Mindful Marathon Podcast

Ep 89: Mindfulness Moments - Softening the Inner Critic, with Coach Michelle Quirk of Mindful Marathon

Welcome to another installment of Mindfulness Moments on the Mindful Marathon Podcast. In this episode, we’re exploring something many runners and high-achieving women know well which is the inner critic. That voice that tells us we should be doing more, we’re falling behind, we’re not doing enough, or that rest must be earned. For many women physicians and professionals, self-criticism and hypervigilance were reinforced for years in training and in work environments where the avoidance of failure felt necessary for success. While those patterns may have helped us achieve, they can also leave us exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from ourselves. This episode is an invitation to pause. Together, we explore common patterns of self-critical thinking in runners and high-achievers, why the inner critic develops in the first place, how mindfulness can help us observe thoughts without immediately believing them, and a guided meditation designed to help you soften self-judgment and reconnect with self-compassion. This practice can be used on an easy run or walk, during moments of stress, or before bed when your mind feels especially busy. The goal is not to eliminate difficult thoughts but to create a little more space around them. You can care deeply about your goals and still speak to yourself with kindness. Follow Coach Michelle on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon [https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon] If you have questions about your own training, reach out on Coach Michelle's website, and let's explore working together for personalized support. https://mindful-marathon.com [https://mindful-marathon.com] *** The information contained in this podcast is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your primary care physician before undertaking any fitness regimen or exercise, which can pose serious health risks if undertaken or performed improperly. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in the videos is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. ***

Ep 88: Healing the Athlete Within - A Conversation About Anorexia, Running, and Recovery, with Dr. Jillian Rigert & Dr. Michelle Quirk

In this deeply personal and vulnerable conversation, I sit down with my friend Dr. Jillian Rigert, to discuss her lived experience with anorexia nervosa, recovery, trauma, and running. Jillian shares the story behind her many career pivots, from military oral surgery to oral medicine, cancer care, coaching, and now training to become a marriage and family therapist with a focus on trauma. Together, we explore the complicated intersection of endurance sports and eating disorders, how running both fueled and helped her heal, and the ongoing work of rebuilding a compassionate relationship with movement, fueling, identity, and self-worth. We discuss: * Anorexia nervosa and eating disorder recovery * The overlap between endurance sports and disordered behaviors * Trauma, shame, and identity loss * Career transitions and perfectionism in medicine * RED-S and the physical impact of underfueling * Learning to run with self-compassion instead of punishment * Recovery as a daily, intentional practice * The importance of safe, validating support systems Jillian also speaks candidly about the realities of recovery that often remain invisible including body dysmorphia, intrusive thoughts, nervous system dysregulation, and the challenges of healing in a culture obsessed with productivity and thinness. This episode is a reminder that healing is rarely linear, and that strength can look like slowing down, asking for help, and choosing compassion over punishment. Please note that this episode includes discussion of anorexia nervosa, eating disorders, suicidality, hospitalization, trauma, and compulsive exercise. Please listen with care and prioritize your wellbeing. If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or sending it to someone who may need this conversation right now. Connect with Dr. Rigert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-rigert/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-rigert/] And on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJillianRigert [https://www.youtube.com/@DrJillianRigert] Follow Coach Michelle on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon [https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon] If you have questions about your own training, reach out on Coach Michelle's website, and let's explore working together for personalized support. https://mindful-marathon.com [https://mindful-marathon.com] *** The information contained in this podcast is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your primary care physician before undertaking any fitness regimen or exercise, which can pose serious health risks if undertaken or performed improperly. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in the videos is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. ***

Ep 87: Friendship, Character Stops, & My Favorite 10-Miler Yet - runDisney Springtime Surprise 2026 Recap, with Coach Michelle Quirk of Mindful Marathon

On this week’s episode of the Mindful Marathon Podcast, I’m recapping my weekend at runDisney’s Springtime Surprise Weekend 2026. In this episode, I share my best takeaways from the weekend including why an adults-only run-cation with running friends can feel so restorative, why we chose to skip the parks entirely this trip, how I approached race strategy differently for the 10k vs the 10-Miler, the mindset shift that finally allowed me to stop for character photos during a Disney race for the first time ever in ten years of running Disney, and why letting go of pace and productivity actually made the experience more meaningful and fun. Plus, we look ahead to runDisney's Wine & Dine Weekend this October. We discuss the upcoming Proof of Time deadline, why proof of time matters for corrals and race strategy, and upcoming Wine & Dine specific, Mindful Marathon training plans that are coming soon. Links to older episodes mentioned in this episode:  Episode 41: Running After Organ Donation - A Story of Courage & Comeback with Aly Giampapa [https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-v4is8-18e3655] Episode 78: Planning Ahead for runDisney's Wine & Dine Race Weekend - A Quick Proof of Time Guide [https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-988ef-1a65ac7] Whether you’re training for your next race, planning a runDisney weekend, or trying to untangle productivity from your running experience, I hope this episode reminds you that a PR in fun is so important! Follow Coach Michelle on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon [https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon] If you have questions about your own training, reach out on Coach Michelle's website, and let's explore working together for personalized support. https://mindful-marathon.com [https://mindful-marathon.com] *** The information contained in this podcast is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your primary care physician before undertaking any fitness regimen or exercise, which can pose serious health risks if undertaken or performed improperly. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in the videos is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. ***

Ep 86: Running with What We Carry - Finding Our Strength and Grace, with Coaches Gerald Collins & Michelle Quirk

In this episode, I sit down with fellow run coach Gerald Collins, founder of Run Rev Coaching and host of Stronger Than the Struggle, a podcast which explores the intersection of running, grief, and mental health. Gerald shares his deeply personal story of losing his mother and how that loss led him to running as a path back to purpose, connection, and healing. Together, we talk about how grief shows up in our lives and our running, and why movement can be a powerful tool for processing difficult emotions. This conversation is a reminder that grief is not linear, healing doesn’t follow a timeline, and that sometimes, showing up for even a few minutes is enough. What we talk about: * Gerald’s journey from loss and depression to finding purpose through running * Why physical activity can support mental health and where it fits alongside therapy  * The role of community in healing  * How grief can show up differently from day to day * Redefining success in training during difficult seasons * The power of small, sustainable changes, starting with just 5 minutes * Letting go of “only” and “just” when we talk about our efforts A few key takeaways: * “You never get over the person you lost. You learn to live without them.” * The goal isn’t perfection but rather, consistency with grace. * Training should fit into your life, not the other way around. * Small wins count. Five minutes counts. It all adds up. Connect with Gerald on his website: https://www.runrevcoaching.com [https://www.runrevcoaching.com] Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runrevcoach_gerald [https://www.instagram.com/runrevcoach_gerald] And have a listen to his podcast: Stronger Than the Struggle [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stronger-than-the-struggle/id1887924250] Follow Coach Michelle on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon [https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon] If you have questions about your own training, reach out on Coach Michelle's website, and let's explore working together for personalized support. https://mindful-marathon.com [https://mindful-marathon.com] *** The information contained in this podcast is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your primary care physician before undertaking any fitness regimen or exercise, which can pose serious health risks if undertaken or performed improperly. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in the videos is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. ***

Ep 85: Training for Longevity - Redefining Success in Fitness as We Age, with Dr. Tracy Asamoah & Dr. Michelle Quirk of Mindful Marathon

How should our relationship with exercise evolve as we move through different stages of life? In this episode, I’m joined by physician, leadership coach, and consultant Dr. Tracy Asamoah to talk about how our fitness goals often shift as we age, especially for high-achieving professionals and women physicians. Dr. Asamoah shares her personal journey with exercise, from early motivations around appearance, to a deeper focus on longevity, strength, and aging well. We also explore how identity and habits shape our relationship with exercise, why consistency matters more than intensity, and how our goals naturally evolve as life circumstances change. If you’ve ever felt your motivation shift from chasing PRs to simply wanting to stay strong and healthy for decades to come, this conversation will resonate with you.   In this episode, we discuss: * How our fitness motivations evolve over time * The role of identity in exercise habits * Consistency over perfection * Exercise in midlife and beyond * Fitness as a lifelong lifestyle Memorable takeaways from the episode include: * Consistency is the foundation of sustainable fitness. * Something is always better than nothing. * Exercise goals naturally evolve as our lives and bodies change. * Fitness in midlife becomes less about performance and more about longevity. If you would like to connect with Dr. Asamoah, you can find her on her website: https://www.sageelementscoaching.com [https://www.sageelementscoaching.com/] and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-asamoah-physician-leadership-coach/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-asamoah-physician-leadership-coach/] Follow Coach Michelle on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon [https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon] If you have questions about your own training, reach out on Coach Michelle's website, and let's explore working together for personalized support. https://mindful-marathon.com [https://mindful-marathon.com] *** The information contained in this podcast is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your primary care physician before undertaking any fitness regimen or exercise, which can pose serious health risks if undertaken or performed improperly. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in the videos is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. ***