Another Mother Runner

In this episode, co-hosts Dimity and Sarah WF welcome Louise Butcher, also known as the Topless Runner, a mother of two, a breast cancer survivor, and a trailblazing advocate for body positivity. In this inspiring chat, the hosts cover a gamut of topics with Louise, including: Going viral for running races, including the 2024 London Marathon, without a shirt following her double mastectomy; Her mission to normalize mastectomy and to challenge the stigma around it; Her decision to run topless and promoting body acceptance; The reactions she gets while running topless…and more! When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! Make the most of every rep: Get $200 off your Tonal purchase with code AMR at tonal.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone looking to get into the head of a half-marathon runner will enjoy this revealing episode, in which co-host Tish Hamilton turns the tables on host Sarah Bowen Shea to ask her all about her Portland Half Marathon experience. Sarah shares: -why she ran by feel instead of data;  -whether she hit her time goal;  -tales of seeing friends and, surprisingly, family along the course;  -which miles were the toughest for her; and,  -the Herculean effect of a GU Energy Gel!    Before talk turns to Sarah’s race at about 6:17, Tish tells about a special run in Central Park.    When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! Save 15% on any full-price purchase  w/ code TOPOAMR2024 at topoathletic.com   Get free 4-pack of Pro S1 balls with $50+ purchase  w/ code AMRBUNDLE at Selkirk.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Folks with no race on the horizon, like Cortney, will appreciate the guidance Dimity and Sarah give on planning workouts for the week. Rebecca and anyone else coming off a long layoff from running will benefit from Dimity’s advice and Sarah’s insight about finding speed again. And anyone who lives in hilly environs, like Honi, will be intrigued by the answer to her question as to whether hills count as strength work.    Dimity opens up about why she is taking a break from her GPS before the duo turns to answering questions at about 9:38. Crafty, entrepreneurial gals: Here’s Google Form Dimity referred to. Please record your question by calling 470-BADASS1 (470-223-2771). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Runners bothered by pre-race jitters and/or everyday anxiety will appreciate the insight and advice offered in this episode. The guest is Lennie Waite, Ph.D., a Houston-based sport psychology consultant, Olympic steeplechase athlete, and mother runner. Along with hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Britany Williams, the trio talks about:  -looking at your goals through a more positive lens;  -embracing, rather than simply managing, race-day anxiety; -the power of leaning into doubt + pain;  -how (+ why) to stop the joy-sucking comparison game; and, -getting your “ugly face” on!    In the intro chitchat, the hosts swap stories about their heavy sweating, including how it makes Britany feel empowered! The guest joins at about 14:22. Shop for our badass Tifosi sunglasses here.   When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR.  We appreciate your—and their—support.   Insoles for all your active pursuits: Use code AMR15 for 15% discount at Currex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, the hosts welcome Melissa Stockwell, a mother runner, military veteran, and four-time Paralympian. Melissa shares her incredible journey, from joining the military to taking up triathlon after losing a limb in combat. In the show, you’ll hear about:  The events of 2004 that changed Melissa’s life and how she found her way into adaptive sports; Melissa’s multiple trips to the Paralympics and serving as Team USA’s flag bearer; Her thoughts on the growing visibility of the Paralympics and her experience in Paris compared to previous Games; and, Melissa’s role as an advocate for adaptive sports, and more.  Curious about our Hike Like a Mother: Arizona trip? Click here to learn more. When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! Make the most of every rep: Get $200 off your Tonal purchase with code AMR at tonal.com Get $5: Download the free Ibotta app + use code AMR when you register. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you dream of running Boston—or (definitely!) not—you’ll be intrigued by this episode. The guests are three “regular” runners who have to recalculate their quests to qualify for the Boston Marathon because the qualifying times just got made five minutes faster for every age group under 60. Along with hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Amanda Loudin (both multi-time Boston Marathon veterans), the guests discuss:  -whether they’ll continue their BQ pursuits;  -their strategies to shave additional time off their marathons;  -why one guest is pleased BQ standards were tightened;  -the thrill of chasing big goals; and, -why one of them just wants to be able to say she BQ’d!    Before the first guest jumps on at about 13:37, Sarah tells of an audiobook that made a recent 12-mile run fly by. Please subscribe to the 3x/week Another Mother Runner newsletter.    When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support!   For $25 off your first order of any sleeves, use code AMR25 at GOsleeves.com

Folks with upcoming races will appreciate all the suggestions for curating the perfect playlist, prompted by a question from Sarah. The hosts offer helpful advice about staying engaged during challenging runs and races, in response to Nicole’s query. Then they provide counsel to Nicole again, about the timing of pre-run warm-up drills.    Before the Q+As, which start at about 3:36, Dimity shares details about the new fitness classes she’s teaching. Please record your question by calling 470-BADASS1 (470-223-2771).      When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR.  We appreciate your—and their—support.   Insoles for all your active pursuits: Use code AMR15 for 15% discount at Currex.com Get free 4-pack of Pro S1 balls with $50+ purchase  w/ code AMRBUNDLE at Selkirk.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone who loves good food will enjoy this lively conversation with Jenny Rosenstrach, the author of numerous cookbooks including the just-published The Weekday Vegetarians Get Simple and a mother runner. With hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Tish Hamilton, Jenny details:  -why she morphed to being a late-afternoon runner;  -how to significantly dial back a dependence on meat;  -various ways to get flavor + umami without animal products;  -satisfying vegetarian protein options; and,  -the “fairy dust” you should be adding to every salad!    Before Jenny joins at about 15:18, the hosts, who are both training for races, share their playlist strategies. In Miles of Books at the end of the episode, Coach Liz discusses two books about excellence. Please subscribe to the 3x/week Another Mother Runner newsletter.    When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support!   Get $20 off 1st purchase of $35+ AND  a 10% lifetime discount at fuelgoods.com/AMR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega

Want to build strength for life? In this episode, we’re joined by Erin Carson, strength coach to elite endurance athletes, including Ironman World Champions and Olympic medalists. Erin shares advice on building strength, staying mobile, and making the most of your gym time—whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out. Hosts Dimity and Sarah WF chat with Erin about:  The impact of muscle loss as we age; Why strength training is crucial, especially for women; How to incorporate strength and mobility work into your busy life; Tips for getting started with weights and maximizing your time in the gym, and more.  When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! Get 20% off, plus free shipping, on all IQBar products by texting AMR to 64-000 Make the most of every rep: Get $200 off your Tonal purchase with code AMR at tonal.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All women runners owe it to themselves to listen to this enlightening episode! The guest is Dr. Amy Divaraniya, a biomedical scientist who led a team conducting groundbreaking research in the field of hormone monitoring—and a mother runner training for her first marathon. With hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Amanda Loudin, the guest talks about: -the importance of understanding your menstrual cycle;  -planning workouts based on phases of your cycle;  -natural ways to reduce cortisol; and, -how the guest is cycle-synching her workouts for NYC marathon.   Before the guest joins at about 6:49, the hosts talk about their respective college sophomores returning to college.      When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support!   Use code MVPFUEL for $20 off 1st purchase of $35+ AND  get a 10% lifetime discount at fuelgoods.com/AMR   Head south: Use code AMR20 for 20% off registration at KeyWestHalfMarathon.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone looking to learn to swim, like Shara, will enjoy this episode, as will back-of-pack marathoners, such as Kate, who is curious about long training runs. (Avid readers having a “mystery moment” will appreciate the details host Sarah provides in response to Kate’s second question.) And heavy sweat-ers like Bridget will find the host duo’s answers, ahem, cool.    Before serving up answers at 8:29, Sarah tells tales about the recent Lake Placid retreat. Many Nutritious Miles are served up here. Please record your question by calling 470-BADASS1 (470-223-2771).     When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR.  We appreciate your—and their—support.   Insoles for all your active pursuits: Use code AMR15 for 15% discount at Currex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anyone looking for inspiration to go after an ambitious goal—and folks looking to get over post-achievement blues—will love this episode. Recorded at AMR’s Lake Placid retreat, hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Amanda Loudin talk with four goal-chasers, who discuss:  -how to step up to longer triathlons;  -thoughts + emotions of closing in on 50-state marathon goal;  -pushing a disabled daughter in a wheelchair in a marathon; and, -rebounding to regular workout-life after a lengthy run-streak.    In the intro, Amanda reminisces about doing the inaugural Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon. The first guest joins at 8:37.   When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support!   See for yourself: Get 20% off Tifosi sunglasses  with code AMR2024 at TifosiOptics.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a Peloton devotee or just love a good story of perseverance and passion, we’ve got the guest for you. It’s the incredible Susie Chan, a London-based Peloton instructor who’s also an icon of endurance running and now an author. In this chat, the hosts talk to Susie about: Discovering running in her 30s after leading a less-than-active lifestyle;  Conquering the legendary Marathon des Sables more times than any other British woman; Setting a 12-hour treadmill World Record and completing Badwater 135 (said to be the world’s toughest footrace!); Writing her memoir, and more!  Check out an excerpt from Susie’s book, Trails and Tribulations: The Running Adventures of Susie Chan on our blog!  When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! For $25 off your first order of any sleeves, use code AMR25 at GOsleeves.com Get 20% off, plus free shipping, on all IQBar products by texting AMR to 64-000 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone who’s interested in the steps it took to get women runners to where we are today needs to listen to this enlightening episode. Maggie Mertens, author of Better Faster Farther, joins hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Tish Hamilton to talk about:  -why the 1928 Summer Olympics were such a watershed event;  -period incapacitation: what it is and how it affected inclusion; -how the 1970s running boom democratized the sport;  -the mind-boggling reality of 20th-century running gear; and, -the enduring importance of women-centered spaces + races.   Before the guest joins at 6:33, Sarah details how her half-marathon training is going.   When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! Save 15% on any full-price purchase  w/ code TOPOAMR2024 at topoathletic.com   Insoles for all your active pursuits: Use code AMR15 for 15% discount at Currex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is jam-packed with insight and suggestions, including advice for Lorrainne who is contemplating a trail race yet training on the road. Runners afflicted with plantar fasciitis, like Holly, will appreciate all the been-there, done-that wisdom host Sarah shares on finding relief. And anyone heading to an away-race this fall, like Rhianna, will appreciate the tips from both hosts.    Before the Q+A’s start at 6:40, Dimity shares stories about a recent women’s bike ride—and making some new sporty friends! Fall into Fitness here. Please record your question by calling 470-BADASS1 (470-223-2771).    When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support!   See for yourself: Get 20% off Tifosi sunglasses  with code AMR2024 at TifosiOptics.com   Rediscover your curiosity: Visit BetterHelp.com/amr for 10% off your first month.   Sports nutrition simplified: Get a 10% lifetime discount at fuelgoods.com/AMR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you need help fitting workouts into a busy schedule, look no further: This episode spotlights four teachers who share anecdotes, insight, and hacks on running while working a time- and energy-intensive job. The guests share:  -the sanctity of morning runs;  -how advance planning fosters exercise adherence;  -ways their students inspire and push them (including to a PR!);  -how they mesh their race schedule with the school calendar; and, -running-related programs they’ve developed for their pupils.    In the intro, Sarah gives Molly a #foundchange update (natch!) and explains how she got great photos of her swimming. The first teacher-runner joins at 6:57. This episode originally ran in August 2022, yet the Miles of Books, with Coach Liz talking about two books that explore quitting, is brand new. When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support! Make the most of every rep: Get $200 off your Tonal purchase with code AMR at tonal.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg

If you’re like listener Kate Coscarelli, who has a kid taking on cross country this fall—or maybe you ran XC yourself and you’re nostalgic for those crisp days of racing through fallen leaves or freshly cut grass—this episode is for you. The hosts chat about all things XC, in a lively two-part conversation told from dual perspectives: The athlete’s and the coaches’. You’ll hear: * Recent college grad and top distance runner Maddie Mooney shares  what athletes need from parents, covering everything from post-practice chats to what to say as you cheer on the course; * How to avoid overstepping as a parent of an athlete;  * XC coaches Christy Diller and Sarah Wassner Flynn (who switches from podcast host to guest in this segment!) offer the basics and benefits of the sport, plus coaching strategies, injury prevention, and more. If all of this XC talk gets you inspired for an active autumn, join us for Fall Into Fitness, a six-week program focuses on the three key pieces of complete fitness: cardio, strength, an

Whether you’re staring down surgery or merely fascinated by inspiring tales of recovery, this is the episode for you. Hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Molly Williams talk with three guests: Kevin Stone, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon and author of Play Forever: How to Recover from Injury & Thrive, plus two women runners who had hip replacement surgery within the last few years. Listen and learn about:  -the relief the runners felt post-surgery;  -return-to-running time after joint replacement surgery; -steps to take pre-surgery to improve success;  -the importance of shopping for a surgeon; and, -how one guest qualified for Boston Marathon on her new hip!    In the intro, co-host Molly shares about her own knee replacement, and tells of a recent backpacking excursion. Dr. Stone joins the conversation at 6:33.   When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR. We appreciate your—and their—support!   Sports nutrition simplified: Get a 10% lifetime discount at fuelgoods.com/AMR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone

Definitely listen to this episode if you’ve ever debated how often you should stand on a starting line, like Emily. Morning exercisers, like Christina, will be shown the wisdom of eating pre-workout, while folks like Elizabeth will learn ways to create more structure and consistency in their fitness regime.    Take a cold plunge with Dimity before diving into the answers at 6:22. Here’s where to Fall into Fitness. Please record your question by calling 470-BADASS1 (470-223-2771). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calling all athletes: Listen to this episode, especially if you’re training for a race! With co-hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Coach Liz Waterstraat, the guest, Erin Ayala, Ph.D., a sport psychologist and endurance athlete, talks about pushing through burnout and reframing negative self-talk. The trio talk about:  -how to become friends with your inner critic;  -creating your own mental toolkit;  -using humor or sarcasm to tame mental monkeys;  -the importance of staying in the moment during a race; and, -the three key ingredients in motivation + self-compassion.    Before the guest joins at about 7:52, Liz talks about the start of another school year, and Sarah shares a little (tempo-run) win.    When you shop our sponsors, you help AMR.  We appreciate your—and their—support.   Insoles for all your active pursuits: Use code AMR15 for 15% discount at Currex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices