Our next Runner Spotlight features one tough woman whose running journey certainly accelerated when she began logging miles with the Nolensville Running Club. In fact, within two months of her first club run, she ran her first Rollin Nolen race, within seven months, she ran her first half marathon, and within 18 months, she ran her first full marathon! She blames peer pressure (I won’t name names…yet!) but after logging some miles with her and learning more about her in our interview, I know Caitlin Maguire is a strong and admirable woman and runner! Read on to learn more about Caitlin’s life before NRC, the story of her twin sister running over her foot on the way to school one day, her huge accomplishment of recently finishing her first marathon in Memphis, and some other destinations she’d like to travel to for a run someday.

NRC: Where are you from and how did you make your way to the Middle Tennessee area?

Caitlin: I was born in Massachusetts, but we moved to Middle Tennessee when I was a kid. I started college in Boston, but I ended up transferring to UT Knoxville to finish my undergrad degree, then out to Colorado to grad school, and have been back in TN for the last twelve years, so I claim Nashville as my home.

NRC: I know you’re a twin so what was that like growing up, especially at school?

Caitlin: I do have a twin sister, Emily, who is technically one minute older than me. Growing up, we went to different schools starting in 5th grade, so we lived pretty separate lives except for sharing a bedroom and later, a car. I usually drove while Emily finished up her homework on the way. We’d switch seats behind the school and she’d drive and drop me off at the front of my school and continue on to hers. One day I hopped out to grab my backpack from the back seat and somehow, she didn’t realize I was still there with the door open when she started driving off and ended up running over my foot. It was painful at the time but I laughed it off. A year or so later I’d forgotten about it and she mentioned it on a run for a laugh. She still feels bad about it to this day!

NRC: We are glad your foot recovered so you could run with us! When did running become a part of your life?

Caitlin: I’ve been a runner for as long as I can remember. My dad and stepmom were into running and I remember joining them for runs for fun as young as 8 years old. I always enjoyed the fun runs at school, and I ran track in middle school. I quit running in high school but picked it up again in my sophomore year of college.

NRC: Speaking of school, I know you’re a teacher. What do you teach and what do you love about your teaching role?

Caitlin: I teach high school Latin at Franklin Road Academy. I really enjoy the FRA community, the smaller classes, and my colleagues. I teach Latin I through AP Latin, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see my students start as beginners in 9th grade and advance to the highest level of AP Latin as Seniors. Having been there as long as I have (going on 12 years now), I enjoy being one of the more tenured teachers; for the graduation procession, we line up in order based on years of service, and I keep moving closer to the front!

NRC: How did you hear about NRC?

Caitlin: I searched running groups in my area and came across NRC. It looked like a great place to meet people, and boy, was I right! After one Wednesday run, I was in and haven’t looked back.

NRC: What is one of your favorite memories of NRC?

Caitlin: There are so many to choose from, but one of my favorites has to be one of my first nights at NRC in 2021. I came inside to claim my free beer from Scott (which is an amazing way to suck people in!) and I sat down next to Wendy Mucci. Anyone who knows Wendy Mucci knows that within five minutes of me sitting down, she had asked my entire life story and was attempting to set me up with her single son. After letting Wendy down easy (“I’m too old for your son”), we had a good laugh and the rest is history. Another favorite was the trip to Memphis this past December to go run the St. Jude Marathon with several NRC club members, including carpooling and rooming with Kendra Mugnano. It was such a fun trip seeing friends at the Expo the day before, enjoying a pre-race dinner as a group, and running and seeing fellow NRC friends on the course! While an injury slowed me down more than I would have liked, I still had a great time completing my first marathon and credit this group for peer pressuring me into achieving a marathon finish about 18 months after my first run with NRC!

NRC: Wow, 18 months from your first run with us to completing your first marathon! Tell me about that running build up from your first run with the club to the marathon. Who motivated you to complete such a feat?

Caitlin: Everyone in NRC is such an inspiration! Before I started running with NRC, my typical run was 4 miles and my “long” run was 5 miles, and my longest run ever was 8 miles. Through some peer pressure from club members like Andy Michael and some encouragement from Wendy Mucci, I ran Rollin Nolen 10 miler within 2 months of joining NRC in October 2021 followed by my first half marathon, Oak Barrel, in Spring 2022.

NRC: Those are both great races, if we do say so ourselves. What are some other favorite races you’ve completed?

Caitlin: Rollin Nolen was a favorite- I love the scenery of that course and enjoyed the training runs previewing the course with some of my Saturday morning running crew. I even finished 3rd in my age group (which, by the way, I am still waiting on my Age Group Winner print, Scott Alexander!). I love the Oak Barrel Half Marathon because it feels like family with so many fellow NRCers out there running it. Memphis Full Marathon was also one of my favorites, though it was difficult. I suffered an IT band injury about 5 weeks before Race Day and it definitely made the marathon more challenging than I hoped it would be. I saw several fellow NRCers on the course that day which was helpful, but I’d say the wheels really fell off for me around mile 15. Miles 20-22 were especially rough and I suffered some serious calf cramping after jumping up for a high five; luckily, there was a gentleman who massaged my cramping calves and a St. Jude nurse who gave me some crackers and Gatorade to help with the cramping. After saying “I am sorry for whatever I said while I was cramping” to both, I made my way to the finish (albeit a bit slower than I hoped) and crossed that finish line to ring the bell!

NRC: So it sounds like you’ve dealt with a running injury recently; how have you dealt with running injuries and what helps you get through them?

Caitlin: I really haven’t had any significant injuries (knocking on the wood table) from running. Sure, I’ve suffered some bad blisters in the military but the IT band and knee pain during marathon training was a whole new experience for me. The injury physically hurts but I also find it mentally challenging to not run or limit my mileage. I miss my friends when I can’t run with them! That said, I find progress, even if it’s slow, always helps; I am still recovering from Memphis and I remind myself to be grateful to be able to run even just a few miles with the group and I know I’ll work my way back towards my pre-injury self.

NRC: I think we can all relate to that! That said, what is your current training goal?

Caitlin: To be pain free! I don’t have a race on the calendar so I am focused on increasing my mileage slowly and safely to four runs per week and working my way back to my weekly long run being closer to 10 miles. Oh wait, I do have a race on the calendar- Oak Barrel in April! (I think every runner in NRC can relate to this too- having so many races that you “forget” about a half marathon coming up in a few months!)

NRC: Let’s talk about your family. Do they live nearby? Do they run too?

Caitlin: My dad and stepmom ran growing up and I recall joining them when I was young. My mom’s a great supporter but not a runner herself. I have an older brother and a twin sister, Emily; Emily runs a little because she has to stay in shape for her Air Force physical fitness test. All of my family is back in Massachusetts, but Emily’s stationed only about 4 hours away right now and we’ve really enjoyed spending more time together since she is so close. Emily and I being twins makes for a fun dynamic and like all healthy sibling relationships, there is certainly a rivalry between us. I like to say that though Emily outranks me, I can run faster than her! (We bet Caitlin can run faster than a lot of people in any branch of the military!)

NRC: Thank you and your sister for your service. Can you tell us more about your time in the military?

Caitlin: I joined the Army National Guard back in 2012. It sounded like a great fit for a teacher- just one weekend per month and a few weeks in the summer. That said, one weekend turned into 4- and 5-day weekends and a few weeks in the summer turned into what feels like the whole summer. (Sounds eerily like some suspect running-mileage math in NRC!) That said, my school has been amazing at arranging long-term substitutes while I’m away for training. I deployed for a year to Ukraine, but I’ve also spent some time in Germany and I’ve got another stint in Eastern Europe coming up this spring.

NRC: Back to running… what is a race on your bucket list?

Caitlin: Before I joined NRC, I didn’t know destination races were even a thing! However, I love to travel so I’d be game for anywhere. Berlin and London come to mind as great spots to log some race miles!

NRC: We are sure no matter what destination you choose, you’ll crush the next race and I’m sure you’ll have some NRC friends excited to join you for the adventure. We also hope you’re healthy for Oak Barrel in a few months. Congratulations and we are so glad you’re part of the NRC family!

Speed Round:

NRC: Favorite mid run fuel?
Caitlin: NRC introduced me to Clif Blocks and I love them; the Salted Watermelon is my favorite flavor!

NRC: What’s your hidden talent?
Caitlin: I can juggle – up to 4 balls and 3 clubs! I taught myself while deployed with a lot of free time.

NRC: Most scenic or unique run?
Caitlin: Tie between the Rollin Nolen and the Mongolian desert.

NRC: Any hobbies?
Caitlin: Cycling (both road and mountain) and indoor rock climbing.