Not Your Average Runner, A Running Podcast

In a world where we’ve been raised to believe it’s shameful, embarrassing, and downright bad to be fat, it can feel impossible to think about living our best lives right now if we’re in a fat body. I tell women all the time that all bodies, regardless of shape or size, are deserving of joy, pleasure, and equal treatment, but some people have taken this to mean that I’m anti-weight loss.   I offer my take on fat acceptance, and why this is not the same as being anti-weight loss. Hear the difference between being anti-diet culture versus anti-weight loss, what body autonomy means to me, and my top recommendations if you’re currently pursuing intentional weight loss.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/311

This week, the whole Not Your Average Runner team is here to talk about body image, body confidence, and all things body. If you’re not familiar with these three ladies, you’re going to love them. Jen Madden is our business manager, and Elle Dee and Jen Lamplough are two of our amazing coaches.   Hear the four of us discuss the cult-like effects of the way we’ve been socialized from a young age around diet and body image. We’re discussing the direct impact of the messaging we’ve received our whole lives about how our bodies should look, how fatphobia shows up where we least expect it, and how to spot the inherited thoughts you have about your body.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/310

A huge part of my mission is to counteract misogyny, patriarchy, and anti-fat bias that exist in our entire society, especially in our fitness spaces. That's why I created the Fat Runner Manifesto: a 10-point distillation of my thoughts about being a fat female runner in a patriarchal and fatphobic world.   I offer new thoughts to consider about running, your body, and your right to take up space in this world without apology. My goal is for you to see that these thoughts can be true for you, and I invite you to keep practicing them until you can create a space within your mind where you are respected, loved, and treated with compassion.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/309

Kelly Roberts is the head coach and creator of the Badass Lady Gang. Her philosophy measures success by confidence gained, not pounds lost, and she’s coached thousands of women from brand-new runners to those chasing Boston Marathon qualifying times. She's joining me to discuss all things running, body-image resilience, and exercising in a way that isn’t entangled with your weight.   Discover why weight won’t stop being a problem until we stop making it a problem. Kelly is sharing her own struggles with body image, how she’s navigated the challenges of being a running influencer, why you don’t need to apologize for your shape, and why we need to see more women in different bodies doing powerful things.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/308

Learning to run in all different weather conditions is super important because you can’t guarantee the temperature on race day. If you want to get out there and run in the heat safely, this episode is for you.   Hear my tips for running in hot weather. I’m discussing how to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion when you’re on your summer runs, some useful clothing and gear advice, how to hydrate safely, how to protect yourself from the sun, and how to pace yourself in the safest way possible.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/307

Laine Dubin is a full-time college student, figure skater, and fashion content creator. She started a sustainable thrifting business on Instagram in 2020, specifically thrifting clothes for larger bodies. After going viral on TikTok earlier this year for her skating content, she not only exemplifies the fact that there's room for fat women in fashion, but on the ice too.   I quiz Laine about her skating and body acceptance journey. She's sharing her thoughts on why our bodies should be cherished and treasured no matter their size, the beauty of learning how they move regardless of the sport of your choice, and her valuable tips for anyone wanting to try figure skating but who has always believed it's a sport reserved for smaller bodies.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/306

Whether you're a brand new runner considering trying your first race or a seasoned runner who has completed dozens of them, race-day anxiety is extremely common. Stress and worry can arise even if you feel physically amazing, have trained well, nailed your fueling, or are familiar with the race route. So what can you do to never stress about race day again?   I offer my top three strategies for mitigating the impact of race-day stress and anxiety. Hear how stress can affect your sleep, digestion, and performance on race day, why getting stuck in a worry loop becomes problematic, and the thoughts that might be triggering a fight-or-flight nervous system reaction in you.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/305

If you're feeling disappointed or discouraged because it seems like you're not getting any faster, and you interpret it as a lack of progress, listen in. We are socialized to believe that winning is the ultimate goal, not just in running, but in life. The truth is there are numerous ways to assess your running performance, and pace is just one aspect.   Discover why stressing about your running pace is entirely optional, how it hinders your ability to truly enjoy the sport of running, and my top recommendations for shifting your perspective on the pain and suffering your pace might be causing you right now.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/304

My guest this week is someone with a wealth of wisdom and experience to share with the running world. Martinus Evans, also known as 300 Pounds and Running, is the founder of Slow AF Run Club: the best community for slow runners and walkers on the internet that aims to celebrate diversity and change the sport one step at a time.   Listen in this week as Martinus shares his running journey with us, and some of the challenges he’s experienced as a fat Black runner. He’s offering his thoughts on being a back-of-the-pack runner, the importance of cultivating mental toughness, how he quiets his inner critic, and why developing delusional self-belief will change your life.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/303

Yoga has become a practice that’s seemingly reserved exclusively for the privileged few: wealthy, thin, young, flexible, white, and able-bodied. If you don’t feel like you quite fit into the yoga space, you’re not alone, and this week, you’re hearing from an amazing yoga teacher whose mission is to be a change agent in this realm.   Dianne Bondy is an accessible yoga teacher, social justice activist, and leader of the Yoga For All movement. She’s offering her own experience of feeling “othered” in yoga, the challenges she’s come across as she’s built her business, and her top tips for advocating for yourself in yoga.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/302