It wasn't until Katie Lohaus' senior year of college that she found rugby, but it was love at first hit and she hasn't looked back. After playing competitive sports through high school, Katie went to college and joined a sorority where she dabbled in rec leagues and the Greek games. When she gave rugby a shot her senior year she was excited about how far she could run with it (figuratively and literally), so she went for it. Katie has played professionally for years, first as part of Premier Rugby Sevens and now the inaugural season of Women's Elite Rugby with the Boston Banshees. Today we dive in to:

• Inaugural Women's Elite Rugby season & playing for the Boston Banshees
• Working to grow the sport and living in the growth
• World travel
• How she found rugby and what lit the fire to continue after college
• 7's vs. 15's -- strategy, rules, training
• Pre and post game rituals/routines (she says she didn't always think she was superstitious....I'll let you decide!)
• Finding identity and worth off the pitch & how that helps her show up better as an athlete

Follow along with Katie on social: @katielohaus

Follow along with the Boston Banshees: @wer_banshees

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Nell Rojas is a FORCE on the Boston Marathon course. The Nike pro earned top American female finisher her first two races ('21 and '22). She loves the grit and hills of the course (the opposite of most!) When Nell isn't running, she's coaching. She's coached for years, even before she decided to go pro at 30 years old. Now, she learns a lot from her dad who coaches her and guides her in developing her own coaching style. Today we dive in to:

• How the Boston Marathon course is perfect for her body and training style
• The friendly competition of elites (she tells us what she says as she picks people off!)
• What she spent her 20s focused on before going pro at 30
• Being coached by her dad and learning his philosophies
• Her passion for creative writing and poetry

Follow along with Nell Rojas on social: @nell_rojas_running

Learn more about her coaching here.

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Jackie Gaughan lives in Boston, runs in Boston, and works a full-time finance job in Boston. The new Saucony pro likes her full life, crediting it for her success in the corporate world and in the sport. Jackie is excited to run her first Boston Marathon, especially as a New Hampshire native. Today we dive in to:

• Excitement for her first Boston Marathon
• How she went from collegiate running to working in boston to running professionally while working full-time in finance
• Why filling her plate (and being OK with sacrifices) helps her accomplish big goals
• Race day non-negotiables & celebration
• How she flipped initial intimidation when looking at the women's elite field to motivation

Follow along with Jackie Gaughan: @jackie_gaughan

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

At 24 years old Jocelyn Rivas become the youngest woman and Latina to finish 100 marathons! Jocelyn set the goal to show the world what a 'Dreamer' looks like and show women and girls everywhere that they can do hard things. After crossing the LA Marathon finish line in 2021, Jocelyn kept going and continues to set BIG goals in running and is still rooted in her strong 'why.' Today we dive in to:

• Why she started running in high school & obstacles she had to overcome to get out there safely
• Her 'why'
• How her physical and mental training has changed over the years with different goals
• The power of community and how it drives her and lifts her up
• Future goals -- longer distances & challenges!
• Realization that she is living the life she always wanted -- how she got there & m ore!

Follow Jocelyn Rivas on social: @joselinthewarrior

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Hot off smashing her own U.S. masters marathon record at the Valencia Marathon in December (2024), Sara Hall is feeling good and ready to race her fourth Boston Marathon. Sara has been running professionally for 20 years and continues to love the challenges and wins that come with it. She credits motherhood for helping her keep perspective and motivation; in 2015 she and her husband Ryan (also her coach!) adopted their 4 daughters from Ethiopia. Today we dive in to:

• Running her fourth Boston Marathon - what keeps her coming back, the uniqueness of the elite field, etc.
• How she got into marathons in 2015
• Motherhood - how she finds motivation & perspective from her four daughters
• Working with her husband as her coach
• Her non-profit she founded with her husband called the Hall Steps Foundation
• How she has been able to use running to fuel her passions of fighting for equity and empowerment

Follow along with Sara Hall on social: @sarahall3

Learn more about the Hall Steps Foundation here.

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

After 8 years away from running, getting married, starting a family, working as a realtor, and a failed BQ attempt Keira D'Amato knew there was more in the tank. She was right. She holds the record for fastest American half marathon and woman's-only 10-miler and she shaved 24 seconds of then record holder Deena Kastor's fastest American marathon to break the record. Keira has done this all with gratitude, joy and incredible courage to chase big dreams. Today we dive in to:

• How she got back into running after 8 years away from the sport
• Why the Boston Marathon is so special to her and pivotal for her journey to running marathons and becoming a pro
• Breaking the American marathon record in Houston
• How she has tailored her mindset to help her in the pain cave/dark moments of a race or workout
• Hobbies off the road (& former alter-ego!)

Follow along with Keira D'Amato on social: @keiradamato

You can pre-order her book "Don't Call it a Comeback" here.

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

WNBA Veteran Diamond DeShields is bringing her electric play, competitive spirit & leadership to the Connecticut Sun in her 7th season. Diamond was the third overall draft pick in 2018, earned a WNBA Championship with the Chicago Sky in 2021 after a taxing surgery and rehab, and still feels she is just scratching the surface of her potential and her game. Today we dive in to:

• Why the Connecticut Sun is franchise is the right fit at this moment in her career
• Embracing change and newness for growth & success
• How obstacle and roadblocks have helped to shift her perspective on and off the court & renew gratitude
• Little Diamond's BIG dreams
• The perfectly crafted "welcome to the league" moment
• Fashion & self-expression
• Inspiration & mission of her 3-D Foundation
• Building an underdog mentality at home as a kid to carry her to where she is today

Follow Diamond on social: @diamonddoesit1

Follow the Connecticut Sun: @connecticutsun

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Born and raised in Boston, Jillian Dempsey knows the grit it takes to find success. The Boston Fleet forward has been playing professional hockey for over a decade, almost exclusively in her hometown. She grew up in Winthrop, played in college at Harvard, then for the Boston Blades (CWHL), Boston Pride (PHF), and now the Boston Fleet. Today we dive in to:

• Pursuing two passions -- one on the ice and one in the classroom
• Jillian's gratitude for playing most of her professional (and collegiate career) in her hometown
• Unique perspective of growth of women's hockey as an athlete with experience in 3 leagues
• How she has been spending her newfound 'free' time since focusing only on being a professional athlete
• Fleet's focus for the end of season as they look toward playoffs and the Walter Cup
• Her mantra for tough days

For game tickets & info for Boston Fleet: thepwhl.com/bostonfleet

Follow Jillian on social: @jilliantdempsey

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube