New York City Marathon 2025: Breakthrough Performances and Inspiring Comebacks Through the Five Boroughs!

What an incredible day in New York City! Our Running Joyfully crew brought their A-game to the streets of the Big Apple, navigating all five boroughs with strength, courage, and joy. From breakthrough PRs to triumphant comebacks and milestone celebrations, our athletes showed up ready to tackle the iconic NYC course. The energy of the city carried them through every bridge and cheer zone, and we couldn't be prouder of each and every one of our NYC marathoners!

Some of our Running Joyfully crew at the pre-race shakeout run with Coach Danielle

Breakthrough Performances

Rebecca Mehra en route to her debut 2:42 marathon!

Ellie Wheeler: 3:44
Ellie ran a fabulous 18 minute PR in New York, returning to the marathon distance for the first time in 2 years and taking a massive amount of time off her personal best. During her buildup en route to NYC, she PRed in the half marathon, and overall her training went great (despite a few preschool colds in there!). Given this, we were confident that she was going to have an equally great NYC Marathon! We're jazzed about this BIG personal best and even more excited for how she'll build on this performance - BQ, we're coming for you!

Rebecca Mehra: 2:42
Rebecca is a former track & field professional runner who retired from the track after an immensely successful career running the 800m and 1500m. This fall, she took on a number of new challenges: starting a full time career at a public affairs firm and training for her first marathon, racing 25+ more miles than her usual race distance! Rebecca navigated this new season of life (and the inevitable bumps in the road that come with big changes) with the grit and grace that served her so well in her pro track days. Despite some hiccups in her buildup, Rebecca showed up in NYC excited and confident, and she executed her race plan like the seasoned athlete she is. She ran an amazing 2:42 debut marathon and raised over $12,000 for the nonprofit Bras for Girls - we couldn't be more proud of her!

Jas is all smiles after her 2nd marathon!

Jas Severino: 4:18
Jas recently ran her first marathon, the Sydney Marathon, just 8 weeks ago, so her goal for NYC was to make it to the start line healthy and excited. Mission accomplished, with a PR to boot (6 minutes faster than Sydney!). Jas is newer to running and new to coaching; we can't wait to see what she does once she and Coach Kacy really get rolling together with training! For Jas, this marathon represented resilience in the face of adversity, as well as celebration - she celebrated her Dominican heritage and smiled through the marathon pain every time she saw the Dominican flag waving in each borough! We right alongside her - congrats, Jas!

Carrie Wert: 3:36
Carrie put together an incredible and consistent training block that powered her to her fastest marathon time since 2016! Carrie’s recent years had been sidetracked by injuries, but since working with Coach Danielle, she was able to put together a healthy marathon build; she continued to get stronger and stronger each week, both physically and mentally. Carrie stuck to her race plan, trusted her training, and ran her fastest marathon in nearly a decade (since having her three children)! She's found her groove again and we can't wait to see what she does next!

Mai celebrating her 3 minute personal best!

Mai Nguyen-Huu: 3:54
What an amazing NYC Marathon finish for Mai! This buildup did not come without a few obstacles - some niggles here and there that required some creativity with training from Mai and Coach Sarah. However, Mai faced those setbacks with grace and confidence and didn't let them stop her. She found ways to adapt and train consistently, supplementing her running with cross-training, and she was able to get to the start line in one piece! All that hard work paid off big time with an over 3 minute PR, running 3:54. Her resilience, dedication, and heart made this goal a reality - we are inspired!

Katie Rasor: 3:54
Katie took to the streets of her hometown with confidence and courage, experiencing an exciting breakthrough day. Katie has set PRs at every distance in her time as a Running Joyfully athlete, and while her NYC Marathon wasn't a lifetime best, it was her fastest marathon since 2023. Katie's race this year was extra special as she had to defer the 2024 race due to an unexpected, non-running injury. Her performance this year was just 1 minute off her PR, a barrier she's ready to break through soon. Congrats, Katie!

Rona Ashe: 3:51
Rona had the opportunity to run NYC this fall, and while it wasn't originally part of her fall marathon plans (she's focused on CIM next month), we couldn't say no to a NYC bib! Rona used this race as a training run with a plan to go sub-4, and she ended up feeling amazing out there and ran a fabulous 3:51, not too far off her lifetime best! She had so much fun, and we are SO excited for what this means in a month when she's tapered and racing all-out at CIM!

First Marathons & Milestone Celebrations

Supermom Austen!

Julie Smith: 4:37
A dream come true - Julie is a marathoner! A busy working mom, Julie carved out time for months of training through Colorado's summer heat and elevation, battled a late injury, and stayed committed to her goal of finishing the NYC Marathon all while balancing work and family life. Crossing the finish line of her first marathon was a true bucket-list dream come true. Her grit, dedication, and heart got her to that moment - we’re so proud of Julie for this an incredible accomplishment.

Austen McEnaney: 4:55
Austen ran her first marathon as a mom! After many ups and downs in the training cycle (inevitable when newly postpartum!), Austen debated whether or not she should defer her bib this year. However, she and Coach Katie worked together to make a plan (and make adjustments to the plan!). Austen got to the start line healthy and was able to crush her goal! We’re so proud of how she used this training block to prioritize herself, to find balance returning to work as a new mom, to be graceful and gentle with herself as she juggled it all. We’re inspired by Austen!

Betty Yung: 3:46
Betty kept her amazing streak alive, running her 21st NYC Marathon in the city she loves. NYC is Betty’s hometown marathon and she knows this course better than anyone. Coming off a super run at the Chicago Marathon just last month, this was the perfect celebration run for Betty. Yay Betty!

Why yes, this is Betty taking a selfie mid-marathon with none other than Des Linden!

Perseverance Through Adversity

Superhuman Pam Henry running joyfully through NYC

Pam Henry: 3:18
Pam somehow does it all, balancing a demanding career as a trauma surgeon with motherhood and training. After making a last-minute decision to race in NYC, Pam crushed a shortened training block and brought joyful energy to the start line. While it wasn't a PR attempt, this race was meaningful to Pam and her family, who she hugged and kissed at Mile 21. Congratulations Pam!

Arthur Li: 4:20
Arthur conquered months of heat and humidity while training in Dallas for this race, building up physical and mental endurance that served him well on the challenging NYC course. While his ultimate race plan was sidelined by ill-timed cramps in the final miles, he ran a strong and smart race, patiently chipping away through every borough and across every bridge to run a 13 minute course PR. Arthur brings a high level of thoughtfulness to his training and tailors his lifestyle to support his running goals and we are very proud of his dedication during this buildup. Big PRs are on the horizon for him!

Melissa Marquez: 3:46
Melissa made a determined comeback to NYC Marathon this year - she missed last year's NYC due to an injury and was set on getting to the starting line this year. An incredibly hard worker, Melissa puts in the work day in and day out, finding a way to fit in the miles around a busy schedule. While she experienced a small setback with her calf, she was able to make it to the starting line and run with joy. We are very proud of her perseverance!

Cara Cavazza: 4:59
Cara competed in her 4th marathon in the last 12 months, earning her 3rd World Marathon Majors star and completing the US majors. Running 4 marathons in a year wasn't in her original game plan, but when the opportunity to run NYC came along, she and Coach Kaitlin couldn't say no. Cara ran a joyful and courageous race, sneaking in just under 5:00 despite coming down with a poorly-timed illness just days before the race. We adjusted her plan and she ran strong to get that sub-5, making many special NYC memories along the way!

Sarah Allen: 4:51
Sarah had a little bit of a bumpy road in training dealing with an unexpected illness - but she didn't let it stop her from going after it. Given this illness, she and Coach Danielle pivoted her race plan to run off of effort. Just as she listened to her body in training, she ran by feel in NYC and made it across the finish line sub-5. We know she is capable of so much more when she’s healthy, and we applaud how she ran smart and found her joy throughout on race day.

Selena celebrating a JOYful day!

Brooke Macomber: 3:30
After a busy season of life and work, Brooke capped off her year of World Major Marathons with a fun experience in NYC, running a solid 3:30. She and Coach Steph are bringing this momentum into 2026 with Tokyo, London and Chicago on tap!

Selena Yang: 4:54
After a PR run at the Berlin Marathon, Selena had an injury scare en route to NYC. While waiting on MRI results, she prioritized cross-training, keeping her fingers crossed that she could still run NYC. With an all-clear on the MRI, Selena and Coach Katie set forth with run/walk race plan, prioritizing health and joy on the course. On race day, Selena focused on having a great time in the adopted hometown she’s grown to love - she took in the atmosphere and the energy in all five boroughs and celebrated getting to the start and finish lines healthy. Finishing was a major accomplishment and we look forward to resetting before a Boston Marathon build!

We are SO proud of every single one of our athletes who raced through the five boroughs of New York City! From breakthrough PRs to inspiring comebacks and joyful milestones, each of our teammates showed incredible heart and determination out there on the course. The energy of NYC carried them through every mile, and they carried the spirit of Running Joyfully with them! Congrats, team!

Chicago Marathon 2025: Fast times, first marathons, and a fabulous day all around!

We had our biggest-ever crew of Chicago Marathoners racing in the Windy City this year, with Coaches Kaitlin, Katie, and Amy there to cheer and support. What a day for our team!

Big PRs

Hope Singas: 3:22
Hope, coached by Coach Amy, had a stellar day with an 18 minute personal best - yes, you read that right! Hope had an amazing build up to Chicago where it was clear she was building fitness left and right. The best part of this build up was that she didn't do anything wild - in fact, she ran less mileage than she did in her previous marathon build, while this year doubling down on the “little things” that we know make a BIG difference: sleep, fueling, hydration, and strength. A summer of consistent training had Hope and Amy dreaming big about what Chicago could bring, and Hope ran a fantastic race en route to her first, long-awaited BQ and a huge PR!

Jamie Ashton: 3:30
Jamie, coached by Coach Jen, ran an 8 minute personal best in Chicago and her first BQ! Jamie’s training block was disrupted by an Achilles flare up that luckily she got under control; she and Jen made modifications and were patient and nimble in her training. Jamie got to the starting line healthy and was able to achieve our 3:30 goal right on the nose! While we hoped she might be able to find some gears later in the race to dip under 3:30 for a BQ buffer, we’re so proud of her and the mental fortitude she showed to get back to fighting shape after missing some key workouts and long runs due to her Achilles. We’re excited about this breakthrough and we’ll take another shot her A goal in Houston in January!

Teammates Stephanie Miles and Julia Brownell share some early miles together at the Chicago Marathon

Annie McMahon: 3:17
Annie, coached by Coach Jen, notched a shiny new PR and just snuck under the 3:18 barrier with an official time of 3:17:59! Her previous PR of 3:22 was crushed with a strong showing in Chi-town. Her build up was not without hiccups, but overall very few quality efforts were missed and Annie was able to check the box on the big efforts needed for a great race day. She also managed to escape getting sick in the last couple weeks leading up to the race (as parents of young kiddos know, this is no small feat!!) and she was diligent in doing all that she could to stay healthy. She had a great day, cheered on by her sister Liz (also coached by Jen!) who was there to celebrate with her!

Julia Brownell: 3:11
Julia, coached by Coach Kaitlin, ran a 2 minute PR of 3:11, improving on her 3:13 PR from CIM almost a year ago. Chicago was almost 20 years to the day since Julia ran her first marathon, a 4:24 - how far she’s come in 2 decades of marathoning!! In this training cycle, Julia focusing on building belief and conquering self-doubt, and she tackled every workout and long run with new-found confidence. Her belief in herself carried her to a huge negative split, closing her final 4 miles at a blazing 6:58 pace to secure a new personal best (and a joyful marathon!).

Olympic Trials Qualifier

Anna Kenig-Zeisler: 2:35
Anna, coached by Coach Kaitlin, led the way for our team with a top 20 finish, finishing 18th overall for women and as the 9th American, an amazing feat at a World Major Marathon. We could not be more proud of Anna, who put together an absolutely stellar buildup, winning the Redmond Harvest Half in a recording-setting 1:13 half in September en route to a 2.5 minute PR in Chicago, running 2:35:25. Would you believe that Anna has only been running competitively for 3 years?! She was a star soccer player in college who ran XC and track at the end of her college career, and then turned to marathons. She’s gone from 2:43 to 2:35 in less than 3 years and we can’t wait to see where the next 3 years take her!!

Running Joyfully Elite

Krystyna Rytel: 2:44 and Annelise Gill-Wiehl: 2:47
Running Joyfully Elite members Krystyna and Annelise, coached by Coach Kaitlin, both ran significant personal bests and had breakthrough days in Chicago! Krystyna has dropped 14 minutes off her marathon time in the last year, improving on her 2:54 in Boston this spring to run 2:44 in Chicago, good for a top 60 finish. And we’re pretty sure she was the top med student finisher too! Krystyna began medical school at Columbia this fall, but you wouldn’t know it from her stellar training log, fitting in big miles in between classes. Meanwhile, Annelise took 8 minutes off her PR, running the most joyful 2:47 out there (you should have seen how much fun she was having!) to finish in 80th overall. Annelise fit in her training while traveling to conduct post-doc fieldwork in Ghana, fitting in big miles wherever her work took her. More big things to come from both of these fast ladies, on the roads and in their careers!

First-time Marathoners!

Laurie Kent: 5:00
At age 52, Laurie, coached by Coach Sarah, conquered her first marathon at the Chicago Marathon! From early mornings on the treadmill to long runs manaing a cranky foot, Laurie showed up, stayed committed, and never stopped believing in her ability to finish her first marathon. Her 5-hour finish is a testament to what consistency, courage, and determination can do. Every step of this journey was earned. Huge congratulations, Laurie - welcome to the marathon club!

McKenna Hixon, 3:41
McKenna trained for last year's Chicago Marathon and devastatingly sustained a stress fracture 1 month before the race. With this history of a bone stress injury, she put in the work of rehabbing, strength training, and correcting her imbalances, and then decided to work with Coach Kacy to help guide her to this year’s Chicago. What started as a "make it to the start line" training cycle turned into "how fast can she go!?" build up! Mckenna crushed all the workouts Kacy had for her and ran a very strong 3:41 debut marathon. Most importantly, she stayed healthy throughout the training block! We can’t wait to see what she does next!

Overcoming Obstacles

Andy Bingenheimer: 3:22
Andy, coached by Coach Steph, had a tremendous training cycle in preparation for Chicago. While achieving a PR is often the goal, Andy also has a deep appreciation for the process and enjoyed the journey of the training cycle en route to the Windy City. His race started strong, with a massive PR pace, before some GI issues forced a reset. Despite the challenges, Andy loved the Chicago experience and ran his second fastest marathon ever. Imagine how smooth and strong his next endeavor will be!

Betty Yung: 3:28
What started out as a build to go for a PR was derailed due to a freak accident that caused Betty to miss a few weeks of key training right towards the end of her build. Once Betty was cleared to train again, she and Coach Katie calibrated how much she could do and shifted goals away from a PR attempt, focusing instead on getting under the 3:30 BQ time she needs to maintain her Boston Marathon streak. While Betty still had high hopes for running closer to 3:26, we truly feel she got the most out of herself on the day given the unfortunate gaps in training as a result of her accident. She turned lemons into lemonade and still had a great day out there!

Lauren Jesse: 3:41
Lauren had big goals for this race, and with meaning too - she raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, an organization near and dear to her heart. Lauren works as a nurse on the bone marrow transport unit at UCSF and works incredibly grueling hours, so running for the LLS gave a lot of meaning to her miles. This was the best training cycle she and Coach Kacy have put together and she was both fit and healthy on the start line. Despite not hitting her 3:30 goal, this was a huge step forward for Lauren and we are excited for her to nail it the next time.

TerryAnn Cuozzo: 3:24
TerryAnn's journey to Chicago was a little different than originally planned. Between some calf issues during the summer months and a busy travel and family schedule (and school-age-kiddo illnesses!), TerryAnn, coached by Coach Steph, diligently stacked bricks for her second World Major of the year. Is she ready for a big PR race? Heck yes! While the stars didn't align for a PR day in Chicago, we're so proud of TerryAnn for making it to the start line when it could have been "easier" to sit this one out. Fitness stacks and we’re excited for her to put these good months of training to use toward another goal soon!

Lindsay Hazard: 3:48
Lindsay had big goals for Chicago after a big half marathon PR in Houston in January; but unfortunately her Chicago buildup was derailed by some ankle pain that caused her to miss some key weeks of training. Lindsay, coached by Coach Kaitlin, never shied away from the work, logging many hours on the Peloton in the hopes of holding onto her Chicago time goals, but we just ran out of time. While this time in Chicago wasn’t what she hoped for, we are proud of the resilience she showed and that she was able to make to the start (and finish!) line.

Stephanie Miles: 3:34
Stephanie, coached by Coach Kaitlin, had a tremendous training block and was ready for a big PR, but some race day GI issues and multiple bathroom stops forced her to adjust her time goals. She shared early miles with her Running Joyfully teammate Julia, with whom she’s shared her last 3 marathons, and those miles together were joyful! Steph remained relentlessly positive despite the porta potty stops she was forced to make. We know that this run doesn’t reflect her fitness and we’re excited to see what she does next when she can show off all the hard work she put in this summer!

Inspired Runs

Alex Macchi: 2:55
Alex took a big swing on a big PR - and we’re proud of him for going for it! Together with Coach Katie, Alex took a more balanced approach to training this cycle after experiencing some fatigue and injuries in earlier cycles; and it paid off with some big fitness gains and being healthy! Alex went out right on goal pace, but once he wasn't feeling great, he took his foot off the gas and decided to enJOY his time running through Chicago. While it wasn’t a PR day, it was far from his worst and still a strong sub-3 finish. The biggest takeaways for Alex are putting together a healthy, energized training cycle while starting a new job and being a dad - and showing his kids to run brave and not be afraid to tackle big goals.

Rachel Stone: 3:16
Rachel’s approach to Chicago Marathon was different than her training for marathons past - because this fall, she is doing the Chicago Marathon/JFK 50 Miler double! Rachel, coached by Coach Kaitlin, logged more miles than ever this summer and fall in preparation for her first ultra, and has been so consistent with volume, intensity, strength, and fueling. We’d hoped her legs would be fresh enough for the marathon PR we know she has in her, but we are SO excited for what she’s going to do in November at JFK!

Sasha Pang: 3:58
Sasha’s build to Chicago was filled with more obstacles than any person should ever face. Some health challenges earlier in the year meant significant time off in May, and Sasha only began walk-running in June. Together with Coach Kaitlin, Sasha rebuilt her run fitness, supplemented with lots of biking and Barry’s Bootcamps. Sasha made the most of EVERY day of the training cycle, finding a way to fit in double-digit long runs while traveling for work and solo parenting for long stretches. She showed incredible grit and resilience in this training cycle, which served her well on race day when the heat threatened her finish. But Sasha made it across that finish line in sub-4, against so many odds - and we remain in awe of her attitude, perspective, and perseverance.

We are SO proud of every one of our athletes who competed in Chicago and we are inspired by everyone’s grit and ability to grind! Congrats to each of our teammates!! We celebrate you!

Teammates Sasha and Katie celebrating after Sasha’s sub-4 finish!

Eugene Marathon 2025: Stellar Debuts and PR's aplenty!

Running Joyfully athletes celebrate with their medals after finishing the Eugene Marathon

The 2025 Eugene Marathon was a special one for the Running Joyfully crew! It was a magical day, featuring double-digit PR’s, near-perfect debuts, and a whole lot of joy at the finish line. We had 10 athletes compete, and 8 came away with PR’s - can’t ask for a much better performance than that! This was the culmination of months of dedication and perseverance by our athletes - whether it was an easy recovery day or a grueling workout, they all made the choice to say “YES” to each and every day, and we are beyond thrilled that their efforts were rewarded on race day. Coach Steph and Coach Kaitlin were there in person to “witness the fitness” and celebrate these amazing performances alongside our crew. Congrats, team!

The crew at our pre-race shakeout run in Eugene

PR Squad!

Julianna Nickson: 4:30
A double-digit marathon PR for Julianna! Despite a busy family schedule and a HOT Texas spring, Julianna committed to her training and trusted her fitness on race day, and the result couldn’t have been better! In her second marathon, she notched an 11 minute PR and a 4:30 finishing time - this was a breakthrough performance. As she rounded the track in Hayward Final, she was smiling, waving, and engaging the crowd. This run was extra special for Julianna as she finally got to meet her coach, Coach Steph, in person after working together for the past year and a half.

Matt Kral: 3:20
19 minute PR alert! 🚨 Matt had the race of his LIFE at Eugene, dropping his marathon time from 3:39 all the way down to 3:20! Matt, coached by Steph, stayed strong throughout his build despite a demanding work schedule, crushing workouts in Idaho, California, Hawaii, and whenever else work took him. His dedication was rewarded with this incredible performance - we’re so excited to see what Matt will do next with this new level of fitness!

Meghan Walsh: 3:36
Meghan overcame many challenges in this buildup, including a wet cold windy Boston winter - all winter long, she fought and found a way to get the miles in! We couldn't be prouder of this 1 minute PR for Meghan - she worked SO hard for it! It was an emotional finish for Meghan (and for Coach Kaitlin watching in the stands!); Meghan is our longest-running Running Joyfully athlete, having worked with Coach Kaitlin since 2017. There were happy tears for both of them at that finish line!

Liz Froemming: 4:05
A 4 minute PR for Liz! Liz, coached by Coach Jen, had big goals for this race, aiming for her first sub 4:00 marathon performance, and she went for it with inspiring tenacity! Some quick early miles caught up with her towards the end, but Liz showed amazing perseverance and held it together, to finish in a well-earned 4:05. It takes guts to put yourself out there, especially in the marathon, and we couldn’t be more proud of the grit Liz showed!

Haley Rohren: 3:31
Haley ran a smart, gutsy race in Eugene, finishing in 3:31—a 5 minute PR and her best race execution yet! She stayed controlled early, fought through a tough final stretch, and came away feeling strong, motivated, and excited for what’s next. She and Coach Katie have only been working together for a few months, and they are excited about this improvement in their first marathon build together. Eugene was a huge step forward for Haley - we can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future!

Annie McMahon: 1:33 (half)
Annie faced some challenges in her build, pivoting from the marathon to the half due to illness, but we are so so proud of the strength she showed in the face of adversity! A mere ten days out from race day, Annie, coached by Jen, was only running every other day as she returned to health. Despite these hiccups in the build, she made it to the start line and proceeded to run within a minute of her half marathon PR. It was a solid performance and an inspiring example of how to race under less than ideal circumstances.

Regan O’Brien: 3:26
Regan had an amazing day at Eugene to cap off a fantastic, consistent build up. When Regan is healthy and happy, she is unstoppable. Regan, coached by Amy, locked into a speedy gear and held it consistently through the initial rolling hills and solo sections on the roads of Eugene, running within 1 minute of her marathon PR from 2017 and notching her fastest 26.2 in recent years. We are excited to focus on strength training and track speed this summer before going after her fall marathon plan of running CIM alongside her mom and the rest of our big team!

Carly Berry: 3:30
Carly was supposed to race in Eugene, but 2 nights before the race, a crying and sleepless infant meant that she had to head back home to Seattle without racing and hit reset. Carly pulled off the ultimate pivot, and a week after she’d planned to rock Eugene, she executed a 6 minute PR in a DIY marathon at home on Seattle’s Burke Gilman trail. Coach Steph helped Carly roll with the punches and navigate this unexpected hiccup expertly - we’re so happy Carly was able to still capitalize on and celebrate her amazing training in this first postpartum marathon. Cheers, mama!

Monster Marathon Debuts!

Kasey Mayberry-Horn: 3:48
What an incredible marathon debut for Kasey! Coming off knee surgery, Kasey had to pivot from her planned debut at CIM, but that didn’t stop her. Working with Coach Danielle, Kasey knuckled down and had an amazing build, highlighted by a 23 minute half-marathon PR en route to Eugene. Despite some hip issues that cropped up just before race day, Kasey made it to the line and finished strong with an excellent 3:48. We are so excited for what’s ahead for this mom of 4!

Darcie Burrell: 3:41
Last mile, fastest mile! Darcie crushed her debut marathon at Eugene, running 3:41, well under her goal time of 3:45! Darcie had an uninterrupted training block where she nailed nearly every workout, and it showed on race day. Working with Coach Jen, Darcie ran with poise and determination, executing her race plan to near perfection - you never would have guessed this was her first marathon! After such a stellar debut, we can’t wait to see what Darcie does next!

Eugene, you did not disappoint - thanks for a wonderful race weekend! Cheers to many more joyful miles to come! 🎉

Boston Marathon 2025: Running Joyfully's Best Day Yet!

Team Running Joyfully at the 2025 Boston Marathon

The 2025 Boston Marathon was a historic one for Running Joyfully - we had our biggest crew to date! From the roar of the Hopkinton start to the iconic Boylston Street finish, our athletes brought grit, gratitude, and joy to every mile of the course. With personal bests, course PRs, and unforgettable Boston debuts, this year’s race was a celebration of community and connection. Months of focused training and dedication paid off on Patriots’ Day and we couldn’t be prouder of our team!

PR’s a Plenty!

Emily Oster: 3:14

After a stellar marathon debut at CIM in 2023, Emily was ready for her first Boston Marathon. Together with Coach Kaitlin, they took what worked for Emily’s first marathon and built on it with a little more volume, a little more intensity, and a LOT more hills. One of Coach Kaitlin’s highlights of Boston weekend was Emily saying that the Boston hills weren’t that bad - this means we did the right amount of hill training! Emily executed her training plan to a T despite a busy work and travel schedule, and she simultaneously worked on her race day mindset. With clear process goals for race day, Emily prioritized running controlled early so that she could thrive in the Newton Hills, and thrive she did! It was a hard day but a great day, and she fought every step of the way to a PR, never settling or pulling back and earning a 3 minute personal best of 3:14.

Lizzie Thooft: 3:14

Lizzie, coached by Coach Kacy, had a long road to Boston - she has qualified but missed the accepted entry cutoff by mere seconds, has seen the qualifying time lower twice, and has had a journey of rebuilding her body and relationship with running post eating disorder treatment. Lizzie had a fantastic build to Boston this year, and we just knew something special was in store for her. This emotional tie to the race coalesced perfectly with Lizzie’s physical preparation, and she ran a 3:14 at Boston - a 5 minute marathon PR (no easy feat in Boston!). She executed the race like a champ, even splitting with a perfect 1:37:21 through half way - you never would have guessed this was Lizzie’s first Boston! We’re so excited and proud of her result and are so grateful to have been on this journey to Boston with her!

Meg Sapp: 3:15

What an incredible day for Meg! Coached by Coach Steph, Meg finished with a 3:15, running a 2 minute PR. Boston holds some tough memories for Meg and her family, so it was incredibly special for her to have such a spectacular performance with all her family there to support her. After a strong buildup that included a half marathon PR in Houston, Meg came to Boston mentally and physically prepared. She executed her race plan perfectly, staying steady throughout and finishing with joy and momentum. We couldn’t be prouder of Meg’s incredible run!

Merika Koday: 4:47

Merika ran a perfectly executed race to notch a 1 minute PR on Boston's challenging course, improving upon her 4:47 marathon from Chicago. This busy working toddler mom prioritized hills and long runs in her training and was rewarded with a personal best. Coached by Coach Kaitlin, Merika made an amazing impact fundraising for Every Mother Counts - we couldn’t be more proud!

Johanna Stroever: 3:31

What a race for Jo - 3:31 and a 2 minute PR! Guided by Coach Katie, Jo’s consistency and strong training cycle set her up for a breakthrough. After a slight hamstring scare in early March, she and Coach Katie made a few adjustments to training and she was back on track, hitting strong marathon-paced tempos. On race day, she was a metronome, running steady and finishing right at her goal. We know a sub-3:30 is within reach and can’t wait to see what’s next for Jo!

Kyley Herring: 3:21

A Boston breakthrough for Kyley and a 4 minute PR! Coached by Coach Katie, Kyley’s build was all about balance: after a fall reset to address low ferritin and focus on recovery, she came into the Boston training block feeling both stronger and more grounded. This winter she embraced the hills in training, prioritized long runs, and even got in some recon on the course itself. After navigating a crowded start, Kyley found her rhythm and held strong through the late miles, fighting hard all the way to the finish. A well-earned PR and a race full of grit!

Coach Amy Sanchez: 3:10

Coach Amy had an absolutely spectacular Boston performance, running a joyful and fast 3:10 in a 5 minute PR! With the support of her kids and husband, Amy was able to put together a stellar training cycle and a perfect race day. After deferring Boston last year due to pregnancy, Amy was back in 2025 with a vengeance; she crushed the hills, embraced the crowd, and in her words, “I got everything I could’ve wanted out of this race!” Way to go, Coach Amy!

Sub-3:00 Standouts

Allie Hackett: 2:47

Allie toed the line in the pro field at this year's Boston Marathon, and after battling injuries in past marathon builds, we celebrated her getting to this starting line healthy and in one piece! Coach Kaitlin and her worked together to build a conservative training block prioritizing health and sustainability. While she ran most of the race solo, she kept her eyes up and kept hunting ladies down, always charging forward with a smile to a top 100 finish and 2:47 final time. We are proud of you Allie!

Bridget Tobias: 2:51

Bridget came into Boston with a goal of enJOYing the marathon - prioritizing falling back in love with the marathon and rebuilding confidence. Working with Coach Kaitlin, Bridget held time goals more loosely and prioritized a joyful process, and lo and behold, the time took care of itself! She smiled her way to a 3 min PR in 2:51 and finished in the top 125 women overall!

Selvi Rajagopal: 2:47

After a big PR at the NYC Marathon last fall, Selvi had big goals going into Boston and she went after them with a vengeance! Coached by Coach Kaitlin, Selvi’s early miles proved a bit aggressive and some fast paces out of Hopkinton meant that the second half of the race was harder than we wanted it to be; but she still ran within a minute of her personal best and placed in the top 100 women overall, finishing in 2:47! We are proud of her and excited for more fast times ahead!

Krystyna Rytel: 2:53

Krystyna encountered a few hiccups in her training block and on race day, but she knows how to work the problem and find a solution! After a little niggle cropped up partway through her buildup, Krystyna and Coach Kaitlin decided to double down on cross-training and prioritized rest to get her to the Boston start line healthy. On race day, she dealt with some cramping, but again she worked the problem and was able to run down a 5 minute PR in 2:53! After earning a half marathon PR during the Boston build, we know Krystyna is knocking on the door of yet another marathon breakthrough!

Alex Macchi: 3:00

3:00 and a very a solid performance for Alex! Trained by Coach Katie, Alex approached this cycle with the goal of having fun, staying consistent, and enjoying the process. They didn’t focus on running killer workouts, but instead prioritized steady training and race day enjoyment. The result? A strong race that sets him up perfectly for his fall A goal race in Chicago. This healthy, consistent build will be the foundation for even greater races ahead!

Boston Course PR’s

Rachel Jackson: 3:27

Rachel had a fantastic day, running just barely off her lifetime PR and running a 9 minute Boston course PR (3:27) after a busy past few months! In January, Rachel and her family made a big move from Houston, TX to Australia. She handled this big life change with grace, embracing Perth's heat and hills, and with Coach Kaitlin’s training, she was more than prepared for Boston and its hills. We are overjoyed about this seasoned Boston veteran’s performance on the challenging Boston course!

Kathleen Lambert: 3:57

Kathleen took over 20 minutes off her Boston course PR, running a super 3:57. Coached by Coach Danielle, Kathleen made the most of a quick turnaround after running the Mesa Marathon in February; she capitalized on her fitness to fuel a strong build for Boston. She ran confidently, conquering the Newton Hills with strength. Though the final miles weren’t exactly as planned, she fought hard and came out with a massive course PR! We’re beyond proud of her perseverance, both in training and on race day.

Jess Plavicki: 3:35

Jess had quite the year between the 2024 Boston Marathon and this year. She encountered many health challenges, but she and Coach Kaitlin worked together to make the most of a non-traditional training cycle. We couldn't be prouder of how Jess showed up on Marathon Monday, running a 1 minute course PR (3:35) and within a minute of her lifetime PR. This busy mom repeatedly chose joy in the wake of challenges, and this superpower served her so well in Boston. We can't wait to see what she can do in the marathon this fall with these health challenges behind her!

Liz Newton-Hayes: 3:22

Liz came into Boston fresh off a big PR at the Houston Marathon; we went for another one here, and while the Newton Hills prevented her from running an outright PR, she still ran a 5 minute course PR in her strongest Boston yet, finishing in 3:22! Coached by Coach Kaitlin, Liz has made spectacular progress h in the last year - can't wait for her to tackle some shorter-distance goals next!

Coach Kacy Seynders: 3:11

Coach Kacy came into Boston with a goal of being mentally tough and running a race she could be proud of - and she accomplished this goal! While she wanted more from the time, it still tied her course PR, and we know she is fitter than the performance shows. She ran a really strong last 4 miles, buoyed by the Running Joyfully cheer squad in Brookline. Keep grinding and keep spreading joy, Coach Kacy!

Coach Kaitlin: 2:54

Coach Kaitlin had a solid and especially joyful Boston performance. She ran a 6 minute course PR, but more importantly, she got a PR for high-fives on the course, with the most special ones coming at mile 23 thanks to her son and the Running Joyfully cheer squad. It was a memorable Boston sharing the day with so many teammates and friends!

Boston Memories!

Betty Young: 3:29

Sub 3:30 on a super day for Betty! Her 3:29:47 is no small feat, as this was her 18th consecutive year toeing the line in Hopkinton. With Coach Katie guiding her, Betty showed strength and consistency throughout this marathon training cycle. She ran smart, stayed steady, and found those extra 13 seconds when it counted most. A veteran of Boston and still getting faster!

Jill Marie Kenyon: 3:39

Jill Marie crushed her 9th Boston Marathon and snuck under 3:40 to better the BQ she ran at the Louisiana Marathon earlier this year. Coached by Coach Kaitlin, Jill Marie approaches every race and each day of training with such joy and gratitude, and it powered her to a strong performance yet again!

Cara Cavazza: 4:54

Cara realized a lifelong dream of running the Boston Marathon and she had a magical day out there! Cara soaked in the crowds, the cheers, and the love from her family and friends on the course. For 26.2 miles, she carried her friend and running buddy Suzanne in her heart, who lost her battle with cancer earlier this spring. Coached by Coach Kaitlin, Cara notched another sub-5 marathon despite some hiccups in her buildup, and we are so proud of her and happy she could realize this long-held dream!

TerryAnn Cuozzo: 3:18

TerryAnn’s Boston may not have been the PR she hoped for, but it was a triumph in its own right! Coached by Coach Steph, TerryAnn’s training over the winter made her stronger than ever, and though Heartbreak Hill threw a curveball with a glute cramp, she powered through with grit and grace. The best part of the race? The unwavering support from her family and the Running Joyfully crew to make this hometown marathon truly special. Big things ahead - Chicago, here we come!

Goal-Getters

Virginia Harvey: 3:26

Virginia’s Boston debut was one for the books! Coached by Coach Kacy, Virginia ran a smart, steady race, staying strong and consistent each mile. With a focus on building strength in this training block and staying healthy, Virginia managed to run faster than her "A" race last fall, despite the tougher Boston course. Her steady effort and approach to the build made this an incredibly successful Boston debut!

Laura Solecki: 3:21

A solid Boston performance for Laura! Advised by Coach Kacy, Laura’s focus for this cycle was a stress-free build, ensuring she was strong and fit enough to enjoy the race, and that’s just what she did. She soaked in the Boston Marathon experience and rode the wave all the way to the finish line, beating her goal time with a respectable 3:21 finish. After a successful and enjoyable race day, we're excited to shift gears and focus on shorter distances for the next chapter in her running journey!

Kaitlyn McNamara: 3:06

Kaitlyn came into Boston the fittest she’s been since undergoing back surgery two years ago. In this training block, she battled crazy South Dakota winter winds and rough weather, but with Coach Kacy’s guidance, she got her training done! Kaitlyn had an amazing first half of the race, and in the second half, she decided to focus on enjoying the experience, putting fun and joy first. While her goal was to break 3 hours on this tough course, which we know is in her wheelhouse, the real victory was the strong, healthy buildup that got her to the start line!

Grace in the Grind

Jennie Sheridan: 4:27

4:27 and a story of perseverance for Jennie! Coached by Coach Sarah, Jennie started this marathon cycle dealing with a calf injury, but she adapted with creative cross-training, PT, and strength work. She stayed positive and focused on getting to the start line healthy, reframing expectations along the way. On race day, Jennie ran smart, enjoyed the journey, and embraced the energy of Boston. Despite a short running build, she finished strong - a true testament to her resilience and determination. Way to go, Jennie!

Emma Saart: 3:30

Emma returned to the marathon after over a year away while she focused on shorter distances and trail races. Emma is in the middle of a demanding MD/PhD program in New York as she prepares for her career in medicine. Coached by Coach Kaitlin, her busy program has meant that running looks different in this season of life, but she's still finding joy on the run and she went for it on Marathon Monday! While the outcome wasn't what we hoped for, we are excited for the miles ahead!

Lindsay Close: 4:01

Lindsay had to dig deep for her 10th consecutive Boston Marathon finish (and 13th Boston ever!). Coached by Coach Kaitlin, a very cranky and stubborn plantar meant that Lindsay wasn't able to run for much of the Boston buildup; instead, she was hammering away on the Peloton and spending hours at physical therapy. Lindsay always finds a way to make it to the Boston start and finish lines, even when pregnant, newly postpartum, or with the flu - and this year was no different. Plantar be damned, Lindsay ran on lifetime miles and muscle memory and a whole lot of grit! We are so proud of her and how she fought - and still smiled! - her way to another Boston finish line!

Brooke Macomber: 3:24

An honest effort and a joyful one for Brooke, even on a tough day! Advised by Coach Steph, Brooke came into the race after a demanding winter of training, all while balancing a busy job in tech. Brooke stayed poised and made sure to appreciate the Boston experience, even if her final time of 3:24 wasn’t exactly what she wanted. The fire is lit for what’s next—Brooke is headed to NYC this fall for the Master's Championship field!

Alex Cagan: 4:07

Alex put together a fantastic buildup and was ready for a big breakthrough marathon, but was unfortunately felled by nausea that made for a challenging race day. We are so proud of how she persevered through a tough situation to finish! Coached by Kaitlin, we know there is more ahead for Alex!

We are so grateful to celebrate the BIGGEST Running Joyfully crew ever at Boston 2025! We hope to see even more of you out there smiling from Hopkinton to Boylston in 2026!

Meet Coach Katie: From Olympic Trials to Postpartum Running Goals

At Running Joyfully, our all-female team of coaches bring decades of coaching expertise to help our athletes reach their potential and find the best, most joyful version of themselves through running. In this blog, we’re spotlighting Coach Katie Newton, an elite runner turned compassionate coach, who blends her professional running background with her personal journey as a mom and her expertise as a speech-language pathologist. Katie’s story is one of balance, grace, and the power of finding joy in the miles.

A Runner’s Journey: From School Miles to Professional Races

Katie’s love for running began in elementary school, where she excelled in the mile fitness test and was encouraged by her algebra teacher to join her high school track team. After standout performances in high school, Katie was recruited to run at Boston University, where she trained under the legendary Coach Bruce Lehane.

“Coach Lehane prioritized his athletes’ happiness and their life-running balance over results and times,” Katie shares. “That philosophy stayed with me and has shaped how I approach coaching my own athletes today.”

Under his guidance, Katie made incredible strides, which paved the way for a professional running career that spanned seven years. As a pro, Katie competed for the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) and Adidas, traveling the world and training under renowned coaches Terrance Mahon and Olympian Jen Rhines.

Some of her favorite memories include traveling to Japan to compete in an international ekiden relay race for Team USA, altitude training trips with teammates, and a memorable (and fast!) track 10K in Palo Alto. “In that race, I qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials—and broke a metatarsal,” she recalls. “I cross-trained like crazy that spring to get back on the start line for the Trials.”

Katie’s professional career included remarkable performances, with personal bests of 2:38 in the marathon and 1:11 in the half marathon and two Olympic Trials appearances. But for Katie, the true highlights were the camaraderie and relationships formed through the sport. Coach Katie and Coach Kaitlin met during their professional running days and were competitors-turned-teammates and training partners, training together with the BAA from 2018-2020.

Coach Katie and Coach Kaitlin race the Falmouth Road Race together as professional athletes.

The Transition to Coaching

Katie began coaching in 2013 as an assistant coach at Boston University while pursuing her graduate studies. “At first, I mostly drove the team van and timed workouts,” she laughs. “But my role grew over time.” Learning from Coach Lehane, Katie honed her coaching skills as she learned the ins and outs of planning a training cycle, helping athletes peak for goal races, and how to help them find balance with running and their other life pursuits.

After stepping away from formal coaching for a few years, Katie returned to coaching in 2022 when Kaitlin invited her to join the Running Joyfully team. “It felt like the perfect opportunity to get back into something I love,” Katie says. “Coaching allows me to stay connected to the sport and share what I’ve learned with others.”

Philosophy: Balance, Flexibility, and Joy

Katie’s coaching philosophy, deeply influenced by Coach Lehane, focuses on finding the right balance for each athlete. “I try to understand what inspires my athletes, where they can make small improvements, and what their ‘why’ is,” she explains. “It’s important to balance ambitious goals with overall life satisfaction.”

Katie emphasizes flexibility in training, encouraging athletes to see running as a source of excitement, not stress. “I aim to make training plans that fit into my athletes’ lives and adapt to their needs. This is especially true for postpartum moms—I know firsthand how challenging it can be to juggle training with young kids.”

Her philosophy extends beyond running. “Having a positive mindset changes everything. Yes, we do hard things, but we can choose to find happiness in how we do them. Joy is something I work toward every day, in running and in life.”

Advice for Athletes

As an athlete, Katie’s best advice is not to dwell on any single race result. “If it wasn’t your day, don’t overanalyze or beat yourself up. Learn what you can and move on,” she says.

As a coach, she believes the mental approach is just as important as the physical training, and she prioritizes keeping joy at the forefront for her athletes. “If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing,” she emphasizes.

Life Beyond Running

Outside of running, Katie enjoys reading (she hosts the Running Joyfully book club!), hiking with her kids (she’s a mom to two boys), and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. “I love spending time in nature and finding creative ways to connect with my kids,” she says.

Looking Ahead

Katie’s goals for 2025 include finding more consistency in her own running after having her two boys, and helping more postpartum moms navigate their return to running. “That phase of life can be chaotic, but it’s so rewarding to help moms rediscover their love for the sport.”

Coach Katie Newton brings experience, empathy, and joy to the Running Joyfully team. Whether she’s helping athletes return to running postpartum or guiding them to new PRs, Katie is committed to helping runners find balance and confidence in their journey. We’re so excited to have her as part of our team!

Houston Marathon and Half Marathon 2025: Fast times in Texas!

To kick off 2025, our Running Joyfully athletes brought their A-game to the streets of Houston for the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon. From 25 minute personal bests to gritty finishes, every athlete’s journey deserves a spotlight. Here’s a recap of all their incredible results:

The Running Joyfully crew at the 2025 Houston Marathon

Marathoners

Abby Martone: 3:06
Abby ran a phenomenal race, running a 6 minute personal best to finish in 3:06. This mom of two put in her best marathon buildup to date with consistent, strong training and faster workouts, culminating in a phenomenal hometown marathon! We knew she was ready for a special day and thought 3:06 could be in the cards when the stars aligned - and they did! What a performance from Abby!

Amy Semes: 3:12
Amy ran a HUGE PR - 25 minutes!! Amy is the type of athlete who nails her workouts and long runs - we knew she was ready for a big breakthrough - but she surprised us in the best way with this one! Amy found a good rhythm, trusted her fitness and training, and just kept getting faster as she went! Motivated by the NYC Marathon time qualifier, Amy pushed the final mile to break 3:13 and earn a time qualifier and a massive PR! The sky is the limit for Amy!

Liz Newton-Hayes: 3:19
Liz navigated some hiccups in her buildup - a Covid infection early on, then a cranky hamstring, and holiday travel. Despite this, she still put together a really great final few weeks leading up to Houston, where she hit training paces she's never hit before! We knew she was ready for a PR and we're so thrilled to see her sneak under the 3:20 barrier with 2.5 minute PR, running a consistent and even race before closing it out with her last mile as her fastest mile!

Becky Renze: 3:28
Becky trusted all the work she had done in this training block and was rewarded with a BIG 25 minute PR!! She ran a smart and even race, holding strong 7:50 splits before digging deep in the final miles. Becky’s hard work and mental toughness shone through, and this performance shows that she has even more in store!

Pam Butler: 3:29
Hats off to Pam, who ran a 2 minute PR at age 66!!! Faster as a master! This was Pam’s 13th Houston Marathon, and she and Coach Kacy worked together on both run training and strength training to put together a buildup that led to this breakthrough! Pam ran a controlled and smart race to break the 3:30 barrier, a long-held goal of hers; congrats Pam!

Lauren Jesse: 3:40
Lauren ran tough to finish in 3:40 on a hard day. Coming into the race dealing with a hamstring issue, she showed incredible mental toughness by powering through even when a PR wasn’t in the cards. This grit will serve her well as she builds toward Chicago Marathon!

Half Marathoners

Meg, Coach Kacy, and Asasia

Asasia Pierce: 1:29:51
Asasia crushed her goal of breaking 1:30, running 1:29 with a 6 minute PR! Juggling busy life as a mom of two, business owner, and traveler, Asasia’s hard work paid off with a big breakthrough! There’s so much more to come this spring as she and Coach Jen focus on a speedy segment and tackle some 10ks!

Lindsay Hazard – 1:36:05
Lindsay has been trying to break 1:40 since 2023, and she finally did it, running 1:36, 3 kiddos later! (a postpartum PR!). She had a crazy night leading up to the race with a stop at urgent care for a sick kiddo, but didn't let this stop her at all. Lindsay started controlled and then worked her way down progressively throughout the race, tapping into the turnover and speed work she and Coach Kaitlin spent a lot of time honing on the track this winter. Couldn't be happier for this mama!

Meg Sapp: 1:31:13
Meg, coached by Coach Steph, ran a 2 minute PR and embodied the definition of BELIEVE out there in Houston - from her willingness to embrace the idea of pursuing a fast half marathon as part of her prep for Boston to her commitment to doing the work day in and day out. Despite windy conditions, she clocked a confidence-boosting personal best en route to Boston Marathon!

Rebecca Dietz: 1:45:31
Rebecca, coached by Jen, ran a 1 minute PR to finish after navigating a challenging training block where she encountered some setbacks. Rebecca showed up mentally tough on race day, enabling her to finish strong with a big negative split. We are excited to see what’s ahead for her!

Kacy Seynders: 1:29:33
Our own Coach Kacy (coached by Kaitlin) clocked another sub-90 minute half marathon. Kacy executed this perfectly, besting her time from Houston Half last year. This year, though, she had a 30 second mid-race stop for a shoe tie - her laces became loose early in the race, so it was very lucky that she was able to see teammate Becca cheering on the side and have her tie Kacy's shoe! Despite this stop, she still managed to run well under 90 minutes - we're proud of her!

Susan O’Brien: 2:02
What a day for Susan! Susan orchestrated her pacing strategy perfectly, running a strong negative split en route to a speedy age-graded PR of 2:02. While pace was certainly on the mind, her and Coach Amy’s main goal for the weekend was to have a great time and reconnect with her her for running. Susan enjoyed hanging out with the Running Joyfully crew, running with her daughter, Regan (another of Coach Amy's athletes), and attending the live Des & Kara show the day before the race - all this made this a spectacular weekend on top of the stellar race!

Regan O’Brien: 1:41
Regan opened up her build to Eugene Marathon with a strong hard effort at Houston. Regan and Coach Amy pivoted goals over the holidays to focus on health and strength, and she’s ready for a great marathon season ahead!

We are so proud of every athlete for their incredible efforts and achievements. Whether setting PRs, overcoming challenges, or finding joy in the journey, you inspire us all. Here’s to more joyful miles ahead! 🎉

Meet Coach Kacy: From Soccer to Sub-3 Marathon Goals as a Doctor of Physical Therapy

Coach Kacy Seynders, PT DPT

At Running Joyfully, our coaching team brings decades of run coaching experience and a deep commitment to helping our athletes thrive both on the run and beyond! In this blog, we’re excited to spotlight Coach Kacy Seynders, a multi-time Boston Marathon qualifier, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and all-around running enthusiast. Kacy brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and heart to her coaching, making her a beloved part of the Running Joyfully family.

Kacy’s Running Journey: From the Soccer Field to Marathons

Kacy’s introduction to running started on the soccer field, where she discovered she was better at outrunning her opponents than playing the game itself. “Soccer was my first love—I worked so hard at it,” she says. “But I eventually realized my true talent was in running.” After two years of JV soccer in high school, Kacy transitioned to running full-time, experimenting with track before falling in love with cross-country during her junior year. That same year, she ran her first half marathon, igniting a lifelong passion for distance running.

In college, Kacy competed in club triathlon, but running always remained her true love. “My training was a lot of running with some cycling and swimming thrown in,” she says with a laugh. Since those early days, Kacy has run 13 marathons, including six Boston Marathons, and has amassed over 16 years of running memories. “Some races have been truly magical,” she shares.

The Transition to Coaching

In addition to working as a running medicine specialist and physical therapist, Kacy always had long-term dreams of coaching runners. In 2023, Running Joyfully founder Kaitlin Goodman approached Kacy about coaching, drawn to Kacy’s expertise in injury prevention and strength training and her background in triathlon coaching. “Kaitlin asked me to join the coaching team and it felt like a dream come true,” Kacy says. “It was the perfect opportunity to fulfill my coaching dream, with amazing support and people around me.”

Philosophy: Consistency and Individualization

Kacy’s coaching philosophy centers on two key principles: consistency and individualization.

“I believe success in running comes from staying healthy and being consistent—day after day, week after week, month after month,” she says. While flashy workouts might grab attention, Kacy emphasizes that the real magic lies in the steady, everyday effort and stacking consistent training year over year.

Her background as a Doctor of Physical Therapy has deeply influenced her approach. “As a PT, I’m trained to see the whole person and create individualized plans. I bring that same mindset to coaching, listening to my athletes and tailoring training to their unique needs.” Another cornerstone of Kacy’s approach is integrating strength training with running to support both performance and long-term health.

Working with Kaitlin as her own coach has also shaped her philosophy - Kaitlin and Kacy have worked together as coach and athlete since 2020. “Kaitlin helped me develop a healthier relationship with running, and I’m passionate about passing that on to my athletes.”

The Joy Compass

Learning to approach running and life with joy has been a transformative journey for Kacy. “I’ve always been intense—pushing, forcing—but shifting my mindset to follow joy has changed how I approach everything, from coaching to my work as a PT,” she says. “Choosing joy is a decision I try to make every day, even if it’s just for a moment. It’s not only more fun but also improves performance!”

Advice for Athletes

For Kacy, both as an athlete and a coach, the best advice she’s received is about perspective.

As an athlete: “Avoid viewing races or workouts as all ‘good’ or all ‘bad.’ Learn from the experience, find the positives, and don’t judge the negatives too harshly.”
As a coach: “How you frame training and racing for your athlete often matters more than the training itself.”

Her bottom line for athletes? “Show up now to shine later.”

Life Beyond Running

When she’s not coaching or running, Kacy enjoys quality time with her dog, Oly, exploring coffee shops and breweries, and indulging her competitive streak in games of pool, darts, or ping pong with her boyfriend. She’s also a proud Taylor Swift fan (yes, she’s a Swiftie!) and loves writing long-form blogs.

Looking Ahead

Kacy’s big goal as a runner is to break the 3:00 barrier in the marathon and see how far under she can go. In 2025, she also hopes to sharpen her racing skills and set PRs in shorter distances. As a coach, she’s particularly excited to guide her athletes through the Boston Marathon. “I know the course and training so well—I can’t wait to see what they accomplish!”

Coach Kacy’s passion for running and strength training, her dedication to her athletes, and her commitment to finding joy in the process make her an integral part of the Running Joyfully team. We’re so lucky to have her coaching and inspiring our athletes every step of the way!

Setting the Pace for 2025 — Reflect, Celebrate, and Plan: Your Guide to Running Success in the New Year

As 2024 winds down, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your running journey and plan for what’s ahead. Taking a thoughtful look back helps you celebrate the wins, learn from the challenges, and create a strategy to crush your goals in 2025. Let’s dive into this process together - here’s your guidebook to running goal-setting for the new year.

Step 1: Look Back Before You Look Ahead

Reflect on your past year on the run. What one word captures your 2024?

• Growth

• Change

• Adaptation

• Achievement

• Struggle

Be honest with yourself - your word doesn’t have to be positive; what matters is that it resonates. Reflecting on your past year helps you identify patterns, celebrate progress, and recognize areas for growth.

Step 2: Dive Deeper into 2024

What Powered You Forward?

Think about what gave you momentum this year — your “wind in the sails.” Ask yourself:

• What brought you joy in 2024?

• What moments excited or motivated you?

• What helped you move forward, on the run and beyond?

Maybe it was a new running routine, support from a coach, or a breakthrough race. Joy and motivation are key to keeping the fire alive.

What Held You Back?

Next, consider your “anchors”— the things that may have slowed your progress. Consider:

• What didn’t go as planned?

• What hindered your growth?

• What do you wish had gone differently?

Identifying these obstacles helps you learn from them. Whether it’s injury, burnout, or balancing running with life’s demands, recognizing what held you back allows you to adjust your approach moving forward. Take time to both celebrate the highs and learn from the lows.

Step 3: Looking Ahead to 2025

What Lights the Path Ahead?

Take a moment to dream about the year ahead. What big goals are calling you? What are you most excited about? What might you achieve when all the stars align?

Whether it’s running your first marathon, shaving time off your PR, or staying consistent with weekly runs, define the milestones you’re excited to reach. A coach or personalized training plan could be the perfect way to get the structure, accountability, expertise, and support you need.

What Challenges Might Arise?

No year comes without its hurdles. Think about potential barriers:

• What obstacles could pop up along the way?

• Where might you need extra support?

• How can your coach and community help?

Being proactive with your plan—and leaning on your support system—gives you the confidence to tackle the challenges that inevitably arise.

Step 4: Set Goals Strategically

Setting effective goals is the cornerstone of progress. Use these two powerful frameworks to create goals that you’ll stick with!

WOOP Goal Setting. WOOP combines visualization with actionable steps.

• W: Wish – In your wildest dreams, what do you hope to accomplish?

• O: Outcome – What does success look and feel like, both quantitatively and qualitatively?

• O: Obstacles – What might stand in your way?

• P: Plan – How will you navigate potential challenges?

Dream it, plan it, believe it, achieve it!

PACT Goal Setting. PACT goals focus on creating meaningful, actionable, and trackable progress.

• P: Purposeful – Set goals that align with your values, are deeply meaningful to you, and that align with your “why.”

• A: Actionable – Focus on behaviors, not outcomes - and things that are in your control.

• C: Continuous – Set goals that can evolve as you grow.

• T: Trackable – Regularly measure your progress to stay on course.

For instance, instead of saying, “I want to run faster,” set a PACT goal such, “I will complete one interval workout each week during my training block to improve my speed and help me feel stronger in the second half of my race.”

Step 5: Final Thoughts for the Road Ahead

As you set your sights on 2025, remember:

1. Chase Goals That Ignite Your Passions, connecting with your values and long-term objectives.

2. Give Yourself Grace. Life happens, setbacks happen. Adjust your goals when needed, approaching achievement with adaptability and flexibility.

3. Lean on Your Community. Share your goals with your support system. Whether it’s a coach, training partners, friends, or family, collaboration strengthens resolve.

Together, we’re stronger! Whether you’re training for a major marathon, aiming to build consistency in your running, or considering looking into structured training for the first time, your journey is uniquely yours. Celebrate the highs, embrace the lows, and let’s make 2025 your best year yet!

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Looking for support in your running journey? Whether you’re looking for a Seattle-based running coach, or if you’re located across the country or around the world, our virtual running coaching services are here to help, offering personalized coaching and a supportive team & community. Let’s run down some big goals together!

CIM 2024: A Magical Day for Running Joyfully

Team Running Joyfully at the 2024 California International Marathon

The California International Marathon (CIM) 2024 was nothing short of spectacular for our Running Joyfully team! From massive personal bests to inspiring marathon debuts, our athletes showed resilience, strength, and a whole lot of joy on race day. Our team had 17 out of 20 personal bests - safe to say it was a magical day from Folsom to Sacramento! The months of training—countless early mornings, late night treadmill runs, and weekend long runs—culminated in incredible performances that we’re thrilled to celebrate. Whether it was overcoming injuries, balancing demanding schedules, or simply chasing big goals, our runners showed what’s possible when hard work meets joyful determination.

Faster as a Master!

Abby Lorge: 3:07

Abby ran a 2 minute PR at age 48! This working mom of 2 committed big-time to the training - the workouts, the hills, the strength training - and was rewarded with a HUGE breakthrough! Abby successfully navigated an ill-timed strep throat illness and, with some antibiotics, was able to run the race of her life with a big negative split! As she said - "I am so fortunate to be healthy and able to train seriously at this age, so I went for it on Sunday, and all my athletic dreams came true!"

Julia Brownell: 3:13

Julia ran a 3 minute PR at age 42 - her fastest marathon in her 19 years of running the event! It wasn't quite the day Julia wanted - she dealt with some nausea on course - but she STILL was able to pull off a great performance and overcome many mid-race fueling challenges. Running through these hard miles and STILL coming away with a PR is a testament to her resilience and mental strength. We know there's even more greatness ahead for this mom of two (who is a TV writer in LA who has written some of Coach Kaitlin's favorite TV shows!).

Cheers to Sub 3!

Maryn Juergens: 2:56

Maryn shot her shot and ran a 10+ minute PR at 11 months postpartum! Maryn called this her most-fun marathon to date! She ran side by side with her postpartum training buddy Logan and had a REALLY great day! She brought all the joy in her training - tackling big workouts and specialized long runs that she’d never done before - and similarly brought the joy on the course. She soaked up this amazing marathon, executing her race plan perfectly and smiling every mile as she ran 6:45s for days! What a special breakthrough for this new mom - with more ahead!

MK Anselmini: 2:56

We’ve long known that MK was a sub-3 marathoner, but it just hadn't come together on race day yet - until CIM! MK ran such a smart race, starting out really controlled and coming through the half in 1:29:55. In the back half, MK got ROLLING - and she dropped a bunch of 6:20-30 miles to cement her status as a sub-3 marathoner - and then some! This public-school teacher logged many miles in the dark at 5 am in her CIM build and was rewarded with this amazing, joyful day and a 5 minute personal best!

Celebrating our Marathon Debuts!

Aleksandra Kaminski: 3:33

Aleksandra ran her first marathon at CIM after picking up running in the pandemic. After doing triathlons for the past few years, this new mom decided to tackle her first 26.2 - and she ran it like a seasoned pro! She executed her training plan so well - no easy feat with a new baby! - and she came into the race so prepared. She executed her race plan to a T and came away with a BQ - this new mom is Boston bound! We're so happy for her!

Senait Hailemariam: 5:55

Senait started training in the fall of this year with the goal of finishing her first marathon. As a full-time working professional with long days, Senait had to fit her training in around her busy schedule focusing mostly on her long runs. She had a few challenges thrown her way from work project to travel, to some knee niggles that popped up about 3 weeks out from her marathon. Each week, Senait, working alongside Coach Sarah, focused on increasing her longer runs, getting stronger, and embracing the challenge of reaching the start line. And she did it - she finished her first marathon under 6 hours, achieving her goal. Congrats Senait!

PR’s A’Plenty!

Cat Ku: 3:09

Cat decided to jump into CIM as a bonus marathon after running a strong 3:15 at NYC last month. She had a joyful NYC following a busy fall filled with travel - and a wedding! This newlywed knew she had more in the tank and decided to jump into CIM as "icing on the cake" - she decided to swing by and go for sub-3:10. She mentally committed to it and went big - running 3:09:00 in a big negative split. What a perfect day for Cat!

TerryAnn Cuozzo: 3:10

TerryAnn began the year with the goal to run a 3:10 marathon; her first attempt earlier this year at Vermont City was unfortunately derailed by unexpected heat so while the fitness was there, the day was challenging, and she wasn't able to achieve a PR. This build was flawless, and she worked really hard on the mental toughness and confidence side of the equation. We need she was ready for a special day! She ran steadily, strong, and with a lot of joy. She rounded the final turn towards the Capital, and she knew: a BIG PR (14+ minutes!) and big goal achieved!

Brooke Macomber: 3:11

Brooke joined Running Joyfully earlier this fall right as the CIM build was starting and has gobbled up the training like a champion! Working with Coach Steph, she balanced a busy work and home life with diligent CrossFit training AND a full Marathon build, working through a small Achilles flare-up in November to finish the training block confident and strong. We knew she was ready for a magical day, and she went out assertively, cruising through the Sacramento hills with confidence that she was ready for a big PR. Her goal going into race day was 3:15 and was able to surpass that effortlessly! We're excited to make MORE magic happen at the next big marathon: Boston 2025!

Laura Carey: 3:13

Laura has progressed from 3:29 at Boston '23 to 3:18 at Pittsburg '24 to 3:13 at CIM! This mom of three juggles a law career working to correct wrongful convictions, coaching youth cross country, and her own training, logging many pre-dawn miles in Boston and Cambridge. She has made amazing improvements over the last 2 years, committing to strength training and a gradual increase in volume. She swung big at CIM, looking to run 3:10-12, and while she came up just a little short of this, we're so proud of her for shooting her shot, running brave, and still coming away with a 5 min PR - smiling all the way even in the hard final miles. Go Laura!

Stephanie Miles: 3:16

As her name would indicate, Stephanie (S. Miles) was all SMILES out there :) After having a challenging day at CIM '23, she had big plans to return in 2024 with a vengeance - and she did! Stephanie put together her best training cycle to date this fall with consistent workouts, speedy long runs, and steady miles, and was rewarded with a 3 minute PR! After starting the year with an injury, this mom of three is finishing the year with a BANG with a marathon breakthrough and big plans for 2025, including Tokyo Marathon!

And so many more incredible runs…

Liz Froemming: 4:09

A 23 minute PR for Liz, and she paced it to a tee - to the point that Coach Jen was certain that Liz had latched onto the pace group as planned and let them help her the entire way. Little did Coach Jen know that Liz wasn't tall enough to see any of the pace signs (!!) so she ended up running 26.2 entirely by feel. She executed the race plan perfectly, running a negative split and clocking a massive PR. Mile 26 was her fastest and she dipped into the low 9's! Liz is “Miss Consistency” and had a wonderful training block - her race is a testament to how she operates and gets the work done. She has PR’d in the half and the 10k on the buildup to this race and ran over a minute faster per mile than her previous marathon pace. Way to go, Liz!!

Kyla Kotcherha: 3:46

Kyla had a rough few weeks leading up to the race - we weren't sure she would make it to the starting line as her hip flared up mid-training cycle. She and Coach Jen adjusted the training plan and worked hard on PT and maintenance exercises to get the hip to a place where she could run with minimal discomfort. Her PT confirmed it was ok to get to the starting line, so Kyla focused on re-setting expectations and finding a goal race pace that would allow her to run strong and negative split. She and Coach Jen worked a lot on positive self-talk and positive affirmations - lots of Ted Lasso GIF's and quotes were sent in the days leading up to the race :) On race day, Kyla really brought her "A" game, executing the adjusted race plan to perfection. She ran an 11 minute PR with her last 5 miles as her fastest!

Rachel Dumanian: 3:32

Rachel had a charmed build up and a similarly charmed race - it is the best feeling when it all comes together! Rachel and Coach Amy started working together this fall to prepare her for her first marathon as a mom at 17 months postpartum. It was clear right away that she was unlocking new speed, evidenced by a 9-minute half marathon PR in October (on a very hard course). Rachel had hoped to go sub 4 going into this training cycle, but she and Coach Amy started aiming even bolder and thinking about the 3:30s. Gradually as Rachel did more and more tempo and marathon pace work, she grew to believe she could hold a low 8-minute pace. She executed a beautiful pace plan, running even splits and accelerating at the end for a 29 minute PR! Rachel exuded joy on the course and in training. CIM was an incredible celebration of what her body can do!

Kristy Spratt: 3:39

Kristy executed an incredible race off a challenging build. Six weeks before marathon day, she was not sure if she could line up - she has always been injury-prone despite being very smart about strength training and listening to her body. She and Coach Amy knew though if they could get her discomfort under control, she could run something fantastic. A magical sports massage, tweaks to her mid-week workouts, and a few extra rest days later, they were able to put together a fantastic and strong last six weeks of training and got to resume speed work. Going into marathon week, Kristy's brain and body felt fantastic! She ran strong even as the hills caught up to her (training in the flat Midwest isn't easy for hilly courses!) and ran a phenomenal 14-minute PR for her second marathon. She dipped under 3:40 and we have full confidence that more double-digit PRs are coming her way in future builds.

Caroline DiNapoli: 3:36

Caroline has taken nearly an hour off her marathon PR since she started working with Coach Kaitlin - her transformation as a runner is nothing short of inspiring! She ran a stellar 3:36 at CIM, bettering her 3:52 from Berlin '23. Caroline put together some impressive half marathons this year, so we knew she was ready for a big day at CIM - but she got Covid in November, and we were concerned this would derail her PR plans! But Caroline handled this setback like a pro and came to CIM ready to rock her race plan - and she did! Caroline ran a 16 minute personal best - we are SO happy for her and can't wait for her next big breakthrough!

Laura Taylor: 3:18

Laura came out to CIM from Washington DC, where she works a demanding law job (which means she's often having to juggle training - but she fits it in!). After pacing the 3:25 group at the Richmond Marathon last month, Laura was ready for her own race at CIM. She took a big swing at 3:10 and while she came up short, we are super proud of her for taking a big shot - you don’t know unless you try! Laura overcame some tough middle miles to run a strong last 10k of the race and finish fast, and joyfully!

Jeni Enjaian: 3:43

Jeni ran her second-fastest marathon ever and improved upon her 3:46 from Houston '24. We took a stab at a PR and while she came up a little short, we're thrilled with this 2nd-fastest time after a tumultuous fall. This public-school teacher navigated some training hiccups while being temporarily displaced after Hurricane Helene - but she didn't let this stop her run streak nor her marathon training! Jeni smiled her way to this great run, and we are super happy for her!

We are overjoyed by how the team ran at CIM and couldn’t be happier to share in each athlete’s joyful journey from Folsom to Sacramento - congratulations everyone!

Anatomy of a Training Cycle by Coach Kaitlin

Runners love to understand the big picture and be able to see the full view of their training. As both an athlete and a coach, I find it really helpful to take a look at the anatomy of a training cycle and break it down into its component parts, so that you can know what to expect during each phase of a training cycle and understand the WHEN, WHAT, and WHY behind the training.

Here’s how I think about each phase of a training cycle:

BASE PHASE

Base Phase is where you focus on developing endurance and building aerobic fitness. This is a lower-intensity and lower-volume phase where the priority is to nail the basics:

• Easy and aerobic miles

• Strides for speed

• Strength training, and

• A solid long run.

The main goal of the Base Phase is consistency and the focus is on laying a strong foundation.

BUILDING BLOCK PHASE

The Building Block Phase is your prep phase - this is where you gradually increase both volume and intensity to prepare you for the Performance Phase. The focus is on improving endurance and getting stronger and faster through workouts like:

• Progression runs

• Pickups

• Hills, and

• Specialized long runs.

The main goal of the Building Block Phase is strength.

PERFORMANCE PHASE

The Performance Phase is your peak phase - this is an intense training period where you run more challenging workouts, in both volume + intensity, and hit your peak weekly mileage. You’ll be working hard and you’ll be tired, but this phase is a lot of fun! The main goal of the Performance Phase is quality. The focus is on dialing into goal race pace in workouts and simulating racing (often with a tuneup race).

TAPER PHASE

The Taper Phase is your pre-competition phase - this is where you get ready to race! The main goal of the Taper Phase is race prep. The focus is on reducing volume and intensity, adding in more recovery, and preparing yourself both physically and mentally to execute on race day.

RECOVERY PHASE

The Recovery Phase is the time to rest and reset after your goal race. The main goal of the Recovery Phase is rest. The focus is on recovering, both physically and mentally, and allowing the body and mind to recuperate from the intensity of the training cycle and race day. This is also a time to as move in other (non-running) ways that bring you joy, before gradually re-introducing running and gearing up for your next goal!

I hope this helps you understand the WHEN, the WHAT, and the WHY behind training as you gear up for your next big race!
Cheers,
Coach Kaitlin

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