Finding the JOY in Running Again

Send us Fan Mail For mother runners, running is often the one thing that's just ours, squeezed in around carpool lines, broken sleep, and everyone else's needs. That's exactly why JOY matters so much. It's what keeps us lacing up on the days motivation doesn't show up, and it makes the consistency, the PRs, and the longevity possible in the first place. But when time is scarce and every run has to count, joy is often the first thing to go. This week, in a special solo episode, I am talking about how to GET IT BACK, even when you're deep in a training block with a goal race on the calendar. I cover: 🌀 Why joy fades: How scarce time, constant comparison, and running as "proof" turn every run into a referendum for mother runner 🌀 Joy and ambition can coexist: Why loving your running doesn't mean giving up your goals, and how joy might be the thing that protects them. 🌀 Ways to quiet the comparison spiral: Practical shifts like running without the numbers, muting what drains you, and keeping a "why" list you'll actually see 🌀 A one-sentence challenge: Permission to have an off day, plus a simple task for your next run: skip the pace and log how it felt instead This is a subject near & dear to my heart & journey--& if you have lost the joy, I hope it helps you on the path to re-finding it again. TIMESTAMPS: 1:24 — Why joy can fade, especially for mother runners 3:58 — You don’t have to choose between enjoying running and pursuing goals 6:20 — Practical ways to ease comparison and make running feel less like a test 9:35 — A simple challenge for your next run: notice how it feels, not just how it measures 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