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 🧡

Hi my name is Audra and I’m beyond excited to be a part of this group. I have been running off and on since my 30s and I am currently 52. I have done 4 half marathons and quite a few 10k&5ks. I have dreamed of doing a full marathon for many years and have finally committed to training and signed up for my very first to run in December. I am so happy to have found this group and Taylor’s podcast. Listening to all these amazing stories on my runs brings me such excitement and motivation to run my first at the end of this year. Love these podcasts Taylor and keep them coming 😁👏🏼

Hey everyone - welcome to the My First Marathon community! The first thing I want you to know is the thought of running a marathon doesn't cross most people's mind, so the fact that you're taking this chance on yourself means you're doing something incredible for yourself. We don't take that lightly, and you shouldn't either. You should be SO PROUD of yourself for even taking that leap of faith! 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 just like you. When discussions come up, be thoughtful and kind with your answers. - Be supportive & active! Post your training stories, questions, and successes/set backs as much as you choose! We want this to be a helpful and interactive experience for all. - Have fun! The running community is the best group of people I know - let's show eachother that love. - When the First Marathon Buddy Course launches on 2/9, you'll have the opportunity to start your monthly membership and gain access to a ton of resources like a 20-week course meant to help you make sense of your own training plan, access to a private Strava built for first timers, and access to bi-monthly Q&A style calls to help guide you along your journey. Stay tuned for more info! To kick things off - please share the story of your running journey and which marathon you're choosing as your first so we can get to know you! Thanks for being here, I'm so excited for this to launch 🧡 -Taylor

Hi friends!! I'm Taylor, a RRCA-certified running coach and host of the My First Marathon Podcast 👋 I often joke on the show that my life existed before and after I ran a marathon, and I believe that wholeheartedly. I’m an ex-competitive softball player who lost my way after losing my mentor and coach tragically and suddenly to cancer right before starting my college career, which sent my entire sense of purpose into a spiral. For years after, I searched and searched for a way to scratch the itch that sports had filled my entire life. It wasn’t until taking a leap of faith and training for my first half marathon that I started to feel like myself again. Since then, I’ve run 10+ half marathons, 5 marathons, and several smaller races in between. I’m passionate about first-time marathoners because I truly believe there is magic on the other side of proving to yourself that you are capable of so much more than you think! If you’re a fan of the show, a running friend, or just finding me for the first time, I want you to know how grateful I am that you’re here and that you’re taking this chance on yourself. I can promise you, and so can all of the other wonderful mentors on this page, that you will never regret pouring into yourself by taking this chance. Can’t wait to see what you do. -Taylor 🧡

Hello! Привіт! So excited to be here sharing the joy of marathoning! My running journey didn’t start until I was 26 and joined the Peace Corps. I moved to Ukraine and decided to give running a try so I would have something to do that would get me moving my body and exploring my new home in a period that could have otherwise been very isolating. I was your classic beginner runner who kept saying “I’ll never do X” and then gradually did them all! “I’ll never run a race”, then did a 5k months later. “I’ll never run a half marathon” and then did my first half in Kyiv in 2019. “Ok but I’ll NEVER run a full marathon” and then in 2022 I decided “why not” and I signed up for the Richmond Marathon! I ran my first marathon when I was 31 and now I’ve run 4. I love that running is something that you can discover at ANY point in your life and it can be there in whatever way you need it to. My first marathon I trained with a team and ran with a time goal. My last race was NYC in 2024 and I ran it with no time goal and the intention to just have a blast. I’ve run world majors and tiny rural races and every time I just fall in love with the experience of being a runner. Running looks a little different for me these days because I just had my first baby back in September and I’m still recovering from pregnancy/childbirth but I can’t wait to get back out there, and in the meantime continue sharing my love of the sport with others!! I also can’t wait for the snow in Providence to melt so I can at least start walking again 😳