This week on the ZenRUN Podcast, I’m chatting with runner, triathlete and physiotherapist Alissa Wilkinson.
Alissa grew up in the little surf town of Crescent Head before moving to Virginia in the US as a teenager, where swimming was replaced by cross country and track, and she really started to see herself as a runner.
Since then, running has taken her through triathlon, age-group success, injury, motherhood and a return to sport that looked very different from anything she’d expected.
After the birth of her first child, Alyssa suffered a serious pelvic floor injury that left her unable to run and dramatically changed both her everyday life and her career. She shares very openly what that period was like, the long road back, and how she eventually returned not only to running, but to competing in triathlon again.
We also chat about the frustration of having physical limits when you still have a very competitive brain, why strength has become such an important part of Alyssa’s running, and her belief that sometimes we need to stop asking whether our body is “made for running” and start looking at whether the way we’re training needs to change.
Alyssa also shares some really practical tips for runners:
- Have a plan. She finds training much harder to get done when she doesn’t know exactly what she’s working towards or what the session is.
- Strength doesn’t have to take hours. Alissa says you can get a lot done with two half-hour strength sessions a week.
- Adjust strength around your running. If you’re racing, strength may play more of a supporting role. When you’re not racing, there may be room to make it more of a priority.
- Feeling stiff doesn’t always mean the run will feel terrible. Alyssa suggests spending two or three minutes doing simple running drills or stepping exercises before you head out, or even stopping briefly during the early part of a run to do them.
- If running feels like a struggle, add some walking. Starting with a little walk/run can help you get moving without turning the session into a battle.
And of course we finish with Pass the Baton, where Frank Collins asks Alissa to describe one of her worst foot injury stories in as much graphic detail as possible. 😳
Let’s just say Alissa’s running feet have been remarkably well behaved… but her surfing feet have a story or two. 😂
Alissa’s Running Programs:
Run Resilience – www.runresilience.com
Bounce Back Mamas – www.bouncebackmamas.com
Alissa’s Physio app website:
www.pursuitlab.io
💛 Running used to clear your head. Now it’s another thing weighing on it. Let’s change that.
If you’re tired of dragging yourself out the door, feeling guilty when you don’t, or comparing every run to what you used to do—Feel Like a Runner Again is for you.
This practical program helps you quiet the mental noise, drop the pressure, and rediscover running as time for yourself.
Less “I should go for a run.” More “I’ve missed this.”
👉 https://www.zenrun.app/courses/feel-like-a-runner-again
🙏 A couple of big favours
- If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast – it helps more runners discover these conversations.
- I’m always looking for runners to interview. If you (or someone you know) has a running story to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @ZenRUN.club
or email hello@zenrun.club
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