Felicia Pasadyn, a 23-year-old determined to carve out a unique path in both athletics and medicine, is presently balancing the demands of medical school with her burgeoning career as a professional runner. Recently, she achieved a significant milestone by qualifying for the upcoming Olympic Marathon Trials. Pasadyn, who hails from Cleveland, has exhibited remarkable time management skills and a strong commitment to wellness, which she attributes to her upbringing and previous experiences in competitive sports.
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Pasadyn’s athletic journey began early in life, inspired by her three older sisters. Initially, she pursued swimming at Harvard University, where she completed an accelerated degree in integrative biology. Following her graduation in 2023 from Ohio State University, she commenced her PhD studies at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, aiming to graduate in May 2026. During this journey, she discovered a vibrant running community in New York City, leading her to join the New York Road Runners, the organisation behind popular events like the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon.
Since relocating to New York, Pasadyn intensified her focus on running. She found that balancing her evolving medical career with her training was more manageable than she initially anticipated. “I started training harder and entered more competitive races,” she explained. By mid-2024, she set her sights on two ambitious goals: to compete in the Olympic Trials and to become a salaried professional athlete. This dream was realised in late 2025 when Saucony, a leading sports footwear brand, signed her on full-time.
To maintain equilibrium between her rigorous training schedule and the demands of medical school, Pasadyn recognised the need for meticulous planning. “It takes a lot of very particular planning and sacrifice,” she remarked. Drawing from her experiences as a competitive swimmer, she has learned the importance of sleep, meal scheduling, and establishing a routine to optimise her efficiency. She aims for nine hours of quality sleep each night and ensures she consumes multiple meals throughout the day to fuel her demanding lifestyle.
As she prepared for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2025, Pasadyn faced her most rigorous challenge yet: balancing intense training with her responsibilities in the surgical ICU. This involved a careful orchestration of her daily activities, where she effectively utilised every available moment for multitasking. Whether it was completing practice questions while on the treadmill or studying flashcards during her StairMaster sessions, she optimised her time at every opportunity.
“My mornings typically start around 4 a.m. with a run, followed by a workout session,” she shared. After a busy day at the hospital from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., she would follow up with study time or personal engagement, often checking in with her family to maintain connections back home in Ohio. This unwavering commitment has paid dividends; in November 2025, she finished as the 14th female runner in the TCS NYC Marathon, clocking in at 2:35:00 and securing her place in the Olympic Marathon Trials.
Looking ahead, Pasadyn faces an array of significant milestones. The much-anticipated Match Day, where she will learn her residency training location, is approaching on March 20. Following this, she is set to embark on a transitional year before diving into a demanding radiology residency programme. This phase will encompass rotations across various medical disciplines, adding another layer of complexity to her already packed schedule.
“I expect the five-year radiology residency to be even more intense, leaving me with less free time than my current commitments allow,” she noted. Despite the challenges, she remains flexible in her aspirations for both running and medicine. The unique combination of careers can present difficulties, particularly when it comes to managing training while on a strict medical rotation.
Within the professional running community, Pasadyn feels that her experience is not common. She acknowledges that few, if any, professional runners also pursue a medical career full-time, which makes her situation particularly unique. This distinctive lifestyle has led her to adopt a flexible approach to training, indicating that she may focus on shorter races like the 5K or 10K during her residency years.
Throughout her journey, she has developed an appreciation for the unwavering top-tier support from fellow athletes but also understands the contrasts that exist. Many professional runners live in dedicated training environments, with their primary focus on athletic performance. Pasadyn, on the other hand, balances her running with responsibilities in healthcare, which presents a distinctly different lifestyle.
As she progresses towards her goals, Pasadyn remains steadfast in her resolve. “I may have to adjust my training during residency, but I’m committed to both my medical career and my passion for running,” she explained. With her determination and carefully honed time management skills, Pasadyn continues to pioneer her own path, taking the challenges as they come while inspiring others along the way.