Another Mother Runner

Sarah and co-host Amanda Loudin share a sit-down with professional runner Neely Gracey, who’s also a running coach and mother of a 5-month-old baby. Neely, the top American woman in her debut marathon (Boston 2016), talks about playing the long game, laying out her five-year plan that includes the next two Olympic Marathon Trials.

With refreshing candor, Neely details her fitness endeavors while pregnant, providing value lessons for any sidelined runner. Dismissing the notion of “balance,” Neely shares her fresh mental approach to the juggling act of parenting, running, work, and other life elements. Smile as she talks about how grateful she is for her neighborhood mom friends. Find out why this mother runner bailed on a recent core workout.

Coach Neely speaks personally and professionally about the value of slow consistency, allowing you to see progress with every run. She also imparts solid wisdom about marathon training.

In the intro, SBS shares some sad news about her family’s cat, Miller. Neely joins the show at 11:53 (and Amanda has to duck out of the convo about halfway through).

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Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell help steer Stephanie toward an ideal choice for her first marathon, especially reminding the Rochester, NY, mom it’s not the likely weather on race day that should guide her. Cheers to Amy from Pittsburgh, who asks about an occasional glass of wine during marathon training. Drawing on their decades of gear-reviewing experience, the duo gives Reedy (yes?) from Milton, Mass., advice on how often to replace running kicks. (Learn--and laugh!--when Dimity coins a new term: moonboot-ism.) Treading on familiar ground for SBS, they offer streak-ending advice to Jenn from Albuquerque.

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Sarah and Dimity talk with three coaches to help you put your best foot forward in 2019. First up is Jenn Gill, a certified personal trainer and strength coach in addition to being a running coach (did we mention she has three kids, too?!). Jenn talks up the overlooked beauty (and discomfort) of 5K races, and she shares tips on how to maximize results in shorter races. She gets teary when telling how much she loves being a cheerleader for runners. The next coach is Amanda Loudin, highlighting the new 13.1 and 26.2 training plans in the Train Like a Mother Club. She details how to get the most out of your legs, imparting crucial advice for half- and full marathoners. Coach Amanda emphasizes the importance of consistency over the long haul (pun intended), and the ladies laugh about how double-digits run end up seeming like NBD when training for an endurance race. Finally, this veteran of 30+ marathons gives race-day advice for 26.2-mile events. The final coach to join the program is Liz Waterstraat, one half of the duo now orchestrating the TLAM Club heart-rate training programs. Coach Liz explains why heart rate is such a “rich metric” of what’s going on inside a runner’s body during training. She describes the benefits—and the beauty—of HRT; she elaborates on the importance of taking training day by day, one run at a time. Wrapping up with race advice, Liz sings the praises of being prepared: why it is critical and how it can ensure race success.

In the intro, Sarah shares details of her family’s European vacation and Dimity talks of her family’s holiday; the first coach joins the show at 13:15.

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An annual tradition, Sarah chats with her coterie of co-hosts to talk about the highs and lows of the past year—and what races the gals are eyeing in the New Year.

Molly; Tish; Dimity; Amanda; Maggie: All share insight + laughs. E.g.

- Dimity talking about how her focus is now on “adventures instead of races; experiences instead of data.”

- Amanda on how she keeps her motivation burning bright and stays injury free as a runner in her early 50s who routinely logs 35 to 40 weekly miles.

- Maggie, amid loads (loads!) of laughs tells why she got emotional in a recent seaside half-marathon.

Nuun drinking game? Chug every time someone says the phrase “air quotes” or even seems to use them; drink twice every time Dim says it.

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Sarah and co-host Ellison chat in the intro, then the episode has Sarah as a guest on a podcast called The Four Top. That episode is a roundtable discussion with the co-authors of Good Food, Great Medicine. Topics covered include carbohydrates, protein bars, and bowls. Definitely listen to hear Sarah’s TMI question about corn! In the intro, Ellison talks about defending her age-group title in a hometown 5K. Then, of course, the convo turns to books: Ellison is savoring Pachinko, while SBS is engrossed by The Golden Age of Murder. (It’s less creepy than it sounds!) This leads the ladies to sing the praises of non-fiction books. The Four Top episode starts at 23:50. Download the Zeel app and use code RUNNER for $25 off your first massage.  The first step to straighter teeth: Get 25% off your Candid Co. modeling kit at candidco.com/AMR Thanks, Wander Beauty. Get 20% off at WanderBeauty.com/amr

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Sarah and co-host Amanda Loudin connect with four women to hear about how they each started to run in a different decade. First in line is Julie Mayne Baker, who began running in her 20s—nearly four decades ago. Julie shares how her running changed over the years; find out what launched her into marathons in her 40s. The started-in-her-30s runner is Erin Wright, who took her first running steps after the birth of her second baby. Laugh (and nod!) along as Erin admits how the idea of alone-time was a major motivation to get out the door. Next up is Erica Richards who, you guessed it, started running in her 40s, and who offers up a resounding reason why it’s great to enter the running realm “later in life.” Erica teaches SBS a new definition of “B.C.” She also drops numerous pearls of wisdom about leaving behind guilt and sidestepping injuries. Last but not least is became-a-runner-in-her-5th-decade Donna Lehmann, who sings the praises of cold-weather running. She gives loads of witty advice, including how to respond to naysayers and doubters. Regardless what age you became a runner, you’ll relate to and learn from these four gals.

In the intro, Amanda talks about playing nurse-maid for her her senior-year son, who just got his wisdom teeth out that morning. The duo welcomes the first guest at 13:10.

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Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell counsel Amy in Chapel Hill on how to help her sister get right with a race finish time, suggesting someone set intentions at the start of a training cycle. They guide Zoe in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on resuming running after an illness, including “doing less than you think you can.” The duo points out to Rebecca in Sarasota, Florida, that motivation and “decision-fatigue” are related—and that sometimes there is no magic. (And that’s okay.) SBS + Dim give post-race recovery advice to Susan in Indiana. Vitamin S is a recurring theme in several responses: Find out what it is and how it can help every single runner. And laugh along at Dimity’s Hershey’s Kisses anecdote! Note: The next episode of AMR Answers will air Tuesday, January 8. 

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Sarah and co-host Tish Hamilton convene with three BAMRs who each nabbed a personal best in Twin Cities races to find out how they got the job done. First up is Kathy Bray, an attorney and mom of two, who bested her Twin Cities 10-Miler from eleven years ago. (Despite sandbagging like a champ to SBS at the expo!) Kathy tells how rediscovering gratitude about being healthy and injury-free pushed her to dig a little deeper on race day. She explains how getting out of her own head helped her power up hills and do the all-important—trust in her training. Find out what soundtrack also drove Kathy up the inclines (hint: She wasn’t throwing away her PR shot!).

Next up: Christina Ashtiani, a mom of three and a real estate agent, shares how she set a 13-minute PR (5:37) in the marathon. Like Kathy, strength training worked wonders for Christina. Laugh along as she describes being “an energy vampire” in the final mile. Hear about her experience with a pace group. The final guest is Kim Truesdell, a writer + fitness instructor as well as a mom of two. While Kim missed her time goal, the 2018 Twin Cities Marathon was the first time she broke the four-hour mark. She shares the mental tricks she used when the going got tough, and find out the apt word printed on her bib. Unlike Christina, Kim relays a less-positive pace-group experience, but she reveals how she went it alone.

In the intro, Tish and SBS share the artistic activities they are enjoying with their respective kids. Tish gives an update on her long-distance love life, including a recent race she and her boyfriend both ran, but definitely not side-by-side. And Sarah talks about her family’s upcoming European vacation. The first of the three PR-nabbing guests joins the conversation at 25:00.

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With an eye toward the New Year, Sarah and co-host Amanda Loudin discuss the ins-and-outs of planning a successful race calendar. Answering a variety of questions from BAMRs on the AMR Facebook page, they start with debating “the sweet spot,” the optimum number of races per year. Amanda, a coach for a decade, talks about the importance of making decisions about your goal for the year—then making choices to set you up for success. Coach Amanda explains why she’s not a fan of “over-racing” and she dazzles SBS with the concept of “results-oriented running.” Amanda details how to be half-marathon ready at all times. The coach outlines how to tackle several endurance races in one season, and what a runner’s focus must be between races. Find out what the “desire factor” with marathons is—and which one of the duo feels it creeping back into her soul (soles!?). And, naturally, the duo wraps up the conversation with a detour into the realm of paddle spots. (Are you #TeamPickleball or #TeamPaddleTennis?)

In the intro, the chitchat goes to the dogs—literally: Amanda and SBS talk about their pooches (whippet and French bulldog, respectively). Amanda puts on her coach’s hat for the meat of the show at 15:56.

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Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell give guidance to Ohioan Tammy who is planning her annual race calendar; Dimity offers up the pearl of “know your race rhythms.” In response to Sandy from Nashville, the gals talk about cross-training, particularly working around OrangeTheoryFitness workouts. They counsel Bertina in Wisconsin about coaching options, and they air their dirty laundry (!) in response to an inquiry from Alison in London, Ontario. First up, though, Dimity raves about her recent stay at Rancho La Puerta. Allay your envy by joining SBS and Dim at the AMR Retreat at RLP in February. Head here for details.

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