The Mother Runners Podcast with Whitney Heins

ALICE BRAHAM: 2:36 marathon at the age of 50!, Mom of 4

• The Mother Runners I Whitney Heins • Season 1 • Episode 38

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Alice Braham has single-handedly changed the way I think about RUNNING & AGING. And I know she will for you, too!

We are taught to believe that we should slow down as we age. That after 40, it is all downhill. Well, at the 2026 London Marathon, Alice (also known as Alice Sunderland, which is her married name), a mom of four boys, smashed the previously listed British best time for a 50+ woman by nearly nine minutes. The 50-year-old clocked a 2:36:25 chip time after going through the half-marathon in a near perfect split of 78:15!

Alice credits her goal of really soaking in the London Marathon and staying calm with her stellar performance. 

In this episode, we get to know Alice, who is also a fitness trainer and running coach. We dive into:

🌀What her training looked like for the London Marathon

🌀Her running career which included a large gap while having her boys which range in ages from 7 to 16

🌀Her mindset as she turned 50

🌀 Her experience with perimenopause

🌀And what she thinks keeps her running at the highest level 

Alice's remarkable accomplishment in the marathon not only highlights her physical capabilities but also her mental resilience, encouraging others to pursue their passions regardless of age. 

TIMESTAMPS:

0:14–0:42 — running and aging, masters runner inspiration, age is not a barrier
“I have thought about you and your story… it’s completely upended how I view running and aging.”

5:39–6:53 — 50 year old runner, marathon PR, masters running record
Discussing the 2:36 marathon and how it compares to qualifying standards.

8:14–10:39 — London Marathon record, masters marathon training, race day mindset
Alice explains how she took the pressure off and ran calmly.

11:23–12:52 — self confidence for runners, masters athletics, running after 50
Her shift from racing anxiety to inner confidence with age.

14:34–16:50 — marathon training plan, manageable mileage, strength training for runners
Covers her weekly mileage, weights, and Pilates balance.

18:58–20:40— consistent marathon training, 80 20 running, injury prevention
Great segment on the value of consistency and smart training.

24:53–26:10 — return to running after college, mom runner comeback, marathon comeback story
She shares how she got back into marathon running after a break.

28:31–29:55 — running for mental health, busy mom runner, family and training balance
A powerful mom-athlete section about rediscovering running during COVID.

34:45–36:56 — perimenopause and running, menopause runner, women’s health and performance
Strong SEO topic for women over 40 and masters athletes.

51:10–52:21 — running after 40, masters runner motivation, age is just a number
Her takeaway for runners who think speed ends at midlife.

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.