How I Took 44 Minutes Off My Marathon Time—Without Losing My Mind

I’ve been running marathons for over a decade. I’ve finished seven. And for a long time, I thought I was just one of those runners—a solid, steady, five-hour marathoner.

So when I started training for a marathon last summer, my only real goal was to finally break 5 hours.

I didn’t just break it.

I shattered it.

I crossed the finish line of the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa in 4:23, a full 44 minutes faster than my previous personal best of 5:07, set two years earlier. I’ve never felt more proud—or more surprised. So what changed?

Looking back, there were five key things that helped me get faster, feel stronger, and finally enjoy marathon training (yes, really).

1. I Lost 30 Pounds—And It Made a Big Difference

I’ll be honest: weight loss isn’t the goal for everyone, and it isn’t necessary to be a strong runner. But for me, dropping 30 pounds since my last marathon—and about 60 pounds from my highest—made a tangible difference. I felt lighter, faster, and more in control of my body. I could fly up hills I used to walk.

This isn’t a “you need to lose weight” post. But it is a real part of my story.

2. I Cleaned Up My Diet and Cut Way Back on Alcohol

Gone are the days of going out drinking and dragging myself to a long run the next morning (shoutout to my 29-year-old self who thought a 20-miler after margaritas was fine).

During this training cycle, I:

• Cut out most ultra-processed foods

• Focused on real, whole foods that actually fueled me

• Didn’t drink alcohol the night before runs (which meant I drank way less overall)

I felt more energized, slept better, and recovered faster. It wasn’t about being perfect—it was about choosing what supported my goals.

3. I Trained Consistently—Like, Really Consistently

I’ve trained with Rogue Running Dallas off and on for years, but this time I showed up with a different mindset. I didn’t skip runs. I didn’t half-ass workouts. I got up early, laced up, and did the work—day after day.

Running with a group helped. Accountability matters. But so does showing up for yourself, even on the days when it’s hot, humid, or you’d rather be anywhere else.

4. I (Mostly) Committed to Cross-Training

If you’re a runner, you’ve probably groaned at the phrase “core work” or “injury prevention.” Same. But this time, I took it seriously—for most of training, anyway.

I did Pilates twice a week, which made a huge difference in my core strength and stability. It kept me healthy, especially in the early months.

Then I stopped. Six weeks before the marathon I originally planned to run in Chicago, I quit going to Pilates.

And wouldn’t you know it? I got hurt in Chicago—pulled a hamstring and couldn’t race.

Coincidence? Probably not.

I picked cross-training back up in the weeks before Tulsa, and while I wasn’t totally pain-free, I felt so much stronger and more capable on race day.

5. I Worked on My Mental Game—and Finally Learned to Love Running

Here’s the truth: I used to hate running.

And yes, I still ran marathons. (Don’t ask.)

But this time, I changed my mindset. I started appreciating the peace of early morning miles. I leaned into the rhythm. I found gratitude in the fact that I could run—even when it was hard. Especially when it was hard.

I trained my brain to keep going when I wanted to quit. I ran through heat, hills, and exhaustion from waking up to run at 4 AM. I treated my training runs like race day and refused to walk when I used to just quit and "walk it in". On race day, I stayed present and didn’t give up when it got tough—and it absolutely got tough.

But I didn’t quit. I didn’t check out. I finished strong.

And for the first time in my life, I crossed the finish line not just proud—but truly happy.

Final Thoughts

There’s no magic trick to cutting time off your marathon. But for me, it was the combination of:

• Taking care of my body

• Fueling with intention

• Training with purpose

• Cross-training (ugh, fine, it works)

• And shifting my mindset

Will I run faster in the future? I hope so. But even if I don’t, I’ll always be proud of Tulsa—and the proof that real, sustainable progress is possible.

Whether you’re chasing a PR or just trying to finish your first race, I hope this gives you a little encouragement to keep going. Your breakthrough might be closer than you think.