Taryn Casey on Cool Moms Run Club and Finding Mom Friends

What happens when a new mom, eight weeks postpartum and watching reality TV on the couch, decides to start a run club? Taryn Casey launched Cool Moms Run Club as a place for moms to meet in High Park every Friday morning, and most of them walk. In this episode, she talks about why she built the community she couldn’t find, what it takes to get out the door with a baby, and why showing up once counts. If you’re a new parent in the West End looking for your people, this one’s for you.

In this episode we talk about

• How a reality TV episode sparked a run club at eight weeks postpartum
• Why most members walk, and why that’s the point
• Having a pelvic floor physio in the group for moms who want to run again
• Rediscovering sport as a mom, from running to tennis
• Why mom friends matter, and how hard it is to get out of the house with a baby
• Giving yourself compassion postpartum
• Why High Park is the spot (yes, there’s a zoo)
• Cool Moms Kitchen, her meal planning subscription in the works

Timestamps

• 01:04 Intro
• 02:07 Welcome, Taryn
• 02:18 Repping Etobicoke
• 03:22 How Cool Moms Run Club started
• 05:30 A pelvic floor physio on hand, and getting back to running
• 06:41 Moms as athletes, and rediscovering tennis
• 08:41 Why getting out the door with a baby is so hard
• 10:14 A quick note from Dr. Margot
• 11:34 Why mom community matters
• 14:56 Why High Park
• 17:25 Cool Moms Kitchen
• 20:09 Supporting local and Cool Moms events
• 23:00 Giving yourself grace postpartum
• 25:27 Rapid fire: favourite West End spots
• 31:21 What’s next and where to find Taryn

Standout quotes

“So I feel I started it because I needed community the most.”

“My goodness, Taryn, it’s only been four months.”

Resources and mentions

• Tara Campbell, pelvic floor physiotherapist and founder of Maternix: maternix.ca, @maternix.ca
• Maggie Roe, who led the club’s Pilates in the park: @maggieroe
• Reunion Coffee Roasters, the club’s sponsor (385 Roncesvalles Ave)
• The Willow Play Cafe, where Cool Moms hosted a pelvic health and mental health chat (1540 Dupont St)
• Wake Up and Smell the Rose, body image coaching from Taryn’s friend Natalie
• High Park Zoo

Coming up

Cool Moms Run Club meets Fridays at 9 a.m. in High Park. Another Pilates in the park is in the works, and Cool Moms Kitchen is launching soon.

Connect with Taryn

Instagram: @coolmomsrun

Work with Dr. Margot

Curious about the Hormone Cornerstone Method mentioned in this episode? Book a free discovery call. Seeing patients in Toronto’s West End and virtually across Ontario.

Prescription for Community: The West Toronto Podcast is hosted by Dr. Margot Lattanzi, ND. If you enjoyed this one, follow the show, leave a rating, and send it to a new mom who could use a Friday walk. Find me on Instagram @doctormargotnd.

• Eats: Canadiana Grill By the Lake, South Etobicoke (2454 Lake Shore Blvd W). The family’s weekend breakfast tradition.
• Eats: Dotty’s, Junction Triangle (1588 Dupont St). Her pick for a nice night out.
• Coffee: Reunion Coffee Roasters, Roncesvalles (385 Roncesvalles Ave). The run club’s sponsor and her go-to.
• Coffee: The Good Neighbour Espresso Bar, The Junction (238 Annette St). An oat flat white and a breakfast sandwich after daycare drop-off.
• Shop: Tokki, Junction Triangle (1570 Dupont St). Curated vintage for kids.
• Shop: Mrs. Huizenga Vintage Shop, The Junction (2906 Dundas St W). Antiques and vintage finds. @mrs_huizenga
• Shop: Once Upon a Child and Value Village, multiple locations. Her weekly secondhand hunt.
• Street to wander: Dundas West near Keele, The Junction. New-to-her thrift and antique shops.
• Park: High Park. Home of the Friday meetups, with lots of routes and a zoo.
• Local event: Cool Moms Run Club on Fridays, plus tennis while the weather holds.
• Business everyone should know: Good Earth Market, Roncesvalles (277 Roncesvalles Ave). Handmade, local goods with a farmers’ market feel, perfect for kids’ birthday gifts. goodearthmarket.ca