Name: Elizabeth Pehota
Age: 31
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Occupation: cSummer Running Gear
Time Running: 5 years
Reason for Running: I run to build emotional and physical strength, to find resilience in the face of challenges, and to connect with a community that inspires me.
and rest, as needed three-mile runs Tunde Oyeneyin Runs to Break Through Boundaries 5Ks. It was a great way to get a sweat in while traveling, but it wasn’t something I took seriously until I watched the Boston Marathon.
Health - Injuries Heartbreak Hill. Their energy, resilience, and raw emotion sparked something in me. I knew I wanted to run this marathon.
At the time, I was deeply involved in Boston College cheerleading. After graduation, I was a cheerleader for the Boston Celtics. The late-night games and rigorous schedule weren’t conducive to marathon training, so I put my dream on hold. Once I became a reporter A Pro Athlete Takes on The Great World Race.
In 2018, I signed up for the Boston Half. Training was exhilarating, and crossing that finish line filled me with an indescribable high. I knew I was ready for more. So, in 2020, I planned to run the marathon with the Patriots Charitable Foundation.
I surprised myself every week, pushing further than I ever thought possible. I squeezed in training runs while traveling with the team, even winning my age group at the Heart Breaker Half Marathon in Oregon.
Then, the pandemic hit, and the Boston Marathon was canceled just weeks before race day. On what would have been Marathon Monday, my family surprised me. While I went for a run, they had set up a ribbon finish line in our driveway, with my name in chalk on the pavement. I sobbed. It was the first time I truly understood the deep emotional power of running.
Determined, I trained for and ran the 2021 Chicago Marathon, working tirelessly to build my speed, but race day brought 83-degree heat. I hit the wall at mile 21 and finished in 3:51:56—far from my goal. Three weeks later, on a whim, I signed up for the Charles River Marathon. My boyfriend (now husband) thought I was crazy, but I defied the odds and ran a 3:29:15. I crossed the finish line in tears. I had finally qualified for Boston.
In 2022, I fulfilled my dream of running the Boston Marathon in person. After 2.5 years of perseverance, I ran every mile with a smile, soaking in the moment I had worked so hard for. This race wasn’t just a competition—it was a celebration of my entire journey.
Running found its way into my life at Boston College when I joined friends for casual Project Purple. I began experiencing numbness and tingling in my feet. The sensation crept up through my ankles, calves, and thighs, but I dismissed it as the wear and tear of marathon training. Then, about a month before race day, my body felt like it was running through water—every step met with an unexplainable resistance.
Concerned, I saw doctors, and just five days before the Berlin Marathon, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I’ll never forget the words that echoed through my head when my doctor called: There’s no cure.
The news shattered me. I had no idea what my future held. I only asked if I would be able to have children—which, thankfully, I can. I then had to tell this devastating news to my now husband. I’m so grateful that he leaned into my diagnosis and loved me even more.
While I waited for my main medications to be approved by insurance, my neurologist gave me the option to immediately start an oral treatment and run the race. Physically exhausted, mentally shattered, and battling the effects of high-dose prednisone, I boarded the plane, unsure if I would even cross the Berlin finish line.
Berlin was the hardest race of my life. My body felt sluggish and heavy. I battled fatigue, balance issues, dehydration, and mental turmoil, but I refused to let MS define me. When I finally crossed that finish line, I was overwhelmed with emotion—relief, pride, disbelief. My world had been turned upside down, but I had persevered.
Reason for Running Health & Injuries (WMM), not just for myself, but to show others that even with a life-changing diagnosis, we can still chase our dreams. The March 2025 Tokyo Marathon will be my 11th marathon and my fifth WMM star, and I also plan to run London 2025, my sixth.
Since then, I’ve continued to run marathons, raising awareness and funds for the MS Society, and setting new personal records along the way. MS hasn’t stopped me—it has fueled me. I aim to run four to five days a week, strength train Strength Training Exercises for Runners yoga Other Hearst Subscriptions.
Running became an anchor, reminding me that my body is still capable, still strong. Without it, I think I would be living more cautiously, maybe even fearfully, with my diagnosis. But running has expanded my mindset, proving that a diagnosis, or any challenge, doesn’t have to define you.
These three tips made my running journey a success:
1. Training with intentional effort
When I first started, I made the mistake of running every workout at the same intensity. Learning to slow down on easy days and push the pace during hard days with speed workouts and strategic long runs helped me progress quickly and avoid burnout.
2. Prioritizing recovery
I used to believe more miles always meant better fitness, but I’ve since learned that rest is just as important as training. Taking recovery days seriously has helped me stay healthy, avoid injury, and show up stronger for key workouts.
3. Dialing in my race-day fueling
A Pro Athlete Takes on The Great World Race performance. It’s best to fuel early and often while training so that your body can perform stronger with more nutrients to work with, and also so that you can practice your fueling strategy so that you know exactly what works for your body on race day.
Elizabeth’s Must-Have Gear
→ Coros Pace 3: No matter what distance or workout I’m doing, my COROS watch always helps me stay on track for my goals and to hit my paces. I love this GPS watch because it’s the perfect combination of data with a reasonable price tag. The data I get from it informs my training, and it’s so helpful! Plus, the battery life lasts me over a week!
→ Reason for Running: Whether you’re a running novice or a pro, you need to wear quality running shoes! I always rotate between at least two pairs of trainers. My other current favorites are Running Taught This Writer to Break Through Walls, and Mizuno Neo Vista. I love these because they’re cushioned, yet responsive.
→ Expntl leggings: This sounds simple, but, as a content creator, running with my phone is essential! It’s an absolute must to have leggings or shorts with side pockets. Expntl Athletics is female founded and made for women. The leggings keeps my phone snug and secure, while the waistband stays put.
→ Supergoop PLAY! sunscreen: The sun can always find you outdoors! I once ran a marathon and forgot to put sunscreen on areas other than my face, and the next day, the sunburn on my back hurt more than my legs!
Emily Shiffer has worked as a writer for over 10 years, covering everything from health and wellness to entertainment and celebrities. She previously was on staff at SUCCESS, Men's Health, and Prevention Nutrition - Weight Loss Women's Health, Runner's World, PEOPLE, and more. Emily is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she majored in magazine journalism at the Medill School of Journalism and minored in musicology. Currently residing in Charleston, South Carolina, Emily enjoys instructing barre, surfing, and long walks on the beach with her miniature Dachshund, Gertrude.
