Momentous Moments: Ryan Murdoch

Ryan Murdoch Is Ready for Boston

You might run a marathon alone, but as Ryan Murdoch knows only too well, it takes a community to get you to the start line. The Momentous manager will be lining up for his second Boston marathon next Monday with a near-perfect bank of training behind him, and he appreciates that it’s the support of his wife Laura, his boss and fellow runner Matt Chorney, and Momentous that have helped him get there.

For his wife, it will be her third Boston marathon, and they’ve done the lion’s share of their training together. Ryan, who works as senior fulfillment and logistics manager at Momentous, said: “We’re both runners and we met through running; we’ve been together since we were 19 so we’ve gone through all the ups and downs when it comes to running.

“It’s always good to have that person who understands what you're going through and they're very supportive of your training for an event. The preparation is pretty involved and there’s a lot of hours that go into it.”

Preparation Is Everything

Known for its challenging course profile, Ryan and Laura have been doing their homework and trying to simulate the Boston course as best they can in their training.

He said: “When we did our longest long run, we wanted to do it from a certain place so we could simulate certain things for Boston. By the time we got up, got to the location, ran for three plus hours, went back to pick the car up and then got home, it took most of the day. Just having that person that has a shared common goal and understands that this is something that you really want to put your best effort into is certainly very important.”

Support at Home and Work

And fortunately for Ryan, he has plenty of support in his work life too. His boss, Momentous VP of Product Matt Chorney, has been a friend since their college days together at Sacred Heart University where they both ran track and cross country.

Ryan says: “Having a boss who’s a runner too is definitely beneficial. He recognizes that even though I might be gone for an hour’s run at lunchtime, ultimately it leaves me happy in my work and means I can give my best in the second half of the day because I’ve accomplished my athletic goal for the day and all that other good stuff that comes with working out—you feel better, happier, a little more attuned to stuff, more focused.”

He added: “Momentous understands, too, that if you're physically and mentally fit, you’re going to perform as best you can in your daily work. It’s super important to have a manager and an employer who recognizes your athletic goals and sees the value in getting out there for your workout.”

Having the talent to qualify for the Boston Marathon is a feat—many runners seek that coveted “BQ,” or Boston qualifying time, but only 30,000 actually earn the right each year. Ryan snagged his spot at the Monumental Marathon with a time of 2:58, a full seven minutes under the needed 3:05 for his age group, in spite of challenging weather conditions.

Well Prepared

Overall, he says his training for the race has gone very well, so he’s hopeful of beating his current PR of 2:54. “I’ve been able to average around 65 or 70 miles per week,” he says, “even getting up to 75 miles some weeks. I’ve stayed injury free, which is half the battle in marathon training.”

Ryan supplements his training with several Momentous products, including Turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties following hard workouts, Recovery protein powder following long runs, Apigenin for improved sleep, and PR Lotion to offset fatigue during his runs.

As marathon day approaches, Ryan is already watching the forecast because it can make or break the day. He’s also reminding himself to take it out slowly in the early, downhill miles of the famous course. “If you don’t take care of your pace in the first half, you can end up overextended in the second half,” he says. “If everything goes well, I feel like I could set a new PR.”