Sarah Amyx: Running on Your Own Terms, From Chronic Illness to Berlin

What happens when running is taken away from you, and what changes when you finally get it back?

Sarah Amyx started running in 2021 and has since completed more than 20 half marathons, multiple marathons, and an ultramarathon. But after a chronic illness forced her to take an extended break, her return to racing at the 2026 Berlin Marathon gave her an entirely new perspective on the sport.

In this episode of Runners of HOU, Sarah, an RRCA-certified running coach and Houston Marathon Ambassador, talks about navigating running with chronic idiopathic urticaria, finding balance between training and everyday life, and learning that not every race needs to be about a finishing time.

She also discusses the pressures of Strava and social media, common mistakes new runners make, the importance of fueling and recovery, and what makes Houston’s running community so special.

For Sarah, running isn’t about doing more at any cost. It’s about appreciating what your body can do and making running fit into the life you already have.

In this episode:

• How Sarah went from her first 5K to more than 20 half marathons
• Living and training with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU)
• Returning to marathon racing after a year away
• Why Berlin became one of her most meaningful races, despite missing her time goal
• What she’s learned about rest, recovery, fueling, and training smarter
• Becoming an RRCA-certified running coach
• Why comparison on Strava and social media can hurt runners’ confidence
• How running has helped Sarah manage anxiety and build confidence
• Her experience as a Houston Marathon Ambassador
• Her goals of completing the World Marathon Majors and eventually tackling another ultra

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Meet Sarah Amyx

02:20 – From a first 5K to half marathons

05:40 – Making running fit into your life

08:20 – Running with chronic illness

14:15 – Marathon goals and returning to racing

17:00 – Finding the magic in Berlin

19:00 – Chicago, Berlin, and the Houston Marathon experience

21:00 – Racing, recovery, and listening to your body

23:40 – Becoming a running coach

27:00 – Coaching lessons and training without perfection

28:00 – The dangers of comparing yourself to other runners

30:00 – Fueling and advice for first-time marathoners

31:00 – Running, anxiety, and mental health

34:00 – Strava, social media, and defining success

37:00 – What a healthy relationship with running looks like

38:00 – The Houston running community

39:30 – Advice for Houston Marathon runners

41:30 – Future goals and the World Marathon Majors

43:00 – How Berlin changed her perspective

44:00 – Training lessons and avoiding burnout

46:00 – Houston favorites and rapid-fire questions

Chapter times are approximate.

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