Lea Ivy

Bio

Lea Ivy is a marathon veteran with an extraordinary record of consistency and excellence in distance running. With 11 consecutive Boston Marathon finishes and a 12th on the horizon, she exemplifies the power of methodical training and unwavering determination. Despite not having a formal running background or competing in college athletics, Lea transformed herself from a recreational jogger into an elite amateur marathoner, achieving a personal best of 3:14:55 at age 45. Her remarkable journey spans nearly two decades of marathon racing, including multiple World Marathon Majors—Chicago (three times), New York, Berlin, and soon London—as well as ultramarathons including a 50-miler and 100-miler. As a healthcare professional, Lea brings scientific precision to her training approach, emphasizing effort over pace and proper nutrition over fad training methods. Her injury-free streak of over a decade stands as testament to her balanced, intelligent approach to endurance sports. Beyond her marathon accomplishments, Lea is an avid trail runner and strength training enthusiast who regularly tackles challenging mountain terrain, including recent running expeditions through the Swiss Alps. Her philosophy that "consistency trumps talent" has inspired countless runners throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth running community. When not logging miles around White Rock Lake, Lea can be found mentoring new runners, strength training at the gym, or planning her next running adventure with her husband and fellow runner, Chris Detzel.