Welcome to Mile Marker Matriarch!

Welcome matriarchs! I’m thrilled that you’re here! I’m your running buddy, Stacy, and I am the founder of Mile Marker Matriarch. Mile Marker Matriarch started as a running podcast for women who lace up not just for the miles, but for meaning. As more women rallied behind the Mile Marker Matriarch mission, it became clear that Mile Marker Matriarch is more than a podcast—it’s a movement and a multimedia platform where stories of strength, survival, and self-discovery meet the pavement.

YOU belong

Our strong community of matriarchs empowers ALL women and values diversity of gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, race, socioeconomic background, abilities, body type, size, and shape.

Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just lacing up your shoes for the first time, our community will inspire you to embrace your journey, nurture your mind and body, and connect with your inner strength.

Mile Marker Matriarch—a bold new platform that centers women’s embodied experiences in running and empowers runners at all levels. Through this space, I provide coaching, content, and community for women who run not just for pace, but for purpose, healing, and power. I build upon and expand embodied rhetorical practices—especially as seen in tutus, sports bras, and running skirts—forms of dress that subvert patriarchal norms and assert identity beyond the male gaze.

Who am I?

A little about me…I’m a runner. It took a long time for me to identify with that moniker. After 27 years of running, ~150 road races (including 8 consecutive years running The Chicago Marathon), and making every mistake a runner can make…I finally call myself a runner. And you can too.

I am a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Certified Nutrition Consultant through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) certified running coach. With more than 150 road races completed—from 5Ks to marathons—I bring both professional expertise and personal passion to every runner I coach. My favorite race is the Chicago Marathon, which I’ve proudly run every year since 2017.

I graduated from Clemson University in 2021, earning my Ph.D in Rhetorics, Communications, and Information Design and I have my Master of Arts in Communications from Queens University at Charlotte. Through my Ph.D. dissertation: Princesses, Divas, and Mother Runners: Gendered Institutional and Vernacular Rhetorics in Running Events (free to download on TigerPrints) (Clemson University, 2021 ) and my dissertation defense (which was awarded distinction), my digital master’s thesis and platform 1Mother Runner and the development of the RunDisneyMoms community and brand, I have spent more than a decade analyzing how women runners construct identity, claim agency, and renegotiate gendered space through movement, dress, and digital discourse. Through this lens, I reveal how women negotiate, resist, and reimagine hegemonic norms through movement. I’ve written 7 books on topics related to health and nutrition and my next book is a work in progress.

But MOST importantly, I’m an advocate for women runners and have a passion for helping others.

Visit StacyCacciatore.com for my full bio.

Mile Marker Matriarch Podcast

Join us each week as we dive into the heart of running, exploring the unique challenges and triumphs that women face on the road, tread, and trails. With a blend of expert advice, practical tips, and heartfelt stories from real women in the running community, we cover everything from training strategies and injury prevention to mental wellness and self-care. Tune in for topics like:

*Powerful mindset shifts that will change your relationship with running and yourself

*Everything you need to know about running at Disney!

*Running through trauma

*The BEST women’s running events

*Can yoga make you a better runner?

*Is running really bad for your knees? (Running myths debunked!)

*Should runners strength train?

*How do I start running?

*Motivation, creating kick-ass playlists, and more!

Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts and join a great community of women who will lift you up and cheer you along every step in your journey. so glad that you’re here!

7 truths running taught me about life, love, and letting go
Meet yourself where you're at.

Where we are “at” isn’t static. Instead, we shift positions based on the season we’re in. It doesn’t benefit us to bemoan where we “should” be, rather we should embrace where we are at now. Not only should we understand where we’re at, but we should meet ourselves there without judgement, blame, or shame.
Consistency builds strength.

In running, life, and love, strength is built through consistent actions over time. Small daily steps contribute to long-term success. While one big push can feel good in the moment, it’s lost through inconsistency.
Embrace Discomfort to Grow

Let’s be real, running can hurt. The level of discomfort can range from a dull ache to a sharp burn. Running teaches you to embrace the discomfort and push through challenges. We’re reminded that growth happens on the other side of discomfort.
Pace Yourself

Going out too fast is one of the biggest mistakes new runners make. When you’re feeling fresh, energized, and rested, it’s difficult to hold yourself back, but pouring everything you’ve got in the beginning of the race can result in hitting the wall and being unable to continue. Maintaining a pace that you can hold over a sustained period of time will get you much further...in running, relationships, and life.
Trust the Process

We often don’t see the results of our efforts right away. In fact, it often takes months of consistent training to see results. It takes trust and patience to continue to put in the work without seeing the fruits of our labor immediately. Oftentimes, it’s that moment right when we feel like giving up that the breakthrough occurs. Trust the process and have faith...in running, life, and love.
Let go of expectations

Of yourself.

Of others.

Of situations.

Releasing preconceived notions about how things ‘should’ be allows for greater acceptance about what is. This allows you to release disappointment and appreciate the present moment, which can lead to more fulfilling relationships with running, yourself, and others.
Embrace the journey

For years I was so focused on crossing the finish line that I didn’t enjoy the journey. I shifted my mindset to cherish the everyday moments running provides. Basking in the sounds of laughter and shared experiences with loved ones fulfills our souls in a way that one event/day cannot.