I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein Podcast

I sat down live in Napa Valley with Shannon Rowbury and Jessica Dorrington, co-authors of the new book Strong as a Mother. We recorded this conversation at the Napa Valley Marathon expo, and it centers on what it looks like to return to running after pregnancy, rebuild after injury, and support athletes through every stage of motherhood and performance.

Shannon is a three-time Olympian and Olympic bronze medalist in the 1500 meters. Her medal came years after the 2012 Olympic final, when multiple athletes ahead of her were later disqualified for doping. In this conversation, she reflects on that experience and the complicated reality of receiving an Olympic medal long after the race is over.

Jessica Dorrington is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and pelvic health physical therapist who works with many elite runners. She shares practical, grounded insight on postpartum recovery, pelvic health, and how athletes can safely return to running after pregnancy or injury.

Together, Shannon and Jess talk about the inspiration behind Strong as a Mother, why better education around postpartum recovery is so needed in sport, and how runners can approach their comeback with patience, perspective, and the right support. We also talk about Shannon’s career, the emotional complexity of elite competition, and the importance of understanding the body through every phase of life.

This episode is part of my weekend at the Napa Valley Marathon, where I had the chance to serve as race emcee and host conversations with athletes and leaders in the running community.

Topics covered:

Longevity in running and what helps you keep running for decades

Why consistency matters more than any one perfect week of training

Recovery as a key part of performance

How training needs change as you age

Strength training, calf strength, plyometrics, and core work for runners

Injury setbacks and using them as opportunities to learn more about your body

Shannon Rowbury’s femoral neck stress fracture in college and comeback to make her first Olympic team

The role of biomechanics, leg length differences, orthotics, and maintenance work in staying healthy

Postpartum return to running and why timelines are highly individual

What happens to the abdominal wall and pelvic floor during pregnancy and postpartum

Why more women are returning to elite running after having babies

The lack of pregnancy and postpartum resources for athletes and why Strong as a Mother was written

Pelvic floor health for runners and why it matters for both women and men

Shannon Rowbury’s delayed Olympic bronze medal from the 2012 1500m

Doping in sport and the emotional impact of delayed justice

The importance of clean sport, reform, and fighting for integrity in athletics

Mental preparation for racing, including visualization, positive cue words, breathing, and smiling

Race-day strategies for handling hills, fueling, and staying mentally engaged late in the race

Why menstruation is an important indicator of athlete health

Low energy availability, RED-S, sleep, and early warning signs for high school and young female runners

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CURE Hydration — No added sugar or dyes; electrolyte mix for adults and kids; non-GMO; FSA/HSA eligible. Use ANOTHER for 15% off at curehydration.com/another.

Megan Sailor joins the show fresh off a huge breakthrough at CIM, where she placed third in the national championship marathon and ran 2:25:17 in her debut. Megan runs for the B.A.A. High Performance Team and she walks through what it looked like to finally step up to the marathon after spending years focused on the track and shorter road races.

Megan shares how pro running was not always the plan, why she considers herself more of a realist than a dreamer, and how the marathon move came at the right time after a stretch where training fitness was not translating to race results. We talk about learning to stop racing workouts, what changed when she began moving up in distance, and how a strong half marathon helped confirm she was heading the right direction.

We also get into life outside racing, including the unique dynamic of being a twin and having a built-in training partner, the fact that Megan and her husband live with her twin sister and her husband in Boston, and what they actually do to unwind when they are not training. Megan wraps with a message that sticks: you do not always get to choose the timing or even the event, but patience and trust can lead to the breakthrough you were hoping for.

Enjoy this episode with Megan!

Topics Discussed:

Megan’s 2:25:17 marathon debut and 3rd at CIM (national championship)

Joining and training with the B.A.A. High Performance Team

Why the track was not clicking, and the shift away from racing workouts

Building from half marathon success to marathon readiness

Marathon training changes: mileage bump, longer workout volume, solo long runs

CIM race strategy, pack decisions, and the late-race leg shutdown

Fueling and bottle-grab chaos, plus her gel preferences

Boston Marathon build: hills, strength on tired legs, and racing a stacked field

Twin sister training dynamic, competitiveness, and support

Boston winter stories and “space savers” street parking culture

Life outside running: TV binges, baking, books, and future goals (dogs, international racing)

Closing takeaway: patience, timing, and letting the right event find you

Media Mentioned:

Books

Throne of Glass (series)

Shield of Sparrows

Harry Potter (series)

Divergent (series)

The Hunger Games (series)

Twilight (series)

ACOTAR

TV shows

Survivor

Grey’s Anatomy

Schitt’s Creek

Love Is Blind

Sponsors:

Lagoon Sleep — If you’re ready to upgrade your sleep, Lagoon pillows are truly a game changer. Their customizable pillows are designed to help you fall asleep faster, stay cool, and wake up without neck or shoulder pain. You can adjust the fill to make it perfect for you. Save 15% by going to https://lagoonsleep.com/lindsey and using the code LINDSEY at checkout.

CURE Hydration — No added sugar or dyes; electrolyte mix for adults and kids; non-GMO; FSA/HSA eligible. Use ANOTHER for 15% off at curehydration.com/another.

Geist Half Race Series

Go to geisthalf.com and use the code “Another26” for $10 off any race distances.

Olivia Markezich joins me on the podcast to talk steeplechase, the jump from college to pro running, and what it’s been like joining the On Athletics Club in Boulder.

Olivia runs with OAC out in Boulder and is sponsored by On. Olivia is a steeplechaser, and if you watched the 2024 Olympic Trials, you know exactly why this conversation matters. She took a real shot, put herself into second, and then fell near the finish in one of the most gutting moments of the meet. She was right there, in it, fighting for that team spot, and she opens up about what happened, what it felt like, and how she’s carried that experience forward instead of letting it define her.

Olivia’s story has been one surprise after another. She won the 2023 NCAA title in the steeplechase at Notre Dame, earned 10 All-American honors, and finished top three at seven NCAA championships. She also walked on to Notre Dame and eventually earned a full scholarship, which says a lot about how quickly her belief, consistency, and ceiling have grown.

This one is honest, gritty, and really fun. Olivia is all-in on seeing how far she can take this sport, and it’s hard not to walk away from this conversation believing she’s got some big breakthroughs ahead.

List of topics covered

Training update and Achilles management after USA Cross Country

Racing muddy cross country conditions and gutting out a tough day

Choosing events outside the steeplechase, including a possible 1500 opener

Non-championship year mindset and racing the Diamond League circuit

2024 season setbacks: mono, stress reaction, return to racing quickly

2024 Olympic Trials steeplechase fall: what happened and how she processed it

Early pro experiences and learning to race on the world stage

NIL with On, the pro recruiting process, and why OAC was the fit

What she wanted in a pro group: altitude, team environment, structure

Notre Dame walk-on story, scholarship, NCAA title, and changing expectations

Family dynamic: twin sister rivalry and support, dad as a sounding board

Finding steeplechase and winning her first pair of On shoes at Portland Track Festival

OAC team culture: meeting six days a week, steeple work with Kelsey, training written by Dathan

Building hobbies and community in Boulder: ceramics, cook club, reading, shows

Balancing identity outside running and keeping it fun

Media mentioned (books + shows)

Books:

Cutting for Stone (Abraham Verghese)

The Covenant of Water (Abraham Verghese)

The Housemaid series (Freida McFadden)

The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)

Sarah J. Maas series mentioned:

ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Throne of Glass

Crescent City

Fourth Wing

TV shows:

Ted Lasso

The Pitt

Support our Sponsors:

Join me for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon Training!

Amazfit Smartwatches – A wellness and recovery brand offering targeted supplements designed to support runners with energy, strength, and sleep. Use code “ANOTHER” at checkout!

Noogs: Noogs Nutrition is my go-to for fun, flavorful fuel with carbs and electrolytes, with flavors like Lemon Zinger, Electric Watermelon, and Blue Raspberry, plus caffeinated options too. Use code “another15” for 15% off your first order.

Today’s episode is a special one. I got to sit down in person with Tristin Colley, formerly known as Tristin Van Ord, for a conversation that felt personal, honest, and really meaningful.

Tristin is a professional marathoner, a two-time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier, and currently pregnant with her first child, a baby girl due this April. She made her marathon debut in 2019 running 2:40 and has steadily worked her way down to a 2:25 personal best, a testament to her patience, belief, and long-term commitment to the sport.

In this episode, Tristin and I talk about the many transitions she is navigating right now. From stepping away from the ZAP Endurance program following its recent closure, to moving with her husband Andrew to Raleigh, to entering motherhood while still holding big goals as a professional runner. She shares what this waiting season has looked like, emotionally and practically, as she explores sponsorship opportunities and imagines her return to racing post-baby.

We also talk about the USATF Foundation Maternity Grant, which Tristin was awarded, and what it means to feel supported during pregnancy while continuing to identify as a professional athlete with unfinished business.

One of the most fun parts of this episode is that Tristin received surprise messages of encouragement from Sara Vaughn, Kara Goucher, and Stephanie Bruce. These moments add so much heart to the conversation and reflect the deep support within the women’s running community.

I’m cheering so hard for Tristin, and truly believe that any brand would be lucky to have her on their team.

Topics We Cover

Tristin’s progression from a 2:40 marathon debut to a 2:25 personal best

Training adjustments and mindset shifts during pregnancy

Navigating uncertainty after the closure of ZAP Endurance

What it means to stay committed to elite running while becoming a parent

The USATF Foundation Maternity Grant and why it matters

Postpartum racing goals and long-term belief in development

The emotional side of waiting seasons in professional sport

Community support and encouragement from fellow elite runners

Recording in person and how that changes the conversation

Support our Sponsors:

Geist Half Race Series

Go to geisthalf.com and use the code “Another26” for $10 off any race distances.

Amazfit Smartwatches – A wellness and recovery brand offering targeted supplements designed to support runners with energy, strength, and sleep. Use code “ANOTHER” at checkout!

We have a brand new show joining the Sandy Boy Productions podcast network, and I am so excited about it!

It’s called Out and Back, hosted by professional runners Rory Linkletter and Jacob Thomson. They train in Flagstaff, they are chasing big goals on the roads, and they bring you straight into the behind the scenes of the marathon lifestyle. This show is training talk with a few detours, and it is exactly the kind of perspective I love adding to the network.

What I love about Rory and Jacob is how curious they are. They are not here for surface level conversations. They want the real details. The stuff you actually want to know if you care about performance, training, racing, and the mental side of showing up when it matters. If you are someone chasing a BQ, an OTQ, or you just want to understand how the pros think about the marathon, you are going to love this podcast.

In this intro episode, I sit down with Rory and Jacob to talk about why they started Out and Back, what they want the show to be, and why they think there has been a gap in marathon specific podcasting. We also get into what it looks like to promote yourself as a professional runner, how they balance training with content, and what success looks like for both of them as they head toward Boston.

I cannot wait for you to hear more from these two, and I am really proud to welcome Out and Back to the Sandy Boy Productions family. Please take one minute right now, go hit subscribe wherever you listen, and then send this to a friend who loves marathon training talk.