Mindful Marathon Podcast

About Mindful Marathon Podcast

A podcast helping runners to run their own race. In each episode, you will hear how to get started, fuel better, keep going, recover, or simply enjoy running a little bit more. Hosted by Running Coach Michelle Quirk, MD. Find out more about the program at Mindful-Marathon.com.

Publisher

Michelle Quirk, MD

Category

health & fitness · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Aug 2024

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

109 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Ep 109: What Does Rest Really Mean? Lessons from the RestRx Retreat in Cape May, with Dr. Michelle Quirk

   What does rest actually mean to you? Are the things you call “rest” leaving you feeling genuinely restored? In this reflective episode of the Mindful Marathon Podcast, I'm taking you inside our recent RestRx Retreat in Cape May, where a group of women physicians gathered for a weekend of movement, yoga, writing, a sound bath, meaningful conversations, and something that can be surprisingly difficult to make room for: unstructured time. The weather may have been rainy and windy, but the weekend gave us the opportunity to slow down, notice what we needed, and explore our individual relationships with rest. Rather than simply sharing a recap, I'm inviting you to experience a little piece of the retreat yourself. Grab a journal or open the Notes app on your phone, and join me for a few guided reflection questions. There will be pauses throughout the episode so you can think, write, and reconnect with yourself. In this episode, we explore: Why our relationship with rest can be more complicated than it seems What genuinely restores us and what we sometimes call rest that leaves us feeling just as depleted Why rest isn't only about finding more time on the calendar How the rhythms of giving, receiving, connection, and solitude affect our well-being How to create a personal movement and rest prescription that fits your actual life Why intentionally creating open space matters How writing a letter to your future self can help you remember what you need Reflection questions from this episode If you'd like to revisit the journaling exercise, start here: What does rest mean to me? What do I sometimes call rest that doesn't actually leave me feeling rested? If I gave myself permission to rest without needing to justify it, what might that look like? What do I want movement or rest to give me? What actually feels nourishing to me right now? When could I realistically make space for it? What would I want my future self to remember about what I need right now? You don't need to answer every question or figure everything out today. Start by noticing. Wherever you are today, I hope you can find even five minutes to notice what you need. Ready to make more space for yourself? If this episode leaves you wishing you had more than a few minutes with your notebook, I'd love to invite you to my RestRx Spring Reset, a one-day retreat created specifically for women physicians. Join me on Saturday, March 6, 2027, at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, for a day of movement, rest, reflection, and connection with women who understand the particular demands of this life and profession. You don't have to arrive feeling rested, be good at mindfulness, or know exactly what you need. That's what the day is for. Explore the retreat and reserve your spot here: https://mindful-marathon.com/restrxreset Early-bird pricing is available through October 22, 2026. Keep up with Coach Michelle's adventures over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon *** 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. ***

2. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Ep 108: Yes, You Can Run with Asthma - Tips for Training Through Triggers & Cold Weather, with Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo & Dr. Michelle Quirk

   Can you run if you have asthma? Yes. If you've ever struggled to breathe while running, been told that running "isn't for you," or found yourself avoiding exercise because you're afraid of triggering your asthma, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Mindful Marathon Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo, a board-certified adult and pediatric allergist and asthma specialist, to talk about what runners with asthma need to know. This conversation is personal for both of us. Dr. Gina was diagnosed with asthma during residency after experiencing nighttime coughing and eventually went on to train for and complete a half marathon, despite being told that long-distance running might not be for her. She has since completed 5ks, 10ks, multiple half marathons, and a full marathon. We talk about: What actually happens in your airways when exercise triggers asthma symptoms The most common symptoms of asthma during running, including shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing What well-controlled asthma should look like for a runner The difference between rescue medications and preventative/controller medications When frequent symptoms or frequent use of a rescue inhaler may be a reason to check in with your healthcare provider Common asthma triggers, including exercise, respiratory infections, pollen, cold air, pet dander, and air pollution Why cold, dry air can be particularly challenging for some runners Ways to modify your training around your individual asthma and allergy triggers How pollen, traffic, and air quality can affect outdoor running Why run-walk training can be a helpful way to ease into running and monitor your effort What to do if you've been told that you shouldn't run because of your asthma And perhaps most importantly, how to shift from "I can't do this" to "How can I do this?" As we head into cold and flu season, it's especially worth paying attention to your individual triggers. Respiratory infections and cold air can both contribute to asthma symptoms, so having a plan before you head out for a run can make a big difference. If you're someone who has been holding yourself back because of asthma, I hope this conversation leaves you with a little more hope. You don't necessarily have to give up the activities you love. You may just need the right plan, the right adaptations, and the right people in your corner. Important: This episode is for education and general information and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your own healthcare provider about your asthma management plan, medications, symptoms, and exercise goals. Connect with Dr. Gina on her website https://www.dapulallergy.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/drdapul.allergy You can get free running tips, motivation, and mindset support by signing up for Coach Michelle's weekly Friday newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/6061ab0452d7/newsletter Keep up with Coach Michelle's adventures over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon *** 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. ***

3. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Ep 107: More than Miles - The Healing Power of Running, with Ultrarunner Maggie Grehlinger and Dr. Michelle Quirk

   What can ultrarunning teach us about healing, accessibility, and listening to our bodies? In this episode of the Mindful Marathon Podcast, I’m joined by Maggie Grehlinger, an ultrarunner based in Philadelphia, school-based occupational therapist, and adaptive fitness coach. Maggie works with neurodivergent individuals and uses trauma-competent approaches in her work. She also believes deeply in the power of movement to support healing and well-being. Maggie shares how she went from being a former high-school athlete who didn't particularly enjoy running to discovering road running during the pandemic, recovering from a femoral neck stress fracture, and eventually finding her way into trail and ultrarunning. Her injury changed the way she thought about running, not simply as a sport or a way to chase PRs, but as something meaningful that could bring more to her life. We talk about: What Maggie loves about trail and ultrarunning, and why slowing down can actually be part of the appeal One of the biggest misconceptions about ultrarunning: that you have to run enormous amounts of mileage to train for an ultra How her injury and a difficult season of life changed her relationship with running What it means to use movement as a way to process emotions rather than trying to outrun them Why traditional fitness culture can make movement feel inaccessible or unwelcoming The importance of seeing people who look like you represented in endurance sports How we can make existing fitness spaces more inclusive rather than creating separate spaces that may be inaccessible because of cost The tricky distinction between challenging yourself and overriding your body's signals The importance of sleep, fueling, flexibility, and being willing to rearrange a training plan when life gets in the way One of my favorite parts of our conversation was our discussion of the tendency many high-achieving women, including women physicians, to simply push through. Maggie is refreshingly honest that listening to your body is something she is still practicing herself. We talk about recognizing fatigue sooner, creating actual rest rather than simply labeling a busy day a “rest day,” and giving yourself permission to move things around when your body or your life needs something different. And if you've ever felt like you don't quite fit the picture of what an “ultrarunner” or “athlete” is supposed to look like, I think you'll especially enjoy Maggie's perspective on representation and accessibility in endurance sports. Sometimes seeing someone who looks like you doing something you thought wasn't for you is exactly what makes it feel possible. Connect with Maggie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/magrehlinger where she shares her running journey, resources, and tips. Coach Michelle's Ready, Set, Run program for newer runners or runners who haven't run in awhile begins October 5th! Time is running out to join. More info here: https://mindful-marathon.com/readysetrun Keep up with Coach Michelle's adventures over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon *** 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. ***

Who has been a guest on Mindful Marathon Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Tolu Olabintan
• Dr Tea Nguyen
• Hannah de Groot
• Dr Ngozi Ude
• Dr Rino Dizon

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

68

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Mindful Marathon Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Mindful Marathon Podcast