The Mother Runners Podcast with Whitney Heins

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we are talking about how to choose the right goals for your mom life—as we all have unique demands placed upon us and a limited amount of time and energy. All of our approach setting goals in a different way as we all have different mom lives—but there is a common theme with an emphasis on discipline plus flexibility—and making sure...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we reflect on their experiences over the past year, discussing personal goals, challenges, and the impact of loss (yes, another one of us cries—but there is much more laughing!) WE share insights on adjusting to new environments and the importance of community and friendships in motherhood. In this conversation, the participants disc...

Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of the Miles and Moms podcast, we get deep--and also really ridiculous, as we tend to be--starting with an in-depth analysis of the personality of Olivia's dog (kidding, not kidding). We also reflect on 2024 in running and our personal lives. Are we were we thought we would be? What lessons did we learn? Our conversation emphasizes growth, lessons lear...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, your hosts (Whitney, Olivia, and Shanna—Tricia was unable to make it) delve into the complex relationship runners have with marathons.  What’s so great about the marathon distance anyway? Why do we choose to suffer? Why not pick something shorter? We explore the allure of marathon running, the mental challenges faced during races, an...

Send us Fan Mail One of the skills of being a mother runner is being flexible & adapting to change. So with that, this week we are giving you TWO episodes for the price of ONE. Why? Because our schedules were too nuts & we couldn't all get together so we thought it would be a fun pivot to interview one another.  Shanna & Olivia put each other in the hot seat in PART 1. PART 2 Tric...

Send us Fan Mail This is PART 2 of our little series of putting each other in the HOT SEAT. Part I, Shanna & Olivia interviewed one another. In this episode (part II), Whitney & Tricia interview one another—asking their own questions and questions from Instagram followers and podcast listeners.  Whitney and Tricia dive into a variety of topics, including their experiences with scary movies...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, hosts Olivia and Tricia welcome Sandra Mikulic (a "plus-sized runner"), who shares her inspiring journey from a non-runner to an ultra marathoner. Sandra discusses the transformative power of running, the challenges of marathons, and the supportive community within ultra running. She emphasizes the importance of self-confid...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, your Miles with Moms hosts discuss weighing the decision many mother runners face: should they train for a running PR or expand their family? It is a tough decision with many emotions (and opinions!). But the truth is, there can be a ticking clock on both--and sometimes the clock is ticking at the same time and you have to decide! We discussed how we decided wheth...

Send us Fan Mail Will you still like us after you listen to this podcast? We almost didn't publish it. In this latest episode, we come to you completely unscripted. We learned soon before recording that we all couldn't make it, so we pivoted and decided to not focus on a topic. The result is a potpourri of topics (in fact, we actually talk about potpourri!). As usual, the topics range fr...

Send us Fan Mail In our inaugural BONUS episode where we spotlight amazing mother runners, we are celebrating the awesomeness of Alyse Gilliver, an incredible mother runner.  Alyse, @aleebreemcgee_run on Instagram, is a mom to three littles (6 and below). She's also a pediatric oncology nurse. She fell back into love with running after having her third and quickly made huge strides--most rece...

Send us Fan Mail Running after having a baby is HARD--& is so different for each pregnancy. In this episode, we unpack our experiences with running postpartum, including the mistakes we made because we had a lack of knowledge related to pelvic floor health. We discuss how we felt, when we felt "normal", and things we would have done differently. We also discuss the role sleep depriva...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we chat about the importance of fueling for runners and share personal stories of their fueling fails and go-tos.  We share some humorous stories about their experiences with nutrition and food choices as runners & discuss the challenges of pre-workout nutrition, the importance of breakfast for long runs, and their personal race day rituals. The conversation hi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we discuss the challenges and lessons learned from running injuries. We share personal experiences, emphasizing the mental and emotional toll injuries can take on runners, especially mothers.  This conversation highlights the importance of strength training, understanding the root causes of injuries, and overcoming guilt and shame. W...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the challenges of finding time to run as busy mothers. The conversation delves into the balance of family life and running, strategies for training, and the importance of flexibility in managing workouts around kids' schedules. We emphasize the need for a mindset shift from perfection to progress in both running and parenting. We also talk about th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we discuss the critical issue of runner safety, sharing personal experiences and the emotional impact of recent tragic events involving runners. We explore the importance of awareness, self-defense strategies, and the tools available to enhance safety while running. This conversation emphasizes the need for community support among wo...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Running can be a challenging ye...

Send us Fan Mail In this inaugural episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we, (your hosts Whitney, Olivia, Shanna, and Tricia -- hi!) share our personal running journeys, the motivations behind starting the podcast, and the challenges we face as mother runners.  We discuss the importance of community, overcoming limitations, and the guilt often associated with taking time for oneself. This conver...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss the pervasive issue of mom guilt, particularly in the context of running and personal pursuits. We share personal experiences and insights on how to navigate feelings of guilt, the importance of communication with partners, and the need for self-care. This discussion emphasizes the significance of breaking generational cycles of self-sacrifice and the n...