My First Marathon

This week’s Wednesday mini episode is all about making winter running a little more bearable. I’m breaking down my top three cold weather running tips that I’ve been sharing in my December daily running tip series, from keeping your hands and feet warm, to starting your run slightly cold on purpose, to fueling earlier than you think when temps drop.

I also share a simple bonus tip that makes a huge difference once you get home from a cold, sweaty run. If winter miles feel harder than they should, this one’s a quick listen with practical hacks you can use right away.

Follow along with the show:
 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays
 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod
 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast
 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

Heather Anderson’s running journey didn’t start with a training plan or a finish-time goal. It started with survival. From growing up running with her mom, to using running as a lifeline through trauma, chronic illness, surgery, and multiple injuries, Heather’s first marathon was built on years of resilience. In this episode, she shares how running became an act of resistance against everything trying to pull her away from herself.

We talk about racing without time goals, rebuilding trust in your body after illness and injury, and why finishing your first marathon can feel more like a beginning than an ending. Heather’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is keep showing up.

Follow along with Heather on Instagram at @hip_bean

Follow along with the show:
 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays
 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod
 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast
 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

This week’s mini episode dives into something a little different: the power of being too much. I grew up hearing that phrase constantly and spent years trying to shrink myself so no one would think I cared too much or tried too hard. But running marathons, hosting this show, and setting big goals flipped that script for me. Today I’m sharing how embracing that “too much” energy has pushed me toward the start and finish lines of some of my biggest dreams and why it might be the very thing that gets you where you want to go too.

If you’ve ever been told you’re too much, this one is for you. Let it be your reminder that caring deeply, going all in, and taking up space is exactly what big goals require.

Follow along with the show: 
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources 

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

This week, I’m chatting with Karina Chiqui, whose first marathon story is layered with community, culture, and a whole lot of heart. Karina started running at 12 after getting cut from her middle school soccer team, which led her into a lifelong relationship with distance running and eventually a collegiate career she accidentally signed up for. After graduation she moved across the country, rebuilt her running community, and later found her way back to New York where she pitched a charity partnership that ultimately secured her spot in the NYC Marathon. Her journey to the start line was shaped by representation, fundraising creativity, and the people who showed up for her again and again.

In this conversation, she walks through the highs, lows, ankle mishaps, and the emotional moments that carried her through all 26.2 miles. Karina’s story is a reminder of how powerful it is to be surrounded by people who believe in you and how deeply running can connect us to our roots, our why, and each other.

Follow along with Karina - @karinaachiqui 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/resources

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

This mini episode looks back at the first few weeks of working with my coach, Victoria from Train Smart Run Strong, when I showed up unsure, uncomfortable, and trying to figure out if my body could handle another marathon. We walk through how she approached my situation, the way she separates normal training fatigue from true red-flag pain, and why building a pain free foundation matters more than any workout. Along the way, we talk about the mindset shifts she teaches all injured athletes, the role of early confidence wins, and how variety and communication can quietly move you from panic mode to steady progress.

Follow along with Victoria at @trainsmartrunstrong on Instagram and TikTok or check out her website at https://www.trainsmartrunstrong.com/

Follow along with the show: 
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources 

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

Sheila started running at 53 with nothing but a Couch to 5K app and a feeling that something in her life needed to change. What she didn’t know then was that running would carry her through one of the hardest chapters of her life. After a breast cancer diagnosis, surgery, radiation, and chemo, she rebuilt her strength mile by mile until she found herself standing on the start line of her first marathon at 59. Her story is full of late beginnings, grit, gratitude, and the quiet confidence that grows when you prove to yourself that you can do hard things.

In this episode, Sheila walks us through the long path to 26.2, the training moments that nearly broke her, the ones that carried her, and the finish line that shifted everything. We talk about aging as a runner, learning to fuel, becoming mentally tough, and that it's never “too late” to start. 

If you need a reminder that running can rewrite your life at any age, 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/resources 

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

A couple weeks ago I shared a post about starting my period the day before my marathon, and the response from female runners was huge. So many of you had questions about how it went, what I researched beforehand, and whether running a marathon on day two of your cycle is actually doable. In this mini episode I walk through what the experience was really like and dig into the research I did leading up to race day.

We talk about why this happens more often than people think, the mental resilience it builds, how cycle tracking and knowing your body can help you feel more prepared, and the science-backed physical advantages that might actually work in your favor. If race day ever lines up with your cycle, or if you just want to understand this topic better, this episode offers helpful context and reassurance.

Medical disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only. I’m not a medical professional, and you should always consult your doctor for personalized guidance.

Follow along with the show: 
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources 

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

This week I am breaking down my fifth marathon and closing the chapter on what has been one of the most chaotic, emotional, and growth filled years of running I have ever had. Richmond came together after an injury filled spring, a party pace summer, and zero plans to race again in 2025. Then an unexpected opportunity popped up, three weeks of prep began, and suddenly I was lining up for a marathon I never thought I would get to run for myself this year. 

This episode walks through the entire story from the frustration of losing a time goal back in April to finding joy again in training, testing out paces on tired legs, running Richmond on day two of my period, and finally crossing the finish line with a five minute PR that felt like the most meaningful win of my year. It is more than a race recap. It is the full circle moment that reminded me why I run, what this sport has taught me, and why episode 100 feels so special. 

Follow along with the show: 
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources 

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

Getting sick a week out from a marathon used to send me into full panic mode. But after five marathons, I’ve learned that training never goes perfectly, and it doesn’t have to. In this episode, I’m sharing how my mindset has shifted over time, why one missed or modified run won’t ruin your race, and the three questions I ask myself anytime things go off plan during training.

Follow along with the show:
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources

Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me here! 

When Stephanie Dyer started running 34 years ago, it wasn’t love at first sight. As a former tennis player, running felt like punishment. But surrounded by the energy of Marathon Monday at Boston College, she gave it another chance and found a lifelong passion.

In this episode, Stephanie shares how her first marathon grew into decades of lessons about patience, simplicity, and self-trust. From training with nothing but a Timex and a quarter for a payphone to learning to listen to her body (and sometimes craving nothing but rotisserie chicken), her story reminds us that running doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.

Follow Stephanie at @runwithredness on Instagram!

Join the waitlist for her e-course that includes everything you need to know to be equipped and empowered to run a great marathon with a focus on nutrition and mindset -> runwithredness.com

Follow along with the show:
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources