Dakota Lindwurm he is often referred to as an “underdog”, despite numerous podiums in the marathon distance in running.
Lindwurm, by all accounts, should not have been an Olympic marathoner for Team USA. She ran in college at a small Division II school not exactly known for starting professional athletes, and was a substitute teacher and then paralegal after graduation.
After years of hard work before and after her day job, Lindwurm began to find success in the marathon distance as an elite runner.
The 29-year-old established herself as a top American distance runner when she placed third at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February, and enhanced her talent when she finished 12th in the marathon at this year’s Paris Olympics, the highest finish by an American woman in the marathon at 2024 Games.
“I’m very proud of my result at the Olympics and I’m really grateful to have had such a great experience there,” Lindwurm tells Well+Good. “It’s something I’ll always look back on so fondly.”
Lindwurm is preparing to cross the starting line of the 2024 New York City Marathon, and she’s doing so in a happy mood.
“I’m going into the New York Marathon the most excited I’ve ever been for a World Marathon Major because I’m not nervous at all,” says Lindwurm. “This year has been really great, and if the New York Marathon goes well, that’s the cherry on top. And if it doesn’t happen, I can still look back on this year and be proud of everything that happened.”
Now, in a year that Lindwurm describes as “the best year I could ever dream of,” she shares how, even with a high volume of training and racing, she has continued to find joy and appreciation in the process of being an elite marathoner— regardless of the results.
“If the New York Marathon goes well, that’s the cherry on top. And if it doesn’t happen, I can still look back on this year and be proud of everything that happened.” —Dakota Lindwurm
1. Spend time with your people
Even professional runners have days when the couch seems more appealing than racking up the miles. When that feeling comes up for Lindwurm, she relies on her community of friends and supporters to keep her going.
“When I’m not feeling up to my workout for the day, I try to recruit friends or even my fiancé to join me, or I’ll bring my dog along,” says Lindwurm. “Seeing my friends or teammates running and chatting makes the miles fly by – running with friends is one of my favorite things to do.”
In a year that certainly had its stresses and strains, Lindwurm’s close friends and family helped her stay consistent throughout her marathon training, whether for the Olympics or a World Marathon Major like the Marathon of New York.
2. Racing for fun
Although the races you’ll hear about the most from professional runners are the big, high-profile events like the Olympics, Lindwurm likes to mix in local races of shorter distances just for fun, too.
“You’re always going to have a big goal or a race that’s out there in the future, so doing some fun, low-stakes races like the Turkey Trot helps me remember why I love running,” says Lindwurm. “If the smaller race goes well, that’s great, but even if it doesn’t, you can remember that you mainly signed up to have fun, and that’s the most important thing.”
Incorporating “fun” shorter distance races while training for a longer or more intense race can be a good way to practice for your big day as well. You can consider your nutrition and hydration strategy, the clothes and shoes you will wear on race day, and of course your pacing plan.
As an added bonus, local races usually have a much less intense atmosphere than large-scale events like a marathon in a big city, and you might even see a friend or two at the starting line.
3. Lose yourself in a good playlist or podcast
While Lindwurm is a firm believer that runners get comfortable with their own thoughts and the challenges of being friends with your brain—especially on race day—every now and then, she uses a new playlist or podcast to reconnect with her joy. to run.
“When I can’t get my fiance or my friends to go for a run with me, I’ll dig into my list of podcasts I save for runs or play my favorite songs and consider one of those as a little mental treat” , says Lindwurm.
Lindwurm’s answer to the question of what one of her favorite hype-up songs is might surprise you.
“I really like ‘How Far I’ll Go,’ which is a song from the Disney movie Moanasays Lindwurm. “It’s a good motivator and it’s definitely my most embarrassing song on my playlist.”
Hey, whatever works to put a smile on your mileage!
“If you don’t take scheduled rest, your body will eventually force you to take unscheduled rest.” —Dakota Lindwurm
4. Eat *all* the sweet treats
Many people look at professional athletes as eating a diet consisting mostly of super healthy items like salad, rice and chicken. Lindwurm makes sure she gets the nutrients she needs to perform at an elite level, but she’s no stranger to a sweet treat or two.
“I love Crumbl Cookies,” says Lindwurm. “I really love any of the cheesecake flavored cookies or any of the cookies that have that delicious, thick frosting on top. Every week that Crumbl has a bunch of these cookies in stock, I order them.”
Lindwurm admits that she is at the highest level Crumbl Cookies Customer Loyalty Program: Pink state.
“I think the delivery guy comes to my house too often delivering cookies,” says Lindwurm. “But it makes me happy.”
Working in treats—sweet or savory—that bring a few moments of bliss to your taste buds can make a long-term extra reward or a rest day feel extra soothing. Don’t avoid foods that make you feel good!
5. Take a break
It can be tempting to keep pushing hard after success in running — or any sport. But those who are really wise athletes know that taking a break can actually help you find more success down the road than if you never quit in the first place.
Lindwurm certainly doesn’t live up to the “no days off” mantra that’s often floated around social media or being called a running “guru.”
“If you’ve had a bad day and every bone in your body doesn’t want to run and nothing works to get you out the door, sometimes that’s your body asking for a break,” says Lindwurm. “Taking a week off can really reignite your joy in running. By the end of this break, you may find you can’t wait to get out the door for a run.”
Taking a break from a dedicated running routine can be scary, but Lindwurm advises others to embrace it, not fear it.
“If you don’t take scheduled rest, your body will eventually force you to take unscheduled rest,” says Lindwurm. “I prefer to decide when to take a break rather than have my body impose it on me. “For as long as I’ve been running marathons, I’ve always taken a full week or sometimes even two weeks off after a race – the time off will reward me, not hurt me.”
