Not Your Average Runner, A Running Podcast

Are you filled with rage as you recognize how your fat body is constantly being oppressed? Have you always been told you're both too much and not enough at the same time? Do you feel like you're walking through the world ready to explode as you begin unlearning the oppressive conditioning you've experienced?   This week, I'm here with body liberation coach Sophia Apostol. Sophia is the creator of...

Opinions on running on the treadmill truly run the gamut. Some call it the "dreadmill," some will use it if there's no other option, and some only feel comfortable and confident running indoors on a treadmill. Whichever camp you currently fall into, the treadmill is a piece of equipment that's totally worth learning to master, and I'm showing you how.   Join me this week to learn how to master the...

If you're doubting yourself on your running journey, this episode is for you. This idea of not being a real runner stops too many people in their tracks when they're just getting started, and that isn't what I want for you. I'm showing you how to drop these doubts and try on something more useful instead.   Tune in this week to explore the difference between healthy doubt and doubt that stops you...

As a fat runner who has coached thousands of women to start running, I've noticed one thing that predicts their success: a beginner's mindset. This mindset is extremely helpful to adopt when starting out as a runner, but the truth is, it can be a game-changer for experienced runners as well.   Hear five beginner's mindset hacks that will help you truly enjoy the sport of running. Whether you're a...

Coach Elle Dee from the Run Your Best Life program is here to talk about her solo running summer adventure in Alaska. Very little went exactly according to plan, and she had some unique experiences just on her journey to our Alaskan retreat.   Hear Elle Dee's running lessons from two months on the road. She's sharing the desires behind undertaking this incredible voyage and the problems she faced...

I'm here this week with the one and only Coach Jen Lamplough! Since declaring her goal of re-doing the Chicago Marathon when she turns 50, Jen has been navigating a variety of changes in her life, which she dives into on this episode. All of us can fall into the trap of using goals to help us feel a certain way, and when we share big goals publicly like Jen has, there's a lot that can happen when...

What are your thoughts on telling people you're a runner? What does it even mean to feel like a runner? What are 'real' runners thinking so they don't have to qualify their statements about their runs?   Whether you're struggling to call yourself a runner because you take run-walk intervals, run at a slower pace than others, or think what you're really doing is a light jog, this episode is for you...

I'm excited to introduce you to Charlotte Rooney, a leadership and anti-burnout coach. She is sharing her own experience of approaching running in the same way as her career, and how it prevented her not only from getting the benefits of intuitive and gentle movement but, most importantly, from enjoying it.   Charlotte shares how work and life burnout can affect your running, and what you can do t...

In a world where we've been raised to believe it's shameful, embarrassing, and downright bad to be fat, it can feel impossible to think about living our best lives right now if we're in a fat body. I tell women all the time that all bodies, regardless of shape or size, are deserving of joy, pleasure, and equal treatment, but some people have taken this to mean that I'm anti-weight loss.   I offer...

This week, the whole Not Your Average Runner team is here to talk about body image, body confidence, and all things body. If you're not familiar with these three ladies, you're going to love them. Jen Madden is our business manager, and Elle Dee and Jen Lamplough are two of our amazing coaches.   Hear the four of us discuss the cult-like effects of the way we've been socialized from a young age ar...

A huge part of my mission is to counteract misogyny, patriarchy, and anti-fat bias that exist in our entire society, especially in our fitness spaces. That's why I created the Fat Runner Manifesto: a 10-point distillation of my thoughts about being a fat female runner in a patriarchal and fatphobic world.   I offer new thoughts to consider about running, your body, and your right to take up space...

Kelly Roberts is the head coach and creator of the Badass Lady Gang. Her philosophy measures success by confidence gained, not pounds lost, and she's coached thousands of women from brand-new runners to those chasing Boston Marathon qualifying times. She's joining me to discuss all things running, body-image resilience, and exercising in a way that isn't entangled with your weight.   Discover why...

Learning to run in all different weather conditions is super important because you can't guarantee the temperature on race day. If you want to get out there and run in the heat safely, this episode is for you.   Hear my tips for running in hot weather. I'm discussing how to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion when you're on your summer runs, some useful clothing and gear advice, how to hydrate...

Laine Dubin is a full-time college student, figure skater, and fashion content creator. She started a sustainable thrifting business on Instagram in 2020, specifically thrifting clothes for larger bodies. After going viral on TikTok earlier this year for her skating content, she not only exemplifies the fact that there's room for fat women in fashion, but on the ice too.   I quiz Laine about her s...

Whether you're a brand new runner considering trying your first race or a seasoned runner who has completed dozens of them, race-day anxiety is extremely common. Stress and worry can arise even if you feel physically amazing, have trained well, nailed your fueling, or are familiar with the race route. So what can you do to never stress about race day again?   I offer my top three strategies for mi...

If you're feeling disappointed or discouraged because it seems like you're not getting any faster, and you interpret it as a lack of progress, listen in. We are socialized to believe that winning is the ultimate goal, not just in running, but in life. The truth is there are numerous ways to assess your running performance, and pace is just one aspect.   Discover why stressing about your running pa...

My guest this week is someone with a wealth of wisdom and experience to share with the running world. Martinus Evans, also known as 300 Pounds and Running, is the founder of Slow AF Run Club: the best community for slow runners and walkers on the internet that aims to celebrate diversity and change the sport one step at a time.   Listen in this week as Martinus shares his running journey with us,...

Yoga has become a practice that's seemingly reserved exclusively for the privileged few: wealthy, thin, young, flexible, white, and able-bodied. If you don't feel like you quite fit into the yoga space, you're not alone, and this week, you're hearing from an amazing yoga teacher whose mission is to be a change agent in this realm.   Dianne Bondy is an accessible yoga teacher, social justice activi...

Are you struggling with starting to run because you think your body size is holding you back? In this bonus episode you'll hear about a free class I'm teaching that will help you get past those challenges and become a runner in the body you have right now!   Sign up for the free class here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/runningfat/

I hear from runners all the time who say they're not real runners because they're slow, practice the run/walk method, or they believe they just aren't good at it no matter how hard they try. And in a world where we're taught that we should always be striving to be the best or improve in anything we do, whether running or otherwise, this is no surprise.   I explore why we believe we suck at running...

When I started this podcast almost six years ago, I could not have predicted where the show would be today or how far we have come. And here we are, celebrating 300 episodes! You have been a significant part of my evolution by listening to the podcast, and I am grateful for your support.   I share how I have evolved over the 300 episodes of this podcast and why fatphobia no longer lives rent-free...

Christine Chessman is an online strength and movement coach who helps women over 40 move more freely, feel strong, and take up space, and she's also the host of the Find Your Strong podcast.   Christine offers her experience of disordered eating and exercise behaviors, and what helped her approach her body with more love and kindness. She's sharing her take on what women taking up space means, why...

Have you ever felt hopeless about your running? Does it feel like nothing is going your way? Do you wonder why you even bother when running feels this challenging?   Hear how our brains distort facts into unfair stories in our minds, and why it's vital for you to look at all the facts of your runs. I'm showing you why we are all about the numbers and data in Run Your Best Life, and how to start se...

My incredible guest this week is Sandra Mikulic. Sandra is a self-described 250-pound runner who has done a minimum of 5K a day of running or walking for the past 1562 days or four years, three months, and 10 days. She's also the founder and editor of Run Your Life magazine, which is a publication for athletes of all shapes and sizes and the only body-positive athletic magazine out there.   Sandra...

I recently sat down with Christine Chessman of the Find Your Strong Podcast to talk about my favorite topic ever: running. For those of us in larger bodies, there are so many myths and misinformation out there that instruct us to not run, or tell us we can't be runners, and it's time to bust the BS.   Christine quizzes me on my running journey, and why there is truly no wrong way to approach the s...