The Mother Runners Podcast with Whitney Heins

ALLY BRETTNACHER: Running's Role: From Punishment to Pride

• The Mother Runners I Whitney Heins • Season 1 • Episode 22

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Remember how running was a form of punishment as a kid? Talking during gym class? Run. Not listening when the soccer coach is talking? Run. That is honestly how I got into running. Because I would end up running all of soccer practice, I figured I might as well do the sport my dad wanted me to do anyway. 

Running was once a form of punishment for Ally Brettnacher, too. And then that evolved into punishing her body for unhealthy choices or the way she felt about it as a young adult 

But as life went on, her relationship with running changed. And instead of being a source of punishment, it evolved into a source of pride and celebration--and an example she can set for her kids. 

In this episode, Ally is open and honest about her journey. We talk about
 
🌀 how she ensures her relationship with running sets a positive example for her girls 
🌀 how she keeps running fun while also seeking to challenge herself and get better
🌀 her passion for supporting Ainsley's Angels and the running community, and so much more.

You may recognize Ally's name: she is not just a dedicated runner and mom of two; she’s also the driving force behind Athlete Bouquets, a unique gift concept filled with goodies for runners, and the host of the Finish Lines and Milestones Podcast which is also in the Sandy Boy Productions family—just like this podcast.
 
With a remarkable record of almost 70 half marathons and 9 marathons, Ally is a wealth of knowledge and stories to share. 

RESOURCES:

Instagram: @allytbrett_runs
Business: www.athletebouquets.com
Podcast: Finish Lines & Milestones

Ainsley's Angels

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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.