Archive | Success Story

I finished my first 100 miler

Super congrats to Academy member Marty Gardner on finishing his first 100 miler! He writes,

“Good evening MTA family! I just wanted to share with y’all don’t see my personal posts that I finished my first 100 miler this weekend at the Daytona 100. It goes from Jacksonville, Florida to Ponce Inlet, which is just south of Daytona along the coastal highway.

Wow, what an experience! I had a great crew supporting me. Conditions were tough, but we got it done. I have been a part of this awesome family since 2 weeks after my 1st marathon in 2018. I learned a ton from MTA coaches Lynn and Henry that definitely played a huge part in my success yesterday.

I have a ton of stories and great memories of this incredible weekend to share, but for now just wanted to include y’all in my good news.” -Marty ✌️❤️

Find him on the Miles with Marty Podcast

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I feel strong and fit

Here is a note from one of our clients, Elizabeth, to her coach -MTA Coach Athena. Shared with permission. This is what we live for!

“Thanks for all your coaching and support. Before you were coaching me, I was struggling, feeling like I was not going to be able to feel good when running ever again. But I feel strong and fit.

I am 43 lbs lighter. You helped me to run PRs in the 5k and 10k and one of my fastest half marathon times. I just can’t say enough about what a difference it made. I know I can hit the 4:30 marathon eventually. You’re a really great coach.” -Elizabeth S.

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“My face hurt because of how much I was smiling”

Congrats to community member Joanna R. on running her first marathon!

Thank you Angie and Trevor and the entire MTA community, I did my first marathon today- Chicago marathon. I was supposed to do it in 2020. I’ve been listening to the MTA Podcast since then and truly it has been so helpful in my training and keeping me motivated.

My face hurt because of how much I was smiling. Well, everything hurts but I felt SO GOOD! It was an incredible experience and I finished feeling so strong.

I ran it with my husband, who struggled with extreme nausea for the last 6 miles (I think he over dressed and had electrolyte issues) and our time wasn’t at our A or B goal- but I was SO proud of him for rallying, trusting my advice, and finishing with me. So between that win and how amazing I felt when we finished- I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

I said this was the only marathon that I ever really wanted to do, but that statement went out the window today. I can’t wait to get back out there again, and actually my husband said he would do it again too (he needs a redemption marathon!)

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“Run a marathon and change your life.” I can honestly say that statement is true!

Check out this awesome write-up from a first time marathoner in our podcast audience. Congrats Katelyn Mann on conquering 26.2!!

“Well I did it, I ran my first marathon!

Yesterday’s Twin Cities Marathon race was beautiful. It was a perfect morning, but the afternoon did get warm in the later miles. The crowds were unbelievable.

People say is a 26.2 mile block party and they are not kidding.

Seeing my family along the course was the best part though. I felt really good for the first 20 miles, but all the hills from 20-23 were hard, and by 23 I was ready to be done. Continue Reading →

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Running Every Day for 1,000 Days

Academy member Mike McMullan shares what it was like to do a 1,000 day running streak (at least 1 mile per day). Mike makes his living as a cardiologist. He writes,

“Reflections on my 1,000 day journey. I began a running streak on Jan 1, 2020. The first day of a new decade seemed a great time to rededicate myself to some healthy habits, and although a regular runner since 2007, I had never done a run streak. I also decided it was a great time to close all of my rings on my Apple Watch everyday. Yes, my obsessive compulsive tendencies certainly played a role in accomplishing both of these goals.

Here’s what I have learned? Continue Reading →

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Goals can change your life!


Check out this amazing story shared by a community member in one of our FB groups. Thank you Jessica for sharing and congrats on your BQ!

“Goals. They’re wild and can change your entire life. I just wanted to be better. I focused on my nutrition and just… moving. I went from step goals to actually signing up for a 5k. I was terrified.

My husband joined me and we started running a 5k every month together. I lost over 100 lbs. People joked about me doing marathons and I figured I’d never be able to run that long. COVID hit as I was training for my first half and I was determined not to let it take down what I had built.

This lovely group and MTA gave me the extra boost I needed to keep pushing my goals. Not only did a marathon become an attainable goal but I also stood a chance to qualify for Boston.

I missed it on my first attempt by 6 minutes so I signed up for my second attempt the moment I arrived back home. That training cycle was awful but I kept going. I didn’t think I was going to have it in me but I felt great.

At mile marker 20 I realized that I was not only going to qualify but I was going to do it with time to spare. I had 9:42 in the bank when I crossed the finish line. I’m still sitting here in amazement. Training for one little 5k has brought me all the way to the Boston Marathon.

This community has been so important to me. The support and inspiration is like nowhere I’ve ever seen on the internet. Thank you”. ❤️

-Jessica Fragione

Join one of our Facebook groups

MTA Member Chat -private inner circle group for Academy Members and Coaches. Join Academy to be added to the group.

SDR (Social Distancing Run) -free open group built around our virtual challenges.

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Training and consistency made a HUGE difference on marathon day!


Congrats to our coaching client Marie-Eve on finishing her first marathon in 3:52! She ran the Yellowknife Marathon in the Northwest Territories of Canada. She said,

“I was extremely happy with my first marathon and was able to achieve my time objective! Training and consistency over the last three months definitely made a HUGE difference on marathon day!

I very much enjoyed training with MTA Coach Kristyn! She prepared an excellent training program and was always so quick to respond to all of my questions.

Her training program was very well adapted to my level and body – I didn’t have any injuries or body pains during the program and felt great on marathon day. I learned a lot over the summer! Continue Reading →

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Marathon Success story with Bill Drinkward

*[Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now]

In this podcast episode we bring you a marathon success story with Bill Drinkward -a coaching client from Bend, Oregon.

Bill shares how he went from a disastrous DNF at the Honolulu Marathon to getting smarter in his training and qualifying for Boston.

He recently completed his first 50 trail ultra in 9 hours and 59 minutes! Continue Reading →

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What do you love about MTA Coaching?

Big thanks to Academy member and coaching client Dipti Pandya for sharing why she decided to work with a MTA Coach and what she loves about it! She writes,

“In the past, I always had plans for signing up for coaching to get me through a race (first half marathon, first marathon, etc).

Now after being a runner for 3 years, I decided to sign up with Coach Athena as more of a long term commitment.

I realized that the coach athlete relationship takes a long time to develop. Of course, coaching is still great for a couple months for a single race, but I know it would serve me better to stick with a coach over many training cycles to really maximize the benefit.

I have lots of big running goals that I know will take years to accomplish. I wanted to work with someone who is knowledgeable, passionate, and who I can relate to. Continue Reading →

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I’m late to the party but I’m here until the day I die.

Congrats to Anna R. a member of the Academy who just ran a 4:32:35 marathon at the age of 60!

“Hello Angie and Trevor.

I’ve been a member since January 2020. I’d never run a marathon before and was following another plan, trying to figure out fueling and hydration on my own.

I found MTA just a couple of weeks before my first marathon in February. The Surf City marathon was deferred but I ran it solo as scheduled and it was grueling having to carry everything I needed. I ran out of water, had leg cramps, intestinal distress and dizziness. It took over 5 hours. But I made it the 26.2 miles.

Listening to ALL the podcasts, some of them multiple times, I ran the Surf City marathon February 2022 for my 60th birthday with a 4:32:17 finish time. . . Continue Reading →

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I am an ultramarathoner!


Huge congrats to our coaching client Bill Drinkward on running his first 50 miler! This man is on fire 🔥🤩🙌

“I am an ultramarathoner! Mount Hood 50 miler in the books. My first such race was run last weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon. I expected it to be difficult and indeed it was.

I ran with the mantra “Be Patient (it will be a long day), Present (pay attention to the way my body is feeling), and Deliberate (don’t ever fall).” I learned this mantra at mountaineering school in Ecuador last month and figured it would also relate well to Ultrarunning.

I did not give up on my goal of running sub 10 hours and crossed the line at 9:59 for second place in my age group (50+). Many thanks to my MTA coach Steven Waldon for indulging me in this diversion from marathon training and sharing his wisdom to help me succeed.”

Continue Reading →

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