Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Mahaney . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

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“She is unshakeable not because she doesn’t know pain or failure, but because she always pushes through…”
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7 miles remaining in the Indianapolis Marathon…in some of the most difficult weather I’ve ever raced in….I let myself have a pity party. Marathons are a bit of a bipolar affair. One minute you’re floating with a cheesy ass grin on your face & in the next your deep in the darkest corner of your mind contemplating ordering a Uber to get to the finish.
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What has separated my greatest races from the mediocre ones is my ability to reframe my situation. Instead of pre writing in my mind a social post on all the reasons I didn’t reach my goal..i reach for my WHY and start focusing on all the ways in which I could give every last ounce of myself to my race. Because when you do that…YOU CAN ALWAYS be proud of your effort. With 7 miles left I still had every opportunity to PR and I certainly had a great shot at a sub 3. So the A and B goal were still on the table..now was NOT the time to phone it home. Laser focus..no more looking around at the carnage…no more negative thoughts. GRIND IT OUT. And then it came to me…I said it out loud and 🤣 my friend Kathy had once told me “Nut up..or shut up.” Nuts ⬆️
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The wind in the final 10k is something I can’t properly describe..Unless you’ve tried to race into 40-50 mph gusts in the final miles of a marathon you won’t be able to comprehend. Almost all the pictures of me in the final miles I have a grimace. Get to the finish. Up until Mile 25 I was certain I was going to PR…a crushing blow of wind & a pukey stomach slowed me quite a bit. I panicked because I didn’t want to have to stop like I did in Boston and lose valuable time. So I backed off just a tiny bit…as I came around the corner to the final straightaway I saw the clock 😳 get there, get there, get there…every last bit of me hurling toward the finish. Then the flood gates opened (if you swipe you’ll see what I mean) and I crossed the line. 2:58:18. 3 seconds slower than my PR. 3 seconds slower than last year. Holy Freaking Wow. The tears came immediately…the strongest wings have survived the toughest storms.
So freaking PROUD. 3 seconds..who cares! I had reached a whole new level of GRIT.

Sarah , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a 42 year old full time working mom & wife. I work as a surgical technologist at an Outpatient Spine Surgery Center during the day. When I’m not working in surgery I am chasing around a five year old, chasing my passion for running/racing and coaching other runners. I am passionate about my sport & assisting others in realizing their potential & the joy that inevitably comes from doing what you love. I love helping women discover their inner strength and dream big dreams. It’s so rewarding to share what I’ve learned about the sport and through the sport in my 10 years of marathon racing. I provide online & in person customized run training from 5k up to the marathon distance.

I am an empathetic coach. I want what’s best for my clients & I listen closely to what they truly want to get out of training. That doesn’t always mean a personal best time it might mean accountability or guidance to tackle a new distance. I am open to working with all individuals of any ability level. I believe that my experiences make me relate able & versatile. I believe that great coaches don’t have to be the fastest or most educated. I think great coaches are made by having excellent listening skills, timely communication, and caring about the athlete as a person first.
I am most proud of how far I’ve come over the last 10 years. What started out as a coping skill blossomed into a lifestyle and passion. Running has helped me in so many ways. I’ve learned what it means to be courageous, flexible, confident & more compassionate. I am better equipped to handle adversity, and can see failures as opportunities to learn & grow. These skills have helped me tremendously in my personal & professional life. I am incredibly grateful that God has blessed me with so many accolades. He has enabled me to qualify for the Boston Marathon 15 times and have qualified under the men’s standard. I have raced Boston four times with my fastest time being 3:00:30. I’ve run a sub 3 hour marathon 3 times and qualified for the Abbott Global Age Group Championships in 2023. I have broken the tape finishing first in the Naperville Marathon. I’ve run 3 of the 6 World Majors and hope to finish all of them in this lifetime. 6 months after giving birth to my son I finished the NYC Marathon in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

I have accomplished many things in my running career but what matters to be most is that I use the skills I e learned & been blessed with to help others. My latest passion is to find a way to create awareness for mental health & through running.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Heading into the Boston Marathon in 2022 I had gotten sick. I also was battling major anxiety as I was dropped off at athletes village shortly before the race was to start. I was unsure I would be able to complete the race & I was certain my goal of running a sub 3 was out the window

Part of my race recap from that day is below….

The finish line seemed farther than it ever had before. I had officially completed the toughest section of the course but still had 5 more miles to go. After Heartbreak things continued to decline…still unable to hold down gels or water would i have enough fuel to click off sub 7 min miles ? I had calculated that was necessary to finish with a sub 3. I’m certain I was anaerobic..being a much slower conversion of fat to fuel. nausea was increasing by the minute. Redirecting my mind away from how I “felt” I focused on the Citgo sign. I was confident if I could get there I could use the crowd & adrenaline as fuel to the finish line. Problem..every time I found the spark to surge my stomach would protest with fluid/bile as I now had nothing left in my stomach. Miles 21-25 (7:27, 6:52, 7:01, 6:58, 7:01) The Citgo sign visible in the distance I let it draw me in like a fishing line. This was gonna be close but I now felt confident i could get momentum going the last mile and push for that 2:59……every time I surged I dry heaved or puked. It was frustrating feeling so limited…for so many races my brain slowed me down…today all I wanted to do was push but my body would not allow it.
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As I approached my favorite part of the course Hereford & Boylston I was keenly aware of my time & projectile vomiting my way to the finish…swipe to see video 😬 I threw up so hard it stopped me in the middle of Boylston where I proceed to wipe my mouth & continue running to cross the finish line in 3:00:36. immediately I was swept into medical wobbly & delirious. The volunteers taking my vitals, giving me fluids & helping me process what had just happened. 30 minutes of care later I text @wi_np_runner…I was shivering and wanted a familiar face & warm clothes. The doctor who cared for me placed my medal around my neck & congratulated me. I exited the tent & a photographer stopped me… in that moment I started to recognize what I had just done. I smiled the cheesiest smile of my life…3 hours at the Boston freaking marathon throwing up to the finish. Well Done Sarah….you’ve finally figured out how to harness the mind.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

An open mind. A commitment to knowing what your “WHY” is and not doing anything to compromise it. Inviting in pain & learning how to work through it. Recognizing that failure is the best way to learn & be successful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Mahaneyruns
• Facebook: Sarah Elizabeth Mahaney

Image Credits

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