EPISODE · Apr 10, 2026 · 12 MIN
Boston Marathon 2026: Joel Mays on Loss, Purpose & the Journey to Hopkinton
from DFW Running Talk · host Chris Detzel
Joel Mays didn't know what a marathon was when he watched runners shut down Boston streets as a college student in Rhode Island. Now he's one of 10 runners selected nationally by iFit to run the 2026 Boston Marathon on April 21st — and every mile he runs is dedicated to his daughter, who he lost to heart complications as a newborn.In this episode, Joel opens up about the moment he held his daugther until she was gone, why he writes her name on his race shoes, and the question he asks himself at mile 21 when things get hard. He also breaks down his 200-mile training month, his Boston race strategy, his back-to-back London Marathon plans, and his life as a private chef to NFL players, Army veteran, and run captain for Black Men Run Dallas.One of the most powerful stories in the Boston Bound series. Don't miss it.🏁 Boston Marathon 2026 | April 21 | Hopkinton to Boylston Street📬 Subscribe to the newsletter → dfwrunningtalk.substack.com
What this episode covers
Joel Mays didn't know what a marathon was when he watched runners shut down Boston streets as a college student in Rhode Island. Now he's one of 10 runners selected nationally by iFit to run the 2026 Boston Marathon on April 21st — and every mile he runs is dedicated to his daughter, who he lost to heart complications as a newborn.In this episode, Joel opens up about the moment he held his daugther until she was gone, why he writes her name on his race shoes, and the question he asks himself at mile 21 when things get hard. He also breaks down his 200-mile training month, his Boston race strategy, his back-to-back London Marathon plans, and his life as a private chef to NFL players, Army veteran, and run captain for Black Men Run Dallas.One of the most powerful stories in the Boston Bound series. Don't miss it.🏁 Boston Marathon 2026 | April 21 | Hopkinton to Boylston Street📬 Subscribe to the newsletter → dfwrunningtalk.substack.com
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Boston Marathon 2026: Joel Mays on Loss, Purpose & the Journey to Hopkinton
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