How Much Strength Training Do Women Actually Need? With Fitness Coach Bec Taylor

Bec Taylor (0:01)

G-L-A-M, Gloss Angeles.

Sara Tan (0:14)

Today, we are joined by someone who knows a thing or two about pushing the limits of what our bodies can do. Bec Taylor is a mom, ultra runner, strength and conditioning coach and former Australian national champion in sprint triathlon. With over 12 years of experience in fitness, she's also a Nike running coach and the founder of Her Sports, where she helps women get stronger, build confidence and reach their fitness goals. Today, we're talking about what it really takes to stay strong and healthy as we get older, the workouts actually worth our time, and the fitness myths we can finally leave behind. Welcome to Gloss Angeles, Bec. Okay, this woman has seen me through it all. You've done so much for me.

You trained me for my first marathon. You've massaged my glutes with a theragun.

Bec, coach Bec, welcome to Gloss Angeles.

Bec Taylor (1:00)

Welcome. Thanks for having me. Look at you two.

Kirbie Johnson (1:04)

Look how intimate this is between the two. Glute massage?

Bec Taylor (1:08)

Yes.

Kirbie Johnson (1:09)

I would love a glute massage, actually.

Sara Tan (1:10)

I will never forget. It was the night before the marathon, and you were just getting in there. It was like a line of women just on their stomachs, and Bec was just going down.

Bec Taylor (1:20)

It sounds very interesting, but it's actually true. It's very true. I mean, Chicago Marathon, that was when there was 40 women.

Sara Tan (1:27)

Yes, yes.

Bec Taylor (1:28)

Oh yeah, I remember that. And I was tracking you.

Sara Tan (1:30)

Yes, and I was like, and Kirbie Vader, there was this video that Matt and Hoda made or whatever, and you were in it, and you were like, congratulations, good luck. Did you know Capricorns have bad knees?

Bec Taylor (1:43)

Yes. It just was at the night before the marathon. Yes. But they could have waited until the next day.

Kirbie Johnson (1:49)

You need to understand, we have bad knees in our teeth. That's our problem as well. So we really need to get on that.

Sara Tan (1:55)

So that's why Kirbie doesn't run, but yet. Exactly.

Bec Taylor (2:00)

I feel like I'll convert her by the end of this podcast.

Kirbie Johnson (2:02)

I initially wanted to have a question here, like, so for bad knees, for Capricorns, how do you get me invested? For the Capricorns, how do you get me invested in running? We will definitely get to all of that.

Sara Tan (2:14)

Well, I was going to ask you to run the after dark half marathon with me.

Kirbie Johnson (2:19)

Oh, but it's Kerb-a-ween.

Sara Tan (2:21)

But it's Kerb-a-ween.

Kirbie Johnson (2:22)

My annual Halloween birthdays.

Sara Tan (2:24)

Yeah, so I can't even run it. But next race.

Bec Taylor (2:28)

Maybe we could run to Kerb-a-ween.

Kirbie Johnson (2:31)

Oh, no, no, no, honey.

The amount of hair and makeup and custom costuming I have going would not permit. But I need you to actually to.

I've been thinking about this. I do want to start running. Like, I feel like I would actually benefit mentally from running.

Bec Taylor (2:47)

You know that we're recording this, Ryan.

Kirbie Johnson (2:49)

Yeah.

Sara Tan (2:50)

You're like, I'm holding you to it, girl.

Bec Taylor (2:52)

One thing about me is I will hold you to that. OK, great. I will actually make you run and enjoy it. Because why do we do things that we don't enjoy?

Sara Tan (3:01)

Smile every mile.

Bec Taylor (3:02)

Yes, she still remembers. There's actually a neurological reason why we do that, too. It relaxes your face. It's like less energy. It's true. So you're just enjoying this moment instead of grinding through it.

Sara Tan (3:17)

I mean, look how stunning you are.

Bec Taylor (3:19)

Well, no, that's not true. I'm looking at you too like, oh my gosh, I need some beauty tips. No.

Sara Tan (3:25)

Okay, Coach Bec, speaking of your stunning face, what's on your face? What's your skincare situation specifically to when you're like training outside, you know, you got some long miles under the sun. What are you wearing?

Bec Taylor (3:35)

I knew you were gonna ask me this question, but I need to tell you something. The beauty industry feels so complicated to me that I need it simplified.

Sara Tan (3:46)

Okay.

Bec Taylor (3:47)

So in everything that gets thrown at me in marketing and things like that, I'm like, I don't know what to do.

So for me, what I wear, I try to protect my skin. So a 50 plus, I'm wearing the image right now, 50 plus, which is great because it's a protector. I'm outdoors all the time, whether I'm running, surfing, just playing with the kids. So that's my go-to must have on. Then I have to brush my eyebrows. So make them look good and then a little bit of mascara. And that's honestly it. And sometimes if I'm feeling in the mood, I'll do lip gloss and Charlotte Tilby.