The Mental Assault of Running Injuries (+ the Good Stuff, too)

In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we discuss the challenges and lessons learned from running injuries. We share personal experiences, emphasizing the mental and emotional toll injuries can take on runners, especially mothers. 

This conversation highlights the importance of strength training, understanding the root causes of injuries, and overcoming guilt and shame. We encourage other mother runners to embrace their journeys and prioritize self-care while navigating the complexities of motherhood and running. We also talk at great length about the profound impact of running injuries on mental health and identity. 

Takeaways
Understanding the root cause of injuries is important.
Comparison with others can lead to unnecessary guilt.
Quality training is more important than quantity of miles.
Emotional support is vital during recovery.
It's okay to take time off to heal. Being injured can affect many aspects of life, not just physical.
The mental aspect of running injuries can be more challenging than the physical pain.
Running is often a core part of identity, making injuries feel like a loss of self.
Support from understanding friends is crucial during recovery.
Finding alternative therapeutic outlets is essential when running is taken away.
Injuries can lead to a spiral of mental health challenges, including depression.
It's important to seek professional advice for injury management.
Not all injuries require complete rest; some can be managed with strength training.
Invest in your health; it's worth it.
Be your own advocate in healthcare settings.
Every season of life, including challenges, will pass.

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. She’s since cut more than an hour off her marathon time and gunning to break 3 hours. IG: ...