#283 Rachel Abernethy: Running Major Marathons, 150 Park Runs, Building a Running Community and More

This week on the Any Given Runday podcast, we welcome Rachel Abernethy (@runnergirlrach on Instagram), an accomplished runner with multiple marathons and ultramarathons under her belt. Rachel shares her journey into running, the importance of community, and her experiences with major marathons, having run London (twice!) and Chicago. She discusses the role of Parkrun in her training, her major marathon goals, running the San Francisco marathon and the joys of running as a lifestyle. Rachel also offers insights into her goals for upcoming races, her role with Asics, the Phoenix Flyers Run Club and encourages new runners to join the community.11:30 Introduction to Rachel Abernethy12:37 Rachel's Journey into Running15:23 The Evolution of Running Passion17:09 First Half Marathon Experience20:01 Transitioning to Marathons21:45 Experiences at Major Marathons23:42 The Excitement of Major Marathons24:54 Goals and Motivation in Running26:21 Running with a Partner28:35 Comparing Marathon Experiences30:29 Favorite Running Locations32:50 The Importance of Parkrun34:32 Encouraging Newcomers to Parkrun37:20 Building Community through Running40:42 Becoming an Ambassador for Running42:20 Navigating Social Media and Brand Ambassadorship48:37 Running as a Lifestyle: Mental and Physical Benefits49:53 Racing Insights: Recommendations and Experiences52:04 Training Strategies: Balancing Goals and Recovery61:55 The Debate: Pace vs. Intensity in Training67:45 Exploring Ultra Marathons: Challenges and JoysYou can follow us on Instagram:@anygivenrundaypodcastALTAR Speed Dust is engineered to keep fuel in your tank so you can go faster, farther and longer than ever before. Use the code AGR15 to get 15% off at checkout (excludes bundles).altarfuel.com The Sports Recovery Kit is everything you need after training, matches, gym sessions and long active days. The full routine, ready to goShop HEREGet the AGR Ultrapure Sprint Bundle HERE If you've never had your VO₂ max or metabolism measured, there's a good chance you're training at the wrong intensity, missing valuable adaptations, or getting your race nutrition wrong.Health Matters replaces guesswork with data. With over 15 years of experience, they're one of Europe's most experienced performance testing providers.Find out more or book your test at myhealthmatters.ie.