Meet Our Marathon FHITspirations: Dana, Keighly, Fred, + Claudia

Meet Dana, Keighly, Fred, and Claudia – four FHIXers who are running the 2025 NYC Marathon! This Marathon Sunday, we’re cheering extra loud for all four of them as they take on the iconic 26.2 miles through the five boroughs. Each of them brings their own story, energy, and inspiration to the course. Read more about their FHITness + marathon journey below.

Please tell us a little about your fitness journey.
Keighly: My fitness journey really started in college. I’d been a dancer and cheerleader growing up, so when that chapter ended after high school, I needed something to fill the void. I started lifting weights and doing some light treadmill running. First year of law school, a friend talked me into running a half marathon despite having only run about 8 miles at that point. I set what was, in hindsight, a pretty aggressive goal for a newbie: sub-2 hours. Somehow I finished in 1:56, and that definitely sparked my passion for distance running. As I’ve gotten more serious and started tackling longer distances and higher mileage, cross-training and functional strength have become crucial. I’d dabbled on my own, but Fhitting Room has completely transformed that side of my training. It’s been the perfect complement to running.

Dana: I started focusing on my mental and physical health after I went through a bad break up and moved to NYC 13 years ago. Running and working out started as a way to clear my head, then turned into something much bigger. Mile by mile, I found strength, purpose, and a version of myself I didn’t know existed. Fast forward to today – 711 Fhitting Room classes and 14 marathons later at the age of 42 – running and working out isn’t just something I do it’s part of who I am. I truly believe that sometimes the things that break you down end up being the things that build you up the most! 

Fred: My fitness journey has evolved significantly. What started as casual classes at Fhitting Room and SoulCycle has grown into full 18-week marathon training regimens. I’m honestly in better shape at 56 than I was at 26.

Claudia: I grew up as a swimmer, so being active was always a part of my life. After college, I started running because it was the most affordable option – all I needed was shoes and I could head out the door. I got hooked pretty quickly. With running, I could see myself getting better just by being consistent, and that was really motivating. At the same time, I was starting a demanding career and running became my daily reminder that steady and continuous effort always pays off. Now that I’m in my final year of my PhD, this lesson matters even more. Training for marathons has become both my physical outlet for the stress of research and a mental anchor. It is my personal proof that if you keep showing up and putting in the work, you get to the finish line – in races and in life.

Do you have a favorite Fhitting Room memory?
K: When I started, I’d just learned I had three herniated discs in my lower spine that had likely been there for years, causing ongoing issues with my hamstrings, glutes, and hips. I was told to avoid certain movements entirely, including deadlifts, which was fine by me since I’d never been great at them anyway. On day one, I told Eric I couldn’t deadlift because of my back. After working with modifications for a while, something shifted. I started feeling like I could actually do the movement properly. I began with lighter weights and gradually built up. Now I’m lifting weights I never thought possible. That progression has been pretty incredible to experience.

D: My favorite memory was my first FHIXtreme class. I had taken almost 500 Signature FHIT classes and one of the girls convinced me to try FHIXtreme. I was so intimidated, thinking that I wasn’t strong enough to take the advanced class. Eric and the entire class were so welcoming and it was the BEST experience. Now every Wednesday at 5:45AM, you can find me there! 

F: Participating in the March 2020 Survival of the FHITTEST event — just days before the world shut down for COVID.

C: My husband and I have regularly attended Dale’s Saturday 10AM class for the last 2 years and it’s a very fond part of our routine now. Dale has amazing energy and keeps the spark of competition alive! 

Is this your first marathon?
K: This will be my 8th marathon and my 2nd NYC. I got lucky with a bib last year through my job at a nonprofit. I couldn’t pass up such an easy entry! I ended up time qualifying at that race, which secured my spot for this year. Hopefully I can keep that going. I ran Boston multiple times before NYC, and everyone told me the NYC crowds were even better. I honestly didn’t think that was possible until I experienced it myself. The energy is unreal. It’s a 26.2-mile party! Even the bridges, which some people don’t love because they’re so quiet, I actually appreciate. They’re these brief moments of calm before you descend back into the joyful chaos. It’s just such an incredible day to be a runner and a New Yorker.

D: The 2025 NYC Marathon will be my 15th marathon! It’s hard to believe that my first marathon was in 2017. Since then, I’ve completed the 6 Star Abbott World Marathon Majors (NYC, Boston, Chicago, London, Tokyo, Berlin), plus a few more! On October 12, 2025, I ran my personal best at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 3:48, so this NYC Marathon will be for FUN! 

F: This upcoming race will be my 5th marathon and my 2nd NYC Marathon. During the pandemic, the only fitness I could do was in Central Park – first walking, then running – and I actually discovered I liked it. From there, it snowballed: small races, half marathons, and in 2023 I ran the NYC Marathon, raising $8.5K for MSK Fred’s Team. I’ve since completed marathons in Austin, Sydney, and Milan, and now I’m back to run NYC again, this time through the 9+1 program.

C: This will be my 5th marathon. I’ve run the NYC marathon 3 times already, and this year will be my fourth time on the start line. I also ran the Paris marathon in 2024 with my husband! I started running in general because of my parents, who are avid runners and helped motivate me to get started in the first place. My dad inspired me to start running marathons as he has run 10 marathons in his lifetime. It’s really fun to have a family sport. My parents are super supportive and involved in my training and always show up on race day to cheer me to the finish line!

How did you pair classes with your Marathon training schedule? 
K: Running will always be my primary sport, but I’ve made Fhitting Room a consistent part of my routine going once to twice a week even during marathon training. I adjust the intensity and go lighter during heavier training blocks. I schedule classes on recovery days or easy run days, and I lean toward Advanced Bells since it’s more strength-focused than cardio. My coach has a strict no-lifting rule during race week, so I’ll skip classes that week. And when I’m hitting 60+ mile weeks, I definitely scale back in class to avoid overtaxing my body.

D: During this 18 week marathon training cycle, I took Signature FHIT on Mondays and FHIXtreme on Wednesdays, in addition to running 4 days a week. 

F: You can’t just run — you need strength training. I use Fhitting Room to complement my Nike Run Club 18-week training plan. For this race, I’ve even expanded my regimen and joined a gym to also work 1:1 with a personal trainer.

C: During marathon training, I take about two Fhitting Room classes a week. This has helped me with the strength and cross-training component of marathon training. For me, strength is the piece I’m most likely to skip on my own, and it’s also the piece I think has made the biggest difference. Since starting at Fhitting Room, I’ve been able to shave 30 minutes off my marathon time! I also feel stronger, have less injuries and aches, and recover much quicker from my runs.

What kept you motivated during your training? 
K: Having variety in my schedule makes a huge difference mentally. I love running, but deep in a marathon training block, some days feel like Groundhog Day with the mileage. Fhitting Room gives me something to look forward to. I’m still working hard, just in a completely different way. It breaks up the monotony while still challenging me. And honestly, I’m pretty self-motivated and competitive with myself. That internal drive keeps me going through the tough runs.

D: The truth is after 14 marathons, my motivation comes and goes. I run because it reminds me how far I’ve come. I know what it feels like to start from zero and to run through heartbreak, change and self doubt, and then to come out stronger on the other side. Every time I finish a training run, a strength class, or a race I remember why I started and that’s what keeps me lacing up again and again. 

F: Each race, I aim to do just a little better. I’m lucky to have a community of family, friends, and work colleagues who cheer me on. I run with a GoPro and turn the footage into short films that I share. It’s become a whole production and a way to bring others along for the journey.

C: Marathon training is hard. It’s 16-20 weeks of early mornings, running in all sorts of weather, sacrificing weekends and social events for long runs, most of which happens without crowds, medals, and cheering. Motivation for me has always been about this commitment to myself. I want to always keep proving to myself I can do the hard thing, even when no one is watching. On the days I’m not motivated at all, I show up anyways because I know that training for the person you want to become requires you to do things you don’t always want to do. When it gets really hard, I think of my loved ones and what they would say to motivate me, and that gets me moving right away! 

Is there anything you learned at Fhitting Room that has helped prepare you to take on race day? 
K: Fhitting Room has genuinely transformed my running. The core strength, the work on stabilizer muscles, moving through different planes of motion, unilateral training, functional movements, power building — all of it carries over. It’s no coincidence that this is the year I started going twice a week and also the year I PR’d every distance I raced.

D: Fhitting Room is where I finally looked at myself as a strong athlete (physically and mentally). There have been plenty of challenging classes that I was unsure of myself and I had to push past what I thought I was capable of. Having Eric push me to grab a heavier weight and the class cheering each other on, reminds me that strength is built one rep at a time, one moment at a time. The same holds true for a marathon and race day; it’s okay to struggle as long as you keep moving forward. Fhitting Room helped me find the fighter in myself. 

F: Fhitting Room has built my confidence, not just in fitness but in staying focused on goals and seeing them through.

C: Fhitting Room has taught me that strength is not just physical, but also mental. The coaches create an environment where you’re reminded over and over that you can do hard things, and that showing up, even on the days you don’t feel amazing, is the whole point. The other thing I’ve learned is how to handle discomfort. The mind wants to quit a thousand times before the body will. I remember this in class when I think I can’t do another rep, but the  encouragement from the coaches to embrace the discomfort and push through, helps me to do it anyways. 

How are you feeling heading into Nov 2nd? 
K: Really excited and ready. I’ve been working with my coach for almost six years, and she knows me incredibly well, both as a runner and as a person. Last year, I told her I wanted to enjoy NYC without killing myself but still push a little. She nailed that balance with my plan. I have the confidence of executing well last year, and I’m in even better shape now. My target pace will be 30-40 seconds slower than my usual marathon pace, so it should feel comfortable enough to really soak in the experience and stay present. The marathon is such a humbling distance, but it’s also transformative — not just personally, but watching everyone around you accomplish something so incredible.

D: There is nothing like Marathon Sunday in NYC! It is the most amazing day when 1 million people from all over the world come together for the common good of cheering on 53,000 runners. I am so excited for the best day of the year! 

F: I feel great and confident. I’m balancing fitness, diet, and mindset to prepare.

C: I’m excited and nervous (in a good way). There’s so much pressure leading up to the race it feels so emotional. Most of all I feel so grateful that I get to do this, that I have my health, fitness, family, and friends to support me running after my goals.

How can our Fhitting Room community cheer for you on Marathon Sunday?
K: My bib number is 7150! I’d love to see friendly faces anywhere along the course. There’s nothing quite like hearing your name shouted in the middle of those massive crowds.

D: My bib number is 26318 and I start at 9:45am! I can’t wait to see everyone cheering.

F: Look me up on the TCS Marathon App and track my race! If you’re on the street, I’ll be the one in the bright yellow shirt with DUCK on the front.

C: I would love to see familiar faces out there to keep pushing me through the miles! Last year I saw Dale and Eric at Mile 22 – their screaming, love, and encouragement was exactly what I needed to get me through the last few miles! My bib number is 25359.

Anything else you’d like to add?
K: I have to give a huge shoutout to my instructors. Eric was my first and will always be my favorite. His energy and positivity are absolutely infectious — I tell everyone to start with an Eric class. From that first session, he made me feel so welcome, asking about my background and any injuries. He’d come over throughout class to quietly suggest modifications, walks through every movement so no one feels lost, and gives great cues to keep you safe. He also has this gift for knowing exactly when you can push yourself — he’ll tell you to grab a heavier weight, and he’s always right. I also love Dale, especially for Advanced Bells. That man’s leg strength is unreal, and you can really see how his dance background influences his coaching style.

D: My favorite quote is an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” While marathon race day is a solo effort, I could not have gotten to where I am without my support system, and my running and Fhitting Room community.

F: Find a goal that matters to you. Start small. Achieve it. That feeling of accomplishment is amazing and it will keep you moving forward.

C: Thank you to everyone at the Fhitting Room for getting me to another marathon start line. The coaching, accountability, and community have all been a huge inspiration and push for me. I’m so proud to be a part of this community! 

Feeling inspired? Book your next class here!