6 Products Tunde Oyeneyin Recommends to Every Marathoner
The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke with Tunde Oyeneyin, Peloton instructor, Nike athlete, and New York Times bestselling author of “Speak.” Oyeneyin offered her tips for running a marathon, along with her must-have products.
Tunde Oyeneyin is a longtime pro when it comes to cycling, but marathons are something she’s recently mastered. Oyeneyin completed the New York City marathon — her first 26.2 miles — in 2023, as well as the Chicago marathon earlier this year with Abbott, the healthcare technologies company. “I challenge people in my classes every day to do something that scares them; I realized I needed to challenge myself, too,” Oyeneyin tells PS, recalling her decision to run a marathon in the first place. “It was my turn to be scared and to be thrown outside of my comfort zone.”
While a fitness expert, the Peloton instructor says the New York Marathon “broke me down,” challenging her body in ways she’d never done before. “But it was ultimately to rebuild myself back up stronger. I found a new version of myself in the depths of the darkness surrounding the toughness of the marathon.”
In training for the Chicago marathon, Oyeneyin prioritized her mental fortitude just as much as her physical training — something that she says made all the difference. “There were definitely moments that felt more difficult during the race than others. There were moments that self-doubt and imposter syndrome crept in, but unlike the NYC Marathon I ran last year, this time I was able to identify those moments and remind myself that ‘I’ve been here before,'” Oyeneyin says. “Sure, it was a different route, but I knew what those moments were telling me; rather, I knew what they were trying to teach me. Being broken down in those moments of struggle were also the moments that were going to build me up as a runner during that race and as an athlete beyond it.”
Having turned her own marathon experience around, Oyeneyin hopes to encourage others to lean into the challenge of 26.2 miles. “Now as a two-time marathoner, my goal is to provide light for others to see themselves,” she says. And while the physical and mental training is crucial, the Nike athlete also believes in the power of good gear and tech. Ahead, Oyeneyin shares six items she depends on to support her fitness goals — whether that’s running a marathon or motivating her class.
