Still Running

Ashley Arnold and Rebecca Trachsel

Still Running is a podcast for women runners still figuring it out. It’s like the long-run conversation we’re all having — about running, motherhood, hormones, ambition and identity — with expert answers to the questions we’re actually asking. Hosted by Ashley and Trax, two women runners 10 years apart, the show explores what it means to keep chasing big goals through a changing life.

Episodes

  1. Oct 23

    Sleep on It: Why Perfect Sleep Isn't the Goal

    We're told that sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our health, recovery, and running performance. Eight hours. Consistent bedtimes. More deep sleep. Better sleep scores. But what happens when life has other plans? Ashley hasn't slept through the night in more than two years, thanks to two little kids. Trax is navigating early-morning wakeups, night sweats, and the sleep disruptions that come with perimenopause. And both are wondering: Are we actually getting enough sleep, or have we just gotten used to being tired? This week, we're tackling sleep from three very different perspectives. First, Dr. Shelby Harris, a clinical psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine, explains why women's sleep changes as we age, when poor sleep deserves medical attention, and why trying too hard to sleep can actually make things worse. Then, two-time Olympian Molly Huddle gets refreshingly candid about motherhood, fractured sleep, and accepting that she can't train or recover the way she once did. She's still racing, still finding joy in running, and learning that sometimes showing up with what you've got is enough. Finally, champion mountain runner Grayson Murphy shares what happened when her nine-hour sleep routine collided with new motherhood, how sleep deprivation affected her workouts, and why she's now training based on what she can recover from rather than how much she can do. Along the way, we talk sleep trackers, caffeine, co-sleeping, perimenopause, training through exhaustion, and the pressure to optimize absolutely everything. Because yes, sleep matters. But maybe getting a little less anxious about getting it perfect matters, too. In this episode: Why women's sleep changes with age and hormonesWhat to do when you wake up at 2 a.m. and can't fall back asleepWhether sleep trackers are helping or making things worseHow to adjust training when you're not recovering wellWhat two elite runners have learned about motherhood, sleep, and athletic expectationsWhy one bad night doesn't have to ruin your next raceWhen to seek professional help for ongoing sleep problemsStill Running is a podcast for women runners who are still figuring it out. Hosted by Ashley Arnold and Rebecca Trachsel. Visit stillrunningpod.com for more!

  2. Aug 14

    Running on Empty: Are We Doing Too Much?

    Are you doing too much—or have you just not figured out how to make it all work yet? Ashley and Trax begin with two slightly different versions of the same problem: Ashley is moving through life with a constant sense of urgency, while Trax is stacking hard training days and trying not to admit how tired she feels. Professional runner and mom of two Keira D’Amato shares how support, boundaries and clear decision-making filters allow her to pursue ambitious goals without losing sight of why she runs. She explains why she has learned to be stubborn about the things that matter while remaining flexible about how they happen. Trax’s friend and training partner Samantha introduces her “varsity edit”—a process for addressing the everyday points of friction that drain our energy and creating more room for the people and pursuits that fill it. Finally, clinical psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman explains why so many women believe they should be able to do everything, how to recognize when moving fast is no longer working and why balance doesn’t mean giving every part of life equal attention. The takeaway: You may be able to do all the things you care about, but probably not all at once—and not without support. In this episode: Why women often remove the things they want for themselves when life gets too fullHow Keira creates boundaries before she is stressed and forced to make a decisionWhy Keira began running for a “we” rather than only for herselfHow being both stubborn and flexible can help protect time for runningWhy a life filled with things you love can still become overwhelmingHow Samantha’s “varsity edit” creates more space and reduces everyday frictionWhy cultural expectations and social media make women feel as though they should be able to do everythingDr. Rachel’s “life pie” framework for navigating changing prioritiesThe signs that moving too fast is no longer workingHow one small adjustment can interrupt overwhelm before it becomes burnoutWhy asking for help is an essential part of pursuing meaningful goalsFind complete show notes, guest information and resources from this episode at stillrunningpod.com. Our partners: Fleet Feet is a founding partner of Still Running. Visit the Still Running website to learn more about Fleet Feet’s personalized outfitting and No Boundaries training programs. Still Running is presented by Altra. Visit the Still Running website to explore Altra’s naturally shaped footwear and low-drop Experience line. Follow us on Instagram at @stillrunningpod. If this episode resonated with you, follow the show, leave a rating or review and share it with another woman who may be running on empty.

    Running on Empty: Are We Doing Too Much?
  3. Jul 31

    The Body Battery Myth: What is Real Life Telling You?

    Is your watch helping you train—or changing how you think you feel? In the first episode of Still Running, Ashley and Trax unpack their complicated relationships with wearable technology, from obsessively checking sleep scores to letting heart rate variability shape expectations for a workout or race. Exercise physiologist Dr. Rachele Pojednic explains what HRV actually measures, why your individual trends matter more than a supposedly “good” number and how wearable data can influence how you feel—even when the data is incomplete or inaccurate. Two-time Olympian Kara Goucher shares why she has spent most of her career training and racing by feel, how she learned to recognize her body’s subtle cues and why she believes runners need to intentionally practice racing without relying on their watches. Finally, biomechanist Dr. Kirsten Seagers Szalapski explains where wearables can be useful, where their limitations remain—particularly for women—and why your nervous system still knows more than an algorithm. The takeaway: Data can be a useful tool, but it should add context—not override what your body is telling you. In this episode:  What HRV actually measures—and why a low number isn’t automatically bad  Why your personal baseline matters more than comparing your data with someone else’s  How wearable feedback can change your perception of sleep, recovery and readiness  Why sleep-stage data from consumer devices is only an estimate  When taking off your watch may be better for your mental health and performance  How Kara Goucher learned to train and race by feel  Why watch-free workouts can help runners rebuild their internal sense of effort  The benefits and trade-offs of watches, rings, chest straps and arm-band sensors  Why women remain underrepresented in wearable-validation research  Why a single bad score may not mean much—and your body still deserves the final say Meet the guests: Dr. Rachele Pojednic is an exercise physiologist, researcher and science communicator. She is the director of education at Stanford Lifestyle Medicine and a faculty member in Stanford’s Human Biology program. Read her article, “Should You Trust Your Wearable?”, and follow her on Instagram. Kara Goucher is a two-time Olympian, World Championships medalist, author, television commentator, podcaster and mom. She is the author of The Longest Race and co-host of Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara. Follow Kara on Instagram. Dr. Kirsten Seagers Szalapski is a biomechanist and movement scientist focused on injury prevention, wearable sensing and the real-world application of biomechanics. She is a research associate and sports biomechanist at the Women’s Health, Sports & Performance Institute. Resources: Research on wearable fitness trackers and activity-adequacy mindsetsStanford Mind & Body LabActivity Adequacy Mindset MeasureStill Running is presented by Altra. Fleet Feet is a founding partner of Still Running. Visit stillrunningpod.com to learn more and sign up for the newsletter. Subscribe to Still Running wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.

    The Body Battery Myth: What is Real Life Telling You?

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Still Running is a podcast for women runners still figuring it out. It’s like the long-run conversation we’re all having — about running, motherhood, hormones, ambition and identity — with expert answers to the questions we’re actually asking. Hosted by Ashley and Trax, two women runners 10 years apart, the show explores what it means to keep chasing big goals through a changing life.

You Might Also Like