How Kimberley May Went From Almost Quitting Running to Signing With New Balance & Turning Pro — The Mindset Shift That Made the Difference

Mar 18, 2026

Kimberley May, a New Zealand middle-distance standout who just signed with New Balance after a stellar Providence run, discusses her pro transition and life in Boston. She talks about the mindset shift that reignited her career, near-quit doubts and the pivotal talk with her mom, training differences between college and pro life, altitude camps, team dynamics, and lofty Olympic and national-record ambitions.

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ANECDOTE

Chose New Balance For Coach And Culture

Kimberley always dreamed of New Balance Boston and prioritized coaching fit when signing.
She chose New Balance largely to be coached by Mark and because of team culture and proximity to Providence.

ADVICE

Change Mindset To Unlock Performance

Change your mindset from “I don't belong” to “I can belong” to unlock performance gains.
Kimberley credits believing she could make finals and trusting her coach for the shift that started her breakthroughs.

ANECDOTE

Nearly Quit Then Rebounded After A Six Month Try

Kimberley nearly quit as a sophomore and told her mom she wanted to go home from the U.S.
Her mom convinced her to give six months full effort, she did, then hit a string of PBs and regained confidence.

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The last time Kimberley May joined the show, she was a 4:27 miler pulling back the curtain on what it takes to compete at the highest level of collegiate running.

Since then, her career has accelerated into something much bigger.

In early 2025, May ran 8:44.73 for the indoor 3,000m, breaking the Providence College record and posting one of the fastest times in NCAA history.

Over the past year, she has also risen to become the second-fastest New Zealand woman ever in both the 1,500m and the mile, cementing herself among the most accomplished middle-distance athletes her country has produced.

Her personal bests tell the story of remarkable range and progression: 2:03.46 (800m), 4:04.40 (1500m), 4:27.36 (mile), 8:44.73 (3,000m), and 15:26.50 (5,000m). That 4:04.40 in the 1500m ranks No. 2 all-time in New Zealand history, while her 4:27 indoor mile also sits second-fastest ever by a New Zealand woman.

Now, after a historic run at Providence, May is entering the next stage of her career: signing professionally with New Balance and stepping onto the global stage of middle-distance running. From NCAA standout to international contender, the trajectory of Kimberley May is only just beginning.

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