
122: Throwback Episode: Ariel Greenstein
From My First Marathon by My First Marathon
April 27, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 122
About this episode
Ariel Greenstein shares her journey from non-athlete to marathon runner, emphasizing the importance of community and enjoying the process.
Hey friends! I'm officially off getting married and soaking up every second of it. I'll be back with brand new episodes on May 4th, but in the meantime I'm bringing back one of your all-time favorite episodes for you to enjoy. Thanks for all the love and support. It means everything. Now let's get into it! Ariel Greenstein didn’t grow up as an athlete. She didn’t fall in love with running early. And for a long time, movement just wasn’t part of her life. But in her early 30s, something shifted. What started as Broadway-themed Peloton classes during the pandemic slowly turned into outdoor runs, then half marathons, and eventually a very intentional, very patient build toward her first marathon at the Chicago Marathon. In this conversation, Ariel walks us through what it looks like to take your time with the sport. She shares how releasing pace and time expectations helped her actually enjoy running, how documenting her slower-paced journey online helped other runners feel seen, and why community, strength training, and consistency mattered far more than rushing to the next distance. We talk about training with a run group, navigating the mental side of marathon prep, handling…
People in this episode
Host: My First Marathon
Guest: Ariel Greenstein
Topics covered
- marathon training
- running journey
- community support
- mental health
- slow running
- fitness
Keywords
- marathon
- running
- fitness
- community
- training
- Peloton
- mental health
- Chicago Marathon
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Chicago Marathon
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