Running Postpartum & Motherhood: What It Actually Looks Like in Real Life — with run coach LAURA NORRIS

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What does it actually look like to keep running when life shifts in a big way — like pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and becoming a parent?

In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, I’m joined by Laura Norris — certified running coach, science writer, and co-host of the Tread Lightly Podcast. Laura has coached more than 500 runners, from brand-new runners to podium finishers, and is known for bringing a thoughtful, evidence-informed approach to training. You may also recognize her work from Runner’s World, NPR Life Kit, Outside, GQ, Self, and Shape, or from her long-running website and Substack.

But this conversation isn’t just about coaching theory.

Laura shares what it was like to move through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and the transition into motherhood while continuing to run, coach athletes, and rethink what training and performance look like in a new season of life.

We talk about the messy middle — the recalibration that happens when your body, priorities, sleep, and identity are all shifting at once.

This is a thoughtful, honest conversation about running, motherhood, mental health, and the evolving relationship many women have with sport over time.

We talk about:

Running through pregnancy and postpartumLearning to listen to your body when expectations and reality don’t matchThe identity shift that can come with transitioning into motherhoodRecognizing and talking openly about postpartum depressionGetting your kids outside and building a family culture around movementHow Laura’s coaching philosophy has evolved after becoming a mom

If you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or the early years of motherhood while trying to stay connected to running, this conversation will likely feel very familiar.

And if you coach runners? Laura shares some great perspective on how lived experience changes the way we guide others.

Time Stamps

1:00 Introduction

2:18 distilling studies in a concise way

5:09 navigating running and motherhood

12:33 having a breech baby

16:17 recovering from a c-section

22:28 handling different stages of childhood

29:15 finding yourself in motherhood

34:20 being a running coach

38:43 collaborations on the podcast

43:50 exposure and normalization

48:03 rapid fir questions

CONNECT WITH CARRIE

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/

Website: https://carriepagliano.com

CONNECT WITH LAURA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauranorrisrunning/

Website: https://lauranorrisrunning.substack.com/

The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.
 
This show has been a long time in the making! 
 
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