Another Mother Runner

Sarah and Molly tuck into another round of TMI topics with Mara Altman, the author of Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back) (and mother of toddler twins!). The trio quickly goes there, talking about “hoohoos” and hemorrhoids. The first of many fabulous lines uttered by the guest is her admission, “I’ve always had anal issues.” From there, the conversation naturally (naturally!) moves to poop and buttcrack-chafing. Molly admits her love of B.O., prompting Mara to confess what helps her overcome writer’s block. The guest tells the origin story of PMS, which leads to a thought-provoking discussion about it really being a “permission slip for gruffer feelings.” Later, laughs abound as the talk turns to “crotch torture” and hot-boxing. Molly puts a great “you be you” bow on the episode.

In the intro, Molly and SBS talk about #foundchange (natch!) plus winter running apparel and Mercury Milefabulousness. The guest joins the show—and the TMI talk starts in earnest—at 15:00.

 Note: This episode is rated PG-13/NC-17, not suitable for most family road trips.

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Sarah and BRF/co-host Molly Williams got stood up at the last minute by a guest, so they settle in for a gab-fest. They conversationally skip from Molly’s tenant (her oldest daughter’s 25-year-old boyfriend) to Sarah’s twins’ musical to Portland water issues. Find out what Molly would do when she becomes mayor! The running buddies then debate their 2019 training plans, with SBS showing a glimmer of desire to race again. There’s talk of honing speed…within reason. An easy-going, laugh-filled conversation between two close friends. 

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Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell offer winter running gear advice to Atlantan Stephanie, who’s planning ahead for a holiday visit to her North Dakota in-laws. They remind post-baby Britney from Birmingham, Michigan, that it’s “9 months in, 9 months out,” as well as tell her how to find her workout groove again. After a detour to “Beverly Hills 90210,” the duo offers Kelly suggestions on stepping up to an unusual-length ultramarathon. Finally, Sarah and Dim sprinkle Erin from St. Louis with all sorts of Disney race tips.

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Fresh off running her 9th NYC Marathon, Tish Hamilton co-hosts with Sarah. Tish talks about why it was a great race to spectate, but rough for participants. NYC was Tish’s 54th marathon—find out what #55 is going to be. (#GreenWithEnvy—or should we say #VertWithEnvy?) The duo welcomes Kelly Herron, a two-time survivor of assaults while running and founder of the platform Not Today MF. (Good spoiler alert: She thwarts both attackers.) Kelly recounts the assault—and how she employed recently learned self-defense tactics to escape. She talks about empowerment and personal safety, and how her own mother runner helped her move behind the attack. Kelly shares defensive moves and recommends her favorite personal safety devices (including AfterShokz headphones, which are “like having four ears!”). Find out what constitutes 90% of self-defense. We realize some listeners will tune out when talk turns to the assaults: The guest joins the show at 20:11. Sign up as a VIP at JUSTFAB to get your first style for as low as $10. Go to JustFab.com/AMR To speak with a doctor about Addyi from the privacy of your own home, visit addyi.com/amr Try cricket-powered protein snacks from EXO. Save 15% using code AMR at ExoProtein.com

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Sarah Bowen Shea is joined by dear Ellison Weist to discuss how parents (in their cases, their respective fathers) started them down their path to becoming dedicated runners. Laugh along at the “jogging” attire Ellison remembers her father sporting—and why it got him pulled over by the police while out on an early morning jaunt! SBS talks about how her father’s devotion to two water-related sports—swimming and rowing—launched her on her running journey.Then, one after another, three mother runners hop on to tell their stories. First is Carla Burke, a mom of two preschoolers who’s training for her debut marathon, and who was influenced by her dad to take up running. Carla talks about his “Rocky-esque” running attire. Find out why that reference is especially apt, given the marathon Carla is training for—and which her father is volunteering for.

Next is Carolyn Rock, a mom of two grown daughters, who tells how she joined Weight Watchers and started running to avoid following her mother down a road of unhealthy choices. (Spoiler alert: Carolyn is running her 57th marathon this weekend!!) Laugh along as Carolyn calls a recliner “a chair of death” and laments her “weak side-butt.” Carolyn posits an intriguing theory about grief and physical running ailments.

The final guest is Sarah Axelrod, a mom of a daughter, who was deeply influenced by her own dedicated-runner mom. Hear how Sarah literally follows iher mother’s footsteps around Boston, including during an amazing recent 10K road race. SBS hopes this episodes causes you to reflect on the forces that shaped you into the runner you are today (or hope to become).In the intro, there is much talk of police procedurals/thrillers—find out which ones E and SBS are currently addicted to! The two books Ellison recommends are Washington Black and Witch Elm.

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Fresh off the Another Mother Retreat in Cape Cod, Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell counsel Elena from Brooklyn about weekly runny tallies, especially when coming off a marathon training cycle. Dimity’s great advice (borrowed from a tri coach in Train Like a Mother Club): “frequency over duration.” The duo explores reasons—and solutions—to why Mimi in Chicago might be feeling fatigued on runs the day after she strength trains. They give guidance to Kimberly from Lexington on how to re-center herself after an interruption during a run. Then Sarah and Dimity offer different suggestions to Carrie near Chicago about juggling half-marathon training with a European family vacation.  

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Dimity McDowell and Adrienne Martini have a candid conversation with Kate Fagan, ESPN columnist and author of What Made Maddy Run, the heartbreaking story of Madison Holleran, a collegiate runner who committed suicide during her freshman year. The trio discuss the ripple effects of mental illness and how it can be hidden from family members. In the intro, Dimity and Adrienne share about their own experiences with mental illness.

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Sarah and Dimity welcome a bevy of guests as they record in front of a live audience at a lululemon store in Kansas City just days before the Kansas City Marathon. After extolling why they are so pleased to return to the place where they launched their second book, Train Like a Mother, the duo kicks things off with Kim Fassetta from AfterShokz. This mother runner and marketing whiz talks about round 2 of marathon training after opting out of her debut 26.2 the day before the race—in Greece! Next, father runner Joe “Mr. Garmin” Heikes joins the conversation along with Jenni Prado, a mom of three who is running her second half-marathon on Saturday. Like Jenni, Joe sees the wisdom in keeping it simple and tracking workouts online. Next is empty-nester Catherine Brown, who’s using the Kansas City Half-Marathon as a training run for the Disney Dopey Challenge. A convert to heart-rate training, Catherine admits to having to check her ego at the door when she made the switch. Joe explains the differences measuring heart rate at the wrist versus the chest; for all runners, Mr. Garmin suggests two critical-yet-underutilized GPS watch functions. The final guest is mom of two Katie Hearn, whose tenth half-marathon this weekend will be her second post-baby—and she admits she’s aiming to better her pre-baby 13.1 PR! During a segment when Dimity and Sarah pepper Joe with questions based on their personal GPS experiences, Joe talks about why it’s more important to check data on some training days than others and how to best use a Garmin during a race. (SBS is now fired up to run a race just to utilize to the “set-a-target” feature!) Toward the end of the show, Joe answers the burning question all GPS-wearing runners wonder.

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Realizing it’s race season for many mother runners, Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell address Patty’s question about race-day anxiety. (Here’s link to pre-race meditation by Dr. Justin Ross that Dimity mentions.) Kathleen has concerns about the duration of a long run for marathon training, and the duo sets her straight. Heather feel vulnerable after hip surgery, so Dimity and Sarah suggest ways to regain the spark to get out the door. Sarah and Dim offer home-gym buying advice to Christina. First Nuun drinking game of AMR Answers: Chug whenever SBS or Dim joke about pieces of equipment at the gym!

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Sarah and Dimity chat with pro runner Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald in front of a room full of mother runners at the recent Twin Cities Marathon expo. Gabe is a nine-year cancer survivor and a local runner. Like any good Minnesotan (including recent guest Kara Goucher), Gabe mentions “hot dish” in her very first answer and explains why she adores the “dedicated and ambitious” Twin Cities running community. The middle-distance runner details her love of racing the mile and running on the track. “I love spiking up,” she says. Gabe takes listeners back to her 2009 diagnosis when she was a 22-year-old college track athlete. Gabe details the mission of her foundation, Brave Like Gabe, and shares about the genesis of the name. Acknowledging that every cancer journey is different, Gabe discusses the importance of having goals and continuing to move forward—and how she plans for races in three-month chunks of time. No fair-weather runner, Gabe imparts loads of cold-weather running tips, including apparel advice. Mercury Mile fuses fashion and function for all runners: Take $10 off your stylist fee by using code AMR at MercuryMile.com Enjoy Chosen Foods oils, salad dressings, and ancient grains: Get 50% off orders of $10 or more by using promo code MOTHERRUNNER at chosenfoods.com/amr

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