What happens when motherhood completely shifts your identity — and you lose yourself in the process? This week, Lauren and Amanda sit down with Tricia Lesnevich-Callahan, a certified run coach, Boston Marathon qualifier, two-time Ironman finisher, and mom of three, including a 19-year-old daughter with autism.

Tricia shares her deeply honest journey — from putting her career dreams on hold, to falling into depression, to finding her way back to herself through running and community. What started as survival became a calling: she now works with moms, especially moms of children with special needs, to help them regulate their nervous systems and reclaim their identity through run-walk programs.

We Discuss:

• The identity loss that no one prepares you for when you become a special needs caregiver
• How running pulled Tricia out of a depression she didn't even realize she was in
• Why chronic fight-or-flight is so common for special needs parents — and how rhythmic movement helps regulate it
• How racing proved to Tricia she was stronger than she knew — and how that carried her through the hardest days at home
• Navigating mom guilt (spoiler: it never fully goes away — but here's how to work through it)
• How to start when you're overwhelmed, exhausted, and the idea of running feels impossible
• The "fill your bucket" principle — and why you can't give from empty

And so much more...

🎙️ Connect with Tricia: Instagram: @trixncor (5-minute morning ritual freebie dropping soon — check her bio!)

💛 Loved This Episode? If this conversation resonated with you — or you know someone who has ever lost themselves in a role and wondered how to find their way back — please share it, subscribe, and leave us a review. It helps us reach more women who are ready to come home to themselves.

Connect With Us: Lauren Brown | Instagram: @settingthepacenj | Website Amanda Gargiulo | Instagram: @amanda.gargiulo | Website Follow us on Instagram: @empoweredandwell_podcast Follow us on YouTube: Empowered Wellness Project