Live Life to the Fittest

Ep. 47 with Yuki Chorney: The Running Unicorn

In this uplifting and entertaining episode, Jeremy Woodward welcomes marathon runner, costumed athlete, and everyday superhero Yuki Chorney. With nearly 500 races under her belt, including 21 Boston Marathons, Yuki shares her journey from hating running to becoming a community icon known for her themed race day costumes. She opens up about her family's multigenerational love for running, balancing work and motherhood, and how she's spreading joy and empowerment through self-expression on the racecourse. Listeners will laugh, be inspired, and walk away with renewed motivation to pursue their goals in their own unique way.

Timestamps

·      07:05 – Yuki’s background: born in Canada, raised in New Hampshire

·      10:45 – College sports and her unexpected relationship with running

·      14:30 – How her father inspired her to start running later in life

·      18:20 – Qualifying for and running her first Boston Marathon

·      22:00 – Training with her dad, dropping gels (and dodging cops!)

·      26:55 – What’s changed in 20+ years of running Boston

·      32:15 – Behind the sparkle: the origin of her race day costumes

·      37:00 – Coaching Girls on the Run and making running fun for kids

·      40:35 – Favorite costumes, viral moments, and media shoutouts

·      46:10 – How she balances work, family, and marathon training

·      50:05 – Her husband’s running transformation and couple running goals

·      53:20 – Running ultras and learning the hard way about recovery

Quotes

"I never thought in a million years I would call myself a runner. But now? It’s who I am." – Yuki Chorney (10:20)

"I always tell my Girls on the Run: make it your own. Whether it’s glitter, a unicorn horn, or just showing up – that’s your magic." – Yuki Chorney (37:10)

"Running Boston isn’t just about the time on the clock. It’s about the journey to the start line." – Yuki Chorney (26:20)

Links and Socials

Follow Yuki Chorney:

·      Instagram: @yukiko11

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Girls on the Run
• Gate City Striders Running Club
• Boston Marathon: https://www.baa.org/
• Millennium Running: https://www.millenniumrunning.com/
• Teddy’s Team: https://teddysteam.org/

Connect with Jeremy:

·      Instagram: @jeremy.woodward.ironheart

·      Website: https://jeremywoodward.com