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In the Fall of 2024, I signed up to run the LA Marathon not to break any records—but to prove something to myself.
After having two kids and breaking my ankle when my youngest was still a baby, I wasn’t sure I’d ever return to running the way I used to. The recovery was slow. The toddler years were (and still are!) a whirlwind. But somewhere in the middle of all of it, I made a quiet promise: I would come back stronger.
As a registered dietitian, I’ve always known that training isn’t just about how much you run. It’s also about how well you fuel and recover. Our muscles—and our motivation—are made outside of the workouts, too.
That’s where CON-CRET® Creatine HCl came in.
As a registered dietitian, I know that training for a marathon—and what turned into two—takes more than just piling on the miles. It takes smart, targeted fueling. When your muscles, joints, and nervous system are all under stress, especially in a comeback season like mine, the right nutrition becomes your secret weapon.
That’s where creatine came in.
Three months before the LA Marathon, I started supplementing daily with CON-CRET® Creatine HCl. Unlike some other forms of creatine, CON-CRET® is highly soluble and doesn’t cause bloating or water retention, which is why I felt confident incorporating it into my daily regimen—even during intense training blocks.
I wasn’t just interested in building muscle—I wanted better recovery, improved energy output, and cellular support. Creatine plays a critical role in the body’s production of ATP, our primary energy source. That means more efficient energy transfer during workouts and quicker recovery afterward. As a mom of two, I need all the help I can get in that department!
Race day at the LA Marathon started with excitement and nerves — the kind that come when you’ve poured months of training into one moment. I didn’t go out with the intention of setting a personal record; I went out with the goal of running steady, staying strong, and seeing what my body could do.
And I did just that.
I held a consistent pace through the early miles, even as the hills rolled in and the sun started to heat up. Around mile 18, I felt my energy dip — that familiar marathon wall creeping in — but I reminded myself of the training, the early mornings, the strength I’d built. With the help of Twizzlers, a Taylor Swift song, and some dates I kept in my pocket I pushed through.
The final four miles were tough. My legs were heavy, my stride started to fade, and everything in me wanted to slow down. But I kept pushing. One mile at a time. One step at a time. I didn’t sprint to the finish — but I finished strong. And a final time of 3:53:43.
I crossed that finish line not just proud — but shocked by how well my body had held up.
Running a sub-4 marathon was a goal I once wasn’t sure I’d reach again. Running two of them, back to back, was never part of the plan.— but when I heard about the scenic Mountain to Beach course and say there were only 5 spots left I knew I had to go for it. This wasn’t about weight loss or proving something on Instagram. This was about showing my kids (and myself) what strength looks like: consistent, fueled, and backed by science. I crossed the finish line in 3 hours and 48 minutes—my fastest marathon yet.
I truly believe that my results weren’t just about how much I trained, but how I trained. That includes everything from strength work to sleep, hydration, protein, and yes—smart supplementation. Creatine isn’t just for bodybuilders. It’s for athletes, parents, weekend warriors, and anyone chasing a comeback story.
There are a few reasons CON-CRET® is now my go-to creatine source:
If you’re considering adding creatine to your training plan, here are a few tips based on my experience:
From broken bones to personal bests, the road wasn’t easy—but it was worth every step. Whether you’re coming back from an injury, juggling parenting and training, or chasing a new goal, you don’t have to do it alone.
Smart training and the right tools—like CON-CRET®—can help you get there, and then some.
