Podcast: Episode 125 with Marcus Brown

Mario Fraioli | September 7, 2020

“Running isn’t always comfortable. It’s not always like some sort of nirvana that you’re jumping out of bed and clicking your heels to do. But having those kind of whys really kind of reframed me rather than having one why of, ‘it must be about the medal, it must be about the time.’ You have different whys…you need a pocket full of whys basically depending on the day to achieve your goals, really.”

Marcus Brown, known as @themarathonmarcus on Instagram, is a six-star World Marathon Majors finisher from London. He hosts the A Runner’s Life Podcast, and he’s one of the co-founders of Black Trail Runners, a UK-based community and campaigning group that seeks to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of Black people in trail running.

We covered a lot of ground in this episode. Marcus told me about his journey into running, how his relationship with it has evolved over the years, and why he views the marathon as a metaphor for life. We also discussed his relationship to anxiety, learning to be happy within yourself, and why it’s important to have a pocket full of whys. He also told me about growing up black in the UK and why he had chip on his shoulder as a kid, launching Black Trail Runners and the fight for intentional inclusion in the sport, and the importance of opening up access to running and creating positive change in our local communities. We also geeked out about podcasting, talked about Marcus’ relationship with Instagram, where he has a sizable following, and much more.

Marcus Brown: Website | Black Trail Runners | Instagram | Twitter

the morning shakeout: Instagram | Twitter

Mario Fraioli: Website | Strava

This episode is brought to you by:

New Balance. The Fresh Foam 1080v10 has been a go-to for me since January and I continue to be impressed with its comfort, versatility, and durability. I’ve beat the crap out of this shoe on long runs, easy runs, and fartlek sessions and it still feels great under and around my feet, providing a secure, well-cushioned ride that’s not mushy at all. And for what it’s worth, the last two trips I took before COVID-19 killed my spring and summer travel plans, this is the only running shoe I brought with me. If you’re looking for a workhorse to add to your own stable of shoes this fall, check out the 1080v10 at newbalance.com.

Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford at BaresRecords.com