This summer we’ve all been hooked on the Olympics! But what does it take to train like an elite athlete? We recently caught up with Elizabeth Pehota, a Boston sports reporter, she has been covering the New England Revolution since 2017. Pehota’s sports expertise is not limited to observing from the sidelines, she is an avid marathon runner! She has trained for and completed 9 marathons in her running career. We sat down with her to learn more about her marathon training and to answer the question on all of our minds post-Olympics, what does it really take?

Why the Boston Marathon?

There is nothing that compares to the cheers as you run down Boylston on the last stretch of the Boston Marathon! This will be my third straight year running Boston, and my ninth overall marathon.

What makes this marathon stand out from all the rest is that I am running with the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of my grandpa, Pop. Family means so much to me. I was heartbroken when he was diagnosed and as he lost more of himself with each passing year.

However, Pop always told my family to live our lives with ‘love and happiness,’ and this was a message that he upheld until the very end. They were two of the last words he could remember as his speech was stolen. Even when he didn’t know who I was anymore, he would ask me if I was happy and if I felt loved. He was an incredibly kind and caring person who helped me grow into the woman I am today.

When I am running towards the Boston Marathon finish line, he will be with me. I’ll embody the love and happiness he imparted, and honoring his legacy and my family will be the proudest moment of my life. I surprised my family when I told them that I was running for Pop with the Alzheimer’s Association. You can view it here to see how emotional of a moment it was!

What is the hardest part of training for a marathon?

During this marathon training cycle, I encountered various setbacks due to injury and illness. I started training in November, but by mid-January, I was struck with a case of COVID-19, which sidelined me for approximately two weeks. Meanwhile my first workout after being sick, I opted for a light intensity cycling class only to develop a neuroma—an inflamed nerve—in my left foot. To get the inflammation to subside, I needed to completely rest it, which was a true test of my patience! After three more weeks, I was back to training, but despite the setback, I felt immense gratitude for my body’s ability to run!

What is one the best things to come out of your marathon training?

I had an opportunity to run the Osaka Marathon in Japan in late February! As a content creator and influencer, it was an honor to be chosen by a beloved brand I work with to represent and curate content for them in a prestigious global race. I had the privilege of being one of three runners selected from the U.S. for this opportunity. It was an incredible experience from start to finish. Despite the 6 weeks of injury and sickness I faced prior to the trip, I finished in 3:30:27. It taught me that our bodies are capable of incredible things!

What makes running the Boston Marathon special?

The Boston Marathon is my Super Bowl weekend. As an avid runner and founder of the Instagram accounts @healthy_cheers and @pehota, I love all the events and specials around the city! I thrive creating content and sharing training tips for runners, and meeting the running community in person at shakeout runs, socials, and the marathon expo. I love connecting with like-minded individuals and working with brands who share a passion for running!

My favorite part though is Boston’s unparalleled camaraderie as Marathon Monday approaches! The city feels electric as athletes and spectators pour into the city. It’s a remarkable sight to witness the entire community come together in anticipation of the Boston Marathon. Whether you’re a participant, spectator, visitor, or resident, there is a palpable sense of unity, support, and pride that permeates every corner of the city. Bostonians wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of the race and the meaning of “Boston Strong”. It’s a time when strangers become friends and everyone joins together to show their love for Boston.

Any tips for first-time marathoners?

I have three major tips for first-time marathoners: Don’t go out too fast, fuel early and often, and enjoy the race! 

One of the biggest rookie mistakes in long-distance racing is starting out too fast in an attempt to bank time for the later parts of the race. While it might seem like a good strategy, it usually backfires. If you go out too fast, you’ll burn through your stored energy quickly and your muscles will fatigue faster, leaving you feeling tired and depleted toward the end of your race. This is particularly challenging in Boston with the Newton hills in the back half. You can prevent this by sticking to your goal pace, running with a pacing group, and not crowd-weaving at the start. 

For a fuel strategy, start 30-40 minutes into the race! It may seem early, but running 26.2 requires a lot of energy. Fueling early better prepares you for fatigue in the latter miles of the race when you need more energy. You may have heard the term “hitting the wall”, which refers to the point in a race where your body simply runs out of energy. Your fuel during the race that you consume early is broken down into glucose and stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. When your body runs out of glycogen, it has to utilize other fuel sources, such as fats and proteins, so you’re not able to make energy as effectively. That’s when you would hit the wall and feel the effects, so you need to be proactive to avoid this. 

Lastly, take in every moment of the race and enjoy it! When you turn onto Boylston Street, this is your time to shine! Give it everything you have, remember your why, and let that guide you to the finish. It’s a truly emotional and transformative experience, and this is your time to take it all in.

Keep up with Elizabeth and her running journey on Instagram @healthy_cheers. Want to take care of your body like an athlete? Even if you’re not marathon training make time to recover at the Release Well-Being Center.