What Next Mum

Welcome to the final episode of season 5 of the What Next Mum Podcast!

We are finishing on a high with my chat with Sophie Carter, a PT, run coach and Mum of 5 who came second woman in the 100km Race to the Stones at 20 weeks pregnant.

In this episode we chat about Sophie's journey into running, how she stayed active during her pregnancies and how she managed to run RTTS when pregnant and even more amazingly, come back to win it in 2023 while still breast pumping. Incredible stuff.

You can find out more about Sophie and her coaching at projectrunsc.co.uk.

Thanks so much to Sophie for sharing her story and for you for listening. If you have missed any episodes please go back and take a listen and please share the podcast or leave a review to help others find it.

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

In this episode I chat to Claire Maxted, ultra runner, writer, you-tuber and mum of 1.

Claire is the author of The Ultimate Trail Running Handbook and the host of the excellent Wild Ginger Running You Tube Channel and Podcast.

In this episode we chat about the shock and trauma of childbirth and being a new parent, how Claire got back into running post baby and how she is juggling her career, ultra running and what races she has in the calendar this year.

Claire and I dig into how difficult it can be to be a new parent and the struggle to regain fitness post birth and I love how honest Claire is about this.

Thank you so much to Claire for sharing her story and to you for listening.

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

In this episode I chat to Natalie Hawkrigg, a fell runner, GP and mum of 3.

Natalie has been fell running for over 25 years and has completed the Bob Graham Round, However, following a calf tear in 2018 she took up more swimming and this led her to obtain the record for the winter Frog Graham Round in 2022 in a time of 15h45.

She is the only person to have undertaken all 3 UK major swimruns - which include the Stirling Round in Scotland and the Puddle Buckley in Wales.

Natalie also shares how she kept her fitness during pregnancy and after and what this year has in store for her.

This is an inspiring episode (as they all are) and I hope it motivates you in your next challenge. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

In this episode I chat to Dr Ruth Naughton-Doe, a mum of one, trail runner and bike packer.

Ruth and I chat about life pre-children and the barriers to be active when you don't feel you look the right way - and the traumas of having to wear knicker shorts at school!

When Ruth's daughter was 2 she and her husband took her on a 2 week bikepacking trip to Iceland and we chat about the trip, how Lyra found it and dealing with online negativity.

Ruth is also a trail runner and hiker and she shares the frustration of getting back to running and coping with the realities of her post partum body and the journey to recover from birth.

I really enjoyed this chat and I hope you enjoy listening. If so, please take the time to share the episode and to rate it on whatever platform you listen.

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

In this episode I chat to Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn, an ultra running Mum of 1.

Katie got into ultra running after meeting her husband who was a hill walker. They entered the Lakeland 50 as a pair and in 2017 came back and took the male and female course record.

Once Katie fell pregnant she continued to run and hill walk right up to the birth and was back running soon after.

In 2022 Katie donned a GB vest for the fourth time for the Ultra Trails World Championships and had her best year of racing in 2023.

Thanks so much to Katie for taking the time to chat all things running and motherhood and to you for listening.

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

In this episode I chat to Kerry Dawson, an outdoor swimmer and mum of 2.

Despite having only taken up outdoor swimming during the pandemic, Kerry has already completed the Triple Swim Challenge - having swum the lengths of Coniston, Ullswater and Windermere.

Kerry talks about how she got into outdoor swimming, how she fits training into her busy life as a single mum of 2, building her swim coaching business and future goals.

Kerry is a real swimming inspiration and I hope you enjoy this episode.

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

In this episode I chat to Susannah Gill, a marathon running mum of 1.

In 2019 Susannah ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days and wrote a great book - Running around the world - which I recommend you have a read of.

Susannah has run over 80 marathons and ultra marathons and has not let the birth of her son stop her. She ran the London Marathon at 28 weeks pregnant and then again at 17 weeks post partum. Incredible.

I really hope you enjoy this episode. If you do, please do take the time to share it and leave a review to help other active mums and women find the podcast and to share these incredible stories. Thanks for listening.

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

In this episode I chat to Steph Bridge, a Mum of 3 and 5 x kiteboarding world champion.

Steph lives and works in Exmouth where she runs Edge Watersports with her husband. Steph talks about her sailing and windsurfing pre-kids and the highs and lows of having kids young (and close together) whilst also trying to build up a business.

Steph got into kiteboarding when she was 30 and at a time when the sport was in its infancy in the UK. She then went on to compete internationally for 10 years and was lucky to compete at events with her boys who have all been and are successful kitesurfers.

Steph also shares how she is dealing with being menopausal and her ambitions for the future.

This is a great episode and thank you to Steph for chatting to me.

Thanks for listening and please do take the time to share and rate the podcast and subscribe so you don't miss future episodes.

Welcome to a new episode of the What Next Mum Podcast!

This week I chat to Keri Wallace, a mum of 2, runner and co-founder of Girls on Hills.

Keri was a climber and runner pre-kids but it was after the birth of her second daughter that she decided to leave her job in science to start Girls on Hills and encourage other women to get outside and to challenge themselves.

Keri and I chat about how she stayed active during her pregnancies, including climbing, her recovery and getting back into sky running.

We also chat about her brilliant women's FKT of the winter Tranter's Round in 2023 and what it took for her to finally achieve this goal.

I hope you enjoy this episode. If so please share it and give Girls on Hills a follow or even better, sign up to one of their events. Thanks for listening.

Welcome to a new season of the What Next Podcast!

In this episode I go slightly off piste and talk to Al Humphreys - an adventurer, writer and Dad of 2.

Al has been on some big adventures including cycling around the World and rowing the Atlantic but since having children and becoming a stay at home dad he has satisfied his adventure itch with more local adventures.

In this episode we talk about how the brilliant Microadventures was born and about his new book, Local. He also talks candidly of how he has managed to navigate his need to adventure and make a living from it with being a parent.

I hope you enjoy this episode. If you do, please take the time to share it and to leave a review to help others find it. Happy listening.