Berlin, London, Chicago, Boston: My Marathon Journey

Since childhood, I have been fascinated by mountains. The snow-covered peaks of the Carpathian Mountains in summer always mesmerized me. During my first long hike in the Carpathians in 2016, I realized I needed to improve my physical fitness. Running training was a great solution to prepare for tough and long mountain hikes, so I started running. Initially, I ran irregularly and only short distances. I understood that I needed to increase my running distance. I set a goal to run 5 km. After this run, I couldn’t walk up the stairs for two weeks. Then, I aimed for 10 km. Although I managed it, the one-hour run was very hard for me, and I almost gave up on my running experiments.

My perspective changed when I attended the Kyiv Marathon as a spectator in the fall of 2017. I saw strong and determined people finishing the marathon, many with smiles, despite the rainy weather, covering the incredible distance of 42 km and 195 m. I was inspired by the idea of marathon running and the participants, especially a girl with tattoos running in a group of women. Later, I found out they were the women’s running club Skinny & Strong and the famous runner and coach Mary Golota. It turned out that thanks to Mary, I first heard about the Kyiv Marathon, as the story of a girl who ran on Kyiv’s hilly streets in 2015 in a wedding dress with a veil and finished third made the news.

I was inspired anew by the idea of running and dreamed of finishing a marathon. I resumed my runs and began training more systematically, especially after reading Mary’s book, “Never Stop.” Running 10 km through the beautiful trails of Holosiivskyi Forest became a habit and a pleasure for me. It improved my physical fitness, brought discipline into my life, and positively influenced my career.

In the fall of 2021, I registered for the lottery to participate in the Berlin Marathon. This was a big challenge, so I approached it seriously, studying necessary training, equipment, diet, and lifestyle to prepare for the run. I bought a sports watch and carbon running shoes, adjusted my daily routine, and reviewed my diet. I began training according to a plan. Although I did not win the lottery for the 2022 Berlin Marathon, the dream of becoming a Six Star Marathon Majors Finisher before I die fully captured me.

Running training helped me cope with the stress of the war, and the grand goal motivated me to keep moving forward, stay physically and mentally healthy, improve my performance at work, and remain responsible and rational.

I started participating in half-marathon races in Kyiv and Lviv, met and befriended the strongest amateur runners and professional athletes, and began regularly training with them. The running tracks of Trukhaniv Island and VDNH became places where I received and shared inspiration, understanding, motivation, and support with my new friends.

It wasn’t always easy. In the beginning, the physical challenges were tough, and missing certain milestones was frustrating. But over time, I learned that I’m capable of setting and achieving ambitious goals. I discovered inner resilience, persistence, and the real value of community on the path to personal growth.

I was lucky to win the lottery for the 2023 Berlin Marathon. I prepared well for it and finished under 3 hours with a great time and a great finish. It was simply fantastic — running my first marathon without knowing that among the 47,000 other participants was the very person who inspired my Marathon Majors journey. Six years ago, I applauded and admired her rainy marathon finish on Khreshchatyk, and now I was high-fiving and thanking Mary Golota for both our sub-3-hour results, not fully believing in the reality of what was happening, yet feeling a renewed faith in human potential and humanity itself.

To make this experience even more unforgettable, the winner of that marathon was the legendary Eliud Kipchoge — the greatest marathoner in history. Sharing the same course with him on the same day felt almost unreal.

My Berlin result was strong enough to qualify me for the 129th Boston Marathon. In the time between, I finished the London and Chicago Marathons, and now I’m halfway to my dream of becoming a Nine Star World Marathon Majors Finisher before I die.