JEN HUGHES: Military Mom & Elite Masters Marathoner Overcoming Adversity & Breaking Boundaries

Send us a text In this episode of the Miles With Moms Podcast, we are so honored to interview Jen Hughes (@jenhughes56 on Instagram). Jen is a remarkable woman who has overcome significant challenges in her life. Jen shares her journey from a life-changing car accident that left her in a wheelchair to becoming a competitive runner and enlisting in the military at the age of 45, being the oldest person to enlist. Throughout our conversation, Jen emphasizes the importance of resilience, mental toughness, and the joy of running. She discusses her experiences in basic training, the respect she earned from her peers, and how she balances her roles as a coach, mother, and military member. This episode highlights the power of determination and the pursuit of one's passions. We challenge you to listen to this episode and not be inspired!! MORE ABOUT JEN: Jennifer Hughes is a dedicated coach, soldier, wife, and mother, known for her resilience and faith. After a life-changing car accident left her in a wheelchair, she fought to walk again, eventually returning to competitive running and aiming for the Olympic marathon trials. Jennifer has run in all 50 states and 28 countries. With over 15 years of coaching experience, she currently coaches high school track & field, cross country, and Unified Sports. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2024 Brooks Most Inspirational Coach in the Nation and her school’s Coach of the Year for 2024/25. At age 45, Jennifer made history as the oldest woman to enlist and complete basic training, now serving in the Army National Guard while maintaining her coaching and competitive training. Grounded in her faith and family, she embraces life and seeks new experiences, cherishing her love for running and connecting with people worldwide. 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