This story is one in a series called The New Running Boom, which highlights new personalities, clubs, tech, training, and shoes that make pounding the pavement fun!
THE “TROUBLE” WITH running a race is that it tends to create an immediate craving for the next one—often a longer distance, a new format, or a tougher terrain. Taking on new races for the first time means new training plans, new expectations, and new strategies. These men met the challenges in today’s popular race distances and formats and reveal what to know to get through the first time—and on to many more.
My First Marathon Taught Me Not to Fear the Unknown
Jamie Prokell, 50
“When my eldest daughter finished her first 5K, I thought it looked like fun and wanted to run the next one with her. But on our first jog together, I barely made it to the end of the next street before asking her to stop. She giggled as she walked me back. At first, I wasn’t sure of the best way to start running, being in my mid-40s and having a busy career. But I committed to small steps—weekend jogs, each time going a little farther than I had the week before. As my runs grew longer, I started looking for a challenge. When the opportunity arose to run the New York City Marathon, I wasn’t sure I was ready for 26.2 miles. I signed up anyway, committing again to the small step of trusting that 20 weeks of training would get me there. I started the day at 4 a.m., equally excited and terrified. And I dug deep to finish. Crossing that line wasn’t about speed; it was about proving I could do it. Running, I discovered, is about being consistent, embracing discomfort, pushing past limits, and choosing growth. With every run, I become a little stronger and a little better than yesterday.”
My First Half-Marathon Helped Me Trust My Body
Farouk Gomati, 40
“I decided to run a marathon in 2013 while in a wheelchair, paralyzed by the autoimmune condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome. The road from paralysis to walking was long, filled with uncertainty, pain, and doubt. Rehab and training had so many parallels. In both, I learned that strength is built in those moments you want to quit, when everything hurts, when your mind starts doubting.
Instead of using a strict training plan, I focused on consistency: starting at three times a week and working to four or five, building long runs from 3 miles to 10. I had to be flexible based on how my body felt. At first, I struggled with shin splints and deep leg pain. I adjusted by prioritizing walking, stretching, and recovery to maintain my endurance while giving my legs the rest they needed. I reminded myself that setbacks were part of the journey. The race—being surrounded by other runners, feeling the energy of the crowd—was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Now I want to run a full marathon. I don’t know when, but I know I’ll get there.”
My First Unsanctioned, 340-Mile Relay Was About Making It Happen Together
Les Boadu, 35
“In 2022, I supported a friend who did The Speed Project[TSP], a 340-mile unsanctioned running race from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, solo. That planted the seed to do this as a relay with Team WEPA—Work, Excel, Persevere, Achieve—a run crew in Queens, New York, made of runners from all parts of the world. I’m from Ghana, and for TSP, our team of six included runners from Ecuador, Brazil, the U.S., El Salvador, and Venezuela. No run crew from Queens, especially one with people from so many different backgrounds, had ever done TSP, and I wanted the world to see that no matter where you come from, you belong.
I’ve run 30 marathons, but the training for TSP is unique. We did short rotations, so we trained multiple times a day. What we didn’t train for: About 250 miles in, bad weather invited itself to the race—heavy winds, then rain…and then snow. We passed the one running jacket that kept us the most dry from one runner to another. What made this segment special was digging deep into the phrase ‘We do hard things—we work, excel, persevere, and achieve all things we set our mind to.’ There’s no big finish line scene—no one else was there when we got there in 48 hours and 6 minutes. It’s essentially something you do to push yourself physically and mentally. We don’t race for a medal; it’s all about the experiences and the memories.”
My First Trail Race Reminded Me That Hiking is Okay
Mark Bennett, 34
“I was never a consistent runner until Covid. I ran my first half-marathon in late 2021 and have done a few halfs and fulls since then, all on the road. Trail running hadn’t entered my mind until a friend was working at Mountain Tiger on Hilloween, a virtual race where you have 1 hour and 30 minutes to get as much vertical gain as possible. My fiancée and I were up for a challenge, and even though we weren’t in great running shape, we figured we could suck it up for 90 minutes while running up nearby Mount Tamalpais.
It was hard! When it got steep, I focused on keeping a consistent cadence—even if it meant taking really small steps—being mindful of my arm swing, and dropping my pace. I also had to be okay with hiking. When I run on roads, I absolutely hate to walk at any point because it feels like failing, but with trails and big elevation, sometimes that’s what you need in order to let your heart rate recover and get through it. One thing I hadn’t accounted for was the trip back down, which was tougher than I expected on very tired legs. We hit 2,940 feet of vertical, which was mid-pack. I was pretty wrecked the next day, but we’re sticking with the trail theme, doing a race over four summits in Tahoe this summer. One motivation is the scenery, but another is that after being on trails and doing elevation, road runs just feel easier, and I feel stronger.”
My First 5K Showed Me What Persistence Can Do
Merrick Usta, 37
“I’d been pretty overweight for most of my life. I would easily get winded after a short run, and it was something that bothered me. I wanted to push past this limitation and joined a triathlon club toward the end of 2023. The group workouts were a chance to face my fears, and the community helped with motivation and support during tough training days. During a session of 100-meter sprints, my legs felt like lead, I was gasping for air, and I was ready to quit. But I remembered one of the coaches saying that “sprinting is as much about mental fortitude as physical strength.” I dug deep, adjusted my gait, and completed the remaining sprints. It taught me a lot about my own resilience.
My first 5K was in New York City last January. The “real feel” was 23 degrees and I had fleeting thoughts of withdrawing, but the prospect of waking up my wife to celebrate my victory later, complete with a cool finisher medal and a warm bagel, served as my motivation. I was surprised to find myself keeping up; I averaged an 8:10 pace. It taught me the power of persistence and regular practice. In just a year, I transformed from a 200-pound couch potato to a 175-pound runner, and I couldn’t be prouder of this achievement. Next up: A half-marathon in June.”
This story originally appears in the May-June 2025 issue of Men’s Health.
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Marty Munson, currently the health director of Men’s Health, has been a health editor at properties including Marie Claire, Prevention, Shape and RealAge. She’s also certified as a swim and triathlon coach.
