I found running at the age of 35 with little to no athletic background. I didn’t run track or cross country in high school or college. I learned to be a runner the same way many of you have, through trial and error, squeezing in runs around a busy work/life schedule, and passionate determination. For my first two marathons I coached myself, starting at 4:10 in 2017. In 2018 one year later, I took 37 minutes off to finish with a 3:33. That marathon, my second attempt at the distance, was a Boston Qualifying time with a 7 minute cushion.
I’ve since gone on to best my marathon time again and again. For my 3rd marathon in 2019 I ran a 3:05 (a BQ -30 and a 28 minute PR.) I followed that up a year later with my first sub 3 marathon (2:58) in 2020.
But this is not the story of some exceptional long time athlete. This is not the story of a born distance runner. This is the story of how hard work and a commitment to pursuing the big gains, while not overlooking the small, can transform an everyday recreational runner into the best version of themselves.
Experience
3x Sub-3 Marathoner; 7x Boston Marathon Finisher; 6 Star World Marathon Majors Finisher.
24 Marathons, 37 Halfs, plus races 1 mile & up.
Sub Elite/Time Qualifier Entry: Chicago, NYCM, London, Berlin, Houston, Mesa, The Woodlands, AFC Half, Steamtown, Glass City, Detroit International
Media
Abbott Marathon Majors Article
Insights from a 6 Star Finisher
November 24, 2025
Podcast Interview, Season 5 Episode 7
Runner’s Round Table
February 12, 2025
Podcast Interview, Episode 180
The Marathon Running Podcast
October 30, 2023
Podcast Interview, Episode 412
Marathon Training Academy
April 26, 2023
Podcast Interview, Episode 147
The Marathon Running Podcast
March 13, 2023
Podcast Interview, Season 2 Episode 8
Runner’s Round Table
January 2, 2023
Podcast Interview, Episode 381
Marathon Training Academy
April 26, 2022
Podcast Interview, Episode 61
RunChat with Ron
November 20, 2021
Follow me on instagram: @krisrs
Coach Kristyn R. Smith 