Another Mother Runner

Sarah and Dimity talk up triathlon—the joys + the challenges—in this extra-long episode. The BAMRs are first joined by Jennifer Harrison, one of theTrain Like a Mother Club triathlon coaches with an illustrious personal tri career (even if she can’t remember whether she won her first swim-bike-run race or not!). Coach Jennifer highlights the beauty of swim-bike-run events, then reveals the ideal number of workouts for sprint and Olympic-distance races. The trio spends a long time talking about swimming and, yes, Coach Jenn addresses fear of sharks. She shares numerous wetsuit tips, as well as tells the #1 thing a novice triathlete should spend funds on. Dimity also shares money-saving gear advice. The next guest is Jessica Hughes, a mom of three who details how she progressed from her first tri in May 2017 to now training for a half-Ironman-distance race (1.2-mile swim; 56-mile bike; 13.1-mile run). Jessica is sure to allay any swimming concerns a wannabe-triathlete has, as she reveals a make-you-laugh anecdo

Sarah and Dimity join forces for this special episode in which Dimity, along with her two Minnesota-based friends Jo and Jess, share their recent grand adventure: hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim! The three amigos recount the highs and lows of their 12-hour trek (time in motion: 10 hours, 15 minutes), including the “magic” of Ribbon Falls and the odor on the trail “that can burn nostril hair!”). Discover what “The Box” is, and why it was particularly tough for Jess; learn why Dimity chased down a squirrel. Be surprised by what was the toughest part of the day for Dimity. Marvel as the trio discusses the joy of a communal endeavor—and share the somewhat-surprising post-hike blues. Hear about their pre-trip training, and find out what these friends’ next adventure might be. Reminder: Later this month, Sarah + Dimity plan to launch a bi-weekly “call-in” show. But to kick it off, they need your questions! Please leave message of 90 seconds or less at 470-BADASS1 (470-223-2771) Thanks to Aaptiv for supporting ou

Sarah and co-host Ellison convene for what is one of their favorite days of the year: the recording of AMR’s annual summer reading episode! But the duo soon realizes it should be labeled a pop culture show, as they take frequent tangents to discuss their current favorite British TV shows (“Crashing” for SBS; “The Split” for Ellison) and new podcasts Sarah is listening to (“The RFK Tapes” and “The Gateway”). Speaking of podcasts, Ellison shares why her show, “The Book Bully,” has been on hiatus. When the conversation dwells on books (starting at 16:15), the recommendations run the gamut, from Scandinavian noir to several “quirky” novels to a novel with a “meta” conceit both SBS and E adored! Laughs—and a few tears—abound on this delightful conversation between two dear friends. Phone number for leaving questions for new bi-weekly “call-in” show: 470-BADASS1(470-223-2771) BOOKS MENTIONED (apologies for list not being 100% complete—lots of suggestions flying around!): Snareby Lilja Sigurdardøttir Lawn Boy by Jon

Sarah and Molly are the hosts of this episode, the first in a series we’re kicking off, traveling around the U.S. to hear from mother runners about what it’s like to run in their city. The ladies literally go big for this one—Anchorage, Alaska, with bonus points for recording on the summer solstice! The duo sit down (and crack open a cold one) with three runners at Skinny Raven, a super-cool running store. Listen to how Kristin, Mandy, and Karen stay active in the cold, dark winter–then delight in the mania of nearly round-the-clock summer sunshine. Other topics touched upon: dealing with wildlife, bugs, running while pregnant, and the many joys of alpine running. It’s a fun, freewheeling episode! In the intro, Sarah + Molly talk about their impressions of the 49th state—it’s the first time in Alaska for both of them. The first guest joins them on the couch to chat at 13:52. To save $30 on a purchase of AfterShokz Trekz Air or Trekz Titanium headphones, go to amr.aftershokz.com and use code AMR30 at checkout.

Sarah and co-host Amanda Loudin sit down with three father runners to get a look inside their lives. From early morning workouts to crying at the end of a race, the guys aren’t all that different from the gals. First up is Ty Francis, a trail runner/triathlete and a divorced dad of three young sons. A physical therapist, Ty tells why he adopted a guiding principle of training everyone should consider following. He also reveals why he had to let go of feeling competitive. Discover why he spent 22.5 hours on a bike—the reason will tug on your parental heart strings. Next, father of two Michael Goff joins the conversation. A newbie runner, Michael quickly describes himself as “athlet-ish, not athletic.” Laugh along with SBS and Coach Amanda as Michael explains why he doesn’t allow himself to go on Strava until at least an hour after a run. Courtesy of Michael, you’ll learn more acronyms (BRC; VBRF; BADR) to add to your vocab (in addition to BAMR). Michael is the first of two dads to admit to crying at a running

Sarah and co-host Maggie Palmer have a conversation aimed at putting a pep in your step: They talk with two mother runners who work to help others find joy and acceptance in fitness activities. The first in-studio (ooh!) guest is Gwen Sullivan, one of the founders of Joyn, a platform promoting “group classes for movement and joy.” This mother of two explains how runs with her then-6-year-old son planted the seed for Joyn. Gwen explains how the platform is an invitation to take part in fitness—and why they aim for classes with “head-tilt” names. Next up in studio is Sarah Foote, a Portland-based coach who leads free classes that are part of Joyn. Hear how a post-50K race high set up this mom of two to injury, then the founding of the super-cool Wy’east SisterHood. She shares how she added joy back to her runs when they were becoming a grind. Speaking of: Find out why she had a pity-party in the middle of her first 50-mile race—and what pulled her out of it. You’ll nod and laugh along with SBS over much of what

Listen in to the sitdown Sarah and Dimity had with Coach Amanda Loudin and Dr. Justin Ross at the recent AMR Run + Refresh Retreat in Ogden, Utah. Recorded in front of mother runners who were hours away from running the Ogden Marathon, the experts share mental and physical tips for performing your best in a race. The quartet share personal anecdotes of when they turned around a flagging race effort, and the coaches offer numerous tips on how to pull yourself out of a negative “valley” mid-race. Whether you utilize the experts’ advice in an upcoming race or tuck it into your tiny keypocket for later use, we guarantee you’ll take away helpful nuggets. (No intro chitchat—episode dives right into panel discussion.) Stay hydrated with Nuun Electrolytes: Visit nuunlife.com to receive 20% off your order when you use promo code AMRHYDRATE To save $30 on purchase of AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones, go to amr.aftershokz.com and use code AMR at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah and co-host Amanda Loudin are joined by Coach MK Fleming of the Train Like a Mother Club to discuss how to choose a great running race for you. The trio covers a variety of considerations, such as geography, weather, terrain, crowd size, corral policies, and more. Coach MK shares when it’s smart to adjust your expectations. The ladies’ opinions about downhill races might surprise you. Coach Amanda stresses the importance of knowing yourself and what kind of runner you are when it comes to tolerating inclement weather conditions. Laugh along with SBS at MK’s “ultraviolet sandwich” analogy. Learn that “good enough” is often pretty awesome, and find out why MK is a proponent of extra-long training plans. Garner valuable insight about some banner races, including NYC, Marine Corps, Big Sur, and Richmond marathons. Here are the two race-review sites SBS recommends: BibRave and RaceRaves. In the intro, Sarah and Amanda rehash Ogden Retreat memories (including karaoke!) and SBS talks TSwift concert. The trio d

Sarah is joined by a coterie of co-hosts—Dimity McDowell, Adrienne Martini, and Maggie Palmer—in this recorded-in-front-of-a-live-audience episode. Adrienne shares the story of her 6-minute “accidental” PR in a recent half-marathon. Laugh over Maggie’s tale of her 3-year-old son and his valiant maneuver to protect his grandmother. Then Adrienne and Maggie bow out to make room for Coach Amanda and Dr. Justin Ross, who talk about the physical (Amanda) and mental (Justin) side of tapering. Three “real” mother runners tell their taper tales and get advice from the experts. Justin shines on a light on his spotlight theory. Try new Nuun Immunity. To get 20% off all Nuun orders, go to nuunlife.com and use promo code AMRHYDRATE. For $20 off a suitcase, go to awaytravel.com/amr and use promo code amr. Get 50% off orders of $10 or more by using promo code MOTHERRUNNER at chosenfoods.com/amr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrating Mother's Day, Olympian style, Dimity (standing in for for host Sarah) and co-host Tish Hamilton connect with cross-country skier Kikkan Randall, the only mother on the 2018 U.S. Winter Olympic team—and, along with teammate Jessie Diggins, the first American woman ever to win an Olympic gold cross-country skiing. The trio first hits Kikkan's background as a runner (and her nearly sub-five-minute mile in high school!) and her transition to—and rapid ascent as a top world competitor on—the snow. We discuss her 20-year (!) Olympic career, and the long-term perspective she took—especially helpful when she missed her 2014 Olympic goal by .05 seconds. Along the way, you'll learn what a "make-it-count" workout with her mom is; you'll get goosebumps as you hear her talk through her Olympic gold medal race; and realize that even though she has recently retired, she'll always be Fast and Female. Kikkan is introduced at 21:23. In the introduction, Dimity + Tish talk Mother's Day plans (or lack thereof), the u

Sarah and co-host Amanda Loudin have heart-to-heart conversations with four women runners who have suffered losses—and used running to help process their emotions and heal. A heavy topic, for sure, but the ladies still share some smiles + laughs. Marge Schupe shares the story of her two miscarriages, explaining how running helped her get back in touch with her body and see it as something other than “a complete failure.” Proof positive: Since last summer, she’s PR’d in 5K, 10K, and 13.1-mile races. Marge gives advice for dealing with a miscarriage. Next is Patti Cruz, who suffered numerous losses, including a one-two punch: the death of her father from cancer, then her mother being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. As a mom of two young sons, Patti defines herself as part of the “ultimate sandwich generation.” She discusses how running is a “coping skill” for her; Patti stresses the importance of taking time for exercise when dealing with the weight of grief or caring for a family member, saying it is a

Sarah and co-host Molly pick the brains of three experienced runners who have not only raced 1,000s of miles, but have traveled across the U.S. and around the globe to do it! First up is Katie Ho, co-founder of RaceRaves, an online community/app that she dubs “TripAdvisor but for races.” Katie gives loads of advice, including packing tips and how to choose the best “away” race for you. Katie, Molly, and SBS chew on the topic of food while away from home, especially pre-race eats. Next is Sandi Borgman, a repeat AMR Podcast guest who’s run half- and full marathons in places as far flung as Iceland, Berlin, and Paris. Sandi quickly tosses out one of the best quips ever, involving being on vacation with a person who’s tapering. She quickly outdoes that gem with a cautionary tale about lubing up mid-race with what she thought was Vaseline. (Ouch!!) Despite having run all the World Marathon Majors(minus Tokyo), Sandi sings the praises of opting for away 13.1-mile races rather than 26.2-mile ones. A veteran of 20 m

Sarah and Dimity have a sit-down with Jay Dicharry, a well-respected sports psychologist, biomechanics expert, and author of the recently released Running Rewired: Reinvent Your Run for Stability, Strength & Speed. A lightbulb will go off when Jay makes an analogy involving 400-pound snatches in CrossFit to explain why runners get injured. The trio discuss how to develop as an athlete, not just a runner, and Jay posits we are adapted to run, not born to run. He stresses the importance of being a more dynamic, diverse, and durable runner—then goes into detail on how to achieve that aim. This leads to a conversation about the importance of taking care of all of you, not just your heart and lungs. For Sarah, Jay convincingly debunks the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” There’s talk about the joy of seeing progress in the weight room, then Jay details exercises and drills to make you move smarter. Jay shares a realistic Rx on how often to do certain types of moves to enjoy lifelong success in runni

A Pre-Run Mental Focus, guided by Dr. Justin Ross, a Denver-based sports psychologist and coach of the Perform Like a Mother series. In this exercise, Justin helps you set your mind pre-run by prompting you to focus on your breath, your senses, and your workout goals. Using this sequence regularly, before you head out for your miles, will help you get the most, both mentally and physically, out of any run. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah and co-host Tish Hamilton, both veterans of the venerable Boston Marathon (SBS = 2x; Tish = an astounding 13!), aren’t running the race on Monday, April 16, but their four guests will be part of the action! First up is Jesse Blondin, who’ll be running the route from Hopkinton to Boston for her second time. Marvel as she describes doing the majority of her workouts are runs to and from her Ottawa office! She shares all the logistics involved, plus she talks about the importance of yoga to her running. Laugh along with Sarah as Jesse reveals what a “pre-shower” is. Next is Suzanne Adams, who’s run the Boston Marathon twice, but this year she’s volunteering instead of running—as well as helping coordinate a team of charity runners. On this, the five-year anniversary of the bombings, Suzanne and Tish both open up about their experiences from those horrific events. A longtime volunteer, Suzanne shares spectator tips. The next guest is Andrea Hennigan: This year’s Boston will be her seventh marathon, but the

Sarah and co-host Maggie talk with two guests about pros and cons social media can have on running. First up: Kelly Roberts, who burst onto the scene when she shared hilarious selfies she surreptitiously snapped of herself + hot guys during a half-marathon. Now an influencer and proponent of body positivity, Kelly provides insight and inspiration on She Can and She Did. Kelly shares how she used to hide her life story because it was tied to shame, but no more! The trio discusses the importance of being proud of where you’re at now—and of showing up and giving your all. Lots of laughs and TMI talk, including a story of epic chafing from a sports bra on a recent 16-mile run in Kelly’s quest to BQ or Bust. Then Molly Ritterbeck, Training, Fitness, & Health Director for Runner's World and Bicycling. (Phew: a mouthful!) Molly, Maggie, and SBS discuss the double-edged sword that is social media. Molly steers the conversation toward an examination of extrinsic versus intrinsic motivation, and how those are affected

Sarah and co-host Tish Hamilton enjoy a quick catch-up, and Tish tells the tale of her spring break PR. (Psst: It involves location, not time!) Alex Hutchinson, author of the newly released ENDURE: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance, joins the conversation to talk about mental endurance and the power of the mind. In calming tones, Alex explains limits are negotiable and the importance of getting out of your own way. From “the base of the mountain,” he talks about how to become aware of the internal monologue you have with yourself on a run—and how to reframe that “conversation” to enhance self-belief. Nod along as Alex discusses the “deeply worn grooves in your mind.” Validation that the mere perception of mental fatigue (sigh) can affect a run leads to an intriguing pre-race suggestion. Sarah and Alex discuss the timing of when to work out, with Alex offering a practical point sure to resonate with mother runners. He offers many bits of running advice that apply for everyday li

To mark the 8th anniversary of Another Mother Runner, Sarah and Dimity take a trip down memory lane--while literally driving into San Francisco. Sarah’s behind the wheel of her Pacifica Hybrid minivan with Dimity in the passenger seat; Molly, Katie (AMR’s director of marketing), and Alex are wedged in the back with a massive load of luggage + merch. The conversation takes many fun twists and turns! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An AMR first: a crossover episode! Sarah has a sit-down with Jessica and Tim Murphy of The BibRave Podcast. First, Sarah interviews the Portland-based couple about their race-review site and their running backgrounds. Marvel at Jessica, whose first-ever race was 26.2 miles long—and how she’s run 19 more marathons in the intervening nine years! Then the trio shifts roles, and The BibRave duo lobs questions at SBS. Sarah covers some familiar territory, such as the AMR origin story, but also reveals some new bits about her racing background. She offers advice on juggling training with parenting duties. Tangents abound in this laughter-filled episode, including random pop-culture references like the brilliant Simpsons-Family Guy crossoverand favorite movies. Make time for a deep dive into the oeuvre of Nicolas Cage after listening to this fun episode! Nuun-drinking game: Chug every time someone mentions “Craftsman-style” homes or architecture. Enter to win an entry to the 2018 New York City Marathon + a $500 trav

Sarah, Dimity, and Molly are coming to you live (well, recorded live in front of audience) from the headquarters of GU Energy Labs in Berkeley, California. Two guests, both Olympians, mother runners, and repeat guests on the pod, join the lively conversation: Magda Boulet and Alysia Montaño. We guarantee you’ll add burpees to your routine after listening! In the intro, the trio talks about spring break plans and the road trip that brought Molly and Sarah to the Bay Area The Olympians join the show at 14:45. To enjoy three free Daily Harvest cups, go to daily-harvest.com and use promo code AMR Enter to win an entry to the 2018 New York City Marathon + a $500 travel stipend, courtesy of Strava. Go to strava.com/nycmarathon to enter and read the official rules. And join the AMR Club on Strava! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices