Not Your Average Runner, A Running Podcast

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

Are you struggling with starting to run because you think your body size is holding you back? In this bonus episode you'll hear about a free class I'm teaching that will help you get past those challenges and become a runner in the body you have right now! Sign up for the free class here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/runningfat/

I hear from runners all the time who say they're not real runners because they're slow, practice the run/walk method, or they believe they just aren't good at it no matter how hard they try. And in a world where we're taught that we should always be striving to be the best or improve in anything we do, whether running or otherwise, this is no surprise. I explore why we believe we suck at running, and how I know this is far from the truth. I'm sharing what you might not have considered about the people you deem to be good runners. If believing you're a good runner is important to you, I'm offering you a whole new perspective on what it means to be a good runner. Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/301

When I started this podcast almost six years ago, I could not have predicted where the show would be today or how far we have come. And here we are, celebrating 300 episodes! You have been a significant part of my evolution by listening to the podcast, and I am grateful for your support. I share how I have evolved over the 300 episodes of this podcast and why fatphobia no longer lives rent-free in my brain. Initially, I thought this show was going to be about helping plus-size women start running, but the more I have shown up, the more it has become a voice for fat women who resist the belief that being fat is bad. I am excited to see what the next 300 episodes hold for us. Get full show notes and more information here: https://notyouraveragerunner.com/300