#380: Maryn Lowry-Northwestern University | Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Coach Maryn Lowry joins Mike Cunningham on the Gill Connections Podcast to share her coaching journey from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Northwestern University.Maryn discusses her path from running with the Bond Hill Flyers to competing at Iowa State and the University of Montana, where an injury ultimately opened the door to coaching. Along the way, she shares the lessons learned from mentors like Andrea Grove-McDonough, Gary Wilson, and Northwestern Head Coach Jill Miller.The conversation explores why great coaches embrace discomfort, how continual learning shapes coaching philosophies, and why relationships remain the foundation of successful programs. Maryn also discusses transitioning from athlete to coach, developing as a young leader, coaching distance runners across all events, and what she's learned at every stop from Montana to Alabama to Chicago.You'll also hear stories about mountain running, 100-mile ultramarathons, Northwestern's famous coaching dog Lou, and why stepping outside your comfort zone may be the key to long-term growth.💜 Topics Include:✅ Growing up in Cincinnati and discovering track & field✅ Running at Iowa State and the University of Montana✅ Transitioning from athlete to coach✅ Coaching during COVID✅ Mentorship and coaching education✅ Building trust with student-athletes✅ Developing a coaching philosophy✅ Northwestern's distance program culture✅ Why growth requires discomfort✅ Lou the dog and canine-assisted trainingDive into nearly 400 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode:Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs Tuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network.📲 Stay Connected:Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Instagram (@MikeCunninghamTF), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍