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…and most importantly, a mom of two beautiful, crazy kids. I’ve been featured in Runner’s World, The Huffington Post, US News and World Report, and 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 Passionate Runner Podcast
I have the pure pleasure of hosting a podcast ABOUT RUNNING for RunnerClick called The Passionate Runner podcast. On the podcast, I speak with experts and running pros to share insider knowledge and inspiration so you can run your best and BE your best in the time that you have.
The Blog
The Latest
Ahh, it’s that time of year, Valentine’s Day! And I am here with your Valentine’s Day Gift Guide featuring the best 7 gift ideas for …
Move over massage gun, there’s a new recovery tool in town. The Achedaway Cupper, just released in January, is an at-home cupping device that gives …
COVID-19 is on the rise, again, with the surge of the omicron variant. And, unfortunately, many of my fellow runners and athletes are contracting the …
If you follow me on Instagram, then you likely know that I have spent half of 2021 battling a plantar fascia tear. I’m happy to …
The key to being a successful runner is consistency. So, that leads one to believe that the more you run, the better you’ll be. This …
It’s time to throw out the traditional SMART goal setting approach. I have a new science-backed goal-setting for runners strategy for 2022.
Instead of being Specific, …
Training
Move over massage gun, there’s a new recovery tool in town. The Achedaway Cupper, just released in January, is an at-home cupping device that gives …
COVID-19 is on the rise, again, with the surge of the omicron variant. And, unfortunately, many of my fellow runners and athletes are contracting the …
The key to being a successful runner is consistency. So, that leads one to believe that the more you run, the better you’ll be. This …
It’s time to throw out the traditional SMART goal setting approach. I have a new science-backed goal-setting for runners strategy for 2022.
Instead of being Specific, …
Ahh, tempo runs. They are a magical run that benefits runners by allowing them to run faster and farther by spurring key physiological adaptations. But …
It’s not something lots of people like to talk about, but it is a valid and common worry for runners: how do I make sure …
Motivation
The key to being a successful runner is consistency. So, that leads one to believe that the more you run, the better you’ll be. This …
It’s time to throw out the traditional SMART goal setting approach. I have a new science-backed goal-setting for runners strategy for 2022.
Instead of being Specific, …
I love running. I LOVE running. I love it. Always have. No matter the odds. BUT, admittedly, my love of running wanes in the wintertime. …
When that alarm goes off in the morning and I am warm and snuggled up in my bed—with my golden retriever nestled against my legs …
Running a marathon is an amazing physical and mental achievement, one that requires an ample amount of time to recover. However, many marathon runners run …
Running is a tough sport. And it arguably takes more mental toughness than physical toughness to do it—from getting started, sticking with it, and going …
Health & Nutrition
COVID-19 is on the rise, again, with the surge of the omicron variant. And, unfortunately, many of my fellow runners and athletes are contracting the …
If you follow me on Instagram, then you likely know that I have spent half of 2021 battling a plantar fascia tear. I’m happy to …
It’s not something lots of people like to talk about, but it is a valid and common worry for runners: how do I make sure …
Running a marathon is an amazing physical and mental achievement, one that requires an ample amount of time to recover. However, many marathon runners run …
Being a runner has many wonderful side effects but one of them is NOT runner’s trots or runner’s stomach—diarrhea that endurance runners experience when going …
It’s true. I have to admit. I am one of those people that waits for the slightest hint of a brisk fall breeze and then …
Gear
Ahh, it’s that time of year, Valentine’s Day! And I am here with your Valentine’s Day Gift Guide featuring the best 7 gift ideas for …
It happens every fall and winter when runners get really confused as to what to wear to go for their runs. Knowing what to wear …
It’s already that time of year! Time to start that holiday shopping (and while you’re at it, treat yourself for all your hard work with …
When you become a mother (runner), everything changes including (if you are nursing), your chest. And you suddenly become involved in two endurance activities—running and …
It is marathon season! I love nothing more than fall marathon training. You’ve put in the miles in the summer heat and humidity. And, just …
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 …
Most Popular
Move over massage gun, there’s a new recovery tool in town. The Achedaway Cupper, just released in January, is an at-home cupping device that gives …
COVID-19 is on the rise, again, with the surge of the omicron variant. And, unfortunately, many of my fellow runners and athletes are contracting the …
If you follow me on Instagram, then you likely know that I have spent half of 2021 battling a plantar fascia tear. I’m happy to …
The key to being a successful runner is consistency. So, that leads one to believe that the more you run, the better you’ll be. This …
Ahh, tempo runs. They are a magical run that benefits runners by allowing them to run faster and farther by spurring key physiological adaptations. But …
It happens every fall and winter when runners get really confused as to what to wear to go for their runs. Knowing what to wear …
Survival Strategies
It happens every fall and winter when runners get really confused as to what to wear to go for their runs. Knowing what to wear …
Ahh, winter. As if stroller running wasn’t challenging enough—you throw frigid temps and slippery terrain in our paths to getting fit. But what is too …
When that alarm goes off in the morning and I am warm and snuggled up in my bed—with my golden retriever nestled against my legs …
Running is a tough sport. And it arguably takes more mental toughness than physical toughness to do it—from getting started, sticking with it, and going …
When you become a mother (runner), everything changes including (if you are nursing), your chest. And you suddenly become involved in two endurance activities—running and …
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 face …
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 of the …
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 coach, …
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 …