For some, running in races is about chasing a personal best. For others, it’s a way to reset, stay grounded or simply accomplish a set goal. For four members of the Case Western Reserve University community, this weekend’s Cleveland Marathon represents more than a race—it’s a reflection of discipline, resilience and the drive to keep moving forward.
From training through injuries and packed schedules to finding strength in community, Kristyen Tomcik, Kerianne Marston, Daniel Batyrbaev and James Silay have done the work to prepare for this weekend’s event. The Daily spoke with them about what keeps them motivated—on the run and in life.
Kristyen Tomcik
Assistant professor, Department of Nutrition
In 2020, Kristyen Tomcik could barely run a mile without stopping. Now, he’s preparing for his sixth marathon—and his fourth World Marathon Major.
“What started as a health goal turned into a passion,” he said.
That passion has taken him around the world, most recently to the TCS London Marathon, during which he finished in 3:09:52. On May 18, he’ll line up at the Cleveland Half Marathon—this time to pace a friend chasing a sub-two-hour finish. The race also marks the start of his next training cycle, this one for the BMW Berlin Marathon in the fall.
Tomcik, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition, sees running as more than just a sport.
“A marathon is a story with lots of chapters, which is why it’s so addictive,” he said. “Running teaches you grit, patience, resilience, humility and joy.”
That mindset shows up in all areas of his life—from the classroom to the miles he logs each week. Whether he’s guiding students through performance nutrition or chasing his own training goals, Tomcik approaches both with intention and consistency.
He fits training into his schedule with the same structure he brings to research and teaching—following a detailed 18-week plan and treating runs like any other commitment.
“Progress is rarely linear,” he said. “But the real transformation happens in showing up every day.”
He experienced that firsthand in London. On an unseasonably hot day that tested many runners, Tomcik found strength in small moments of shared struggle and support. Around mile 24, he helped a man who had fallen. A mile later, he saw others carrying a struggling runner toward the finish.
“That kind of spirit is what keeps me signing up for each new race,” he said.
Kerianne Marston
Program manager, Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy
For Kerianne Marston, running isn’t just a workout—it’s a lifeline.
She picked it up 17 years ago, and ever since, it’s helped her stay centered through life’s inevitable chaos. Now a mom of two young kids with a full-time role at Case Western Reserve University, she treasures the solitude and clarity that running brings.
“I never feel more in my own body than when I am out on a long run,” she said. “It clears my fog and worry—it can be a moving meditation.”
This year, she’s taking on the Cleveland Half Marathon, one of her favorite races on one of her favorite courses. She’s dedicating her run to The Haven Home, a local organization she’s proud to support.
Her training schedule isn’t glamorous—it’s built on early alarms, quiet discipline and laying out shoes the night before.
“If I don’t wake up before everyone else, I know I won’t find the time,” she said. “So I just make sure to prioritize going to bed early and getting up early.”
One of her most memorable training moments this year came during a cold, rainy, long run—one she didn’t want to go on, but did anyway.
“I was soaking wet by the end—but really proud of myself for getting in the miles,” she said. “The Metroparks are so beautiful in the rain; every other runner (not many) out there had a smile on their face.”
For Marston, the lessons she learns on the road—consistency, follow-through, grit—carry over into her work at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, where she helps shape the future of nurse leadership as a part of the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy.
“I believe that how you do anything is how you do everything,” she said. “Running is great practice for the bigger stuff.”
Daniel Batyrbaev
Third-year, biomedical engineering, pre-med
Daniel Batyrbaev has his sights set on one of endurance sport’s most ambitious feats: completing an Ironman—a triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. This weekend’s Cleveland Marathon is his next big step toward that goal.
“I knew that with my academic and extracurricular commitments, I wouldn’t have time to train for a specific time goal,” he said. “Since this is my first marathon, just completing it will be a major accomplishment that I can be proud of.”
A third-year student majoring in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biomechanics, Batyrbaev thrives on setting long-term goals and building the structure to reach them. Between classes, ultimate frisbee and pre-med coursework, he balances marathon training through careful planning and flexibility.
“There were times I felt unmotivated or too busy to train,” he said. “But I had to remind myself why I started—and that progress doesn’t require perfection, just persistence and consistency.”
While crossing the finish line is his immediate focus, the journey to get there has offered something even more meaningful. Training, he said, has shaped more than just his endurance. It’s helped him grow mentally, set priorities and appreciate the moments of connection that come from solo miles and shared victories.
“Spending time alone on long runs has helped build mental resilience,” he said, “and it’s made me cherish the time I do spend with others even more.”
Support from CWRU’s running community has helped, too.
“It creates a sense of connection and support that makes the journey more meaningful,” he said.
James Silay
Director of Greek Life
When James Silay moved back to Cleveland in late 2021, he laced up his running shoes as a way to settle in. What he found instead was a community.
“I would go to different run clubs and meet new people,” he said. “Eventually I found certain groups that I enjoyed most and have been able to make some amazing friends through those groups.”
Now, running is his ritual. It’s how he decompresses after long days, carves out space to reflect and connects with others. Whether on the treadmill with music or jogging through University Circle before a late campus meeting, Silay treats running like meditation—an outlet that helps him model balance not just for himself, but for the students and staff he supports as CWRU’s director of Greek Life.
So when he won a free race entry at a run club event last fall, signing up for the Cleveland Half Marathon felt like a natural next step. He’d already completed two full marathons in 2024—one in Houston and another in Sacramento—and saw this race as a chance to check his progress.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity to see if I can set a new personal record,” he said, “and check on my endurance as I prepare for my next marathon in December—where I hope to finish with a Boston-qualifying time.”
This training cycle hasn’t been easy. A stubborn calf injury forced him to scale back for weeks. But with support from his boyfriend—who kept him on track with stretching, icing and rehab—Silay stayed the course.
“I’m lucky to have a strong support system,” he said.
That’s the advice he offers to new runners: build one. Because when the training gets hard or the race feels endless, having people in your corner can make all the difference.