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Hard Work Pays Off -Interview with Cari Masek

June 2, 2026 · 46 min

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In this episode, we speak with longtime Academy member Cari Masek, who ran her first marathon after being inspired by an episode of this podcast. Running has changed her life — giving her the confidence to set goals, dream big, and inspire others.

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Cari Masek is an avid runner, race pacer, and coach. She races every distance from 5k to 50k, with her favorite being the Half Marathon. Having completed over 100 half marathons, she is currently working on a ONE STATE goal to run every half in Ohio.

She volunteers as a pacer at seven local half marathons, a race director at two local races, and as a coach for three different kids programs. She has been the head coach of the Centerville Striders Elementary Cross Country team for fourteen years. Knowing she is making a positive impact on the next generation of runners (k-6th grade) means more to her than any personal accomplishment.

Cari ran her first marathon after being inspired by an episode of the Marathon Training Academy and would say running has absolutely changed her life too, teaching her to set goals and dream big. The running community is the best and she is grateful to be a part of it.

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