At Your Own Pace

55,000 runners. One of the hottest Chicago Marathons in years. A course change that pulled runners off the iconic Chicago Theatre stretch. And a whole lot of 26.2 miles worth of stories to tell.

In this episode of At Your Own Pace, I sit down with runners from all walks of this sport — first-timers, veterans, locals, travelers, the fast and the far-from-fast — to break down what the 2026 Chicago Marathon was really like out there. We get into the mental game, the physical grind, and the pacing calls everyone had to make in real time as the heat climbed into the mid-70s on race day.

You will hear how runners managed hydration, adjusted their goals on the fly, and leaned on the crowd and the community to carry them through. One guest takes us from Chicago all the way to Honolulu, sharing what it is like to run back-to-back majors and what each race taught them about resilience, recovery, and showing up. We get into the marathon blues that always creep in after a big race, the lessons that only reveal themselves after mile 20, and the advice every one of these runners wishes they could pass on to the next person stepping up to the start line.

The common thread? Don’t let a clock dictate your success. Treat every marathon like it’s your first. And 26.2 miles will change you — in the best way.

If you ran Chicago, if you want to run Chicago, or if you just love hearing real runners tell the truth about what this sport takes — this one is for you.

Jeffrey McEachern is one of the most magnetic voices in the running world — but the version of him you see on the Peloton Tread today is a very different person than the one who laced up his shoes on December 2, 2015, broke and sleeping on a friend's couch.

That day changed everything.

In this episode, Jeffrey and I get into all of it. The years before running, when he was searching for identity, community, and a sense that who he was and what he had were enough. The first run that made him cry. The years of grinding to build a life from scratch — from McDonald's at 18, to talent recruiting for The Voice of Germany, to becoming a Peloton running instructor and the self-proclaimed Chief of Good Vibes. We talk about the Six Star journey, the mental health work that runs alongside the miles, the healing that happens on the road, and the reason he shows up every single day with joy, even when the world does not make it easy.

We also get into the tools that keep him going — therapy, forgiveness, visualization, gratitude, and the belief that he has the power to feel the way he wants to feel. Jeffrey is proof that authenticity is a superpower, that community can rebuild a person, and that the miles you put down are never just about the miles.

If you have ever needed to hear that a single decision to lace up can start a whole new life — this episode is for you.

Abigail Michelle is proof that you do not have to pick a lane. Actor. Model. Marathoner. Musician. Six Star finisher. Ambassador for some of the biggest brands in the sport. And 39 long-distance finish lines deep — with more to come.

In this episode, Abigail shares her running journey from 2017 to now — the injuries, the comebacks, the marathons that shaped her, and the ones that humbled her. We talk about the intersection between running, music, and acting, and why pursuing multiple passions has made her a stronger athlete AND a better artist. We get into the mental side of the sport — positive self-talk, visualization, the two most powerful words in her toolkit ("I am"), and the importance of embracing the process instead of chasing outcomes.

We also talk about the Six Star journey, why races like New York and Chicago hit differently, the meaning behind meeting her running idols, and the community and mentorship that has carried her through every mile. Plus — her gear, her partnerships, and the honest advice she gives to new runners just getting started.

Abigail is a reminder that running is a metaphor for life. That resilience is built one mile, one setback, one comeback at a time. And that the people who chase multiple dreams often find the most meaningful finish lines.

If you have ever wondered whether you can be more than one thing — this one is for you.

Maurice Lowman knows the exact date his life changed. March 12, 2015. That is the day he got sober. And every mile he has run since — 44 marathons, 8 ultras, two 100 milers, and a 3,488-day run streak — has been built on top of that one decision.

You may know him as Marathon Panda. Positivity and hope dealer. Ultra runner. Community builder. The guy who runs the Boston Marathon in a full suit and tie. But before all of that, Maurice was fighting for his life against addiction on the streets of Rhode Island.

In this episode, Maurice and I go all the way back — to the early days, the rock bottom moments, and the pivotal day that everything shifted. We talk about how running became the second half of his sobriety, what nearly ten years of daily running actually gave him, and what it felt like to end the streak on his own terms. We get into the story behind the suit, the causes he runs for, and what it means to become a hope dealer for people who are still in the fight he once was.

Maurice is proof that pain can become purpose. That consistency can rebuild a life. That small words of encouragement can plant seeds that grow into entire communities. And that no matter where you have been, you can decide today to write a different next chapter.

If you or someone you love is struggling — with addiction, with mental health, with feeling stuck — this episode is for you.

Jon Levitt has spent the last seven years asking the best runners in the world — Olympians, ultrarunners, back of the pack finishers, and everyone in between — one simple question: what keeps you going?

As the host of For The Long Run and Long Run Labs, and a builder in the endurance space through Find My Huddle and Eternal, Jon has become one of the most trusted voices in the sport. But in this episode, the tables turn. We flip the mic on the guy who usually asks the questions.

Jon and I get into his own running journey — from his first marathon to ultra distances, from a life-changing dinner with Zach Miller in 2018 to launching one of the most respected running podcasts out there. We talk about the aggregate wisdom he has collected from hundreds of conversations, why process beats outcome every single time, what the back of the pack has taught him that the elite side hasn't, and how curiosity — not talent, not obsession, but pure curiosity — has driven every chapter of his life.

We also get into what it looks like to build a real business in the running world, why starting early matters, and the three words he lives by: pursue adventure, follow curiosity, bet on yourself.

Whether you are chasing your first 5K or your fifth 100 miler, this conversation is going to leave you fired up to lace up.

Anne Keane is a jewelry designer, a mom, and a woman who has been living with — and thriving through — stage 4 breast cancer. She is also a marathoner, chasing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors while raising money for Dana-Farber, the very institution that is part of her own cancer journey.

In this conversation, Anne and I get into all of it. How running found her during the pandemic. What it feels like to train for Boston and Berlin while managing a stage 4 diagnosis. The mental discipline it takes to keep showing up when your body has its own agenda. How her work as a jewelry designer at Flock Boston connects to her work as a runner — both requiring patience, craft, and steady hands. Why she chose the word thriving instead of surviving. What it means to run for Dana-Farber. And what she wants the metastatic breast cancer community to know about what is still possible.

Anne is the definition of at your own pace. This is a conversation about resilience, community, creativity, and choosing to live fully — one mile, one bead, one day at a time.

If you have ever been told something hard and had to figure out what came next, this episode is for you.

What happens when a Peloton bike gifted by your husband accidentally sparks a full-blown running obsession? For Laura, it meant going from her first ride to coaching her son's middle school cross-country team—to a state championship—in just six months.

In this episode, Laura shares the beautifully messy reality of becoming a runner: fueling her first marathon with nothing but applesauce squeeze pouches, battling humidity so brutal her vest left burns, and wrestling with the voice that whispered "I don't look like a runner, I don't talk like a runner." Spoiler: she ran it anyway, clocking her best half-marathon split in the process.

We dig into imposter syndrome, the power of community, and why every runner—no matter their pace—belongs in this sport. Laura's story is proof that you don't need to start on the roads to end up crossing a marathon finish line. You just need to start.

Whether you're eyeing your first 5K or your fifth marathon, this one's a reminder: one step, one mile at a time.

What does it really mean to call yourself a runner? In this episode, Mike sits down with Avelyn Castillo — known online as it's.aveline — for an honest, funny, and deeply motivating conversation about identity, belonging, and the long road to the start line.

Avelyn shares how she went from hating gym class and avoiding exercise altogether to training for and finishing marathons — all while managing asthma, navigating body image, and fully embracing life as a slow runner and run-walker. She opens up about the identity shift that comes with becoming a runner, the power of representation for plus-size athletes, and why transparency and inclusivity matter so much in running spaces.

Together, Mike and Avelyn dig into the role community plays in keeping us going: the friends, run clubs, and training partners who carried her through Boston, New York, and beyond. From charity running and the six-star dream to the mental health benefits of marathon training, Avelyn's story is a powerful reminder that progress is never linear — and that every mile counts.

If you've ever felt too slow, too late, or like you're not the "right" kind of runner, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and ready to keep going at your own pace.

Kaitlin started out as a swimmer. These days, she's an Ironman finisher—but the road between those two points is where the real story lives.

In this episode, Kaitlin walks us through her journey across all three disciplines: swimming, biking, and running, and what it actually takes to put them together over an Ironman distance. We talk about the training and the discipline the sport demands, but also about the quieter stuff—the humility that keeps you grounded, the mental resilience that carries you when your legs won't, and the lessons that only show up after you've raced more than once.

What comes through most is how personal the whole thing is. Kaitlin's path is her own, shaped by consistency, small wins that added up, and the community that pushed her along the way. It's a conversation for endurance athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone who needs a reminder that growth tends to come one steady step at a time.

Most runners just want to finish. Kristina wanted to do something bigger.

After learning she carried a genetic cancer risk and undergoing a mastectomy and hysterectomy, she didn't slow down—she ran straight at it. Kristina went on to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors and raised over $150,000 for cancer research along the way.

In this episode, she shares how she got from a high-risk diagnosis to the finish line of six of the world's biggest marathons. We talk about the mental side of it—how she kept going, why she ran for her dad's life, and what it meant to cross the London Marathon finish line with her family cheering her on. We also get into charity running, and why she believes telling your story can be the thing that gets you through the hard parts.

It's an honest conversation about turning pain into purpose, and about how running became her way of healing and building something that lasts. If you're a runner, a survivor, or just someone who needs a reminder that setbacks can turn into comebacks, this one's for you.

You can follow Kristina's work @kristinacoccoluto on Instagram and support her mission to fund cancer research.