Ep 144. Eurovision, injuries, depression and control

Welcome to episode 144 of the Women’s Running Podcast with your hosts Esther Newman and Holly Taylor. In this episode, we delve into various topics, including Eurovision, running injuries, mental health, weight and running, and finding the balance between gentle and punishing running practices.Eurovision DebriefWe start with Eurovision, because that’s the way we roll. Yes, we’re going to talk about running, but we need to prioritise here. Of *course* Holly is hugely invested in this, but it may come as a bit of a surprise that Esther is also a Mega Fan. We debrief the best bits from the weekend, and Holly gets a chance to do her very best “douze points”.Running Injuries and Post-Marathon RecoveryEsther shares her struggle with a persistent running injury that has persisted since completing the London marathon. We explore the importance of post-race rest and care for our bodies.The Impact of Running on Mental HealthContinuing the discussion, we delve into the relationship between running and mental health. Esther opens up about feeling down due to her running injury, emphasising the emotional toll it can take. We reflect on the need to prioritize mental well-being alongside physical fitness.Weight, Body Image, and Anticipating ChangesOne of the effects of not being able to run is the feeling of a lack of control and an increased tendency toward self-loathing as we anticipate changes in our bodies. We discuss strategies for maintaining a healthy mindset.Running as Punishment and Finding BalanceWe explore the concept of running as punishment and using food as a reward. Finding the right balance is essential, and and how we need to try and find that sweet spot between being too gentle and too punishing.LinksSubscribe to Women’s Running now and save one-third off the cover price!Join us on Patreon and become a member of our new Pod Squad community on Discord!Run 5K and donate 5K on May 28th, World Hunger Day. Join us in supporting this meaningful cause.We'd love to hear from you! Please email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.