My First Marathon

In this episode, I’m sharing my side of the 2025 Chicago Marathon story. This was my fourth marathon and the one I ran alongside my mom for her first. After missing out on the lottery, I joined the American Cancer Society charity team and used this race as a way to rebuild my confidence after a tough experience in Eugene. I talk about the highs, the setbacks, and what it was like pacing my mom thr...

In this week’s mini episode, I’m tackling a question that came my way recently: “What’s the point of running a race if you’re not measuring progress by time?” After four marathons, I’ve learned that progress isn’t always about pace or PRs. It can show up in the way you fuel, how you handle the tough miles, or how you keep your mindset strong when things don’t go to plan. If you’re training for you...

Last fall, my mom and I ran a half marathon together in North Carolina, the first time she’d really laced up again in years. Not long after, I sent her a text about the Chicago Marathon lottery and told her to throw her name in just to see what happens. She wasn’t convinced, but she humored me. Months later, she opened her inbox to find an email that started with one word: “Congratulations.” That...

This week’s mini episode is all about post-marathon recovery, and I’m speaking from experience. Fresh off the Chicago Marathon, I’m breaking down what I’ve learned across four marathons about how to actually recover well (and what not to do after your first one). From the “marathon flu” to why you should never stop moving right after you cross the finish line, we’re covering it all. Plus, my one h...

Our podcast editor, Erin Phifer, is back for her second episode to recap her wild ride at the 2025 Berlin Marathon. What started as a race that just happened to fit her work schedule turned into her hottest, hardest, and most meaningful marathon yet. Erin opens up about juggling a foot injury, getting certified as a run coach mid-training, and learning when to trust herself instead of an app. She...

Long runs are about more than just building mileage. In this mini episode, we’re breaking down how to use your long runs as dress rehearsals for race day—from testing your fueling and pre-run meals to figuring out your outfit and mental strategy. We’re also talking about why the hardest, most frustrating runs often end up being the ones that matter most when it comes to marathon day. Follow along...

This week’s episode dives into a runner who has been logging miles for nearly three decades, from high school cross country to Navy decks to marathon training on a treadmill in the middle of the ocean. Steven shares what hooked him on running early on, how his first marathon came together through a Groupon deal and a deployment timeline, and why the joy of running has always come from the training...

On this weeks episode, we're breaking down common race strategies for you fall marathoners gearing up for race day! As always, I recommend consulting with a coach or experienced running to develop the perfect strategy for you. Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras...

Myka’s road to 26.2 came with plenty of detours. After years of stopping and starting, she found her stride again on the Raleigh greenways and signed up for the Tobacco Road Marathon. Her training leaned heavy on mileage, peaking at 60 miles a week with little recovery or fueling, which left her constantly tired and wondering if that was just part of marathon prep. Race day brought its own challen...

This week’s mini episode is all about taper. Fresh off my 20-mile peak run, I share what taper has felt like across my marathons - from the taper crazies to finally learning to enjoy it. We talk about why taper feels so strange, how to keep yourself busy without overdoing it, and why this is the perfect time to rest, reset, and thank your support system before race day. Follow along with the show:...

What does it take to go from postpartum depression and doomscrolling on the couch to crossing the finish line of your first marathon? For Rebecca Simonic, it all started with a TikTok edit of the New York City Marathon that sparked something she couldn’t ignore. She set her sights on 26.2 and never looked back. In this episode, Rebecca opens up about the messy, emotional, and rewarding journey of...

In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, I’m sharing my story of how the pressure of sports turned into anxiety, burnout, and depression, and how running eventually helped me find my way forward again. It wasn’t an overnight change, but step by step I started to rebuild my confidence and sense of purpose. If you’re going through something similar, I want you to know you’re not alone, and there is alw...

Asher didn’t grow up playing sports and definitely didn’t picture himself as a marathoner. His running story started in a pretty unusual way: after a poison ivy rash left him restless, he laced up a pair of basketball shoes and went out for a mile. That quick decision snowballed into signing up for the Philadelphia Marathon just 17 weeks later. What followed was a crash course in marathon training...

Keira D’Amato’s running journey is a true comeback story. After almost a decade away from the sport, she started again as a new mom who could barely run 90 seconds and started her slow build back. That patient rebuild gave her a new perspective on running and eventually carried her from her first marathon in Missoula to breaking the American record. In this episode, Keira talks about what it meant...

This week’s mini episode is all about the five biggest lessons I’ve picked up after interviewing nearly 100 runners about their first marathons! From starting slow and taking the pressure off your debut race, to finding the right community, building strength, knowing your why, and ultimately just signing up and doing it, these themes came up again and again across countless conversations. If you’r...

What do you do when mile 21 of your first marathon throws more at you than fatigue? For Molly, it wasn’t just the wall, it was four full-sized turkeys blocking the course. Her first 26.2 in Milwaukee was already a journey years in the making, starting with recovery from a near-death illness, a 17-mile charity walk with her dad, and a surprising half marathon finish she never planned to run. From s...

In this mini episode I share a training update as I prepare for the Chicago Marathon. After battling injuries and barely finishing Eugene, I took May off, started working with a coach, and focused on getting back to running pain-free. Since then I’ve built mileage safely, added strength work, and slowly regained confidence. With 50 days to go, I’m feeling healthy, grateful, and more excited about...

Rachel O’Brien never thought she would call herself a runner. After quitting lacrosse in college following a thyroid diagnosis, she hated exercise and avoided running for years. That changed in 2023 when she saw the Broad Street Run on TV and decided to train for it. What started with a shaky half mile turned into 5Ks, a half marathon, and eventually the Philadelphia Marathon. Her first 26.2 was f...

This week’s mini episode is all about running mantras. Whether you’re struggling through a long run, hitting the wall during a race, or just need a little mental boost, these six phrases can help you push through and keep moving forward. Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website &...

Katelyn Fox never thought she’d call herself a runner. A swimmer for 19 years, she once saw running as punishment until a family step challenge led her to buy a treadmill, prove her mom wrong, and slowly discover a love for the sport. Walking turned into jogging, jogging into running, and eventually training for her dream Disney race. That journey took her to the Walt Disney World Marathon, where...

Choosing your first marathon can feel like picking a college or buying a house — exciting, overwhelming, and full of “what ifs.” In this mini episode, I break down the pros and cons of local races, mid-sized events, and big-ticket world majors so you can pick the race that actually fits your personality, training style, and budget. From crowd support and race logistics to time cutoffs and travel c...

Brandon Hicks didn’t start running marathons the “traditional” way. He skipped the gradual 5K-to-half-marathon pipeline and went straight for the big goal. Along the way, he learned that the real value of a goal isn’t in the finish time, but in who you become while chasing it. In this episode, we talk about running for community, hitting the wall (and bouncing back), and how Brandon turned a small...

In this week’s mini episode, I’m sharing three pieces of running advice that actually made a difference for me. Not the obvious stuff, but the kind of tips that stuck with me through injuries, setbacks, and training blocks that didn’t go as planned. We’re talking about learning to run slower (yes, really), a random hill trick I picked up from a stranger during a race, and a mindset shift around go...

This week, I’m joined by Paige Foote, who ran her first marathon on a half-mile loop at an Air Force base after the 2020 NYC Marathon was canceled. We talk about what it was like training solo during lockdown, fueling with sour candy and Rice Krispie treats, and turning her make-it-work marathon into the idea that would later become Noogs. She shares how her second marathon—the real NYC race in 20...

This week’s mini episode is a fun one! We're welcoming my mom, Monique, to the show who is currently training for her first marathon (Chicago 2025!) We talk about how things are going so far, what’s changed since she last ran eight years ago, and why she now sets a 4 a.m. alarm and carries candy in her running belt. She’s made it very clear that it’s all my fault getting her into this, but she’s l...