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Kristian sits down with Zhenya Hutson, a Chicago based runner and the first Puma Project 3 athlete featured on the podcast, for a conversation about her running journey, the Chicago running community, and her breakthrough 3:03 marathon PR at Boston this year.

Zhenya shares how a "hobby intervention" from her husband during the pandemic turned into a full blown love of the marathon, including qualifying for and running Boston in a rare no cutoff year, and finding her running family through underground group runs during Chicago's strict lockdown restrictions. She walks through the Puma Project 3 application and selection process, what the twelve week support package actually includes, and the emotional final miles of her PR performance at this year's Boston Marathon. The conversation closes with why community, not just chasing times, has been the real driver behind her running.

In this episode:

- How a pandemic era "hobby intervention" led to her first run

- Squeezing in her first races just before COVID shut everything down

- Underground group runs during Chicago's lakefront trail lockdown

- Qualifying for and running Boston in a rare no cutoff year

- Applying and getting selected for Puma Project 3

- What the twelve week Project 3 support package includes

- Race recap: a 3:03 marathon PR and a $3,000 Puma bonus at Boston

- Chasing a training partner through the final miles despite cramping

- Why the Chicago running community means more to her than any PR

Content note: this episode briefly touches on the isolation and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please take care while listening.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introducing Zhenya, the first Puma Project 3 guest

00:52 Kristian's training update

07:43 Introducing Zhenya and her running background

09:01 A pandemic era hobby intervention that started it all

10:19 Squeezing in races just before COVID shut things down

10:50 Underground group runs during Chicago's lockdown

36:34 Balancing PRs vs consistent performances as you age

37:44 Qualifying for Boston in a rare no cutoff year

40:35 Fast forward to her current 3:03 marathon PR

41:02 Applying and getting selected for Puma Project 3

42:14 What the twelve week Project 3 support package includes

52:03 The emotional final miles of her Boston PR

54:17 Winning the Puma Project 3 bonus

55:03 Why the Chicago running community matters more than PRs

59:51 Finding run clubs and staying connected in Chicago

1:00:54 Closing thoughts and where to follow Zhenya

Zhenya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingzhenya/

Start your free Musicbed trial: https://fm.pxf.io/kristianwarwick

Full episodes + the Boston 2025 documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@Warwickruns

Follow my training journey on Instagram: @warwick.runs

Music from Musicbed: MB01XPYH8ZYENVAMB0133EV2TCQFZY