About the Authors
Todd Callaghan, PhD
After a 20-year hiatus, Todd rediscovered running when he found that bibs get free beers at the Somerville “Gobble Gobble Gobble” and St. Patrick’s Day “Ras na hEirann” races.
In the early aughts, a buddy suggested running the “Rockpile” race up Mt. Washington. Success at mountain running led to a trifecta of calorie bonk, face plant, and IT band seizure at the Pisgah 50k race, followed by a solid Bay State Marathon BQ. Around then, he learned he should have separate shoes for training and racing.
Todd has raced five marathons, including a 2:44 PR at Boston in ‘09; nine trail 50ks (including 2nd place in age group at 2018 USATF Nationals); and the Sonoma 50M and Rio Del Lago 100M. For his 50th birthday, he became co-holder of the FKT for New Hampshire’s SuperPemi Loop.
Todd is a member of the Wicked Running Club and Central Mass Striders
Ashley Diehl, LMHC, MBA, MA
Ashley Diehl is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Yoga Instructor, and amateur runner extraordinaire. As a champion at Googling anecdotal evidence to justify her laissez-faire training style, she has made her fair share of marathon mistakes.
Despite this, she has the goal to run at least one marathon or ultramarathon each calendar year; more opportunities to learn from her mistakes.
Alen Yen
Alen Yen is a thoroughly mid runner who’s fucked up over twenty marathons. He has extensive first-hand experience with glycogen depletion, cracked toenails, and bloody thighs. A six-time loser at failing to qualify for Boston (with two of those within sixty seconds), he’s particularly known for stellar track sessions that didn’t translate into effective distance racing.
A certified run coach, shoe tester, Ambassador and former President of the Wicked Running Club, and (hopefully by now) Abbott Six Star medalist, he enjoys dwelling on the past, overanalyzing, and furiously jotting it all down.
He genuinely wants you to crush your race. 🫶