Hello from PVD! · First Marathon Buddy Program

Hello from PVD!

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 😳

3 comments