Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 3 hrs ago
Lauren Kanski Reframed Her New York City Marathon Experience
Fitness coach Lauren Kanski took on the New York City Marathon after deciding not to wait for a perfect time in her busy life as a mother of two.
She lives in Colorado, works full time and had faced health setbacks, including sinus surgery about six months before the race.
She trained for three months with a coach, fitting runs around work, family trips and illnesses in the household.
Kanski reached the starting line after a healthy, injury-free training period, but felt unwell during race day and blamed travel and lack of sleep.
She learned after returning home that she had the flu, which changed how she understood the experience.
Rather than focusing on a target pace or finish time, she came to value taking on the challenge despite imperfect conditions.
Lauren Kanski ran the New York City Marathon while she had the flu, though she did not know it at the time.
The fitness coach said she had trained through a demanding period that included work, family responsibilities and health setbacks.
After returning home, she was diagnosed with the flu and realized it had affected how she felt during the race.
Kanski initially felt that illness had robbed her of the marathon experience she had worked toward.
She later saw the race’s setbacks and imperfections as a way to experience the marathon beyond chasing a pace or finish time.
- Who
- Lauren Kanski, a fitness coach and mother of two.
- What
- She ran the New York City Marathon while ill with the flu, then reflected on how the experience changed her perspective.
- When
- The race date is not stated. She said she was diagnosed after returning home.
- Where
- The New York City Marathon; Kanski lives in Colorado.
- Why
- She said taking on the marathon let her choose a challenge for herself amid motherhood and other difficulties.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kanski committed to a three-month training block with a coach.
She reached the New York City Marathon starting line feeling unwell, but did not know she had the flu.
She was diagnosed with the flu and realized what she had been dealing with during the race.
Kanski reflected that the setbacks let her experience the marathon without focusing on pace or finish time.
- Runner
- Lauren Kanski
- Race
- New York City Marathon
- Training block
- Three months
- Family
- Mother of a 3½-year-old and a 2-year-old
- Diagnosis
- Flu, diagnosed after she returned home
- Home
- Colorado
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What people are saying
It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be done.
When will it be a good time to do this? When is it a good time to do anything for yourself as a mom?