Athlete Feature: Mariah Gajewski
Charlotte, North Carolina
How did you become a runner?
When I got to middle school, I wanted to join a team but I had absolutely zero coordination skills. I found out XC didn’t have any team cuts so I thought why not. I joined the team and pretty quickly was hooked. I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved the act of running, the workouts, the team aspect, pushing myself and seeing what I could do. And now, 18 years later I am still an avid runner.
What does a typical training day look like for you?
I am a morning person and love to get my workouts in before my work day gets started. I typically get up at 5AM, do some mobility and activation exercises and then head out the door for whatever run I have on tap that day.
I am usually back home around 7AM, stretch and play ball with our german shepherd Moose. Then shower, quick breakfast, and off to work.
I work in finance for an asset management firm here in town running change projects. It involves a lot of meetings and calls throughout the day and too much time at my desk and computer. I try to sneak in some walks and fresh air when I can, and once a week I help coach a high school XC and track team.
After work, I try to get in some strength and stretching before my husband, Alex, and I cook dinner. We usually watch an episode of whatever our latest show is (we just finished the latest season of Ozark) and then off to bed!
You've made some serious leaps in fitness, what helped you to get your marathon time from 3:42 to 2:52?
Thank you!! It has been a super exciting year and a half with the progress in my running.
There have been a couple of big changes that I made in my training starting at the beginning of 2021. One of the biggest was joining the Get Running team and Coach Katie. When I first joined, I was coming back from plantar pain, so we focused on a slow build up and getting consistent runs in pain free. My first race wasn’t until that May and it was my first big PR in a while. That really got me starting to think about what I might be able to do in marathons with the fitness that I was building with Coach Katie. I think the consistency of my running throughout 2021 has been huge and with each race we have been able to build upon that to start chasing down new goals.
Additionally, I started being better at prioritizing my mid-run fuel and post-run recovery, plus ensuring that I was fueling post-run to give my body what it needed. Post-run chocolate milk has become a staple to give me some protein and carbs while I get my breakfast ready. I also have Stoke (this really yummy nut butter founded by two amazing runners) every day in my oatmeal, on toast or a banana to fuel up - It is my absolute favorite. (10% off with code mariah4stoke10) Finding something that worked and sat well with me during long runs and workouts and then again on race day has been key.
What's your proudest running moment?
Probably running my marathon PR of 2:52 in Indy this past November. Before that race, marathons just never clicked for me. I always felt like I would have great training blocks, but my time on race day never ended up reflecting what I thought I was capable of.
At Indy this year, I had the opportunity to be part of the sub-elite group. I walked in that room surrounded by people whose PRs were way ahead of mine, but I kept telling myself that I belong there and it was my time to prove it in the marathon. Being out on the course, feeling great and having it all come together in the best way was amazing. With a mile left to go, I knew that I was going to be a good bit under 3 hours. I audibly said to myself, I am going to do it! It was this amazing moment of proving to myself that I could run in that crowd at a higher caliber than I had before and of the validation of my long-held feeling that there is still more in my running.
What's next on your race calendar?
Boston in April!! I finally qualified at Indy this past year (in my 7th marathon!) and I am so excited to be there, take it all in, and run hard.
I am also racing the Tobacco Road Half in Durham, NC in a few weeks as a lead up into Boston. It is a faster, flatter course, so we will see what I can do there.
What's your "why" when it comes to the daily grind?
I love the daily grind of running and training. I love pushing and challenging my body to see what I can do and I keep surprising myself, which is a lot fun.
Getting out each morning is the best way for me to start my day, before the rush of the day and the world comes in. And when I get to pair that with a run with a friend, it makes it even better.
What advice would you like to share with the Get Running team?
Keep dreaming and going after big goals – If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would have run a 2:52 marathon and be chasing goals like running 2:45, I would have laughed. Even before I ran the 2:52, I was just thinking if I could ever break 3, then that would be the end-all, be-all. But with each race, a new goal surfaces that I never thought would be within my reach and I am back embracing the grind to get there.
We can keep surprising ourselves if we choose to dream big, work hard, and enjoy the journey along the way.
You can follow Mariah’s running journey on Instagram @mariah_gajewski
Team Race Recap
Marathons
Mike F (M) - 3:09, lifetime PR
Half Marathons
Katie C (HM) - 1:25, PR
Heather C (HM) - 1:46
Shannon P (HM) - 1:47
Duke P (HM) - 1:29, won AG!
Lauren F (HM) - 1:15
Cait K (HM) - 1:17
Deborah (HM) - 2:28, PR
Garrett B (HM) - 1:35
Becky L (HM) - 1:55, PR
10K
Julie H (10K) - 38:02, won race!
Nicole G (10K) - 41:49, PR
Other Distances
Alex B (Indoor track DMR & SMR) - qualified for states!
Danny P (4mi) - 7:17 pace
Emmye C (Indoor 1500 and 3K) - 5:30/11:38
Elizabeth H (30K) - 6:35avg pace
Team Announcements
Breakthrough Women’s Running
Neely’s book is available for pre-order on Amazon, but signed copies will also be available on the Get Running website starting May 1!
