In this episode of the podcast we speak to Mother, Olympian, author and Dr, Jana Pittman. Jana is one of Australia's most well know athletic personalities and had a long athletic career, particularly of note in 400m & 400m hurdles events and loved running for her country.

The country watched Jana from her junior years at her first Olympic Games in the year 2000 in Sydney at the young age of 17, to the many championship races, winning 4 Commonwealth Championship medals, two world titles, (the second of which she won after giving birth to her son only 8 months earlier), to enduring injury and scrutiny, until she finally changed lanes and competed in her third Olympic Games in the Bobsled women's event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. This made Jana the only Australian woman in history to compete in both the summer and winter Olympic Games.

There is no denying that Jana had drive from an early age to perform and succeed and succeed she did, both on and off the sporting field. 

Early on sport is what defined Jana, however her true passion lay in her desire to for medicine, to become a doctor and to raise a family, both of those accomplishments she so openly shares with us in this episode. 

In this episode Jana shares the highs and lows of her journey, the dreams and setbacks that come with pursuing your passions and the everyday failings of parenthood. 

You can find out more about Jana and her achievements and current pursuits at www.janapittman.com

You can also follow Jana on her socials at @janapittmanofficial on instagram and you can buy Jana's autobiography Just another hurdle via her website or at most online book stores like Booktopia.

This episode is brought to you by fisiocrem Australia. 

Sophie Brown is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist and elite ultra-marathon runner. It is her job, and passion, to help athletes in their pursuit of optimal nutrition, whether you're an amateur or more serious competitor. In this episode we deep dive into the world of nutritional advice and what is required from an athlete's perspective to optimise training and performance. We talk about nutrition and how it can play a big role both pre and post performance, and during different phases of womanhood such as pregnancy,  per-menopause and menopause. 

We discuss the role of nutrition for healthy lifestyle and performance and how lack of adequate nutrition can lead to reduced performance and stress on the body. 

This episode is packed full of great advice from a qualified professional. Sophie is based on Sydney's Northern Beaches and offers online consultations. She assists athletes of all ability levels with diet advice and meal planning to fit with their training and competition schedules.

You can find out more about Sophie at https://www.therunningdietitian.com  and If you are seeking nutrition advice from a Dietitian with an understanding from the athlete's perspective, Sophie would love to hear from you.  You can email her at [email protected]

You can find Sophie on instagram @therunningdietitian

This episode is brought to you by fisiocrem Australia. 

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In episode 22 we talk to RMA Amanda Richardson. Amanda is an Aussie mum to two boys and currently lives in Toronto, Canada where she moved three years ago for her husbands work. I talk to Amanda about what it was like to move to the other side of the world with a young family and the isolation in which that experience brought her. You see, Amanda initially couldn't find the same connections that RMA gave her through running with women here in Australia, and it was during this isolation, when times really got tough that Amanda along with some local women formed their own running community, Chix Run the Six.

This new established network of running women was formed to help engage, inspire and encourage women to live big, chase goals and be connected, just like we do here at RMA. Although in it's infancy, Amanda and her tribe are making waves in Toronto and creating a wonderful community which was much needed, especially during a global pandemic, and I wanted to dive in and learn more about what made Amanda start this group and the similarities that both our networks share. 

We also chat things to do with motherhood, and importantly the catalyst to Amanda's running journey, when she was battling post natal depression and anxiety and her doctor prescribed running as a form of stress release and exercise to help her through this difficult time. I am sure many can relate. In those early days any run with a baby in the pram was an accomplishment for the day, and her consistent runs improved her mental and physical health, and she was able to set herself some small goals. Fast forward to Amanda meeting some mums at her local school (RMA Ambassador Ana Croger one of them) that her whole journey changed, and those goals turned into big plans including running half marathons, marathons and world majors. 

Amanda is infectious in her attitude, and although living abroad can seem isolating, she has turned this experience around and is in-turn creating her own story and the story for hundreds of others and we are really excited to partner as sisters across the globe with Chix Run the Six and support this initiative, especially with our RMA sister Amanda at the helm. 

You can find Amanda on instagram where she chats all things life, running, parenthood and plant-based nutrition at @plantbasedmotherrunner or you can follow Chix Run the Six at @chixrunthe6ix

This podcast is brought to you by fisiocrem Australia 

Mel lives in Canberra and is Mum to Willoughby (8) and Eloise (5) and wife to Jonathan. She is a plant fuelled, runner and nature lover and is passionate about sharing her love of adventure with the RMA tribe and her family. Mel has been active and involved in sport all her life, most significantly ballet and hockey. Running had always been a part of her training schedule but Mel never actually considered herself a runner. In late 2013 (8 months after giving birth), Mel started running as a way to restore her fitness and to share her love of the outdoors with Willoughby. In 2015, Mel ran through her second pregnancy until a week before Eloise’s birth (Feb 2016) and shared her journey through an RMA blog. She credits her active pregnancy for her “perfect” labour and recovery.

Through her running journey Mel has met some of the most inspiring and supportive women. She is passionate about connecting with these wonderful women, fostering relationships, building networks and encouraging women to believe in themselves, their abilities and potential. Mel hopes that through her role as RMA ambassador she can continue to encourage and support every running mum to take on challenges, chase their dreams and create an empowering village.

You can follow Mel on instagram at @Runmumsb or you can read about her journey on the RMA website below:

Pregnancy files part 1.

Pregnancy files part 2.

Pregnancy files part 3. 

Pregnancy files part 4. 

Pregnancy files part 5. 

As mentioned in the podcast, you can find the Epic Runs of the World book here. 

This podcast is brought to you by fisiocrem Australia 

Julianna Nagy is from Hungary, she is an accountant by profession, runs her own bookkeeping practice, is married, a mum of one almost teen, lives with her family in Sydney and loves the life Downunder.

When she is not working or navigating daily life, you can find her whipping up a delicious dessert but more often than not, running with her friends and exploring the beautiful trails of her new home far away from home.

She loves travelling and to be outdoors just as much as to snuggle up and read a good book.

She and her family are keen to adopt the Australian culture and habits while staying true to their own at the same time. She is grateful for the opportunities they’ve got from their new country and they are proud Australians, eager to contribute to their local community.

In this episode we chat to Julianna about migrating to her new island home, Australia from Hungary in 2013. We discuss the challenges and differences of our culture and how her and her family navigated that time, and how finding connection in the running community was the catalyst to finding community and a place to belong, along with a new found passion and love for the Australian landscape and challenging one-self to adventures to fuel life's lessons. 

This is a beautiful story of embracing life's adventures and getting out of your comfort zone and creating the life you want. 

You can follow Julianna on instagram at @shannahrunna or her business at @horizonaccounts or https://www.horizonaccounts.com.au

On episode 19 of the RMA podcast we speak with runner and RMA coach Jenny Morris! 

Jenny’s’ running journey began in 2012 entering her first and only event, City to Surf. From there her first half marathon in 2013 turned into her first full marathon in 2014. Now Jen has completed far too many marathons and ultras to count. Running is her passion, with now coaching complementing that passion for the last 3.5years. Jennys new focus is on the longer running journey and pushing her body to the unknown. Her love for sport is made that much better watching the success of her friends and athletes whom she is fortunate enough to see succeed in their own journey.

She has completed several 100km Ultras, and her first miler in 2019. Jenny primarily loves the longer stuff, being out in nature, but uses the road and track to pick up her pace when needed.  

You can follow Jenny on instagram at @Jenruns123 or you can find out more about Jenny and her coaching here. 

This podcast is brought to you by fisiocrem Australia.

This week on the RMA podcast the tables are turned when RMA Ambassador, Ana Croger interviews Founder of Running Mums Australia, Nicole Bunyon.  This episode discusses some of Nicoles own story and background, the beginnings of RMA, how it all began, what makes it special and how Nicole Bunyon's journey has been shaped along the way. We talk about the challenges, the triumphs, the lessons and the vision that is as strong today as the day RMA was founded. We discuss what success is and we candidly chat about the lessons, trials and gratitude that comes from being immersed in your purpose. We invite you to sit down and learn more about Nicole and her story, and you may just find a bit of your own journey woven into the tapestry. 

You can follow more of Nicole's story where she shares on instagram @nicbunyonrma or @thisbeautifulrun or of course @runningmumsaustralia 

This podcast is brought to you by fisiocrem Australia

Jody Mullen came to Australia from Chicago illinois in 2013. Having grown up in the USA all her life, we talk about what it was like living and training in the USA, her experience of her first marathon and the transition moving to a new country. We discuss how Jody continued her running journey by making new connections in Australia.

We discuss how running unites us and we also talk about Jody's journey with a devastating injury (External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis) which has changed her running journey, and her perspective on running in general. We talk about the emotions that come, and navigating acceptance and change when one's journey is forced onto another path. Jody is a running coach, and an RMA coach and we also chat about how this change in perspective has enhanced her love for working with women in our sport to support them on their journeys which has been the most refreshing time of all. 

You can follow Jody and her journey on:

Instagram: @jodym_312 

Her coaching page: here.

Email: [email protected]

or to find more about coaching on The RMA website: https://www.runningmumsaustralia.com.au/rma-online-coaching/

Kylee Davie and her husband Marcus live in Tasmania, and have 3 children Jordan, Jakob and Veronika. In 2008 when Kylee was 36 weeks pregnant with Veronika, her OBGYN noticed her yet to be born baby had a severe brain abnormality. Kylee shares parts of their families journey with Veronika who lives with complex multiple disabilities, how they started running and their drive to get busy living.

Kylee’s direction in life changed following the arrival of Veronika, as she was immersed into the world of disability. Kylee passionately advocates for Veronika, and others in turn with the strong belief that Veronika’s life will not be defined by her diagnosis, but focuses on Veronika’s strengths and passions.

Kylee and Veronika are regulars at parkrun, and have participated in many fun runs about Hobart including running for chocolate in the half marathon at Cadbury in 2020. Veronika was invited to become an ambassador for Heart and Soles Virtual running in 2019 and enjoys getting out and participating in virtual runs. Kylee is the engine as she pushes Veronika in the running chair, while Veronika signs she wants to go faster!

You can follow Kylee and Veronika’s journey as they get busy living on:

Facebook Veronika. Our ups and downs with cerebral palsy  

Instagram @veronikawillwalk 

Hanny Allston is a well known Australian trail, sky runner and ultra runner, orienteer world Champion, coach, tour guide, author, podcaster, speaker, business woman and owner of Find Your feet trail store in Tasmania.  In this podcast we share some of her story from growing up on a farm as a child, competing in her racing career on the world stage,  navigating grief and trauma in her life, and overcoming an eating disorder, to becoming an adult and learning what made her heart sing.  We discuss how we can perform and live wilder, how we perceive success, and how we can live a life where we can truly find our authentic self in our passions and adventures.

This podcast also goes into Hanny’s feelings on motherhood as she prepares to enter this space as a first time mum in the coming months. This podcast will be a two-part series. This is PART 2. 

Hanny is an author of two books.

The Trail Running Guidebook and her most recent memoir “Finding My Feet, My story”. You can purchase these at www.findyourfeet.com.au or www.hannyallston.com.au.

As listeners of the RMA podcast you can take advantage of 20% off at www.findyourfeet.com.au for the month of December 2020 by using the code LISTENWILDER.

May this podcast help you to as Hanny says BE WILDER. PLAY WILDER. PERFORM WILDER.

You can also follow Hanny on Instagram at @hanny.allston

You can view the Find Your Feet Australia store at @findyourfeet

And Wilder Trails at @wilder_trails

This podcast episode is sponsored by fisiocrem Australia and Find Your Feet.