My guest for today’s episode is Amanda Vestri and this is a really exciting moment in her career, because we’re catching her right at the beginning of what looks like a very promising transition into the marathon. We previously had her on the podcast after she was taking to the half marathon so we’ve got a good amount to catch up on.

Last fall, she made her debut at the New York City Marathon and ran 2:25 for ninth place — a performance that, on paper, was impressive. But when you understand the full context, it becomes even more so. She tells us that went into that race undercooked, dealing with lingering injuries, and still found a way to grind through the final miles and come away with a result that showed she belongs at this level.

Now ahead of Boston: She’s healthy. She’s stronger. And she’s training with a new level of intention under coach David Roche —you’ll get some specifics on the training and coaching switch. We’re talking 200-plus grams of carbs on long runs, dialing in recovery, and learning how to actually finish workouts feeling strong instead of just surviving them.

There’s also been a shift in environment by moving to Florida to be closer to family, leaning on that support system, and building a routine that allows her to handle the demands of marathon training while still enjoying the process. And that’s really the theme of this interview I think.

Amanda is someone who has always raced with a lot of heart — maybe even a little too much at times — but now she’s learning how to pair that with patience, discipline, and a longer-term view of what her marathon career can become. She’s building in the marathon with intention.

In this episode, we talk about that New York debut, what’s changed in this build, the role of fueling and recovery, and what success looks like heading into Boston — where her goal isn’t just a time, but to compete, to race smarter, and to see how far she can go when everything finally clicks.

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Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez

Guest: Amanda Vestri | @a_vestri

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr