After a hip surgery at 17 ended her competitive dance career, Maya Struhar spent years away from structured movement. Running wasn’t part of the plan until a St. Patrick’s Day 5K with coworkers pulled her back in. One race turned into a 10K, then a half marathon, and before long Maya found herself training for her first marathon at Grandma’s in Duluth. Along the way she discovered a runner’s high, built confidence through a series of half marathons during training, and learned how to make decisions during the race that prioritized enjoyment over chasing a specific time.In this episode, Maya shares what it looked like to rebuild a relationship with movement after injury, how a tough training run almost shook her confidence, and the moment during her marathon when choosing to slow down helped her have a better experience. She also talks about the wall at Lemon Drop Hill, the emotional finish line at Grandma’s Marathon, and how that first race led to running Chicago just a few months later.Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resourcesJoin THE First Marathon Buddy Community! - skool.com/myfirstmarathonBook a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440.