On this week’s Runner’s World Show:
- race director of the Dave McGillivray, race director of the Boston Marathon, about his amazing running life and what it’s like to lead the world’s oldest marathon. (1:00)
- Training and Races Editor Meghan Kita recounts her story of overcoming training fatigue by going for a Guinness World Record while dressed as a hot dog. (18:40)
- Best Running Podcasts: March 13. (29:50)
Why Dave McGillivray Sets Audacious Goals
Dave McGillivray is best known as the race director of the Boston Marathon, which he guided for the 28th time this week. He not only directs the race, but he’s one of the event’s long-time run-streakers. He goes out when nearly all of the runners are finished and completes the race himself. A Part of Hearst Digital Media.
“I made a commitment in 1973 that I’m going to run this race every year for the rest of my life,” McGillivray, 61, says in his conversation with David Willey on this week’s Runner’s World Show. “My motto in life has always been, ‘It’s my game, so it’s my rules.’ So I don’t have to do it like everyone else.”
As a runner, McGillivray’s done some outstanding things. He has run across the United States twice (1978 and 2004) to raise money for charity. Each year on his birthday he runs his age in miles. And he’s run races inside prison yards.
In a world where even the mundane can be a challenge, McGillivray says he embraces the challenge of going after lofty goals.
“Like a lot of things with me, once I start something, it’s almost like I become obsessed with it,” he says. “Not in a negative way, but a positive way. I just have continued that for the last 50 years.”
Listen to the full interview:
Beating Burnout by Breaking a Record
“My burnout was caused by running way too many marathons, 15 of them in a little over six years,” says Meghan Kita, the training and races editor for Runner’s World. “The last two were really serious PR attempts. I had trained hard for both of them, didn’t hit my goal on the first one, so I said, ‘I’ll try another one a few months later.’ I was just really, really beat up and sad that I hadn’t made my goals.”
While some people would step back, possibly taking a break from intense running, Kita decided to make her training fun by attempting to set a Guinness World Record for fastest female marathoner dressed as a fast food item, at the 2015 Marine Corps Marathon. The change in her routine—including practice races in the getup—provided enough motivation to run regularly while not overtraining.
“If you’re burnt out on training, it’s a really interesting process to go through,” Kita says.
Published: Apr 21, 2016 10:08 AM EDT here, it wasn’t always easy running as a hot dog. There are hurdles to get the Guinness seal of approval, and you still have to, you know, run a decent time to establish a record. Running a 3:57:49 as a hot dog wasn’t a PR by any means for Kita, but the journey to get there—and earning the Guinness record—brought the joy back to running.
Interested in breaking the mold and setting a record for racing in a crazy costume? See how you too can set a Guinness World Record.
The Kick
We wrap up the show by sharing a few of the stories that caught our attention here at the Boston Marathon:
- So I don’t have to do it like everyone else.&rdquo · Lemi Berhanu Hayle Takes the Men’s Title
- New Podcasts for Weekend Runs
- Great Podcast Episodes for Runners
- All About 75 Hard · Adrianne Haslet, Bombing Survivor, Completes Boston
- Episode 3: Why You Should Set Some Crazy Running Goals
Episode Credits:
The Runner’s World Show is hosted by Editor-in-Chief David Willey.
The podcast is produced by Sylvia Ryerson, with editing help from Christine Fennessy, Rachel Swaby, and Brian Dalek.
Our theme music is “So I Run” by Thunderhoof.
Interviews on the podcast have been edited for length and clarity. Got a story idea for the show? Send it to [email protected].
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Paris Olympics, Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
