Welcome to The Mother Runners
I’m Whitney Heins, the founder of The Mother Runners, a VDOT-O2 certified running coach, 2:56 marathoner, freelance writer, a former award-winning TV news journalist…& most importantly, a mom of two beautiful, crazy kids. I’ve been featured in Runner’s World, The Huffington Post, US News & World Report, & more. I’m thrilled to share all I learn with you so you can be your best selves on and off the roads. After all, running makes us better mothers, and vice versa.
Running is such an individual sport but when you become a mother, it can require a whole team of people and major schedule finessing to help you get out the door. It can require countless times of crying babies being pulled off you and pre-pre-dawn wake-ups to ensure it happens before the day’s craziness sets in.
At The Mother Runners, you’ll find information for all things at the intersection of running and motherhood brought to you by my personal experiences and research, and conversations with other Mother Runners and experts.
The Latest
This summer, I made a mistake. I did fasted running (running on an empty stomach) for my entire base phase of marathon training. The result?…
Massage guns for runners are all the rage these days with the Theragun being the cream of the crop. But are massage guns worth the…
A couple of years ago I was in a doctor’s office getting blood test results when the nurse practitioner looked at me and said, “You’ll…
One of the major perks of running and marathon training is getting to eat. A lot. But not eating right and not eating enough can…
A couple of years ago, I was featured in a TV news story where there was a video of me running. When I saw the video, I was…
Training for a marathon and being in a marriage have a lot in common. They both require a lot of work, grit, and commitment. And let’s…
Training
This summer, I made a mistake. I did fasted running (running on an empty stomach) for my entire base phase of marathon training. The result?…
One of the major perks of running and marathon training is getting to eat. A lot. But not eating right and not eating enough can…
A couple of years ago, I was featured in a TV news story where there was a video of me running. When I saw the video, I was…
Training for a marathon and being in a marriage have a lot in common. They both require a lot of work, grit, and commitment. And let’s…
Here are two common scenarios for runners: you run a race and YOU DO AWESOME! You’re hungry to get another personal best! OR, you run…
Until a couple of years ago when I started to take my training more seriously, I ran without a watch. I had no data. No…
Motivation
Friends, I’ve been running most my life (since I was 6 years old) but I have had to learn how to start running many times—especially…
When you become a mom, suddenly your time is no longer your own—and that includes taking time to go for a run. But many research…
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know—I’ve been forced to take a lot of unplanned breaks over the past year and a half.…
Running in the morning is a saving grace for most mother runners. It most often is the only way we can ensure we get our…
The marathon taper is a CRITICAL component of any marathon training program in order to absorb your training and get to the start line fresh.…
As running outside gained popularity in 2020, so did treadmill running. Many people discovered what moms of young children already knew—treadmill running is a saving…
Health & Nutrition
This summer, I made a mistake. I did fasted running (running on an empty stomach) for my entire base phase of marathon training. The result?…
A couple of years ago I was in a doctor’s office getting blood test results when the nurse practitioner looked at me and said, “You’ll…
One of the major perks of running and marathon training is getting to eat. A lot. But not eating right and not eating enough can…
I’ve seen it time and again, mother runners suffering from low iron. It’s really common among female endurance athletes. In fact, one study found that it…
Here are two common scenarios for runners: you run a race and YOU DO AWESOME! You’re hungry to get another personal best! OR, you run…
Friends, I’ve been running most my life (since I was 6 years old) but I have had to learn how to start running many times—especially…
Gear
Massage guns for runners are all the rage these days with the Theragun being the cream of the crop. But are massage guns worth the…
My husband often jokes that my runner friends, my runner galentine (s), spend more time with me than he does. To be honest, I think…
Running with a jogging stroller is hard work! But it is worth it! By exercising and getting outside, you’re getting feel-good endorphins, spending quality time…
One of the perks of being a runner is the simplicity of it—put on your shoes and go. Mother runners love the peace and quiet…
Mamas, stop looking. Here are the best jogging strollers for mother runners on the market. This is according to mother runners. These babies lighten your…
We Mother Runners don’t want many things. But we do want to be able to have our choice of music and podcasts, and feel connected…
Most Popular
Massage guns for runners are all the rage these days with the Theragun being the cream of the crop. But are massage guns worth the…
A couple of years ago I was in a doctor’s office getting blood test results when the nurse practitioner looked at me and said, “You’ll…
One of the major perks of running and marathon training is getting to eat. A lot. But not eating right and not eating enough can…
Until a couple of years ago when I started to take my training more seriously, I ran without a watch. I had no data. No…
Friends, I’ve been running most my life (since I was 6 years old) but I have had to learn how to start running many times—especially…
When you become a mom, suddenly your time is no longer your own—and that includes taking time to go for a run. But many research…
Survival Strategies
Training for a marathon and being in a marriage have a lot in common. They both require a lot of work, grit, and commitment. And let’s…
Summer is already here and for a lot of moms that means less time for running because, well, YOUR KIDS ARE HOME ALL THE TIME! Many…
Here are two common scenarios for runners: you run a race and YOU DO AWESOME! You’re hungry to get another personal best! OR, you run…
When you become a mom, suddenly your time is no longer your own—and that includes taking time to go for a run. But many research…
When I was in my first trimester with my first child, my husband ran the Leadville 100 ultra-marathon. While he was lost in the woods…
‘Tis the most wonderful…and hectic…time of the year! The holidays are crazy. Even as introverts in a pandemic, my family’s schedules are getting packed and…
Mother Runner of the Month
“The world would be a better place if there were more KCs in it.” Those are the words used to describe December’s Mother Runner…
Meet our November Mother Runner of the Month Donna Villavicencio, and she will change your life. As the owner/trainer of a women’s owned gym, triathlon…
Allie O’Rourke of Petaluma, California is our October Mother Runner of the Month! And, she is, the best I can tell, one of those mother…
Mother runners, meet your September Mother Runner of the Month (& GRANDmother Runner of the Month) Leslie Barrenal of Santiago, Chile. Leslie has 3 kids,…
Kerri Maess, our August Mother Runner of the Month, started running about 9 years ago with her brother who weighed in at over 300 pounds and…
It’s safe to say July’s Mother Runner of the Month, Laura Filla, has found her passion: The St. Louis mom has run through her most…