Strides for Strength
Michaela and Erin are RRCA certified run coaches and Registered Nurses by degree! The Strides for Strength podcast is where running meets everyday life. We focus on mindset, physical strength and all of life’s in between moments of self doubt and fear both on and off the run. Our mission is to make running SIMPLE and FUN while we pull back the curtains around all things running tips, tricks, motivation and lifestyle with athlete interviews, guest experts combined with our many years of running experience going from non runners to now multiple time marathoners to help you become the athlete you were always meant to be.
Episodes
133 episodes
[FOUR COACHES] Track Obsessions, Pro Running Hot Takes & Race Pivots
The Strides for Strength coaching crew is back together on the mic! In this roundtable catch-up, we get real about marathon training highs and lows, pivoting race plans, pregnancy running struggles, and how to keep running fun when life feels f...
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31:24
Our Boston Marathon Dreams & Dual Realities of This Years Time Cutoff w/ Coach Erin & Mich
In this bonus episode, Michaela and Erin share their very different experiences with this year’s Boston Marathon registration results. One got in, one missed it by just five seconds. Together, they unpack the emotions, lessons, and logistics be...
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25:54
When Training Feels Inconsistent (But Life is Full) w/ Coach Erin & Mich
From cross-country moves and inconsistent summer training to hitting a pull-up PR, we’re catching you up on life, running, and what registering for Boston really feels like (spoiler: it’s not always seamless). We also dive into fears about setb...
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39:22
[RACE SERIES] Your Post Race Day Game Plan- Reflect, Recover, REST
The finish line isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning of what comes next. In this final episode of our Race Series, Michaela and Erin dive deep into the emotional highs and lows after race day, how to process the “post-race blues,” and why refl...
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28:15
[RACE SERIES] Expect the Unexpected on Race Day + How to Prepare
In this episode of the Race Series, Michaela and Erin swap stories from their first marathons and share the unexpected challenges that pop up on race day—from weather that won’t cooperate to porta-potty disasters. You’ll learn how to prepare fo...
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45:12
[RACE SERIES] Taper Tantrums: When Doing Less Feels Like Too Much
Tapering before a big race can feel more mentally exhausting than the peak weeks of training. In this Fall Race Series episode, Michaela and Erin break down why taper is so tough, how to navigate the spirals, and why the weird aches and anxieti...
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31:21
[RACE SERIES] Train the Brain Like You Train the Body
Race day nerves, mid-run meltdowns, and the fear of not finishing—we’ve all faced those moments when things don’t go according to plan. In this episode, Michaela and Erin dive into the mental side of racing: what to do when your goals feel out ...
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41:44
Coach Mich Takes on Trail Running (?!?) First Trail Half Marathon Recap
In this episode, Michaela shares her experience stepping off the roads and onto the trails for her very first trail half marathon. Alongside Erin, the two unpack the differences between road and trail racing, the ego shift required, and why cha...
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37:37
Seasons Change, So Do You: Motherhood, Time Management & Real Life as a Mom of 3 with Coach Jess
In this episode of the motherhood series, Coach Jess brings the real talk. As a run coach, fitness coach, and mom of three (ages 5, 7, and almost 11), Jess shares what motherhood looks like in this current season of life—far past the toddler st...
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37:06
Running While Pregnant: Strength, Mindset & Letting Go of Control with Brittany
In this episode of the motherhood series, we sit down with Brittany—run coach, strength coach, nurse, and soon-to-be mom—to talk all things pregnancy, performance, and mindset shifts. From running a half marathon in the first trimester to navig...
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32:56
Your Postpartum Comeback Doesn’t Have to Be Fast to Be Powerful w/ Ruth Atkinson
In this episode, we chat with Coach Ruth Atkinson—former choir teacher turned full-time run coach and new mama. Ruth opens up about her transition from the classroom to coaching, what it was like running a marathon at 26 weeks pregnant (!!), an...
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28:54
Cheesy Gordita Crunches & Boston Dreams: Coach Erin's Pregnancy Journey as an Athlete
In this vulnerable and honest conversation, Coach Erin shares her unfiltered journey through pregnancy as an athlete who never saw motherhood in her future. From early surprises and shifting identities to navigating training and redefining succ...
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33:44
[FOUR COACHES, ONE POD] Sauna Sessions, Strength Gains & Summer Training
The full Strides for Strength coaching crew is back on the mic! In this catch-up episode, we cover everything from summer running and racing wins to Coach Erins pregnancy news, heat training tips, strength training blocks, and what it means to ...
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27:31
Beer Miles & Belly Bands: A Very Peachtree Roadrace Recap
In this fun and honest episode, we coaches recap this year’s Peachtree Road Race—including Coach Erin running while pregnant, racing in Atlanta heat, and Jonathan’s legendary beer-per-mile strategy. We dive deep into shifting expectations, what...
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31:39
Let’s Talk About the Ego (and Strategy) Behind Hitting New Paces w/ Coach Mich & Erin
You’ve got a goal pace… but how do you actually get there? In this episode, Mich and Erin break down the real process behind learning new paces, mentally and physically. From reframing what “hard” should feel like to running smarter wo...
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26:04
The Hydration Fix: How to Run Stronger in the Heat w/ Chelsea Schmidt
If the summer heat has you bonking on every run, you’re not alone—and this episode is your hydration lifeline. We’re joined by fan favorite Chelsea Schmidt, nurse practitioner and sports nutrition coach, to break down hydration, sodium, and why...
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33:02
[ATHLETE] Sub 4:00 Marathon Club, 30+ Minute PR, Learning to Fuel & How She Did It w/ Courtney
In this episode, Michaela sits down with her bestie and now athlete, Courtney, to unpack a wild ride to Grandma’s Marathon 2025 where Courtney went from a 7 day a week treadmill warrior to sub-4 hour marathon finisher (in 90% humidity, no less)...
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1:18:16
Racing Smart in the Heat: Coach Mich’s 3:21 Grandmas Marathon Recap
Coach Michaela is on the mic this week with an honest breakdown of her 2025 Grandma’s Marathon experience—from battling race week spirals to running one of her smartest marathons yet in brutal humidity. Tune in to hear what it took to shave tim...
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50:09
Life Lessons From the Run: Our Ode to Running w/ Coach Erin & Mich
In this episode, Michaela and Erin dive into the deep parallels between running and life—from resilience to patience to comparison traps. Through personal stories and coaching insight, they explore how lessons from the run carry over into every...
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27:20
3 Roadblocks Holding You Back in Your Running (& What to Change)
In this episode, Michaela and Erin unpack the three biggest roadblocks they see runners facing across all levels: running too fast on easy days, not fueling properly, and skipping strength training. Sharing personal stories, athlete lessons, an...
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36:51
The Thick of Marathon Training + Three Legged Races w/ Coach Mich + Erin
In this episode, Michaela and Erin are catching up post-Denver retreat and deep in the thick of race season prep. Michaela shares her final peak week reflections before Grandma’s Marathon (including why she skipped an 8-miler with zero regrets)...
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29:00
The Chicago Marathon Episode You’ll Want to Save (and Replay)
It’s back. Our most downloaded episode of 2024. Whether it’s your first time running the Chicago Marathon or your sixth (hi Coach Michaela!), this episode is your one-stop listen for everything you need to know before race day...
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50:04
Stop Guessing: How to Pick a Race and a Plan That Fit Your Goals
We’re re-airing this crowd favorite from our 6-part Race Series — because picking your next race shouldn’t be a shot in the dark.Whether you’re signing up for your first-ever race or chasing a PR, this episode is packed with adv...
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37:22
Summer Running Survival Guide: How to Train Smarter (Not Harder)
Summer running season is here... and let's just say some of us are thrilled and some of us are fighting for our lives 😅. In this episode, Michaela and Erin get real about the mental, physical, and emotional rollercoaster that ...
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27:10
[ATHLETE] Tokyo Marathon: The Race,The Snacks, The Doll-Shaped Pancakes w/ Michael
Tokyo Marathon recap, but make it ✨unfiltered✨. In this episode, returning guest and Strides for Strength athlete Michael Gabriel shares the highs, curveballs, and aid station quirks of running the Tokyo Marathon. From sweating it out in unexpe...
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48:14