Noa Besner and I actually met in person at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon shakeout run last fall — and I'm so glad we finally sat down to record together. Noa is a New York City-based runner, run coach, and co-founder of Paces & Places, a new travel company bringing small groups of runners to international races.

During this episode, sponsored by Batch, we talk about:

• ​Getting into running completely by accident at 25 — skipping gym class courtesy of a mom-written note, then doing a charity half marathon when a friend got injured
• ​Her first marathon: Nashville, 95 degrees, hilly, and a complete struggle — and why it made her want to do another one immediately
• ​Going from a 5:32 at Nashville to a 3:26 PR
• ​What actually moved the needle: cross training, strength work, recovery, getting a coach, and building a real mental game
• ​Coaching for New York Road Runners — and how it's a full circle moment from when she was Level 1 of 20 in one of their beginner groups
• ​The philosophy behind keeping her coaching roster small and truly customizing plans around her athletes' lives
• ​The time she ran Vancouver with a broken leg and didn't know it (whoops)
• ​Her approach to racing for time vs. racing for experience — and how not every race needs to be a PR
• ​Prep habits for time-goal races: driving the entire course, watching ride-along videos, memorizing every hill
• ​Her 26 mantras — one per mile — including Mile 18 which is always "shut up buttercup" 😂
• ​Paces & Places: the small group international race travel company she co-founded with Shannon and Jess
• ​Their first trip: the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromsø, Norway — Arctic Circle, 8:30 PM start, 24-hour daylight, sauna + North Sea plunge included
• ​The Lochness Marathon in the Scottish Highlands: bagpipes at the start, Nessie plushies everywhere, stunning fall colors, and a bus ride to the top of a mountain
• ​Why she only brings groups to races she's personally tested and loved
• ​Racing internationally: jet lag strategy, food allergies and navigating Tokyo's sesame situation, Google Translate as a bestie
• ​The NYC Marathon cancellation during Hurricane Sandy — she was at the expo holding a jacket she had to put back
• ​Her NYC Marathon Day spectating strategy involving approximately 47 items crammed into her pockets and not getting spit at as a measure of success
• ​Having a BQ rejected by 20 seconds despite qualifying by 3+ minutes 😭
• ​Marathon taglines — and workshopping a better one for Indianapolis 👀

Previous Guests Mentioned

• ​Quincy Sauer - Episode 148
• ​Sally Hed Dahlquist - Episode 153

Sponsor Details

• ​Batch - Use code FINISH for 30% off sitewide

Other Links

• ​Paces & Places
• ​Live podcast event with Lindsay Hein & Emma Grace Hurley — May 1st
• ​Carly Trulock-Quinn's Blood Cancer United campaign — through May 8th
• ​Follow me on Instagram @allytbrett_runs
• ​Subscribe to Finish Lines & Milestones weekly newsletter

This is a SandyBoy Productions podcast.