My First Marathon

What does it take to go from postpartum depression and doomscrolling on the couch to crossing the finish line of your first marathon? For Rebecca Simonic, it all started with a TikTok edit of the New York City Marathon that sparked something she couldn’t ignore. She set her sights on 26.2 and never looked back.

In this episode, Rebecca opens up about the messy, emotional, and rewarding journey of training for her first marathon in Pittsburgh. From balancing motherhood and running, to rehabbing through injury, to running a snowy solo half marathon just to prove she could, Rebecca’s story is one of resilience and rediscovering identity.

Follow along with Rebecca on Instagram and Tiktok at @Rebecca_The_Mediocre_Runner!

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

Join my coaching waitlist! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FPqUiZnVWcXaD-N14Qpcf4YL7zejJqcWEMUslPAAbw4/edit

In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, I’m sharing my story of how the pressure of sports turned into anxiety, burnout, and depression, and how running eventually helped me find my way forward again. It wasn’t an overnight change, but step by step I started to rebuild my confidence and sense of purpose. If you’re going through something similar, I want you to know you’re not alone, and there is always a path forward, even if it starts with just one small step.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Here are some resources that can help:

United States: Dial or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

Text Support: Text HELLO to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Text Line counselor.

NAMI HelpLine: Call 1-800-950-6264 or text “HelpLine” to 62640 for information and support.

Global Resources: Visit findahelpline.com or befrienders.org to find international hotlines and local support services.

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

Join my coaching waitlist! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FPqUiZnVWcXaD-N14Qpcf4YL7zejJqcWEMUslPAAbw4/edit

Asher didn’t grow up playing sports and definitely didn’t picture himself as a marathoner. His running story started in a pretty unusual way: after a poison ivy rash left him restless, he laced up a pair of basketball shoes and went out for a mile. That quick decision snowballed into signing up for the Philadelphia Marathon just 17 weeks later. What followed was a crash course in marathon training filled with shin splints, IT band pain, fueling mistakes, and plenty of doubt along the way.

Crossing the Philly finish line was about more than getting through 26.2. For Asher, it was a life-shifting moment where he left behind past struggles and proved he could take on something bigger than he thought possible. In this episode, we talk through the highs, the lows, and the lessons he’s carrying forward as he heads toward the Chicago Marathon with a stronger plan, a clearer mindset, and a cause close to his heart.

Follow along with Asher on Instagram at @asherruns

Support Asher's fundraiser: https://lupusil.salsalabs.org/lcr2025/p/asherbrummel/index.html?fbclid=PAb21jcAMpalFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp8A3Z0HSIP30Bn7xreVgjmtDrUgERewtKw2UgEma1SyvDoDreeyH95faWXRy_aem_drRyu9M_gXu2JdeEfakXRg

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

Join my coaching waitlist! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FPqUiZnVWcXaD-N14Qpcf4YL7zejJqcWEMUslPAAbw4/edit

Keira D’Amato’s running journey is a true comeback story. After almost a decade away from the sport, she started again as a new mom who could barely run 90 seconds and started her slow build back. That patient rebuild gave her a new perspective on running and eventually carried her from her first marathon in Missoula to breaking the American record.

In this episode, Keira talks about what it meant to start from zero, how motherhood changed the way she approached training, and the lessons she carried into some of her biggest performances. Her new book Don’t Call It a Comeback (out September 9th) tells the full story, but this conversation captures the heart of it: finding joy in the little steps and proving that a fresh start can lead to something bigger than you ever imagined.

Pre-order Keira's book: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/dont-call-it-9781250344946/

Follow along with Keira: https://www.instagram.com/keiradamato/?hl=en

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

Join my coaching waitlist! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FPqUiZnVWcXaD-N14Qpcf4YL7zejJqcWEMUslPAAbw4/edit

This week’s mini episode is all about the five biggest lessons I’ve picked up after interviewing nearly 100 runners about their first marathons! From starting slow and taking the pressure off your debut race, to finding the right community, building strength, knowing your why, and ultimately just signing up and doing it, these themes came up again and again across countless conversations. If you’re gearing up for your first 26.2, this one is packed with advice that’ll help you train smarter, enjoy the journey, and step up to the start line with confidence.

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

Join my coaching waitlist! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FPqUiZnVWcXaD-N14Qpcf4YL7zejJqcWEMUslPAAbw4/edit

What do you do when mile 21 of your first marathon throws more at you than fatigue? For Molly, it wasn’t just the wall, it was four full-sized turkeys blocking the course. Her first 26.2 in Milwaukee was already a journey years in the making, starting with recovery from a near-death illness, a 17-mile charity walk with her dad, and a surprising half marathon finish she never planned to run. From spin classes to walking loops around her apartment, she slowly built the strength and belief that led her to the start line.

In this episode, Molly shares how she fell in love with the half marathon distance, learned to ditch the pressure of pace, and found her community along the way. We talk about Wisconsin winter training, fueling with fruit snacks and Nerds gummy clusters, and how her family made race weekend unforgettable. And of course, we break down the unforgettable mile 21 turkey showdown, a story that proves the marathon is never just about the miles.

Follow along with Molly on Instagram at @marathonmolly_

Join my coaching waitlist! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FPqUiZnVWcXaD-N14Qpcf4YL7zejJqcWEMUslPAAbw4/edit

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

In this mini episode I share a training update as I prepare for the Chicago Marathon. After battling injuries and barely finishing Eugene, I took May off, started working with a coach, and focused on getting back to running pain-free. Since then I’ve built mileage safely, added strength work, and slowly regained confidence. With 50 days to go, I’m feeling healthy, grateful, and more excited about running than I’ve been in a long time.

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

Rachel O’Brien never thought she would call herself a runner. After quitting lacrosse in college following a thyroid diagnosis, she hated exercise and avoided running for years. That changed in 2023 when she saw the Broad Street Run on TV and decided to train for it. What started with a shaky half mile turned into 5Ks, a half marathon, and eventually the Philadelphia Marathon. Her first 26.2 was far from smooth. She dealt with plantar fasciitis, made the mistake of wearing new shoes at the expo, and started race morning unsure if she would finish. What got her through was Philly’s running community, her run club, her best friend by her side, and a bag of Sour Patch Kids for mile-by-mile motivation. Crossing the line in tears, she called it the proudest moment of her life.

This episode goes beyond race day. Rachel shares how marathon training helped push her forward in eating disorder recovery, gave her confidence to show up authentically in the sport, and showed her the power of surrounding yourself with support. 

Follow along with Rachel on Instagram at @rachobiee! 

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 mini episode is all about running mantras. Whether you’re struggling through a long run, hitting the wall during a race, or just need a little mental boost, these six phrases can help you push through and keep moving forward.

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

Download the guide - https://www.myfirstmarathonpodcast.com/resources

Katelyn Fox never thought she’d call herself a runner. A swimmer for 19 years, she once saw running as punishment until a family step challenge led her to buy a treadmill, prove her mom wrong, and slowly discover a love for the sport. Walking turned into jogging, jogging into running, and eventually training for her dream Disney race.

That journey took her to the Walt Disney World Marathon, where she followed Jeff Galloway’s run-walk-run plan, pushed through the infamous ESPN Wide World of Sports stretch, and crossed the finish line dressed as a Fastpass. Along the way she found joy in costumes, castle miles, and the Disney magic that kept her moving forward.

Her first marathon story is equal parts Disney sparkle and grit, with lessons every runner can take away — especially her mantra: forward is a pace.

Follow along with Katelyn on Instagram at @Katelynrunsdisney !

My coaching waitlist -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXSdkfbrw_dpynle7LESSFIQmjAdS1_AKerNEEE9v5KA4n5A/viewform

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