Episode #25
Runners Who Read EP 13: Don't Call it a Comeback by Keira D'Amato
Keira D’Amato is, quite plainly, one of the best long distance runners in the world today. With PRs of 15:04 for 5k all the way up to 2:19:12 for the marathon and a 10-mile American record of 51:23 in between there, she’s got some of the best range of any runner on the road. She is also a 4-time national champion. However, her path to these fast times and great success has not been what you might think. A multiple time NCAA All-American coming out of college, she found only limited success in round 1 of post collegiate running between being on and off of the track due to injury. In the ensuing 8 years or so, she experienced a winding career path from being a developer at Freddie Mac and working part time in IT to running her own DJing business and becoming a realtor. It wasn’t until after giving birth to her second child that she returned to running just for fun and to get in shape not knowing the journey that would be ahead. One that is outlined in her memoir: Don’t Call It a Comeback: What Happened When I Stopped Chasing PRs, and Started Chasing Happiness which we discuss in this podcast. Plus, find out what Keira's favorite joke is, how she bounces back from failure, and how she's unlocked a "boss level" mental approach to racing that we can all learn from. Follow Keira: Instagram - @keiradamato X - @KeiraDAmato Website - https://keiradamato.com/ Follow Olivia: Instagram - @obaker64 X - @obaker64 Runners Who Read - https://bookclubs.com/runners-who-read-2/join/
