5x Boston Qualifier, Mom, and Sub-3 Chaser: Megan Brown's Boston Marathon Journey

DFW Running Talk: Megan Brown
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[00:00:00] All right. Welcome to another DFW Talk. I'm Chris Stetl and today's special guest is Megan Brown. Megan, how are you? I'm doing good. So we are live in the Park Plaza Hotel here in Boston, the day before the marathon. And I was talking to Megan this morning about we were running with Kevin and Greg, and so I was talking to her to come on today.

And so Megan, we're gonna talk a little bit about your Boston Marathon story. How exciting is that? Very exciting. So you've run five Boston marathons, is that right? This will be my fifth one. Oh, this will be your fifth one. So let's step back a little bit. Tell me a little bit about your journey into running, just quickly, and then let's talk about your first Boston, how you got there.

I've really been running my whole life, I guess since like probably in my first 5K in third grade. But I was really into sports and then got more into running, I guess more distance when I was older in high school, ran in college, and then I got into marathons. From my brother-in-law who signed me up for Chicago, said he would get me there if I ran it with him.

And then I got the bug for marathons ever since. And the goal is the six majors. And [00:01:00] then I ran Boston and then I got glued and now I've been doing 'em ever since. How many of the majors have you done? Five of the majors. I still have one more left. Which one? So I have London is, will be my last one. Okay.

So are you trying to get into that or? I've been trying to get into that one. Have not gone in. I'll apply again this year, but we'll see if I get in. Okay. Yeah. A lot of times folks that aren't in London will have to just pay their way in it, or something like that. So that's the way my wife did.

So let's talk a little bit about your first Boston Marathon. How'd you get in? And then were you excited? What was that experience like? Tell me a little bit about that. My first qualifying time was at, okay. Marathon. Funny, my, my time actually didn't log because it was just, it was on my watch and on my bib and they had to go through back and then it was RegEd in, so that was a little scary 'cause it was a very big pr.

And then what was that PR by the way? That time it was three 13. Okay. And that goes my first qualifying time qualify. But yeah, I finished and FAS was like, are you okay? Did you finish? I was like, yeah, no, I did finish. I don't know why. [00:02:00] And I didn't know at the time, but I did. So that was a fun little part of that one.

But then I got in, I got my BQ and I signed up. So my first Boston was in 2022. And then I guess I got in and then I requalified every year at Boston. Got it. That makes sense. So much better, right? Yeah. Let's go back to that first Boston real quick. And did you know a lot about Boston Marathon? I know Fons was kinda your coach, what did you know and were you excited about it? What was the thought about that? I've always, I've known what Boston Marathon is and it was always like a goal with running. Yeah. Thing is like always trying to get a BQ with whatever time. I did run and just getting there. I know it was really hard.

So I knew that was a goal even with my first marathon, always aiming for whatever that time is, which I know changes every year. Yeah. Based on their standards. Yeah, that was, and that was my first, or I guess second marathon third was Indy. Okay. And Austin was like, what? So you're a pro at these marathons and you said this is gonna be your [00:03:00] fit, but let's talk about the Boston experience and now what that means to you and what you think about and, I know you have, a new baby, so let's talk a little bit about that.

Yeah. Boston and I, after I ran the first one and turns left on Boyleston is game changer for me. It's just an experience that I, live for every year and. After that I thought, not just the six major goal, but it would be fun just to continue the goal of Boston every year up to that 10 year would be great.

Yes. Last or two years ago I ran with my son who's out 17 months. I ran with him pregnant. I was about three months and then Wow. I so I didn't wanna stop the streak there. I was already at three, last year was, would've been my was my fourth. And so I was five months postpartum at that time.

And so he was at the finish line that time. So yeah, now this year will be my fifth. Wow. So that's interesting postpartum. And I hear, and of course I would know, but it is difficult, can you walk us through kind of some of the things you were going through and [00:04:00] thinking about?

Yeah I would say that it changes your mindset a little with running. Priorities and motivation kind of change a little 'cause you've got more to get back to. And I think it's changed the way of, I know maybe not my goals have maybe changed. Maybe it's not so much performance based, but maybe a little more about myself now running, not that it hasn't been in the past, but just always more about not just for performance, but for myself with time.

Sure. And I think that it's geared me to. Focus more on or in tune with my body because after having a baby or you have to start back and rebuild yourself back to where you were in a different way. And definitely for me, I was breastfeeding, so I was also like trying to run at the same time as feeding my son.

So that was a fun experience and a difficult, challenging also makes me stronger. I know this one lady that she was running a hundred miles, in Leadville one year, and she won the whole thing, or at least won, [00:05:00] but she had to stop and pump. Because she just had a baby and everything else.

And it was just, and she still won it, but, which was really crazy. But it's something that, at that time that she really had to do and had no choice, and things just happen. Yeah. And last year I finished and went straight, so to feeding. So did all my, that was my first stop before any celebration.

Wow. Myself. But that was, yeah, like I said, just a different experience. It sounds like it'd be draining. It's pretty draining. Yeah. But rewarding and draining. But yeah, also thankful I was able to do it. But yeah. And that was another motivation to finish faster. All right. So let, before we get into 2027, what is your best marathon time?

As of right now, 3 0 5. Okay. You and I were talking and you've had very consistent marathon times, all the way from 3 0 5 to 3 0 9. And what is, as you go into Boston this year, what is your thoughts of goals, a goal for you and if you have B and c goals too? I think [00:06:00] my goal has always been to break three.

I've just never really. Set my goal initially and start a marathon to do and so I usually, like I say, go with how I feel and if I feel good I'll get faster as I go. But this year, and that's how all my marathons have been, I just go into it very casually of just having fun. And then if I feel great, then I'll, I love, it'll start bumping it up.

But this year gonna try to push it a little. Not that anything much has changed. Training wise, just getting runs and workouts in when I can. Yeah. But we'll see if I can finish strong. It's a little different for you this year, right? You have what's the difference? You and I talked about it with Kevin, maybe running with him at first 'cause he's gonna run a little faster, maybe to push you a little bit.

Is that kinda Yeah, I think that will help push me to have someone with the single to break three and do it together. So I think that might be a big difference of not just doing it alone and [00:07:00] starting out maybe a little faster than I'm used to. So that will be definitely a challenge to see how long I can hold that pace.

And sometimes it's right here, right? I tell people all the time, i've run for a long time and you can tell when somebody has a lot of talent and a lot of ability, but sometimes until you kinda get over some of this, mental kind of stuff, then. That's where the breakthrough is.

You've done it 3 0 5, 3 0 6, 3 0 9. You're, you've been right there for a long time and it sounds and I don't know you, but there's some of this, and so once you break through that and, telling what you can do, I think So is there anything specifically you're looking forward to in 20, this particular Boston 2026?

I think just going out, having fun. And if the day's right and weather's nice and my body's ready, maybe breaking the three would be a really fun little treat at the end. But in general, just having fun, I think that's the key. 'cause the beauty is that the weather's gonna be amazing. And at least there's that, you thoughts before we take off [00:08:00] of, if somebody's looking to go to Boston and do it and what is your recommendation?

What is your. Advice. You've done this almost five times coming up. You've run several marathons. You've very well, pretty impressive, by the way. Resume. So I know, I'm impressed. I would say, don't give up, just keep fighting. Even if you don't get it the first time I wouldn't give up because it's an experience that I feel like everyone should experience for themselves is just one thing that not many people get to do.

And so if you have the opportunity or if you're even very close. I would say keep pushing for it because it's an experience of a lifetime that you'll never regret. You just have to push yourself a little harder. Don't give up. I know a couple people that they would qualify for Boston, but because they were only two or three minutes from that cutoff, they didn't get to go.

And so they kept going and going. And there's one guy that did two or three times, and that happened two or three times. And it is heartbreaking, but he eventually got it, but he was able to run it. It's [00:09:00] hard, especially once, if you don't hit it and you got that close to it, the cutoff, this is the Super Bowl, this is the best of my opinion.

And you're consistently there and, but it's also hard work. It's not like you don't go out there and do the work that's needed for it. Any shoutouts to a running group that you run with, that you like and anything like that? Or community? Just my, running crew from Pegasus. Yeah, that's my bonds has gotten me my first BQ and now he is starting me on the trend awesome.

Thanks to him. I'm here. Megan, it's been really great. Really appreciate you spending 10 or so minutes with us and, can't wait to see how you do tomorrow. Thanks everybody for tuning in to another DFW Running Talk on the Boston series. We're live, and these are all, a bunch of 'em are gonna go out same day.

So Megan, thanks so much. Thank you.