Anyone who’s dragged themselves out of bed before the world wakes up knows the hardest part of going for a run is often getting started. Once you’re up and that fresh Kiwi breeze is hitting your face, the real runner’s high starts to kick in—or, you’re just bloody freezing but hey, at least you’re feeling alive. Marathon junkie or casual jogger, if you run, you’re a runner—and everyone who pounds the pavement started by chucking on some sneakers and giving it a red hot go.
No one knows that steep motivational and mental challenge more than local content creator Mack Dewar. A few weeks ago, our mates at New Balance gave this rookie runner the experience of a lifetime: the chance to run the NYC Marathon backed—and quite literally propelled—by their slick Fresh Foam X 1080. But Mack’s running story started long before he hopped on a plane bound for the Big Apple.
Post-marathon, we spoke to Mack about why he got into running, what he did to prepare for the big day, and how it felt when he crossed the finish line and saw his dad waving the Kiwi flag. Here’s what he told us.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into running and what were your goals?
2019 was one of the hardest years of my life. After going through a tough challenge in my career, I found myself facing some mental health issues I'd never had to deal with before. My running journey started purely as a coping mechanism for my anxiety.
What started as a way to escape the slew of negative thoughts, slowly turned into a mental sanctuary. Initially, there were no goals in mind—until I decided to sign up for a virtual 10k. The sense of achievement I felt after completing that was incredible. I was hooked.
Why is running special to you and where do you get motivation from?
We live in a world where everything and everybody is trying to grab our attention—I love running for the ‘me time’. I know that when I run, I get that time to myself to process thoughts, work through problems and come up with ideas. A lot of my motivation comes from wanting to improve—and there’s only one way to do that—by running more.
When did you first decide you wanted to run the NYC marathon and why?
I’ve always had an affinity for NYC. When I visited in 2017, I fell in love. So, when I started running in 2019, it was my dream to one day run the marathon. Six years later, I’ve done it.
Tell us about the Floor Twelve Run Club. What it is, why did you start it and where are you today?
FTRC was born out of a trip I took to New York earlier in the year. I made my way around a few different run clubs and loved the culture and community. I noticed a gap in the Christchurch market for a year-round run club. There are a few that run seasonally for certain races but I wanted to give people the ability to run socially year round. It’s been such an incredible experience fostering the community, meeting new people, and watching the community grow.
We’ve all heard it before, but is there really such a thing as a runner’s high?
Absolutely! I still get it after every single run. I can’t really explain it. Maybe go out for a run and feel it yourself.
Why is a good running shoe so important?
Finding the right shoe is massive. Staying injury free is always one of my biggest goals going into any training block. The Fresh Foam X 1080 provided everything I needed from an everyday trainer. It’s lightweight and feels good on the foot—plus, it provides a good cushion for those long and slow miles.
Tell us about how it felt running across that finish line. What was going through your head?
It was pretty emotional. I had just seen my parents in the last 200m of the race, and Dad was holding the NZ flag. I had struggled through the last 10k, fighting off cramps and trying to push on as fast as I could. It was everything I had done over the last 12 weeks, every early morning run, gym session, cold plunge, sauna, coaching call and early night had got me to this position.
I was just proud—proud of myself, proud to represent my country and proud to have been chosen for this opportunity to represent a brand like New Balance on the world stage.
Mack’s Tips For Running A Marathon
Getting Started
Look After Yourself, And Don’t Get Injured
Heading into any training block, the biggest things I'm focussed on are: how do I not get injured and how do I not get sick? For the most part, running can take care of itself—but if you’re injured or sick, you can’t run and you can’t make progress.
Focus On Lower Body Strength Training
There was a focus on lower-body strength training. Identify weak areas and work on them. Those early morning gym sessions will help you more than you think.
Get Yourself A Decent Coach
Running a marathon is equal parts physical and mental. When you’re first starting out, it can be overwhelming and the physical aspect of training for a marathon can be taxing enough. Bringing in an experienced coach who can guide you through the process can be a huge unlock and take away some of that mental load.
Lifestyle And Planning
Food Is Fuel, So Eat Up
You wouldn’t leave for a road trip with no gas in the tank and the same applies for running. Make sure you fuel your body correctly so it can perform at its best—especially during those harder sessions or long runs.
Lay Off The ‘Gram And Go To Sleep
People underestimate the importance of sleep and how powerful it is as a recovery tool. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep so your body has time to rest and recover.
Get Organised And Create A Running Schedule
Start by creating a running schedule and plan your weeks. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to build up quickly—slow and steady wins the race. I was running about six times a week in the lead-up to the marathon, with a harder workout on a Wednesday— like hill repeats or a pyramid workout. Then, I was doing a long run on Saturdays.
Don’t Let Your Ego Get In The Way
People think that to get better or faster at running, you need to be running faster than you did the previous day. The truth is—that's not true at all.
Before The Big Day
Carb Load—In NYC, That Means Bagels
A few days out, we started our carb load, increasing the amount of carbs consumed and decreasing proteins and fats. It was pretty easy to do in a city like New York with its bagel selection.
Put Your Feet Up And Stay Hydrated With Electrolytes
We were also focused on staying hydrated with electrolytes and staying off our feet as much as possible. We went for a 5k shakeout with the Aussie New Balance crew, as well as Tim Rossi from Lost Boys Track Club on Saturday and then we just chilled for the rest of Saturday before getting an early night.
Marathon running is an aerobic sport and to build your aerobic base, you need to be running at a relatively easy effort for the majority of your training. It doesn’t look very sexy on Strava, but you’ll thank yourself on race day.
Has Mack convinced you to give running a go? Us too. Get prepped to hit the track with New Balance’s Fresh Foam X 1080. These slick and functional shoes feature a unique combination of reliable comfort and high performance—taking you from everyday runs around the block through to race day.
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Image Credit: Mack Dewar