BONUS EPISODE: An Interview with Sandra Mikulic

Send us a text In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, hosts Olivia and Tricia welcome Sandra Mikulic (a "plus-sized runner"), who shares her inspiring journey from a non-runner to an ultra marathoner. Sandra discusses the transformative power of running, the challenges of marathons, and the supportive community within ultra running. She emphasizes the importance of self-confidence, the impact of social media on body image, and the values she instills in her children. Ultimately, they emphasize that the journey itself is the true victory, encouraging listeners to embrace movement and self-discovery without the burden of expectations. Chapters 01:30 Sandra's Running Journey Begins 04:32 The Transformation Through Running 06:58 Experiencing the Marathon 09:58 The Ultra Running Community 13:29 Mindset and Neuroplasticity in Running 20:58 Balancing Motherhood and Running 24:00 Embracing Change and Self-Forgiveness 26:05 The Impact of Parenting on Self-Perception 28:58 Body Image and Self-Acceptance 01:00:02 Overcoming Adversity and Self-Love 01:02:59 Transformative Moments in Motherhood 01:05:59 Non-Scale Victories and Self-Compassion Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com . When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs. www.themotherrunners.com Instagram: @themotherrunners YouTube: The Mother Runners whitney@themotherrunners.com