Featured Club Member: Olivia Medina

Hi Marathon Maniacs,

My name is Olivia Medina, and I’m thrilled to be part of this amazing community of passionate runners. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and share a bit about my running journey, experiences, and goals.

Name: Olivia Medina

Age: 42

Location: North Central Florida

Running Experience:

I’ve been running since high school, where I competed in cross-country. After graduating, I took a three-year hiatus from running until I stumbled upon a DVD at the public library by Dean Karnazes, 50 Marathons in 50 States in 50 Days. It was the spark that reignited my love for running and pushed me to overcome my sedentary lifestyle. I trained for my first marathon, and I haven’t looked back since. During the COVID era, I faced a major health setback as I became ill and was advised to stop running. Unfortunately, I had to give up a daily running streak I’d been maintaining. However, after a period of recovery, I’m back on track, focusing on my ultimate goal: completing a marathon in each of the 50 states. My current pace is well over 10 minutes per mile, and I typically run only about 6 miles per week – though I’m working on upping my training. My current marathon total is 53 which includes 2 Ultras and have achieved the Iridium level.

Goals:

I’m hoping to complete my first round of the 50 States this May in Lincoln, Nebraska. With only six marathons left on my list, the Hyannis Marathon is up next weekend! After finishing the 50 States, I plan to shift my focus from quantity to quality and set my sights on attempting to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Fun Fact:

I was once a member of the United States Running Streak Association and had a running streak that lasted just over six years. I absolutely love meeting fellow Maniacs and hearing the inspiring stories behind their running journeys. I’m continually in awe of the “elite maniacs” I’ve met who have completed hundreds of marathons—it’s truly motivating to hear their experiences.

I’m excited to connect with everyone here and hopefully, meet some of you at the upcoming marathons. Catch you on the trails!

You can follow my journey on Instagram at @jigsaw_jogger. My Marathons HERE<

Thank you, Marathon Maniac #7842

Photo and Post Credit Marathon Maniacs Newsletter