Carrie Elwood’s performance at the Boston Marathon turned heads across the running world. In just her sixth marathon, she placed 10th overall and finished as the fourth American, running a massive personal best of 2:22 after entering the race with a 2:31 PR.
Carrie is far from an overnight success. A former standout at the University of Colorado Boulder, her career has included years of injuries, time away from the sport, and a slow, intentional rebuild back to elite competition. After stepping away from running post-college to heal physically and mentally, she gradually returned, focusing on consistency, health, and rediscovering her love for the sport. That long-term approach has paid off. Now an American record holder in the 25K and the 2025 US Cross Country Champion, Carrie has steadily built toward this breakthrough moment.
In this conversation, Carrie shares what finally clicked in Boston. From a new coaching setup with Andrew Castor and the Mammoth Track Club, to dialing in race-day fueling and learning to trust herself at the front of the race, this episode captures the full story behind a defining performance.
She reflects on racing without fear, the years of setbacks that shaped her, and what it feels like to finally have the race she knew was possible.
What we talked about:
- Carrie’s breakthrough performance at the Boston Marathon
- Decision to race Boston without guarantees or support
- Racing mindset and staying present without checking pace
- Training changes under Andrew Castor
- Fixing marathon struggles through nutrition
- Leaving teaching to pursue running full-time
- Injury history and stepping away from the sport post-college
- Rebuilding slowly and sustainably over several years
- Confidence, self-belief, and racing at the front
- Breakdown of the Boston race and key moments on the course
Media Mentioned:
Books:
- The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi
- The Overstory by Richard Powers
- Bewilderment by Richard Powers
TV Show:
- Love on the Spectrum
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