“I’m Not Athletic, But I Ran a Marathon”: How Emily Bailey Rewrote Her Identity One Mile at a Time

Emily Bailey never considered herself an athlete. She stayed active, played sports growing up, even ran a few 5Ks for fun. But the word “athletic” always felt like it belonged to someone else. Someone more confident. More naturally gifted. Someone who didn’t get tennis balls stuck in the triangle of the racket or break their foot just walking across the basketball court.

That mindset stuck with her for years, even as she found herself gravitating toward running again and again. At first, it was for exercise. Then it was for structure. Eventually, it was to see how far she could go, literally.

The turning point

In 2022, Emily decided to take running more seriously. After following a home workout app challenge with a $1,000 cash prize (yes, money is a recurring motivator in her life — we love that), she lost 13 pounds and found herself feeling stronger than ever. With her confidence building, she set her sights on a new challenge: running her first half marathon.

But the journey wasn’t smooth. A groin injury delayed her original race, and training came with its own learning curve. She started with a 5K beginner plan before jumping into a 12-week half marathon program from Runner’s World. She paced herself. She prioritized recovery. She got her first real pair of running shoes (Brooks, of course). And when race day finally came, she was ready... until she took a wrong turn three minutes into the course and had to backtrack.

Still, she finished her first half marathon. And that quiet finish, with no time goal or podium moment, planted a seed that maybe, just maybe, she could do more.

“No regrets” and a marathon on the horizon

In 2024, Emily made a deal with herself: no regrets. If a race sounded interesting, she’d sign up. If she thought she’d regret skipping it, she’d do it anyway. That mindset led to three half marathons in under two months and a spontaneous decision to run the Every Woman’s Marathon in Savannah, Georgia.

She didn’t just want to train. She wanted to go all in. She built her own training plan by combining two programs, including one from the race organizers. She fit long runs into her schedule, pushed through shin pain, and adjusted when her knees started flaring up. By the time she hit her longest training run — a very chaotic 20-miler that started at 1:30 a.m. and ended with a drenched pair of knees — she was physically and emotionally spent. But she was still in it.

In the days leading up to the race, Emily was dealing with mysterious foot pain that nearly derailed everything. But she showed up anyway. Taped foot, packed spaghetti in a hotel microwave, 4 a.m. wakeup and all. She got to the start line, and for her, that was the real victory.

What happened at mile 26

The race itself had highs and lows. She cruised through the first half feeling strong and energized. She saw her husband Zach along the course, who had rented a bike to support her at mile 10 and 20. The vibe was electric. The crowd was supportive. She felt like she belonged.

Then mile 21 hit.

It wasn’t a dramatic breakdown or a total wall. It was the quiet fatigue that creeps in when the shade disappears, the humidity spikes, and your legs start negotiating with your brain. Emily kept moving by playing mental games: run half a mile, walk a little, stretch the next mile, and repeat.

At mile 26, something shifted. She saw the final marker, and everything she’d been holding in — the doubts, the fear, the frustration of not knowing if she was “athletic enough” — came rushing to the surface. She sprinted toward the finish line with tears in her eyes and something new in her mind.

Maybe I am an athlete after all.

Lessons Learned

• Being active and being athletic aren’t the same, but the line between them is thinner than you think

• Your identity doesn’t have to match who you’ve always been

• You can build confidence one mile at a time

• Missing a run isn’t the end of the world, but skipping recovery might be

• The marathon doesn’t give you confidence. It reveals the confidence you’ve been earning all along

Want to hear Emily tell the story herself? Listen to the full episode now: “I’m Not Athletic, But I Ran a Marathon” w/ Emily Bailey — available wherever you get your podcasts.

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