The Rambling Runner Podcast

Meaghan Murray-Neuberger is back on the show and for good reason.

Have you ever had a goal that you worked for years to accomplish only to fall short by the slimmest of margins time and time again? It takes a strong person with a sense of mission to keep getting up and striving for that goal instead of giving in. That is exactly what Meaghan Murray-Neuberger did when she broke the 3:00 at the Woodlands Marathon two weeks ago. Meaghan is a three-time marathon winner with a previous marathon PR of 3:00:19. At Woodlands she ran a blistering fast 2:56:33 - 6:44 pace per mile. 

What comes next after you finally achieve a huge goal? That's exactly what we cover in this episode. In the year since her breakthrough at the Woodlands Marathon, Meaghan has continued to improve a remarkable rate culminating in a 2:48:34 at the 2022 Boston Marathon. On the podcast Meaghan talks about what she learned from her first breakthrough and continues to use today, how she re-focused on a new goal, going for it when raceday provides unexpected challenges, and much more.

Besides being as tough as leather, Meaghan is also an extraordinary business woman and entrepreneur. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Big Run Media and Believe in the Run.

You can hear Meaghan's first appearance on the show in episode 317.

You can visit Believe in the Run at www.believeintherun.com.

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”If all we did was acknowledge the time on the clock... we'd be giving a standing ovation.

If all we did was acknowledge that a record was broken and that the impossible had been accomplished... we'd be celebrating for weeks and then life would move forward as it does.

But the reality is that what Heather Knight Pech accomplished in the Boston Marathon is far more than her finish time of 3:03:47. It's far more than winning the division (60-64). And it's certainly far more than breaking the record held by Joan Benoit Samuelson.

It's been 3 years since since Heather last finished Boston - a race that lives in her soul. It's been a bit over 1.5 years of injury that left Heather wondering if the best was behind her. 

But the success Heather found on Monday isn't found in the result... it's the in-between time where the story is truly told. The injury. The heartbreak. The self doubt. The loneliness of not being able to do what she is so clearly meant to.

But to know Heather is to know what it means to not give up. To know what it means to demand the very best. To know what it means to love with all that you are.

Heather fought her way through this hard time - but she wasn't alone. She found the best doctors for therapy. She found shoulders to lean on with her family and friends. She found inspiration from her athletes while self doubt crept in. She surrounded herself with believers leaving her no choice but to believe in herself.

When Heather stepped on the starting line she left all the self doubt behind her. She knew what she could do... she was patient... and she ran the race of her life!”

-These show notes were written about Heather by her coach and friend James McKirdy after she ran Boston. They are perfect so I’ve inserted them here.

Follow Heather at https://instagram.com/_knighttraining

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Kara Woody is a veterinarian, mother of two, Navy wife, and a multiple sclerosis, She is also one heck of a runner who as run nine marathons with a PR of 3:32 and a three time Boston Marathon qualifier.

A self described couch potato in her 20's, Kara started to run around the same time she was diagnosed with MS and she certainly made up for lost time. She has become one of the most inspirational people we've ever had on the Rambling Runner Podcast. In the last six months she has run the Boston Marathon twice and has done so with the kind of spirit and courage that so many of us aspire to embody.

There are days where the runs get so tough that she wobbles. When it's too hot, she loses control of her legs and overheats. If it weren't for the life changing medicine she's on... her days would be vastly different. Several years ago she wasn't sure if she'd ever live a normal life. Then, in a moment, everything changed.

Follow Kara on Instagram: www.instagram.com/runnervet06.

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There aren't many people in the world and thoughtful, caring, and inspiring as Phil Shin. It was an absolute honor to have Phil on the show. He has endured liver cancer twice, received a liver transplant, run multiple marathons, qualified for Boston, and that doesn't even come close to summarizing what this man has accomplished for himself and others.

Phil ran the 2022 Boston Marathon along with his good friend and live liver donor Mark Murphy. It was a special weekend for both men as it was Mark's first marathon and Phil was able to honor his friend's sacrifice, that saved his life, in grand fashion. All a few weeks after Phil put it down at the iconic Way Too Cool 50k.

Follow Phil on Instagram: www.instagram.com/pshin8670.

Phil's episode on The Morning Shakeout: https://themorningshakeout.com/podcast-episode-197-with-phil-shin.

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Rachel Gersten is a New York City therapist with a passion for helping people lead their healthiest lives possible. She completed her undergraduate degree at the Arizona State University where she double majored in psychology and human development. She attended Columbia University and earned two master’s degrees (Ed.M., M.A.) in Psychological Counseling.

Rachel is also a dedicated amateur runner who has completed several marathons including the 2021 New York City Marathon.

In this episode, we talk about the mental and emotional dip some people go through post-marathon (or any big race/event) and how we can minimize some of those challenges, celebrate even in the face of disappointment, and how we can learn from our experiences.

You can learn more about Rachel at www.vivawellnessnyc.com.

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