How Long Does it Take to Train for a Marathon?

The simple truth – ultras don’t kill speed – TRR coach Ryan Sheehy digs into the myth and provides insight into going long AND fast! 

Five weeks ago I was standing at the start line of my first 100-mile race. Today I ran an 18:50 5K — the fastest one I’ve ever run. My previous best was 20:07, set two years ago, before I’d logged a single ultra mile.

Between those two time trials, I ran five ultramarathons and covered 45 miles or more five separate times.

So either I’m an anomaly, or the conventional wisdom is wrong.

You’ve probably heard it before: the longer you go, the slower you get.

The Myth Is Real. The Diagnosis Isn’t.

The fear isn’t made up. Runners do go ultra and come out slower. But blaming the distance is like blaming your couch for weight gain. Technically adjacent to the truth, but missing the actual problem.

When runners shift to long distances, they quietly drop speed work. Every session becomes an easy run or a long run. The track disappears. The strides stop. And then six months later they wonder why their legs forgot how to move fast.

That’s not the ultra’s fault. That’s just not training for speed anymore.

Your body gets good at whatever you ask it to do consistently. Ask it to run slowly for months, and it’ll optimize for that. Ask it to occasionally move fast — even just a little — and it holds onto that too.

You Don’t Need Much. You Just Can’t Drop It Entirely.

One quality session every ten to fourteen days is enough to keep your fast legs available. Think of it like watering a plant. You don’t need to do it every hour. You just can’t forget about it for three months.

Six strides at the end of an easy run. A twenty-minute tempo on a Wednesday. A fartlek through a flat stretch of trail. None of these are big commitments. All of them matter.

Here’s a trick that works particularly well during an ultra block: do those strides and hard bursts at the end of a run, when your legs are already tired. When you push hard on tired legs, you’re training your body to access speed when it’s running on fumes — the exact scenario waiting for you at mile 70 of a hundred-miler. It keeps your higher effort zones from going completely dark during a long training block, which is easy to let happen when most of your weeks look like slow miles and more slow miles.

Speed work isn’t optional. It’s just flexible.

Hills Are Doing More Than You Think

If you’re running serious elevation, you’re already getting a version of speed work without calling it that.

Hill repeats build leg strength, clean up your stride, and improve how efficiently your body moves — the same benefits you’d get from a plyometric session, just spread out over a mountain instead of a parking lot. And frankly, a lot more scenic.

The fitness you build going up and down for months translates to the flat and the fast. Not overnight, but reliably.

The Aerobic Base Is the Secret Weapon

By the time you’re deep into a 100-mile training block, your cardiovascular system is operating at a level most short-distance runners never reach. Easy runs feel easy. Recovery between hard sessions is faster. Threshold heart rate drops.

That base doesn’t compete with speed. It supercharges it.

When you layer even a little fast running on top of a massive aerobic foundation, the speed comes back — and often surpasses what you had before. Not because the ultra made you faster, but because the base made you ready for it.

You Don’t Have to Choose

Speed and distance are not enemies. They’re just two things that need attention. Keep a thread of fast in your training. Toss in some strides when your legs are tired. Let the hills do their thing.

Both lanes are open. You just have to use them.

Ryan is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.

What are they, why do we do them, and what is the true art of mile repeats? Team RunRun coach Jay Bates shares both his love for this classic workout and a comprehensive guide on doing it well. 

“Romance lives by repetition, and repetition converts an appetite into an art.”

       – Oscar Wilde

Let me tell you why mile repeats are my favorite workout: they not only expand my aerobic engine; they expand my aerobic confidence.  

What Are Mile Repeats?

In a recent Team RunRun video, Coach Scott Fauble offered a great explanation of the two basic workouts for distance runners—tempo runs and intervals.  He describes a tempo run, or a lactate threshold run, as a continuous and sustained effort (up to 30 to 40 minutes) right below the effort where we start to produce lactate acid. The benefit to a tempo run is it builds aerobic capacity and strength. In comparison he defines an interval workout as a stronger effort broken up into shorter bouts—typically 20 to 30 percent of the effort’s race distance. The advantage here is that a runner can complete two to three times the race distance volume by running repeats with equal rest.  

What I like about mile repeats is they can serve a hybrid workout for both speed and strength.  The distance of the repeat is short enough that we can attack each bout with controlled aggression, but long enough that we don’t creep into VO2 Max effort.  Additionally, the recovery does not allow us full rest for subsequent repeats.  The heart rate remains elevated through the duration of the workout.  

Workout Structure

The structure of the workout is straight forward: Warm + Dynamics + Mile Repeats @ ~10k effort w/ 5:1 recovery jogs + Cool.  

I like to use the McMillan Training Calculator or Jack Daniel’s Formula to determine the optimal pace for the bouts based on a recent race performance.  

Depending on where an athlete is in their training block, the number of mile repeats and the length of the recovery jogs will vary.  Example: an athlete with a lactate threshold pace of 7:00 per mile might in their first third of a training block run three or four mile repeats at 6:30-6:45 with 90 seconds recovery.  As the athlete progresses through the training cycle, the pace of the repeat creeps faster, the number of repeats increases, and the recovery time is shortened.  

Over the course of a training cycle, a mile repeat workout can be completed every four to six weeks to gain a benchmark of aerobic improvement.  Below is a table that displays my mile repeat workouts from 2025 on my way to running 3:26:06 at the Eugene Marathon (at 58 years old).  On Week 4 of my training cycle, I ran just over 21 minutes in a Turkey Trot 5k.  Based on that effort, both the McMillan Calculator and the Daniels Formula suggested my mile repeats (also called cruise intervals) should be run at just over 7:00.  

Aerobic Benefit

By Week 16, I ran six repeats at a pace that was faster than the 5k race I ran at the end of Week 4.  By running this workout slightly faster than lactate threshold effort and covering a volume that was double the 5k race effort from earlier, the workout stimulus effectively expanded my ability to run faster for a greater accumulated distance.  A mile repeat workout trains the aerobic system to run faster and farther without crossing the lactate threshold.  While this workout was not the sole reason for the expansion of aerobic capacity, it served as a stimulus for improvement and operated as a barometer of that improvement.  For me, six repeats consisted of an assertive effort for 40 minutes.  Depending on the distance you are training to race, you can modify this workout to run eight or more repeats, adjusting for proper pace and effort.  

Legendary running coach Greg McMillan said this about mile repeats: “It’s not an easy workout, and you probably can’t do it right away, so you’ll need to build up to it with the sequence of workouts outlined here, which, when combined with supplementary workouts, creates an exceptional training plan for your next goal.”

Sage and sound advice, if you ask me.  

Mental Benefit

As for the mental benefit of this workout, I hearken back to what Team RunRun coach Adam Frye once told me about fitness and training: “Competence breeds confidence, and confidence breeds competence.”  Coach Frye is right—the ability to achieve a goal and the belief that we can achieve a goal are mutually compatible.  This workout provides immediate feedback to the athlete, especially if the workouts are completed on the same one-mile route, whether on the road or at a local track.  And since the effort feels brisk without being taxing, a runner can gain momentum (both mentally and physically) as they progress through the workout.  

To echo Oscar Wilde’s quote from above (even though he was not known to be a runner), a repetition workout like mile repeats feeds the appetite to compete and reach our goals.  Romance does indeed live by repetition, and in this case what an athlete repeats leads to an inherent belief and trust—dare I say the love?—for reaching that goal.  

Jay Bates is a seasoned running coach.  He is also a runner, writer, teacher and wannabe podcaster.  Follow him @coach_bates_says on Instagram. 

Team RunRun coach Laura Sheridan has competed in the World 24 hour Ultrarunning Championships and she has a message for all ultrarunners about training! Said simply: Should ultrarunners do speedwork? YES! 

Let’s talk about why. I know many people get into ultrarunning because of the chill, run all day pace, social environment, and awesome people. One of the first things many runners assume is that speedwork isn’t necessary since your ultra race pace is much slower compared to your 5K or 10K pace. In theory, that may seem correct, however, speedwork improves your running economy. What does that mean? It means that you can run at your comfortable run pace with much less effort. As your running economy improves your easy pace will increase, thus improving your race performances! 

Running Economy

Your running economy is ultimately determined by how well your body uses oxygen while running at different speeds below your maximal level.  Your economy can be improved by consistently training, improving body composition, improving running mechanics, plyometric training, and some fancy running gear like carbon plated shoes! Barnes, K. R., & Kilding, A. E. (2015).  

Training to improve running economy isn’t hard but most gains are made over time.  With consistent training, muscle and heart rate adaptations occur to make the body operate more efficiently, the brain-body connection strengthens, and body composition will improve if fueling is adequate but not excessive. Working with a coach on form, cadence, and overall running mechanics can be a very valuable tool to improve economy for some runners.  For a quick fix, runners can also turn to higher end gear  like carbon plated super shoes which have shown to improve running economy by as much as  0.9%-4.2% according to the International Journal of Exercise Science.  These shoes are considered “money well spent” for some, however, be warned, not all super shoes are race legal when it comes to setting records and can increase the risk for injury in many runners!

Aging Factors

While aging may not be the primary concern for many runners, most of us don’t want to imagine the day we can’t run.  There is a lot of really interesting research involving aging runners.  It may be hard to believe, but a study published by the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity (2017) found that sprint training is a safer and more effective way to preserve physical function in older adults compared to moderate intensity exercise training.  The study showed improvements in muscle power, insulin sensitivity, and overall cardiovascular health when sprint training was performed.  

These findings were echoed in a study found in Cell Metabolism, 2017 called HIIT and Aging.  Researchers identified improvements in mitochondria (energy producing cells) and overall physical capacity when older participants trained with short bursts of intensity movement.  In all of the studies, proper warmup before high intensity exercise was stressed as very important.  The benefits of sprint training for participants was also found with shorter duration high intensity workouts compared to the longer sessions of moderate intensity exercise that produced similar benefits.  In essence…more bang for your buck!  

Similar findings were found in the area of bone mineral density in an article by Arch Osteoporos (2018).  This study found 10% and 14% higher bone mineral density readings in the hip and spine  of masters level sprinters vs masters level endurance athletes. Stronger muscles & stronger bones = stronger & longer running careers!

Training Motivation

I don’t know very many runners who enjoy going on a 5 mile run every day, on the same route, at the same speed, in the same weather, at the same time.  I can just imagine the dread that would fill my mind if that’s what my training plan displayed.  It is important to have those easy paced mindless runs but it is also important to have runs that challenge you and give you some variety in pace, route, and effort level!  

A lot of people get intimidated by the thought of speedwork, but remember, speedwork doesn’t have to be a structured workout like repeat miles or 400s. Speedwork can be as simple as adding 6-8 short pickups into your easy paced run. After a mile or so warm-up, find a target like a tree or phone pole and gradually pick up your pace to a hard effort, then resume your easy pace until your breathing is regulated. Once recovered, search for your next target! 

Risks

With increased pace and effort there are some increased risks for injury. To minimize risks, make sure you warm up appropriately prior to speedwork. Using effort based intensity goals like Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) ensures you are hitting your intensity targets and not over-doing it. Pay attention to your form and don’t sacrifice form for speed. Remember to have fun! Better yet, hire a coach to help you optimize your training! 

Summary

Ultrarunners benefit from doing speedwork! It doesn’t have to be fancy, or require a special watch. But if you want to be your best at any running event, stressing your body with more intense training efforts will make you better. 

Laura Sheridan is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with her, check out her coach profile.

A deep dive into perimenopause and running with Team RunRun coach Kristina Folcik. Kristina shares her story as a woman, an athlete, and a coach in hopes that we can all learn and grow, and to better navigate this unique time in a woman’s life. 

The first athlete that I worked with who was in perimenopause taught me a lot.  She was tough but had struggles with joint pain, lack of recovery, loss of motivation, hot flashes, the inability to run without having to walk, memory issues and felt like she was in a different body.  Being obsessed with human science and wanting to help her I began researching perimenopause.

I could not understand how hormonal changes could affect an athlete this much.  I knew that declining estrogen played a big role in the ending your reproductive years but didn’t realize that progesterone and testosterone were also big players in causing women to no longer feel like themselves.  I often talk to my athletes about the importance of having balance in their fitness/career/stress/sleep/nutrition/social and family life.  Without balance we start to break.  This is true with everything in life, including hormonal balance.

Women have been taught to feel ashamed about entering their non-fertile years.  The misconception is that once you enter menopause you are now old and ready to be sent out to the pastures.  My first career in dental hygiene gave me the gift of having honest conversations about health with my patients.  I feel that the more I learn from my athletes the better I can help them be their best selves.  Some of my athletes entering perimenopause were told by their doctors that they just have to deal with their new normal.  They believe that the weight gain, crepey skin, thickening mid section and thighs, depression, anxiety, lack of motivation and desire to just disappear and start a new life are all something they have to deal with.  Their families think they have gone mad, roll their eyes or don’t know how to be supportive. These women feel unheard and ashamed.

It doesn’t have to be this way! I was so excited when I learned about Dr Stacy Sims and Dr. Mary Claire Haver.  They listened to their patients, buried their heads in research, debunked botched studies and empowered athletic women who suddenly found themselves struggling to simply move like they used to.  Between adjusting your macros, focusing on lifting heavy and utilizing HRT (hormone replacement therapy) you can reclaim what you have lost, yourself!  I incorporated what I learned into training my athletes experiencing peri-menopause.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

HRT has had a bad reputation for years.  There was a botched study that made doctors and patients afraid of taking estrogen.  I watched my mom, friends’ moms and other women suffer through perimenopause for years.  I watched extremely athletic women just disappear from their sport.  Marriages ended and self esteem plummeted. It breaks my heart that this generation got the short end of the stick during a period of their lives where they needed the most nurturing.

As I entered my mid 40’s I began to wonder when it was going to happen to me.  I started to see athletic friends speaking up on social media about the struggles they were experiencing. I feared reaching this stage in my life.  I had no idea how to help my athletes and started with adjusting macros based on Dr Stacy Sims book “Next Level”.  I incorporated heavy lifting into my athletes schedules to delay the rapid muscle loss that was happening. I felt like there were so many moving parts and saw that there is no one size fits all way to alleviate symptoms.  

Out of curiosity and approaching the age where I would be entering this phase of life I began having meaningful conversations with my gynecologist.  When I moved to Colorado I was given an appointment with a doctor who was very knowledgeable in modern treatment of perimenopause.  We did baseline bloodwork (most of which will not indicate the hormonal change until after menopause) and I was given a symptom check list to use.  She found that treating on symptoms verses bloodwork was more accurate.  Hormones are constantly changing throughout a woman’s cycle.  Each month there are fluctuations in hormones, even during perimenopause.  Your ovaries are slowing down but they are still working, this makes testing for perimenopause next to impossible.  Once your ovaries stop producing hormones and your periods have been gone for 12 months you have entered menopause.  This is where testing can be more accurate.

Perimenopause can last for years!  My doctor discussed the progression of HRT and the risks/benefits.  I don’t have a family history of breast cancer and did my own research on the use of HRT.  I had discussions with my athletes and friends who are taking it and learned a lot from their experiences.  Hormone therapy can be safe if monitored closely by a doctor.

Signs and Symptoms

Last fall I had to have an emergency appendectomy and since the surgery I had not felt like myself physically or emotionally.  I believed the surgery did something to me and could not figure out what happened.  My sleep started to suffer and progressively became worse.  My body hurt in ways I never imagined.  I felt like a slug during every workout and motivation was non-existent.  I had to force myself to get out of bed, work, exercise and had to take naps.  I would walk into the kitchen and for a moment, forget that the oven is called an oven.  I became very anxious and would imagine leaving my perfectly good life and running away with my dog to disappear and be alone.  These thoughts are not normal for me and they were strong.  I still had no idea what was wrong with me.  Life became a struggle and I started to get acne all over my chin, something I have never dealt with.  Around that time I would get what felt like cold flashes where I would randomly shiver, mostly at night, but also during the day.  Even with lifting heavy I was losing muscle mass, my skin was becoming dry/weird and my body was looking “softer”. My joints ached and my muscles never felt like they were recovering.  Something was clearly wrong.

I get monthly facials (my self splurge) and the woman doing my facials began noticing changes in my skin and the increase in acne.  She asked me questions about my mood, how I felt, my sleep, etc.  She told me that she had experienced early perimenopause in her 30’s and that I should talk to my doctor.  This was the first time I thought it might be what was happening to me.  I didn’t have the traditional hot flashes, rage and loss of libido so many people talk about.  My symptoms were different than many of the people I knew.  I felt like I was living with a body and mind that did not belong to me.

I made an appointment with my doctor and we did bloodwork for the sake of doing bloodwork but she started me on a very low dose estrogen patch.  I currently have a progesterone IUD that is due to be replaced next year, we did not talk about adding that to the mix.  My FSH was vastly different from last summer, indicating peri-menopause and my Vitamin D was extremely low (another indicator).  Even with eating very clean my cholesterol was a bit higher than it had been and testosterone dropping.  My first reaction was embarrassment and sadness for reaching this phase of life but at the same time my doctor also made me feel that I could have my life back.

Within 48 hours of wearing the Estrogen patch I felt like myself again.  My body didn’t hurt, I was sleeping like a champ, my motivation was back, I felt calm, the cold flashes stopped, and I no longer wanted to run away to start a new life.  I cried thinking of the 6 months that I suffered because no woman should have to feel that way for years.  I have known women who suffered for 10 years with perimenopause symptoms and it just makes my heart break.  HRT felt like magic and I still cannot wrap my head around how much our bodies react to hormones.

Perimenopause and Training

As an athlete, slowing down or stopping is not fun.  I never fully understood why a lot of women just “give up hope” when these changes happen.  I understand now because it feels like you are being tortured both physically and emotionally when this phase hits.  Some women are very fortunate to not experience these struggles, I was not one of them.  Experiencing so many symptoms is going to help me be a better coach and friend.  Until I felt what other athletic women can go through during perimenopause, it was impossible to fully understand their pain.  When your sport is your play time and it becomes a battle, there is a part of you that just dies inside.  As usual I will be burying my head in research to help myself and to help others in this phase of life.  I just love human science!

Modifications to your diet and fitness routine are important, even if you are on HRT.  You need to eat more protein, have bloodwork to check for deficiencies, hit the gym to lift heavy, and strategically place your speed workouts in between your easy recovery workouts.  Sleep is more important during this phase in life to allow for adequate muscle rebuilding and recovery.  Honoring your body’s needs and knowing when to push and when to recover are your keys to success in training.  I use the Find Your Steady State app to track my symptoms, plan my training and analyze my subjective and objective data to see when my best weeks to train are during my cycle and when to lay low.  

When planning your training make sure to limit your hard cardio sessions to no more than 2 a week.  They should be short but punchy if you don’t have any injuries.  Ease into lifting heavy and prioritize form over weight, but, work up to 3 challenging strength workouts a week.  Give yourself 1-2 days to rest each week (yoga, mobility and easy walks are okay) and keep the days around your speed work super easy, that boring conversational effort so many of us struggle with.  A reset week every 4-7 weeks will give your body a chance to catch up.

Looking forward

I feel fortunate to live in a time where people talk about perimenopause.  It helps to have other women to talk to openly about their experience and to explore ways to continue to feel in control of your mind and body.  Doctors are now empowering women and starting to help them to feel better.  I feel that my generation was the beginning of the influx of athletic women in society and we don’t want to lose what we worked so hard for.  We want to continue to be strong, to play and to feel good.

If you are starting to feel like your body and mind are changing, reach out to experts in perimenopause.  There are many incredible doctors who can discuss options for you and come up with a plan.  For me, HRT gave me back my life.  Feeling good during my workouts, feeling happy and calm during the day, sleeping at night and being more enjoyable to be around saved me.  Most of all, I don’t want to run away from a beautiful life, or that I have to be alone (this is very common with hormonal changes).  I am excited to stay right here.  

Kristina Folcik is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with her, check out her coach profile.

How do you know when it’s time for a change with your training? Team RunRun coach Ryan Sheehy gives signs to look for to determine if you’ve outgrown your training plan. 

For the busy, ambitious runner

Your schedule is packed, your goals are growing, and that generic plan you downloaded in 2021 just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Look, you’re busy. You’ve got a career that actually demands things of you, a life outside of running (allegedly), and somehow you’re still lacing up at 5:30am four times a week. That deserves real respect.

But here’s the thing nobody tells you: the training plan that got you here is not going to get you there. At some point, doing more of the same just produces more of the same. And if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve quietly hit that wall already.

Here are four signs it’s time to stop squeezing yourself into a plan you’ve outgrown.

“The plan that got you here won’t get you there.”

You’ve Stopped Getting Faster

You remember the early days — every race was a PR, every training block brought a new benchmark. That was intoxicating. Now? You run the same routes, log roughly the same times, and wonder if this is just… your speed now.

It’s probably not. What’s more likely is that your plan is missing the stimulus your body actually needs to adapt. Easy runs that are a little too easy, hard efforts with no real structure, no periodization — it all adds up to a well-trained plateau. A smarter plan introduces the right stress at the right time, so your body has a reason to keep improving. Busy people especially fall into this trap because consistency feels productive even when the plan itself has gone stale.

Something Always Hurts (In the Wrong Way)

There’s the good kind of tired — legs that earned their fatigue. And then there’s the low-grade, rotating cast of complaints: the hip that flares up around week four, the knee that’s “fine, mostly,” the shin that you’re choosing not to think about.

Nagging injuries are almost never bad luck. They’re the body’s version of a strongly worded email — a signal that load, recovery, or movement patterns are off somewhere. Generic plans don’t know your history, your desk job, your sleep debt, or the fact that you always skip the warm-up because you’re already late. A plan built around you accounts for these things. Consider chronic minor injuries a flashing sign that your programming needs a closer look.

You Always Arrive at the Start Line Unprepared

Not physically unprepared — you showed up, you ran, you finished. But you know that feeling of toeing the line and thinking, I didn’t really nail this training block. Life got busy (it always does), you missed a few key sessions, and now you’re hoping the fitness carried over from somewhere.

When you’re managing a demanding career alongside serious training, you need a plan that bends without breaking. Rigid, cookie-cutter plans have no capacity for a chaotic week in Q3 or a business trip that wipes out your long run. A good coach — or a plan designed with your life in mind — builds flexibility into the structure, so the wheels don’t fall off every time reality happens.

You’re Ready for a Distance That Scares You a Little

Maybe you’ve been running halfs and marathons for a few years and something keeps pulling you toward a 50K. Maybe you’ve done a 50-miler and there’s a 100 sitting in the back of your mind that you haven’t told anyone about yet. Whatever it is, stepping into a genuinely new distance requires more than just adding miles.

Longer distances introduce new physiological demands, new mental challenges, and new strategic questions around fueling, pacing, and gear. The leap from “I run marathons” to “I run ultras” is not a linear one. It requires intentional preparation from someone who’s actually stood at mile 70 wondering if their life choices are sound. That experience is worth something.

Conclusion

If any of these signs feel familiar, it’s not a failure — it’s a signal. You’ve grown past where you started, and that’s exactly the point. The next chapter just needs a plan to match. Take that leap, find a change in strategy, get strong, prepare, and do something bold! Find a coach that fits your goals and budget and navigate the next step in your run journey optimally. 

Ryan is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.

TRR Coach Amanda Hamilton shares her next update on her return to running postpartum. 

I am here to provide some updates and inspiration after my first few races postpartum!  If you are currently pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant, or in the throes of postpartum, I want to share my positive experience to show that it is possible to return to running in a safe and strong way, whether you are an elite runner or a middle-of-the-pack recreational runner.  I want you to know you can still reach new PRs and work towards your full potential after kids.  

The running world is seeing a bit of a baby boom right now, with many elite female athletes announcing pregnancies (like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Emma Bates), and I’m so excited to see them return to the sport as new moms.  Women like Elle St. Pierre are inspirational examples of the female body’s amazing ability to continue to perform at a high level athletically after giving birth less than a year earlier.  Elle won the 3000m at the 2026 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 8 months after welcoming her second son.  

Although I am not in the same athletic class as the professionals, I was able to return to running on a similar timeline and experienced analogous successes for my fitness level.  

Here’s a quick round-up of my postpartum races this winter, which I hope can inspire and motivate others to believe that they can do it too! 

January 18, 2026 (6 months postpartum) 

5K Road Race

New PR by over 1 minute and 3rd in Female 30-34

January 24, 2026 (6 months postpartum) 

1-Mile Track Race

First time racing this distance and first time breaking 7-minutes in the mile! 

February  8, 2026 (6.5 months postpartum) 

10K Road Race 

New PR by over 4 minutes 

I was so proud of myself for each of these efforts, thankful for my body and all that it is capable of, and grateful to my family for helping me continue to prioritize my running in my newest era as a mom of 3. 

Though I am not a doctor or physical therapist and would encourage you to speak with yours about a return to running postpartum, I would love to share my reflections on how I made my own return successful.  Some of these may surprise you! 

1. Started with a Run/Walk Program 

My early weeks postpartum focused on rebuilding my mind-body connection, rehabbing my pelvic floor, and easy walking.  Once I was ready to add some running to my walking routine, I did so very gradually.  My first run/walks looked like this, and were separated by a rest day in between: 

5-10 minute walking warm up 

3 x (1-minute run + 2-minute walk) 

5-10 minute walking cool down

No matter how much or how fast you were running pre-baby, it is a good idea to start your comeback with a run/walk program.  

2. Prioritized Sleep and Recovery 

I did not return to strenuous exercise until I was getting consistent high-quality sleep. Even after that, if I was coming off a random bad night of sleep, I would push a workout to another day. I also incorporated recovery protocols like massages and sauna sessions.  I got bloodwork done when I was a few months postpartum which helped me assess how I was recovering and whether I had any nutritional deficiencies.  During my return to running, I was highly focused on my nutrition and hydration. 

3. Minimal Use of the Jogging Stroller

I totally understand why this may be controversial or unhelpful, but I attribute much of my success to the fact that I went out for my runs completely solo and “off the clock” in terms of my responsibilities as a mom.  Those of you who have run with a stroller can attest to how much harder pushing the stroller makes a run feel.  By leaving the stroller and baby behind, I was able to focus on my form.  I think this was huge for injury prevention.  Additionally, from the mental side, it is easier to tune into yourself when your child is not with you. For many people, finding childcare is difficult and the only way to fit in a run may be to do it with your baby in the stroller.  If you are running with a stroller and struggling with injuries, I would consider making time for running without the stroller to see if that helps things. 

4. Stopped Breastfeeding

Another factor for me was my lactation status.  This time around with my third baby, I breastfed for about 4 months.  I found that the soft tissue issues I was having (e.g., Achilles) significantly improved after I stopped breastfeeding.  It was also much easier to make time in my schedule for runs when breastfeeding/pumping was removed from my daily schedule.  I am super supportive of each woman’s choice to breastfeed for as long or as short a time as she would like; I think the impact that breastfeeding can have on your return to running is worth noting here because it was something I didn’t realize until I was navigating it myself.  My midwife and physical therapist were instrumental in explaining the way hormone levels during lactation can affect joints, soft tissue, and muscle. 

5. 12-Week Build to 5K PR

After I progressed through my run/walk program, I moved into a 12-week 5K training block.  Each week I included one long run and one track workout, plus a couple of short easy runs.  I was also strength training 1-2 times per week and cross-training on an “as needed” basis.  I paid super close attention to what my body was feeling and did not hesitate to pivot to cross-training if something was feeling a little off. In this stage of life, you can’t maintain consistency without welcoming flexibility. A healthy dose of flexibility played a big part in my safe and successful return as a postpartum runner. 

Always remember to listen to your own body, trust your instincts, and do what you feel is best for you and your family.  There is a lot to consider when you are building back your fitness after welcoming a baby. 

I am looking forward to supporting more athletes through the beautifully messy metamorphosis that is pregnancy and postpartum running.  Please reach out to me if you have any questions!  Your fastest years may just be on the other side of your pregnancy/postpartum journey!  Cheers to all of the mother runners and the PRs ahead of us. 

Amanda Hamilton is a coach with Team RunRun based near Los Angeles, California. She knows what it’s like balancing a family, returning to running, working and running. She’s excited to help both beginner and intermediate runners achieve their goals.