Lewis and Sara, a married couple, contacted Foultips Running after falling short in previous marathon attempts. As back-of-the-packers, they missed the finish line cutoff in two prior attempts. Yet, those setbacks became fuel to conquer their goals.
Knowing they’d spend hours on their feet, we built a solid aerobic base so they could consistently run at least four times a week, including back-to-back long runs on weekends. These long runs were key, as a 15–20 miler would demand too much physically to be beneficial. They both worked diligently and were ready for race day. And then the obstacle course began.
Race-day weather in Miami was expected to be brutal, far from idyllic for back-of-the-packers. So, we opted for a half-marathon. They next registered for the Tobacco Trail Marathon in North Carolina, six weeks later, hoping for better weather. However, the day before, a storm forecast led organizers to shorten the time limit, beyond what they could have achieved. Undeterred, they immediately registered for the Newport Marathon in Oregon, 11 weeks later. This time, they crossed the finish line together and finally became marathoners.
Nothing is guaranteed in marathon training. For some, the path is long and even more challenging. But Lew and Sara persevered in their goal, put in the work back-to-back-to-back, and made it happen. As a coach, you can’t ask for more than that.