For Brooks professional runner Amanda Vestri, the road to the NYC Marathon has looked a little different this year. After finishing the Boston Marathon in the spring, she walked away with a personal best, but also the feeling that she hadn't pushed herself as far as she could have.

Rather than repeat the same approach, Amanda decided to make some changes. She moved to Boulder, Colorado, for an extended altitude training camp, increased her mileage, incorporated more hills, and committed to exploring what her body is truly capable of.

On this episode of For The Long Run, Amanda joins Jon Levitt to talk about the training, mindset, and lessons shaping her preparation for New York, and how this marathon fits into her bigger dream of representing Team USA at the 2028 Olympics.

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Amanda has always been comfortable with consistency and familiarity. But heading into her third marathon, she knew that reaching the next level would require trying something different.

Working with coach David Roche, she's embraced a more aggressive training approach, including a recent 115-mile week capped off with a two-hour-and-15-minute long run.

As Amanda explains, her coach has a saying: "Sometimes to do a stupid human trick, you need to do stupid human training."

For Amanda, that doesn't mean abandoning smart training or ignoring recovery. It means accepting that chasing elite performances sometimes requires stepping outside what feels comfortable.

"These performances that you see at the very top end of marathoning, you're not getting that by taking the easy way and taking the safe way."

It's a significant shift from her Boston Marathon buildup, when she felt she had played things too conservatively. Now, she's determined to see what happens when she gives herself the opportunity to push further.

One of the biggest changes in Amanda's NYC Marathon preparation has been relocating from Florida to Boulder.

While Florida offers plenty of opportunities for running, Amanda found herself craving more variety. Boulder has provided trails, hills, elevation, and an environment that has helped her rediscover some of the excitement of everyday training.

It's also given her the opportunity to work more closely with Roche, who has helped her navigate the increased training load.

The move isn't just about altitude. It's about creating an environment where Amanda can focus on training, challenge herself in new ways, and build confidence heading into race day.

One of the most valuable conversations in the episode centers on a surprisingly simple training decision: taking two gels during a 90-minute run.

Amanda admits that she didn't necessarily need the gels to complete that particular workout. But she's learned that fueling isn't only about getting through the miles immediately in front of you.

It's about preparing your body to recover and handle the next workout, the next long run, and the cumulative demands of a high-mileage training week.

"That run didn't need two gels. But the week did."

Earlier in her career, Amanda regularly completed long runs without fueling because she didn't think she needed it. Working with Roche has changed that perspective.

She's also become more intentional about eating enough throughout the day, recognizing that proper fueling supports performance, sleep, recovery, and her ability to sustain demanding training.

For everyday runners, it's an important reminder that nutrition isn't just about race-day execution. It's part of the training itself.

Even professional runners struggle with comparison and self-doubt.

Amanda openly discusses the moments when she's questioned whether her training is working, particularly when fatigue makes it difficult to judge her fitness.

Social media can make those doubts even louder. Seeing other athletes post fast workouts while she's deep in a demanding marathon build sometimes leaves her wondering whether she's doing enough.

That's where her relationship with Roche has become especially important.

Amanda values having a coach who believes in her potential while also encouraging her to understand the purpose behind each workout. Rather than simply following instructions, she wants to take ownership of her training and understand how each piece contributes to the bigger picture.

She's also learning that her identity extends beyond race results. Her fiancé, family, friends, and support system help her maintain perspective when running becomes all-consuming.

Despite running a personal best in Boston, Amanda considers the race a turning point because it exposed areas she needed to improve.

She left determined to become stronger on hills, prepare differently, and stop wondering whether she could have done more.

Now, as she approaches the New York City Marathon, she's following through on those commitments.

"I said I would go out to altitude. I said I would hammer hills and I would callous my legs and be ready for the next one. And that's exactly what I'm doing."

Amanda isn't shy about her ambitions, either. She's willing to say that she wants to win New York, even while acknowledging the extraordinary level of competition she'll face.

Beyond NYC, her ultimate goal remains making the U.S. Olympic marathon team for Los Angeles in 2028, a dream she's carried since middle school.

But for now, success means arriving at the starting line knowing she did everything within her control to prepare.

Most runners can't relocate to Boulder for two months or dedicate their entire day to training. Amanda recognizes that reality, and her advice is to make the most of the resources and time available.

Whether that's incorporating hill strides into a short run, improving recovery habits, fueling more consistently, or making time for strength and mobility work, meaningful progress comes from being intentional.

Her message isn't that everyone needs to run 115 miles a week. It's that runners at every level can benefit from being curious, learning from setbacks, and following through on the things they say matter to them.

And sometimes, getting better starts with being willing to do something differently.

Hear Amanda Vestri's full conversation with Jon Levitt on For The Long Run to learn more about her NYC Marathon preparation, working with David Roche, fueling high-mileage training, building confidence, and chasing her Olympic dream.

Listen to the episode of For The Long Run wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

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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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