At Your Own Pace

Anne Keane is a jewelry designer, a mom, and a woman who has been living with — and thriving through — stage 4 breast cancer. She is also a marathoner, chasing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors while raising money for Dana-Farber, the very institution that is part of her own cancer journey. In this conversation, Anne and I get into all of it. How running found her during the pandemic. What it f...

What happens when a Peloton bike gifted by your husband accidentally sparks a full-blown running obsession? For Laura, it meant going from her first ride to coaching her son's middle school cross-country team—to a state championship—in just six months. In this episode, Laura shares the beautifully messy reality of becoming a runner: fueling her first marathon with nothing but applesauce squeeze po...

What does it really mean to call yourself a runner? In this episode, Mike sits down with Avelyn Castillo — known online as it's.aveline — for an honest, funny, and deeply motivating conversation about identity, belonging, and the long road to the start line. Avelyn shares how she went from hating gym class and avoiding exercise altogether to training for and finishing marathons — all while managin...

Kaitlin started out as a swimmer. These days, she's an Ironman finisher—but the road between those two points is where the real story lives. In this episode, Kaitlin walks us through her journey across all three disciplines: swimming, biking, and running, and what it actually takes to put them together over an Ironman distance. We talk about the training and the discipline the sport demands, but a...

Most runners just want to finish. Kristina wanted to do something bigger. After learning she carried a genetic cancer risk and undergoing a mastectomy and hysterectomy, she didn't slow down—she ran straight at it. Kristina went on to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors and raised over $150,000 for cancer research along the way. In this episode, she shares how she got from a high-risk dia...

Most runners start because they want to get faster — but what keeps so many going through the toughest miles, and the even tougher mental barriers, is something much simpler: the pure joy of movement. In this heartfelt conversation, Fudgie proves you don't have to be fast or perfect to truly belong in the running community. His candid stories — from bleeding nipples to mid-marathon epiphanies — ca...

Some people run to win. Coach J ran to survive — and ended up finding a life. This week, he shares the journey from losing his mom at 17 and running in basketball shoes to becoming a certified coach, a sub-16 5K, a 2:41 marathon, and a running community leader. It's a story about grief, grit, and the kind of slow transformation that only happens one mile at a time. We cover the things every runner...

Mary started exactly where a lot of runners start: the couch. A Couch to 5K program opened the door, and she never looked back. Her first marathon was at Disney World in 2020, and since then her relationship with running has evolved in a way that most people don't expect — away from chasing personal records and toward something that gives her even more joy: pacing others across the finish line. In...

In this episode of At Your Own Pace, Mike sits down with Caleb, a Guinness World Record holder as the youngest person to run a marathon with Down syndrome, and his mom Karen, who has been alongside him every step of the way. Together they share how inclusion, joy, and perseverance reshape what running can mean, both on the course and far beyond it. Before the conversation begins, Mike opens up abo...

Most of us underestimate the power of endurance sports to transform more than just our bodies. Nadia’s story reveals how running and Ironman races became her tool for overcoming her family’s health struggles, battling self-doubt, and unlocking her full potential—starting from a childhood inspired by Ironman documentaries at just 12 years old. In this episode, Nadia shares her incredible journey fr...

Most marathoners hit a wall — but what happens when the race pushes you beyond your limits in ways you never expected? I share my raw Boston Marathon experience, revealing how setbacks, family challenges, and a heart surgery became catalysts for growth, resilience, and a renewed hunger to break three hours. If you've ever faced mental hurdles, physical setbacks, or self-doubt, this episode will in...

Most runners never experience what it’s like to race in Tokyo—the race that combines meticulous organization, a vibrant cultural tapestry, and unforgettable moments that push you beyond your limits. What if your first marathon outside your comfort zone becomes a testament to resilience, community, and purpose? That's what this episode is all about. And what better way to describe the experience of...

This is it — the final episode of Season 1 of At Your Own Pace . Before we get into today’s conversation, I take some time at the very beginning of the episode to talk about what’s next for the podcast, what Season 2 will look like, and where we’re going from here. For this finale, I’m joined by Christi — a runner whose journey perfectly captures what this show has always been about. Christi share...

In this episode of At Your Own Pace , Mike sits down with Chad Zimmermann — a runner whose story challenges the stereotypes often associated with the sport. Chad shares his journey from being significantly overweight to becoming a dedicated runner, proving that running isn’t reserved for a certain body type, pace, or background. What started in 2014 as a commitment to improve his health alongside...

In this episode of At Your Own Pace , Mike sits down with Marie — a runner, mental health advocate, and former figure skater — to talk about the deeper meaning behind the miles. Marie shares how her athletic journey evolved from the ice rink to the roads, and how running became more than just exercise. For her, it became a tool for healing, resilience, and personal growth. The conversation explore...

In Episode 12 of At Your Own Pace , Mike sits down with Devon — a passionate marathoner who recently completed her Six-Star journey — to talk about what running truly means beyond medals and finish times. Devon shares how her relationship with running has evolved over the years, shifting from performance-driven goals to something deeper: joy, community, and personal growth. Together, they explore...

In Episode 11 of At Your Own Pace , Mike sits down with Alex Quevedo for a conversation about what happens when running shifts from something you dread into something that becomes part of who you are. Alex shares his journey from hating running to fully embracing it, highlighting the powerful role community, family, and race-day energy played in that transformation. Together, they explore the ment...

In Episode 10 of At Your Own Pace , Mike sits down with Ana , one of the first Mexican women invited to run the Boston Marathon, who is a passionate runner and coach whose journey through the sport has been one of growth, belief, and transformation. Ana shares how running became a space for self-discovery — from navigating new environments and unpredictable weather to facing the intense mental bat...

In this episode of At Your Own Pace , Mike sits down with Mike Bauer for an honest conversation about running as a lifestyle — not just a sport. They dive into why consistency matters more than speed, how progress in running is rarely linear, and what it means to build mental resilience through both training and everyday life. Mike Bauer shares his personal journey balancing running with real-worl...

In this episode of At Your Own Pace , Mike sits down with Ali Brettnacher for an honest, heartfelt conversation about what running looks like when you strip away pace, performance, and comparison — and focus instead on people, purpose, and connection. Ali shares her journey from once hating running to fully embracing it as a source of community and meaning, shaped by family influence, life’s chaos...

In the seventh episode of At Your Own Pace , host MikeRunsMarathons sits down with Jason Bahamundi, founder of Run, Try, Bike , to explore how representation, community, and sustainable training can reshape the endurance sports space for the better. Jason shares his journey into running in 2007 and how his experience as a Puerto Rican athlete in a predominantly white sport fueled his mission to cr...

In this episode of At Your Own Pace , host MikeRunsMarathons welcomes Herm, a passionate advocate for inclusivity and representation in the running community, to share a journey rooted in growth, healing, and finding belonging. Herm reflects on how running became more than just movement — evolving into a space for self-discovery, mental clarity, and personal transformation. The conversation explor...

In this episode of At Your Own Pace , host MikeRunsMarathons welcomes Hillary Burgess, a lifelong runner and passionate advocate for the running community, to share a journey shaped by growth, honesty, and resilience. From childhood runs to recent marathon experiences, Hillary reflects on how running has evolved alongside her life—and how mental health, mindset, and support systems have played a m...

In the fourth episode of At Your Own Pace , host MikeRunsMarathons sits down with runner and teacher Jess Lindeman (@runner_jessss) to explore a journey built on patience, authenticity, and belief. Jess shares how she went from being a novice runner to qualifying for the Boston Marathon, and how time, consistency, and mindset played a bigger role than any single breakthrough workout. The conversat...

In the third episode of At Your Own Pace , host MikeRunsMarathons sits down with Krissy Murphy (@krissymmurphy) to explore a running journey that began with a simple 5K app and grew into 45 marathons, including multiple Boston qualifiers. Krissy shares how running evolved from something she did into something that helped shape who she is—mentally, emotionally, and within her community. The convers...