Podcast
My First Marathon
Hosted by My First Marathon · EN
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
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
47episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
120: He Ran Because She Couldn't: Running the Houston Marathon w/ Ryan Trask
Apr 1300:57:47Tap to summarizeRyan Trask has always been a runner at heart, even when life kept pulling him away from it. From getting cut from his middle school basketball team and stumbling into cross country, to running through job loss, a pandemic, and the chaos of raising four kids, running has been the thing he keeps coming back to. So when he decided it was finally time to run a marathon before 40, it felt less like a new chapter and more like finishing something he'd started a long time ago.But this one was about more than just him. His wife lives with a chronic illness that keeps her from moving the way she'd like to, and somewhere along the way, Ryan decided that if she couldn't run, he was going to run for both of them. That purpose carried him through four months of pre-dawn long runs, a zone two training experiment that humbled him in the best way, a 100-day streak he wouldn't exactly recommend, and a bout of flu A that landed right in the middle of taper.He showed up to the Houston Marathon having done the work, even if it didn't always feel that way. What happened out on that course, especially in those last six miles, is the kind of thing that's hard to fully understand until you've been there yourself.Follow along with Ryan: @ryantrask on Instagram!Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440Join the First Marathoner Community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathon
Transcribe →119: The Worst Day of My Life: Running a First Marathon That Didn’t Go to Plan w/ Ilana Dunn
Apr 601:02:25Tap to summarizeIlana Dunn didn’t grow up a runner. In fact, she was the person who walked the mile and avoided it whenever she could. But after accidentally getting into treadmill classes, discovering run-walk intervals, and slowly building up, she found herself chasing something she once thought was impossible: the marathon. What followed wasn’t a perfect training block. It was injuries, setbacks, and figuring things out in real time, eventually leading her to the start line of the New York City Marathon feeling as prepared as she could be.What she didn’t expect was how race day would actually feel. What started as excitement quickly turned into panic, overwhelm, and a moment where she seriously considered walking off the course entirely. This is a story about pushing through when things don’t look or feel how you thought they would, and learning that the marathon isn’t always the picture perfect experience people say it will be.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440Join the First Marathoner Community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathon
Transcribe →118: Don’t Quit on a Bad Day: A Marathon Journey Through Pain and Persistence w/ Cass Robinson
Mar 3001:04:45Tap to summarizeCass Robinson’s path to her first marathon was anything but straightforward. Growing up with undiagnosed Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, she spent years dealing with injuries, pain, and being told nothing was wrong. Running came in waves throughout her life, but it eventually became the place where she could process everything she had been through and start taking back control.In this episode, she shares how she trained with an unpredictable body, what it looked like to run her first marathon without time goals, and how her second marathon forced her to adapt in real time. It’s a conversation about resilience, learning to trust yourself, and why you shouldn’t quit on a bad day.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440Join our First Marathon Community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathon
Transcribe →26: Mindset and Running w/ Nick Savin (Mini Episode)
Mar 2500:31:53Tap to summarizeThis week’s mini episode brings back coach Nick Savin for a conversation that goes way beyond splits, paces, and perfect training plans. Instead, it’s all about mindset and the role it plays in how we show up for our training, especially when things don’t go the way we expected. From missed runs to tough workouts, Nick breaks down why those moments aren’t failures at all, but actually part of the process, and how reframing them can completely change your experience as a runner. Follow along with Nick: https://www.runstrengthacademy.com/@runstrengthacademy on Instagram and TikTokFollow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440
Transcribe →117: Why Not Me?: The Road To 45 Marathons w/ Krissy Murphy
Mar 2300:55:38Tap to summarizeKrissy Murphy didn’t grow up as an athlete. She started running in her early 20s with a Couch to 5K plan, thinking it might be a one-time thing. But somewhere between a spontaneous 10K, a Disney half marathon, and a first marathon in Richmond, something shifted and she realized she belonged in this world. What started as a way to move her body turned into a long-term relationship with the marathon.In this episode, Krissy shares what it looked like to build from the ground up, how she handled the highs and lows of her first marathon (including losing her music mid-race), and what’s kept her coming back through 45 marathons. It’s a story about letting go of perfection, staying curious, and deciding to go for it when something feels just out of reach.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440Join our First Marathon Community for free at skool.com/myfirstmarathon !
Transcribe →116: Starting Over: From Career-Ending Surgery to a First Marathon w/ Maya Struhar
Mar 1600:47:27Tap to summarizeAfter a hip surgery at 17 ended her competitive dance career, Maya Struhar spent years away from structured movement. Running wasn’t part of the plan until a St. Patrick’s Day 5K with coworkers pulled her back in. One race turned into a 10K, then a half marathon, and before long Maya found herself training for her first marathon at Grandma’s in Duluth. Along the way she discovered a runner’s high, built confidence through a series of half marathons during training, and learned how to make decisions during the race that prioritized enjoyment over chasing a specific time.In this episode, Maya shares what it looked like to rebuild a relationship with movement after injury, how a tough training run almost shook her confidence, and the moment during her marathon when choosing to slow down helped her have a better experience. She also talks about the wall at Lemon Drop Hill, the emotional finish line at Grandma’s Marathon, and how that first race led to running Chicago just a few months later.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesJoin THE First Marathon Buddy Community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathonBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440.
Transcribe →25: How To Dial In Your Fuel Strategy (Mini Episode)
Mar 1100:06:27Tap to summarizeFueling is one of the most common questions that comes up for first-time marathoners, and it can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure where to start. In this mini episode, we break fueling down into three simple steps: choosing a texture you can tolerate, testing it on lower-risk runs, and dialing in a strategy that works for your long runs and race day. We also talk through the differences between gels, chews, and liquid fuel, and why experimenting early in training is key.If you want a step-by-step structure for how fueling fits into a full training cycle, the 20-week First Marathon Buddy Course walks you through this and everything else you need to know to run your first marathon with confidence. You can learn more and join the community at skool.com/myfirstmarathon.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440
Transcribe →115: How Hard Could It Be?: From Spectating London to Running Chicago w/ Holly Kabler
Mar 900:48:18Tap to summarizeHolly Kabler spent years cheering for her husband at marathons, convinced running just wasn’t for her. But after spectating the London Marathon and asking the question “how hard could it be?”, she decided to find out for herself. What started with Peloton treadmill classes and a spontaneous half marathon turned into a full training cycle and a start line at the Chicago Marathon.In this episode, Holly shares how she learned to pace herself for the first time, figured out fueling after years of running without water, and approached her first marathon with one goal: have a damn good time. From dancing through the Chicago course to finishing in 4:36 and immediately wanting to do it again, Holly’s story is a reminder that sometimes the best race strategy is simply letting yourself enjoy the ride.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesJoin THE First Marathoner Community - skool.com/myfirstmarathonBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440.
Transcribe →24: How Your First Marathon Changes You (Mini Episode)
Mar 400:04:27Tap to summarizeAnyone can run a marathon, but running a marathon is not just a race. In this episode, I break down how that committing to training for your first marathon builds discipline, resilience, perspective, and a quiet confidence that carries into the rest of your life. You start showing up differently at work. You stop tying your entire identity to your job. You realize it is not selfish to prioritize your health. The finish line is only part of the transformation.If you are in the thick of training or reflecting on your first finish line, this one is for you.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesJoin the First Marathon Buddy Community (for free!) - skool.com/myfirstmarathon
Transcribe →114: From Ballet to the Marathon: Reclaiming Movement at 42 w/ Kristine Owen Wood
Mar 201:06:09Tap to summarizeKristine Owen Wood grew up in the world of elite ballet, where movement was disciplined, aesthetic, and high pressure from a young age. After earning a spot in Alberta Ballet and ultimately stepping away for the sake of her health, she had to rebuild her relationship with her body from the ground up. Running started quietly, as something private and unstructured, before slowly becoming the place where she reclaimed strength, autonomy, and joy in her 40s.In this episode, Kristine shares how a half marathon breakthrough pulled her into race culture, what two years of injury taught her about patience, and what it felt like to hit the wall at mile 20 of her first marathon. We talk about shifting goals mid-race, choosing not to walk, and why proving it’s “not too late” might be the most meaningful finish line of all.Follow along with Kristine on Instagram at @kpow_pow! Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesJoin the First Marathon Buddy Community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathonSubscribe to the Newsletter! - myfirstmarathon.co/newsletter
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