Megan Murray knows a thing or two about hard work.
She played college squash at Harvard. She competed in last year’s HYROX Boston. She’s strong as hell. And as our Partnerships Manager, she spends her days connecting NOBULL with all the people and organizations that matter. But what she hasn’t done (yet) is run a marathon.
That changes this November when Megan takes on the New York City Marathon. She's running to push her own limits and chase new goals, while raising money for CitySquash, a nonprofit that uses squash, academics, and mentorship to help uplift young people in The Bronx and Brooklyn.
We caught up with her after a workday run to talk through the prep, the plan, and what it means to “Run the Season” like never before.
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NOBULL: You’ve been an athlete your whole life. So what’s motivating you to run a marathon, and why now?
Megan Murray: The lifelong athlete and former college squash player in me gets fired up by having something hard to train for. While training in some capacity has always been an important part of my daily routine, I love chasing new and ambitious goals, grinding through a structured training plan, and seeing how far I can push myself.
NB: Ok, so why this marathon? Why NYC?
MM: Considering I’m one of those diehard Knicks fans who just got a 2026 Championship-inspired tattoo, I’d say my connection to New York runs pretty deep! I was born in NYC and grew up just outside the city. And it’s safe to say my New York sports allegiance has survived the 15 years I’ve lived in Boston.
The NYC Marathon is extra special to me because I have the opportunity to fundraise and run on behalf of an organization I’ve been proud to contribute to for many years called CitySquash. It’s an incredible nonprofit that uses academic support, squash, mentorship, and more to help young people from underserved communities in NYC reach their full potential. It’s even more motivating to know that all of the miles I’m putting in are helping to raise money for a life-changing organization.
NB: How have you been training for this? Have you adjusted your other routines to accommodate marathon training?
MM: I started following a 20-week marathon training plan through Runna in early June, and it’s been an amazing experience. As I mentioned, the college athlete (and very type A) part of me loves a training plan and checking sessions off the list. The plan has typically been 5 days of running per week, including a couple of easy runs, two speed/hill days, and one long run every week. Beyond the running, I’ve backed off a lot of the heavy lifting and higher intensity hybrid fitness that was previously part of my routine, in favor of lower body mobility and accessory work, low-impact Solidcore strength sessions, and some biking mixed in (an extra endurance boost that doesn’t kill my legs).
NB: Do you prefer running alone or with friends? Who’s your crew?
MM: I’m very lucky to be training for and running NYC with two of my coworkers and close friends, Oliver and Pete. Before we had our sights set on the NYC Marathon, we already dedicated most of our Saturdays to a long run followed by an even longer coffee/pastry session (shameless @bakeryboysrunclub plug). Not only has training with them been a blast and held me accountable, but trying to keep up with them means I’ve definitely been running a lot faster than I thought was possible.
NB: What’s your goal for this race? How did you set it, and do you have a strategy in mind?
MM: As a first-time marathoner, my main goal is to make it across the finish line in one piece (knock on wood). My body has felt amazing in this training cycle so far, but I went through double-knee surgery many, many years ago that’s left me with a little less cartilage to work with than I’d like.
The real, but very ambitious, goal is to try to beat my dad’s time—3:16:56. Realistically, this might be more something to work towards with marathon number two or three, but he ran the NYC Marathon back in 2005, and the unhealthily competitive person in me would like to one-up him.
I’m still feeling out what my race day strategy will be, especially now as I get into some of the really long practice runs in my plan. But my general strategy will likely be to start slow and build. I want to avoid coming out too hot and getting overwhelmed by the moment initially, so I’m hoping to ease into my paces and let the city’s energy fuel me down the stretch.
NB: What's different about your mindset around a long run as opposed to a tough workout?
MM: I’d say the long runs have been a bit more challenging for me mentally than a brutal workout because the preparation and build-up feel more daunting. That said, it’s gotten much easier as I’ve learned how to properly fuel my body. And now the mindset around surviving feels pretty much the same as any other workout: surrounding myself with good people who push me (and don’t let me quit) and a healthy dose of explicit rap music to distract me from the pain.
NB: How do you recover after a long run and get ready for the next one?
MM: The long run recovery always starts with an excessive amount of caffeine and pastries. The rest of the routine typically includes an Epsom salt bath, Hyperice boots, foam rolling and stretching, and lots of hydration.
NB: Any tips for other first-time marathoners?
MM: Follow a plan. Find training buddies who are faster than you, push you, and hold you accountable. Practice your race day fueling early. Keep the easy runs easy. Prioritize strength, mobility, and recovery around all of the miles.
NB: Best running route in Boston or NYC?
MM: Nothing beats running by the water. Our typical route includes the Harbor Walk around Dorchester and South Boston near NOBULL HQ, but running along the Charles River and the esplanade is also hard to beat. I’ve actually done very little running in NYC, but I can’t wait to experience the city in this new way.
NB: And we know you’d probably say “everything”, but what’s one NOBULL product you have to have with you on race day?
MM: I swear by our Quarter Crew Performance Socks; the perfect material and fit to keep my feet cool and blister-free while logging so many miles. And immediately after the race, you’ll definitely find me limping around NYC in a pair of our Recharge Slides.
NB: Post-run plans? What's the next challenge on the list?
MM: Much to my mom’s dismay, I see a lot more running in my future. She's understandably cautious about my knees and the toll on my body, but I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve loved the training and am already brainstorming future half and full marathons. That said, I’ve definitely missed lifting heavy and doing more hybrid training, so I could see myself mixing things up in between.
NB: Lastly, what does “Run the Season” mean to you? Is every season marathon-season now?
MM: To me, “Run the Season” is about embracing the entire process, not just the finish line. The marathon is obviously the big goal, but there’s something really rewarding about committing to the training, showing up on the days I don’t feel like it, and seeing what I’m capable of over the course of a season. I don’t know if that means every season will be marathon-season for me now, but I’ve certainly caught the bug.
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Megan’s race day is coming up (we can just about smell the finish-line croissants and coffee from here). But ask Oliver, Pete, or the team at CitySquash, and it’s clear; whether she crushes Dad’s time or not, it’s already been a hell of a season to run.
