Elite Marathon Strategies: How Four Top DFW Runners Approached Boston and London 2025 under 2:38

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Aaron Pearson is an accomplished marathoner from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and a valued member of the elite running group "The Sloths." Preparing for his third Boston Marathon, Aaron qualified with a strong 2:40 performance at the 2023 Chicago Marathon and is targeting an ambitious sub-2:35 finish in Boston. Despite being relatively new to competitive distance running—having previously focused on football and basketball—Aaron has quickly established himself as a formidable marathon competitor. With a training philosophy that emphasizes quality over quantity, Aaron incorporates three weekly strength training sessions alongside his running regimen, drawing from his athletic background. Though he maintains a lower weekly mileage (around 70 miles) compared to some of his training partners, he compensates with higher-intensity workouts and strategic long runs. A dedicated family man with two children, Aaron balances his athletic pursuits with his professional and family responsibilities. His approach to running is characterized by his enjoyment of the process and appreciation for the running community. As he puts it, "These are the good old days. We just don't realize it." Beyond his athletic achievements, Aaron has expressed interest in documenting his running journey through vlogging and photography, capturing the memorable moments with his training partners for years to come.

Jennifer Pope: Runner Bio Jennifer Pope is an elite marathoner from the Dallas-Fort Worth area who discovered her exceptional running talent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite not having a traditional competitive running background, Pope transformed from a recreational soccer player to an Olympic Trials qualifier in just a few years. After beginning serious training in 2020, Pope rapidly progressed to achieve remarkable results, including a personal best marathon time of 2:36:20 at the Houston Marathon in 2022, which secured her Olympic Trials qualification. She won the Indianapolis Marathon in challenging conditions and recently claimed victory at the 2025 Cowtown Half Marathon with an impressive time of 1:18:00. Pope trains with a local running group called "Completely Sloth" and emphasizes the importance of community in her success. Despite facing setbacks with plantar fasciitis and hamstring tendinopathy, she continues to compete at an elite level while maintaining her passion for the sport. Her extraordinary journey demonstrates how untapped potential can emerge at any point in life with dedication, proper training, and a supportive community.

From graduating undergrad at Wake Forest University in 2019 to moving to Dallas in 2022, I moved a total of eight times because of school/clinical rotations. It's lonely, constantly uprooting, and this was also the case moving to Dallas as I didn't know a soul in the city. I went to a local running store and asked about local running teams, desperate to meet people right away. I found a group of runners who adopted me immediately, even convincing me to sign up for Boston 2023 the first week I started running with them. What I like about this group is we are all very passionate about running, but we are also all very passionate about our professional careers. It was the perfect mix for me as I was completing a physical therapy residency. If it wasn't for having a network of runners who taught me the importance of consistency, teamwork and community, I would not even imagine running in the 2024 Trials.