The Running Mums Podcast

Zahra (@muslimactivemum) went from running ultras and racing on the world stage to being grounded by an unlikely fall at parkrun. The resulting injury sidelined her from the sport she loves for years, but her incredible positivity helped her come out stronger.While recovering, Zahra became a mum. In this episode, she shares her struggles during those early days, how buggy running transformed her experience, and how it shaped the runner she is today.She also discusses her mission to promote representation in the running world, what it feels like to be the only person who looks like her on the start line, and her hopes to inspire more women to confidently take up the sport.If you've ever felt lost or lonely in motherhood, Zahra's story offers hope and reminds us that our biggest challenges can eventually lead to great things.Hope you enjoy the episode!

Do you sometimes lack in confidence in your running ability or wonder how to get out the door when you have zero motivation? Or perhaps you're battling with demons on your long run and struggling to keep going when you know you have more in your legs? Then this is the episode for you!Dr Chloe Bedford is a counselling psychologist, runner and mum-of-two. She has been running for around 16 years, though becoming a parent has changed what running looks like for her and now she focuses on motivation, progress and fitting training into everyday life, rather than hitting certain paces.Through her brilliant Instagram account, @The.Running.Psychologist, Chloe shares the psychology behind running and mental health, alongside the realities of trying to run when children, work and life have other plans. She encourages runners to pursue their goals with flexibility and self-compassion, and to remember that a missed run doesn’t mean the whole training plan needs to go in the bin.In this week's episode, Chloe shares how you can become a more confident runner and be a little kinder to yourself, as ultimately pulling on your trainers and fitting in even a five minute run — while we're juggling kids, work and everything else life throws at us — is a win!Hope you enjoy the episode x

Welcome back to The Running Mums Podcast! I'm very excited to bring you series two, and delighted to be kicking off this series with the wonderful Shakira Akabusi.The mum-of-four is a women's fitness expert and a specialist in postnatal exercise, as well as a presenter. Growing up as daughter to Olympian Kriss Akabusi, Shakira shares her early experiences of sport and how they evolved over the years.We chatted all about how running and exercise helped Shakira through some really challenging times, as well as top tips for mums looking to get started running after having a baby, or returning to the sport after kids.Shakira has inspired so many women to believe in themselves and invest in their all-round health through her Strong Like Mum network, and she shares some amazing advice on how we can feel good and run well for years to come.Hope you enjoy the episode!

What a great chat I had with Georgina! She's an epic multi-marathon runner (40 marathons and ultras, and counting!) and ran through her pregnancies and even secured her PB after having kids.As well as sharing how she makes running work alongside being a mum to her three lovely girls, she is a huge advocate for breastfeeding and spoke about the changes she would like to see put in place for mums who are nursing but still wanting to continue racing and pursuing the hobby they love.Like myself, Georgina is lucky enough to be running London Marathon next year and she is taking part for a charity very close to her heart. We chat all about London and how she stays fit and strong to keep completing so many races.You can follow Georgina's progress on Instagram @diaryofamotherrunner.It's a really uplifting episode and shows you can take up running later in life and still achieve amazing things.Hope you enjoy!

This week I spoke to the wonderful Christine Bateman - a mum of three from Canada who has been on a rollercoaster ride with her running.She came to running after becoming a parent and her newfound hobby went from a source of comfort to an unhealthy obsession. As she pursued her quest of qualifying for Boston her anxiety took hold and all the joy she once found from running disappeared.All this was going on while Christine was suffering from adenomyosis and then undiagnosed ADHD. Her overtraining and underfuelling eventually caught up with her and then on top of all that, a fall left her with two broken arms and shortly afterwards she had to have major surgery.Amazingly, Christine has got through all of this and shares how she turned things full circle and found her love for running again, and made friends for life along the way. Now she runs without expectations or pressure, purely for joy, and she spreads that positive energy wherever she runs.If you've ever felt like the pressure has got too much, in running or parenthood, then this episode is sure to leave you feeling more positive that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and there are great things around the corner when you find the right support.I hope you enjoy the episode!

Have you ever struggled to lose weight as a runner, found you can't get your head round carb loading or feel unsure whether your caffeine habits are healthy? Nutritionist Kate Law is a keen runner and mother, and in this week's Running Mums Podcast she shares her advice on all these topics, and so much more.We chatted about why what we eat is so important for our physical and mental health, how to lose weight safely, and whether this is something that can be done while in a training block for a running event.Kate debunked some myths about caffeine and carb loading, and shared why practice makes perfect for race day fuelling.We also chatted about body image, the desire to look like a runner and the warning signs you might be under-fuelling, as well as nutrition advice for breastfeeding runners.Kate can be found on Instagram and the SMILE study she mentioned can be read here.

This week's episode is with Emma Bord, mum-of-three, PT, six star finisher and all-round amazing runner! If you're lacking in motivation or confidence in your running, Emma is sure to get you signing up to your next (or first) race! Emma chats about her running journey, starting with a dare to run London marathon, through to completing six of the world majors within a year. She also shares her secrets to staying focused and running strong, even in those really tough moments, as well as how to commit to a challenge and stick to it.Emma recently wrote her book, Mum Power, which encompasses her supportive message to mothers — we can feel strong and like ourselves again after having kids, and she gives practical advice on how you can get there.Like many of us, Emma's passion for running has grown since becoming a mum, and she shows that we can still follow our dreams while also helping our children achieve theirs. I hope you enjoy the episode and feel inspired to take on an epic challenge of your own!

Your hormones play an enormous role in your overall wellbeing as well as your running performance, and optimising your hormone health is key to harnessing your full potential.Dr Nicky Keay, medical doctor, mother-of-two and author shares how understanding our hormones, from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond, can help us optimise our running performance.She shares why hormones shouldn't be seen as the enemy, and how they tell us vital information about how our body is functioning.You can find Nicky's book Hormones, Health and Human Potential here. To book an individual appointment for a for more detailed discussion with Nicky, visit her website.