Shaina Koch is excited to run her first full marathon this November with Team Answer the Call!
She began seriously running in 2023 as a way to stay fit and has found it to be both physically and mentally rewarding. Over the past year, she’s completed four half marathons: New York City, Long Island, Great South Bay, and Nashville. She is now ready to take on her first marathon this November!
Shaina knows that the biggest hurdle will be the distance itself, both mentally and physically. Still, she stays motivated with a strong internal drive, reminding herself that it’s “me vs me.” She also finds strength in the support of her loved ones and stays focused on her goal: crossing the finish line.
Shaina plans to run solo, while listening to heavy techno and metal throughout the race. Outside of running, Shaina is a very active person. She’s a volunteer EMT, a fitness coach at Orange Theory, and has a pet cat. As a first responder, Shaina has seen firsthand the impact of line-of-duty tragedies and the importance of supporting the families affected. She was drawn to Answer the Call because of its mission and the meaningful role it plays in the first responder community.
“Being an EMT has taught me to appreciate the small things and to see the good in people,” she says. “It reminds me that someone always has it worse, and that helps me stay grounded.” To the families served by Answer the Call, Shaina shares: “Your first responder family goes beyond the people your loved one directly worked with. It includes everyone they ever interacted with. It’s one big family.”
We are incredibly proud to have Shaina on Team Answer the Call and look forward to cheering her on in November! And when the race is over, she’ll be celebrating with her go-to post-run meal: a grilled chicken Caesar salad and a Diet Coke.
Click here to support Shaina’s fundraising efforts!
Answer the Call’s 2025 Summer Intern, Michael Mauro, conducted this interview and wrote this blog post.
