I Love New York

November 7, 2025 by Leave a Comment

There are probably thousands of blogs out there on the NYC Marathon, and here is mine. As a running coach and New Yorker, I want to share my thoughts and experience as I ran this race for the first time on my own (I’ve only ever done it before as a coach and pacer) and my first time running it in 10 years.

The New York City Marathon is a bucket-list experience for runners and non-runners around the world. NYC is iconic, inspirational, and an energy unlike anywhere else. I often refer to NYC Marathon as the “Coachella of all marathons” because it’s an experience that’s above any other marathon. For one thing, just getting to the starting line is an ordeal, and most marathoners are awake for a solid 5-7 hours before their race even begins. The logistics can feel overwhelming. Then toss in the reality of 59,000 runners on the course, all of the volunteers and millions of spectators, and it can and often feel like sensory overload. This can feel magical and like a true “high” all day, and for some runners it’s a little overstimulating. Regardless of opinion, we can all agree that the NYCM is a large, energetic day that is otherwise unmatched. Whether it’s one you return to or not, it’s definitely a once in a lifetime experience everyone should experience.

The majority of my roster runs the NYCM every year. Statistically, that’s just the way it goes. often 30-50% of my roster, and some years I’ve had the additional responsibility of leading official charity teams of 30-60 runners. As you can imagine, this means the weeks and days leading up to NYCM are very busy for me. The emails, multiple video chats with each athlete – I love it, but it also means I usually get to race weekend exhausted. The idea of being race ready that same weekend is just unrealistic. So I’ve historically planned my own race schedule to usually race a marathon in the weeks or months before NYCM, allowing me to truly pour my energy into my athletes and their needs and goals. I’m then on the course cheering on marathon day, bouncing around with nervous energy and shouting words of support to runners on the course after the sun has set.

Getting into the NYCM is hard – general lottery, 9+1 (local runners), charity, or time qualifier. I had a marathon time qualifier, and decided on a whim to apply with that time in 2024. I figured I could use it as a fun run, and I’d be able to track and cheer most of my athletes after crossing my own finish line. With entry confirmed, my 2024 plan was to race the Berlin Marathon and then fun run the NYCM. But thanks to multiple bouts of covid and then an additional respiratory illness, my health and training spiraled. I decided to defer both for 2025.

Life happened again in 2025 in a few ways. One, I have a super senior cat. He’s 20 years old and truly my best buddy. He continues to have mostly good days, but has had some tough weeks. I just couldn’t commit to flying 8 hours and being on a 6-hour time zone change. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened and I wasn’t able to get back quickly. So I deferred Berlin (again) to 2026 and instead pivoted to a state-side goal marathon. I was accepted into the elite field for the St. George Marathon and while it would still mean traveling from my kitty kiddo, logistics would be much easier. My new coach (we began in April together) and I were on a roll, and I was building some incredible momentum by early Summer. Enter my right hamstring. Suddenly I was sidelined with tendonitis. My left hamstring has been a chronic problem over the years, and now that it was happy apparently my right one needed some attention.

Long story short, I had to pause all running for a few weeks. I worked hard in the gym doing leg day and PT work, and lived on an elliptical whenever I could. By early September, I ran 10 miles within a week. Peanuts compared to where I should be. I canceled St. George, as there was no way I could go from barely running to a marathon within 4 weeks – especially one with so many hills. And I honestly didn’t know if NYCM would be a good idea. I took things one day at a time, and was slowly able to get back to running 6 days per week. I got in two long runs, a 15 and an 18 miler. I got up to two 50-mile weeks. I was confident I could complete the NYCM if the hamstring continued to feel good. I was in it for a fun time and not a fast time, and took that decision to heart. It felt like such a milestone to pick up my first NYCM bib in 10 years. It felt surreal given the previous months that this was possible. And NYCM was my return to the marathon since 2023.

As a theater kid who fell in love with NYC at 26 years old, it was always the place I saw myself. The energy, history, and diversity of it all. The possibilities and potential. NYC is tough. She’s gritty and unapologetic. She can lift you up or trample you. She doesn’t care who you are, what language you speak or how long you’ve been here. We are all insignificant yet necessary cogs in the wheel. Moving to NYC in 2009, it truly felt like I was where I belonged. When I fell out of love with a career in the arts and into a career in run coaching, NYC is where the career change happened. As a person and a runner, NYC has shaped me more than any other place. I owe so much of who I am and how I coach to this beautiful and chaotic place.

Walking through Times Square at 4:45am to the bus to the starting line, tears filled my eyes. I usually avoid Times Square like the plague – most locals do. But with it being lit up and alive with yet nobody there but a handful of people, this is the New York I love most. Those quiet moments that feel like a secret when everyone else is asleep. I told myself to truly feel NYC that day – every encounter, every mile and every high and low. To be present and lead with joy. To take in the course as though I may never run it again – this way I won’t have any regrets if that’s true.

I smiled for probably 24 of the 26 miles of the marathon. I played with the crowd, yelled words of encouragement to other runners, truly had the most fun. I also ran perhaps one of my most evenly paced marathons of my career. my hamstring held up, and this felt like a true victory lap after a few years of setbacks.

Here are three things I did this marathon that truly set me up for success:

  • I took my three-day carb load seriously, consuming 450-500 grams per day.
  • I ran with a handheld bottle for most of the race. I started with 1000mg of electrolytes in it, and then paused to refill three times at aid stations. The sun was warm, so holding onto my bottle was very helpful.
  • I manually lapped my watch every 5K. This allowed me to stay honest with pacing (especially early!) while also not looking at my watch much at all. This allowed me to take in all of the neighborhoods and crowds.

It felt amazing to be a part of the day as a runner and not just a coach. But don’t get me wrong, my mind went multiple times to my athletes, and wondering what kind of days they were having. With my phone in my back pocket and notifications off, I did my best to balance my own day while also eagerly waiting for the finish line so that I could pull up everyone’s data on the tracker.

I know it sounds cliche, but each marathon teaches us something new if we let it. My biggest takeaways from Sunday: this sport is such a gift. We get to do this. PRs are fun, and while I am itching to race fast times again, PRs aren’t everything. Joy, being connected with others and ourselves, truly soaking in memories, feeling and seeing the best in humanity – those are sometimes the real wins.

I love New York.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Fitness, Marathons, nyc marathon, Racing, Training Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Three Pillars of Success: Training, Mindset and Nutrition

October 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Becoming the best versions of ourselves on the race course can be quite the journey. For longterm success, there are three pillars: training, mindset and nutrition. Master all three, and the sky is the limit. So below are some tips and things to consider as you evolve as a runner:

Training:

This is an incredibly nuanced subject. There are some guiding principals, but ultimately we are all a study of one. Things like work and life demands, climate and where and how you can train, and so on will all impact how you can (or should!) balance training. I highly recommend all runners do at least one of these two things: hire a running coach, read as many books on training principals and plans as you can. Knowledge is power, and being capable of making informed decisions is incredibly important – especially when we are often driven by our emotions. It’s very hard to be subjective and guide ourselves to the best of our abilities. It’s why many coaches have coaches!

The biggest mistake I see from runners: we don’t respect the time and consistency necessary to achieve the goal. This isn’t to say that the goal is unattainable or out of the realm of possibilities – just it might not be in the timeline we want. Remember, adaptation takes time and consistency. Usually there’s a lot of repetitive and unsexy work that’s a part of the journey. When we attempt to fast track fitness (pace, mileage, and so on), we open up Pandora’s Box. Injury risk skyrockets. And we usually miss out on a couple of very important adaptations that happen with the unsexy and repetitive stuff. Often fitness plateaus or we begin to see every run as a “make or break” scenario because we are short on time.

When we give ourselves the appropriate timeline, magic can occur. It won’t always happen every cycle, but maintaining stackable cycles is when breakthroughs happen. Racing fitness is the product of your running resume over time. No one run “makes” the athlete. We always want to aim for being consistently good rather than inconsistently great. Inconsistency is often a pitfall. Injuries and forced off seasons do happen, but if we can reduce our odds of those things, running potential becomes quite exciting!

We want to diversify training and racing. It’s common to get on the “marathon hamster wheel” and essentially repeat the same patterns cycle after cycle. If we want to truly get better, it may be wise to only race one marathon per year (for example), and to dedicate the months pre-marathon build to fast 10ks or half marathons. Developing more speed and better running economy for the short stuff often means much faster and stronger marathon paces!

Ultimately, if you are invested in your racing potential, having a coach in your corner or a very solid understanding of training principals and your needs is key to achieving your dreams.

Mindset:

The very cool thing about running is that while we’re out there for miles and miles, or minds have the time to wander and develop as athletes too. Confidence can take time to build, and usually it gets stronger as we get more experienced. The unknown is scary, and it’s hard to be confident in something we have yet to do. But if we can begin to trust our instincts, learn from our training runs, and recognize how damn strong we are – usually we can slowly build a solid mindset.

Confidence as an athlete doesn’t mean ego necessarily. It means being confident enough to embrace a hard workout. It means confident enough to take easy runs truly easy (this is a hard one!). A mindset of knowing what sort of run or race we are about to experience, allowing us to tap into what is or isn’t appropriate in that moment. For example, the mindset for truly racing a 5K has to be one of heightened focus, ready to hurt essentially off the line. The mind has to be ready for an intense, sometimes brutally uncomfortable state in order to squeeze out the fitness of the day. Our brains usually give up long before our bodies, so recognizing that reality and developing strategies to push through the mental noise isn’t easy.

On the flip side, mindset on the starting line of the marathon should allow the athlete to not get carried away early, even if everyone around them is charging ahead. Entrusting the plan, fueling strategy and fitness and then not flippantly deviating from the plan due to ego or fear – this mental fortitude allows an athlete to have their best day out there. It’s so easy to get carried away in the early miles of the marathon, especially when carb loaded and coming off the taper. Holding back and being mindful and calm early will allow the brain to truly turn on in the late miles, when it’s absolutely necessary.

We learn as we go. Just as most of us won’t nail everything in our first race, we do learn and take away priceless information and experiences from that event. Mindful development is similar. Our brains are incredible, and learn quickly. Don’t be afraid to go in and epically fail – we often learn the most from those days we risk and potentially learn unexpected lessons.

There are some great resources out there for athletes who experience anxiety over training runs or races. Chat with a sports psychologist, or read some books or listen to podcast episodes with expert advice. Nerves are normal, it means you care. But when those nerves have a negative impact on the athlete or get in the way of their race performance, it’s best to develop coping mechanisms to turn nerves into a mindset that sets you up for success.

Nutrition:

This is a big topic, and one that make take some serious time to fully comprehend as a runner. For one thing, many of us grew up with complicated or confusing relationships with food. Ads on tv stating that “carbs are bad” or “coffee can be breakfast” can be hard messages to kick from our brains – even decades later. And here’s the hardest part: your needs as a runner are NOT the needs of most everyone else.

Here’s the simple takeaway from this subject: how you fuel and what you fuel with will have a direct impact on performance in racing and training runs, how well you recover, and your resilience to injuries. Under fueling is very common.

I highly recommend all runners listen to podcasts with the experts in the field: Registered Dietitians. Many have websites with awesome and often free content, as well as fantastic social media accounts. Do note that a “nutritionist” is NOT an RD. I can go get a “nutritionist” certification over the weekend, while an RD has a Master’s Degree in the subject. And not all RDs are experts in Endurance Athletes.

Anything that sounds like a fad should have our spidey senses heightened. Sugar isn’t the enemy. In fact, your favorite simple carbs are often the heroes of your running performance.

You can be the most talented and dedicated runner in the world, but if you are under fueled you will never be able to train or race at your full potential. It may take years and multiple training cycles to fully understand and master what best serves you, and that’s okay! Just please never assume you can or should “muscle through” a run under fueled or fasted, or that thinner equals faster.

Conclusion:

Being a runner and deeply caring about your goals is such a cool thing. How many adults do we know who are truly passionate about their hobbies? Support your passion with the three pillars, and you are going to achieve your dreams and exceed your greatest expectations.

Filed Under: Fitness, Marathons, Nutrition, Racing, Training Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Run Coaching: Runna has entered the Chat (GPT)

September 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment

Run Coaching has evolved in a big way in the last few years for a few reasons. First off, we have AI – so resources like ChatGPT and Runna are now tools we didn’t have a few years ago. There’s also been a huge surge in the amount of certified run coaches, thanks to many certifications going purely or mostly remote since the 2020 pandemic. Certification programs have recognized they can crank out coaches at a much lower cost to the organization and with more ease. A runner interested in becoming a certified run coach no longer needs to commit a whole weekend (and potentially travel logistics) to become certified.

As a coach who’s been in the industry full time since 2015, and as a runner who began running and training for races in 2010, I am going to do my best to share the pros and cons of an AI program and a running coach. I will do my best to reserve my biases, though I’ll freely admit I have one.

When I signed up for my first marathon in 2010, times were different. There weren’t a ton of online training plans, I didn’t know run coaches were a thing, and I relied heavily on the Runner’s World Magazine to drop in my physical mailbox each month. I found a printable marathon plan on the NYRR website, and used that as my road map.

I was also very much living on a budget. I was in the tv and film industry full time, and I never knew when my next paycheck was coming. So investing in a magazine subscription for nuggets of wisdom and then using the printed plan as my guide fit my budget. My schedule was also unpredictable. You never knew if you’d have a 4-hour day or a 16-hour day on a set, so suffice to say I trained when I could. My journey to my first marathon ultimately looked little like that printed plan by the time race day arrived. Thanks to some dumb luck and good instincts, I got to the starting line of the Philly Marathon in 2010 healthy and capable of accomplishing my goal of a Boston Qualifier.

In the next few cycles, I got my hands on books – Daniels’ Running Formula and Pete Pfitzinger’s Advanced Marathoning, and they became my new roadmaps. But as we’d probably expect, I had to make changes to the programs to balance work, illness, injuries, vacations and so on. The beauty of these books was that I had to make changes and then trust my adjustments. I was never blindly following a plan.

I view ChatGPT and Runna as being in the similar camp as a book. For one thing, nobody can argue the price point. These resources are inexpensive or free. But the big danger, and something I’ve seen over and over: is that runners are blindly following these plans and assume that any “adjustments” made by AI are correct. We’ve become so accustomed to technology being reliable and sometimes smarter than ourselves, that we ignore our own instincts.

Another huge change since the 2020 pandemic: not only are there more certified coaches, there are way more runners! The running boom post-2020 has evolved in a way that still boggles my mind. It’s incredible how many people have fallen in love with running, racing, and being a part of running communities like run clubs. But we don’t know what we don’t know, and many new runners can and do easily fall victim to following AI blindly. This isn’t to say that Runna or AI are bad or dangerous, but they can be – especially when a runner is new to the sport.

Let’s not forget that due to the repetitive and high impact nature of running, about 60% of all runners navigate an injury of some kind every year. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the sport, but I’d also argue one that we could collectively lower by running and training more wisely. For example, many of us (new and experienced runners alike) build mileage, frequency and/or pace too quickly. Many of us also get excited and want to dive into something like marathon training without an adequate foundation, or we try to stack seasons without respecting the stress and need for down-seasons between builds.

When we ask AI for a program, we get the result of what AI collects via algorithms combined with what we share with it. In theory, AI will tap into training principals that you’d find in a book like Daniels’ Running Formula, but this may or may not be how it goes. And you are trusting that AI somehow understands your injury history, work/life balance, stress levels, vacation plans, and so on. An experienced runner or someone with coaching certifications could use AI to create a plan that they then adjust as needed. Having the experience and skills to adjust could make an AI program quite fun. Runners without the experience or skill set should proceed with caution.

Here’s where I’ll put on my run coaching hat: successful training is so much more than a training plan. It’s support regarding race strategy, nutrition guidance, motivation and inspiration, and empowering that individual through the highs and lows of training and of life. It’s also support in how to change a training plan for injury, illness and vacation. It’s about going beyond the data and empowering an individual to chase their goals and better their relationship with running and themselves as people.

I’ve personally been self-coached off and on since 2010. My resources? A dozen run coach certifications and their course material, and countless books with plans and guidance from some of the best coaches in the world. I also have data and race performances on myself from the last 15 years. And I currently have a coach. The best athletes in the world do. Not because they don’t know what to do, but because guidance from the outside, or experiencing different philosophies and strategies can change the game.

I get it, hiring a run coach isn’t cheap and can sometimes feel like a selfish use of funds. Coaches range from $75-500/month, often due to their location, experience, and whether they view this as a full time job or a side hobby. Many of us can’t or won’t want to invest in a run coach. Though I’d argue as both a runner and a coach, that if you really care about your relationship with running or racing, it’s beyond worth the investment if you can swing it.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, there’s been a boom (and I’d argue over-saturation) in the run coach space in the last few years. The good news is that this means there are eager (though potentially green) coaches out there at a lower price point. Your choice doesn’t have to be “free AI” or “$350/month coach.” You could gain the guidance of a coach while that coach builds confidence in themselves and their new craft. And selfishly, I’d like to see run coaches continue to be relevant instead of replaced by a computer that can’t do the same thing.

AI isn’t going anywhere. It can absolutely be a great point of entry for runners, as long as they don’t blindly follow it. We just need to recognize that no training plan, be it via Runna, Pfitzinger’s Advanced Marathoning or a program your personal run coach creates for you will be perfect as-is. There WILL need to be adjustments. Whether a coach is making those adjustments for you, or you are doing them on your own, remembering that the goal is to stay healthy and consistent so that your running can take you wherever you want it to go.

Filed Under: Marathons, Racing, Training Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Breaking 3: Mount Charleston Marathon

November 1, 2022 by Leave a Comment

If you’ve known me for long, you know that I’ve been on a quest to break 3 hours in the marathon since 2016. Between a few solid swings (3:03 finishes, multiple times), and then injuries, pandemic, etc – it felt like it would potentially never happen. However, sometimes patience and consistency truly do pay off, and I found myself ready to take my first swing at the marathon since 2019.

My original spring 2022 marathon goal was the Rotterdam Marathon, in The Netherlands. Known for a flat and fast course, with cool/damp weather, it felt like the perfect opportunity to take my chances. Training over winter went really well. I was running 60-65 mile weeks, with one double-run day, and my standard 3-5 days of strength training. No injuries, my speed was coming back – I was excited!

A few weeks before race day (3 weeks, I believe?), I began to panic: COVID numbers were creeping up again, and The Netherlands had just removed any/all COVID precautions. I began stressing about my first overseas trip since 2020 – would I finally get COVID? Would I get sick and get stuck in the Netherlands? To say I was stressing would be an understatement. The furthest thing from my mind was that 2:59, it was all the pandemic stuff out of my control.

I emailed my coach with my concerns, and suggested we find a state-side race instead that more or less fit the timeline. I was just about to knock out my last big week and then taper, so if I was potentially going to change the weekend, we needed to know asap.

After combing my favorite marathon databases, considering weather, course type, field size, accessibility, etc., I suggested the Revel Mount Charleston Marathon. To say that this race was an apple and Rotterdam was an orange wouldn’t do the comparison justice. Mount Charleston begins 7600 ft up, with a 5000 ft drop, with runners finishing outside of Las Vegas. I was considering a change in climate, altitude, and completely different demands on my body. However, I felt oddly confident that my legs could weather the endless eccentric contractions they’d endure on such an unforgiving course.

I don’t think my coach, Jason, was *quite as confident in this sort of course. They are incredibly risky, as legs can cramp or simply have nothing left long before the finish line. I was willing to give it a shot. I’ve raced well on hills – especially downhills. I train on rolling hills, and all of that strength training had to play to my favor.

So it was decided: Rotterdam would be replaced with Mount Charleston. I canceled travel, booked travel, and then we removed the last big week of training and I went right into the taper, because Mount Charleston was a week before Rotterdam.

Marathon weekend began the most frustrating way possible: flight delays that got us into Las Vegas after midnight. By the time we got to the hotel (we stayed on the Strip), and had dinner, it was 3am Friday. After what wasn’t exactly the best quality or quantity of sleep, my husband, Chris, dragged me out of bed and to my shakeout run Friday morning. While the last thing I wanted to do was leave the bed, I’m so glad he forced me to get up. The shakeout run felt heavy, slow and weird – but I felt much better after it.

After the shakeout, we picked up our rental car and drove to the race expo. The expo was easy to navigate, not at all crowded, and a smooth experience. Race day would include both the marathon and half marathon, but the vibe was very “small town race,” in the best way possible.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing, eating carbs, and shopping for throw-away clothes for the race start. Race weather was shaping up to be awesome: low 40s at the start, and then warming up to a sunny 65 degrees at the finish. Throw-way clothes are necessary for staying comfortable pre-race. With having to be at the shuttle bus at 3:30am, we were in bed early – though I don’t think I slept much at all.

My alarm went off around 2am. I told myself that jet lag was on my side. I ate a muffin and a donut with my coffee, and suited up in my race kit. With my throw-away layers on, we walked through the casino to the car. It’s very strange to be walking through the late Friday night Vegas scene, while you’re on your way to a marathon.

Getting to and onto the bus was very easy. The organization of the entire weekend was fantastic. I said goodbye to Chris, and snagged a window seat so that I could close my eyes and relax. Because the Mount Charleston course is a point-to-point race, and course runs through preserved land with few roads, spectators really aren’t allowed access the race course until the 20 mile mark. I knew Chris was going to be waiting for me at the finish. With my eyes closed, I relaxed my mind despite the buzz of nervous runners chatting. I could feel the bus climbing up and up, and as we neared the start area, snow lined the road.

Athlete’s Village was fantastic. There were fire pits for warmth, plentiful porta-potties, and tables with water and electrolytes. Despite getting there early (I’m always early to Athlete’s Village!), the time went by pretty quickly. I decided not to waste energy looking for the other two runners I knew who would be there. Nerves were low: I knew my strategy in pacing and fueling, and felt ready to execute my plan.

A few tips on this race: start slowly. You’re high up, so it’s possible that breathing will feel less than awesome. The course has a few ups in the first mile, so go by effort, allow your legs and lungs to warm up, and be patient. I packed salt pills as a last-minute decision, because Jason and I know I don’t do well in the heat. It was a guarantee that it would warm up, it was a matter of how quickly, and how well I could manage it. I took a pill within the first few miles of the race.

The race organization offers some incredibly detailed videos and breakdowns of the elevation of the race, so having done my homework, I knew mile 6-20 was going to be fast – and to be patient early and to dig deep late. I will caution that if a runner isn’t prepared for downhill running, or gets greedy and hammers this course, they may end up in a world of pain and having a disappointing performance and experience. With it being the desert, sweat evaporates quickly, making it deceptive with just how much one is sweating. Having raced a few times in the desert before, I knew I couldn’t go off of feel.

The race start happened right around sunrise, allowing us to finally see the beauty and drama of Mount Charleston. It was an incredibly picturesque place, and I recall wanting to soak it all in. Whatever nerves I had, and I hadn’t had many, turned to focus and fun within the first mile. It was cool and crisp, and I was happy to have my gloves, arm sleeves and head band on. I knew I’d peel them off as things warmed up, and was confident that my racing briefs and sports bra was the right choice.

With the exception of a few people who live on Mount Charleston, and the lovely volunteers at the hydration stations, there’s essentially no crowd support – just beautiful open space and the sound of breathing and shoes hitting the pavement. I found it peaceful, and dialed in my effort. While this quiet and remote marathon experience may not be for everyone, it didn’t bother me in the least. Perhaps having done much of my training solo over the years, and having done other more rural races, the quiet wasn’t jarring.

The first 6 miles or so include some serious downs, and a few ups. This is where I took a salt pill, and really began to understand how my legs would fair on the course, and what that meant in terms of pacing. For the first 6 miles, my splits were the following: 7:07, 6:30, 6:31, 6:33, 6:47, 6:35. I recall it feeling surreal: the combo of beauty, the hills, and how I felt – mentally I was in the zone, not thinking any more than I needed to, and allowing the miles to click by.

After mile 6, this race gets FAST. I forget the exact breakdown per mile regarding elevation, but the first 13 miles loses 3000 ft, and the second half loses 2000 ft. If the quads don’t die, and form for downhill running is strong, this can be a really fun race!

The following 6 miles felt effortless: 6:22, 6:24, 6:27, 6:34, 6:34, 6:35, 6:39. I reminded myself to never hammer, because risking my quads to bank time is a fool’s errand. Temperature began creeping up, and I was out of the shade of the canyon, exposed to the blue sky and abundant morning sunshine. In this stretch I ditched my arm sleeves and head band, though I held onto the gloves for a bit longer.

Around the half marathon mark, my stomach began acting a *little funky. Maybe it was the salt pill, or that I was getting my period that morning, but I became aware that I might need to make a bathroom stop. However, the stomach issue would come and go, and I decided at the mile 18 water station to be smart and use the port-potty. The splits from miles 14-18: 6:28, 6:33, 6:34, 6:36, 7:39 (porta-potty stop – which cost me about 60 seconds).

In my experience, if you need a bathroom and you take the detour, you’ll feel like a new person for the rest of the race. If I’d continued, stomach discomfort may have messed with my mind and my overall comfort. Well worth losing a minute to feel much better!

As the course nears miles 20, there is crowd support for the first time. This is a welcomed sight, as it was getting warm, and the elevation drop was less noticeable, meaning I had to readjust form and power after so much downhill to find my legs. It was around mile 20-21 that my right big toe became problematic. It felt like one moment I was fine, and the next I was being hit on the top of my big toe with a hammer with every step. I knew I wasn’t injured, but my guess was a blister had formed under the toenail. Between the force into the toe of the shoe, and this being my first race ever in super shoes (Suacony Endorphin Pros), and them being possibly a little on the small side for me, I had a good idea of what was happening.

I tried to be at peace with the pain – it was just a blister! But my form began changing and I briefly debating taking my shoe off and running barefoot for the final miles. Glancing at my watch, I was on pace for about a 2:53 finish – which was insane. I knew that I had to risk that time, and stopped on the course. I took off my shoe and sock, and took one of the pins from my race bib, in a harried attempt to puncture the blister under the nail and relieve the pressure.

A few kind half marathoners saw me, and offered me bandaids, but I politely said that the bandaids weren’t going to be helpful. After digging at my toe with the needle in an attempt to relieve pressure, I put the sock and shoe back on, and focused on moving forward. Splits from miles 19-24: 6:35, 6:41, 6:35, 8:17 (the rogue surgery mile), 7:15, 7:30.

After that little surgical delay, I struggled to get back to my rhythm. The toe was still painful, I could feel dehydration creeping in, and the course leveled out a bit. Plus, the final few miles of the marathon is simply tough! The last few miles took us runners through suburban neighborhoods. Having families out was nice, but boy did I miss the cool weather from the top of Mount Charleston!

In those last few miles, I knew that unless something catastrophic happened, I’d achieve what I’d been chasing for years: a sub-3 hour marathon. Even with paces slowing, I knew it was there. The final 2 miles: 7:17, 6:59, and the last .2: 6:33 pace. There was a little uphill climb in the last mile, which honestly felt like Mount Everest to my legs. The only real turn on the entire course is right at the finish. It felt brutal to decelerate only to try to kick it in!

Official finish time: 2:58:15, and 6th place female.

Honestly, I was in disbelief. It’s really weird to chase something for so long, and then to have it be in the past. If I’m honest, I was actually momentarily disappointed with my finish, because without the bathroom and foot issues, it could have been an even faster day. It’s funny how often our minds go to that sort of place, instead of honoring an achievement.

The finish area was well organized and stocked with snacks. There’s nothing quite like chocolate milk after a marathon. It was 65 degrees and sunny at the finish, so getting in calories and liquid was a priority. It felt surreal to be around runners and crowds after the pandemic. My first marathon since 2019, close to 3 years from the date, and it felt foreign and amazing at the same time. In hindsight, I think the smaller race field at Mount Charleston set me up for success. Rotterdam would have been a very large, big city feel, and could have very easily overwhelmed me after so many years of social distancing.

You better believe I took my shoes off as soon as I could! After finding Chris, I walked barefoot for about a mile to the car. Despite the 5000 ft of damage done to my legs, aside from my quads giving me the indicator that they’d be angry in the coming hours, I felt really good.

Upon arriving back at our hotel, I was finally able to get a really good look at that big toe. The toe nail was black, a huge blood blister was under the nail. I was finally able to fully puncture the blister. Yes, it was disgusting, but it felt amazing to release the pressure. I knew that the nail was already a goner – I could feel that it was disconnected from the nail bed. Despite the pain out there, I’d happily sacrifice a toe nail for a PR!

The Revel Race Series provides free photos from the course, so it was fun getting those within days of the race. As an organization, my experience was nothing but amazing with Revel. Selfishly, I wish the race was a few weeks earlier or an even earlier start time, because it was hot for those final miles. Coming from training in NY winters, 65 degrees and sunny felt like summer. But weather aside, it was pretty near perfect.

In the days following this marathon, my legs were pretty darn beat up. In fact, I don’t recall ever feeling so wrecked after a road marathon. This reminded me of how I’d felt after Ultra marathons in mountains, not a road race of 26.2 miles. I needed more rest and recovery following Mount Charleston than any other marathon I’ve raced. That said, totally worth it!

If you are looking for a beautiful course, a well organized event, and thrive on hills – this may be a great race for you! Note that if you are not trained for hills, or need a big-city vibe, this race is probably not your jam. I don’t regret my decision to change race courses for a second – and the gamble paid off. Deep down, I’d love to go back and race Mount Charleston again – ideally without the toe issue! Could I go under 2:55 on this course? I’m definitely interested to find out.

Filed Under: Blog, Marathons, Racing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

…and the blog is back!

October 28, 2022 by Leave a Comment

First off – holy moly – I cannot believe that it’s been almost 2 years since my last blog post! But honestly, I’ve been busy, and I didn’t feel I had much to really write about at the time. There’s just so much running content out there – I’ve already written a whole lot (here and for other platforms), and there are some pretty great running podcasts covering essential topics – so it didn’t feel worth cranking out new content “just cause.”

Consider this a quick “catch up with Corky” post, and then I’ll be blogging a bit about the two marathons I ran in 2022 (first ones back since 2019!), the benefits I’ve personally found from working with a coach, and more.

Like many runners, I found myself in a real funk during 2020. Between being furloughed, all races being canceled, gyms closed, and NYC being the epicenter of the pandemic, I lost motivation to do much of anything but keep my running clients motivated, and I watched a lot of documentaries on serial killers and religious cults. I also essentially ate and drank my feelings, leaving me physically and emotionally a shell of the person and athlete I was pre-pandemic. It took a LOT of hard work, patience, and determination, but I clawed my way back to feeling more like myself again.

So, what’s new? 

I am now coaching at NYC Equinox clubs, as of Spring 2021. Sadly the Precision Run Studio in NYC didn’t survive the pandemic, and so I was brought into Equinox to coach Precision Run and Elevate classes there. While it was a big adjustment – small business to LARGE business, having to run around to multiple locations within a day to be able to coach multiple classes, and pivoting to coaching on the floor in the club vs. a contained studio experience – but I’ve met some incredible people, and continue to be humbled to lead these classes. If you’re an Equinox member in NYC, come run with me!

With Equinox and Precision Run, I am still recording guided treadmill and outdoor runs – all available on the Equinox+ app. This year, David Siik and I created the first official training plan for Equinox/PR running content – a 5K program (again, all on the app). I have to say, it’s a pretty smart plan, and appropriate for runners of all levels.

In 2021, my partner (now husband!) bought our first house, which was pretty exciting. We’re now In Warwick, NY, which is a very cute and historic village. I’ve traded in urban running for running past cow farms, open space, and trails. I’m still in NYC at least twice per week, so you better believe I make the most of my time there between coaching to run my favorite parts of the city. The best (?) part of our house: we transformed the garage into a gym! I bought a refurbished Woodway Treadmill, and it’s decked out with tons of dumb bells, kettle bells, and even a cage for all the fun cable strength work. The gym is complete with disco lights, a beer fridge, and a life-sized cutout of The Rock – because he’s awesome!

I somehow made it in NYC without catching COVID until Spring 2022 – which felt like a weird victory. While my case wasn’t exactly mild, I’m thankful for vaccines and boosters, and that I was only seriously sidelined from life for a week, and from running for a few weeks.

My client roster in 2022 was the largest yet, and has been essentially capped/at capacity for over a year. There’s always a little ebb and flow, and I am grateful to be in the position where I am sometimes referring runners to other coaches, because I simply can’t take on anymore without compromising the work I provide my athletes – and I won’t compromise that. (That said, never be shy to send an inquiry!)

In 2022 I got married, ran two marathons, and have been reminded daily how much I love what I do. Runners are awesome, and it’s such a joy to support runners of varying experiences and abilities, all chasing down their goals.

Blogs on deck: I have two marathon recaps/reviews on deck – one was a big PR I’d been chasing for 5 years! I’ll share both my personal experiences, but also helpful info incase they are races you may be interested in running. I’ll also share my personal experience of what it’s been like working with my own coach for over a year, and a podcast episode we did together (he’s kinda big deal in the running podcast realm!). I have a few more ideas in mind, but also promise I will never “blog” for the sake of cranking out new content – so hopefully you find it helpful.

Cheers!

Corky

Filed Under: Blog, Fitness, Marathons, Racing, Training Tagged With: , , , , , , ,