First Marathon Buddy Program Athlete Spotlight: Meet Aury!

Aury joined the First Marathon Buddy Community and is now training for her first marathon! Read more about her journey and how training has been going:

Q: What's your favorite race you've ever run?

A: I ran a half marathon last year in Chattanooga with my husband and daughter and I absolutely loved it! The weather was perfect — low 60s — and the route was stunning, surrounded by beautiful fall color trees. There were just enough runners to keep the energy high without ever feeling crowded, and best of all, the course was mostly flat.

Q: What is your favorite running memory?

A: I ran a challenge where you complete six 5Ks in six hours. You start at 8 a.m. with a 5K, rest until the next hour, then do it all over again — six times! By the end, you’ve run 18.6 miles in six hours.

Whew! That was brutal. I finished crying from the pain AND from the incredible sense

of accomplishment. It was one of those moments where I thought, I can’t believe I actually did that.

Q: What is your favorite running mantra?

A: This will feel great after you are done.

Running doesn’t always feel good while I’m doing it, but once I’m finished, the

happiness I feel is unmatched. So when it gets hard, I remind myself how good I’m

going to feel afterward.

Q: What do you enjoy most about running and/or the running community?

A: The way running makes me feel. It melts my stress away. I do other forms of exercise,

but nothing gives me the happiness that running does. The difference is so

noticeable — even if I run just one mile, it does something to my brain. I always feel

better afterward.

And as for the running community, something I’ve loved that was completely unexpected is how welcoming and encouraging they are toward slower runners and those of us who use run/walk intervals. Before I really got into running, I had this idea that you had to be “fast” to be considered a runner. The running community has completely changed that perspective for me. They made the entry point feel so much less intimidating and reminded me that there’s room for all paces in this sport.

Q: Why did you join the First Marathon Buddy Program?

A: My Instagram algorithm definitely picked up on my interest with running after all my

searches for “slow runners”, “first marathons”, and everything in between! That’s

how Ariel Greenstein’s account popped up. I started following her, and when she

shared your podcast, I immediately started listening and loved hearing everyone’s

stories.

Naturally, I started following you on Instagram too. Then, the moment I officially

signed up for the New Orleans Marathon, joining the Buddy Program felt like the

perfect next step. I wanted to connect with other first-time marathoners going

through the same exciting journey.

Q: What are your current running goals?

A: I'm currently training for my first marathon in New Orleans this November! I chose

New Orleans because it’s flat (I hate hills!), it has a seven-hour cutoff (very much

appreciated by slower runners like me!), and, well…it’s New Orleans! The food and

music will be fabulous, so it seemed like the perfect place to run my first 26.2.

Q: How has training been for your first marathon? Anything you didn't expect?

A: It’s been amazing. I am meeting new people and making new friends, my husband is

running it with me so it’s been a bonding experience. We are empty nesters and found

this new way to connect and do this together. I also joined a women’s running club

and we meet on Thursday and run 2.5 miles. It’s now my favorite part of the day. It’s a

fun run where we get to chat and mingle and run for fun so it is not part of the training.

Q: What is one piece of advice you'd give someone training for their first marathon?

A: Not every day is an improvement. One day you’ll run up that hill and celebrate

because you crushed it, and the next day you might struggle on the exact same hill.

You won’t necessarily see improvement day after day, but over time, you’ll look back

and realize just how far you’ve come. Trust the process and celebrate the little wins

along the way.

Q: Is there a fun fact about you you’d like to share?

A: I love wearing makeup and a cute outfit when I run! I’m a firm believer that if I

feel cute, I run better—or at least I feel like I do. And honestly, there’s nothing a

little red lipstick can’t fix!

Final Thoughts: I struggled for the longest time to even call myself a runner, but then being called an athlete?! That was next level. Mind blown. Never in a million years would I have

used that word to describe myself.

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