My First Marathon

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

After battling postpartum depression and feeling at her lowest, Symone turned to the one thing that had always helped her cope—running. What started as a few shaky miles quickly became a goal to run a half marathon... which then escalated into training for the New York City Marathon. In just eight months, she went from zero movement to 26.2 miles, all while juggling mom life, shin splints, and mid-run FaceTimes. In this episode, Symone shares the highs, the lows, and the very real, very relatable journey of becoming a marathoner on her own terms.

Follow along with Symone at @symoneskinner 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

Cameron Schuler, founder of RNWY Nutrition, joins the show to share how a college bet led to his first (very undertrained) marathon—and eventually sparked the idea for a holistic fueling brand built for endurance athletes. We dive into his running journey from sprinter to sub-3 marathoner, what he learned from 10+ marathons, and how years working at Nike and Vital Proteins shaped his approach to performance and longevity.

We also talk about the gaps Cameron saw in sports nutrition, the origin of RNWY, and how he’s fueling for Boston with their soon-to-launch product.

🎧 Use code MYFIRSTMARATHON for 20% off at rnwy.life

Follow along with Cam and RNWY at @RNWY.life 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

With my solo episode out this week where I dove into my recent injury, for my running nerds out there enjoy today's BONUS episode on injury prevention with Sean Roach, physical therapist, biomechanics expert, and founder of Aletheia Run—a company creating cutting-edge tech to help runners better understand and prevent injuries.

Sean shares his deeply personal and professional journey, from battling chronic running injuries to working with elite Nike athletes, and now developing wearable tools that offer real-time insights into running mechanics. We dig into why so many runners get injured, how traditional injury prevention methods fall short, and why strength training (done right) is non-negotiable for long-term performance. 

Sean also explains how biomechanics, neurology, and even fascia all connect—and why your foot pain might actually be coming from your hips or even your neck. Whether you're a marathoner or just trying to stay healthy and injury-free, this episode is packed with eye-opening insights and actionable takeaways.

Links & Resources:
• Learn more about Aletheia Runs: https://www.aletheia.run/ or @aletheiarun on Instagram
• Follow Taylor on Instagram: @tay.says
• Follow the podcast: @myfirstmarathonpod

In today’s solo episode, I’m breaking down every twist, turn, and tear of my third marathon—Eugene. This wasn’t the PR-chasing, hometown comeback I imagined. Instead, it became a crash course in running through injury, navigating self-doubt, and redefining what success looks like when everything doesn’t go according to plan. 

From failing training runs and working with PTs, to crossing the finish line in a wheelchair, this race tested me more than any before—but it also gave me the clearest picture yet of who I am as a runner. Whether you’re injured, training, or toeing the line soon, I hope this story reminds you that marathons don’t owe us anything... and yet, they somehow still give us so much.

Follow along with my personal journey at @tay.says!