Can We Please Stop Saying “Just Run More”? Dr Charissa Ho on Training, Recovery & Running for Life

Dr Charissa Ho on Holistic Training, Running Longevity & Life as a Mum of Six | Women’s Running Collective

This week on the Women’s Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are talking about something we probably all need a little more of in our running lives: doing less, but doing it better.

The girls kick things off with a recap of their City2Surf experience, where they decided to take the pressure off, forget about pace and simply run for fun. After a chaotic escape from Bondi (because apparently getting out of Bondi after City2Surf is its own endurance event 😂), they chat about how taking the pressure off can sometimes remind you exactly why you fell in love with running in the first place.

Then they’re joined by the incredible Dr Charissa Ho GP, runner, Sydney Marathon ambassador, Apex Running group leader and mum of six, including triplets. Charissa shares what balancing family, medicine and running actually looks like, and why she doesn't believe the answer to every running goal is simply to run more.

The conversation dives into the "one percenters" of training—but with a twist. Rather than obsessing over tiny marginal gains, Charissa explains why the real foundations of running well and staying healthy are things like fuel, sleep, recovery, strength and looking after your overall health.

They also tackle some really important topics for female runners, including iron levels, bone health, menstrual cycles, RED-S, stress injuries and the impact of under-fuelling and overtraining. Charissa shares practical health checks runners should consider and explains why paying attention to what's happening inside your body can help you build a longer, healthier running journey.

Plus, we chat about motherhood, ambition without guilt, how running can change your life, Sydney Marathon plans and where you can find the WRC crew cheering on runners around the 38km mark at Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

This is an episode about training for the long game, not just the next race. 💛

This episode is proudly supported by ASICS and the new NOVABLAST™ 6.

Timestamps

00:00 – Thank You, ASICS! 00:22 – Hayles & Jussie chitty chat 00:36 – Post-City2Surf Catch-Up 01:17 – Surfing vs Running: Which Is More Fun? 02:13 – What We're Doing in Training 04:09 – Our City2Surf Joy Run 05:52 – The Bondi Exit Chaos 😂 07:00 – Meet Dr Charissa Ho 08:29 – Fast Four Questions 10:36 – That Time Charissa Ran a Shakeout With Kipchoge 12:43 – Why the "One Percenters" Actually Matter 13:48 – Stop Telling Runners to Just Run More 15:47 – How Motherhood Has Changed Training 17:11 – Ambition Without the Guilt 19:23 – Important Health Checks for Female Runners 20:47 – RED-S, Under-Fuelling & Stress Injuries 22:39 – The Running Longevity Blueprint 25:33 – Three Habits That Actually Matter 27:54 – How Running Changed Charissa's Life 30:21 – Rapid-Fire Runner Picks 32:03 – Sydney Marathon Hype! 33:03 – Wrap Up & Where to Follow Charissa 33:51 – ASICS NOVABLAST™ 6 Ad 34:31 – Weekly Snack & Gear Recommendations Jussies recco of PURE electrolyte.

Hayleys Recco of Health Lab protein balls

37:21 – Where We'll Be Cheering at Sydney Marathon

39:06 – Final Thanks & Disclaimer

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Follow along with Charissa's running, medical and mum-of-six journey and find out more about her work in the running community.

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Until next week... keep showing up, keep having fun