If running has started to feel harder after 40—more aches and pains, lingering tightness, slower paces, low energy, or frustrating injuries—you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 3 essential pieces of a strong running foundation and why so many runners skip them (even the ones who are “doing all the right things”).

You’ll learn why running alone doesn’t build the foundation you need, why stretching isn’t the answer most runners think it is, and how to train in a way that helps your body feel better, move better, and run stronger—without burning out.

In this episode, we cover:

• The 3 biggest reasons runners over 40 start feeling stuck or injury-prone
• Why tightness is often a strength + control issue (not a flexibility issue)
• The 3 foundation pillars: mobility, motor control, and easy running
• Why most runners run too hard too often (and how that impacts recovery + hormones)
• The Training Pyramid: foundation first, then strength/speed, then power/intensity
• How to fit this into your week without adding “more” to your plate

Want help applying this to your own training? Join the Real Life Runners Team (birthday month special running now): yourrunningplan.com

Join the 30 Day Running Reset and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you.

Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret

Join the Team! --> https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

Come find us on Instagram and say hi!

Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

The winter olympics have returned, and if you’ve been listening to our podcast for awhile, you know we love the Olympics!

The grit. The perseverance. The stories.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this week, you’ve probably heard of Lindsey Vonn’s comeback.

After devastating injuries and stepping away from professional skiing for several years (her last Olympics was 8 years ago), she chose to come back…at the age of 41.

And not because it was guaranteed to end with a podium.

But because she still had something inside her that wanted to try again.

That’s what this episode is really about.

We talk about:

• What resilience actually looks like (hint: it’s not pretty or linear)
• Why a comeback doesn’t have to mean “winning”
• The courage it takes to return after injury, burnout, or disappointment
• How redefining failure can completely change your fitness journey
• Why the process is always more powerful than the outcome

As runners, athletes, and humans, we all face seasons where things don’t go the way we planned. Injuries happen. Motivation dips. Life gets messy. And sometimes we start to question whether it’s even worth trying again.

Lindsey’s story reminds us: showing up again is brave. Trying again is powerful. And your comeback doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

If you’ve ever felt behind, stuck, or unsure whether you still “have it” — this conversation is for you.

Because resilience isn’t about never falling.

It’s about deciding you’re not done yet.

00:15 Lindsey Vonn's Comeback Story

03:37 Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Journey

07:03 Public Reaction and Resilience

19:50 The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

20:58 Facing the Fear of Failure

22:22 The Journey Over the Outcome

26:42 Embracing the Process

31:39 The Courage to Continue

40:01 Adjusting Goals and Embracing Change

Join the 30 Day Running Reset and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you.

Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret

Join the Team! --> https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

Come find us on Instagram and say hi!

Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

In this solo episode, I’m taking some time to pause, reflect, and look back on 45 years of life, growth, and learning—both on and off the run. I’m sharing the lessons that have shaped me as a runner, a coach, and a human, and the shifts that continue to guide how I show up today.

I talk about how my relationship with health and fitness has evolved over the years—from wanting to be skinny to wanting to be strong, from restriction to truly fueling my body, and from chasing outcomes to learning how to enjoy the process. I share how letting go of the need to be right has opened the door to getting it right—especially when it comes to growth, grace, and self-awareness.

This episode goes deeper than training, too. I reflect on moving from a victim mindset to taking ownership of my life, from searching for an identity to choosing one, and from constantly proving myself to trusting myself. I also get honest about the things I’m still working through—procrastination, accepting support, and caring less about other people’s opinions.

If you’re in a season of transition, questioning old patterns, or feeling called to grow into a stronger, more aligned version of yourself, this episode is for you. My hope is that my reflections encourage you to pause, reflect, and give yourself permission to evolve, without needing to have it all figured out.

Come hang out with me for a real, honest conversation that feels more like a coaching session for real life.

Thanks for being here and running this journey with me.

04:08 Embracing Strength Over Skinniness

13:04 Fueling the Body with Love

18:08 Trusting the Process Over Chasing Outcomes

24:56 From Being Right to Getting It Right

29:07 Parenting and Growth Mindset

30:57 Shifting from Victim to Leader

38:11 Choosing Your Identity

43:06 Ongoing Personal Development

Join the 30 Day Running Reset and get a plan that will help you build a strong and injury-proof body by combining running and strength training in a way that actually works for runners like you.

Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret

Join the Team! --> https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

Come find us on Instagram and say hi!

Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.