My guest for today's episode is Sara Vaughn, who just delivered a standout performance at the New York City Marathon where she finished as the top American in sixth place overall running 2:26:56 in a year marked by comebacks.

The 38 year old mother of four wasn't about to let a tough season slow her down after battling illness and dropping out of the Chicago Marathon. Just three weeks ago, Sara decided to make a quick pivot and set her sights on New York and it paid off massively.

In this episode, she shares a bit about her untraditional journey to the starting line and how she balances elite competition with her family life. We talk about her remarkable rebound, her plans to keep pushing forward and what drives her as a professional runner and mother.

Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram

Guest: Sara Vaughn | @smevaughn on Instagram

Episode highlights:

Shifting her focus to the NYC Marathon after having to drop out of the Chicago Marathon due to COVID:

“I felt like if I had the day I wanted in Chicago, it would have been similar pace-wise or place-wise, or finishing top American. But to do it at New York was really special. It was my debut there, so I'm still processing running that course. It was so epic. The crowds are different. It's just so different than Chicago. Everything from waking up so much earlier, the long bus ride, all of the logistics, to finishing in Central Park, it's just a whole different vibe. I'm just still kind of reeling.”

Gearing up for NYC after dropping out of Chicago:

“I felt well as soon as I got a little bit of rest and got rehydrated and was like, ‘I feel human again.’ I think in general, I felt so much better than I had the previous days… I just didn't want to waste the fitness. You train for three months for one race. I only went 11 miles [in Chicago]. It's not like I went 22. I wasn't in a huge hole physically in that regard. It wasn't the only option on the table, but it was the best option. I'm so glad they said yes. That was the one we were hoping for.”

Reflections on her build leading into the race:

“I felt like the extremes were more extreme during this buildup. It was a rollercoaster of emotions in the fall in our household. We had transitions. We had a kid off to college. I think that had a bigger emotional and energetic impact on me. I'm just going to blame it on that. I think the fitness was there all along… Three weeks out, I had a really good long run and was like, ‘Okay, I'm fine. Everything's going to be fine.’ As Amy [Cragg] tells me, if I can just keep my my stuff together the last few weeks, it'll be fine.”

Thoughts during the race:

“We stayed in the pack and there were times where I'd be creeping up on [Hellen Obiri’s] shoulder and I'd be like, ‘I have no business being in front of this woman.’ It made it so easy. I didn't have to think. Just tuck in behind this pack. It went exactly how I expected: some slower miles on the uphills and in the windy parts. Then it was very fartleky: someone would take off from the front. They would slowly go out and reel back in.

All of that was super predictable. Then without fail, somebody makes a move on First Avenue. I wasn't anticipating that it would be me, but that's how it played out. It felt really good to open it up a little bit and get things going.”

Time stamps:

• 3:09 - Initial reflections from the NYC Marathon
• 5:01 - Having to drop out of the Chicago Marathon, shifting her focus to the NYC Marathon
• 6:14 - What her goals were for Chicago, how those goals changed for NYC
• 8:40 - When things started to click for her in training
• 10:29 - How her training has changed since starting to work with coach Alistair and Amy Cragg
• 11:52 - What’s kept her in the sports for so long
• 15:37 - Racing her daughter Kiki in an 800m
• 21:12 - What her goals were on the day of the NYC Marathon
• 22:57 - Thoughts when the big move was made at 1st Ave
• 24:37 - Reflecting on Jenny Simpson’s marathon
• 27:58 - Hardest part of the race
• 28:49 - Crowds during the final part of the race
• 33:46 - Feelings after crossing the finish line
• 36:16 - Going after the 2025 World Championships team
• 36:50 - Answering listener questions

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