From 2x Brain Surgery Survivor to 2x Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier: Molly Bookmyer

Guest [00:00:00]: I think you really need a strong support system. I think if you wanna succeed, you know, like, I definitely was not performing and I was really struggling and I don't think I was getting the support that I needed. And I I felt kind of, just that I needed somebody who was going to be able to, like, work with me and really listen and, like, want to see me succeed.

Cory Nagler [00:00:25]: We have a lot of great runners on the podcast, but today's guest, Molly Bookmeier, is without a doubt one of the most inspiring interviews I've done. I wouldn't possibly try to cover her full list of race accomplishments, but since overcoming two brain surgeries while finishing her studies at Ohio State, she's gone on to achieve a marathon personal best of two twenty eight while winning the twenty twenty four Twin Cities marathon. And just recently in Houston, she ran a one zero nine half marathon in her build up for the London marathon, which will be only a couple weeks after this episode airs. I should add, she told me she actually fell during that half marathon race, which makes it even more impressive, if that's possible. You won't find her on Strava, as I learned in our chat, so this is really your only chance to hear about her story, including things like how she manages elite level training with a 20 plus mile weeks after recovering from injury setbacks and while balancing a full time job, as well as her goals for London, so you can cheer her on from back home. So that's enough of me, and let's get into the interview. Hello, runners, and welcome to the Run to the Top podcast, where our goal is making you a better runner with each and every episode. I'm your showrunner, Corey Nagler.

Cory Nagler [00:01:40]: And I'm not an elite runner, but together, we'll explore new strategies and topics to take your running to the next level. This podcast is created and produced by the expert team of coaches at runners connect dot net, where you can find the best running information the but has really stormed on the pro running scene. Molly, I really appreciate you joining me today.

Guest [00:02:09]: Thanks, Corey. I'm excited to be here.

Cory Nagler [00:02:12]: Yeah. I'm really excited to have you, and I think this is such perfect timing because if I understand right, you're in the thick of marathon training right now, aren't you?

Guest [00:02:20]: Yeah. I'm, about a month out from the London marathon, so hitting some of my biggest weeks, right before taper. So I am in the thick of training and feeling pretty good.

Cory Nagler [00:02:30]: And how are you feeling? Are you kind of disappointed training's coming to an end, or are you just really ready for the taper at this point?

Guest [00:02:38]: I mean, I love training. So I don't I'm never, like, looking forward to the taper. I think I'm just getting maybe a little anxious and a little nervous about the race just because it's, like, a it's such a big race. And you put in a lot of work, and I put in a lot of work for this race. So probably feeling a little bit anxious, but, but, yeah, feeling confident, I think. You know?

Cory Nagler [00:03:04]: That's a good sign. I'm rooting for you. For for anyone who's listening and maybe hasn't heard your name before, and and maybe even those who aren't listening will have heard of you after London Marathon, How would you describe yourself? Who who is Molly Bookmeier, I guess, the the runner and even beyond that?

Guest [00:03:21]: Yeah. Oh, that's a tough question. So I guess I just feel like I am somebody who, just loves running. So I have a little bit of a different background than a lot of the other pro runners on the running scene. I ran in high school and college, but I was a walk on on college. So never on scholarship. I only ran, three years of cross country and two years of track. I kind of then totally got away from the sport from for some health reasons for a while.

Guest [00:03:54]: So I guess I'm just somebody who got into running because they loved it a lot, and just really wanna see how good I can be. And so that kinda so it keeps me going.

Cory Nagler [00:04:06]: Yeah. And when it comes to running, what what is your favorite part about the sport?

Guest [00:04:10]: I think just the time away. Like, I when I'm running, I feel, like, the most alive, you know? Like, when you're chasing after goal and you're just out there running and working hard, I don't know. I think that's when I feel, like, the most connected to myself and my mind. And it's the the time I can get away from, like, all the stressors of life. And so I think that's that's what I like the most about it.

Cory Nagler [00:04:33]: Are you somebody who likes to see running as more of an escape and run solo, or do you really thrive on the social aspect and being around other runners?

Guest [00:04:42]: So I I like both sides of it. So I train mostly alone. So I live in Columbus, Ohio, and most of my training I do alone. But it's not that I don't enjoy running with people. So, you know, sometimes if I'm able to, I'll hook up with a couple women who live here in town. My coach is local, so sometimes I'll come to my workouts or, we'll do easy runs together. My husband bites with me a lot on my really long marathon effort paces and stuff and gets me like my fuel and, Columbus oddly enough, I'm sure with like a lot of cities actually has a really big running community, with just, the the local running stores. And so they're always out there on the bike path like running and training.

Guest [00:05:28]: So I I feel connected to running that way. But from like my daily runs, I train mostly alone. And I think I just kinda gotten used to it and, running has gotten me through some really really hard times in my life. And so I think think I think I enjoy it running solo. But, when I have the opportunity to run people, I like that too.

Cory Nagler [00:05:56]: Darn Molly, you're just too fast to run with other people.

Guest [00:05:59]: That's not true.

Cory Nagler [00:06:00]: So well, maybe that's not quite true, but you're you're definitely speedy. I I, of course, know the the answer to this question as I ask it. But do you mind telling people what is your marathon PR and maybe some of your other prior accomplishments as a runner?

Guest [00:06:13]: Yeah. So my marathon PR is, like, is two twenty eight, 40 something. So I'm just gonna do two twenty eight. And then, I ran that this past fall. And then, a couple months ago in Houston, I broke the one ten barrier. So I ran like one zero nine at the Houston half marathon which, I'm proud of. However, I did I fell on the start of the race. There was a couple women who went down at the start of the race.

Guest [00:06:40]: So, it's one of those things where I wish I didn't fall and maybe I could have ran a little bit faster. But you know, I gotta take it for what it is. And yeah. I mean, I think, I'm just excited because I keep, getting better and I keep executing my races a little bit better. So, I think the thing I'm most proud of is just, like, continuing to get better and and not giving up when, things have been kinda tough and injuries strike and other things happen in life, that maybe set you back a little bit.

Cory Nagler [00:07:15]: That's pretty crazy. I think I had known about the one zero nine half marathon at Houston, but I had no idea you fell running that. And to me, I I think a one zero nine half marathon is probably already perhaps even a faster equivalent than a two twenty eight. Do you feel like you're in the best shape of your life right now?

Guest [00:07:31]: Yeah. I mean, I definitely, I definitely think I'm faster than my two twenty eight. I mean, when I ran the two twenty eight, it was it wasn't a super flat course, and I ran it totally solo. And it's it's kind of tough. We had some family stuff going on. Like ten days before the race, unfortunately, my, father-in-law passed away. So there's a lot of stuff that went into that race that made it kind of tough. But yeah, I would say right now, training is going really well.

Guest [00:07:59]: And, Houston was a good a good kick start to my season. And I would say, the marathon's a beast. So I never, you know, I don't want to say that I'm faster or slower. But I definitely think that I can do better. And I think if I get on the right course on a good day, I'm gonna execute how I've been running in my training that, I am hopeful that I can run a faster time.

Cory Nagler [00:08:26]: Well, based on what I've heard already, I think there's a pretty good chance of that. I I think you mentioned a little bit about having to take some time off running, some injuries. Do you mind telling us a little bit more about that?

Guest [00:08:37]: Yeah. So, if I go way back, so in college, I stopped running because I had a stress fracture, in my shin. And during all the different tests to figure out, I I wanted to get to the root cause. It's like why I was getting stress fractures. Because also in high school, I had, some other injuries and one thing led to another and I had some elevated hormone levels that led to giving a brain a brain MRI. And when they did the brain MRI, they were looking for something by my pituitary gland but they also found another brain tumor, located in one of the ventricles of my brain. So they we followed it for like two years, and the tumor, just do like MRIs. I would get MRIs every couple months and, they had a good idea it wasn't cancerous.

Guest [00:09:30]: So it wasn't something that was super urgent to get done. I had like spinal taps where they like stick a needle in your spine to get spinal fluid, to make sure there were no cancer cells. But it kept growing. So after a couple years, I had brain surgery to move the tumor in 2015. And then I actually had to have an emergency surgery, just due to some complications a couple months later. And then, I kind of got back. I wasn't running, but I was able to like walk on the treadmill and so I got back to wanting to run. And later that year, while I was running on a treadmill after work one day, I suffered a seizure.

Guest [00:10:11]: So then I had to start taking seizure medication, but then I kind of since I was a runner before, running just kind of fit my life as a way to stay healthy. So I slowly got back into running, as a way to just get healthy again, and to to, yeah, mostly just get healthy and strong again, and exercise. And, unfortunately, two years later, I was getting married to my husband and we went on our honeymoon and then we, got back from our honeymoon and he was complaining about some pain in his abdomen and his back or whatever and he, got some tests done and then he found out that he had cancer. So all this time, he then his diagnosed cancer and he had to go through surgeries and stuff. And so at that point, I really turned to running, not competitively at all, but just as a way to maybe take care of myself, because I was the primary caretaker for him here. So at that point, I kind of got back to running, probably more as just like a stress reliever. But, it's something I did like every day. And I think that was kind of my start of like getting into running, and using it as a way to to release some stress and, kind of fell fell back in love with running at that time.

Cory Nagler [00:11:33]: And, firstly, I'm sorry, about everything you went through, but so so impressive how you managed to to bounce back. And you described to me feeling like you were fully healthy now. But as you were going through all of that, what was your headspace at the time? And did you always know you wanted to get back to professional running, or did you think there was a good chance it would just kind of stay as a stress reliever?

Guest [00:11:55]: Yeah. So I never thought I would become, like, a pro runner, or run at this level. It's just I just always loved running. And like even in college, I wasn't a superstar in college. Like I said, I was just I was a walk on on the college team. So I think, while my husband was going through, treatments, I kind of made a goal to run a marathon. And then I ended up running, grandma's marathon, in a in a two forty six. And at the time, the OTQ standard was two forty five.

Guest [00:12:27]: And that's kind of what then led me to think like, okay, if I'm so close to, you know, it's coaching myself, just running, using it as stress reliever for my for my husband, you know, not really fueling. And if I thought if I was that close to, the OTQ standard at the time, if I put a little more effort into it, could I hit that standard? And I think that's kind of what kicked off my my drive to get better and to start hit these standards. And then to qualify at that time as the twenty twenty trials, to qualify to the twenty twenty trials. And then from there, I just kept getting faster and faster and faster, and my goals keep getting higher and higher and higher.

Cory Nagler [00:13:03]: So this was in 2020. You ran a two forty five. And then is is that right?

Guest [00:13:11]: So it was in, so I fall for the twenty twenty Olympic trial. So in 2018, I ran the the two forty four. And then, I took to get this stand or maybe it's 2019 to get this standard. But then and then I kind of kicked off the season and I had, I ran the 25 ks champs, so the US champs. And I ended up finishing third, in the 25 k champs that year, which was my first ever US championship race. And I was I was think I was behind like Sarah Hall and Emma Bates. So it was a it was it was a good field of women. And I like never ran a US championship race before.

Guest [00:13:54]: So that so then that kicked off like a good I thought it was gonna be this great progression to go to the twenty twenty trials. Unfortunately, after that, I ended up getting a sacral stress fracture, that summer. And then I tried to come back, in time to go to the twenty twenty trials which was Feb of twenty twenty and like the week or two before the 2020 trials, I was diagnosed with the femoral neck stress fracture. So probably can't try to come back a little bit too quick, you know, I don't know hindsight. But I never made it to the start line of the 2020 trial. So, but, yeah, at that time, my PR was two forty four.

Cory Nagler [00:14:36]: Yep. This is maybe a dad joke to make on the podcast, but I have to say, I think it's great that you made reference to the, the saying hindsight is twenty twenty for the twenty twenty trials.

Guest [00:14:46]: I know. Yeah. I know. I mean and then then COVID hit. You know? So I don't know. It was a crazy time.

Cory Nagler [00:14:55]: Yeah. So at what point were you able to get back to racing? Because I I think for most runners, twenty twenty after the trials, it was pretty much, like, weeks afterwards that everything shut down.

Guest [00:15:05]: Yeah. I don't I don't race for a lot. So because I, like I mean, I was diagnosed with the femoral stress fracture right, like, right before the trials. And I was just coming back from a sacral stress fracture. So at that time, I was like, I I don't even care about, like, getting back to racing. The world shut down. I just wanna be healthy. Like, I just wanna be able to run, like, and not have these bone injuries.

Guest [00:15:31]: So I took a really long time, to make sure I was like fully healed and took a lot of time off running. I just did a lot of I got I did a lot of biking in my basement. You know, all the all the apps were, like, for free because it was COVID. So I just I took a lot of time off running and then, I guess, I kinda got back into it maybe 2021, '20 '20 '2. Started racing again.

Cory Nagler [00:16:02]: Yeah. I let me know if this is not quite how you felt, but I I wonder if it almost helped during that time to be going in with an injury. I I as a lot of people might have been feeling like they lost something or or or weren't were losing times when they were in peak fitness, whereas it it sounds like you were really able to kind of bounce back and and get back to fitness during that time.

Guest [00:16:23]: Yeah. So, you know, I told somebody this about COVID. So when I had my brain surgeries and my husband had cancer, I felt like my world stopped, and everybody else got to keep living their life. Right? Like, I'm in a hospital. I'm doing all these scans. I'm having all these surgeries. I can't do anything. I can't run.

Guest [00:16:40]: I can't exercise. Like, my life I was living in the hospital. I had to live with live at home with my parents. I couldn't work, and then my husband had cancer. So I feel like at that time, my life stopped and everybody else got to keep living. And in the weird way, COVID, the entire world stopped, you know. And I know it's hard for a lot of people, but at the same time for me, it was like, yes, I can't race, but nobody can race. So it was kind of that other, like, kind of like you said, it was I looked at it a little bit differently.

Guest [00:17:15]: I was like, we're kind of all in this together, you know, like with the whole everybody shut down. We're all in the same position. So like let's make the most of it. So kind of a different experience for me. You know, things, you know, everybody had things happen, jobs changed and there's a lot of stuff that happened during COVID. But I mean, I was fortunate, like, I I don't think I ever got COVID and we were pretty healthy through the time. But, but yeah, it was it was different. And, I'm just happy that I was able to get through it.

Guest [00:17:46]: And, luckily didn't lose anybody to the dis you know, to it. So so yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:17:52]: Yeah. That's a that's an optimistic outtake on it. I I think that's that shows a lot of resilience that you're able to look back on it that way.

Guest [00:17:59]: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you can't change the past, unfortunately. I wish I could change some of the things that have happened, but but we can't. So I just gotta keep moving forward.

Cory Nagler [00:18:07]: Yeah. Definitely. So fast forwarding just a little bit. You talked about the 2020 trials coming in with injuries and maybe not going exactly the way you wanted. Fast forward to 2024. At this point, you'd run your PB two twenty eight to hit an already tough standard of two thirty seven. Can you tell us a little bit about that race and and how that maybe also didn't go exactly how you had envisioned?

Guest [00:18:30]: Yeah. So, so I get so going into the 2024 trials, I think my PR was, like, two thirty. And, again, I thought I was, like, super super fit going into the trials, but something I've always struggled with, is nutrition. And I think it's it's something that I think has played me for a long time in my athletic career. Like I would I would get sick in races. I ran like a Houston marathon in 2022. And I I mean, I think I ran like a two thirty one or two thirty two and I was get like, the last eight miles, 10 miles. I I mean, this might be TMI but, like, I was pooping blood the entire end of the race and I wasn't taking any nutrition.

Guest [00:19:17]: And it was like it was really really terrible. But eventually after like some tests, I went and saw a doctor and they, diagnosed me with celiac disease. And so I thought so I cut out all gluten, and I changed my diet completely. And so that definitely helped, me in my training. But unfortunately, I thought I had most of it under control but I think looking back, I was still suffering, some sometimes in some workouts and some races where my stomach wasn't cooperating. And unfortunately, at the twenty twenty four trials, same thing happened. Like maybe 12 miles into the race, my stomach just started really hurting. And I got sick in the race and I ended up dropping out of the trials, which, I mean, I'm not gonna lie.

Guest [00:20:07]: I was pretty devastated at the time. I I took it pretty hard. It was just, you know, you put so much work into one day, and to not even be able to finish the race. And it's not like if I could have finished, I would have. But I ran a marathon one time and I finished the marathon one time, pooping blood for the last half of the race. And it is a terrible, terrible experience. And it was hot that day. It was not going to go well.

Guest [00:20:32]: So, I had to, end my race early. So yeah. That was that was a tough day, but I have a lot of learnings coming out of it. So we can get into those learnings. Yeah. For sure. I well, first of all, there's

Cory Nagler [00:20:48]: no such thing as TMI on a running podcast. We've all been there, so I totally understand. But yeah. Definitely get into what what came of that race.

Guest [00:20:55]: Yeah. So, I'm I'm not gonna lie. Like, I was kind of at my breaking point after that race where it was kinda, like, do I wanna keep doing this or not? Because it's, it's really not fun to I was, like, lining up for these races and I wasn't confident in if I could take nutrition. And I, you know, so many people told me different things of like that I listen to, or and I try different things like, you know, some doctors would suggest taking Imodium, but like my stomach hurt taking Imodiums, I don't think it's the right thing. Like that's not actually gonna help me if my stomach's hurting. So I was on a quest to find, like, an answer. So I, was able to get into some GI doctors. And one doctor, he told me, like, I had really skinny veins or something and I might need surgery.

Guest [00:21:49]: But then I talked to another doctor and and he I remember I still remember because I left left the doctor and I was like, he doesn't know anything. Like he this is not gonna help me. But he suggested that I start taking fiber, every night. And, so that was probably like March or April of last year that I started taking fiber. And honestly it's like chain it sounds really silly but it's changed my life and my fueling. I don't like now I'm able to fuel on all my runs and my races. I never get sick anymore. Which like just being able to be healthy and take fuel and run the races.

Guest [00:22:28]: And honestly, just being confident going into a race that I'm not gonna get sick, has been like life changing. So yeah. That's it was a really tough tough moment at the time, and I really felt really helpless, just because, you know, a lot of runners would be like, it's just a runner thing. Right? And, maybe if it happens like once or twice, it's a runner thing. But if it's happening every day, it's not a runner thing. And, you know, people people deserve to get some answers and, be able to be healthy and running and not have it affect their daily life.

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Cory Nagler [00:25:30]: Check out the research and the results for yourself at massedge.com/iron. That's masedge.com/iron. Plus, runners connect fans will automatically save 20% on any purchase. Yeah. It really sounds, like, invalidating to have somebody tell you just take Imodium, and that'll fix everything. But I I think a lot of it comes down to a disconnect between kind of traditional medical knowledge and and athletics, because I I think, really, the medical needs of athletes, especially at a such a high performance level like yourself, are so different.

Guest [00:26:11]: Yeah. And it's just, I think, also taking the time to, like, understand, like, how much it's affecting somebody's life. Because it it wasn't just affecting me, like, in races. Like one I had a previous coach who told me, oh, your heart rate's just too high and you can't you're not being you're not able to take in fueling. Well, my heart rate's not that high and it it's happening on easy runs too. So just like listening to advice that, you know, I believe for a long time. And then I look back and I think through it. And I'm like, it was happening on my easy runs.

Guest [00:26:40]: You know, my heart rate's like 120. Like that it doesn't make sense. And so it just took a really, really long time. And unfortunately, like I would go to races and I wouldn't fuel for the races because I'd be so afraid that I was gonna get sick. So I think it affected my performance for a long time. So, you know, sometimes I get a little frustrated when I think about it. Like, oh man, if I would have learned this a couple years earlier. But but I didn't.

Guest [00:27:05]: And so I just have to put it to good use now. And, you know, maybe somebody listening can learn something and can give it a try if they're, struggling with something similar.

Cory Nagler [00:27:16]: Yeah. And I don't I don't wanna turn this too much into a nutrition specific podcast, but I'm really curious about this fiber fiber piece in in particular because a lot of the time around runs or workouts, I personally try to avoid having too much fiber. And I know that can cause GI distress. So do do you have any insights as to how that was able to help?

Guest [00:27:34]: Yeah. Well, so I don't know all the technicals, but, I mean, I still remember. Because I am not I'm I was like, I left the doctor, and I, like, came home, and I was like, he doesn't know anything. Like, I tell my husband I was totally hating on this doctor. I apologize to him later. Because I was like, you were right. But he just said it sounds super counterintuitive. But the difference is, like, it kind of, like, maybe bulks it up a little bit.

Guest [00:28:00]: And so that, like, then if you have to go to the bathroom, it's, like, not an urgent thing. And it's not, like because I was having, like, dire like bloody diarrhea, like every day. And so the difference is like it just kind of it bulks everything up a little bit more, and so that it just helps maybe regulate you some. And then it's not like an urgent thing that's happening. So I don't know all the science behind it. I just know that it has changed my life. So yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:28:28]: That's pretty cool. And then on the celiac front, you're probably taking in a lot of carbs as an athlete, putting in a lot of mileage. Yeah. How do you get it all in while making sure that you're not taking anything that's gonna upset your stomach?

Guest [00:28:42]: Yeah. So that was a really big learning experience for me too. Like I said, I think when I was first diagnosed with celiacs, like, I don't think I was taking enough nutrition at the time, because I was so afraid to eat because I was getting sick all the time. Like, I was still getting sick even once I started cutting out gluten. Because it would you know, first, you have to learn everything that has gluten, like soy sauce. You Can't have soy sauce. I didn't, you know, I didn't know those type of things. So it just took me a while to learn how to to change eating.

Guest [00:29:08]: But, but now, I mean, luckily gluten free is kind of like a trend. So there are so many options out there that are that are gluten free options. And then when it comes to, like, traveling to races, I try to stay, like, super consistent. So, I always eat Chipotle the night before the race. Very simple. I mean, typically, when I go to the races, there's a Chipotle within, like, a mile to two miles of my hotel. So you can get rice, you know, very consistent. I know it works for me.

Guest [00:29:40]: And then I travel with all my other food. So like, I'll bring bagels that they have gluten free bagels. I'll pack my gluten free bagels. And I'll bring honey with me and there's a lot of like fruit snacks are a good option to add in or like raisins are really good to add in or they have, you know, banana. Like there's a lot of fruits and dried fruits and, simple carbs and stuff that have gluten free options. It's just choosing this over that. And like I said, I always pack everything I need, to the races just to make sure number one, I'm eating enough. So I'll, like, I'll lay everything out.

Guest [00:30:16]: Like, I know, you know, I need, like I don't know. I think it's, like, 405 grams of carbs a day, like, leading into a marathon. So I lay it all out, make sure I'm packing enough food, make sure I'm eating enough food. And then if I have my gluten free stuff with me, I don't have to worry about, like, if I go to a restaurant, if it's gonna be gluten free or not. But like I said, luckily these days, there there are a lot of options out there, for people, you know. So yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:30:46]: Yeah. I kinda chuckled a little bit when the first one you mentioned was Chipotle. Because we actually somewhat recently had an episode with somebody from Chipotle talking about the Strava Challenge, if you've heard of it.

Guest [00:30:55]: I did hear yeah. I heard of that. Yeah. Well, that's cool. I mean, what I don't know. I am actually not on Strava. So I don't I don't exactly know what the challenge was, but I didn't I saw on, like, Instagram people talk about the Strava challenge.

Cory Nagler [00:31:08]: Very cool. So if you're not on Strava, do you track your mileage at all, or do you go completely by feel and use a stopwatch?

Guest [00:31:15]: No. I track I have a Garmin and, I use my coach uses final surge. So I track my my mileage that way. I just, I don't know. I've never I think running is really personal to me. And it's, like I said, like, it helped me get through some really, really hard times in my life and I don't know. I I just wanna like, I wanna make myself proud and I know the workouts I need to do and I'm doing that, like, I do what my coach tells me to do. So, I don't know.

Guest [00:31:46]: One time somebody suggested I make a Strava and I made a Strava and I'm it, like, made me feel really dirty. Like, it just was, like, not me. Like, it was just not not like, I don't I felt like it was, like, another thing for me to do and, so I ended up deleting it. It's not that I don't want people to see what I'm doing. I just I don't know.

Cory Nagler [00:32:09]: Yeah. I I get it. I think as much as athletes like to think it's not the same as social media, I think it still has a lot of those same elements of, you know, comparison and oftentimes trying to portray some type of perfect training that really doesn't exist even at the elite level.

Guest [00:32:24]: Yeah. And, like, I work full time, so I don't even I honestly don't even know how it works. Like, I don't know. Do I have to, like, log in and do I have to make up with a fun saying and, like, say what my workout was? Like, it just sounds like another thing I have to do and I just, like, don't have the mental I don't have the mental space. Like, when I'm running or, like, in the morning before work and running after work and I'm tired and I'm putting, you know, I have to come home and I have to shower and get ready for work and put my mental energy into my work. I don't have time to, like, think about another thing of where to log my training because I also, like, need to talk to my coach and tell him, like, how do I feel in the workout? What workouts like, when did I like, what were my splits? Did I did I feel good? Did I feel like I was like over exerting myself? And so I feel like my after my workouts, I'm spending my time like calling my coach and talking to my coach about my workouts. So having to having to do it in another place, I don't know, just seems a little overwhelming for me, I think.

Cory Nagler [00:33:23]: Yeah. I get it. I think a lot of runners yeah. I I I think a lot of runners, including myself, could learn something about spending your time thinking about what you can learn from your runs and not about what your funny Strava title is gonna be.

Guest [00:33:34]: Maybe I'm just not clever enough. Maybe that's the problem. I don't know. You know? I don't know.

Cory Nagler [00:33:39]: There there are sites online that will generate titles for you where you can just, you know, go with the default morning run, afternoon run.

Guest [00:33:45]: Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe maybe one day, but it just stresses me out right now. So anything that stresses me out, I just wanna cross it off the list.

Cory Nagler [00:33:56]: Yeah. I could understand that. I do I do at some point in this podcast wanna get to I I know the big race on the calendar, which is London. But I I do wanna take one other step back because as I was going over your running career, there was one race that you had run which stood out, which is the Toronto marathon because that's where I was from. So what did you think of that race?

Guest [00:34:16]: That was an interesting one. So I definitely thought I could have ran faster in that race. I think it I think it was the weather was really tough when I did it. It was really windy that year. I mean, I remember there it was windy the whole race and I think everybody thought it was thought it was like the windy like really windy. So I don't think anybody ran as fast as I thought. I mean, I really thought I think I ran like two thirty sixteen. I don't know.

Guest [00:34:43]: Just over two thirty. I definitely thought I was gonna be able to run under two thirty and I did not. So I was a little disappointed in in that aspect of it. Also the night before the fire alarm went off in our hotel room.

Cory Nagler [00:34:55]: Oh, no. We were

Guest [00:34:56]: like walk down like I guess like 3AM. We were like walk down like 30 flights of stairs, like sit outside as the fire trucks came. So but the race was I mean, the organizers, it was fantastic and they like that the race experience was fabulous. So I definitely enjoyed like the race weekend and all of that stuff. I just coming away from the race, I thought the weather was a little tough. I definitely thought I could have run faster, that day. But and the fire alarm was I was not ready for that. You know?

Cory Nagler [00:35:28]: Yeah. That that's definitely tricky at 3AM.

Guest [00:35:31]: Yeah. Everybody was walking out of the hotel, and I think everybody kinda was thinking the same thing. Like, is this real? It was real. I think there was, like, a little fire in the kitchen or something. So yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:35:41]: And and were you staying with all the elites? Like, was everyone in the field impacted?

Guest [00:35:45]: Yeah. Everybody yes. Everybody was impacted. So but yeah. But I think we all kind of felt the same way. So yeah. It was I mean, I I was thinking that, you know, I don't know. I might want like, maybe one day I'll do it again.

Guest [00:35:58]: I think if it's good weather, I think you can run really fast there. I think we just had a really windy day, so I think the times were a little bit slower. But but that's okay.

Cory Nagler [00:36:09]: Yeah. Well, I I hope you do come back because I think it's an awesome course. And I actually ran it just the year before you. Funny enough, probably in much better weather, but a similar ish time. But, I I got lucky that there was not much wind that time.

Guest [00:36:21]: Yeah. Yeah. I think just because it's on the water. So I think it yeah. It probably just depends if, but but, yeah, I don't know. The weekend was really was really fun. I don't know. There was one mile I didn't even think I was, like, moving.

Guest [00:36:32]: I was like, man. I don't know. You know? When it hits the wind is tough. Wind is probably my least favorite thing. But yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:36:40]: Alright. And and last time, I I dwell on the Toronto marathon, but curious what you think of that last kilometer. Because there's, like, this very subtle uphill that you would never notice if you're not running a marathon, but it just feels terrible at the end of the race.

Guest [00:36:52]: Yeah. Yeah. You know, honestly, I feel like to me, that wasn't the worst part of the race because the I think isn't there was it, like, mile 15 or 16 you go, like, out and back or something? Like, there's like a little like a little add on. I think that's and I think it was just because of the win that day. I think that was the hardest part of the race than that little, incline at the end. But, but, yeah, those those ending teasers that that they always make it tricky.

Cory Nagler [00:37:21]: Yes. Yes. They

Guest [00:37:22]: do. Downhill finish. Like, can't everything just be flat and downhill with a tailwind? You know?

Cory Nagler [00:37:28]: That sounds great. Every race should be like that.

Guest [00:37:30]: Right? I know.

Cory Nagler [00:37:32]: I mean, technically, Boston is downhill at the end, but I don't know that that makes it a fast course.

Guest [00:37:37]: Yeah. I've yeah. I've never run Boston. One time one I definitely wanna run Boston. Yeah. The weather there can be tricky too, so you never know.

Cory Nagler [00:37:48]: Yes. Definitely, known for its tricky weather. Yeah. Okay. So let's, let's go back to the big one coming up now, London marathon. As we're recording this, we're now four weeks out. What does your training look like leading up to it, and and how is training going?

Guest [00:38:06]: Yeah. I think training's going really well. My mileage has been pretty consistent. I averaged, like, a 15 to a 20 miles a week. Pretty consistent there. We've done a couple, like, really long so I run my longest run, just easy run. So I run 26 miles. So my longest run, but I've done, you know, a couple other ones like 22 to 24 miles.

Guest [00:38:31]: So definitely getting in the the long easy miles. And then, we've been working like the, I do a couple workouts a week. So typically, like, I'll do one shorter track workout, whether it's like 20 by 400 or something along those lines. And then I'll do a a longer, like, threshold type of workout. So I don't know. I've done, like, mile and half repeats, two mile repeats, you know, four mile well, like, two by four miles. So just all sorts of different like longer reps. But I think training is going really well and, you know, I'm comfortable with with where my fitness is at and, I've been staying pretty healthy and I do a lot of PT work.

Guest [00:39:15]: So I today, I feel pretty pretty confident in my training. Just, you know, working to keep the mind straight and, get through these next couple weeks.

Cory Nagler [00:39:25]: Yeah. And you you mentioned already on the podcast that you have a full time job. What is it that you do for work, and how do you fit a 15 mile weeks around that?

Guest [00:39:35]: Yeah. So I, my degree is in supply in supply chain, in operations management. So I, am a senior category planner. So I do I, plan, inventory and sales, for for a company. They're called Hawthorne Gardening Company. And my job is remote. So I used to not have a remote position, but I, you know, I got into this job. I knew the VP and director from previous jobs that I had and, so I've been here for like three years now.

Guest [00:40:08]: And so I think having the, the flexibility with a remote job, helps out a lot. I definitely still have the typical like nine to five, like, hours. But but I don't know. I think I've I've I've never not worked. So, you know, it's just what I'm used to and, I think I don't have to commute anymore. Like, I used to commute, so that saves time in the day. And, I'm, you know, I'm able to squeeze in, you know, twenty minutes of court, you know, throughout the day during lunch or something at home. So I I have a bit more flexibility there.

Guest [00:40:42]: But and I also run, you know, I run through my home most days on my easy runs and, there's a track of the high school track is only, you know, a mile away. So I I don't have a long travel to, like, my workouts either. So I just make it work.

Cory Nagler [00:40:57]: And I I'm assuming you're doing a lot of doubles. So probably at least Yeah. One in the morning. What time do you have to wake up, I guess, to get your runs in?

Guest [00:41:05]: I mean, I wake up at, like if I'm doing, like, a big workout, I'll wake up at, like, 04:30, four forty five just to make sure I get enough fuel in before. But it's different with the time you know, time change kind of throws me off because now we are we're back, you know. Before it was like, I don't like to run-in so I don't like to run-in the dark because I'm running by myself. So I do I don't I will wait till the sun comes up which right now is like 07:15 to 07:30 to start my workouts. But, as long as I'm home by nine, you know, it's all I need.

Cory Nagler [00:41:38]: As a fellow morning runner, can we take a moment to complain about daylight savings? Because I feel like I'm the only person who's not happy about the extra daylight at the end of the day.

Guest [00:41:46]: I know. I'm like, ma'am, I go to bed at, like, eight 08:00, nine o'clock. I don't need time at the at night. I need it in the morning. You know? That that hit me it hit me hard this spring because, it does, you know, that extra hour in the morning to get ready for work. Just because I don't know, these workouts I'm doing are tough. And so to do the workouts, you know, after work, kudos to the people who can do it after work. I used to do workouts after work and I mean, doing hard workouts after, you know, eight, nine hours at work and that's tough.

Guest [00:42:22]: It's a whole another way to train your brain to be tough. But yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:42:29]: Yeah. It it'll definitely teach you to be tough to go down to the track and run, you know, mile repeats at five twenty pace or whatever you're doing and pretty much pitch black.

Guest [00:42:37]: Yeah. Yes. So so I don't know. Yeah. I know. I wish I do wish that we still had an extra hour in the morning, but we gotta make do with what we have, I

Cory Nagler [00:42:48]: guess. Yeah. No. And and by the time you get close to London Marathon, it's, it's nice once it's, of course, it's, like, right when you're in the taper that, and you're running less mileage, you start to get more daylight.

Guest [00:42:58]: I know. It's not and it's like man, but I don't know what the weather's like by you. It's just like Ohio gets so gray though too. It's not a I don't know. I'm just gonna complain about the weather for a second. It's we just I just want some sun. Just want some blue sky, sunny weather to run-in.

Cory Nagler [00:43:14]: You know? Yeah. I just want it to be 10 degrees cool, clear, no wind every day. Is that too much to ask for?

Guest [00:43:21]: I know. I know. You know?

Cory Nagler [00:43:24]: I know. You can't have them all. So when it comes to training, you mentioned putting your workouts into final surge.

Guest [00:43:31]: Mhmm.

Cory Nagler [00:43:32]: As I understand it, you've somewhat recently started working with McCurdy Train. When did you make that shift, and how is it going?

Guest [00:43:39]: So I'm actually not with them anymore.

Cory Nagler [00:43:41]: Okay.

Guest [00:43:42]: I haven't been with them for, like, over two years. So I was coached by them for, like, I was coached by them for, two two years. And then it just wasn't working out and I wasn't, performing the way that I needed to perform. So I actually am coached by, somebody local. His name is Jim Jurcivic. And he was actually quite the runner back in his day. And so yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:44:10]: That's incredible. I I really apologize. I had no idea. But how how did you meet this runner?

Guest [00:44:16]: Jim? Yep. Yeah. So he he used to be co owner of, some local stores here. And so, when I, left McCurdy, I, like, I just needed I needed somebody, to just help, help me get better and listen to me and help me make the jumps that I needed to make the jumps. And, somebody recommended that I reach out to Jin and, yeah he like I think in February, he finished sixth in the 10 ks trials. So he was quite the runner back in his day and he actually ran for, I think he ran for Hansen's. Like he was one of the original runners. So yeah, I just reached out to him.

Guest [00:44:58]: I, and he took me on, like, when I was in a really low place of my running just because, it's a really tough transition and things didn't end super smoothly. So, yeah. He he has really helped me develop, like, both mentally and as a runner these past couple years. And, I think it's that's part of the reason I think it's coming through in my in my training now and my races now. So

Cory Nagler [00:45:23]: And and how is your training differed working, with Jim versus when you were with, with James?

Guest [00:45:30]: I well, number one is a lot more personalized. So he definitely and he, like, really listens to my feedback. I think it's just, like, the athlete communication is a lot more consistent, And we just gel really well together. So and my and my mileage is higher. So I think I've just developed, to becoming like a stronger runner overall. My workouts, I understand why I'm doing the workouts and why I need to hit the paces that I'm hitting. He definitely listens, like he listens to all my feedback. We talk almost every day.

Guest [00:46:06]: So just, I think just a lot more personalized training and, I don't know. He just def I don't he's just there for me when I need somebody to be there for me, and he understands how tough it is, and, like, what I'm going through. So, yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:46:21]: That's really incredible. I I

Guest [00:46:22]: think

Cory Nagler [00:46:23]: it's awesome when you can have a coach who's able to give you a great training plan, but then also be there to do all the other things that go into training that have nothing to do with running?

Guest [00:46:31]: Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, I think you really need a strong support system. I think if you wanna succeed, you know, like, I definitely was not performing and I was really struggling and I don't think I was getting the support that I needed. And I I felt kind of, just that I needed somebody who was going to be able to, like, work with me and really listen and, like, want to see me succeed, for for me. Like, help me become my best version of myself. Not not to, you know, not for them, but to because they care about me as a person and care about me as as an individual and developing to become the best runner that I can be.

Cory Nagler [00:47:12]: And in terms of those supports for your running, obviously, you have a good connection with your coach. Mhmm. I was I I think we actually got in contact because of some connections through was all running. Are are you still running with them? Or I I I know it if you aren't still that you were sponsored by UCAN at one point. What what other connections do you have in the running world?

Guest [00:47:30]: Yeah. So I actually, so the Wazelle thing was just through the trials. So it was a program as, like, the underbirds. So there was a group of five of us for the trials. And it was actually it was a really great experience to meet the other women who are on the team. And it was a really fun fun to be a part of like a a women led brand. So that was just through the trials. So I'm no longer sponsored.

Guest [00:47:53]: And I don't I don't take the UCAN gels anymore. I know they sponsor a lot of athletes and a lot of people have success with them. But I I really struggled when I took them. And it could just be because I was learning a lot about nutrition and how much how much fueling I need to take. So I actually take these other gels. They're called, they're a company called Crank Sports. They're eGels. Not a lot of people have I don't I don't know how many people use them.

Guest [00:48:18]: They're not like on the feed or whatever but, a friend recommended that I try them because they're higher they have higher, they have more calories in them and they have more electrolytes in them and so I started using those too the past couple years. So currently I'm sponsored. I support myself while I have my full time job. But yeah. You know, I just again, my goal is to just become one of the best and see how fast I can get and, you know, I've I've learned a lot of things about myself and, what I need to get there and who I like to be around when I'm successful and when I'm failing. Who who still wants to be around me when I'm not running well, you know, and wants to help me figure that stuff out. And, you know, I think I learned some of that stuff the past couple years

Cory Nagler [00:49:05]: too. Amazing. So, again, now today, as you head into the London marathon, besides your coach, who are those other support networks that are gonna be rooting you on through your training and through race day?

Guest [00:49:14]: Yeah. So my husband is super supportive. I mean, we've been together for a really long time. He met in college, and, you know, I think we both went through some really big life experiences and really big health issues. So, he is, like, my number one supporter. So So he's gonna be and he's coming to London with me and my family is like super important to me. You know, we're all my family's across the country but, but yeah. I think we I was brought up, you know, support, support your family.

Guest [00:49:40]: So, my parents are coming and my mother-in-law is coming. So, I'm really excited that they're gonna be able to be there for me and then, you know, just a couple of close friends that I talk to to help keep me motivated and help keep me sane through these long days of training. But yeah, a pretty pretty small tight knit group. But, you know, that's what's working for me right now. So yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:50:02]: Within that tight knit group in your family, I I did come across an article that mentioned you have a pet dog named Cooper. Do you ever get the chance to run with him or take him to races?

Guest [00:50:11]: Cooper. Oh, I love Cooper. So I actually got Cooper when I was having, when I was preparing for my brain surgery. So he's been through it all with me too. No. He he's not our runner. He's a sprinter. He He likes to sprint after squirrels.

Guest [00:50:25]: So, he Yeah. He doesn't get to travel to races, but Oh, yeah. He's definitely a good cuddler, you know, after those long hard workouts. He he loves those those snuggles after, so he's always there. Yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:50:40]: Aw. That's amazing. Yeah. Okay. So for London, what's the game plan travel wise? How many days out from the race do you like to fly in?

Guest [00:50:50]: Yeah. So this will be my first trip, to Europe. So we're actually gonna fly Wednesday night to Thursday morning. So I live in Columbus, but Cincinnati is, like, two hours away and they have direct flights. So we're flying direct, like, Wednesday night. I think our flight, we leave at, like, 10PM, and then we get in sometime. I don't know all the time. The time change, but I don't know.

Guest [00:51:14]: It's like I I don't know. I'm hoping to sleep through the night, you know, and then we get in earlier. And then, early more not super early, but early afternoon maybe in London on Thursday. So I'll have, like, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to adjust. For sure. Yeah. I I

Cory Nagler [00:51:28]: I think personally, that's always what I find works well is just, you know, go in the evening. And if you can sleep a little early, then you've pretty much had a sleep, by by the time you get there in the morning.

Guest [00:51:37]: Yeah. Yeah. So I think it was gonna work out well. You know, I'm hopeful. And I don't couldn't go there too much sooner with work and stuff. And I think a couple of days is enough to to get adjusted and, settle in before it's race day.

Cory Nagler [00:51:51]: And will you do any sightseeing when you get in, or is it purely race mode until that's done?

Guest [00:51:57]: Pure yeah. I think it's being purely race mode. We're gonna stay a couple days, like, a week after. So plenty of time to do that stuff after the race. But before the race, I think I'm gonna be pretty focused and just kinda wanna stay chill and, in my in my happy place and, you know, with my husband and stuff. So.

Cory Nagler [00:52:16]: Nice. And do you have any specific goals that you're willing to share going into London?

Guest [00:52:22]: Yeah. I mean, I definitely think I can cut a couple minutes off my time. So I think that's that's, like, my biggest goal is just to, you know, see how fast I can go. There's always the goals of just making sure, like, I take all the nutrition that I need to take. And I think if I take all the nutrition I need to take, and just, run, you know, probably run like I'm running to my workouts. I think it can be a good day. Time goals are always kinda tough because you never know what the weather's gonna be like. But, I definitely think I can run faster than I have previously and, you know, I think Houston was a good start to the season and, I've been a been thrown some of the curve balls, you know, falling at the start of the race and stuff.

Guest [00:53:05]: So, I'm hoping for, you know, just I know it's gonna be tough. You you can't underestimate how how tough a marathon's gonna be, but just hoping to, to run fast and, see how fast I could go.

Cory Nagler [00:53:17]: Yeah. And hoping that you can run super fast and that we have those perfect ten, twelve Yeah. Well, I'm I'm thinking Celsius. I should probably clarify here that I'm thinking more so 40 to 45 Fahrenheit. But Yeah.

Guest [00:53:27]: But I don't want 10 degrees to land when you're freezing.

Cory Nagler [00:53:31]: I I know. I'm probably mixing up all our listeners here talking about, like, mile repeats and paces and then getting into Celsius weather.

Guest [00:53:38]: I one funny one one funny thing about Toronto, Emily Durgin ran it too. And, I remember before the race, she was talking about, like, the the how we're gonna say the mile markers. And we're like, they're not gonna be mile markers. They're gonna be in kilometers because it's just different. Right? Like, because we're used to seeing everything in mile markers and and then, so that's one thing I said, wrap my head around is it's gonna be in kilometers. It's not gonna be miles. So

Cory Nagler [00:54:02]: Do you think that helps it go by faster to to make more progress? Or is it slower if you have to go through more milestones?

Guest [00:54:09]: I well, I don't know. I still leave my watch on miles. So I'm still gonna see the miles. But, yeah, when you're, like, crossing, like, 30 kilometers, you're like, wow. That's, like, a lot, you know? And they do come up they do come up quicker. So I don't know. Anyways, a marathon's a long a long time to be out there. So I guess at the end, it's easier to, like, to get your mind to wrap around, like, just get to the next kilometer.

Guest [00:54:33]: You know? It's not as far to get to get to that mark.

Cory Nagler [00:54:37]: Yeah. I find I usually set my watch to, like, three or five kilometers because it's just a lot to have it be buzzing every k for a full marathon.

Guest [00:54:43]: Yeah. That's true. That would be a lot. Yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:54:46]: Yeah. Okay. And then even beyond London, do you have any more long term goals? Are you thinking at all about what you're gonna do in the fall or or even thinking as far out as 2028?

Guest [00:54:58]: Yeah. I mean, I think the I think the first step is, getting faster at London. So, you know, the time, like, get running a 02/28 got me into, London, and I'm hopeful that running faster here, like, the goal is just to keep getting faster and faster. And, and it's not like it's not like I'm running my workouts a lot faster. It's just about executing my races better and taking, like, the correct fuel to make sure I can run, the full distance, at the speed that I want to run. So I'm hoping that if I can run, the times that I think I can run at London, it's just gonna open more doors to me. But, you know, this summer maybe maybe do some shorter stuff on the roads. I would love to do a fast 10 k, sometime.

Guest [00:55:43]: So probably do some shorter stuff after London and then get back into the marathon swing sometime in the fall.

Cory Nagler [00:55:50]: Yeah. And hopefully get a little time to explore London after the race?

Guest [00:55:53]: Yeah. Yeah. We're I mean, my husband, like, he is coming up with, like, a list of stuff for us to see and in different itineraries and stuff. So like I said, I have not focused. I don't I don't have the mental energy to do that either. I don't have the mental energy to Strava. I literally am just, you know, my pussy board like working and running right now, you know. That's just it's tiring.

Guest [00:56:15]: So, that's where my focus is and, he's planning he's helping plan the other parts of the trip afterwards and, keeping me sane, to make sure I get to the line healthy and ready to go.

Cory Nagler [00:56:27]: Incredible. Well, Molly, I'm gonna be rooting so hard for you in London. You mind telling me what day and and what time, you know, I guess, locally and and also back home for Ohio is that taking place in case anyone wants to check the results?

Guest [00:56:41]: Oh, I don't even know. Then convert London time to Ohio time?

Cory Nagler [00:56:46]: Well, what time in London? You don't have to convert it.

Guest [00:56:50]: I don't even it's April 27, sometime in the morning in London. I don't know what that means on Ohio time.

Cory Nagler [00:56:58]: So I I love that answer though because I'd be hyper fixated and be able to tell you to the minute even if it's, you know, like, 07:32. But that I I love how loose you are that you're you're not even fixated on the time.

Guest [00:57:09]: No. Yeah. I mean, I think, like I said, I just need once I get there, I'm gonna be I just need to switch switch over to to, London time and London mode. You know? So

Cory Nagler [00:57:20]: yeah. That's awesome. Well, I'm I'm so, so excited how well it sounds like all training is going and and to see what you can do when you throw down in London. So best of luck, and thanks again for coming on the podcast.

Guest [00:57:30]: Yeah. Thank you so much.

Cory Nagler [00:57:45]: Thanks for listening to the Run to the Top podcast. I'm the showrunner at Runners Connect, where as always, our mission is to help you become a better runner with every episode. You can connect with me on Instagram at Corey underscore Nagler or through Strava by searching Corey Nagler. And please consider connecting with the rest of our team at runnersconnect.net. If you're loving the show, you can help us reach more runners by leaving a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcast. Lastly, if you want bonus content, behind the scenes experiences with guests, and premier access to contests, then consider subscribing to our newsletter by going to runnersconnect.net/podcast. I'll see you on the next show, but until then, happy running, everyone.