My First Marathon

Ryan 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

Ilana 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

Cass 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

This 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

Krissy 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 !

After 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.

Fueling 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

Holly 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.

Anyone 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

Kristine 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

In 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

Annie 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

Norah 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! 

What 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

In 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

Nancy 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

This 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

Rose never saw herself as a marathon runner. Growing up, movement felt punitive, something she was forced into rather than chose for herself. In her twenties, that complicated relationship with exercise and food followed her, until consistency, Peloton, and a shift toward body-positive movement slowly changed the way she saw fitness. What started as cycling turned into running, then a half marathon she wasn’t fully prepared for, and eventually the realization that when 13.1 stopped feeling scary, maybe 26.2 was possible too.In this episode, Rose walks through training for her first marathon at the Every Woman’s Marathon in Scottsdale, including self-doubt, fueling mistakes, rough long runs, unexpected heat, and the mental battle that defined her race. We talk about trusting training when your confidence wavers, leaning on community when things fall apart late in the race, and what it means to cross the finish line carrying proof that you’re capable of more than you ever thought. This is a story about rewriting your relationship with movement and learning, mile by mile, that your mind might be your strongest muscle.Follow along with Rose on Instagram at @rosecmeadows!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

Lena Milligan’s first marathon came after years of rebuilding her relationship with movement. After a childhood spent as a competitive swimmer, Lena moved through seasons of overexercising, underfueling, injury, and anorexia recovery that forced her to step away from running entirely.In this episode, Lena shares how she slowly found her way back through walking, 5Ks, trail races, half marathons, and eventually the marathon start line. We talk about learning how to fuel without fear, distance dysmorphia, bad long runs, trusting your body again, and why being tired from something you love can feel like a privilege instead of a punishment.Follow along with the show: Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources

This week’s Wednesday mini episode is one I really wish someone had told me back when I was first trying to get into running: You're going to hate running until the day you don't. In this episode, I talk through my own start and stop relationship with running, why I hated it for years, and what finally changed when I stopped trying to prove something on every run. We get into the glamorization of running on social media, the importance of patience and consistency, and why falling in love with running has way more to do with who it slowly turns you into than how good any single run feels. If you’re early in your journey and waiting for running to click, this one’s 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/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440