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This one is for the first-timers—but really for anyone who wants to take on the marathon distance & feel like they nailed it (well, the best they can…).

On this episode, we give our top marathon advice for first-timers but it’s really lessons and tips that can benefit any runner. We share lessons, experiences, and mistakes to avoid. 

As with most episodes, we start with a tangent (this one about aging), and then venture into marathon-related topics such as fueling tips, do’s & don’ts, tips to mentally & physically prepare for the distance, what’s normal & what’s not, taper tantrum tips, mental game tactics, and much more! 

We hope our discussion pumps you up AND sets you up for success in going 26.2 so that you are ready to respect the distance & meet it healthy & ready.

This episode is sponsored by:

CURE HYDRATION 

Save 15% with code MILESWITHMOMS

RELAY ACTIVE clothes 

Save 15% with code MILESWITHMOMS

Chapters

00:00 Aging Gracefully: Embracing the 40s

02:44 The Perception of Age in Society

05:42 The Role of Podcasts in Daily Life

08:23 Marathon Advice for First Timers

11:20 Exploring Ultra Running

13:55 Sponsorships and Product Recommendations

16:03 Marathon Advice for First Timers

17:38 Fueling Strategies for Marathon Training

27:59 The Importance of Practice Runs

37:08 Recovery and Nutrition for Marathoners

38:24 The Marathon Mindset: Overcoming Mental Blocks

39:53 Building Up to the Distance: Training Strategies

41:36 Time on Your Feet: The Importance of Gradual Training

43:35 Understanding Fatigue: The Reality of Marathon Training

46:25 The Taper: Preparing for Race Day

49:03 Listening to Your Body: The Balance of Training

51:18 Setting Yourself Up for Success: Choosing the Right Race

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 now runs ultras (& sometimes even wins them!). 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.

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