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
23: How To Nail Weeks 10-15 Of Marathon Training (Mini Episode)
Feb 2500:05:58Tap to summarizeIn this week’s Wednesday mini episode, I’m walking through Phase Two of the First Marathon Buddy program and breaking down what actually matters during weeks 10 to 15 of a 20 week marathon training plan. This phase isn’t about testing your fitness or grading every long run. It’s about treating those miles like practice, experimenting and refining your fueling, protecting recovery as fatigue builds, and learning how to handle the mental spiral that tends to show up in the middle of a cycle.This episode is especially helpful if you’re training for your first marathon, but experienced runners will probably recognize a few familiar patterns too. We talk through cumulative fatigue, under fueling, mid cycle doubt, and the importance of zooming out when one rough workout tries to define your entire build. Phase Two is where durability and quiet confidence are built, and where consistency matters more than perfection.The First Marathon Buddy course is live! Join today for free!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 Program: skool.com/myfirstmarathon
Transcribe →113: Chicago 2025 and Finding Family with Team to End AIDS w/ Annie Rasmussen
Feb 2301:02:01Tap to summarizeAnnie thought about running a marathon for nearly ten years before finally lining up at the Chicago Marathon in 2025. After withdrawing from the race the year before due to injury, she rebuilt from the ground up, committed to strength training, and found something even bigger than a finish time through Team to End AIDS. What started as a comeback became a summer of long runs on the lakefront, new friendships, and learning how to run smart instead of just hard.In this episode, Annie shares how Peloton helped her actually learn the fundamentals of running, what it looked like to navigate injury and depression, and how she executed a negative split on her first marathon by trusting her training. We talk race day nerves, hometown crowds, chocolate chip bagels with peanut butter, and why treating your training like rehearsal might be the mindset shift every runner needs. 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 Skool community for free! - skool.com/myfirstmarathon
Transcribe →112: Remission Miles: From Crohn’s Diagnosis to a Cowtown Marathon Finish w/ Norah St Peter
Feb 1601:01:04Tap to summarizeNorah St Peter never saw herself as an athlete. She grew up in the performing arts, ran cross country in high school but didn’t connect with it, and later spent years very sick before finally being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Once she reached remission, movement became something to celebrate. Rock climbing led to running, running led to a half marathon, and not long after crossing that finish line she signed up for her first full at the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth on her birthday weekend.She trained through a cold Texas winter, only for race day to spike into the 80s. When the half marathoners split off and the course got quiet, the race shifted. The wall hit, the heat took a toll, and she crossed the finish line feeling physically and mentally feeling a bit wrecked. We also talk about taper tantrums, leaning on community, racing in remission, and what it means to do everything right in training and still have a hard day. This episode is a great reminder that even if the finish doesn’t come with fireworks, you still ran a marathon. Follow along with Norah on Instagram at @norahtriestorun !Support Norah's local chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis FoundationFollow 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!
Transcribe →111: Introducing The First Marathon Buddy Program
Feb 900:07:30Tap to summarizeWhat started as a love for reading first marathon race recaps turned into two years of collecting runner stories, and eventually into seeing the first marathon experience from the other side through coaching and helping my mom train for her first. Somewhere in all of that, a pattern became impossible to ignore.I share the thinking behind the First Marathon Buddy Program, why it’s meant to walk alongside your training rather than replace it, and why community has always been at the center of My First Marathon. If you’re training for your first marathon and want support that feels steady, approachable, and built with beginners in mind, this episode explains where that idea came from and where it’s headed.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 community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathon
Transcribe →22: How To Nail Your First 5 Weeks Of Marathon Training (Mini Episode)
Feb 400:08:30Tap to summarizeIn this week’s Wednesday mini episode, I’m walking through Phase One of the First Marathon Buddy program and breaking down what actually matters during the first five weeks of a 20 week marathon training plan. This phase isn’t about crushing workouts or proving anything. It’s about setting expectations, learning how to read your plan without panicking, building a routine that fits your life, and dialing in effort early so training doesn’t fight back later.This episode is especially helpful if you’re training for your first marathon, but experienced runners will probably recognize a few familiar traps too. We talk through patience, consistency, easy effort, and how to tell the difference between normal soreness and something that needs attention. Phase One is where trust in the process is built, and where the tone for the entire training block gets set. The First Marathon Buddy course officially launches on 2/9! Join the waitlist below. 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 waitlist for the First Marathon Buddy Program: https://forms.gle/9CtXZF1Ygxr92TjM8
Transcribe →110: Running Towards Gratitude: How a Busy Mom Found Her First Marathon w/ Nancy Pauley
Feb 200:57:13Tap to summarizeNancy never thought of herself as a runner. She was the kid who hated playing outside, grew up believing only “people chased by bears” ran, and spent most of her adult life focused on raising six kids. Running didn’t enter her life until her late 30s, when life got heavy and she started running down the country roads near her home just to clear her head. What began as a mental reset slowly turned into half marathons, lessons learned the hard way about fueling and hydration, and a growing belief that maybe the full marathon wasn’t as impossible as she once thought.In this episode, Nancy walks through her path from seven half marathons to the start line of her first full marathon at Richmond, training as a busy mom, navigating doubt, leaning on community, and learning to let go of pace goals in favor of gratitude. It’s a story about starting later, doing the work anyway, and proving to yourself that you’re capable of more than you ever imagined.Follow along with Nancy at @pauleyontherun 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=85354440
Transcribe →21: Introducing the First Marathon Buddy Program! (Mini Episode)
Jan 2800:07:31Tap to summarizeThis Wednesday mini episode kicks off a new short series built around something I’ve been quietly working on for the last few months: the First Marathon Buddy Program. It’s a 20-week companion meant to sit alongside your training plan and make marathon training feel less overwhelming, less isolating, and a lot more doable. In this episode, I walk through what the program is, why it exists, and how it’s structured to give you the right information at the right time instead of all at once.Over the next few weeks, these Wednesday minis will pull tips directly from the First Marathon Buddy Program framework, but if you’re not training for your first marathon, don’t worry. I’ll be adapting each topic to include broader running advice and takeaways for runners who’ve been around the block a few times too. The goal is to make these episodes useful no matter where you’re at, while still keeping things approachable and human for newer runners. 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 waitlist for the First Marathon Buddy Program: https://forms.gle/9CtXZF1Ygxr92TjM8
Transcribe →5: World Major or Local Race: Choosing Your First Marathon (Mini Episode)
Aug 13, 202500:14:18Tap to summarizeChoosing 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 experiences running Wilmington, City of Oaks, and Eugene, plus what I’ve learned from guests who’ve run the majors. Whether you want a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list race or a hometown event with fewer moving parts, this episode will help you make the call. Win free coaching! Apply at -> https://forms.gle/3HhTRgQSGVcqe1qw8 Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives
Transcribe →86: The Goal is the Spark, Not the Measure: Lessons in Letting Go w/ Brandon Hicks
Aug 11, 202501:15:53Tap to summarizeBrandon 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 marathon into a multi-year journey that included breaking four hours and running a 12-hour treadmill fundraiser for stroke awareness. If you’ve ever put pressure on yourself to “hit the number,” this one is a reminder that progress counts for more than perfection. Follow along with Brandon on Instagram at @realbhicks. Win free coaching! Apply at -> https://forms.gle/3HhTRgQSGVcqe1qw8 Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives
Transcribe →4: 3 Pieces of Running Advice That Changed My Running (Mini Episode)
Aug 6, 202500:15:00Tap to summarizeIn 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 changed how I train. If you’ve been feeling stuck or need a little motivation, I think you’ll get something out of this one. Save this for future reference: Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives
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