Lottery to Finish Line: Becoming a Marathoner in Chicago w/ Monique Sayles

Last fall, my mom and I ran a half marathon together in North Carolina, the first time she’d really laced up again in years. Not long after, I sent her a text about the Chicago Marathon lottery and told her to throw her name in just to see what happens. She wasn’t convinced, but she humored me. Months later, she opened her inbox to find an email that started with one word: “Congratulations.”

That moment kicked off an entirely new chapter. In this episode, we talk about her first marathon journey, from learning how to train smarter in her 50s to balancing early mornings, long runs, and a full-time job. She shares how getting sick years ago nearly ended her running for good, how she rebuilt her confidence, and what it felt like to finally cross the finish line in Chicago.

It’s a story about grit, patience, and what happens when a little lottery luck and a slightly pushy daughter change everything.

Follow along with the show:
👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays
🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod
📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast
🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources

Join my coaching waitlist! - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FPqUiZnVWcXaD-N14Qpcf4YL7zejJqcWEMUslPAAbw4/edit