Running Coaching for Women in Edinburgh: Getting Back Into Running After Kids (The Right Way)

Getting Back Into Running (From Someone Who Gets It)

There’s something about April in Edinburgh that always brings people back to running.

The nights are lighter, the air feels softer, and suddenly the idea of heading out for a run doesn’t feel quite as brutal as it did a few months ago. I always notice it around this time of year; more people out, more conversations starting with “I’m thinking about getting back into running…”

And if that’s you, especially after having kids, I completely get it.

Running has always been part of my life, but not in a neat, perfectly structured way. It’s something I’ve fitted in around work, two young boys, after-school clubs, and everything else that comes with that. Some weeks it flows, some weeks it doesn’t, and that’s exactly why I approach running the way I do now, both for myself and for the women I work with.

Because getting back into running after children isn’t just about putting your trainers on and going again. Your body has changed, your energy is different, and your time definitely looks different too. And yet, so many women expect themselves to pick up exactly where they left off.

Why Running Feels Harder After Kids (And What Most Plans Miss)

What I see a lot with women across Edinburgh is that they want to run, and they remember enjoying it, but it doesn’t feel the same. Legs feel heavier, core strength isn’t quite there, and sometimes there’s a general sense that something just feels slightly “off.”

That’s not in your head believe me, it’s real!

Pregnancy and birth place huge demands on the body, particularly on the core and pelvic floor. Research shows that up to 1 in 3 women experience pelvic floor dysfunction after childbirth, and yet it’s rarely talked about in relation to running.

At the same time, most traditional running plans don’t account for:

• pelvic floor recovery

• core rehabilitation

• sleep disruption

• hormonal changes

• or the reality of busy family life

  
  

So what happens? You start strong, feel motivated, and then a few weeks in something gives - whether that’s physically (niggles, pain, leaking) or mentally (you just can’t keep up with the plan).

It’s not a motivation problem. It’s a support problem.

This is also where strength training becomes so important. Running is repetitive and impact-based, meaning your body relies heavily on your glutes, hips, core and pelvic floor to stabilise you. When those areas aren’t properly trained or supported, your body compensates, and that’s when those annoying injuries start to creep in.

The good news is, it doesn’t take hours in the gym to fix that. Even small, consistent strength work alongside running has been shown to reduce injury risk and improve running efficiency, which means you can actually keep going, rather than constantly stopping and starting.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

This is exactly how I approach running with my clients. It’s not about throwing a generic plan at you or expecting you to suddenly train like you’ve got endless time and energy. It’s about building something around your life, your body, and where you’re starting from.

And that’s where the difference really shows.

“Susan’s approach to training truly was personal. Tailor-made sessions that pushed me through what I thought my limits were to what I actually can achieve.”

That’s always the goal. Not to push you into doing more than you can handle, but to help you realise what your body is actually capable of when it’s supported properly.

Because when you combine running with the right strength work, and layer in support and accountability, things start to feel different quite quickly. You feel more stable, more confident, and your runs stop feeling like a battle.

How My Running Coaching Works (And Why It Fits Real Life)

Most of my running coaching is delivered through online programmes, and I think sometimes people hear that and assume it means less support or less connection.

I promise it really doesn’t!

If anything, it allows for more consistency and flexibility. You can train around your week, fit sessions in when it works for you, and still have that ongoing support, guidance and accountability in place.

You’re not left to figure things out on your own. You’ve got:

• a structured plan that evolves as you do

• strength work built in to support your running

• regular check-ins and adjustments

• and someone actually looking at the bigger picture

  
  

And for most women, especially with kids, that balance is what makes it sustainable.

Because this isn’t about going all in for a few weeks, or getting to the quickest pace - it’s about building something you can keep going with.

A More Realistic Way to Get Back Into Running in Edinburgh

If April feels like your moment to get back into running, you don’t need a big reset or a perfect plan.

You just need a starting point that works for you.

Something that fits around school runs, work, tired days and everything else life brings. Something that supports your body as it is now, not as it used to be.

Because running shouldn’t leave you feeling broken or behind. It should leave you feeling clearer, stronger, and a bit more like yourself again.

Running Coaching in Edinburgh for Women

If you’re looking for running coaching in Edinburgh that understands:

• postnatal bodies, women's bodies or anybody

• busy lives

• the importance of strength alongside running

• and the need for flexibility

  
  

That’s exactly what I do.

No pressure, no extremes - just a way to help you get back into running in a way that actually works.

And if you’re not quite sure where to start, that’s completely fine too. We’ll figure that out together 💛