Emily Durgin has been a U.S. champion, finished ninth at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and spent years consistently improving and competing at the highest level. Then an injury changed the rhythm of everything.

Emily opens up about the past year and a half of trying to feel like herself again. She shares what it was like racing at 85%, questioning whether her best years were behind her, and eventually deciding that continuing to push through wasn't worth sacrificing a full recovery.

We talk about the mistakes she's made returning from injury, learning when to stop forcing fitness, rebuilding from the ground up, and separating her identity from running while still believing deeply in what she can accomplish.

Emily also looks ahead to 2027 and 2028, why she believes her fastest running may still be ahead of her, and what it means to give herself the chance to go all in one more time.

Chapters

00:00 – Emily’s comeback and injury reset

01:04 – Why she stopped racing through pain

05:23 – The hardest part: being away from competition

07:12 – Starting fresh in Boulder

10:59 – The lesson: stop running through it

12:21 – Why racing means so much more than workouts

17:39 – Redefining success and choosing joy

27:13 – Hill strides and rebuilding form

30:32 – The biggest mistake runners make after injury

34:12 – Faith, friendship, and joy outside running

43:15 – December marathons and the road back

47:41 – Why 2028 is the main goal

50:55 – What she’ll appreciate most when she’s back

Follow Emily:

instagram.com/em_durgin/

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instagram.com/thepeoplerunpodcast/
Music: instagram.com/mech__beats/