Extraordinary Strides

Running Boston with Purpose: Emily Brennan's Road to the Boston Marathon and Cancer Research

• Christine Hetzel • Season 3 • Episode 38

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Emily Brennan's journey into the world of marathon running is nothing short of inspirational. After college, she took up running to get healthier, finding it was more than just a physical endeavor; it became a balm for stress and a mental clarity booster. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of running, highlighting how it has become an integral part of her life and well-being. From her initial races with Team Alzheimer's to securing a coveted spot in the Boston Marathon, Emily's dedication shines through.

The push to run the Boston Marathon was fueled by a heartfelt mission—raising funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Emily's determination to support cancer research was sparked by the battles faced by her close friend's father and her cousin, making every mile run deeply personal. She shares the challenges of balancing rigorous training with the demands of fundraising, likening it to juggling multiple part-time jobs. Yet, the joy of being unexpectedly offered a charity spot filled her with gratitude and reinforced her commitment to making a difference in the fight against cancer.

If you’d like to support Emily’s mission, you can donate directly through her Dana-Farber Fundraising Page and follow her updates on Instagram and Facebook.

As Emily prepares to tackle the infamous Heartbreak Hill, she reflects on the camaraderie and support of the running community. Training with a team that shares her passion for fighting cancer has been invigorating, bringing her closer to like-minded individuals whose personal stories inspire her further. Throughout her training journey, Emily has embraced positive self-talk, focusing on enjoying the marathon experience rather than chasing personal records. Her story encourages us all to savor the moment and use our passions to contribute to causes that matter deeply.

Have questions or want to chat? Send me a text!

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Speaker 1:

Welcome back to Extraordinary Strides, the podcast where we celebrate ordinary people achieving extraordinary feats through running and movement. I'm your host, coach Christine, or your fairy run mother. I'm here to sprinkle a little inspiration into your day, and on the podcast we've been exploring running the majors. It's our new series and we are loving the opportunity to take you on a global adventure. We're covering the incredible experiences tied to the world's most prestigious marathons, but today we're adding a special bonus to the mix, as we highlight Emily Brennan's inspiring journey to Boston Marathon. For years, emily has watched the Boston Marathon and whispered to herself one day I'll be there, and this year, her one day has finally arrived. As a charity runner for Dana Farber Cancer Institute, emily's story is one of resilience, passion and purpose, and she's running not just for herself but in honor of a loved one affected by cancer, paying tribute to her best friend's father and celebrating her cousin's recovery. In this bonus episode, we'll dive into Emily's preparation for Boston, the emotional fuel driving her and what it means to be part of something so much bigger than the race itself.

Speaker 1:

Let's welcome Emily Brennan to the show. Welcome, emily. Hi, thank you for having me. I'm so excited to meet you. For the record, sue Fabulous Freitas, who is one of our most beloved members, is just. She spoke so highly of you that we're like we have to. We have to talk to Emily, so thank you for taking time and chatting with us out of your very busy day. Emily, I want to ask you if we could start at the beginning, because Boston is so iconic. What got you into running to where we are here now talking about Boston?

Speaker 2:

Sure. So I never was a runner like in high school, college, never ran, nothing like that. So after I graduated college I kind of wanted to adult and get a little bit healthier. So I was like maybe I'll try running. And my first run was awful. I tried to run around my block and I was like absolutely out of breath. I was like I can't do this. That was awful. How do people do this and make it look so fun? But since that run was so awful, it kind of gave me like motivation and determination to be like okay, I know people do this, I can do this. And ever since then I just kind of kept working at it and working at it, and now it's more than exercise for me. Now I kind of do it to like clear my head.

Speaker 1:

So you, when you say you got into kind of a little bit later on in life as a part of adulting, did you have a background in athletics or sports at all?

Speaker 2:

No, I mean, I played lacrosse in high school but when we had to run we used to have to run like around a few blocks around the high school and we would actually cut myself and a couple of my friends would cut through the track and field to skip out on some miles. So I was definitely never into it. I didn't run in college, so it just kind of happened post grad.

Speaker 1:

What do you think kind of clicked for you where it started to feel like more than just exercise and more a part of who you are and a bigger part of your life.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So I mean, like I said once, I kind of was determined to go around the block or go a mile without stopping, was determined to go around the block or go a mile without stopping. It kind of gave me a sense of, you know, like all day I'm at work and the weekends I have my other life. It gave me something more to motivate myself to do. And now you know, obviously if I'm training for a race, I'm kind of pushing for PRs, but outside of training, whenever I have a stressful day or like a bad day, I'm like, okay, I just need to go for a run and clear my head. It kind of gives me like the only part of my day that I really have to myself to reflect or get any anger or stress out.

Speaker 1:

Do I love that so much? Because I do think that's what running is for a lot of us. It's like it allows us to be who we are, where we don't have to worry about being judged or having any kind of pretense. So you've touched on the fact that, of course, you're training for Boston, but you've trained for other races. Can you tell us what was your foray into? Where it went from running maybe even for joy into I'm going to try to sign up for this race, and what was the distance?

Speaker 2:

Sure. So my first official race was in 2018. It was the Found With Road race. I worked at a nursing home back then and I worked in the memory care unit and I remember one of my co-workers saying she was going to run for Team Alzheimer's and I was like, oh, maybe I should do that, maybe I'll train and you train and see if I can go. I think that was the first time I ever did more than 5K, so it was a very big deal.

Speaker 2:

So I don't think I really even trained for that. I kind of just went for it and it was the races in August, so it was so hot out. I think I like there's a big hill at the end that I definitely walked, but I was so nervous at the start. But then you know, once you start running and there's so many people around you different ages, different abilities and you know the crowd is amazing. My family was there cheering me on and it just kind of the nerves kind of changed into like excitement and I was just happy to be there and it was. I remember being so tired once I finished because it was so hot out and I did not train. I probably didn't have any fluids or fuel. But ever since that feeling of running through the crowds with all those other runners, I was kind of hooked on the racing aspect.

Speaker 2:

It's an iconic race, that I mean for your first one out like so much fun, you went big, my friend.

Speaker 1:

That's pretty incredible. Like I thought you were going to say a typical, like I signed up for my local 5k. No, you went for like one of the truly iconic races of the whole racing world. So, for friends that aren't familiar, falmouth Road race is actually attended, really highly attended, by a huge field of Olympians and elites. Um, of course, there's also the extraordinary runners out there that are more of the recreational runners, but it's a beautiful, not typical, usual course. But I think it's only seven miles, right, yes, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

It's just I know I shouldn't even say that, but it's usually we think of like halves or foals or anything of that sort. But it's a seven mile race, it's just. It's a different distance that we're usually used to hearing. But I absolutely love that. It was your first foray into that world and I think we all can identify with signing up for a race and not necessarily knowing what we got ourselves into. So what came next after that? What made you decide? Okay, I really did enjoy this. I love the crowds, I love the energy. Where did you go after that?

Speaker 2:

Um. So after that I did I think there I've always done like the BAA 5k and 10k Um, so I did a couple of those and that's when I kind of started to get on more of like a training schedule, probably not really for the 5Ks but the 10Ks. I would kind of, you know, set up my weekly workouts like how many miles I should run. I focused more on like stretching and I kind of started to focus more on like time goals and PRs, not like super, super, like strict with it, but just, you know, focusing a little bit more on like the training and hitting PRs.

Speaker 1:

Okay, well, that's amazing. I'm curious how did you evolve from the 5k, 10k, seven mile range into where you are now training for Boston?

Speaker 2:

So I always went to Boston to watch the marathon. Obviously it's such a fun day for spectators, the energy is amazing and I remember I think I've gone every year besides the year that it was super monsooning and rain. And now, looking back, I'm like, oh, I feel bad. I wish I went because they were probably in desperate need of supporters.

Speaker 1:

Was that the year that Des Linden took home the win?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I believe so so.

Speaker 1:

I missed that too, okay.

Speaker 2:

But you know, I always just kind of went and it was always super fun and you know, I remember seeing, like, watching all the runners cross the finish line and I'm like, oh, that I wish, I wish I had it in me to, you know, motivate myself to run that much and train that much, and etc.

Speaker 2:

But I was kind of like I don't really, I don't really feel the need, like it's a, it's a bucket list, but not for me. Um, and then my uh, best friend from college, her father unfortunately lost his battle with pancreatic cancer almost a year no, it was last February. So, being in that position, I just felt so helpless because there was literally nothing that I could possibly do to, you know, take away her and her family's pain. And so I just was thinking of anything I could do to you know, support her or be there for her. So I started looking up you know charities for cancer and stuff like that, and she, I found um a charity and they were um, you could apply for a bid for them to the New York city marathon with them, and my friend lives in New York. So I was like, okay, like maybe you know, this is it, this is something I can do like for her and her family and you know in memory of her father.

Speaker 2:

So that was a great experience. It was really rewarding. It was very challenging. Obviously my first marathon kind of didn't really know what I was doing, but it was. It was really rewarding and it was really challenging and it was one of the best days of my life just crossing that finish line and going through the whole training program. It was mentally exhausting but also rewarding.

Speaker 1:

I feel like there's a theme to you, emily. I feel like you are a little like Emily. Go big Brennan, like that's like we're going to give you a new nickname because, like who goes into New York City as their first marathon, or who does?

Speaker 1:

the Thelma Road Race as their very first race ever. You really do choose the most iconic races, and New York City is a tough course. It's actually. It has more elevation changes and more elevation than Boston does, so it's a tough one. Congratulations on finishing that up, and I love that you dedicated the training and such a beautiful memory to honor a loved one, like with your friends, and honor their, their pain and their loss. So that's, it sounds like what also propelled you to move from New York city here to Boston. So did you cross the finish line and you're like you know what this move from New York City here to Boston. So did you cross the finish line and you're like you know what this is. This is just my jam. Now I, I'm gonna, I'm gonna make this happen again.

Speaker 2:

Pretty much, yeah, um, I remember, after I crossed the finish line, I was obviously I was so like high off adrenaline. I was like just so happy and excited and all my friends and family were there. Um, and then the next day, like marathon photo released all their photos. Obviously I bought them. It was like a hundred dollars for maybe five good photos where I didn't look like I was dying, um, but in every single photo I was smiling and I was showing them to my parents and they're like did you just smile the whole entire race. And I was like, yeah, I actually did. I was like I need to do this again. Like this was like, like I said, it was one of the best days of my life, so like I'm doing it again. So I was like, well, might as well bring it back home to Boston. So, um, I oh sorry.

Speaker 1:

So no, no, no, I'm just, I'm just amazed. Like you're going from New York City, like there's not even, you go straight into another training cycle.

Speaker 2:

Essentially, yep, my um friends and family were like you're crazy. You, your body's gonna like, your knee is gonna like break, you're never gonna raise the money like you're a psycho. And I was like, well, that makes me want to do it even more. So, thank you.

Speaker 1:

So you applied to the charity because you had already worked with this organization, this nonprofit, you knew that you could get a spot. I mean, tell us, walk us through this.

Speaker 2:

Like, how does this happen? So yeah, so for the charity I ran for New York, they actually only had five bibs for Boston and those bibs were already filled by the time New York was over. So I was kind of late to the ball with applying to charities and I know I know people who run Boston. They apply to multiple charities like far in advance. But I knew I only wanted to run with one. So that was Dana Farber and that's the only one I applied to and I just kind of you know again, I was late to the game.

Speaker 2:

I don't think I applied until right before thanksgiving, just because after the race, trying to get you know everything together. So I had applied with them, kind of explained my story um, you know, my cousin was treated there, um, I had just run New York and raised all this money. So you know, I'm confident I can meet my fundraising goal again, etc. Etc. So they actually came back a week later saying I was on the wait list. So that was actually super upsetting. I was totally crushed. But I was like you know what it okay, like I can wait till next year, like it just wasn't meant to be. And then another week later or maybe two weeks later, right before Christmas, they had emailed me again saying that I was awkward spot. So it was like an early Christmas present. It was like just such a great feeling.

Speaker 1:

I'd love to hear that. Well, congratulations. I want to just kind of reiterate to folks because as we continue to get into the World Marathon, majors becoming more and more and more popular spots are so much harder to get in every capacity, and I really am a big believer if there's a will, there's a way. So, being patient, going after exactly who you wanted to work with, that you're passionate about, because that makes such a huge difference, and I'm sure that they could tell when you were speaking to them that you were passionate about it. So here we are in Christmas and now we are ready to kick off training again. Or did you already kind of start your training at that time, knowing that you were going to make Boston happen? Or what are you thinking here? Cause you're like, now I have fundraising, which, for Boston, is no joke.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so I didn't. I'm on week three of my training for marathon and I'm also on week three of fundraising, so I'm a little behind but I'm confident I can make it happen. Um, it is. It's a little overwhelming because, like every time I see someone post like, oh, 100 days left to the marathon, or like I'm like, oh my gosh, that like I still have 100 days to raise, like this money and like that part is more, I think, overwhelming than the training. Um, the training gets tough and it requires a lot of dedication and I mean I really have to like remember why I signed up to do this. But then you know, once I get out there and I start running, it's fine, but it's definitely it's kind of like like it's like having two other part time jobs on top of your full time job.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Ok, so tell us more about why was this charity the one that called you? Why are you so passionate for fundraising for them?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so, um, like I said, my um best friend's father passed last February. Um, he lives in New York, so obviously he wasn't treated at Dana-Farber, but you know they actually used to work at Dana-Farber too. So I kind of saw the amount of money required to fund just one research project. And you know it's hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund one research project and you don't know if it'll flop or it'll turn into something. So I'm always, you know, an avid supporter of cancer research in any capacity. I mean looking even just, for example, at breast cancer, like many, many years ago. It was just completely different outlook of how it is now.

Speaker 2:

And also my little cousin he is 11 now, but when he was seven, he six and seven. So at age six he was diagnosed with lymphoma. And then he, when he was seven, actually on his seventh birthday or the day before his birthday, he returned home from Dana-Farber and he has been in remission ever since. So obviously, even though it was, you know, a few years years ago, watching him go through that, especially at such a young age, and just knowing like he did it, he made it through and he, you know, he conquered it, that was also motivating because I'm like he can do this, like I can show him that I could do this, like I'm doing this for him, like he, you know, he did something much more difficult than I will ever deal with. You know, I can run 26 miles for you know, in honor of the care he received and in honor of, you know, the research they fund.

Speaker 1:

I think you touched on exactly what is so special about specifically the work that they're doing is the fact that they're it's funding research, and I know a lot of times we, uh, we hear that and we think, oh, but it's research, it's not going directly to the patient, but it's actually so much bigger because it's going to potentially changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals with really cutting edge technology and findings, and you know, money does not grow on trees for them to be able to do this, but yet we are able to really save the lives of so many individuals. So I am so grateful that you're doing this and can't wait for folks to check out your fundraising link in episode notes. So, friends, definitely check out episode notes while you are either out for a run or a walk or just like go ahead and pause it, even screenshot it. You could come back to it at a later time, but we definitely want you to make some incredible donations here for Emily, okay, but we definitely want you to make some incredible donations here for Emily, okay. So we know that you are getting ready.

Speaker 1:

I don't want to do the countdown because I know that it's a little panicking as we think about it. But I'd love to know, like, where do you feel that you want to do things differently for this marathon? That maybe you learned from your experience at New York City?

Speaker 2:

I'm definitely incorporating more strength training and more stretching. I actually had a little IT band injury going into New York so that was not fun, but so I didn't strength train at all, I barely stretched. So definitely prioritizing both of those things, especially for, you know, Heartbreak Hill and the Wellesley Hills those are, you know, just a different beast. So definitely more strength training and stretching and focusing more on my nutrition as well, Just making sure I'm eating enough carbs, eating enough protein. Just you know what I need to be healthy for race day.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so you've made some tweaks so that you could definitely show up and feel your strongest. I am curious what are you most excited about, Since this is your iconic hometown race? You grew up watching it, spectating it. What are you most excited about for this course?

Speaker 2:

I, weirdly enough, am very excited for Heartbreak Hill because everyone always talks about it and I just want to be able to say that I conquered it. I want to be able to see what it is and just run up it and just you know, like this is what I've been waiting for my whole life to conquer Heartbreak Hill. I'm so excited to do it.

Speaker 1:

I loved Heartbreak Hill. I have to say I have a love hate for the Sitco sign. That Sitco sign was like the biggest tease I'm like. It felt like it was like I'm almost there, but it's also going on for 400 miles. So, yeah, the Heartbreak Hill I do think is exciting to conquer because it is we've heard about it Even if you haven't run a marathon before, even if you just are kind of learning about marathons. We've all heard of Boston. We've all heard of heartbreak hill. What are you looking forward to in terms of celebrating afterwards?

Speaker 2:

Well, obviously all my friends and family are going to be there For New York. I had a handful of friends that came, but obviously not all of them can make it just with the travel and everything I got. Just my parents and one of my brothers went. So it'll be nice to have all my family be able to come and cheer me on, all my family be able to come and cheer me on, and it'll just be, you know, exciting to frolic around the city with my medal on the city that I've, you know, lived in and known my whole life. It's just, it'll feel different because, you know, like I said, I watched it every year. Now I get to experience and show off my medal and all the local bars that I go to.

Speaker 1:

So you want to soak it all in, essentially from start to finish, Okay, and with the power of the community that you have? It sounds like you have a great family network and a friend network. Tell us more about how you're connecting your passion for running fundraising in the community.

Speaker 2:

Sure. So obviously, my friends and family are very supportive, even though they think I'm crazy. Uh, they've always been, you know, supportive. Um, my boyfriend actually went during New York. He would roller blade on my long runs with me, um, which was nice.

Speaker 2:

But, um, going off of that, I now have um, dana Farber marathon challenge has a team and they do weekly team long runs every Saturday and that has just been so incredible.

Speaker 2:

No offense to my boyfriend, but it's just been amazing to you know, run with people that are, you know, running for the same reason, and I've I've met so many people through that. And that's like another support system, I can add, because, like my friends and family, they're always going to be supportive of everything I do. They're obviously supportive of the work that Dana Farber is doing, you know so, to save my cousin's life, but none of my friends and family run, so they don't really understand that whole side of it. So the Dana-Farber team has just been such a great support system to lean on and just hang out with every Saturday. And you know, I'm running with people who are running for the same reason, like we all want to end cancer. So, and everyone has their own unique story of why they're running, who they're running for. Some of them have been running for the team for over 20 years. Some of them it's their 10th marathon, so it's just it's really inspiring and it's it's it's a great addition to my support system.

Speaker 1:

I was going to ask what made this training cycle different than New York City, but I think I just got it right out of the gate. Like this is it really has been. You've been able to lean completely into this community that's also as passionate about the cause that you guys are fundraising for. Are you able to do some of the long runs on the course or sections of the course?

Speaker 2:

Yes, we have been doing them on the course. We haven't done Heartbreak Hill yet, but we've been doing them on the course and some of the hills in Wellesley are very difficult and some of the hills in Wellesley are very difficult, okay, okay.

Speaker 1:

So you've been challenging yourself a little bit in multiple different ways. There's a lot of growth going on. It feels like in 2025, as you make your way to Boston, definitely.

Speaker 2:

Do you?

Speaker 1:

feel like as you lead into Boston. Are you thinking that this may change your perspective on running, racing or marathons?

Speaker 2:

I'm hoping that I have a good experience, like I did in New York, and that I'm inspired to run more. But I guess it kind of just depends on my race day experience. But I'm hoping it all goes well and I feel as good as I did after New York. Then I'm sure I'll be signing up for another one.

Speaker 1:

The next day again Are we thinking do you have any insight that you're considering Well?

Speaker 2:

I am already registered to run Chicago Funny story. So when I the week after I had applied to Dana-Farber and they put me on the wait list, I was like okay, next year, thinking there's no way I'm going to get off the wait list I'm sure they have. Like you said, boston's so difficult to get into I was like you know what? I'm probably one of like 700 others on the wait list. So I applied and got a charity bid for Chicago and then a week later I was in Boston. So now I'm just running all year, which I'm very excited about.

Speaker 1:

Oh, my goodness. Okay, so it sounds like you're chasing some stars. Here is what I'm hearing. Okay, I'm curious. When you are done with this journey, I definitely want you to come on back and let me know what your favorites were from the star journey, cause they all are so incredibly unique. Um, would you be willing to stick around a little bit longer and play a bit of maybe Boston marathon or Boston this or that with me, cause I'm kind of curious.

Speaker 1:

Now I was getting if you were more excited about heartbreak Hill or Boylston, but I already hear that you're definitely excited. You're going to be excited about Boylston once you're done with Heartbreak Hill, though, I will tell you.

Speaker 2:

That's true, I'm sure I will. I'll probably be done to get over with.

Speaker 1:

So I am curious what are you more excited about, Like the spectator crowds at Boston or the scream tunnel at Wellesley?

Speaker 2:

Oh, that's tough. I think the scream tunnel. I think I like I need the crowd, I want the crowd to be screaming at me, that I like don't even need my headphones because I can't hear the music anyways.

Speaker 1:

That's the kind of vibe I need. I'm totally with you. Now, do you feel like you would prefer more of like? Do you gravitate more towards like, a morning shakeout run or a post-race beer Like? What are you more excited about?

Speaker 2:

Definitely post-race beer or five.

Speaker 1:

Okay, are you thinking you're going to have the metal or your finisher's jacket as your most prized possession?

Speaker 2:

Jacket? For sure, I already have it. It's hanging up in my closet, but I will not touch it.

Speaker 1:

I love that. You just kind of like in the morning when you don't necessarily want to get your training, like you're running shoes on and you look at your jacket.

Speaker 2:

You are a smart smart woman, my friend.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so what have you found is more difficult to train in? And maybe some of your new England winters or the heat of the summers with those hills, you know?

Speaker 2:

originally I was going to say the summer, because I hate the winter. I hate everything about winter. I hate being cold. I don't ski anything like that. I love the summer, but now that I've been training in the winter it is so much like more comfortable than the blazing hot sun it's. I've actually I ran in the snow on Saturday and I actually loved it. So, shockingly, I'm going to say the winter.

Speaker 1:

What I love is hearing you kind of have a hesitation. You're like I ran in snow and I loved it.

Speaker 2:

You're like who is this?

Speaker 1:

person. What does she do with Emily?

Speaker 2:

Exactly, I usually don't leave my house in the snow, so that was.

Speaker 1:

I got you, I do it's. It's different. I will say that heat and humidity is no joke to deal with. Okay, so it sounds like we're going to be cheering you on through quite a few epic finish lines this particular year, but I want to reiterate again that you're fundraising for an incredible, incredible mission. So, friends, we do want to follow Emily and her journey. If you want to follow her on socials, I'm including those in episode link, but I'm going to encourage you all to definitely help give back to all of the incredible things that she's doing. Before we end this, I want to ask if you could go back to when you first started running, what advice would you give to yourself?

Speaker 2:

I would say not to be so hard on myself. And you know, like I said, my first run I was out of breath. I could barely make it around the block. So that obviously came with negative self-talk, like you're never going to be able to run like a mile without stopping. You're never going to be able to run like a mile without stopping, you're never going to be able to do a 5k. Um. So just more like positivity in the way that I talk to myself.

Speaker 1:

Do you feel like that's something you see? This is why I can never finish a podcast on time. Do you think that this is something that running has helped you to have more positive self-talk?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, I definitely still have my days um more, especially if you know, I'm trying to PR at a race and some of my training runs are a little bit sluggish. Um, but overall definitely has helped.

Speaker 1:

I'm hearing are you considering trying to PR at Boston? Or reserving that for Chicago.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think, I think what I? I don't think. So I think I'm going to enjoy the moment, soak in the race, soak in the crowd, and not put that pressure on myself. I mean, I'll train for one, but I'm not going to be like upset if it doesn't happen because, I just want to experience it and live in the moment and not be glued to my watch the whole time.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you want to take all the incredible selfies and really not go so fast that you don't get to sink in all this incredible experience. Well, that's awesome, Emily. I can't wait to continue following you on this and I appreciate you coming on and sharing your journey.

Speaker 2:

Of course. Thank you so much for having me.

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