“I had never done anything like this before, but with Kaylin’s constant reassurance and support, I was able to go far beyond my goals for completing the marathon.”
“Kaylin is not only a wonderful coach and mentor, but you can tell she absolutely loves what she does. I had this crazy idea, after running the Glass City Half-Marathon in April of 2022, to sign up for the Detroit Free Press Marathon scheduled for October of the same year. This goal had been on my bucket list since I was a freshman in high school, and while I was not the most confident runner, it was something I wanted to do for myself.
Reaching out for training was nerve-wracking for me, as I had never done anything like this before, but with Kaylin’s constant reassurance and support, I was able to go far beyond my goals for completing the marathon. I trained with Kaylin for 21 weeks, and in all those weeks was a flexible training schedule that was best suited for what I wanted to accomplish. Kaylin is very insightful for what you may need at any point during your training. I accomplished things during my training that I never thought my body could do, like running 17 miles and feeling GREAT afterwards – after a much-needed nap!
I learned so many things during the training cycle that I now carry with me and think about during my day-to-day life. Some of the many examples include training smarter (not harder, listen to your body – it knows what it’s doing!), that anyone can be a runner no matter what the time on your watch says, and that fueling your body and your mind will help you be the most successful. I became much more appreciative of what my body can do, and I cannot thank Kaylin enough for helping me achieve that.
Race day quickly approached, and I was far too nervous for 6am on a Sunday, but I knew I could do it, and I did! It was one of the hardest things I had ever done, but it was also one of the most rewarding. The running community is one of the most supportive communities to be a part of, and I felt that all throughout race day. I remember stopping to take a picture of the 24 mile-marker and hearing Kaylin’s voice in my head telling me “You go girl! You got this!” After my marathon (26.2 miles! It still feels surreal!), my body felt better than it did after any of my half-marathons I had done before. I felt strong and capable, and knew that I was going to continue running, for me, because I fell in love with the sport again. Kaylin was also wonderful with providing me advice for my recovery period after the marathon, such as some stretches and allowing my body to rest.
Kaylin is great at what she does, and she will make you feel strong, capable, and powerful throughout your training. I cannot be any more thankful for what she has done for me and I am forever inspired by her and hope to train with her again for the Indy half-marathon in 2023! (Maybe achieve a half-marathon PR?) Thank you, Kaylin, for showing me how strong I can be!”
-Madison
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