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Moms are notorious for putting themselves last. Hildee Weiss was the epitome of this. At 46, she was adevoted wife, mother, and grandmother, who moved through life feeling worn down, invisible, and convinced that transformation belonged to other people—thinner people, younger people, braver people.

Then one ordinary day, she asked herself a question that would rewrite everything she believed about who she could become: What if I tried?

What you are about to listen to today is the definition of inspiring—of someone who feels like it is too late or that change belongs to other people—taking the step and realizing, that yes, they can – you can—change your life.

Hildee is the author of the book Embracing My Inner Athlete, published by Library Tales Publishing, out next month, where she shares her inspiring journey from a sedentary lifestyle to becoming an avid runner, completing numerous 5Ks, half marathons, Spartans, and trail races.

Hildee and I discuss:

🌀the importance of prioritizing health and wellness for moms,
🌀emphasizing the need to pursue passions that bring purpose and fulfillment,
🌀her experiences with injuries,
🌀and the powerful mindset shift from feeling obligated to run to truly embracing the joy of movement.

More than a running story, Hildee’s experience is a testament to second chances and the quiet, radical act of choosing yourself. For every woman who has ever felt stuck, sidelined, or “too late” to begin, her journey offers one powerful truth: You’re stronger than you think — and your next chapter can start with a single step.

RESOURCES:
💗Instagram at @momoffive68 and @Hildeeweiss
💗Pre-order her book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Library Tales Publishing.

THANK YOU, SPONSORS!:

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Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

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Today's BONUS EPISODE features not an amazing mother runner but an amazing HUMAN, my dear friend: Amanda Martin.

Amanda just crushed the Eugene Marathon with an astounding time of 2:34:20, marking an 8-minute personal record. This impressive feat makes her the third fastest woman in the history of the Eugene Marathon and the seventh fastest American woman on an unaided course in 2026.

Despite not being a mom, Amanda's story is one that needs to be heard and I know it will inspire you.

Her success didn’t come easily; it was the result of an 8-year journey filled with significant life changes, moves, family losses, injuries, self-doubt, and marathon challenges. Even just a week before the race, Amanda and I were discussing her goal of achieving the Olympic Trials marathon qualifying time, and possibly pivoting to the half-marathon qualifying time as the final 10k of the marathon had always eluded her.

But not anymore.

In this episode, we dive deep into Amanda’s inspiring story:

🌀exploring her incredible negative split during the race, where she closed strong with 5:30 mile splits and still had more to give;

🌀we discuss the mental shifts, training adjustments, and nutritional choices that fueled her success;

🌀and what fuels her unwavering determination to pursue her Olympic Trials dreams, despite facing heartbreak and setbacks.

I am so excited to share Amanda's remarkable story.

RESOURCES:

Instagram: @Amanda.e.martin & her coach @jdcunningham97 / @cunninghamrunning

Nonmio

NeverSecond

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com

Send us Fan Mail

What are the training tweaks a runner needs to run their best? That is the BIG question I asked Running Coach Montana DePasquale and her answer may surprise you.

Montana is a running coach I have long admired due to her knowledge of the sport and approach to coaching. With a background in competitive running herself, running for Bucknell University, Montana understands the nuances of training, injury prevention, and mental fortitude essential for success in the sport. Her commitment to continual learning keeps her updated with the latest training techniques and innovations in the running world, ensuring that her athletes receive the best guidance possible.

In this episode we get to know Montana more as a runner and mother before we dive into topics such as:

🌀the 3 training tweaks runners can make to level up their training

🌀mental strategies to feel focused yet relaxed in your training and on race day

🌀the importance of knowing the psychology of a runner

🌀the personal struggle she had that led her to go all-in on strength training--& why she thinks strength training is CRITICAL for every runner

& much more.

You will leave this conversation feeling empowered to get the most out of your training.

RESOURCES:

Website: www.coachmontanadepasquale.com

Instagram: @coachmontanadepasquale

THANK YOU, SPONSORS!:

💗CURE HYDRATION delicious & clean hydration: Save 15% with code MOTHERRUNNER.

💗 ZBIOTICS a pre-Alcohol probiotic drink that breaks down the byproduct of alcohol responsible for rough mornings. SAVE 15% with MOTHERRUNNERS.

Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.

• www.themotherrunners.com
• Instagram: @themotherrunners
• YouTube: The Mother Runners
• whitney@themotherrunners.com