Catherine Chianese
FUTURE NICU NURSE. BOSTON MARATHON BOUND.
Behind every visible milestone is unseen mental work. In this feature from The Elevé Effect, we explore the resilience, faith, discipline, and identity growth behind Catherine’s journey to the Boston Marathon while pursuing a career in nursing.
Where are you right now, and what are you currently building or pursuing?
Right now, I’m balancing two major passions in my life: nursing and running. I’m a nursing student working toward becoming a NICU nurse, inspired in part because I was a NICU baby myself and experienced firsthand how lifesaving and impactful that care can be. Knowing nurses once played a role in my own survival gives me a strong sense of purpose as I move toward caring for other newborns and their families. At the same time, I’m training for the Boston Marathon, which has been a long-term personal goal. This chapter of my life is really about discipline, growth, and learning how to show up consistently. I’m building a career rooted in compassion and resilience while also pushing my own limits physically and mentally.
When people look at your life or career today, what milestone do they usually focus on?
Most people tend to focus on time-qualifying for and training for the Boston Marathon because it represents hard work and persistence. But alongside that, getting through nursing school and moving closer to becoming a NICU nurse feels just as meaningful to me, especially knowing I once needed that same level of care as a newborn. Both milestones reflect my dedication, endurance, and a desire to make an inspire others.
The Milestone & the Path
Was this a path you always dreamed about, or one you discovered along the way?
Funnily enough, I grew up hating running and never saw myself becoming a nurse. After finishing my undergraduate degree in exercise science, I knew I wanted to help people in a more meaningful and impactful way. I had always wanted to pursue a career in medicine but nursing seemed to be too intimate and personal for a shy person like me to do. As for running, I fell in love with running as a part of training for a fitness test for dance team. I despised this fitness test and wanted to pass it on my first try so I trained for it by running 3 miles for a few days. I started running one more mile every day until I ran my first half marathon 2 months later. After qualifying for Boston at my first marathon, it became a dream to run at Boston since I saw that I was capable.
Looking back, what part of this journey took longer or required more patience than you expected?
The part that required the most patience was dealing with running injuries and learning to step back and not run. Injuries took a real mental toll on me because running is such a big part of how I manage stress and stay grounded. Being forced to step back, especially when I had to drop out of races, was frustrating and discouraging. I had to learn to trust my body to heal and accept that recovery sometimes means not running at all. Over time, I realized that rest and patience are just as important as training, and allowing myself to fully recover ultimately helped me come back stronger.
What did progress look like for you when things weren’t yet working?
Progress was finding other modalities to train without running. I remember I couldn’t physically go more than 1 mile and I was so angry at my body for not being able to push through. But I switched my mindset into the things I could do over the one thing that I couldn’t.
Strength You Don’t See
What was the hardest internal battle you had to navigate on this journey?
The hardest internal battle was struggling with grief. My dad unexpectedly passed away a week before I ran the Chicago Marathon.
Was there a moment you seriously doubted yourself or your direction? What helped you move forward anyway?
I questioned whether I could go through with the race. I felt so gutted after finding out about his passing, I didn’t know how I could even get up the next day, let alone continue training and managing school. My faith became my anchor. I leaned heavily into prayer and trusted that God was guiding me even when I couldn’t see what was ahead. I felt God giving me just enough strength to take the next step. I truly felt held in His presence and my dad’s angel, and that gave me a sense of peace when everything else felt uncertain.
I also did not feel alone during that time. I felt my dad with me in every step forward. Through my faith, I began to see that this race and running had become something much bigger than myself. It became a way to honor my dad and carry his spirit with me. Remembering that he would want me to keep going and trusting that God was walking with me through the grief helped me move forward and conitnues to fuel me.
What kind of pressure did you feel (external or self-imposed) and how did you learn to manage it?
I put a lot of pressure on myself. I am a perfectionist at everything I do, especially school. However, as I learn about how merciful and loving God is, it made me learn that God gives us grace to slow down and that I didn’t have to carry everything on my own.
What did staying committed look like on the days motivation wasn’t there?
Staying committed on the days motivation wasn’t there often meant showing up even when it felt hard, especially on those early mornings at 4 a.m. before school when getting out of bed was the last thing I wanted to do. On those days, I reminded myself that running and movement are gifts, not obligations.
I also remind myself that being in nursing school and learning how to care for others during some of the most vulnerable of times in their lives is a privilege. Shifting my mindset helped me see these moments as opportunities I get to experience, not tasks I have to complete. That perspective made it easier to keep going, even when motivation was low.
Mindset & Mental Skills
How has your relationship with failure changed over time?
I used to see failure as something negative, but failure is an opportunity to grow and learn. Some of my biggest lessons have come from races that didn’t go as planned, injuries that forced me to slow down, or moments when life felt like it was falling apart. Those experiences taught me patience, resilience, and trust in the process.
Was there a mindset shift that made a noticeable difference for you?
The biggest mindset shift for me was realizing that setbacks are a part of God’s plan. God looks at the plans we have for ourselves and our future and laughs. Only He knows our plan, it is our job to trust Him.
Identity & Growth
Did you ever have to redefine what success meant to you?
Success became less about outcomes and more about resilience, showing up, and staying true to God’s purpose even when things felt hard. Finishing a run when I didn’t feel my best or simply continuing to move forward became just as meaningful as any achievement, grade, or medal.
How has who you are changed because of this journey- not just what you do?
My relationship with God has truly changed me through this journey. As a control freak, I learned to surrender control and trust that God was guiding my path even when it didn’t make sense to me.
Reflection & Advice
What would you tell your younger self during the hardest part of this journey?
I would tell my younger self that it’s okay not to have everything figured out, and that some seasons are meant to build strength even when they feel painful in the moment. I would remind her to trust God’s plan.. I would also remind her that she’s stronger than she realizes and that she doesn’t have to carry everything alone.
For someone who feels behind or unsure right now, what would you want them to hear?
For anyone who is grieving, who is tired, who is feeling alone, trust that where you are right now still has purpose. The pain never goes away completely, but Jesus invites you to walk with him. We are thirsty for feeling God’s overwhelming love and Jesus tells us to come with him, and drink from him - John 7:37-39. Progress often happens quietly before it becomes visible. You are becoming exactly who you need to be for what’s ahead.
When you think about the milestone you’re living now, what strength do you wish people understood better?
When people look at the Boston Marathon, they often see the race itself as the milestone, but I wish they understood the strength, both physically and mentally, it takes long before race day. The amount of resilience I have had to endure has shaped me in ways people don’t see.
