{"id":544797,"date":"2026-03-25T18:04:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T18:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/544797\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T18:04:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T18:04:16","slug":"i-ran-my-best-marathon-at-45-heres-how-i-fit-in-training-with-3-kids-and-a-full-time-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/544797\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I Ran My Best Marathon at 45. Here\u2019s How I Fit in Training With 3 Kids and a Full-Time Job.\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

I remember where I was when I caught the running bug. It was 2016, and I was on an NYC subway car packed with people wearing running gear<\/a> and pinned-on racing bibs, heading from my apartment on the Upper East Side toward Yankee Stadium. A colleague had convinced me to sign up for the Bronx 5K, even though I\u2019d never run a race before and only ever dabbled in running.<\/p>\n

In high school, I\u2019d played lacrosse. But during college and as an adult, my exercise routine consisted mainly of dancing in nightclubs and the occasional jog around Central Park.<\/p>\n

But there, on the 4 train at 7 a.m., I felt overwhelmed by the anticipatory energy and sense of camaraderie radiating from the runners around me. There were young and old runners. People of all ethnicities. Different body types. Yet, everyone was running the same race. They seemed to understand each other, even without talking. Finally, I\u2019d found a group where I felt like I could belong without changing who I was.<\/p>\n

Related StoryRunning My First Marathon<\/p>\n

Feeling inspired after that day, I signed up for and won the lottery for the 2017 New York City Marathon<\/a> and quickly ramped up my training. To go from my first 5K to my first marathon<\/a> in one year was obviously a big jump, but throwing myself into running helped me cope with disappointments in other areas of my life. I\u2019d recently scaled back on work and my professional goals in hopes of starting a family with my husband, only to find out we had fertility issues. I had planned on doing something physically challenging and painful that year, but instead of being pregnant and giving birth, I ran a marathon.<\/p>\n

I followed a training program developed by The Mile High Run Club and used New York Road Runners races as benchmarks leading up to the marathon. I ended up finishing the marathon in 4:30:01. I was proud to have stuck with training and to finish with a respectable time, but I knew I could do better.<\/p>\n

Months later, my life changed completely. I underwent in-vitro fertilization (IVF<\/a>), got pregnant, and had my first son. Two years later, I gave birth again, this time to boy\/girl twins. I love being a mom, but my life is hectic. Both of my sons are neurodivergent. Parenting is already hard, but caring for neurodivergent kids adds a layer of complexity. I\u2019ve heard people compare it to PTSD because your stress and cortisol levels are constantly elevated.<\/p>\n

\"Group<\/p>\n

Courtesy Nicole Goksel<\/p>\n

I\u2019m always thinking about therapies and childcare and bracing for a phone call from my kids\u2019 schools. Running has become a refuge. It\u2019s the one time of the day that\u2019s just for me. I get to feel human and be competitive\u2014not necessarily with other runners, but with myself. Seeing my performance improve gives me a sense of satisfaction.<\/p>\n

So when I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m reaching my full potential or running as consistently as I want to, I get frustrated. I had a particularly bad experience at the 2024 Brooklyn Half Marathon\u2014so much so that I considered quitting altogether. On top of it being one of my least favorite courses (that long, boring stretch of Ocean Avenue with hardly any spectators is brutal), the weather was hot and rainy, and I went in underprepared. I crossed the finish line, but I was miserable from the start.<\/p>\n

Between work and family life, I had plenty of valid reasons for why I hadn\u2019t trained properly. But I realized that if I wanted to keep running\u2014and actually enjoy it\u2014I had to let go of the victim mentality that was holding me back.<\/p>\n

\"Pedestrian<\/p>\n

Courtesy Nicole Goksel<\/p>\n

How a Change in Mindset Transformed My Training<\/p>\n

Instead of focusing on what I didn\u2019t have time to do as a working mom of three kids, I found ways to optimize the time and resources I did have. I\u2019d already allotted time for my work commute, so I started running to and from the office, sometimes with a laptop bag strapped to my back. I stopped waiting for ideal running conditions and got comfortable with being uncomfortable<\/a>, whether that meant logging miles in the early morning, late at night, or in the rain, snow, or extreme cold.<\/p>\n

I decided to embrace hills<\/a> instead of walking or avoiding them altogether. It sounds like a minor change, but I spend about four weeks of the summer in Turkey, where the terrain is very hilly. I used to dread running there, but during my last visit, I tackled those hills head-on, knowing that they\u2019d make me stronger. And they did. I feel faster and more powerful. And now, when I run in Central Park, I always choose the route that takes me up the Harlem Hill instead of around it.<\/p>\n

I got real about what actually served me in this particular season of my life and let go of what wasn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n

My long runs<\/a> became sacred. I\u2019m no longer religious, but running every weekend is almost like going to church. My husband understands how critical that run is for me and plans to be there for our kids. And if we need extra help, particularly during those extra-long, three-hour runs, we\u2019ll hire a nanny for the afternoon. No matter what\u2019s happening at home or at work, I get them done, and the people in my life get that.<\/p>\n

Having that non-negotiable run on my schedule keeps up my momentum to run at least three times a week<\/a>, my self-imposed minimum. In the past, I\u2019d get easily discouraged and let one missed workout snowball into an entire week off. Now, I prioritize consistency<\/a> over perfection.<\/p>\n

Related Story<\/p>\n

I got real about what actually served me in this particular season of my life and let go of what wasn\u2019t working. I\u2019ve enjoyed group runs, personal training, and scheduled workout classes in the past. But as a working mom of three, I found that having yet another appointment on my calendar only adds to my stress. (I\u2019ve literally cried in the middle of a group treadmill class because I had to rush off when one of my kids was struggling.)<\/p>\n

Right now, I need flexibility. I use the Runna app<\/a> to guide my running schedule and make adjustments as needed. And strength training at home<\/a> with my resistance bands, TRX suspension trainer, and Lululemon Mirror is what\u2019s realistic and sustainable.<\/p>\n

That said, I kept my physical therapy appointments, even when they weren\u2019t convenient. I\u2019ve done PT in the past for various injuries, but in early 2025, I worked with a pelvic floor physical therapist<\/a> to address some stress incontinence issues I dealt with after carrying three children. I didn\u2019t exactly want to do it, but worrying about peeing yourself midrace can really mess with your confidence and negatively affect your performance. So I stuck with it, and it helped a lot with leaking. During my most recent marathon, I wore shorts for the first time in years. It was liberating.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never been hyper-focused on what I eat, but I started paying more attention to my nutrition and fueling, even using artificial intelligence tools to analyze my meals and help me make better choices. I\u2019ve upped my protein intake<\/a>, which has made a difference in how I feel. And I started supplementing with salts during my races and being more diligent about taking gels so I don\u2019t get depleted.<\/p>\n

All of these little tweaks have made a measurable difference. At the 2025 New York City Marathon, at 45 years old, I shaved five minutes off my time and set a new PR of 4:25:40. And unlike previous races, where I\u2019d typically have to stop and walk between miles 18 and 20, I never hit the wall<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This year, in 2026, my goal is to finish in under 4:15. And if I can get a bib for 2027, I\u2019m going for a sub-four<\/a> to celebrate my 10-year anniversary of running marathons.<\/p>\n

Related StoryThese 3 Factors Improved My Training and RacingAddress Pain<\/p>\n

Working with a physical therapist to address my pelvic floor issues and other musculoskeletal problems, like a chronically tight hamstring<\/a>, was game-changing. I could run faster and more efficiently, but I also had more confidence.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to find a good PT, though, as so many doctors will just tell you to stop running. You need someone who\u2019s going to help you find that balance between helping you listen to your body and continue to push yourself.<\/p>\n

Run the Hills<\/p>\n

Once I started attacking hills instead of avoiding them or using them for walk breaks, I felt stronger and more powerful. My times got faster, too. It\u2019s especially important to incorporate hillwork into your training if your race is hilly. So, check the course elevation map to make sure you\u2019re prepared.<\/p>\n

Invest in Good Gear<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a frugal person, so I spent way more than I wanted to on my Lululemon running jacket<\/a>. But it\u2019s an investment that has really paid off; I paid a few hundred dollars in 2017, and I\u2019m still wearing it today because it\u2019s so well made.<\/p>\n

Knowing that I\u2019ll be warm and protected from the elements makes it a lot easier to stick to my runs when the weather is bad. All the little runner-specific features, like the zippered under-arm vents and sleeves that I can pull down to protect my hands, make a huge difference. And, of course, don\u2019t skimp on shoes<\/a>. Nothing will slow you down like blisters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I remember where I was when I caught the running bug. It was 2016, and I was on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":544798,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[337,97,140894],"class_list":{"0":"post-544797","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-fitness","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-loveservice"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=544797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/544798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=544797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=544797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=544797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}