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Dr. Rachel Tavel PT, DPT, CSCS

@racheltaveldpt

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▫️Doctor of Physical Therapy
▫️Writer (fitness/health/travel/wellness)
▫️Runner
▫️Mom
📍 NYC & Berlin
@travelswtavel @followtheola

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Full circle moment... ✨

My first job out of college was at @travelandleisure and @foodandwine. But as much as I loved travel, food, and wine (and let’s be honest, I still do), something wasn’t quite right.

So I left my grey cubicle near Bryant Park to travel the world as a travel writer. When my dream job became more like a nightmare, I moved home to pursue another dream. Five years of school later, I became a physical therapist.

For years, I don’t think my career change made sense to a lot of people. Who goes from travel writer to physical therapist?! (Hi 👋it’s me.) But my goal has always been to put these unconventional pieces together in a way that is perfectly me.

Now, 20 years after that first job, I’ve found my way back to T+L.

Today, my first article as a contributor to T+L is live! I get to bring my fitness and wellness expertise to a publication that helped shape my career.

A reminder that career paths don’t have to be linear. Mine certainly hasn’t been, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. ❤️

Link in bio!
#twt
#health
#wellness
#writer
#livethedream by @racheltaveldpt

OK, here’s the recap:

I was feeling great the whole first half. The vibes were incredible, and I had so many beautiful moments. I was just soaking it in. At 21km I started thinking about pushing the pace, but the heat was starting to intensify.

At about 25km, I started getting really nauseous and lightheaded. I tried to eat my gels and salt tabs, but I couldn’t get them down. All of a sudden I felt my heart straining a little, like it was under pressure.

I knew it was the heat and my blood pressure dropping. I was planning to run through any discomfort, but all of a sudden I started worrying that I might actually pass out.

So I stopped and dry heaved by a tree. I wasn’t the only one. There were bodies all along the course struggling. It was carnage.

Then when I tried to keep going, I knew I needed fuel, but I couldn’t eat it. My stomach started twisting and cramping. I was just over halfway. I knew I couldn’t really run the whole thing without fuel, but the fuel wasn’t going in.

Continued in the comments…

#bmwberlinmarathon by @racheltaveldpt

It wasn’t pretty, but I did it.

Race recap soon.

#berlinmarathon by @racheltaveldpt

Marathons are made of hundreds of unseen miles.

Of “I don’t feel like running today” runs.
Of “I don’t actually have time to run” runs.
Of “I’m too tired to run” runs.
Of “I feel guilty that I’m running instead of…” runs.
Of “I don’t think I can” runs.
Of “I can’t wait to run these feelings out” runs.

They’re built on “whys” we each carry. Some we share, some we don’t.

Sometimes they’re also built on jetlag. On overwhelm. On stressful days. On motherhood. On trying to do it all. On not being able to. On pride. On grit. On a willingness to challenge ourselves. On a decision to try. On knowing it’s going to be tough and discovering it’s even tougher.

This round of training didn’t go how I wanted it to. I barely got two to three runs in a week. I was lucky if I got one strength training session in, too. I shortened long runs due to intense heat and humidity. I had a plan I couldn’t follow (because life, new job, freelancing on top of that, travel, time changes, motherhood, trying to learn German, and just being human). I wanted to do it with others, but I did it all alone. I just couldn’t figure out how to make it all fit.

But I gave it all I had. It’s so easy to feel like it’s never enough. And on tough days when I found myself saying
“I have to run (#) miles today,” as if it was a negative thing, I reminded myself that… NO.

I don’t HAVE to run. I GET to run.

What a privilege and a blessing it is to have the opportunity to do this. To get to put one foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles. To sweat. To struggle. To battle. To choose this challenge.

To share it with all of you, and thousands of other runners.

Feeling nervous and excited. But more than anything, I am grateful. It’s time to give the Berlin Marathon all I’ve got.

And what a joy it is to experience this entire journey.

#berlin
#marathon
#bmwberlinmarathon by @racheltaveldpt

18 miles.

That was long.
That was hard.
That took a lot out of me.
That gave me something special that I really needed.

I have my “Why?” Actually, there are a lot of whys.

Because I can. Because she can’t. Because it makes me feel closer to my dad, who passed away years ago but I always seem to find him on long runs. Because my body is changing as I get older and I promised myself I would love it, always. Because there will be days when I or someone else can’t, so I know how special this is. Because I like a challenge. Because I love running and runners and seeing the world in motion. Because something I don’t have to explain chooses this. And I listen.

Because I think this is the second and last marathon I ever want to run 😅😂And even though I don’t need it, I want to see this through.

Because when I run alone, I never feel alone. We are all in this together.

What’s your why?

#berlin
#berlinmarathon
#marathontraining by @racheltaveldpt

Marathon training feels totally different this time around.

My life is different now. My motivation has changed. My body has changed. My schedule has changed. But most notably, my “why” has changed.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about “why.” Why am I running a second marathon? Why did I sign up? Why do I feel the need to do it and talk about it?

Why am I choosing to run so far? Why do so many of us choose this?

Motivation, if I’m being honest, is very low. I’ve already proven to myself I can do it. Why isn’t that good enough for me?!

Here’s the truth: I’m not sure I actually want to do it this time around… Anyone training for a marathon relate?

I committed to this race months before the training began. Months before I started waking up wishing I could do anything but go for a long run. Something about past me wanted to do it. But present me doesn’t. What would future me want?

People see marathon day medals,marathon day photos, and marathon day times, but this is the real part. The gritty uncomfortable bit. This is the part where marathoners are made, and mental strength is summoned. This is the battle that brings on the tears at the finish line. The secret struggle nobody shows.

I’m not supposed to say this, but I don’t want to do it this time. I really don’t want to have another gel, or another salt chew, or another long run sipping water through a tube.

But there’s one little thing keeping me going…

It’s that feeling I get after each run. That feeling of pride and gratification. That feeling of “I did it” even when I thought I couldn’t. That surprise that, despite these feelings, I can find a way.

But what I’ve learned is that without that clear “why,” everything is harder.

So that’s where I’m at. I’m 3 months from marathon day, starting to climb the mileage mountains, searching desperately for my “why” to get me over the top.

What’s your WHY?

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that once you find it, anything is possible.

#marathon
#runner
#wellness
#roadtoberlin by @racheltaveldpt

After 5 days in the Algarve with @iamfit4travel, I was reminded of what wellness really means.

On paper, wellness is the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to health and an improved quality of life. Sure, it can include saunas, massages, daily yoga and morning matcha, but in its most basic form, I think wellness is about connection.

So many things I do to feel good involve being alone. Whether it’s going for a solo run or just having some quiet time to myself, these are often the times that, as a mom, I feel moments of peace.

During the first evening without a structured plan, I toyed with the idea of ordering room services and relaxing in my room, which felt so much easier than trying to form new connections with strangers.

But I tried something different. I put myself out there. I had conversations instead of quiet time. I did morning yoga instead of running (well, most days). I went on a boat ride I knew might make me sea sick because I knew the experience would last longer than the nausea. I laughed. Boy, did I laugh…. Harder than I had in a while.

I sweat, I hiked, I had dessert and yes, I even got a massage. But the most healing and refreshing part of this trip was connecting with the other women on it.

There are so many ways to heal, to strengthen, to turn inwards, and to protect ourselves from feeling vulnerable, but the real magic happens when you ditch all that, look around, and stay present with the people around you. A beautiful location doesn’t hurt, either.

Thank you @iamfit4travel for including me on one of your incredible wellness retreats. I felt completely taken care of, pampered, and inspired by the types of opportunities you and the other women on this trip create.

If you are a wellness professional who is dreaming about leading a retreat but you don’t know where to begin, I’d be happy to make an introduction. ✨

@iamfit4travel already has pre-set options for you to customize in some of the most beautiful places in the world. I encourage you to take a chance…

You never know who you’ll meet along the way…

#fit4travel
#travel
#wellness
#retreatlife by @racheltaveldpt

I have so much I want to share about my recent experience with @iamfit4travel, but first… a moment for Portugal’s Algarve. 🙌✨

Wellness comes in many forms. For me, travel is one sure way to get it.

Do what lights you up. Share it with others. Take a risk. Go on that trip you’re daydreaming about. Better yet — make it possible for others!

Do you want to organize a wellness retreat but feel frozen by all the logistics of planning it? That’s @iamfit4travel specialty. Let me know if you’d like an introduction to learn more. It doesn’t hurt to ask…

You need this. Trust me.

#travel
#wellness
#wellnessretreat
#fit4travel
#portugal by @racheltaveldpt

Spending five days in the Algarve on a wellness retreat organized by @iamfit4travel.

Can’t wait to share what the experience is like…

Spoiler: It’s not going to be about yoga…

#wellness
#retreat
#selfcare
#portugal
#fit4travel by @racheltaveldpt

Taking a moment to just say THANK YOU to all the editors and connectors who have helped me get here. You know who you are 🥰🙏.

@womenshealthmag
@menshealthmag
@runnersworldmag
@selfmagazine
@healthonforbes
@fortunemag
@bicyclingmag

I’m curious: Have you ever read one of my articles?

#health
#fitness
#wellness
#gratitude by @racheltaveldpt

Tough mama.

My childhood best friend gave me this shirt when I survived a full pandemic pregnancy and had my boy in November 2020.

It’s falling apart, but I’m not.

This shirt meant a lot to me when I got it. Finding out I was pregnant in the first week of March 2020, and having to protect myself and my pregnancy in almost total isolation while navigating so much uncertainty was one of the most stressful experiences I’ve ever had, and then navigating new motherhood in the mid-pandemic world…

As I’m sure you all know, it was a lot.

Some days I’m just so proud of what me and my little family have gotten through.

And I’m proud of this body, which can still do hard things.

In some ways, in my 40s, I’m doing harder things than ever. 💪✨🙌🙏

Shout out to all my fellow TOUGH MAMAS out there.

And a special 🙌to the Olympic mamas who have already achieved more than medals can prove.

#toughmamas
#mombod
#olympics2026
#olympicmoms
#mama by @racheltaveldpt