Another Mother Runner

In what Molly dubbed a “dogcast,” Sarah and her veterinarian-by-profession running partner Molly focus on running with a dog. Their first guest, Mark Stockamp, is a professional dog runner who has logged (dogged?!) more than 2,500 miles with furry friends in less than three years. Mark tells what breeds are best for running—and why fur length is important; he also tells tips for helping your pooch deal with hot temperatures (and pavement). This pro offers creative poop-scooping ideas, and he and Molly bond over something Molly is “morally opposed” to doing. Mark shares training tips and advice about leash length. Next the BRFs are joined by Amanda Loudin, a mother runner of two human children and one fur baby, a whippet named Tori. Amanda and Molly bond over being owners of “reactive” dogs before the conversation veers toward Santa’s Little Helper of “The Simpsons” fame. Amanda, a certified running coach, and Molly dispense tips about when to first start running with a dog. Interwoven throughout the...

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Sarah and Dimity have a virtual sit-down with Jennifer Roe and Katie Foster, two of the stars of the new documentary “From Fat to Finish Line,” which chronicles a team of 12 runners who lost a combined weight of 1,200+ pounds as they run a Ragnar Relay in Key West. Producer Jennifer leads off the conversation, telling how her running and weight-loss journey started with a vow to run “a 5-mile marathon” and why this slightly misguided intention was her $100 “action step.” Jen, a mom of a special-needs son, shares how running one mile nonstop for the first time shattered all her self-constrained limits about herself—and how now she’s training for her second New York City Marathon. Find out what she “1000% recommends” to change your mindset toward a race. (Apologies in advance: Jen has several coughing jags during the show; she was getting over a cold.) Next up is Katie “Runs for Cookies” Foster, who walks through how a bike riding experience morphed her into a runner. Katie shares details of the lower-body...

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Sarah and co-host Molly Williams have a major chat with Justin Ross, a Denver-based psychologist who works with runners and triathletes, about the mental side of running (and swimming!). This father of two young children started running less than a decade ago, yet he’s already qualified for Boston Marathon! The trio has an intriguing conversation about how connecting to your future self or to values (rather than goals) can bolster flagging motivation. After Molly shares a particularly candid story about her overwhelming fear of running six miles when she was a newbie runner, the good doctor counsels on how to get over mental hurdles that inevitably arise in training or racing. He talks about the importance of connecting to trust while prepping for a race and well as cultivating the ability to tap into a sense of calm. This thought-provoking dialog concludes with examining the “flow” of movement. Along the way, find out what Molly fears most of seeing while open-water swimming.

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Sarah and co-host Adrienne Martini welcome registered dietician Janelle Hodovic to discuss weight loss and running: fueling, nutrition, and getting that dang number on the scale to budge! Janelle, a mom of two young sons in Iowa, starts by sharing that she’s one race (London Marathon) away from completing the World Marathon Majors--and that she almost always runs pushing a double stroller. With a refreshing take-no-prisoners attitude, Janelle offers ways to get around calorie counting yet still lose or maintain weight. She offers loads of suggestions for post-run treats, including savvy smoothie-making advice. Janelle highlights how Pinterest can help with weight management and fueling, and she shares how to feel satiated, not ravenous, in the evening. Find out what areas of nutrition mother runners undervalue most, and how to add more protein to meals. Falling under the category “Quirky Juxtapositions,” listen for a major sidebar about bacon plus numerous mentions of post-race (!) barbecue pork...

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Sarah and Ellison Weist reunite to co-host what has now become an annual tradition: the Summer Reading podcast. And this episode is bursting with even more recommendations than in years past! After talking about whooping cough (!) and “free-range running,” the duo dives into book recommendations, starting with new fiction, then moving to just-debuted non-fiction, and finishing up with books from several years ago that they just can’t “let go” of.

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Sarah and co-host Dimity explore an important subject: post-partum depression and anxiety. The mother runners are joined in this conversation by Mary Jackson Lee, LCSC, a psychotherapist who works with women and couples in this arena. Mary describes the differences between post-partum depression (PPD) and the more common post-partum anxiety, as well as explaining what’s outside the “bell curve of normal.” She offers assurances about how common some levels of anxiety is, and she discusses the arsenal of tools available to help people feel better. Dimity talks about her personal experience with PPD, plus her years-long depression. Mary stresses the importance of finding “something outside your own head,” whether it’s running, yoga, or scrapbooking. Despite being a heavy topic, the discussion ends on an optimistic note. And before bringing on the guest, find out what Team Thrasher is—and why Dimity’s a part of it. (No, she’s not become a mother skateboarder!) Important: This podcast contains trigger warnings...

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Sarah and co-host Coach Christine Hinton dive into the joy (and the challenge!) of 5K races, welcoming three mother runners to talk about how they got into running and why 3.1-mile races captivate them. (Along the way, they mix in Voice Memos from other 5Kers.) After laughter-filled chitchat, Couch Christine shares sage advice for this popular-with-all-stripes-of-runners races. The first guest is Erin Troia, who recently ran her 100th race which was her 40th 5K. A self-proclaimed “running slut,” Erin showcases an infectious love of races as she tells how she adores “defying expectations about gals who wear sparkly skirts.” Next is Melanie Martin, a mother of four young daughters who ran her first 5K while six (6!) months pregnant and recently set her 5K PR when her youngest daughter was a mere three (3!!) months old. Melanie shares some last-mile tricks to keep pushing toward the finish line. The final guest, Crystle Ardoin, hails from Alaska. This military spouse gushes how her first 5K made her, “feel...

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Fresh off her own 6.2-mile race, Sarah talks 10Ks with co-host Molly Williams. The Portland gals bring in a variety of voices on the topic, talking with four mother runners who have recently crossed a 10K finish line and mixing in Voice Memos from other 10Kers. First up is new mom Sarah Axelrod, whose story highlights the importance of checking a course map pre-race. Her 10K race wasn’t what she’d hoped it would be, so hear what she did for a do-over. Then Erin LeFevre, a mome of two young kids, talks about why 10K is the perfect race distance for her. Erin explains why she doesn’t have a time goal when she races; instead, 10Ks are about finishing with a smile on her face. Next up: Sara Roach, a runner since 2013, describes her transformation from a run/walker on her “dusty treadmill” in her basement to a Boston-qualifying marathoner who loves 10Ks as a way to get her speed on and let her endurance show. This self-proclaimed “grinder” shares tricks she uses to spur herself to go faster in races, as well as...

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As the summer heats up, Sarah and co-host Adrienne Martini welcome two guests to talk about sweat. First up is Melissa Elfers, a textile scientist (who knew!), who explains the ins-and-outs of polyester, bringing the “Saturday Night Fever” white suit and Play-Doh Fuzzy Pumper Barber Shop into the conversation. Elfers explains why washing workout wear the wrong way repeatedly compounds the stink-factor, and she shares laundry tips for keeping gear fresh. Next up is Cathy Horton, creator of SweatX sport detergent. This triathlete and mom of two (including a professional soccer player!) tells how stains and stink drove her so crazy, she developed the stink-banishing detergent. Find out why Cathy calls a sweat droplet “a big rot fest,” and how perspiration makes running clothes smelly. Germ-phobes might want to sanitize their earbuds after listening to this grimy-yet-enlightening episode!

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Sarah and co-host Molly Williams are joined by writer/coach Matt Fitzgerald for a conversation about mental fitness, based on his latest book, How Bad Do You Want It: Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle. Along the way, Matt admits for him, “the whole dang enchilada is mental,” and he talks about why he prefers the term “mental fitness” over “mental toughness.” The trio doesn’t shy way from tough topics, diving right in with how the fear of suffering and failure holds back some athletes. Find out why Matt believes every runner should develop “a coach within.” He points out that you bring the mental skills you possess in real life to running—and how they can help or hinder you; he also shares steps for dealing with negative thoughts. Matt reveals the single most common mistake in endurance sports, as well as the most important quality to have as a runner. Great news for newbies: This marathon man wraps things up focusing on the importance of using experience, not just having it.

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