Losing, Returning, and Finding Strength in the Marathon w/ Myka Laukea

Myka’s road to 26.2 came with plenty of detours. After years of stopping and starting, she found her stride again on the Raleigh greenways and signed up for the Tobacco Road Marathon. Her training leaned heavy on mileage, peaking at 60 miles a week with little recovery or fueling, which left her constantly tired and wondering if that was just part of marathon prep.

Race day brought its own challenges. She went out too fast, fought the mental grind of a quiet course, and leaned on the mantra “there’s nothing to it but to do it” to keep moving. Family support along the way, a surprise shot at mile 19, and encouragement from a pacer all helped carry her to the finish. Having her mom there to see it made the moment even more meaningful, especially after losing her unexpectedly soon after. Now Myka is training for Richmond with lessons learned, more balance in her approach, and the drive to keep running for her mom.

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🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources

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