Boston Marathon Q&A: Brendan Kearney

This post is part of our Boston Marathon Q&A, where we ask local runners about their journey from the streets of Boston to the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon. 

Brendan Kearney. Photo provided.

Name: Brendan Kearney
Age: 30
Residence: Cambridge, MA

What did your training regimen look like?
I only got up to around 35 miles a week this time. [My] longest runs were around 17 miles in two hours. I plan to run a comfortable pace and enjoy my fourth Boston (seventh marathon overall).

What was the hardest part of training?
Sometimes, it was just putting aside work and getting out the door for a run.

What’s your favorite pre-race (night before) meal?
I’m a big fan of chicken parmesan with penne.

What is your favorite post-race meal?
Gotta get a Boloco burrito.

How will you stay motivated during the course?
I’m going to be working at the Boston Running Film Festival all weekend, so I will get a healthy dose of motivation in before even getting to Hopkinton! The course support is awesome at Boston the whole way. I’m looking forward to the Somerville Road Runners at the 30K, the RaceMenu tent on Heartbreak Hill, and a bunch of my friends on Beacon Street just after Cleveland Circle.

Why do you run the Boston Marathon?
I ran cross country and track at the College of the Holy Cross and was primarily an 800-meter runner, so I didn’t think I’d ever run a marathon. However, I caught the bug when I took the train into Boston my junior year with friends to watch both a former teammate and a friend who were running. We spent all day screaming for anyone that had a name, a school, or a team on their shirt, and knew I had to run it someday.

Do you have any racing superstitions? 
I don’t drink orange juice the day of a race. It doesn’t end well.

What will you be doing the day after the Boston Marathon?
I’ll be coaching for the Malden Catholic track team and working the finish line at the Catholic Conference Relays.

Brendan Kearney. Photo provided.