In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones talks with Kelley Tenny, Galloway program director, pacer, educator, and breast cancer survivor, about how the run-walk method has helped her stay active, injury-free, and mentally strong through every season of life.

Kelley shares how she first discovered the Galloway Method while pregnant, why it changed her relationship with running, and how interval-based training helped her complete everything from half marathons to ultras without the typical wear and tear many runners experience.

They also discuss the mental side of running, including how run-walk training can reduce overwhelm, make long distances feel more manageable, and create space for joy instead of dread. Kelley explains how the method gave her a way to keep moving through breast cancer treatment, surgery, and recovery while protecting both her body and her mindset.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

• How Kelley first connected with Jeff Galloway and the run-walk method.
  
• Why taking walk breaks earlier can help reduce injury risk and prevent “hitting the wall.”
  
• How the method supported Kelley through pregnancy, postpartum return to running, and breast cancer treatment.
  
• Why running should be about more than pace, medals, or proving toughness.
  
• How interval training can help athletes listen to their bodies and run with more confidence.
  

Kelley also opens up about identity, self-trust, and the pressure athletes often feel to run a certain way. Her story is a reminder that smarter training can be more empowering than pushing through pain.

To connect with Kelley, listeners can find her on Facebook and LinkedIn, and through the Jeff Galloway community and Global Galloway Program.

Kelley’s Bio:

Kelley Tenny is a Galloway Program Director and pacer who has been using the Galloway Method for nearly 15 years. She has completed more than 100 half marathons, marathons, and ultramarathons injury-free, and as a breast cancer survivor, she is passionate about keeping people moving without pain. As Director of Education and Global Programs for Galloway Productions, Kelley is an advocate for the run/walk method and for finding joy in crossing the finish line. When she’s not running, she teaches AI inside her Women Who AI community and health education at CSU Long Beach.

Kelley’s Links:

https://www.jeffgalloway.com/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with Alexia Clonda, former world-class squash athlete and high-performance coach, to explore the connection between breath, mindset, and resilience. Alexia shares her remarkable journey from severe asthma and health challenges to competing at the highest levels of sport, and how those experiences shaped her coaching philosophy.

Together, they discuss:

• Why breath is a powerful tool for recovery, regulation, and performance.
  
• How mindset and the questions we ask ourselves can shift outcomes.
  
• The role of nasal breathing, CO2 balance, and nervous system regulation.
  
• How athletes can move from fight-or-flight into calm, clarity, and control.
  
• Why simple habits can create lasting change in health and sport.
  

Alexia also explains how her lived experience with asthma inspired her to help others unlock their own resilience through practical breath and mindset tools. This conversation is especially relevant for athletes, coaches, and anyone looking to improve performance, reduce stress, and feel better in their body.

Alexia’s Bio:

Alexia Clonda is an Australian former elite squash athlete, coach, speaker, and author who helps people perform at a higher level through breathing, mindset, and high-performance habits. Born with life-threatening asthma and faced with chronic health challenges, she defied the odds to become the world’s No. 1 junior squash player and later reached a world ranking of No. 5 as a senior competitor. Today, she brings that lived experience into her coaching and speaking, helping individuals, teams, and organisations unlock resilience, improve emotional well-being, and perform under pressure.

I’m excited to welcome Alexia Clonda to The Pain Free Athlete Podcast. Alexia is a former world-class squash athlete, high-performance coach, and speaker whose story is rooted in overcoming severe asthma and other health challenges to succeed at the highest level of sport. She now helps others use breath, mindset, and practical performance tools to build resilience, stay calm under pressure, and bring out their best.

Alexia’s Links:

https://alexiaclonda.com/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with Lauren Turner, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker, mental performance coach, former collegiate athlete, and founder of The Turner Practice. Lauren shares powerful insight into the mental and emotional side of injury recovery, chronic pain, athlete identity, and the importance of listening to your body before pain gets worse.

They discuss how athletes often stay in pain long before they admit it, why recovery is rarely linear, and how the injury process can affect confidence, identity, and mental health. Lauren also breaks down the stages of recovery in a way athletes and parents can understand, while offering practical strategies to support young athletes, high performers, and anyone navigating pain, setbacks, or burnout.

This conversation is especially valuable for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone who wants to better understand the connection between the body, mind, and long-term performance.

Lauren's Bio

Lauren Turner is a licensed clinical social worker, mental performance coach, and former collegiate athlete. She founded The Turner Practice in 2019 with a commitment to expanding access to culturally responsive mental health and performance care.Her work integrates therapy, mindfulness, and performance coaching, supporting athletes and high performers in building focus, resilience, and confidence both on and off the field. Lauren leads with a trauma-informed and body-based approach, creating spaces where individuals can strengthen mental skills while deepening overall well-being.

She is licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Wisconsin and serves as a clinical supervisor, mentoring emerging practitioners. Lauren is also a published author, speaker, and co-host of the Hey Boo Podcast, exploring mindfulness, performance, and the lived experiences of athletes and high performers.

Lauren’s Links:

https://www.theturnerpractice.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theturnerpractice/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenturnerlcsw

https://www.tiktok.com/@theturnerpractice

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.