Keira D’Amato’s proudest day as a runner is not the day she set a new American women’s record in the marathon, nor is it the day she set the American record for the half marathon or the day she set a similar record for the 10-miler, she said.
Instead, D’Amato says her best day — the one she makes sure to share whenever possible — is the day in 2016 when she attempted a slow, three-minute run while her husband, Tony, was deployed with the Virginia Air National Guard. She didn’t even make it a full two minutes.
“I am so proud that I found the courage on that first day to attempt running three minutes — that is 100% the thing I’m most proud of,” she said. “If I hadn’t tried and found the courage on day one, and then on day two and day three, none of that would have happened.”
Like many military families, the D’Amatos shifted from active duty to a National Guard posting near their home of record to find a balance between family life and service.
But instead of being at home more, her husband found himself with increased training and deployment time as his new unit entered an activation period. And rather than gaining the stability they craved, D’Amato was left flying solo with a toddler and newborn, searching for a way to find herself amid chaos and loneliness she never expected.
D’Amato wasn’t new to running when she headed out the door for that first very short run during her husband’s deployment — but she was new to attempting it as a mom with two young kids. A four-time Virginia all-state high school champion and four-time All-American runner in college, D’Amato was sidelined in 2006 from a professional running career by recurring stress fractures in her left foot caused by a tarsal coalition.
When she finally had surgery to repair it in 2009, she returned to running purely for fun, not for competition. By 2016, two young children, pregnancy-related fitness loss and the constant stress of military life had pushed running out of her mind and body.
Lonely and depressed, D’Amato knew running could fill the gaping social and emotional void so many military spouses feel during deployment. She just needed the courage to get out the door and try, she said.
Once she did, the three-minute attempt turned into weeks of slowly building up and working through the discomfort of learning — or relearning — to run, she added.
Less than five and a half years later, in 2022, she broke the American women’s marathon record in 2:19:12 with a blistering 5:20-per-mile average pace.
© 2022 Kevin Morris
Today, D’Amato’s inspirational journey as a military spouse, mom, real estate agent and pro runner is detailed in her new memoir, “Don’t Call It a Comeback.”
Civilian readers may not fully grasp the additional stress military life brings, but D’Amato hopes military spouses can find extra inspiration because they understand how much it takes to balance family, service, a career and chasing dreams.
While the book focuses on her running career, D’Amato said her experience can apply to any passion.
“What I hope they see from my journey isn’t how to be a world-class runner, but it’s how to find something they’re really passionate about and go for it,” she said. “Finding a way to keep that passion in their life is my gift for everyone.”
“Don’t Call It a Comeback” is available for pre-order on Amazon and other major book retailers. Learn more about Keira D’Amato’s career and upcoming events here.
