Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicky Hurd.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started running in August 2024, when I was three months postpartum. At the time, my identity was deeply rooted in being a wife and mom. While I loved caring for my family, I also felt a strong desire to do something that was just for me.
In the beginning, I only ran on the treadmill because I was too embarrassed to run outside. I worried about what people would think if they saw me. I trained for my first 5K entirely indoors and ran it in October 2024. Crossing that finish line sparked something in me—I had officially caught the running bug.
After that race, I went all in. I challenged myself to run one race every month in 2025, completing my first 10K in March, my first half marathon in May, and my first marathon in November. What started as a way to reconnect with myself quickly became a passion that changed my life.
As my love for running grew, so did my desire for community. I wanted to connect with other moms who were balancing family, work, and personal goals, but I was initially too intimidated to put myself out there. In early 2025, I decided to create the community I had been searching for and founded Marathon Mamas Run Club. I wasn’t an experienced runner—I was simply a mom who believed there were other women looking for encouragement, accountability, and friendship. Our mission has always been that every mom belongs, no matter her pace.
The most meaningful moment of my journey was crossing the finish line of my first marathon with my children there to witness it. Seeing them watch their mom accomplish something that once felt impossible is a memory I’ll treasure forever. More than earning a medal, I hope I showed them that it’s never too late to chase a goal and that hard work is always worth it.
Since then, I’ve completed countless 5Ks and 10Ks, my first 15K, and a second marathon—Los Angeles will always have a special place in my heart. It’s almost time to start training for my third marathon in February 2027, but what excites me most isn’t just the next finish line. It’s getting to train alongside friends I never would have met if I hadn’t taken that first, nervous step onto the treadmill (or maybe off of it!).
Running reminded me that I could be both a devoted mom and a woman with big personal goals. It has given me so much more than races or medals—it has given me confidence, purpose, and a community that feels like family.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many moms, I’ve had to learn how to balance caring for my family while still making time for my own goals. There have been seasons of exhaustion, self-doubt, injuries, missed workouts, and moments when I questioned whether I could keep showing up for both my family and myself.
Building a community also comes with challenges. Starting something from the ground up requires consistency, vulnerability, and patience. There were times when attendance was small, engagement was slow, or I wondered if what I was doing was making an impact. But I kept showing up because I believed there were other moms who needed a space where they felt seen, supported, and encouraged.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that progress doesn’t have to be perfect. Some of my greatest growth has come from the setbacks. They’ve taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of giving myself grace. Those experiences have also made me better because I can genuinely relate to the women in my community who are navigating similar challenges.
Looking back, I’m grateful it wasn’t a smooth road. The obstacles have shaped both who I am as a runner and the kind of community I’m committed to building.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I share the realities of balancing motherhood, marathon training, and everyday life. My mission is to encourage women—especially moms—to pursue big goals without feeling like they have to choose between their family and their own dreams.
I want to make running feel approachable, sharing the highs and lows of the journey, and creating spaces where women feel supported both online and in person through my run club or similar run clubs!
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the miles I’ve run—it’s the community we’ve created both online and in person. Seeing other moms gain confidence, make new friendships, cross finish lines they never thought possible, and prioritize themselves without guilt is so empowering.
I don’t just share the highlight reel. I’m open about the challenges of motherhood, training, and life, while also celebrating the joy that comes from perseverance. My goal has always been to remind women that they are capable of doing hard things and that they never have to do them alone.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marathonmama_v
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marathonmama_v
