Episode 664: Calli Hauger-Thackery and Sara Hall Go 1–2 at Houston and Share What Makes Their Training Partnership Work

Calli Hauger-Thackery and Sara Hall join Lindsey together after going 1–2 at the Houston Marathon, where they trained side by side leading into race day. Calli ran 2:24:17 for the win, and Sara finished second in 2:26:26 after a build up that was not originally supposed to include the full marathon.

They talk through the quick turnaround from their December marathons, what it takes to recover and race again, and how their shared approach to training has made the work more fun and more sustainable. The conversation also gets into the behind-the-scenes of being coached by their husbands, how they collaborate as a four-person team, and what it looks like to balance ambition with longevity, family life, and joy in the process.

Sara shares more about her upcoming memoir, For the Love of the Grind, including why she wanted to write it and the lessons she hopes athletes take from it.

Topics Discussed:

• Houston Marathon recap and going 1–2 together

• Back-to-back marathons and managing the recovery window

• Sara’s original plan to run the half, and why she finished the full marathon

• How Calli stayed composed when things got hard early in the race

• Training partnership: why they are better together and how they compromise

• Their husbands coaching them and how the dynamic works day to day

• Strengths they bring to the group: long run strength, speed work, and racing frequency

• “Loving the grind,” longevity, and Sara’s mindset shift over the years

• Sara’s book For the Love of the Grind and what readers can expect

• Flagstaff training life, and why they love it and hate it

Support Our Sponsors:

Donna Marathon Weekend — Jacksonville, FL, February 1–2, 2025. Supports breast cancer research and families impacted by dia