In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, the hosts discuss their recent race experiences, the challenges of comparison in running, and the unique struggles of postpartum running. They share personal stories about their journeys, the importance of community, and how to navigate the pressures of performance while balancing motherhood.
Takeaways
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to the Hosts and Their Running Backgrounds
04:05
Race Experience: The Vegas Half Marathon
07:02
The Importance of Mental Toughness in Running
10:03
Balancing Family Life and Running
12:54
The Impact of Weather and Environmental Factors on Running
15:54
Comparison in Running: Past vs Present
18:52
Finding Joy in Running After Health Struggles
21:39
The Role of Community in Running
24:48
Postpartum Running: Challenges and Strategies
27:39
The Shift from Competitive to Enjoyable Running
30:27
Healthy vs Unhealthy Comparison in Running
33:35
The Journey of Returning to Running After Having Kids
36:21
Final Thoughts on Running and Motherhood
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.