Note:  This is the first in a new series of posts on Predawn Runner, profiling runners that “fit the mold” of this site – committed to making themselves the best runner they can, within the constraints of a busy lifestyle encompassing career, family, and other pursuits.  I hope they serve as an inspiration to encourage my readers to continue becoming more passionate about their running and more creative in their ways of making the time to pursue this wonderful sport.

The first victim (sorry, “spotlight”) is Brendan Murphy.  You may know Brendan as the smirking face in the Notre Dame hat either on Dailymile or as @mainerunnah on Twitter.  I think it is easy to agree that Brendan epitomizes the predawn spirit, so I was thrilled when he agreed to sit down (via email) for this interview.

Predawn Runner: Tell us about your running background – how did you get started, how long have  you been doing it?

Brendan M.: I’ve been focused on running for the last five years. After receiving my undergraduate degree, my ‘superficial’ interest in running started.  My running interest took a hiatus as I prioritized my efforts toward my career, starting a family, and completing my business graduate degree as a part-time student.  After completion of my MBA, I was able to regain focus on my interest in running.  With no more excuses in hand, I started a marathon-training plan on my birthday 5 years ago hoping to run my first marathon by age 40. At the age of 43, I have completed six marathons.

PR: What is your purpose in running – what do you seek to gain?

BM: Fundamentally, I run for life preservation.  My father’s health became a precursor of what my life might become in the absence of change.  Although my father is still alive, I consider him a ‘walking’ time bomb.  His medicine cabinet is filled with various prescriptions required to keep his heart and blood pressure in line with normal conditions.  I did not want to be that person in 20 years.  I wanted to be there for my family and felt I needed to make changes to enable this to happen. Running allowed me to create this positive change.

PR: What had you done race-wise prior to this year?

BM: Prior to my most recent marathon (Vermont City Marathon, May 2010), I had run 5 marathons and an equal amount of lesser distance events.  My first marathon was the Maine Marathon in 2005.  I ran the Maine Marathon in 2006 as part of Dean Karnasez’s North Face Endurance “50 Marathons in 50 Days in 50 States” marathon.  Three weeks later I ran the New York City Marathon.  Since then I have run the Sugarloaf Marathon and the Baystate Marathon where I have my PR @ 3:26+. Most recently I completed the VCM in 3:36+

PR: So you have done 6 marathons now over a period of 6 years, was this a consistent “one per year” approach or did you take some time off?

BM: I took almost two years off from running between 2007 and 2009.  My wife’s nephew was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident, leaving me with no motivation to get out the door to run. 20lbs later and with a realization that my ultimate goal of running the Boston Marathon was getting further and further away, I laced up my shoes on March 28, 2009 and ran 2+ miles for the first time in two years at a 10:59 pace.  I recorded this in my running log: “Need to start over – felt good listen to Phid podcast running ~ 5 AM. Will decide to do more of this.”

PR: What are your goals for this year and how have you approached reaching them?

BM: I never was a fast runner; while I always thought of the glory and honor to run Boston, I knew that I was not fast enough.  I was content with training for the distance. Something changed in 2009, driven not by physical ability, but by mental will.  I challenged myself to become committed to try everything I could to get to the starting line and finish with a BQ marathon time. Now all I needed was the road map to get me there.

In researching a possible marathon for the fall of 2009, I knew that Baystate Marathon was notoriously fast and a haven for those seeking to qualify for Boston.  The Baystate organizers offered a marathon training plan titled: “Individualized Coaching: Your Best Bet to Boston”. I sent an email inquiring about the program and the rest is history.  I elected to participate in this program and was coached by Nate Jenkins.  From his weekly blog at Running Times, “Nate Jenkins placed 7th at the 2008 Olympic marathon trials. A so-so Division II runner while in college, Nate is testament to the values of long-term aerobic development and self-belief.” I attribute much of my success to this program, which nearly doubled my weekly mileage from my previous marathon training programs.  At Baystate I reduced my previous PR by 27 minutes to 3:26 and felt that the “Holy Grail” of the Boston Qualifier was in striking distance.  2010 was a year of continued focus toward this event being vigilant about my training, nutrition, and running habits to support this effort.

PR: Tell us a bit about your VCM experience this year.

BM: While you can do everything to prepare for a race, there exist multiple influencing factors that are outside a runner’s control.  I picked up a cold/cough a week before the race that I am sure influenced my results at VCM.  Despite a valiant attempt to flood my system with fluids leading up to the race, I was left with remnants of the illness that influenced my results.  During the first half of the marathon, my heart rate, which I use to gauge effort, was 30 BPM higher than a test run that I had done three weeks prior. In hindsight, adjusting the race pace even more would have been the prudent strategy when I saw the early “yellow dashboard warning lights” appear (coughing, higher BPM, nausea, feeling dehydrated).  I was so committed to the end result that I did not take heed of those warning signs.  (See full report: http://www.dailymile.com/people/mainerunnah/entries/1968167) .  In the end, I fell short of my desired pace in an effort to achieve a Boston Qualifying time of 3:20 by crossing the finish line in 3:36+.

PR: After your VCM results, are you making any adjustment to your goals or approach?

BM: The unfortunate part of marathon training is the time required to train with the average runner only able to run several races in a year.  At the beginning of 2010, I set my training plan to run a spring and a fall marathon, giving an honest attempt @ VCM knowing that training in the winter in Maine can be tricky based on unsettled weather conditions.  Fortunately, Maine had a ‘mild’ winter and I felt really strong heading into VCM.  As disappointed as I am about the results @ VCM, I need to be true to my original plan, which now focuses my attention on a fall marathon.

PR: Any specific fall marathon you are looking at?

BM: At this point, I am looking to run an early fall marathon based in New England to allow for easy race day logistics.  Currently, I am looking at the following marathons: Maine (ME), Smuttynose (NH) or Baystate Marathon (MA).

PR: You tend to be one of the first ones to post your run every day – why do you like to get at it so early?

BM: For me it is a way to keep balance.  I cannot take 3 hours of my weekend away from my family.  My wife and I are both working professionals with active children.  By waking up early, this affords me the opportunity to get the proper training I need without sacrificing time with my family and their needs.  Getting my runs in early also allows me to get my activity completed and ready for the day and able to assist in getting the kids ready for school or other activities.

PR: What do you do when you are not running?

BM: Outside of running, I am professional working at L.L.Bean, headquartered in Freeport, Maine.  I enjoy spending time with my immediate and extended family and enjoying the outdoor lifestyle that Maine offers.  In addition, my spare time is consumed by practicing and playing the Great Highland bagpipes for the Maine Public Safety Pipe & Drum Corps, a volunteer group who represents Maine’s public safety by participating in various activities including parades, funerals, community events as well as educational venues.

PR: Will we ever see an avatar without the stocking hat, or do people in Maine dress like that year-round?

BM: They say in Maine there is only 8 weeks of summer- from the Fourth of July to Labor Day, so you might expect to see a new avatar coming out soon as we approach the heart of summer in Maine.

PR: Can I check in again after your fall marathon, or have you had enough of me?

BM: I sure hope so!

Addendum: In December 2010, Brendan was featured as the Dailymiler of the week; feel free to catch up on his accomplishments for the rest of the year by reading his interview there.

You may also find these interesting:

• Predawn Profile – Brian Adkins (@MarathonBrian)
• Predawn Profile – Paul Sherman
• Predawn Profile – Jeni Henrickson
• Predawn Profile – Brian Vinson (Reverend Run)

Tags: dailymile, inspiration, interview, lifestyle, Motivation, twitter

Posted in Profiles
18 Comments Posted by Greg