Super excited to be here to support those running their first marathon & learn from those who have done it a time or two (or three or four). My name is Katelyn & I’m from just north of Philly (go birds)! I started running about 10 years ago after my family decided to do a weight loss competition for the month of January. I am super competitive, so I went out & bought a treadmill on January 2nd. I started walking, then added incline, and then progressed to running. After the month was over (I won), I never looked back! I am a huge Disney fan, so I knew I wanted to run the Princess Half Marathon the following year. I used the Jeff Galloway run/walk/run training program and successfully completed my first half marathon in February 2017! Then, I decided I wanted to run the Walt Disney World Marathon in 2018 for my first marathon. It was a day I will never forget! Since then, I’ve run 40 runDisney races of all different lengths & completed 3 Dopey Challenges (48.6 miles over 4 days). I also ran the Chicago Marathon in 2024 & the NYC Marathon in 2025! I’m excited to see everyone progress on this journey and honored to be a small part of it! Happy running!

I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Emily for 1:1 coaching for a few months now to tackle some big half marathon goals, and her training block has been VERY untraditional. Shes been battling weather, injury, and a whole lotta treadmill runs, but despite it all she CRUSHED her longest run of training this morning!! Proud of you @Emily Bailey !!

After nearly 2 years of interviewing runners on their first marathon stories, there were two really clear patterns: coaching support isn’t accessible for everyone, and even for those it is accessible to, many don’t feel ready for 1:1 coaching. On top of that, there’s simply too much information out there to make sense of when you’re a beginner marathoner. I built The First Marathon Buddy community to fill that gap. This space is meant to be community first and to make the training process feel less isolating and more supported, no matter what plan you’re following. The My First Marathon Buddy Program is officially out now!! I’m really excited to build this with you all and see where it goes. -Taylor 🧡

Hi, I’m Rebecca! I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I now live in Charleston, South Carolina. I started running in November 2024 and ran my very first marathon in my hometown of Pittsburgh in May of last year. It was emotional, humbling, and completely changed how I see myself. I’m heading back to Pittsburgh this May for what will be my third marathon! Earlier this year, I completed the Dopey Challenge at Disney, which is 48.6 miles over four days, all run for charity. It was hard, messy, and incredibly meaningful. My training includes running, biking, strength training, and daily movement. I care deeply about supporting running moms, runners who are fundraising for causes close to their hearts, and runners navigating chronic health challenges. I’m so thankful to be part of this community that Taylor created, and I’m really excited to walk alongside you through your first marathon journey!