Inspired Soles

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Runner, coach, and content creator Michelle Baxter ( @therunnersplate ) has inspired thousands by sharing her journey to a sub-3 marathon and proving that some of our best running can come after 40. But this season has brought unexpected challenges—including a prolonged recovery after Boston and a race that fell well short of her expectations. I...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text One year after wondering if she'd ever race again, Sasha Gollish returned to the Manitoba Half Marathon and ran away with the win. But this episode is about so much more than the race. After spending an unforgettable weekend together in Winnipeg, Sasha and Carolyn relive the laughs, the adventures, the friendships, the race-day excitement,...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text What if there was a better way to fuel endurance athletes? Alison McPherson is an accomplished marathoner, trail runner, running coach, and co-founder of Dig Deep Endurance Fuel. Just weeks after running 2:47 at the Ottawa Marathon and days removed from a 5th-place finish at the Manitoba Marathon, Ali joins me to share the story behind the world...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Johnny Coffin returns to Inspired Soles for what has to be his tenth appearance on the podcast, making him an unofficial co-host—and fan favourite. In this episode, Johnny and Carolyn share a training update since the Boston Marathon, including their recoveries, their experiences racing the Ottawa 10K Canadian Championships and Canadian Masters...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text What are the most common injuries marathon runners face—and do you really need to stop running when they happen? In this episode, physical therapist, running coach, and Healthy Runner Podcast host Dr. Duane Scotti returns to Inspired Soles to break down three of the most common injuries he sees in runners: proximal hamstring tendinopathy (PHT),...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Whitney Heins knows a thing or two about chasing big goals. The founder of The Mother Runners, coach, podcast host, mother of two, and 2:54 marathoner has spent years pursuing her marathon potential—and like many of us, she's still trying to crack one of the sport's greatest mysteries: how to truly nail the final 10K. In this conversat...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text I’m joined by Winnipeg runner Darolyn Walker for a powerful and perspective-shifting conversation about running, resilience, and redefining what success looks like. Darolyn’s story spans more than two decades — from competing at a high level in her university and national track days, to navigating a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in her mid-20s, t...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Olympian steeplechaser John Gay joins the show ahead of his marathon debut at the Ottawa Marathon. We dive into his journey through a challenging stretch of injuries, and how it forced him to rethink training, rebuild confidence, and lean on his support system — including his wife Camille, his coach Jon Green, and fellow athletes/friends. We als...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text 32-year-old Cassandra de Winter ran 2:34:43 in the 2026 Boston Marathon professional field to finish as the top Canadian woman — a nearly five-minute PB in just her third marathon. Cassandra shares her remarkable rise in both road and trail running, her background in rugby and powerlifting, and what it looks like to self-coach while raising thre...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text I’m joined by returning guest Waldo Cheung—physiotherapist, educator with The Running Clinic , and one of my go-to voices for the science of running—for a timely conversation on shoes, injury risk, and what actually matters most. We explore the shift from the minimalist shoe movement of the early 2010s to today’s super shoe era, and whether all...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Brant Stachel returns for a powerful conversation about the hard truths runners need to hear — and why they matter. A mental performance coach, registered psychotherapist, and author of Fast and Free: Mindset Training for Endurance Athletes , Brant has a unique ability to challenge athletes while still meeting them with empathy and understanding...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Johnny is back (basically a co-host at this point) for a  recap from the 130th running of the Boston Marathon. We go deep on everything: training, travel chaos, race weekend energy, my live show with Jeff Cunningham, and of course, the races themselves. Johnny took a bold swing on the early downhills and paid for it with a tough second half, whi...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Recorded in person in Boston ahead of our live show, Carolyn and Jeff Cunningham break down everything you need to know heading into the Boston Marathon. From course insights and race day conditions to memorable moments and elite predictions, this episode is all about the energy, excitement, and anticipation of Marathon Monday. Connect with Jeff...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text With the Boston Marathon less than a week away, Canadian Olympian Ben Preisner takes us inside his build, his Boston debut, and what it means to toe the line at his first World Major. SPONSOR : Cure Hydration. Staying hydrated isn't just about water — you also need electrolytes. Real ingredients. Real hydration. Visit curehydration.com/INSP...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Canadian marathoner Thomas Nobbs joins the show after his breakthrough 2:09:25 win at the McKirdy Micro Marathon, moving him to 4th all-time in Canada. We unpack the training, patience, and mindset behind his massive leap. Connect with Thomas: Instagram: @nobbs.not.knobs @coach.nobbs Coaching: Team Run Run , @teamrunrun Connect with Carolyn: Ins...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Four experienced run coaches pull back the curtain on a real mentorship-group conversation to explore the pros, cons, and trade-offs of 1:1 coaching versus training plans—and help you decide what’s right for you. SPONSOR : Cure Hydration. Staying hydrated isn't just about water — you also need electrolytes. Real ingredients. Real hydration....

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text What does marathon training really look like across a nearly two-hour performance gap? In this episode, I’m joined by Sara Mandersheid to explore the key differences between coaching a 2:55 and a 4:35 Boston Qualifier. We dig into how factors like time on feet, long runs, workouts, fueling, recovery, and race day strategy should actually scale —...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text This week, I’m joined by professional marathoner Jacob Thomson, coming off his race at the New York City Half Marathon. We unpack how the race played out, including the moment he found himself running solo, and what it all means with Boston just five weeks away. We also talk about his unique role pacing some of the best runners in the world, his...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text In celebration of International Women’s Day, Carolyn speaks with five Canadian women runners from their 20s to their 60s about identity, belonging, and what running gives us at every stage of life. Their stories are different, but the threads that connect them may feel surprisingly familiar. Guests: Jazz Shukla ( @peanutjazz ) – Olympic 800m run...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text My frequent co-host (and husband!) Johnny Coffin is back on the mic for a deeper conversation about what the past few months have stirred up since The Marathon Project. From unpacking a tough DNF to reflecting on the themes emerging across recent podcast episodes, we explore identity, expectation management, and the patterns Johnny has noticed a...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Jeff Cunningham returns for a deeper conversation about the parts of coaching that go far beyond workouts and race plans. We explore what happens when the real obstacle isn’t fitness, but confidence. When athletes are running 90+ miles per week but not fueling enough. When self-worth gets tangled up in race results. When comparison — amplified b...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text What does “good coaching” really mean — and who deserves it? In this episode, I’m joined by running coach, podcast host, and Running Rogue founder Chris McClung for a wide-ranging conversation on the fundamentals that help runners improve without shortcuts. We talk about slowing down to get faster, training by feel, and why elite training princi...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text I’m joined by high-performance running coach, mental performance coach, endurance athlete, and author Brant Stachel. Brant’s new book, Fast and Free: Mindset Training for Endurance Athletes , explores what it really means to train your mind with the same intention and structure as your body — without losing the joy that brought you to the sport...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text I’m joined once again by Canadian marathon record holder Natasha Wodak for a timely and important conversation. We begin by recapping Natasha’s 2025 season and wrap up by looking ahead to what’s lighting her up in 2026, but the heart of this episode focuses on start line safety in a rapidly growing sport. Just days before this recording, Natasha...

Got feedback about this episode? Send Carolyn a text Connor Winter is a professional marathoner with Tinman Elite who delivered a breakthrough performance at The Marathon Project, running 2:11:43 for 10th place after starting the race in 16th at halfway. In this episode, Connor walks us through the calm, patient decision-making that defined his race—choosing to back off an early pace that felt too...