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In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we take on dealing with other people's opinions and trying not to care what other people think--whether in real life or on social media. The discussion emphasizes the struggle to balance personal identity with societal expectations. We also talk about the challenges of authenticity, the fear of judgment, and the importance of vulnerability.

We each open up about our experiences with self-acceptance, the impact of sharing personal stories, and the importance of community support in overcoming personal struggles. We all have different battles on this topic but agree there is a need to embrace imperfection and the realization that everyone has their struggles, fostering a sense of connection and understanding among mothers.

Chapters

18:15 Navigating Public Perception and Personal Struggles

21:08 The Challenge of Authenticity on Social Media

24:13 Embracing Vulnerability and Overcoming Fear

30:18 The Complexity of Independence and Asking for Help

39:22 The Impact of Sharing Personal Stories

44:08 Understanding the Weight of Opinions and Self-Perception

49:19 Embracing Authenticity and Self-Acceptance

52:51 The Pressure of Perfection in Motherhood

55:34 Finding Comfort in Imperfection

01:00:09 Navigating Relationships and Fear of Judgment

motherhood, running, personal experiences, cultural differences, overcoming fear, podcast, self-care, community, parenting, mental health, social media, vulnerability, authenticity, motherhood, public perception, personal struggles, mental health, independence, self-acceptance, community support, authenticity, motherhood, self-acceptance, community, perfectionism, judgment, support, relationships

About your hosts:

• Whitney Heins is a mom of 2 kids, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. Coming out of a 5-year injury cycle which included a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon, she is training to run faster as a master’s athlete. IG: @themotherrunners.
• Shanna Birchett is a mom of 6 kids under 8, including twins. She returned to running in 2021 after an 11-year break, running most recently a 2:44 marathon in the summer of 2024. She is the co-founder of Endure 365 running, endure365.com, which offers heart rate-based training plans. IG: @motherhood_running.
• Tricia DeNardis is a mom to 3 young kids and a physical therapist specializing in the pelvic floor, pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation. After running 10 marathons, Tricia completed her first 50k in the fall of 2024, and is now hooked! IG: @burpeesandburpcloths.
• Olivia Garcia is a mom of 2 young kids, who used to work as a paramedic. She fell in love with running in 2019, despite surviving a marathon that didn’t go according to plan. With a 2:57 PR, she's cut more than an hour off her marathon time. IG: ...

In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we talk about your typical random stuff (caffeine and catheters, anyone?) and then we dish the dirt on the types of moms we are vs. the types of moms we thought we would be.

We cover a wide array of topics such as how we deal with messes, our husbands, discipline, chores, big emotions, and bedtime routines--to name a few. Per usual, we all bring different experiences and opinions to the conversation, but we find many common threads including the fact that none of us became the moms we thought we would be.

Our conversation highlights the realities of parenting expectations versus actual experiences, the chaos that often accompanies family life, and the lessons learned from our own childhoods. We hope you enjoy, relate, and laugh along with us!

Chapters

06:00 Running and Conversation: The Perfect Pair
08:51 Parenting Styles: Expectations vs. Reality
12:08 Shoutouts and Celebrations
14:56 Diving into Parenting Styles
17:25 Parenting Styles and Household Dynamics
31:34 Lessons from Growing Up in Big Families
35:03 Creating Ownership and Responsibility in Kids
39:31 Unexpected Relationships and Misunderstandings
40:26 Parenting Regrets and Styles
41:09 Balancing Rigid Routines with Flexibility
42:49 Embracing Individuality in Parenting
46:04 Evolving Parenting Styles
49:32 Finding Balance in Parenting Dynamics
51:27 The Importance of Community in Parenting
01:15:05 Understanding Our Parents Through the Lens of Parenthood
01:20:04 The Reality of Parenting and Self-Reflection

podcast, motherhood, running, parenting styles, caffeine, humor, community, support, marathon, friendships, parenting, household dynamics, self-sufficiency, parenting styles, family relationships, chaos management, childhood memories, parenting expectations, sibling relationships, balance in parenting, parenting, relationships, routines, individuality, community, regrets, styles, motherhood, flexibility, challenges, motherhood, parenting, vulnerability, community, guilt, emotional management, self-reflection, expectations, support, empathy

About your hosts:

• Whitney Heins is a mom of 2 kids, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. Coming out of a 5-year injury cycle which included a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon, she is training to run faster as a master’s athlete. IG: @themotherrunners.
• Shanna Birchett is a mom of 6 kids under 8, including twins. She returned to running in 2021 after an 11-year break, running most recently a 2:44 marathon in the summer of 2024. She is the co-founder of Endure 365 running, endure365.com, which offers heart rate-based training plans. IG: @motherhood_running.
• Tricia DeNardis is a mom to 3 young kids and a physical therapist specializing in the pelvic floor, pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation. After running 10 marathons, Tricia completed her first 50k in the fall of 2024, and is now hooked! IG: @burpeesandburpcloths.
• Olivia Garcia is a mom of 2 young kids, who used to work as a paramedic. She fell in love with running in 2019, despite surviving a marathon that didn’t go according to plan. With a 2:57 PR, she's cut more than an hour off her marathon time. IG: ...

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In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we address a question we have been asked about a lot: what to look for in a running coach & how to find the right running coach for you? We all have had different experiences with running coaches and share what to look for based on your needs, goals, and life stage. Like with most things as a mother runner, you may need a different running coach based on the season you are in. And, in some seasons, you may not want a running coach.

We share some running coaches we have worked with and cautionary tales. We also talk about how to “break up” with a running coach and what are red flags. Our conversation emphasizes the need for effective communication, setting realistic goals, and finding a coaching style that aligns with your individual needs. Ultimately, we encourage runners to take their time in choosing a coach and to prioritize their own well-being and performance.

Chapters

03:00 The Pressure of Time Management

05:53 The Birth of the Podcast

10:00 Choosing the Right Running Coach

15:12 Experiences with Different Coaches

23:57 The Challenge of Coaching and Self-Management

25:23 Finding the Right Coach: Personal Connections Matter

35:50 Breaking Up with a Coach: A Difficult Decision

50:40 Adapting Coaching to Life Changes

01:04:03 The Value of Personalized Coaching

podcast, running, coaching, multitasking, time management, emotional support, motherhood, fitness, personal growth, community, coaching, running, flexibility, training, athlete, communication, goals, relationship, performance, support

About your hosts:

• Whitney Heins is a mom of 2 kids, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. Coming out of a 5-year injury cycle which included a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon, she is training to run faster as a master’s athlete. IG: @themotherrunners.
• Shanna Birchett is a mom of 6 kids under 8, including twins. She returned to running in 2021 after an 11-year break, running most recently a 2:44 marathon in the summer of 2024. She is the co-founder of Endure 365 running, endure365.com, which offers heart rate-based training plans. IG: @motherhood_running.
• Tricia DeNardis is a mom to 3 young kids and a physical therapist specializing in the pelvic floor, pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation. After running 10 marathons, Tricia completed her first 50k in the fall of 2024, and is now hooked! IG: @burpeesandburpcloths.
• Olivia Garcia is a mom of 2 young kids, who used to work as a paramedic. She fell in love with running in 2019, despite surviving a marathon that didn’t go according to plan. With a 2:57 PR, she's cut more than an hour off her marathon time. IG: ...