My First Marathon

My First Marathon

Join host Taylor as she sits down with runners from all walks of life to delve into their unforgettable first marathon experiences. From the nerves at the starting line to the euphoria of crossing the finish, each episode offers a candid look at the highs, lows, and unexpected twists of preparing for and conquering 26.2 miles for the first time. Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or just considering lacing up your running shoes for the first time, this podcast is your go-to source for motivation, inspiration, and real-life insights from those who've been there, done that. Tune in as we celebrate the triumphs, share the struggles, and uncover the lessons learned along the road to that unforgettable first marathon finish line. Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @myfirstmarathonpod! Have feedback? We'd love to hear it! Reach out at myfirstmarathonpod@gmail.com. Ready to tell your story? Fill out the below form for your chance to be featured! MFM Request Form

Episodes

87: Forward is a Pace: Lessons from Disney w/ Katelyn Fox

August 18, 2025 • 60 mins
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 she followed Jeff Gal...
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5: World Major or Local Race: Choosing Your First Marathon (Mini Episode)

August 13, 2025 • 14 mins
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 costs, I share my own ...
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86: The Goal is the Spark, Not the Measure: Lessons in Letting Go w/ Brandon Hicks

August 11, 2025 • 75 mins
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-town virtual maratho...
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4: 3 Pieces of Running Advice That Changed My Running (Mini Episode)

August 6, 2025 • 15 mins
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 goals that completely c...
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85: Sour Candy, Solo Miles, and the Making of Noogs w/ Paige Foote

August 4, 2025 • 66 mins
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 2021—gave her the full ...
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3: My Mom’s Running a Marathon… and It’s My Fault (Mini Episode)

July 30, 2025 • 19 mins
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 learning a lot, doing ...
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84: Everything Went Wrong: Why Paige ran another marathon anyway w/ Paige Spangler

July 28, 2025 • 60 mins
Paige Spangler’s first marathon had all the ingredients for a disaster: a solo start, limited aid stations, an unexpectedly hilly course, and an 80-degree forecast she definitely didn’t plan for. But somehow, through tears, cramping, and complete dehydration, she made it across the finish line.

In this episode, Paige shares how a petty goal to beat her dad’s marathon count turned into a full-on running career, why her...
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2: 5 Injury Mistakes to Avoid in Your Next Marathon Block (Mini Episode)

July 23, 2025 • 17 mins
In this solo mini episode, I’m breaking down five injury-related mistakes I made during my third marathon training block—so you don’t have to. From rushing recovery to trusting the wrong training plan, I’m sharing what went wrong, what I’d do differently, and how I’m approaching things smarter this time around. Whether you’re training through an injury or trying to avoid one, this episode’s for you.

Stay tuned for the...
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83: “I’m Not Athletic, But I Ran a Marathon”: Rewriting the Runner Identity w/ Emily Bailey

July 21, 2025 • 62 mins
Emily Bailey never saw herself as athletic. She played sports growing up but didn’t feel like she was naturally good at any of them. Over the years, she stayed active and even ran 5Ks for fun, but it wasn’t until 2022 that she started to take running more seriously. What started as a challenge with a cash prize turned into something much bigger.

In this episode, Emily shares how she trained for her first half marathon...
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1: Your First Marathon, Answered: Top FAQs from New Runners (Mini Episode)

July 16, 2025 • 22 mins
In this mini episode, I’m answering the most common questions I get from first-time marathoners. Whether you’re deep into training, thinking about signing up, or just trying to figure out where to begin, this is for you. I’m covering how long to train, what to eat on the run, how to pace yourself, and what actually matters on race day. These are real questions from real runners, with simple answers you can actually use.
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82: Marathon Therapy and Ultra Weirdos: What Running Gave When Life Got Hard w/ John Calabrese

July 14, 2025 • 58 mins
John Calabrese turned to running during one of the hardest seasons of his life. After a difficult divorce and a period of personal reflection, he signed up for a marathon as a way to process pain and find purpose. What started with solo training runs quickly evolved into a love for ultras, trails, and the weird, welcoming community that came with them.

In this episode, John opens up about how running helped him throug...
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81: Half Marathons and Tofu Aid Stations: Running Charlotte without a traditional training block w/ Theresa Dornburg

July 7, 2025 • 53 mins
Theresa Dornburg didn’t follow a strict plan, hire a coach, or even hit a traditional long run before her first marathon. But she still made it to the Charlotte finish line—with a beer and tofu waiting for her at mile 22.

In this episode, Theresa shares how a restaurant job with unpredictable hours, a group of coworkers turned training partners, and some creative mileage made her marathon possible. We talk about manag...
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80: Floss Daily, Run Long: A 15 year story of breaking cycles and building confidence w/ Sarah Yankello

June 30, 2025 • 40 mins
Sarah had been running for 15 years, but it wasn’t until she hit a rough patch that she finally started running on her own terms. What began as a way to manage body image in high school eventually became a tool for structure, clarity, and self-trust.

In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to feel like a beginner after years of running, the spreadsheet saga behind her marathon training plan, and the mental spira...
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79: Breaking the Cycle of Quitting: A Postpartum Journey to 26.2 w/ Erin Azar

June 23, 2025 • 46 mins
In this episode, I chat with Erin Azar (@immrsspacecadet) about what it took to go from quitting everything she started to training for—and finishing—her first marathon. Erin opens up about running postpartum, the mental battles that came with starting from zero, and how documenting her journey online helped her stay consistent when things got hard.

We talk about what it felt like to run in a body that didn’t feel lik...
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78: From the Cross Country Team to Barcelona: Powered by Community w/ Colin Fegeley

June 16, 2025 • 51 mins
Colin Fegeley joins the show to break down his first marathon experience—starting with a wake-up call at a routine doctor’s appointment and ending with a finish line under the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona. In just ten months, Colin went from casual 5Ks to completing a full marathon, but what makes his story stand out is the role community played every step of the way. From his high school cross country team to his long run train...
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77: From Pro Cyclist to First-Time Marathoner: How Fuel Goods Founder Hit the Wall and Kept Going w/ Courteney Lowe

June 9, 2025 • 48 mins
In this episode, I chat with Courteney Lowe, co-founder of Fuel Goods, about her journey from professional cycling to her first marathon—and all the hard lessons learned along the way. Courteney opens up about what it was like to hit the wall at mile 18, how poor fueling nearly took her out of the race, and why that experience ended up inspiring the launch of Fuel Goods.

We cover everything from the mindset shift requ...
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76: “You Don’t Train for a Year to Stop at 25.9”: Running Colin's First Marathon Together w/ Colin Bloodworth

June 2, 2025 • 84 mins
Colin spent a year training for his first marathon—navigating weight loss, injury recovery, and every mental hurdle that comes with starting from scratch. In this episode, he shares the full story of how he went from going through all the emotions watching the Chicago Marathon livestream to crossing the finish line at Hayward Field in Eugene. His transformation is equal parts inspiring, relatable, and deeply personal.

...
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75: Healing in Motion: Symone’s Journey from Postpartum Depression to the NYC Marathon w/ Symone Skinner

May 26, 2025 • 74 mins
After battling postpartum depression and feeling at her lowest, Symone turned to the one thing that had always helped her cope—running. What started as a few shaky miles quickly became a goal to run a half marathon... which then escalated into training for the New York City Marathon. In just eight months, she went from zero movement to 26.2 miles, all while juggling mom life, shin splints, and mid-run FaceTimes. In this episod...
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74: From First Marathon to RNWY: Building a Brand for Everyday Runners w/ RNWY founder Cameron Schuler

May 19, 2025 • 58 mins
Cameron Schuler, founder of RNWY Nutrition, joins the show to share how a college bet led to his first (very undertrained) marathon—and eventually sparked the idea for a holistic fueling brand built for endurance athletes. We dive into his running journey from sprinter to sub-3 marathoner, what he learned from 10+ marathons, and how years working at Nike and Vital Proteins shaped his approach to performance and longevity.
...
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73: BONUS EPISODE: Rethinking Running Injuries w/ Sean Roach of Aletheia Run

May 14, 2025 • 68 mins
With my solo episode out this week where I dove into my recent injury, for my running nerds out there enjoy today's BONUS episode on injury prevention with Sean Roach, physical therapist, biomechanics expert, and founder of Aletheia Run—a company creating cutting-edge tech to help runners better understand and prevent injuries.

Sean shares his deeply personal and professional journey, from battling chronic running inj...
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