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How Katlynn Uses Mantras like "Forward is a Pace" To Keep Moving

  • Writer: Taylor Sayles
    Taylor Sayles
  • 1 day ago
  • 2 min read
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Katelyn grew up in the pool, not pounding pavement. After nearly two decades as a swimmer, she carried the classic mindset that running was punishment. But a family step challenge in 2015 changed everything. She bought a treadmill to prove her mom wrong, started with walks, and eventually built a new identity as a runner.


The Half That Sparked a Dream

Her first big test came at the 2017 Disney Princess Half Marathon. Training for months, she crossed the finish line in an Ariel-inspired outfit and realized she was capable of more. If 13.1 miles was possible, then a full marathon was within reach. The Walt Disney World Marathon in 2018 became the next goal.


Training the Galloway Way

To get there, Katelyn used Jeff Galloway’s run-walk-run training plan. It gave her structure without overwhelming mileage and taught her that walk breaks didn’t make her less of a runner. Long runs left her tired but not destroyed, and she gained confidence as she pushed past new distance milestones. Fueling was tricky—her first gel was a disaster—but practice helped her adjust.


Race Day at Disney

Race day carried all the nerves you’d expect, plus the excitement of running through Disney parks. The first half felt strong, highlighted by a Main Street Diet Coke handoff from her family. Miles 19–22 at ESPN Wide World of Sports tested her, but she pushed through, reminding herself she had more left in the tank. By the time she reached Epcot, she was smiling again, fueled by the cheering crowds.


Crossing the Finish Line

Crossing the finish line in her “Fastpass to the Finish Line” shirt, Katelyn cried. The medal and surprise Mickey ears were fun, but what mattered most was the proof: she could do hard things. That moment sealed her identity as a runner for good.


Lessons Learned

  • Starting with walking builds confidence and momentum.

  • Training plans are most effective when they fit into real life.

  • Fueling takes trial and error—practice before race day.

  • Long runs are as much about mental breakthroughs as physical ones.

  • Forward is a pace: keep moving, no matter what.


Want to hear Katlynn tell the story herself? Listen to the full episode now: Forward is a Pace: Lessons from Disney w/ Katelyn Fox— available wherever you get your podcasts.




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Follow along with the show:

👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays

🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod

📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast


 
 
 

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