The Mother Runners

Navigating Runner Safety as a Mother Runner: In Honor of the Life of Alyssa Lokits

• Whitney Heins • Season 1 • Episode 4

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In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we discuss the critical issue of runner safety, sharing personal experiences and the emotional impact of recent tragic events involving runners. We explore the importance of awareness, self-defense strategies, and the tools available to enhance safety while running. This conversation emphasizes the need for community support among women runners and the challenges they face in balancing motherhood and personal safety.

Takeaways

  • Every time there's an incident, there's disbelief.
  • Women often feel unsafe while running, with statistics showing 96% of women feel this way.
  • Personal experiences can help others feel less alone in their fears.
  • Awareness is the most important aspect of runner safety.
  • Victim blaming is a prevalent issue that needs to be addressed.
  • Women should not have to justify their running times or routes.
  • Sharing experiences can lead to better safety practices for all.

Resources mentioned:
https://www.defenderring.com/collections/rings
https://goguarded.com/
https://shokz.com/
https://www.noxgear.com/
https://fittsafe.com/
https://livesafely.co/
https://www.themotherrunners.com/category/run-training/runner-safety/
https://www.life360.com/

Chapters

06:07
Personal Experiences with Safety Concerns

14:13
Steps to Enhance Runner Safety

25:28
Tools and Strategies for Safety Awareness

29:25
Safety Gear and Awareness for Runners

32:10
Technology and Tools for Enhanced Safety

34:30
Ventilating Our Frustrations

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.