My marathon journey from a small Massachusetts race to qualifying and running the Boston Marathon — twice.
The First Four
2017I dreamed of qualifying for the Boston Marathon since middle school cross country — it seemed impossible, but deep down I think I always wondered if I could do it. My first marathon was a small race on Martha's Vineyard, where I expected to run close to 4 hours. Instead, it humbled me — I struggled to cross the finish line in just under 5 hours. Inconsistent training and rookie mistakes (never carry gels in your sports bra unless you want to look like you were attacked by a bear, for example) left me wildly unprepared for the pain and the distance. My family and friends who came out to support me were so proud, but I was so disappointed in myself. So a few months later, I signed up for the New Hampshire Marathon and didn't tell anyone — I needed to see what I could do without any pressure. At mile 18, I remember flipping off the mile marker sign — I wasn't about to fall apart again like I did in Martha's Vineyard. After that 30-minute PR, I was hooked and signed up for two more marathons that year to see how fast I could go.
Falling apart makes the comeback even better.
Fifty States
2018–2022After Philly, I'd run a marathon in 4 different states. I still didn't think I'd be fast enough to qualify for Boston and so I thought my thing would be to run as many marathons as I could — why not all 50 states. I would save Boston for very last and run as a fundraiser if I had to. Seeing new cities (and finding the best post-race burgers and beer) made checking off each state fun and motivating, but I was getting frustrated hovering around that same 3:50 pace, chasing a PR I could never quite catch. A nagging injury from winter 2021 kept getting pushed aside, until May 2022 when it finally forced me to stop and rethink what came next.
Do the same thing, get the same results.
Chicago
Jan–Oct 2023Forced to take almost 8 months off, it was my first real off-season in years and I was devastated to miss Chicago in 2022. So the goal shifted: I wanted a huge PR at Chicago in 2023. I was motivated to come back even stronger. That winter I built a consistent strength training routine to heal and prepare for an intense summer build. I stopped viewing strength training as optional and started moving with actual intent for the first time — I was ready to put it all on the table that fall. I pushed my limits with the summer volume and created specific workouts to focus on speed and mental toughness. The work paid off with an 11+ min PR. Over post-race deep dish pizza, it hit me for the first time — maybe running a sub-3:30 and qualifying for Boston wasn't as far off as I thought.
Consistency pays off and ignoring injury is not an option.
The BQ Build
Late 2023–2024I was on a mission. I needed to push myself like never before. So I structured a year-long build: 5K and 10K blocks, a half marathon block, then the biggest marathon-specific block of my life — 50–70 mile weeks, consistent lifting, no excuses. By now I knew my weaknesses and exactly what workouts I needed. Throughout the year I crushed PRs in every distance and even beat my old high school times. On paper, I thought I could run around 3:20 if everything went perfectly. Three weeks before the race, the B.A.A. lowered the 2026 qualifying standard from 3:30 to 3:25. It would be close, but that just made me want it more. I ran the race of my life — aggressive yet controlled, the strongest I've ever felt, physically and mentally. Thanks to some bad mental math, I thought I was on pace for 3:19. When I looked at the clock in the chute and saw 3:16, it was an absolute dream. I'd done what once seemed impossible. I qualified for Boston.
Trust the plan and believe something special can happen on race day.
Boston, Twice
2025–2026Boston 2025: A Party
My qualifying time applied to 2026, but I gave myself permission to run in 2025 too, as a fundraiser. I knew I met the qualifying standard for 2025 (3:30 at the time), and that was enough for me — I didn't need to be in as a qualifier. Finally running Boston was just as incredible and painful as I had imagined. My goal was to have fun and celebrate years of working toward this moment. It was a blast.
Boston 2026: An Ass-Kicking
Running my qualifying race, my marathon journey had come full circle. A brief winter build meant that the wheels started to come off around mile 14, and by mile 18 in the Newton Hills I had to dig deeper than I ever had to before. In the darkest parts of the race I thought about my first marathon and all the ones that came after that had led me to Boston. It was a constant negotiation with myself just to put one foot in front of the other and get to the finish line. Crossing this finish line on Boylston was different. It was the culmination of a 9 year journey of testing my limits, choosing to rebuild, and chasing a goal that at one point seemed a bit insane. So instead of beating myself up at the finish line and criticizing my race like my first marathon, this time at my last, I was deeply proud of myself — just for finishing. The work is worth it.
The work is worth it.
Why I Coach
Every one of those fifteen marathons taught me something. The early ones taught me to love the work and the journey. The later ones taught me what structure and consistency can actually do. I bring this experience and a deep appreciation and love for the sport into my coaching. I want to help other athletes push their own limits and accomplish goals they might think are impossible — the same way Boston once felt to me.