Welcome to episode 55 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m Esther Newman, editor of Women’s Running, and in this episode I speak to Rachel Ann Cullen. I was originally due to chat with Rachel two years ago at RunFestRun, but she was struck down with a nasty chest infection and it wasn’t meant to be. 

Rachel is a runner, writer and author: her bestselling debut book, Running For My Life, describes her journey to discover a better version of herself through running following years of mental and physical struggle.  Rachel has since run 12 marathons and has completed the London Marathon five times. She ran the Boston Marathon in 2018 and in addition to her running, she has cycled 480km across Costa Rica on a mountain bike.

As you’ll hear, she discovered running at a complicated stage in her life, but now considers it a fundamental part of her mental health toolbox, as many of us do. Rachel has lived with body dysmorphia and bipolar disorder, and talks about both of these things frankly – and how taking up running offered relief, acceptance and support. As many of us will know, the path to mental wellness is not necessarily a linear one, and she talks about that particular road, and how she has been determined to get well for the sake of her daughter. 

Rachel has transformed her running with the help of Polar’s Vantage M2 GPS watch. Rachel utilises Polar’s unique, innovative technologies in her fitness and sleep routines to enhance her training. And it’s so interesting to chat to Rachel here about that after having talked to Eilish McColgan about how she uses Polar a couple of weeks ago: they’re very different runners, but as you’ll hear, Polar supports them both equally.

Rachel is currently writing her third book, due out next year, so do watch this space for that. 

Podcast listeners can claim the best discount we have for membership to Women’s Running, which is 35% off. That’s less than £2.95 a month! And for that you get our brilliant magazine, and you also get loads of money off the sorts of stuff you love, like kit, nutrition and class memberships. Just enter WRPOD at the checkout for your discount. Happy running!

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