A Marathon Built on Grit (and Google Sheets): How Sarah Yankello Rewired Her Life Through Running
- Taylor Sayles
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
Sarah Yankello never thought she'd run a marathon. She definitely never thought she’d become someone who carefully compared 15 training plans in an Excel spreadsheet just for fun.
But that’s exactly where she found herself. A dentist by trade and a self-described “heady person,” Sarah’s journey into distance running didn’t start with a dream finish line photo. It started with burnout, a craving for mental challenge, and a friend who knew she needed a win.
Though she'd technically been running for over 15 years, Sarah considered herself a new runner. Because she’d only recently started running for herself. What used to be tied to weight loss and gym culture shifted into something more personal. More powerful. Running became a place to process life post-dental school, navigate emotional trauma, and build something real, mile by mile.
Her first marathon was a lesson in adapting. When plans to run a race in Seattle fell through, she pivoted to the Pittsburgh Marathon with just 15 weeks to train. She built her own plan from scratch, leaned into base building, and fully committed. But like a lot of first-time marathoners, she learned the hard way that more isn’t always better. She pushed through an IT band injury, hoping it would resolve in time — and while she made it to the finish line, she now knows rest would’ve gotten her there stronger. Sarah’s biggest takeaway? Don’t ignore pain. Listen to your body early and often, and remember that finishing healthy is always the win.
The marathon itself was humid, rainy, and hard. Sarah hit a wall at mile 15, walked more hills than she planned, and cried a little (as one should). But she also came alive again at mile 19, ran the final stretch with her best friend, and crossed the finish line knowing she’d done something that would change her forever.
Lessons Learned from Sarah’s First Marathon Journey
Running can become your mirror. For Sarah, it revealed who she was when things got hard. And who she wanted to become.
There’s no perfect time to start. Don’t wait until you lose weight, feel faster, or “look like a runner.” Start now.
Rest is training. Ignoring her injury almost derailed race day. Taking rest seriously is what ultimately got her to the start line.
You don’t have to follow someone else’s plan. Sarah built her own training plan from multiple templates. It wasn’t textbook perfect, but it was hers.
Support systems matter. Friends, family, texts from your husband’s group chat. All of it counts. Don’t be afraid to lean on people.
Growth is addictive. Since her first marathon, Sarah’s hired a coach, shaved minutes off her pace, and is training for her second marathon at CIM.
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