Ep 84: Running a Marathon in Residency - Finding Flexibility in a Demanding Schedule, with Dr. Lily Stafford & Dr. Michelle Quirk

Residency is one of the busiest and most demanding seasons in a physician’s career. Long hours, unpredictable schedules, and emotional intensity can make it feel nearly impossible to maintain healthy habits, let alone train for a marathon.

In this episode of the Mindful Marathon Podcast, I’m joined by pediatric resident Dr. Lily Stafford, who decided to take on the challenge of training for the Philadelphia Marathon during her second year of residency.

Despite an ever-changing clinical schedule, Lily found a way to balance marathon training with the realities of residency. By focusing on flexibility instead of perfection, she was able to stay consistent with her training, and even run a personal record on race day.

We talk about what it really looks like to train for a marathon while working long hospital hours, the mindset shifts that helped her stay on track, and the lessons she learned along the way.

If you’re a busy physician, or anyone balancing a demanding career with running, this episode is a reminder that your training plan should support your life, not compete with it. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why Lily decided to sign up for the Philadelphia Marathon during residency
• What marathon training actually looked like during busy clinical rotations
• Letting go of the idea of the “perfect” training plan
• How flexibility and mindset helped her stay consistent
• The role running played in supporting her mental health during residency
• Practical strategies for fitting runs into an unpredictable schedule
• What surprised her most about training during residency
• Advice for women physicians who want to keep running while navigating demanding careers

If you would like to connect with Lily, you can find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlilystafford 

Follow Coach Michelle on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon

If you have questions about your own training, reach out on Coach Michelle's website, and let's explore working together for personalized support. https://mindful-marathon.com

*** The information contained in this podcast is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your primary care physician before undertaking any fitness regimen or exercise, which can pose serious health risks if undertaken or performed improperly. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in the videos is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/advanced practice provider. ***