BADASS LADY GANG, I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW STORYTELLING SERIES: UNLIMITED. WHY I’M RUNNING A HALF MARATHON DURING A PANDEMIC.

For most people, the idea of running a half marathon is seemingly impossible. But doing it virtually, unsupported, and during a pandemic? It’s a remarkable feat.

As any runner why they run, and you’re going to get a story that is so much more than a way to stay in shape.

You’ll hear stories about grief, loss, breakups, reclaiming strength, finding ways to feel proud of yourself and your achievements, prioritizing mental health, forging connections, overcoming adversity, or proving to yourself that you can do hard things. AND THAT IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

For anyone who doesn’t run, our perceptions of runners and those who run half marathons for fun couldn’t be further from reality.

That is what this series is about.

UNLIMITED IS A VIDEO SERIES THAT FOLLOWS FOUR WOMEN IN THE BADASS LADY GANG AND THEIR INSPIRING AND RELATABLY IMPERFECT TRAINING JOURNEYS AS THEY PREPARE FOR A SPRING HALF MARATHON. 

Maddie Bucci is a scenic designer and technical theater artist who went for her first run 6 months ago when her life was upended by the pandemic and the closing of theaters in New York City.  

“One of the things that really helped me find the courage to make the goal to run a half marathon was the fact that I already have proven to myself that this goal is separate from what I did previously which was create something in my life, where there was nothing. That is is an extremely healthy-Mentally, physically, spiritually, healthy tool in my tool belt when I’m crippled with the anxiety of the world and the pandemic. That is what running is about for me.

This goal of running a half marathon, that doesn’t take away from what I found in running and that is really freeing. I found something that is such a great outlet for me. I obviously have times when I think “I’ve run 6 miles, how am I going to run 13?”. I’m done limiting myself”. ⁣

Kiki Mikkelsen, a comedian and improviser in Brooklyn who started running in 2018 after losing a significant amount of weight. “My big joke was that I only ran from bears and tornadoes.” Today? She’s a marathoner. But after 2020 hit, Kiki stopped running.

“I didn't run much in 2020- I was supposed to run 2 marathons, but COVID happened, and I wasn't having fun with it anymore. Humid summer runs in a mask while training for a whole lotta nothing? Not for me.  

A lot of great things happened in my life at the same time, though, the biggest one being meeting and marrying my wife, Lauren. Taking a long break from running in 2020 and doing some living and some deep examination of my always-evolving relationship with my body has changed my relationship with running, too.”

After a year away from running, Kiki found that she missed that feeling she gets when she’s chasing goals. She missed running. So, she decided to chase her personal best and take on 13.1.

“Part of my training for this half will be retraining my brain to not associate increased mileage with weight loss. I am interested in the process of training hard and focusing on running WITHOUT engaging in intentional weight loss. What else can I get out of it? Weight maintenance and true body acceptance is hard! Way harder than weight loss. And it's way less discussed!”

Saige Bargon, completed the Badass Lady Gang become a runner 5K training plan after group fitness were canceled in 2020. Then, she went on to run her first half marathon virtually!

“At first I was like, the marathon people and the half marathon people-They're nuts. Why would you ever want to run that long? But then, as I started training, I was like, oh, I can kind of see why seeing how far you can push your body safely is really cool. Like I gave birth to a child, so I know my body can do some crazy stuff, so why not run?

I honestly just thought I would see the pounds come off and that would be my win. I think I lost like two pounds. But I think the changes mentally were bigger. My confidence grew. I went wedding dress shopping. I went in there and I was like, I'll find a dress and it will look good on me regardless of my size. Before I started running, I would have been like, ‘OK, I can’t eat for two days before I go. I need to be as skinny as possible.’ My confidence really I think is what has grown so much. It's really badass.”

Now, a few short weeks away from graduating with a Master’s in Social Work AND getting married, Saige is gearing up to run her SECOND half marathon during a pandemic. Why? Because it’s the perfect way to cope with being home with her seven-year-old daughter and juggling all the momentous milestones and events heading her way.

“It's my last semester of my masters, so I needed something for my sanity. I enjoyed it so much the first time that it's not like I'm going to enjoy it less. If anything, I'll take this less seriously because I know I can do it and I'll actually have fun with it.  I have to have fun because right now, besides the pandemic, my wedding, and my Masters-I don't know, I'm home with my seven-year-old-I need something for me.” 

Kristina Nungaray is a multi-sport athlete and marathoner who is taking on her next half marathon for someone special...herself. 

“I have always had the most toxic relationship with running. We would flirt and break up and flirt and break up because in my head, running was the hardest thing that you could do.

Running for me was normal in the before times before the pandemic hit. Running races for me was normal. We don't have that right now. I love to give to anybody that I can. But then to take that time for me? I'm kind of challenged by it, but excited to kind of regroup with this half marathon training program and kind of dedicate- No, that sounds selfish... but dedicate it to me and kind of like running for me again...Which I think might actually be painful at times, but also incredibly freeing at times.”

For Kristina, running and getting active is a way to connect with her community and strength. To challenge herself and what she thinks she’s capable. And to take up space when the running world has consistently shown us all what “runners” look like.  

“I'm kind of going back to that girl who takes up space, who still doesn't look like the runners that you see everywhere-Or does if you look closely enough. Who still doesn't like the runners you see on magazines and who still get stopped occasionally whenever she's running by people who try to say, ‘Oh, you'll lose weight if you keep running’ Or, ‘Oh, you're actually pretty fast for someone your size’, or my favorite, ‘It gets easier if you try.’

 Now, I'm running for not even that person to say I'm proving you wrong because I can do it. I'm running for the person who just really, really loves to move and wants to set goals and scare her and challenge her, because I come alive the most is facing down something that's big and scary.” 

Follow Maddie, Kiki, Saige, and Kristina’s inspiring stories as they work towards their virtual Spring Half Marathons with the Badass Lady Gang. From balancing the limitations the pandemic has placed upon them to the limitations they place on themselves, seeing real women and their relatable and imperfect training cycles is nothing short of inspiring. From injuries, dealing with winter training, being stuck at home with kids, partners, and families, learning how to train for your first half marathon ever, to grieving loss and challenging why they run, these four women’s stories are nothing short of badass.

Week 1 Half Marathon Training

It’s week 1 for our 4 Unlimited BALG-ers and they’re kicking off half marathon training in the DEAD OF WINTER with a 5K time trial!

Stepping outside of your comfort zone is SCARY! For @kikiberunning, one of her goals for her Spring Half Marathon is to see what happens when she plays with speed and her personal best.

Who has been intimidated by speed play?! What helped you break through those limits to enjoy playing with speed?!

That moment when the people around you notice how much fun you’re having running and want in on the action❤️

For most of us, our relationship to running is less than favorable. We think back to punishment in PE or embarrassing physical fitness tests in grade school. Then, when we get older, running is a thing we think we should suffer through to lose weight.

Ask any runner why they run and they’ll light up like a Christmas tree and tell you about everything from how their mental health has improved to how they actually have fun and love it. (We’ve all been there. We can’t believe it too.)

When you’re out there having fun and chasing your personal best, you never know who you might inspire to join you.

For @shbargon, that’s her fiancé. 👑

THIS X 1000. Who can relate to feeling pressure to proving others wrong?

WE CAN.

When half marathon training began back when there was snow on the ground, @k_nungaray made it a goal to redefine her relationship with running and run ONLY for herself. To run for joy. Because it makes her feel strong. And because it connects her with her community.

Taking the time to check-in with what is intrinsically motivating us and let that be louder than proving doubters and nay-sayers wrong, THAT is when magic happens. Because it’s not about IF you can do it. You already are. It’s all about enjoying the process and doing it for you. 🤘

This is such a beautiful realization. One that so many of us can relate to.

5K Time Trial TAKE TWO!

After 5 weeks of training through the heart of winter, our #UnlimitedBALG-ers @k_nungaray @shbargon @kikiberunning and first time half marathoner @mgbucci are 5 weeks into training and taking on their second 5K time trial to see where they’re at!

The nerves are real, race day is still weeks away, the excitement everyone experienced at the start of training has faded and there’s still ice and snow on the ground. Staying motivated is hard but having short term outcome based goals along with process goals can help you stay present and get out the door to give yourself your best when you just want to lay on the couch after a long day or wake up early to get that run in. It doesn’t matter if your race is virtual during a pandemic or IRL, focusing on the process and giving yourself your personal best is all that matters each and every day.

When Life Derails Your Training

9 weeks into half marathon training and things aren’t going to plan. (Do they ever?) Follow along as our four #UnlimitedBALG-ers @shbargon @kikiberunning @mgbucci and @k_nungaray show us what it’s like to train for a half marathon during a pandemic with the @badassladygang 🤘

If there’s one thing you can expect when you’re training for a half marathon, it’s the unexpected. Add in the layer of training during a pandemic and well...flexible is the name of the game. But that’s why we focus on the process! If you can give yourself your best each and every day and make the decision to run how, when and only because you want to-then it doesn’t matter what happens come race day because you’ve already given yourself your best. Now you just get to take a victory lap. 🤘

This video is dedicated to anyone who wants to (or is even THINKING about maybe/kinda/sorta wanting to) run a half marathon but doesn’t think they can. 🤘

@mgbucci, @shbargon and @kikiberunning are here to tell you why you should try.

Running a half marathon is hard enough without having to deal with the food judgments and rules we’ve been taught over the years.

Two of our #UnlimitedBALG participants, @kikiberunning and @mgbucci, open up about the struggles of living in spite of everything diet culture has led them to believe.

Like sports drink! For most of our lives, the poison punch we were served was “DONT DRINK YOUR CALORIES.” But when you’re taking off for those long runs and tough workouts (ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER HEATS UP) staying hydrated so you can feel strong and prevent dehydration is important! REACH FOR THAT SPORTS DRINK. And stay away from 0 calorie sports drinks or anything has sugar alcohols. Not only do they not help, but the sugar alcohols in them just might make you shit your pants. 💩

FUCK DIET CULTURE 🖕

Pre-Race Jitters!

After 12-weeks of training in the middle of a Global Pandemic, our 4 #BadassLadyGang Unlimited participants gear up for their first in-person run in OVER A YEAR! The pre-race nerves and jitters are EVEN MORE REAL. Will they get lost? Will they remember how to talk to people!?!? ARE THEY READY!?!?!

Days before she takes on her first half marathon, Queen @mgbucci is here to remind us all that all the time we waste consumed with how we think we look hurts us. When we do epic shit in our strong bodies, we deserve to only feel strong and accomplished. Not worried about how we think we look. Not convinced that we should be ashamed of our size.

Strength doesn’t look a certain way, it feels a certain way. THAT is one of the gifts that running gives. A way to celebrate what your body can do.

I don’t think there are enough words to describe how grateful we are for you @mgbucci and the courage it takes to share this story. I know we can all relate.

THIS IS WHAT STRENGTH FEELS LIKE.

RACE DAY!

RACE DAY IS HERE!!!!

Can we give a round of applause to these four #BadassLadyGang-ers?

@kikiberunning
@k_nungaray
@shbargon
@mgbucci

Between the four of them, they spent 12 weeks training while navigating unemployment, homeschooling, caretaking, finishing a graduate degree, planning a wedding, buying a home, becoming a runner and running a half marathon for the first time, winter, women’s health complications, grief, and redefining what it means to be an athlete and why you run.

In our final installment of Unlimited, our four #UnlimitedBALG-ers unpack race day and what they learned over the last 12 weeks!