners can use to build mental strength, including positive self-talk, visualization, training logs, and simple breathing techniques.
🌀 how to handle uncertainty, silence negative thoughts, and create non-time goals that make racing feel more joyful and sustainable.
We also discuss th...
ALICE BRAHAM: 2:36 marathon at the age of 50!, Mom of 4
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Thank you, Goodr, for sponsoring this episode! GOODR has functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable eyewear. Save $10 at goodr.com/themotherrunners
Alice Braham has single-handedly changed the way I think about RUNNING & AGING. And I know she will for you, too!
We are taught to believe that we should slow down as we age. That after 40, it is all downhill. Well, at the 2026 London Marathon, Alice (also known as Alice Sunderland, which is her married name), a mom of four boys, smashed the previously listed British best time...
CARRIE BRADSHAW: Double Hip Replacements & A Marathon World Record
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Carrie Bradshaw did the impossible and she just set a world record for it.
Carrie, a 45-year-old mom of two, aka on Instagram as "Bionic Runner Babe" for her titanium hips, defied medical odds to set the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon by a female with bilateral hip replacements, clocking 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 31 seconds at the 2026 Houston Marathon.
Diagnosed with congenital bilateral hip dysplasia in 2021, Carrie endured constant pain and was told by most surgeons she'd never run again, yet found hope in Dr. Gregory Stocks, who su...
SARA HALL: In it for the LONG HAUL
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Today we get to catch-up with Sara Hall. If you haven't read her New York Times Bestselling memoir, For the Love of the Grind, what are you waiting for?
From her roots as a national high school champion to becoming an NCAA star at Stanford University, Sara Hall has achieved remarkable milestones spanning three decades (!), including being the only professional runner to win U.S. titles in both the mile and marathon. Sara holds the American record in the half marathon and her personal best marathon time is a 2:20:32!
...TERA MOODY: Former Pro Runner REDEFINING SUCCESS as a Mother Runner
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Tera Moody was a stand-out runner as a kid. I’m talking state champ. Went on to run at Colorado as part of the national championship team. Placed 5th in the Olympic Trials marathon in 2008. Top ten in the Chicago Marathon, TWICE. Represented the US in Worlds. Has a lifetime PR of 2:30 in the marathon.
You get the picture.
But it hasn’t been all skittles and sunshine for Tera. She had a coach who was old-school and promoted unhealthy underfueling. As a mom of two, running would completely wipe...
JENNY MAXWELL: Mom of 6, Founder of JAMBAR, Creator of Energy Bars
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Jenny Maxwell founded PowerBar with her husband Brian while she was still in college. As two elite runners, they wanted quick pre-run nutrition that wouldn't upset their stomachs. Eventually, they sold PowerBar to Nestle and also started a family with six kids.
When the youngest was an infant, Brian's heart stopped while running and he passed.
Jenny's story is one of strength and perseverance. (She ran her first marathon at the age of 13!). She found solace in running and strength in motherhood. She also eventually found a new passion, dr...
AUDREY BOWMAN: Childbirth Almost Killed Me..& Made Me Stronger
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Audrey Bowman no longer questions her capabilities. Not in running, and not in life. Why? Because she faced the brink of death while giving birth to her son. Rather than instilling fear or fragility, that traumatic experience taught her the opposite: to embrace life without fear, knowing she can achieve far more than she ever imagined. It underscored the importance of living fully and cherishing every moment.
In today's conversation, Audrey, a run coach at Relentless Runners & Founder of ABF Method, delve into several topics, including:
🌀Her running journey and...
LYNN RUIS: We Want to Be LYNN, 68 & LOVING Running!
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Lynn Ruis is a testament to the idea that you are never too old to run--or start running. Lynn is 68-years-old and she has a vibrant running life. She has a group of close friends who run several times a week together and plan adventures. She travels the world to run races. And she has her long run days, speed days, and tempo days--just like those who are a fraction of her age.
Her journey into running began somewhat unexpectedly when she helped with course control at a local race. Captivated b...
KATIE BAKSA:, Founder of Bound Running Co., Mom, & Olympic Trials Marathoner
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Earlier this year I ran a rust-buster half-marathon. I heard someone say something about golden retrievers (we have 3, currently about to get a 4th) so I had to chime in. The person talking was Katie Baksa, founder of Bound Running Co.
A phenomenal runner, Katie was pacing a couple of friends so I joined. She took great care of us & I got to interrogate her about Bound and her running journey. It was so fascinating, the miles flew by AND I told myself--I got to share her story.
Katie i...
MEGAN MORANT: 2:36 Marathoner, New Mom, WWE Host, "Dream More than One Big Dream"
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Today we get to know Megan Morant’s story of chasing MORE THAN one BIG DREAM at a time. Megan is a WWE broadcaster and co-host of the running podcast, Getting Chicked. She is also a woman who saw the 2020 Olympic Trials marathon and became inspired to try to qualify—but she also wanted to become a mom and have a baby.
She decided—you can do both. Before becoming a mom, she was a 2:45 marathoner. A year after having her baby, she ran a 2:36 marathon, qualifying her for the Olympic Trials...
JACI SCHUERHOLZ: Losing My EGO to Find My JOY
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Despite facing years of setbacks, countless medical consultations, a persistent cycle of injuries, managing 4 kids, and reaching the milestone of turning 40, Jaci Schuerholz made a courageous choice: she decided to stop searching for perfect solutions and simply start again.
If you've battled injuries or health challenges, felt frustration with your body, experienced feelings of being lost in motherhood, lost sight of your self-worth, struggled with ego impeding your happiness, or been weighed down by mom guilt—this conversation is for you.
I first connected with Jaci years ago when we w...
CLAIRE SHORENSTEIN, RD: THIS is how to HYDRATE this SUMMER!
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As summer heats up and long distance and marathon training intensifies for many of us, maintaining proper hydration becomes more crucial than ever. In today’s episode, I chat with Claire Shorenstein, a sports RD and endurance athlete herself, and host of the podcast Eat for Endurance, about essential hydration strategies specifically tailored for runners, especially those tackling the challenges of training in the heat.
We talk about:
🌀Hydration tips before, during and after runs
🌀How to tell much sodium & fluids you actually need
🌀GI issues that a...
RANDI ZUCKERBERG: Facebook Pioneer, Ultramarathoner, Mom of 3!
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This week, we are getting to hear from Randi Zuckerberg—just a few days after completing the Cocodona 250. That is 250 miles up and over mountains, through the desert, in blistering heat, a lot of this journey done alone.
The fact that anyone wants to do this—CAN do this—is mind-blowing. But the fact that Randi Zuckerberg is doing it—is even more so. Because Randi is yes, THAT Zuckerberg. She was a pioneer at Facebook with her younger brother—and she’s gone on to accomplish so many amazing things. She’s won a...
NATALIE MITCHELL: Perimenopause Isn't Going to STOP ME from Chasing My Sub-3 Marathon
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If you are going through or will be approaching perimenopause—this episode is for you.
Natalie Mitchell and I have a honest conversation about what it’s like to train for big running goals while experiencing perimenopause symptoms.
Natalie is a master’s runner in her 50s, on a mission to achieve a sub-3 marathon time—a goal she has passionately pursued for years. Recently, she opened up on her Instagram account, @natrunsfar, about the unexpected changes she’s faced in her running journey as she encounters the symptoms of perimenop...
AUTHOR HILDEE WEISS: It's Never TOO LATE to Change Your Life
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Moms are notorious for putting themselves last. Hildee Weiss was the epitome of this. At 46, she was adevoted wife, mother, and grandmother, who moved through life feeling worn down, invisible, and convinced that transformation belonged to other people—thinner people, younger people, braver people.
Then one ordinary day, she asked herself a question that would rewrite everything she believed about who she could become: What if I tried?
What you are about to listen to today is the definition of inspiring—of someone who feels like it is to...
BONUS!: My friend AMANDA MARTIN just ran a 2:34 MARATHON!
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Today's BONUS EPISODE features not an amazing mother runner but an amazing HUMAN, my dear friend: Amanda Martin.
Amanda just crushed the Eugene Marathon with an astounding time of 2:34:20, marking an 8-minute personal record. This impressive feat makes her the third fastest woman in the history of the Eugene Marathon and the seventh fastest American woman on an unaided course in 2026.
Despite not being a mom, Amanda's story is one that needs to be heard and I know it will inspire you.
Her success didn’t come easi...
RUN COACH MONTANA DEPASQUALE: 3 Training Tweaks to Run FASTER
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What are the training tweaks a runner needs to run their best? That is the BIG question I asked Running Coach Montana DePasquale and her answer may surprise you.
Montana is a running coach I have long admired due to her knowledge of the sport and approach to coaching. With a background in competitive running herself, running for Bucknell University, Montana understands the nuances of training, injury prevention, and mental fortitude essential for success in the sport. Her commitment to continual learning keeps her updated with the latest training techniques and i...
ALLY BRETTNACHER: Running's Role: From Punishment to Pride
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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 a...
AMY HOAGLAND: From Almost DYING from Anorexia to ELITE Runner
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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...
CELESTE GOODSON: Misdiagnoses, Lessons, & the Fight to Keep Running
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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...
LISA GOODIN: 2:36 OTQ Mom Marathon Debut at Age 39
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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 determ...
COACH LAURA FILLA: Are You Emotionally Dependent on Your Running?
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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 joi...
ANDI RIPLEY: Meeting Disappointment with Gratitude, Not Anger
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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 wi...
ERICA HOPPER: Mom of 4, Chef & Entrepreneur, Faster After 40!
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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...
DR. CARRIE PAGLIANO: 4 Facts Every Woman Should Know About Their Pelvic Health
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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.
W...
AMANDA BLAKE TURNER: Her Ultramarathon CANCER REBELLION
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Just over three years ago, Amanda Blake Turner faced a shocking diagnosis: a rare form of thyroid cancer. After living an active and healthy life into her mid-40s, she felt betrayed by her body. Yet, guided by her doctor’s support, Amanda chose to fight back with determination. In the year following her diagnosis and surgery, she embarked on a mission to complete as many ultramarathons as possible. Each clear scan was met with a celebratory race, symbolizing her resilience.
In this episode, Amanda shares her journey and offers invaluable ad...
DR. MARGIE DAVENPORT: Disrupting Beliefs About Pregnancy & Postpartum Exercise
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If you are unsure of even fearful about running during pregnancy or returning to run postpartum—this episode is for you!
Join me for an enlightening episode featuring Dr. Margie Davenport, an exercise physiologist and professor at the University of Alberta, who is revolutionizing the conversation around exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. In this episode, we challenge outdated misconceptions and delve into the latest research that demonstrates not only the safety but the benefits of exercising while pregnant and after giving birth.
We explore the empowering message that:
🌀...
AMY WILL: The Homeschooling Mom Who Crushed Back-to-Back Marathons
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What Amy Will did is not normal. This homeschooling mom of 4 boys ran two super-fast marathons back-to-back. This fall, Amy ran a 2:47 at the Every Woman’s Marathon and then turned around and ran a 2:45 marathon at The Marathon Project five weeks later! While knowing this was a risky move, Amy shares why and how she achieved this incredible feat.
Amy’s running journey is also not typical. She started running later in life, discovering long distance and the marathon after finishing college. From running her first few marathons and then the B...
ERIN & KRISTY: Best Running Friends Through Motherhood, Injuries & Cancer
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Ever wonder if it is worth it to get up the nerve to ask that potential woman to run with you? After listening to this week's episode, you will see that YES! YES IT IS!
Today I chat with best friends Erin Wolf and Kristy Perkowski—and you are going to love them and our conversation. These incredible women, who light up any room with their humor and charm, share the secret behind their unmissable weekly run dates and their fabulous matching outfits that have caught media attention not just once, but...
GOAL GETTER (PART 4): Tapping into your SUBCONSCIOUS to RUN Your BEST with Hypnotist Christina Honkonen
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This episode is the final installment of this month's GOAL GETTER series setting you up for success in the new year.
Today, I'm PUMPED to talk with Christina Honkonen, a Mental Trainer and Certified Consulting Hypnotist at Honkonen Hypnosis—and a dear friend of mine. I have personally worked with Christina to overcome self-limiting beliefs and re-find joy in running.
Christina synthesizes hypnosis, mental skills coaching, and strategies inspired by Natural Language Processing and Cognitive Behavior Therapy to assist high-achievers in breaking through limitations and enhancing their performance.
GOAL GETTER (PART 3): YOUR YEAR to BUILD A CONSISTENT STRENGTH HABIT with Strength Coach Mary Johnson
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THIS IS YOUR YEAR TO GET CONSISTENT WITH YOUR STRENGTH TRAINING!
In today’s episode, we dive into the third installment of my special GOAL GETTER series, designed to help you seize your goals this year.
In previous episodes, I've engaged with a behavior change coach to help you make and break habits, and a registered dietitian to fine-tune your nutrition for 2026. Today, I’m PUMPED to welcome strength coach Mary Johnson, the founder of Lift I Run I Perform.
If you've been thinking about starting or level...
GOAL GETTER 2026 (PART 2): Nail Your RUNNING NUTRITION with Megan Robinson, RD
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This is the second installment of the GOAL GETTER 2026 SERIES designed to help you crush your goals in 2026! In this episode, I dive into the vital connection between running and nutrition with Megan Robinson, a sports registered dietitian and experienced running coach. As a busy mom of two young adults and a lifelong runner, Megan understands the challenges that come with balancing life and nutrition, especially for moms on the go.
Megan shares her expert insights on how to fuel your body effectively before, during, and after training runs and races...
2026 GOAL GETTER (PART 1): Behavior Change with Coach Kaylin Goepper
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Welcome to this month's special series where we’re gearing up for success in the new year! Join me each week as I interview a lineup of remarkable experts, including a registered dietitian, strength coach, sports performance hypnotherapist, and today’s guest, behavior change coach Kaylin Goepper.
Together, we'll explore essential topics like how to establish new habits even when time is tight, overcoming setbacks on your journey to achieving your New Year's goals, and breaking those pesky bad habits that hinder your progress.
Some key insights we discuss:
...
EP. 11: LINDSEY HEIN x WHITNEY HEINS (holiday special)
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I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. In honor of the holidays, we are doing this week's episode a little bit differently (hence the special Friday air date)…I have on the show Lindsey Hein, host of the ever popular running podcast I’ll Have Another. And I’m on Lindsey’s show—in a rare dual episode—because we thought it would fun to just come on and chat.
This episode is entirely unscripted. Some topics we end up chatting about:
-the challenge of adding big goals but not let...
EP. 10: RACHEL & ASHLIE: A 351-Mile FKT & the Value of Mom Friendships
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I don't know about you, but I think making friends as a mom can be hard--especially due to lack of time, energy, and guilt (much like it is with running!). But today we learn how being intentional about prioritizing and investing in your friendships with other moms is so worth it!! Like with running, that time spent makes you happier, healthier, and a better mom.
Today’s episode unpacks the beautiful friendship of Rachel Phillips and Ashlie Ithurburn:
Ashlie recently ran the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the 351-mile Pinhoti Trai...EP. 9: POLLY CUNES: Incremental Goals, Big Risks & Getting Faster as a Master’s Runner
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Polly Cunes, a mom of two, PE teacher, and master’s runner, is only getting faster at the age of 42. But Polly’s times aren’t what’s so impressive about her. It’s her patience, consistent work, and quiet confidence.
In this episode, Polly shares what drives her to wake up early and run big workouts on her treadmill before a busy day of work and kids’ activities. Polly opens up about battling mom guilt as she pursues her ambitions, revealing how she confronts self-doubt and maintains her health as a master’s ru...
EP. 8: MAKENNA MYLER: Small Habits, BIG Results for Running Moms
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Life as a mother and a runner can be challenging, no less doing both. This is true even if you are a pro runner like Makenna Myler, sponsored by Asics and mom of two. Actually, it is ESPECIALLY true if you are a professional runner. Because, NO, she doesn't get to nap all day and get massages. Makenna's running double digit miles, sometimes twice a day, and being a present and active mom in between.
Makenna shares with us how she keeps her energy up to keep up with her two l...
EP. 7: AMANDA PERRAS: How Running Helped Heal a 20-Year Eating Disorder
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In this conversation, Amanda Perras bravely shares with us the struggle she had for almost two decades with an eating disorder and how running helped her overcome it and be the best mom she can be. We also talk about how her journey has helped her ensure her kids have a healthy relationship with food and their body image.
Other topics we touch on:
Running races for joySocial media and the impact on our kids’ mental healthHow to overcome an addiction to food and/or exercisePostpartum depression and hormone imbalancesThe im...