Mary Daniels joins Careth Arnold and Amanda Basham to talk through a very real postpartum return to running after a huge year of change. They cover her pregnancy, C-section recovery, breastfeeding challenges, postpartum anemia, and the slow rebuild back toward trail and ultra fitness.In this episode, Mary also shares her path from being a laywer into marketing, coaching, and elite running, plus how she is navigating life, work, and motherhood while trying to stay healthy and competitive.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mary Daniels and her athletic background
00:01 Introduction to Mary's postpartum journey
02:08 The emotional and physical challenges of postpartum
03:58 Mary's journey from college skiing to ultrarunning
04:09 Initial postpartum recovery and rest
05:59 Balancing law school, lawer life, and running
07:59 Transitioning from law to marketing and coaching
10:10 Relocating for family and career
10:23 Progression from walking to running
11:59 Pregnancy and training adjustments
13:53 Postpartum recovery and returning to running
15:00 Impact of nutritional deficiencies on recovery
16:01 Experiences with pregnancy during ultramarathons
17:57 Birth story and delivery choices
19:59 The emotional journey of motherhood and relationships
20:11 Breastfeeding struggles and pumping challenges
22:01 Pregnancy and race performance at Kodiak
23:57 Managing training and coaching postpartum
25:04 Experiencing heavy postpartum bleeding in France
25:48 Reflections on balancing life, sport, and family
30:00 Medical assessment and diagnosis of postpartum period
35:04 Recovery and return to running
40:05 Race plans and future goals
45:02 Reflections on postpartum health and resilience

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@i.careth

@amanda_basham

Abigail West joins us to talk about balancing life as an artist, runner, and new mom. She shares how she kept running through pregnancy, navigated a long labor as a true warrior, and is now easing back into training while managing her artistic career with a new baby. We loved getting to learn more about her art practice and as well as her athletic persuits!

Check out her work at:

abigailwest.net

@upinthewoods

Key Topics:

Balancing a creative career with athletic pursuits
Pregnancy and childbirth during an ultramarathon training cycle
Home birth experience and hospital transition
Postpartum recovery and pelvic health
Managing back labor and labor complications Postpartum recovery and returning to running
Art printmaking techniques and process
Balancing motherhood, art, and running
Managing a creative business and art festivals
Postpartum mental health and sleep strategies
Training and injury prevention postpartum
Traveling and working as a parent and artist
Goals and plans for future races and art projects

Careth and Amanda share their most recent expeirences at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc this past weekend. Careth shares why she went into the race with no pressure to perform, only to "close the loop" and enjoy the course, while Amanda talks through the mindset shift that kept her from spiraling when she didn't know her place until late in the race. They also get into recovery after Hardrock, the mental toll of big mountain races, and what it means to come away from a major effort feeling encouraged instead of broken. If you care about UTMB, elite women's trail running, or the mental side of racing long and hard without losing yourself in the process, this one is packed with insight. It's part race recap, part mindset clinic, and part reminder that sometimes your best result comes when you stop forcing it.

In this raw conversation, Careth reconnects with Michelle Senyard to explore her journey from college days to becoming a passionate traveler, adventure photographer, and new mom. They discuss the transformative power of outdoor exploration, spiritual growth, fitness, birth, postpartum, and melting into motherhood.

Chapters

00:00 The YOLO Year: Embracing Adventure Before Parenthood
10:59 Meeting John: A Love Story Rooted in Faith
12:25 Planning for Parenthood: The Journey to Pregnancy
14:05 Fitness Journey: Staying Active During Pregnancy
18:47 Mindset Shift: Embracing Body Changes
19:03 Navigating Pregnancy: The First Trimester Experience
22:57 Traveling While Pregnant: Adventures and Challenges
26:21 Preparing for Birth: Expectations vs. Reality
33:09 The Birth Experience: A Wild Journey
37:35 Postpartum: Adjusting to Life with a Newborn
38:43 Navigating the Challenges of Breastfeeding
45:12 The Importance of Partner Support in Parenting
52:00 Embracing the Journey of Motherhood
59:55 Finding Joy in the Little Moments
01:03:31 The Role of Community and Connection in Motherhood

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@i.careth

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In this chat with Ashley, we get to know her as an athlete, mother, and inspirational human. Ashley shares with us her routines, postpartum journey, race ambitions, and a bunch of fun in between. We hope you enjoy getting to know Ashley as much as we did.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
02:53 Athletic Background and Transition to Pregnancy
05:43 Challenges in College Athletics
08:22 Finding Love and Family Planning
11:17 Pregnancy Experience and Running
14:00 Labor and Delivery Experience
19:25 Postpartum Journey and Breastfeeding
25:06 Returning to Fitness After Baby
29:37 Training Evolution and Cross-Training Strategies
30:44 Sponsorship Journey with Hoka
32:19 Postpartum Pressures and Imposter Syndrome
34:21 Challenges of Returning to Racing After Pregnancy
36:07 First Race Back and Its Impact
38:03 Future Race Plans and Goals
39:56 Navigating Illness and Family Life
41:51 Balancing Work, Family, and Training
44:24 Traveling with Family for Races
49:58 Reflections on Personal Growth and Future Aspirations

Interested in sharing your personal motherhood journey with us?

Send us a DM on instagram.

@i.careth

@amanda_basham

Amanda and Careth share personal insights about balancing intense training, recovery, mental health, and home chores. They discuss a variety of topics, including training through sickiness, self-coaching, managing seasonal depression, and staying motivated to complete mundane household chores that are never ending.

Key Topics:

• The significance of sleep and rest during tapering and recovery phases
• The impact of seasonal and climate-related stress on mental health
• Self-coaching versus working with a coach: benefits and challenges
• Balancing training, life, and household chores as an athlete-mom
• Strategies for mental wellness: mindfulness, minimizing media, and cozy rituals like tea
• Training insights: injury recovery, night running, and race planning
• Reflections on recent races, weather conditions, and upcoming adventures
• The mental shift: embracing the simplicity of "just running" and focusing on joy
• Practical tips for home and yard management to support a balanced lifestyle

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@amanda_basham