Episode 655: Molly Huddle on Postpartum Running, Every Woman’s Marathon, and What Comes Next

Today I am talking with two-time Olympian and Saucony athlete Molly Huddle, who just ran the Every Woman’s Marathon six months postpartum with her second baby. Molly used the race as a long training run and shares what it felt like to approach the marathon in a more relaxed, flexible way than she has in the past while still respecting how hard 26.2 miles feels at any pace. We get into how life looks right now with two young daughters, how she and her husband are tag-teaming work and parenting, and what it has been like to train and race while breastfeeding. Molly explains why she chose this marathon as a fundraising opportunity for For All Mothers+, how she approached the effort on the day, and what she learned about her current fitness and recovery. Molly also talks about where she is with professional running at age 41, her hope to qualify for another Olympic Marathon Trials, and what it means to her to compete in a “part-time” or “semi-retired” way while she leans into coaching, writing, and parenting. We talk about identity shifts in motherhood, the invisible work that goes into raising kids, and how to stay engaged with the sport even when the goals and timelines look different than they did in your twenties. Finally, Molly shares more about the new pregnancy and postpartum running book she is co-writing, the research she is excited about, and her thoughts on aging, body image, and what it really means to let running “light you up,” whatever season of life you are in. Topics Discussed: Molly’s decision to run the Every Woman’s Marathon six months postpartum Using a marathon as a long training run instead of an all-out effort Balancing breastfeeding, travel, and race-day logistics with a baby and a toddler Fundraising and partnering with For All Mothers+ at the race How the Every Woman’s Marathon creates an unintimidating, women-centered race experience Postpartum training, injury history, and choosing a more cautious path back Shifting identity from full-time pro runner to part-time competitor, coach, and writer Motherhood, invisible labor, and how priorities around work and running change Body image, aging, and pressure around appearance and performance The new pregnancy and postpartum running book and current women’s health research Support Our Sponsors: Amazfit Smartwatches – A wellness and recovery brand offering targeted supplements designed to support runners with energy, strength, and sleep. Use code “ANOTHER” at checkout! Tailwind Nutrition — Complete energy, electrolytes, hydration; light taste, easy on the gut. Their recovery mix has 20g protein and the single-serve sticks make refueling simple. Code: another20 at tailwindnutrition.com for 20% off. Donna Marathon Weekend — Jacksonville, FL, February 1–2, 2025. Supports breast cancer research and families impacted by diagnosis. Register at breastcancermarathon.com and use LINDSEY10 for $10 off.