Podcast and Articles

If you're a runner over 40, you may have noticed something frustrating:

You seem to be doing everything “right,” but it’s just not working anymore.

Maybe your pace is slowing down. Maybe you're more tired, more sore, or not seeing the results you used to. The strategies that worked in your 20...

 In the world of running and fitness, real stories of transformation shine like beacons, lighting the way for anyone who’s ever thought, “Maybe that’s not for me.” One of those incredible stories belongs to Cindi—a woman who started her running journey at 59 years old. Her experience reminds us that...

In the digital world, a 404 error signals a missing page—a dead end. But it also presents an opportunity to reroute and find a new way forward. This mirrors what many runners over 40 experience when they realize their old training plans aren...

Running Used to Be My Stress Relief—Until It Wasn’t

I’m currently at our very first Real Life Runners Retreat, surrounded by a small group of incredible women who came here to run—but really, they came here to reconnect.

With their bodies.
With their breath.
With who they are beneath the busy...

Why You're Feeling Slower (and How to Reverse It)

Have you ever laced up your running shoes, hit the pavement, and felt frustratingly slower than you used to? Maybe your pace has dropped, your legs feel heavy, or your usual routes suddenly feel harder than ever. You might be wondering:

"Is th...

In the world of fitness and health, it's easy to get caught up in the relentless cycle of "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts"—a constant tug-of-war between societal expectations and personal pressures. As a running coach and physical therapist, I’ve worked with countless athletes who push themselves to ...

Today, we're diving into a game-changing topic that many runners overlook or don't even know about: nervous system regulation. While most runners focus on training plans, mileage, pacing, and even strength training, they often neglect the control center of their body's performance and recovery—...

Meet Amanda Schaefer—a mental performance coach, a former college athlete, and a mom of three—who decided it was time to rediscover her love for movement after years of putting her family first.Like most people trying to restart a fitness routine amongst the craziness of real life, Amanda’s jou...

Welcome to an exciting milestone—episode 400 of the Real Life Runners podcast!

We are beyond grateful for this journey with you, and today, we’re diving into a training tool that could be the missing link in your running routine: plyometrics.

Now, before you start thinking, “That’s just for sprint...

As a running coach and physical therapist, I’ve always been fascinated by the mechanics of motivation and the invisible barriers that hold us back from reaching our full potential. Recently, I had the privilege of exploring these themes on a podcast with Dr. Christine Li, a renowned psychologist and...

For years, conventional marathon training has revolved around a simple belief: run more to get faster. But what if the real secret to peak performance isn’t just about piling on miles? Instead, a smarter, more effective approach tailors training to fit your unique lifestyle, capabilities, and r...

It's Not About Getting Older - It's About Getting Stronger

What if aging wasn’t about slowing down but about leveling up? Imagine stepping into this phase of your running journey with experience, endurance, and mental resilience as your greatest assets.

What changes when you see aging not as a...