#238 Rachel Conway: Online Marathon Coach, Running Psychology, Women in Running and More

In this week's episode of the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Rachel Conway (@rc_running_coach on Instagram), an online marathon coach with a BSc in Psychology and a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Rachel shares her first marathon experience, detailing the physical and mental challenges she faced, including a partially torn Achilles. We also touch on broader issues such as the underrepresentation of women in marathon running, the psychological benefits of running and balancing athletic training with pregnancy. Rachel emphasises the importance of self-awareness, realistic goal-setting, and maintaining a healthy relationship with running tools like Strava.10:30 Rachel's Early Sports Background12:04 Discovering Running During COVID14:38 First Marathon Experience17:40 Mental Challenges and Strategies30:59 Balancing Training and Recovery36:09 The Struggle of Driven Individuals37:12 Balancing Training and Pregnancy40:08 The Gender Gap in Marathon Running49:27 Psychological Benefits of Running62:50 The Importance of Self-Reflection67:57 Authenticity on Social MediaBe sure to check out Rachel's Instagram page for running tips and how to have her as your marathon coachYou can follow us on Instagram:@anygivenrundaypodcastThe Ultrapure 5K Running Bundle is a must have for your running routine. Shop HEREGet the AGR Ultrapure Sprint Bundle HERE with the exclusive AGR Bobble Hat!! If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong.Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers.Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie. ALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).altarfuel.com