Get to know Molly Stehn!

 Each month we highlight different members of the Spewak Training Family. Our team is made up of amazing individuals who train year round while juggling families, jobs, life commitments, and other stresses. I am constantly impressed with the self discipline of our runners and their genuine appreciation for simply working hard. This month we sat down with Molly Stehn! Molly joined the team in the summer of 2018. She's a hard worker mother who devotes her time to helping others. Molly has been on a PR streak since starting with us and is never afraid to challenge herself outside of her comfort zone. We really appreciate her positive attitude and all the contributions she has made to the team. Let's dive into her story below! CS: How did you get into running?  MS: I would have never thought I would become a runner in any sense of the word! When I was young I had no stamina and I could not even run a mile in 12 minutes in middle school P.E. Running was extremely painful and demoralizing; I hated it with a passion! Then in my late 20s a group of friends talked about doing the Girls on the Run 5k, and they convinced me to do it with them since the point is to support and empower young girls. I ran it and I was absolutely shocked that I could run 3 miles! I had never run that far in my life and I couldn’t believe it ☺ Shortly thereafter I moved to a house that was very close to a biking and running trail, so I started running there regularly. With every increase in mileage I gained confidence and enthusiasm, I just couldn’t believe I could do something that had previously impossible. As I started running more often and for longer, a triathlete friend told me that she wanted to run a half marathon in order improve her running stamina. She “tricked” me into joining her, and I assumed that that would be the only one I would ever do – like a once in a lifetime thing. I ran that first half marathon without stopping, and when I finished I was in utter disbelief! My decision to do that distance once in a lifetime went right out the window and I registered for 3 more within that year. CS: What’s your favorite part about the sport?  MS: I recently realized that I am not addicted to a “runner’s high,” and instead I am hooked on feeling like I’m going to die, pushing through it, not giving up, and surprising myself. That is the most exhilarating feeling! Feeling as though I’ve hit my physical limit and have given all I had, but keeping going and proving to myself that I am mentally and physically stronger than I believed. Whenever that happens I feel unstoppable, and that is what I am hooked on!  CS: Your background is in opera singing. What similarities do you see between training for running and being a professional opera singer?  MS: When I think about my singing days, two parallels come to mind. The first is to never get comfortable with any success you might achieve. No matter how good you are, you have to constantly challenge yourself and work to keep improving. Otherwise without that inner push you will stagnate and become irrelevant (in the opera world), and in running you'll naturally slow down and tire out with age if you stop pushing your limits. Another similar story comes from my dance teacher at the Manhattan School of Music, who went by "Uncle Frankie." He would tell us that any time we considered not giving our all, there was a carbon copy of us on the West Coast doing the exact opposite. So if NYC Molly was thinking about phoning it in on her technical exercises or language study (we can think of both as being similar to form drills or strength training in running) then there was another Molly in LA with the same amount of talent but who was working hard at those seemingly thankless things and who was therefore bound to beat me in the next audition. The point is: don't give your competition such as easy advantage! Don't phone it in on things that seem boring, because your rival is doing those things and will have the upper hand if you don't do them, too! CS: You recently broke 2 hours in the half marathon, please describe what it took to reach this goal. MS: Consistency and commitment, that’s the bottom line. You can’t accomplish a major goal without a consistent commitment to hitting every run every week. It’s also important to believe in yourself and to trust the process. CS: How long have you been running with Spewak Training?  MS: Since July 2018. CS: Why did working with a running coach appeal to you?  MS: It has really helped me with my consistency, accountability, and positive outlook. I don’t know that I would have ever believed that I was capable of what I’ve accomplished so far if weren’t for Mark. CS: Do you run with headphones?  MS: I know that many people are against it, but I love running with music and I meticulously curate my race day playlists! CS: What is your go to running playlist? MS: First, no matter what I always have Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a prayer” programmed for where I expect to be hitting the halfway point, because then I can let loose singing, “ohhhhh we’re halfway there!” right as I hit the halfway point. I also love “Timebomb” by Beck, “Always where I need to be” by The Kooks, “For the girl” by the Fratellis, “Feel this moment” by Pitbull, and “Time to be awesome” from the My Little Pony movie. My half marathon playlist is here if anyone wants some inspiration: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/79o2Uzoi5IDfuD7Y69zZnJ?si=ntpbVa82Shm1H_jf6yhykA  CS: What’s the best piece of advice you could give to anyone getting into running?  MS: Be patient with yourself, don’t try to go too fast too soon, don’t compare yourself to anyone else, and stick with it. Your progress might seem slow at first, but with continued work you will surprise yourself! CS: Do you have any favorite quotes or mantras?  MS: I’m not sure that I always live up to it, but I have “No regrets” on my road ID tag on my watch as a reminder to not hold back when it counts, since I don’t want to regret not having done my best.  *Spewak Training coaches are accepting new clients. Please feel free to reach out to us contact@spewaktraining.com to learn more about our training services.*