After nearly 2 years of interviewing runners on their first marathon stories, there were two really clear patterns: coaching support isn’t accessible for everyone, and even for those it is accessible to, many don’t feel ready for 1:1 coaching. On top of that, there’s simply too much information out there to make sense of when you’re a beginner marathoner. I built The First Marathon Buddy community to fill that gap. This space is meant to be community first and to make the training process feel less isolating and more supported, no matter what plan you’re following. The My First Marathon Buddy Program is officially out now!! I’m really excited to build this with you all and see where it goes. -Taylor 🧡

Jak się masz? I’m Annie, long time lover girl shorter time runner girl 🎀 I started running in 2021 after becoming a ✨peloton girlie✨in 2020. I had felt confident enough in my established new love of movement that perhaps I could actually learn HOW to run and not be miserable. As it turns out, when you know things like form, cadence, breathing… it clicks! After a good go of races and an injury in 2022, I was ready - I registered for the Chicago marathon with charity in 2024 and ran my first half in May that year. Then 7 weeks into my training I had an injury and the marathon was no more. I love PT and committing to a bit, so naturally I knew 2025 was in my hand. Training could not have gone better despite miserable conditions, and my first marathon was genuinely one of the best days of my life! Aside from my time training with my charity team, much of my time was training through peloton, and many, many hours and miles with my friend Alex K (who just happens to be an instructor, life is crazy!!) Running has given me so much - courage, freedom, grit, and about 1300 life lessons. I’m also the founder of Chicago’s first radically inclusive all-girls run club. Twice a week I share miles and smiles with some of the coolest gals, sharing my why and love for running with newcomers and seasoned runners alike. Women have a safe space to explore joyful movement. I believe that if you learn to love running, many times it will love you back! Grateful to be here and for the opportunity to mentor our new marathoners.

Hey yall - thanks so much for the engagement so far!! I’m so excited to welcome our first timers who are on the early access waitlist this week 🥰 I’m going to highlight a few of you on stories this week as “mentors” for the group to draw in a few more folks that may be intimidated to join, be on the look out for those posts (I’ll make sure to tag you!) 5 short days until the course launches! Grateful you’re here 🥳 -Taylor 🧡

Hi friends! My name is Rachel (she/her) and I live in Philadelphia, PA! I started my running journey in May of 2023 after watching a local 10 mile race on tv and deciding I wanted to run it the next year - I ran 0.5 mile once a week and since then have run 2 marathons (with my 3rd coming up this October in Chicago - my first world major!!!), several half marathons, and other shorter distance races! I love to be involved in the running community and am coming off of a year long partnership with On, served as a Philly Marathon Weekend ambassador the last two years, and have partnered with several other running/health brands over the last two years! As a self-proclaimed “slow girl” when I stated my running journey, I love to share about my personal progress in both running AND in ED recovery - can’t wait to connect with you all!🎉

Hey everyone - welcome to the My First Marathon community! If you've joined ahead of the 2/9 official launch date, that means that you've ran a marathon in the past and you're here to help support first timers on the journey to running their first marathon. I'm so glad you're here! Here's the details & expectations of the group! - Be kind! There will be a lot of first timers here working their way through running their first marathons. When questions come up, be thoughtful and kind with your answers. - Be supportive & active! Post your marathon stories, helpful tips, and consistently commenting/supporting other runners. Inactive non-first timers may be removed from the group without notice! - Have fun! The running community is the best group of people I know - let's show new marathoners and runners that love. To kick things off - please share the story of your running journey/first marathon below so when I let the first timers into the group in Feb, they can start to get to know you all :) Thanks for being here, I'm so excited for this to launch 🧡 -Taylor