In this episode, Tiffany recaps her experience running her very first mountain marathon — a brutal but rewarding 26.7-mile race with nearly 6,000 feet of elevation gain around Mount Timpanogos in Utah. She shares what the training process actually looked like, how different mountain running is from road racing, and the physical and mental challenges that came with preparing for an endurance event of this size.

Tiffany also opens up about the setbacks she faced along the way, including tearing a calf muscle early in training and discovering the issue was actually connected to tight hamstrings and mobility restrictions higher up the chain. She talks about the recovery tools and body work she incorporated, from foam rolling and sports massage therapy to peptides, mobility work, and strength training, and why endurance training forced her to become more intentional about recovery than ever before.

She walks listeners through how she fueled her body during training and race day, how her approach to nutrition shifted while preparing for endurance events, and the surprising things she learned about pacing, strength, flexibility, and “time on feet” training. This episode is equal parts race recap, training diary, and honest conversation about what it takes to push your body through something hard — especially in midlife and motherhood.

Whether you’re a runner, training for your own big goal, or simply curious about what mountain marathon prep actually looks like, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the highs, lows, and lessons Tiffany took away from the experience.

Key Takeaways

• Mountain marathons are a completely different beast. Elevation gain, technical terrain, and downhill impact change everything compared to road racing.
• Recovery work matters just as much as training. Mobility, fascia work, strength training, and recovery tools became essential after injury setbacks.
• Building endurance takes patience. Tiffany shares why her training focused on gradual “time on feet” increases rather than obsessing over pace.
• Fueling properly changes performance. Nutrition and strategic fueling played a major role in sustaining long-distance training and recovery.

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