My First Marathon

Mikaela Gomez is a mom of three, a Navy veteran, and somehow, until last July, not a runner at all. She found running through the unlikeliest of doors: a dark romance book rabbit hole on TikTok that led her to an ultra runner known as the Ghost Runner. What started as a way to move her body for her mental health turned into something much bigger once Mikaela started processing the loss of her father to suicide, a loss she was carrying while nine months pregnant and unable to be there for her family in the aftermath.In just eleven months, Mikaela went from her first mile to a 40 mile ultra in Flagstaff, Arizona, training through a breast reduction recovery, an autoimmune disease that once left her unsure if she'd walk again, and a household full of toddlers. She had six weeks to prepare after an invitation from a friend she'd never met in person. What happened on that course, between the blisters, the tears, and a phone call to her mom that changed everything, is the kind of story that reminds you just how strong you actually are.Follow along with Mikaela Gomez: @findingmika_Support Mikaela's charity: https://supporting.afsp.org/campaigns/50milesforlife?language=en&referrer=mf%3A3486336%3Ayou-copyFollow 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 Join the First Marathoner Community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathon

Fueling is one of the most common questions that comes up for first-time marathoners, and it can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure where to start. In this mini episode, we break fueling down into three simple steps: choosing a texture you can tolerate, testing it on lower-risk runs, and dialing in a strategy that works for your long runs and race day. We also talk through the differences between gels, chews, and liquid fuel, and why experimenting early in training is key.If you want a step-by-step structure for how fueling fits into a full training cycle, the 20-week First Marathon Buddy Course walks you through this and everything else you need to know to run your first marathon with confidence. You can learn more and join the community at skool.com/myfirstmarathon.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! -> https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440

Anyone can run a marathon, but running a marathon is not just a race. In this episode, I break down how that committing to training for your first marathon builds discipline, resilience, perspective, and a quiet confidence that carries into the rest of your life. You start showing up differently at work. You stop tying your entire identity to your job. You realize it is not selfish to prioritize your health. The finish line is only part of the transformation.If you are in the thick of training or reflecting on your first finish line, 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/resourcesJoin the First Marathon Buddy Community (for free!) - skool.com/myfirstmarathon

In this week’s Wednesday mini episode, I’m walking through Phase Two of the First Marathon Buddy program and breaking down what actually matters during weeks 10 to 15 of a 20 week marathon training plan. This phase isn’t about testing your fitness or grading every long run. It’s about treating those miles like practice, experimenting and refining your fueling, protecting recovery as fatigue builds, and learning how to handle the mental spiral that tends to show up in the middle of a cycle.This episode is especially helpful if you’re training for your first marathon, but experienced runners will probably recognize a few familiar patterns too. We talk through cumulative fatigue, under fueling, mid cycle doubt, and the importance of zooming out when one rough workout tries to define your entire build. Phase Two is where durability and quiet confidence are built, and where consistency matters more than perfection.The First Marathon Buddy course is live! Join today for free!Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesJoin the First Marathon Buddy Program: skool.com/myfirstmarathon

Norah St Peter never saw herself as an athlete. She grew up in the performing arts, ran cross country in high school but didn’t connect with it, and later spent years very sick before finally being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Once she reached remission, movement became something to celebrate. Rock climbing led to running, running led to a half marathon, and not long after crossing that finish line she signed up for her first full at the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth on her birthday weekend.She trained through a cold Texas winter, only for race day to spike into the 80s. When the half marathoners split off and the course got quiet, the race shifted. The wall hit, the heat took a toll, and she crossed the finish line feeling physically and mentally feeling a bit wrecked. We also talk about taper tantrums, leaning on community, racing in remission, and what it means to do everything right in training and still have a hard day. This episode is a great reminder that even if the finish doesn’t come with fireworks, you still ran a marathon. Follow along with Norah on Instagram at @norahtriestorun !Support Norah's local chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis FoundationFollow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesJoin the First Marathoner Community!