Return to Run

Mary Daniels joins Careth Arnold and Amanda Basham to talk through a very real postpartum return to running after a huge year of change. They cover her pregnancy, C-section recovery, breastfeeding challenges, postpartum anemia, and the slow rebuild back toward trail and ultra fitness.In this episode, Mary also shares her path from being a laywer into marketing, coaching, and elite running, plus how she is navigating life, work, and motherhood while trying to stay healthy and competitive.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mary Daniels and her athletic background 00:01 Introduction to Mary's postpartum journey 02:08 The emotional and physical challenges of postpartum 03:58 Mary's journey from college skiing to ultrarunning 04:09 Initial postpartum recovery and rest 05:59 Balancing law school, lawer life, and running 07:59 Transitioning from law to marketing and coaching 10:10 Relocating for family and career 10:23 Progression from walking to running 11:59 Pregnancy and training adjustments 13:53 Postpartum recovery and returning to running 15:00 Impact of nutritional deficiencies on recovery 16:01 Experiences with pregnancy during ultramarathons 17:57 Birth story and delivery choices 19:59 The emotional journey of motherhood and relationships 20:11 Breastfeeding struggles and pumping challenges 22:01 Pregnancy and race performance at Kodiak 23:57 Managing training and coaching postpartum 25:04 Experiencing heavy postpartum bleeding in France 25:48 Reflections on balancing life, sport, and family 30:00 Medical assessment and diagnosis of postpartum period 35:04 Recovery and return to running 40:05 Race plans and future goals 45:02 Reflections on postpartum health and resilience

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@amanda_basham

Abigail West joins us to talk about balancing life as an artist, runner, and new mom. She shares how she kept running through pregnancy, navigated a long labor as a true warrior, and is now easing back into training while managing her artistic career with a new baby. We loved getting to learn more about her art practice and as well as her athletic persuits!

Check out her work at:

abigailwest.net

@upinthewoods

Key Topics:

Balancing a creative career with athletic pursuits Pregnancy and childbirth during an ultramarathon training cycle Home birth experience and hospital transition Postpartum recovery and pelvic health Managing back labor and labor complications Postpartum recovery and returning to running Art printmaking techniques and process Balancing motherhood, art, and running Managing a creative business and art festivals Postpartum mental health and sleep strategies Training and injury prevention postpartum Traveling and working as a parent and artist Goals and plans for future races and art projects

Careth and Amanda share their most recent expeirences at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc this past weekend. Careth shares why she went into the race with no pressure to perform, only to "close the loop" and enjoy the course, while Amanda talks through the mindset shift that kept her from spiraling when she didn't know her place until late in the race. They also get into recovery after Hardrock, the mental toll of big mountain races, and what it means to come away from a major effort feeling encouraged instead of broken. If you care about UTMB, elite women's trail running, or the mental side of racing long and hard without losing yourself in the process, this one is packed with insight. It's part race recap, part mindset clinic, and part reminder that sometimes your best result comes when you stop forcing it.

In this raw conversation, Careth reconnects with Michelle Senyard to explore her journey from college days to becoming a passionate traveler, adventure photographer, and new mom. They discuss the transformative power of outdoor exploration, spiritual growth, fitness, birth, postpartum, and melting into motherhood.

Chapters

00:00 The YOLO Year: Embracing Adventure Before Parenthood 10:59 Meeting John: A Love Story Rooted in Faith 12:25 Planning for Parenthood: The Journey to Pregnancy 14:05 Fitness Journey: Staying Active During Pregnancy 18:47 Mindset Shift: Embracing Body Changes 19:03 Navigating Pregnancy: The First Trimester Experience 22:57 Traveling While Pregnant: Adventures and Challenges 26:21 Preparing for Birth: Expectations vs. Reality 33:09 The Birth Experience: A Wild Journey 37:35 Postpartum: Adjusting to Life with a Newborn 38:43 Navigating the Challenges of Breastfeeding 45:12 The Importance of Partner Support in Parenting 52:00 Embracing the Journey of Motherhood 59:55 Finding Joy in the Little Moments 01:03:31 The Role of Community and Connection in Motherhood

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In this episode Careth and Amanda share their recent experiences at the Canyons by UTMB race. Amanda placed 3rd in the 100 mile distance and Careth placed 2nd at the 100k distance. Listen as they give insights to their taper, race, and recovery and hear what is next on the docket!

In this chat with Ashley, we get to know her as an athlete, mother, and inspirational human. Ashley shares with us her routines, postpartum journey, race ambitions, and a bunch of fun in between. We hope you enjoy getting to know Ashley as much as we did.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 02:53 Athletic Background and Transition to Pregnancy 05:43 Challenges in College Athletics 08:22 Finding Love and Family Planning 11:17 Pregnancy Experience and Running 14:00 Labor and Delivery Experience 19:25 Postpartum Journey and Breastfeeding 25:06 Returning to Fitness After Baby 29:37 Training Evolution and Cross-Training Strategies 30:44 Sponsorship Journey with Hoka 32:19 Postpartum Pressures and Imposter Syndrome 34:21 Challenges of Returning to Racing After Pregnancy 36:07 First Race Back and Its Impact 38:03 Future Race Plans and Goals 39:56 Navigating Illness and Family Life 41:51 Balancing Work, Family, and Training 44:24 Traveling with Family for Races 49:58 Reflections on Personal Growth and Future Aspirations

Interested in sharing your personal motherhood journey with us?

Send us a DM on instagram.

@i.careth

@amanda_basham

Amanda and Careth share personal insights about balancing intense training, recovery, mental health, and home chores. They discuss a variety of topics, including training through sickiness, self-coaching, managing seasonal depression, and staying motivated to complete mundane household chores that are never ending.

Key Topics:

• The significance of sleep and rest during tapering and recovery phases
• The impact of seasonal and climate-related stress on mental health
• Self-coaching versus working with a coach: benefits and challenges
• Balancing training, life, and household chores as an athlete-mom
• Strategies for mental wellness: mindfulness, minimizing media, and cozy rituals like tea
• Training insights: injury recovery, night running, and race planning
• Reflections on recent races, weather conditions, and upcoming adventures
• The mental shift: embracing the simplicity of "just running" and focusing on joy
• Practical tips for home and yard management to support a balanced lifestyle

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@amanda_basham

Join us as Emkay Sullivan shares her resilient journey through pregnancy, injury recovery, and returning to running. Discover insights on managing Achilles issues, pregnancy fitness, and the emotional aspects of motherhood. In this episode, Emkay shares her birth story and what it has been like for her so far in this postpartum season. She discusses the physical and emotional challenges, the importance of support systems, and her race plans post-recovery :)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:56 Emkay's Return to Running Post Achilles Surgery 03:49 Managing Stress and Recovery During Pregnancy 08:04 Pregnancy Journey: From Trying to Conceive to Birth 11:54 Physical and Emotional Challenges of Pregnancy 16:02 Birth Story: Labor, Epidural, and Delivery Details 19:59 Postpartum Recovery and Resuming Exercise 24:01 Balancing Motherhood, Fitness, and Mental Health 28:02 Reflections on Pregnancy, Birth, and Future Plans 02:40 Labor experiences and personal stories 06:54 Post-birth challenges and recovery 15:11 Pelvic health and physical therapy 24:57 Return to running and fitness levels 34:57 Race plans and future goals 45:01 Support systems and balancing motherhood 54:58 Advice for athlete moms and postpartum health

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@amanda_basham

@emkaysulli

In this episode we are joined by Leah Yingling! She shares her journey through motherhood, discussing the challenges of parenting schedules, the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, her birth story, and return to training. She emphasizes the importance of trust in parenting partnerships and the need for self-advocacy during pregnancy. Leah also reflects on the unique bond created during labor and the experiences of having a child in the NICU, in addition to many more words of wisdom she shares with us.

Chapters