No Disappearing Act: MEGAN COOKE on Motherhood, Marathons, and Never Giving Up

Most runners are told to wait until life gets easier before chasing big goals. Megan Cooke proves the opposite is true. In this conversation, the founder of Never Give Up coaching shares how she went from elite rowing and years of coaching to running sub-3 marathons as a mom of three, building a fast-growing coaching brand, and refusing to let motherhood erase her athletic identity.

I get to pull back the curtain on Megan’s real life: three kids, three schools, endless car lines, late-night treadmill miles, and a training approach built on consistency, threshold work, and the courage to aim higher. You'll discover:

🌀Why Megan stopped treating motherhood and ambition like an either-or decision

🌀The training principles behind her Boston, London, and Cincinnati breakthroughs

🌀How she built Never Give Up Coaching from a brand-new Instagram account to a thriving business in under a year

🌀Why she believes moms should stop apologizing for wanting time to train

🌀How HRT, perimenopause, and honest self-advocacy fit into the picture for women in their 40s

Her message is clear: you do not need to disappear inside motherhood to be a good mom. This one is essential listening for moms who want to run faster without feeling guilty, athletes rebuilding after babies, and anyone who needs a reminder that your best race might still be ahead of you.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:31 — Parenting three kids

03:45 — Running every day amid family life

18:07 — Twelve marathons for self-empowerment

30:53 — Coaching, mentorship, and “holding the mirror”

32:35 — Letting go of shame around big goals

34:11 — Pursuing your goals alongside your kids

35:17 — The pressure to overcompensate after a long run

37:32 — Modeling empowerment for your children

38:44 — Being honest about fatigue and recovery

59:36 — Make time, find support, and be brave

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RESOURCES:

Coaching: ngucoaching.com

IG: @runningcoachmegan and my coaching website www.ngucoaching.com.