CAITLYN GERMAIN: The Surprising Power of Self-Awareness in Overcoming Pain & Injury #runningpodcast

If you’ve ever felt like your body is working against you, this episode is for you. We’re joined by Caitlyn Germain, a former standout runner and mom who battled mysterious lower-leg pain before discovering she had popliteal artery entrapment syndrome.

Caitlyn shares her journey from being sidelined from running to finishing the Boston Marathon, and how self-advocacy, patience, and trusting your body helped her move forward. This conversation is a powerful reminder for runners and moms to listen to their bodies, protect their health, and keep going.

In this episode, we discuss:

🌀Caitliyn’s running journey and mysterious lower-leg pain

🌀Her diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

🌀Returning to running, Boston Marathon, and lessons in self-advocacy

Caitlyn’s insights on meeting yourself where you are and the power of persistence—is sure to move you.

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RESOURCES:

caitlyngermain.com

IG: @caitlyn_keeps_tri.ing

TIMESTAMPS

0:01 — Caitlyn is introduced as a standout runner with elite speed, setting up her identity as a competitive athlete.

0:06 — She talks about how running shaped her identity, showing how deeply tied she was to the sport and performance.

0:31 — She’s still trying to return to running, which highlights the long road of recovery, resilience, and getting back to the sport.

0:51 — She begins telling her origin story as a runner, which is useful for runners interested in how an athlete builds a training base and competitive mindset.

1:17 — She describes reaching the NCAAs while dealing with pain, showing the tension between competition, endurance, and hidden injury.

2:01 — This is where she starts to suspect something is wrong, an important runner moment around early injury signals and listening to your body.

2:20 — She admits, “I thought it was me,” which reflects common runner self-talk around self-blame, mental toughness, and ignoring symptoms.

2:53 — She describes legs throbbing after hard efforts, a relatable runner keyword moment around training load, recovery, and unusual pain patterns.

4:36 — She remembers being told that pain meant she worked hard, which shows how runners can normalize discomfort, effort, and overtraining signals.

6:45 — She talks about the pain becoming more frequent, marking the shift from manageable discomfort to a real injury pattern, declining performance, and a need for answers.