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