Meet Amy: December's Most Inspiring Member of the Month

Jacksonville (FL) Moms on the Run owner and head coach Amy Magdalein has dreamed of running the New York City Marathon — the largest marathon in the world — for years. She was inspired by her mom, whose first marathon was in NYC exactly thirty years ago. On Nov. 5, Amy succeeded in running her bucket-list race by crossing the finish line at 4:05:22 — and crushing her former marathon PR by 30 minutes!

Amy (right) and MOTR member Rosalia. Both ran the NYC Marathon this year.

"I went there without having a big PR in mind," explains Amy, "because I wanted to enjoy the crowd and the atmosphere. But once I got going, everything just came together. The weather was perfect, the crowds were amazing. While I had trained for a pace of 4:10, I cried like a baby when I crossed that finish line! I can't describe how awesome the experience was."
Her favorite moment of the run? "I didn't know anyone along the route, so I knew that there wasn't going to be anyone there cheering for me. But at one point, I happened to look up, and off to my right there was a sign that read 'Go, Amy Go!' While I know it was meant for someone else, it felt like it was a sign for me too." And it was just the motivation she needed.

Amy is no stranger to races. While this was her fifth marathon, she actually is a marathon pacer. She just paced the 4:45 group for the Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa Beach, FL (her marathon number six). "I've helped pace all sorts of runners. This last race there were two women who were running their first marathon. It's so rewarding to help others reach their goals."

That's one of the reasons why Amy decided to open a Moms on the Run franchise. Jacksonville is one of the newest franchises in the Moms on the Run family, launching their first season this fall. Because of the climate, their main 18-week Learn-to-Run season will debut the end of January. "I love to help people, especially women, get healthier. Watching them do better, making changes in their life, is so much fun."