Melina Kennedy on Raising College Athletes — Let Them Explore, Trust the Coach, Play the Long Game

Melina Kennedy is a mom of twins who both run Division I track — Sophia at Stanford and Marcus at Notre Dame — and their paths could not have been more different. Sophia found running in fifth grade after a self-described "terrible" soccer career. Marcus played soccer through his first year at Eckerd College, tried track on a brand-new team, ran 1:52 in the 800, and transferred to Notre Dame. A former IU track athlete and today CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Melina joins Ralph Reiff and Scott Hudson for an honest conversation about raising athletes: letting kids explore, not overcooking it early, trusting coaches, listening after a bad race, getting to know teammates and parents, and protecting balance so sport never becomes a child's entire identity. Ralph connects the discussion to NCAA mental health findings on athletic identity and the transition out of sport. For parents of middle school, high school, and college athletes — especially runners. Chapters, links, and more episodes: https://ralphreiff.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@fingerprintsonmedals This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Short version (for preview fields / social, about 300 characters): Stanford & Notre Dame track mom Melina Kennedy on raising college athletes: let kids explore, don't overcook it early, trust the coach, listen after a bad race, and protect balance so sport never becomes their whole identity.