The Passionate Runner

Episode Summary Mary Johnson is a running and strength coach and Founder of Lift | Run | Perform, an organization that specializes in teaching runners how to use time in the weight room or in your own home to optimize your running performance. Mary is a USATF certified running coach, owner of Lift, Run, Perform, mother of two and she’s going after her own goals after having babies. Recurring injur...

Episode Summary Laura Norris is a certified running coach, small business owner, writer, and content creator. She believes in a blended approach to coaching that utilizes both evidence-based methods of training and a holistic approach of coaching the runner as a person first, athlete second. Laura’s philosophy emphasizes sustainability, enjoyment, and long-term growth. Today, Whitney and Laura tal...

Episode Summary Dr. Haley Perlus is a sports psychologist with knowledge and personal experience as an elite athlete, coach, fitness professional, and entrepreneur. An overall wellness enthusiast, Dr. Haley Perlus provides her clients with the necessary mental toughness tools to quickly and consistently achieve their highest level of performance. Today, Whitney and Dr. Haley talk all about how we...

Episode Summary Ben Reale is the Founder of the personal training group, Condition One Fitness & Nutrition. He’s a Marathon runner, licensed attorney, and a former Marine Officer who has led more than 6,000 one-on-one training sessions and 600 small group classes. He is an expert in thoroughly evaluating someone to determine their ‘movement baseline,’ incorporating individualized corrective st...

Episode Summary Amy Stephens is a registered dietitian, certified specialist in sports nutrition, blogger, runner and food coach. She has over twenty years of experience working with amateur and high-performing Olympic level athletes to achieve their sports performance goals using the latest science- backed approaches. Today, Whitney and Amy discuss how running affects our hormones and how our hor...

Episode Summary Megan Robinson has been a competitive track and cross-country runner since high school and has competed in numerous long distance races, including the Boston Marathon. She is a Level 1 certified RRCA coach and registered dietician/nutritionist (RDN). Today, Megan joins the show to discuss why Marathon fueling can be so complicated, the physiology of fueling and the importance of hy...

Shanna Birchett is the true definition of a ‘mother runner’ with an inspirational story. A mother of six kids under six years of age, Shanna returned to running with grit, determination, and compassion for herself. Shanna believes in embracing the season you’re in, whether that’s a new runner altogether or a seasoned runner who is looking for that next level of improvement. Today, Shanna shares he...

Mike Kiss and his wife, Kristin, are friends of Whitney that she’s known since high school. Mike and Kristin Kiss like challenges. The two former athletes set out 10 years ago to run a half- marathon in all 50 states, a goal that they accomplished in four years. Since then, their priorities have expanded to include two children, but one thing remains: their willingness to take on big, audacious go...

Ashley Nowe is a pregnancy and postpartum fitness specialist, nutritionist, fitness coach, and the Founder of Get Mom Strong, an organization that offers at-home fitness programs for moms. In 2022, Ashley created an app called SLAM (Strong Like A Mother), which combines science-backed pelvic floor and core exercises with sweat-inducing workouts. Ashley is on a mission to ensure that as many women...

Heather Hart, ACSM EP-C, is full time running coach, exercise physiologist, certified strength and conditioning specialist, mother of two teenagers, writer, and ultrarunner who believes that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary feats. She is also the co-founder of Hart, Strength and Endurance Coaching and the co-founder of Relentless Forward Commotion, a running resource and strength and run...

Episode Summary Shannon Mulcahy is a mental strength coach with a Masters Degree in Sports & Exercise Psychology. She’s worked with clients ranging from world-champion swimmers to amateur and professional triathletes, runners and cyclists, to athletic departments and the military. Shannon knows the value of performing at your best when it counts most while having fun along the way. Today, Whit...

Episode Summary Dr. Sarah Colón Louie is a fellowship-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in treating women runners with hip pain to enable them to return to running pain-free, faster, and with more confidence. Today, Whitney and Dr. Sarah talk all about hip health, the role that hips play in our running, and tips and best practices for keeping them healthy. Dr. Sarah speaks to runn...

Episode Summary Sara Hayes is the Founder and Head Coach of Mindful Miles, a women’s movement and wellness company that prioritizes mindfulness habits, personal development, and intuitive movement. Sara and the team at Mindful Miles use their knowledge and experience to promote the importance of body image, advocacy and movement for mental health. Today, Whitney and Sara talk about the Mindful Mil...

Episode Summary Makenna Myler, while pregnant with her first child, ran a mile in five minutes and 25 seconds— just 10 days before she gave birth to her daughter in October. Her husband, Mike, created a TikTok post that accumulated over 6 million views. Her story jumped to numerous other news sites around the world...and she just did it again, right before this recording---running a 5:17 just days...

Episode Summary Dr. Todd McGrath is a primary sports medicine physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He’s also an endurance athlete who works with runners at all levels, including elite to the ‘weekend warriors.’ Dr. McGrath has also served as team physician for the U.S. Soccer’s National Teams. Dr. McGrath has a strong personal and professional interest in endurance athletes....

Episode Summary Andrea Ripley is a mother, running coach, and elite distance runner from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials with a Marathon best of 2:43. She’s currently coaching with her husband, Zach Ripley, at A to Z Running, where they help runners thrive. Today, Andi joins the show to share her own journey of running, overcoming injuries, and handling adversity....

Episode Summary Andrea Pomaranski has been through so much in her road to becoming an elite runner and has learned an incredible amount about herself throughout the process. So much good can lie ahead even when we’re in the middle of a dark period. When Andrea was in the middle of hers, she refused to believe that was the end of her story. Today, Andrea joins the show to share how she was able to...

Episode Summary Hadley Sorensen is a health and fitness coach, lifelong runner and author who is looking to publish her first book, Confessions of a Picture Perfect Mom. Today, Hadley joins the show to share her journey to sobriety and how running played a pivotal role in helping her move past alcohol. Whitney and Hadley talk about navigating the complicated relationship with alcohol, Mommy Wine c...

Episode Summary Dr. Haley Perlus is a sports psychologist with knowledge and personal experience as an elite athlete, coach, fitness professional, and entrepreneur. An overall wellness enthusiast, Dr. Haley Perlus provides her clients with the necessary mental toughness tools to quickly and consistently achieve their highest level of performance. Today, Whitney and Dr. Haley talk all about how we...

Episode Summary Tricia DeNardis is a physical therapist, pregnancy & postpartum exercise specialist. She is an eating disorder survivor who is on a mission to help other women have a healthier relationship to food. Today, Tricia joins the show to discuss how to have a healthy relationship with food and running. She gets vulnerable and opens up about her own struggles, speaks to the warning sig...

Episode Summary Amy Stephens is a registered dietitian, certified specialist in sports nutrition, blogger, runner and food coach. She has over twenty years of experience working with amateur and high-performing Olympic level athletes to achieve their sports performance goals using the latest science- backed approaches. Today, Whitney and Amy discuss how running affects our hormones and how our hor...

Episode Summary Ben Reale is the Founder of the personal training group, Condition One Fitness & Nutrition. He’s a Marathon runner, licensed attorney, and a former Marine Officer who has led more than 6,000 one-on-one training sessions and 600 small group classes. He is an expert in thoroughly evaluating someone to determine their ‘movement baseline,’ incorporating individualized corrective st...

Episode Summary Claire Bartholic is an ASAF Certified Running Coach and a NESTA Certified Sports Nutrition Specialist. Claire is also the host of one of the most popular running podcasts in the world, The Planted Runner Podcast. Today, Whitney and Claire discuss tips and mental tricks that can help you run your best, how to flip the ‘comparison trap’ on its head, and the importance of positive sel...

Episode Summary Neely Gracey is a three-time Olympic Trials Qualifier and Founder of the run coaching group, Get Running Coaching. Today, Neely joins the show to discuss racing strategies such as running the tangent, navigating water stops, and other tactics to consider. Neely shares her thoughts on running etiquette, how to settle into your comfort zone when you find yourself running alone, and w...

Episode Summary Laura Norris is a certified running coach, small business owner, writer, and content creator. She believes in a blended approach to coaching that utilizes both evidence-based methods of training and a holistic approach of coaching the runner as a person first, athlete second. Laura’s philosophy emphasizes sustainability, enjoyment, and long-term growth. Today, Whitney and Laura tal...