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The Great Turkey Detour: How Molly Survived Her First Marathon

  • Writer: Taylor Sayles
    Taylor Sayles
  • Sep 8
  • 2 min read
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Molly’s journey into running wasn’t planned. She never thought of herself as athletic and avoided running whenever possible growing up. But after a meningitis diagnosis during the pandemic, her recovery started with simple walks around her apartment. Those walks grew into hours-long outings, then a 17-mile walking festival with her dad in 2023. Crossing that finish line planted the idea that maybe, just maybe, she could go farther.


Accidental Runner

When Molly signed up for her first half marathon, she intended to walk the entire race. On race day though, the energy of the crowd carried her farther than she ever expected. She ran the first nine miles straight, despite never having trained as a runner before. By the end of the race she was hooked, already signed up for another half and planning future races with friends. What started as a recovery exercise had turned into a whole new chapter of her life.


Finding Community

One of the biggest changes Molly experienced was realizing how important it was to train with people who encouraged her without comparison. Her running group kept things fun and supportive without adding pressure to hit a certain pace. Accountability came from shared texts and group chats rather than competing against each other. That balance helped her grow as a runner while keeping the joy in the process.


Crossing the Line

In 2025, Molly lined up for her first marathon in Milwaukee. The race was anything but ordinary, complete with challenges like winter training, taper madness, and even an unexpected turkey attack near mile 21. But with the support of strangers, her family cheering with megaphones, and sheer determination, she made it to the finish. Looking back at her journey from rebuilding after meningitis to running a marathon in five years, Molly says the experience left her feeling unstoppable and gave her a confidence she now carries into every part of her life.


Lessons Learned

  • Pace doesn’t define success. Covering the distance matters more than the number on the watch.

  • Trial and error is part of the process, especially in your first training cycle.

  • Running with community can remove the pressure and make training more fun.

  • Believing in yourself is often the biggest hurdle to overcome.


Want to hear Molly tell the story herself? Listen to the full episode now: The Great Turkey Detour: Surviving a First Marathon w/ Molly Van Herwynen— available wherever you get your podcasts.




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Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast


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