Why Sara Vaughn Keeps Running

Late Bloomer, Fast Rise

Sara’s elite career didn’t follow the typical arc. She was a standout middle-distance runner in college, then spent nearly a decade focusing on family and local racing. Only in her mid-30s did she begin exploring the marathon seriously.

At 35, she signed her first professional contract with PUMA and ran 2:26 in Chicago 2021, a time that instantly placed her among the top American women.

“It took me a long time to realize I could do this at a high level,” she said. “I was coaching myself, raising kids, and working full time. Once I got the chance to focus, I was like, let’s see how far we can go.”

That mindset — curious, pragmatic, and unafraid of slow progress — still guides her today.

Balancing Four Kids and Marathon Miles

Sara’s schedule is the definition of organized chaos. Her mornings often start at 5 a.m. with a workout before the kids wake up, followed by school drop-offs and showings for her real-estate clients.

“I try to separate the hats I wear,” she said. “When I’m with my kids, I want to be present for them. When I’m training, I’m all in there too.”

Still, she admits it’s not seamless. “There are days I miss a run because someone has a fever or a client needs me last minute. That’s life. I don’t see it as a failure. I see it as flexibility.”

She credits her support network (her husband, her kids, and her Boulder community) for helping her pursue high-level goals without losing joy.

The Mindset Behind Marathon Success

Marathoning, Sara said, requires a unique blend of humility and confidence. “You can be the fittest you’ve ever been, and the race still finds a way to humble you,” she said. “But you can’t start doubting yourself. That’s the dance.”

Her coach helps her lean into discomfort without over-controlling the process. “I’ve learned to trust that the bad patches come and go,” she said. “You can feel awful at mile 18 and amazing by mile 22.”

Sara’s most recent personal best came not from a perfect build, but from patience. “Consistency matters more than any magic workout,” she said. “I used to chase perfect weeks; now I just stack good ones.”

Running for Something Bigger

Beyond splits and podiums, Sara runs for the people who look up to her—especially her daughters. “I want them to see that you can set big goals at any age,” she said. “I want them to see that strength can look different.”

She’s also passionate about representation for mothers in sport. “For a long time, there was this idea that you had to choose that either you were a mom or you were an athlete,” she said. “That’s changing, and I’m grateful to be part of that shift.”

Running, for Sara, is both deeply personal and profoundly communal. “I love that racing connects us,” she said. “It’s hard to compare experiences, but every runner knows what it feels like to give everything they have.”

The Joy Factor

Even with years of elite racing behind her, Sara insists that joy is her north star. “If I stop enjoying it, I’ll stop doing it,” she said. “I think joy and curiosity keep you young in this sport.”

She’s learned to celebrate the small wins: hitting a rhythm on a long run, watching her kids cheer from the sidelines, or closing a Boulder home sale before race weekend. “It’s all part of the same life,” she said. “I don’t want to compartmentalize it.”

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About Jon Levitt and For The Long Run

Jon is a runner, cyclist, and podcast host from Boston, MA, who now lives in Boulder, CO. For The Long Run is aimed at exploring the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated.

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