Carrie Elwood’s performance at the Boston Marathon turned heads across the running world. In just her sixth marathon, she placed 10th overall and finished as the fourth American, running a massive personal best of 2:22 after entering the race with a 2:31 PR.

Carrie is far from an overnight success. A former standout at the University of Colorado Boulder, her career has included years of injuries, time away from the sport, and a slow, intentional rebuild back to elite competition. After stepping away from running post-college to heal physically and mentally, she gradually returned, focusing on consistency, health, and rediscovering her love for the sport. That long-term approach has paid off. Now an American record holder in the 25K and the 2025 US Cross Country Champion, Carrie has steadily built toward this breakthrough moment.

In this conversation, Carrie shares what finally clicked in Boston. From a new coaching setup with Andrew Castor and the Mammoth Track Club, to dialing in race-day fueling and learning to trust herself at the front of the race, this episode captures the full story behind a defining performance.

She reflects on racing without fear, the years of setbacks that shaped her, and what it feels like to finally have the race she knew was possible.

What we talked about:

Carrie’s breakthrough performance at the Boston Marathon
Decision to race Boston without guarantees or support
Racing mindset and staying present without checking pace
Training changes under Andrew Castor
Fixing marathon struggles through nutrition
Leaving teaching to pursue running full-time
Injury history and stepping away from the sport post-college
Rebuilding slowly and sustainably over several years
Confidence, self-belief, and racing at the front
Breakdown of the Boston race and key moments on the course

Media Mentioned:

Books:

The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Bewilderment by Richard Powers

TV Show:

Love on the Spectrum

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