Another Mother Runner

In the intro, Sarah goes co-host-free in favor of a catch-up conversation with prolific Portland runner Paula Harkin, who just passed the 10-year mark of her running streak. (Yowza!) Paula details what constitutes a running streak—and how to make it official. (Who knew?!) She also confesses her daily run is “a challenge every single day.” Paula shares all sorts of Portland race news, including the scoop on the new Portland Marathon, plus her reclaiming two popular half-marathons. Loads of laughs are shared between these two mother runners (who ran the 2007 Nike Women’s Marathon together, when Paula coached SBS!).Then, at the 22:22 mark, is the 2017 conversation with Sarah, Amanda Loudin, and Paula: The trio share ways to stay safe while running in the dark. They debate street v. sidewalk running. A long-time group-run leader, race director, and co-owner of Portland Running Company, Paula explains her street-smart practice of Defensive Running; she also talks about the importance of using all of one’s skills and senses to get through a run. Amanda tells of two of her running buddies, Disco Runner and Safety Ellie. Find out the gals’ favorite reflective gear, lights, and headphones.For a chance to win an entry to one of Paula’s races (Helvetia or Hippie Chick) + her (and Sarah’s) favorite light-bright vest, check out our Instagram feed on Friday, February 8.To find your perfect-fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase, go to thirdlove.com/amr nowMake over your beauty routine with Wander Beauty! Save 20% at wanderbeauty.com/amr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell try to relate to extreme-cold conditions by sharing a collegiate rowing mishap. Keeping with the weather theme, they tell Andrea from near Toronto (but who is headed to Florida for vacay!) to tune into effort while working out during her balmy break, rather than worrying about acclimatization. Dimity tells Courtney, a mom of two littles in Red Lodge, Montana: “If you have the marathon-itch, scratch it.” For looking-to-get-faster Beth from Easton, Maryland, the duo stresses the importance of communication with a coach—and dynamic drills and stretches. Finally, they give advice to Lisa from Connecticut about training for and running (or not!) a multiple-loop-course event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Bowen Shea and co-host Maggie Palmer chat with three dynamic women who head up (and, in two cases, founded) running groups for moms. First up: Karissa Johnson, founder of Moms on the Run. Learn how this self-described “introvert” went from leading one 26-woman running group (promoted by paper flyers she stuffed in mailboxes!) to overseeing MOTR franchises in soon-to-be eight states. Karissa talks about the breadth of programs MOTR chapters offer, including yoga for runners and strength-training boot camps. Find out what Olympian is now designing intermediate and advanced training plans for them!Next is Pam Burrus, the can-do woman behind Moms RUN This Town. Laugh as she details her first forays in running (from “dreading” it in PE to copycat’ing a friend’s training posts on Facebook!), then how she launched this nationwide organization. Learn how MRTT chapters branch out beyond running to do good in their communities. Find out what’s the what with magnet flipping—and how it serves as motivation to members of this free club.The final guest is Katie Provencher, who heads up a Stroller Strong Moms in Anchorage. Katie recounts her introduction to the program, seeing a “herd of moms running by!” Katie explains why Stroller Strong Moms is so popular among military spouses. And she shares one of the all-time greatest TMI tales ever told on the pod!Get $50 off the purchase of an AfterShokz wireless bundle at amr.aftershokz.com by using code AMRBUNDLE at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah and Dimity sat down in person in Houston with Megan Saloom, a 2016 Olympics Marathon Trials runner who is now a new mother, then the AMR duo gabbed with Calum “Cal” Neff, a super-speedy father runner who holds two world records for pushing a running stroller in races. The two were hours away from running the Houston Marathon (Megan) and Houston Half-Marathon (Calum. Spoiler alert: He PR’d!). With her adorable 6-month-old son in the audience with his dad, Megan shares details of running while pregnant, including oversharing that “every day was a different experience” with her bladder! She gives advice about returning to running post-partum. Megan talks about DNF’ing the Olympic Trials; reminding us “running is not an overnight success,” she talks about the importance of patience. Next up is father of three Cal, who describes who how pushing a stroller in races allows him to combine his passions for running and being a father. He shares stroller-running tips that apply to any pace runner as well as cold-weather dressing advice. Learn a snappy Canadian phrase, and what it means to “be modular in your gear.” Get a bit misty-eyed when he says that on his two world-record-setting race days, he was a dad above all else. “You’re always a parent first.” (Let’s make this man an honorary mother runner!) In the intro, Dimity and Sarah share their Houston adventures. Megan hops into the conversation at 10:52. For 25% off your purchase of $100 or more, go to Modcloth.com and enter code amr at checkout. Listen to Murder Book, a new true crime podcast hosted by bestselling author Michael Connelly debuting on 1/28/19, and check out Dark Sacred Night, Connelly’s latest #1 bestselling detective novel.Get $50 off the purchase of an AfterShokz wireless bundle at amr.aftershokz.com by using code AMRBUNDLE at checkout.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell counsel Rebecca in South Carolina on how to let running return to being a stress relief—instead of a stressor. Switching emphasis to the “mother” part of Another Mother Runner, the duo talks about surviving the toddler years in response to a question from Amy in Batavia, IL. They share the details about training by heart rate with Penny from Cazenovia, NY, who is aiming to run marathons in all 50 states (she’s up to 31!). In response to a question from Valerie in Salt Lake City, Dimity and Sarah talk about running at altitude—as well as net-downhill races. Thanks, Wander Beauty. Get 20% off at WanderBeauty.com/amr For 15% off your ModCloth purchase of $100 or more, go to modcloth.com and enter code AMR at checkout. Good for one-time use. Sign up as a VIP at JUSTFAB to get your first style for as low as $10. Go to JustFab.com/AMR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah and BRF Molly dive into a conversation with Ashley Kilpatrick, who works with Back on My Feet, a national organization that combats homelessness through, in part, the power of running. The mother runner of three young children describes why she started running in law school. Ashley shares the intriguing origin story of Back on My Feet, and she talks about how the program restores a sense of belonging and accomplishment among homeless individuals and people with substance addiction. Detailing the thrice-weekly, pre-dawn runs, Ashley says they are “a space for equal footing,” in which passersby usually can’t tell the members from the volunteers. The trio talk about how running fuels self-esteem and confidence, no matter one’s living situation. Ashley shares powerful anecdotes about standout success stories in the program. She also elaborates on how to get involved in the organization, including fundraising in exchange for a bib to a bevy of big-name marathons. Lovers of #foundchange, Harry Potter, and cats will especially enjoy the intro chitchat! Ashley from Back on My Feet jumps into the conversation at 14:52. Start your vitamin ritual today at ritual.com/amr Make over your beauty routine with Wander Beauty! Save 20% at wanderbeauty.com/amr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah and co-host Amanda Loudin share a sit-down with professional runner Neely Gracey, who’s also a running coach and mother of a 5-month-old baby. Neely, the top American woman in her debut marathon (Boston 2016), talks about playing the long game, laying out her five-year plan that includes the next two Olympic Marathon Trials.With refreshing candor, Neely details her fitness endeavors while pregnant, providing value lessons for any sidelined runner. Dismissing the notion of “balance,” Neely shares her fresh mental approach to the juggling act of parenting, running, work, and other life elements. Smile as she talks about how grateful she is for her neighborhood mom friends. Find out why this mother runner bailed on a recent core workout.Coach Neely speaks personally and professionally about the value of slow consistency, allowing you to see progress with every run. She also imparts solid wisdom about marathon training.In the intro, SBS shares some sad news about her family’s cat, Miller. Neely joins the show at 11:53 (and Amanda has to duck out of the convo about halfway through).Get $50 off the purchase of an AfterShokz wireless bundle at amr.aftershokz.com by using code AMRBUNDLE at checkout.For 20% off your first Outdoor Voices order of $100 or more, go to outdoorvoices.com/AMR and use code AMR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell help steer Stephanie toward an ideal choice for her first marathon, especially reminding the Rochester, NY, mom it’s not the likely weather on race day that should guide her. Cheers to Amy from Pittsburgh, who asks about an occasional glass of wine during marathon training. Drawing on their decades of gear-reviewing experience, the duo gives Reedy (yes?) from Milton, Mass., advice on how often to replace running kicks. (Learn--and laugh!--when Dimity coins a new term: moonboot-ism.) Treading on familiar ground for SBS, they offer streak-ending advice to Jenn from Albuquerque. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah and Dimity talk with three coaches to help you put your best foot forward in 2019. First up is Jenn Gill, a certified personal trainer and strength coach in addition to being a running coach (did we mention she has three kids, too?!). Jenn talks up the overlooked beauty (and discomfort) of 5K races, and she shares tips on how to maximize results in shorter races. She gets teary when telling how much she loves being a cheerleader for runners. The next coach is Amanda Loudin, highlighting the new 13.1 and 26.2 training plans in the Train Like a Mother Club. She details how to get the most out of your legs, imparting crucial advice for half- and full marathoners. Coach Amanda emphasizes the importance of consistency over the long haul (pun intended), and the ladies laugh about how double-digits run end up seeming like NBD when training for an endurance race. Finally, this veteran of 30+ marathons gives race-day advice for 26.2-mile events. The final coach to join the program is Liz Waterstraat, one half of the duo now orchestrating the TLAM Club heart-rate training programs. Coach Liz explains why heart rate is such a “rich metric” of what’s going on inside a runner’s body during training. She describes the benefits—and the beauty—of HRT; she elaborates on the importance of taking training day by day, one run at a time. Wrapping up with race advice, Liz sings the praises of being prepared: why it is critical and how it can ensure race success.In the intro, Sarah shares details of her family’s European vacation and Dimity talks of her family’s holiday; the first coach joins the show at 13:15.Get $50 off the purchase of an AfterShokz wireless bundle at amr.aftershokz.com by using code AMRBUNDLE at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An annual tradition, Sarah chats with her coterie of co-hosts to talk about the highs and lows of the past year—and what races the gals are eyeing in the New Year.Molly; Tish; Dimity; Amanda; Maggie: All share insight + laughs. E.g.- Dimity talking about how her focus is now on “adventures instead of races; experiences instead of data.”- Amanda on how she keeps her motivation burning bright and stays injury free as a runner in her early 50s who routinely logs 35 to 40 weekly miles.- Maggie, amid loads (loads!) of laughs tells why she got emotional in a recent seaside half-marathon.Nuun drinking game? Chug every time someone says the phrase “air quotes” or even seems to use them; drink twice every time Dim says it.Download the Zeel app and use code RUNNER for $25 off your first massage.  Enjoy Chosen Foods oils, salad dressings, and ancient grains: Get 50% off orders of $10 or more by using promo code MOTHERRUNNER at chosenfoods.com/amr Go to GreenChef.us/AMR to get $50 off your first box of GreenChef.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices