Nineteen marathons sounds glamorous until you hear what it really takes: 5 a.m. runs before work, hard conversations with yourself at mile 20, and the patience to chase a goal for years. Nicole Gray joins us fresh off Tokyo Marathon to unpack how she went from a struggling first full marathon to earning her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star medal and lining up for Boston again.

We get specific about what actually moves the needle for marathon training and long-term running health: committing to strength training, learning to pace the first 10K, using simple mantras to shut down spirals of self-doubt, and trusting a coach who sees more potential than you feel in the moment. Nicole also shares the less-glamorous craft that separates a good day from a disaster, including running tangents, handling race travel, and building a pre-race routine that makes the start line feel normal.

Fueling and gear get the honest treatment too. We talk gels, timing, sensitive stomach troubleshooting, when sports drink becomes essential, and why the “pasta dinner” tradition doesn’t work for everyone. If you’re chasing a Boston qualifying time, exploring the World Marathon Majors, or simply trying to run stronger for longer, you’ll leave with practical strategy and a mindset you can use on your very next run.

If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a running friend, and leave a review so more runners can find the show.

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