# 145: Back Where It All Began: Running Sydney, the City That Became Home w/ Sandy Engler

An episode of [My First Marathon](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1740805607), 5 Oct 2026, 52 min.

Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/audioboom.com/posts/8960301.mp3?modified=1791140116&sid=5128391&source=rss

When Sandy moved from Switzerland to Australia in 2020, she was quickly swept into the country's active, early-morning lifestyle, though running wasn't on her radar yet. That changed when the owner of her community gym dared her to try a 5K trial, and her competitive streak did the rest. A friend's nudge (and a little FOMO) got her signed up for the Cairns half marathon, which she ran alongside her run buddy Amy, catching the sunrise and realizing she was having a blast. By the celebration that evening, a full marathon was already on the table. Sydney was the first city Sandy called home in Australia, so landing a spot through the ballot meant a lot. The road there included a Hyrox in Melbourne, time off for surgery, and shin splints that kept her from running for two months, which she got through with rehab, modified group classes, and a brand new road bike. Then a fresh foot pain showed up after her longest run, and she held off on booking flights until four weeks before race day. Follow along with Sandy Engler: Sandy's Strava Follow along with the show: 👣 Personal IG/TikTok: @tay.says / @taysays 🎙️ Podcast IG/TikTok: @myfirstmarathonpod 📺 YouTube: @MyFirstMarathonPodcast 🌐 Website & extras: myfirstmarathon.co & myfirstmarathon.co/resources Book a free 1:1 Coaching Call with me! - https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=37408473&appointmentType=85354440 Join the First Marathoner Community! - https://www.skool.com/myfirstmarathon/about

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