She wakes up to four paramedics at the foot of her bed, then ends up in a full cardiac arrest in the ER. Most people would assume the finish line is behind them after that. My guest Darlene “Aunt Dee” Faust chose a different story and she tells it with the honesty you only get from someone who’s lived it.

We talk about how she started running around age 58 to 60 after a simple 5K push, then steadily built herself into a marathon runner with roughly 12 finishes, five world major marathons, and even a Boston Marathon qualifying time. If you’ve ever wondered how older runners improve safely, how to train without burning out, or what consistency actually looks like over a decade, you’ll hear the real details, including why she fell in love with longer distances and the role strength training plays in staying durable.

Then we get into the turning point: August 2024, open heart surgery, and a pacemaker defibrillator implant. She breaks down what recovery really feels like, how medications and device settings can change your running overnight, and why identity can be both a burden and a lifeline when you’re trying to come back from a life-changing health scare. We also cover the mindset shift that helped her return to racing, finish a half marathon eight months later, and run the New York City Marathon about 13 to 14 months after surgery.

If you’re starting from scratch, coming back from injury, or rebuilding after a major setback, this one will give you a practical path and a bigger reason to try. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway or your own comeback goal.