Boston Marathon weekend is almost here! 💛💙

If your social media feed is anything like mine, it's filled with Boston-bound runners and last minute tips.

I’ve run the Boston Marathon twice and both races were some of the most memorable experiences of my life. Not because they were my fastest races, but because it truly lives up to all the hype if you are lucky enough to go.

If you're headed to Beantown this weekend, or hope to be one day, check out my tips to make sure you get the most out of your race.

Boston, baby!

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from the team

“Not feeling confident about this race, Coach.”

Emily wasn't exactly looking for a pep talk before her marathon. She was simply expressing a very normal experience most runners have in taper.

She was finally healthy after healing from a tough injury and this was her comeback race.

This wasn't about running the fastest race of her life. It was about celebrating that she could race at all.

And yet, she was full of doubt.

This is the part most runners don’t expect.

Even when you're healthy and doing the training, race week can make you question everything.

“Confidence isn’t a feeling," I told her. "It’s a choice.”

Both confidence and doubt are stories about the future.

One says you are getting in over your head. The other says that you'll trust your training and you'll make the day a success no matter what happens.

Your brain prefers to choose doubt because it keeps you safe.

Which story do you prefer? (Emily chose confidence.)

This is exactly what PR Team is built for.

Not just a workout plan.

But the for all those moments where you get in your head.

It’s a good fit if you:

• do the training but still question if it’s working
• feel strong one day and unsure the next for no real reason
• lose confidence right before the runs that matter most
• overthink small things and turn them into bigger problems

Confidence isn’t something you find at the start line.

It’s something you build all year, so it’s there when you need it.

show me

ask me anything

Q:

I'm craving sweets all the time! Now that I'm not marathon training, I know that I need to change how I eat, but I'm wondering if this is something to do with perimenopause. I've had bloodwork done and it's fine and I'm on estrogen.

A: ​

There are a lot symptoms of perimenopause that show up in athletes that go beyond hot flashes and mood swings.

The runners I work with talk to me about increased joint pain, stiffness, and decreased flexibility. They also experience longer recovery times, decreased aerobic capacity, and lower heat tolerance.

This is in addition to sleep issues and weight gain.

It's hard to say which can be accurately attributed to perimenopause/post-menopause instead of aging in general, because the men I work with often go through some of these too (okay, not the hot flashes).

What I can tell you is that runners of all ages crave sweets and there are two specific reasons that come up a lot.

The first is underfueling. When you increase your training load, specifically cardiovascular training like running, your body calls for more calories.

It increases the hunger cues and makes carb-rich sweets even more enticing.

Hunger is the best condiment.

The second reason I see is when your diet is too high in simple carbs and low in fiber and protein for your activity. This can be a good thing when you are fueling lots of miles or getting ready to race.

But when your training load decreases (or you are shifting to more strength training), it's time for a higher ratio of filling fiber and protein.

Simple carbs move through you quickly, which means you're craving more sooner. Not to mention, there's a pretty clear dopamine response to sugar that keeps us coming back.

I'm not saying that perimenopause is not related to your cravings. It very well could be.

But I'd definitely look at your training load and diet first.

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podcast

Marathon history is full of drama, heroes and quite a few myths that you are probably perpetuating yourself at your local run club.

Today on the Planted Runner Podcast I’m going to talk with bestselling author, coach, and historian Martin Dugard.

His new book, The Long Run, dives into the rich history of the marathon and debunks some of the most pervasive myths in the sport.

We discuss:

• The origin story of the marathon and what really happened
• How the jogging craze led to the marathon boom, and
• The impact of some of the biggest stars of the sport who still influence runners today.

Book Giveaway: Win a copy of the book!

First write an Apple Podcast review of the show and then email me your US shipping address to claire@theplantedrunner.com. We’ll pick a random winner by the end of April 2026. (USA residents only)

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inspo

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

—Abraham Lincoln

Have a great run today, Coach Claire

Thank you for being a part of the Planted Runner community!

My mission is to help runners just like you reach goals they never dreamed possible through science-backed training and plant-based nutrition.

Since 2016, I've helped thousands of every day runners become fitter, faster, and stronger with truly customized training and coaching.

I also love to share what I have learned from my own journey starting as a non-runner to a 2:58 marathoner at age 42, as well what I have learned coaching runners, completely FREE. I do that every week in this newsletter and on the Planted Runner Podcast.

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