In this solo mini episode, I’m breaking down five injury-related mistakes I made during my third marathon training block—so you don’t have to. From rushing recovery to trusting the wrong training plan, I’m sharing what went wrong, what I’d do differently, and how I’m approaching things smarter this time around. Whether you’re training through an injury or trying to avoid one, this episode’s for you.

Stay tuned for the guide to go along with this episode at myfirstmarathon.co/resources

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

Emily Bailey never saw herself as athletic. She played sports growing up but didn’t feel like she was naturally good at any of them. Over the years, she stayed active and even ran 5Ks for fun, but it wasn’t until 2022 that she started to take running more seriously. What started as a challenge with a cash prize turned into something much bigger.

In this episode, Emily shares how she trained for her first half marathon, navigated recurring injuries, and eventually signed up for her first full with a mindset of no regrets. We talk about what it looked like to go from feeling like an outsider in the running world to crossing the finish line at the Every Woman’s Marathon — and finally claiming the title of athlete.

Follow along with Emily on Instagram and TikTok at @rockytoprunner!

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

In this mini episode, I’m answering the most common questions I get from first-time marathoners. Whether you’re deep into training, thinking about signing up, or just trying to figure out where to begin, this is for you. I’m covering how long to train, what to eat on the run, how to pace yourself, and what actually matters on race day. These are real questions from real runners, with simple answers you can actually use.

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

John Calabrese turned to running during one of the hardest seasons of his life. After a difficult divorce and a period of personal reflection, he signed up for a marathon as a way to process pain and find purpose. What started with solo training runs quickly evolved into a love for ultras, trails, and the weird, welcoming community that came with them.

In this episode, John opens up about how running helped him through grief, injury, and burnout, why returning to the sport was harder than starting, and what it means to reconnect with your "why" after life knocks you off track.

Follow John on Instagram at @breezytrailhead

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

Theresa Dornburg didn’t follow a strict plan, hire a coach, or even hit a traditional long run before her first marathon. But she still made it to the Charlotte finish line—with a beer and tofu waiting for her at mile 22.

In this episode, Theresa shares how a restaurant job with unpredictable hours, a group of coworkers turned training partners, and some creative mileage made her marathon possible. We talk about managing injuries, running through the North Carolina heat, and what it’s like to chase a marathon while balancing 50-hour work weeks.

If you’ve ever felt behind on your training or unsure if you’re “doing it right,” this one’s for you.

Follow along with Theresa on Instagram at @theresa.dornburg

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

Sarah had been running for 15 years, but it wasn’t until she hit a rough patch that she finally started running on her own terms. What began as a way to manage body image in high school eventually became a tool for structure, clarity, and self-trust.

In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to feel like a beginner after years of running, the spreadsheet saga behind her marathon training plan, and the mental spiral that hit her at mile 15. Sarah shares how navigating injury, PCOS, and self-doubt helped her rebuild confidence—on and off the course.

We also get into what it took to actually enjoy marathon training, the pressure of first-time pacing, and how this race became more than just 26.2 miles.

Follow along with Sarah on Instagram at @runningwithyank 

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

In this episode, I chat with Erin Azar (@immrsspacecadet) about what it took to go from quitting everything she started to training for—and finishing—her first marathon. Erin opens up about running postpartum, the mental battles that came with starting from zero, and how documenting her journey online helped her stay consistent when things got hard.

We talk about what it felt like to run in a body that didn’t feel like hers, how working with a coach changed her approach, and what it was like to train for a marathon during the early days of COVID. Erin also shares what finally helped her break the cycle of giving up, what fueling strategies worked (and didn’t), and how the Galloway method led to a breakthrough PR.

If you’ve ever struggled with consistency, self-doubt, or starting over, this conversation is a reminder that slow progress is still progress—and it can take you farther than you think.

Follow along with Erin:

IG/ TikTok: @immrsspacecadet / @im.mrs.space.cadet

Podcast: https://www.nonmembersonlypod.com/

 

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

Colin Fegeley joins the show to break down his first marathon experience—starting with a wake-up call at a routine doctor’s appointment and ending with a finish line under the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona. In just ten months, Colin went from casual 5Ks to completing a full marathon, but what makes his story stand out is the role community played every step of the way. From his high school cross country team to his long run training partners and family support, Colin shares how leaning on others helped him stay consistent, accountable, and motivated. We talk about what it’s like to train as a busy athletic director, how running brought structure back into his life, and why he’s already planning his next race. 

Follow along with Colin at @cfegeley on Instagram! 

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

In this episode, I chat with Courteney Lowe, co-founder of Fuel Goods, about her journey from professional cycling to her first marathon—and all the hard lessons learned along the way. Courteney opens up about what it was like to hit the wall at mile 18, how poor fueling nearly took her out of the race, and why that experience ended up inspiring the launch of Fuel Goods.

We cover everything from the mindset shift required to move from cycling to running, to the physical challenges of pacing and gut issues, to how her relationship with running changed when she started working with a coach. Courteney also shares what fuels her now, what shoes she trusts, and how she’s balancing performance goals with the long game of staying injury-free and enjoying the process.

If you’ve ever struggled with pacing, nutrition, or motivation, this conversation is full of the real talk runners need.

Follow along with Courteney and the Fuel Goods team: @fuel_goods & @courteneylowe. 

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives

Colin spent a year training for his first marathon—navigating weight loss, injury recovery, and every mental hurdle that comes with starting from scratch. In this episode, he shares the full story of how he went from going through all the emotions watching the Chicago Marathon livestream to crossing the finish line at Hayward Field in Eugene. His transformation is equal parts inspiring, relatable, and deeply personal.

Even more special, I got to run the Eugene Marathon alongside him. We talk about what it’s really like to share a race with someone for 26.2 miles, the highs and lows of the course, and the moment everything almost fell apart at mile 25.9. Whether you’ve run one marathon or none, this story will remind you why we keep showing up to the start line.

Follow along with Colin on TikTok at @ccbloodworth ! 

Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast

🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathonpodcast.com & myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/exclusives