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, 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 …
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 …
Since being injured for the last several months, I’ve been cross training to maintain my fitness, careful to pick the best cross training exercises for …
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 …
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 …
Training
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 …
Since being injured for the last several months, I’ve been cross training to maintain my fitness, careful to pick the best cross training exercises for …
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 …
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 …
Motivation
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 …
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. …
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 …
Health & Nutrition
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 …
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 …
What is the best birth control pill for female runners? This is a question I have gotten asked a lot of lately. Many mother runners …
Every time I have a running injury, I go through the same crisis: how on Earth should I eat when I’m not running? Should I …
Gear
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 …
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 …
Most Popular
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
What is the best birth control pill for female runners? This is a question I have gotten asked a lot of lately. Many mother runners …
Survival Strategies
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 …
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 …
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 …