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In this episode, we share how we got faster—something we have been asked about a lot. But this conversation comes with many caveats: running is not just about being fast or getting faster. And we don’t know everything there is about running & getting faster. But we do know what helped us shaved time off our PRs—so we are sharing that. 

In this episode, Whitney, Olivia & Shanna (Tricia had to work) talk about how we improved our marathon performances over time. We share insights on difference training methods, the importance of fueling, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with running—and also just being a woman with hormonal shifts. We share what hurt and helped our training, & hope this gives you some helpful info on what to do to go after your goals (whatever they may be). We urge you to run your own race, put on your blinders, and enjoy the process (without comparison!). 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context

07:06 Personal Journeys in Running

20:38 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Growth

23:00 Embracing the Journey of Motherhood and Running

24:09 Navigating Hormonal Changes and Training

25:38 The Importance of Coaching in Running

27:31 Understanding Heart Rate Training

29:53 The Balance of Pace and Effort in Workouts

31:58 Adapting Training to Life Changes

34:31 Finding Your Own Path in Running

35:40 The Role of Self-Belief in Running

37:06 Reality Checks and Learning from Experiences

39:45 The Importance of Coaching and Training Plans

42:04 Evaluating Fitness Through Marathons

44:54 Learning to Enjoy the Process of Running

46:43 Finding What Works for You

48:32 The Need for Flexibility in Training

50:57 Encouragement and Community in Running

About your hosts:

• Whitney Heins is a mom of 2 kids, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. IG: @themotherrunners.
• Shanna Birchett is a mom of 6 kids six years apart, including twins. She returned to running in 2022 after an 11-year break, running a 2:44 marathon in the summer of 2024. She is the co-founder of Endure 365 running, endure365.com, which offers heart rate-based training plans. IG: @motherhood_running.
• Tricia DeNardis is a mom to 3 young kids and a physical therapist specializing in the pelvic floor, pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation. After running 10 marathons, Tricia completed her first 50k in the fall of 2024, and is now hooked! IG: @burpeesandburpcloths.
• Olivia Garcia is a mom of 2 young kids, who used to work as a paramedic. She fell in love with running in 2019, despite surviving a marathon that didn’t go according to plan. With a 2:57 PR, she's cut more than an hour off her marathon time. IG: @watch_oliviarun...