Amanda Vestri On Running 2:25 “Undercooked” In Her Debut, Working With David Roche, And What She’s Capable Of When Healthy At The 2026 Boston Marathon

In this episode of the CITIUS MAG Podcast, Chris Chavez speaks with Amanda Vestry, who is at the start of an exciting transition to marathoning. Following her standout debut at the New York City Marathon, where she placed ninth with a time of 2:25, Amanda shares her experiences leading up to the Boston Marathon. Despite facing some injuries before NYC, Amanda expressed pride in her performance and the lessons learned about marathon racing. Now, she competes as a healthy athlete training under Coach David Roche, increasing her long run distances and focusing on nutrition and recovery to better prepare for Boston.

They explore Amanda's new training regimen, including the key shift to a higher carbohydrate intake during long runs, which has noticeably improved her recovery and performance. Relocating to Florida has helped her maintain a strong support system and improve her marathon capacity under challenging race conditions. Amanda also reflects on her experiences with the Zap fitness training group and the insights gained from her fellow athletes like Jess McLean.

Touching on race strategies, Amanda admits the importance of pacing—something she aims to improve upon in Boston compared to her initial race efforts. The conversation is rich with Amanda's insights into mental toughness and the camaraderie among top female American distance runners. Ultimately, her goal for Boston isn't fixed on a specific time, but rather to race smart and competitively against her peers, enjoying the marathon experience.