Runner’s World+ Member: Molly Elfreich
Molly is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
Running has changed my life in so many ways. What started as a way to lose weight after the birth of my first child, turned into so much more. Running became therapeutic for me due to my work. My job is to forensically interview children for child sexual abuse cases. In my years of doing this work I have interviewed approximately 2,000 children. This can cause some emotional impact and running is my outlet. It is how I check back in. To feel my body and to empty my mind. Running was also instrumental in the healing of losing a child at five months pregnant and then beginning fertility treatments to conceive my second child (who is now a happy three-year-old). Through my running group and my long runs I have always found my strength to keep going.
About a year ago I bought a marathon training plan from RW to try to qualify for Boston in my very first marathon attempt at Indy Monumental. I received a qualifying time of 3:33 but knew I needed to do better and could do better to guarantee a spot. So I bought another training plan from RW to break 3:30. In Carmel IN I ran in the cold and rain and BQ’d at 3:24. I am now set to go to Boston in April 2020, and I am so excited. The plans were exceptional and so easy to follow and work into my busy life. I also found myself going online to Runner’s World all the time for gear and shoe reviews and updates, so why not join?!
I run because I can and I know not everyone is as fortunate as me to do so. I also run so my kids see that even though being a mom is #1 that I still have goals and ambitions and that I work really hard for those.
Long runs are always early Saturday morning. After my first Ironman, I learned that sometimes you have to train all through out the day. Ironman training was sometimes two-a-days, but I have never run more than four times in a week. I know my body and that works for me. Swimming and cycling have also been great for cross training.
I am very lucky to live next to a university that has a trail that is about eight miles with lots of challenging hills, but I always feel safe and at home.
I love the Nike Zoom Fly for shoes, Tracksmith for clothes (expensive but hold up forever and don't hold odor). Got to have my Garmin GPS watch with music too!!
To run Boston and PR, as well as a compete in a full Ironman next year with my beau.
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