Nathan Brown

Athlete of the Month

Nathan Brown

Event: Marathon

Are You Looking For Something to Step Up Your Morning Running Routine?

“2before is freaking awesome. I’ve been taking this stuff religiously for about 4 months now. It’s great for performance, recovery, and immunity. I take it when I need a boost for a late afternoon gym session, when I’m feeling run down or sick, and sometimes just because it tastes good 😅 (I’m totally serious). If you’re skeptical about it, just reach out to me on Instagram, and I’ll send you some to try for free!” - Austin Miller, Pro Runner for Tinman Elite

Interview with Nathan Brown

Nathan has used Hammer & Axe training plans, specifically Reed Fischer’s sub 2:30 marathon plan, to achieve his running goals.

Q: Hey Nathan! Welcome to The Axe. How’s it going today?

Hello! It is an honor to be here. I am doing well, thank you for asking. Currently, I am in Hawaii for a little over a week, which is a great change from the weather in the UK.

Q: Can you give the readers some background on your running journey so far and how you ended up where you are today?

I've had quite the running journey! Initially, I participated in track and field during high school to stay fit for football, and I was likely the slowest on the team in the 400m. However, after joining the Air Force in 2016, I gradually fell in love with long-distance running and saw results over the years. I started with distances ranging from 32 miles to 100 but recently decided to focus on the marathon to complete the six major marathons (Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon) and determine my best performance before returning to ultramarathons.

Q: If I remember right, you run for some great causes. Can you talk about those in a bit more detail?

Yes, I was fortunate enough to participate in the London Marathon this year as a means of raising funds for Brain Research UK! It was an unforgettable experience and the support from the community was incredible. Running for a charity is a great way to combine your passion for running with supporting a cause that you care about.

Additionally, many charities provide support and resources to their runners, such as training plans and fundraising guidance, which can help you achieve your goals while also making a difference. The Brain Research Team constantly reached out to see how my training was going and if I needed any help with raising funds! Overall, running for a charity at a big world major marathon can be an incredibly rewarding experience both personally and socially.

Q: How’d you hear about Hammer & Axe? Why’d you choose to use one of our training plans instead of making your own or using another resource?

Initially, my attention was captured by Tinman Elite, specifically, Reed Fischer's impressive 9th-place finish at the Chicago Marathon in 2021. I then discovered that Hammer & Axe training offers sub-2:30 marathon plans, and I was invested right away. Given that my personal record was 2:52, I was aware that my aspirations were ambitious. For a considerable period, I faced obstacles in surpassing the 3-hour marathon mark. However, upon accomplishing this feat, a spark in me ignited which compelled me to seek guidance from elite athletes through an actualized training plan.

Q: Has being on a dedicated training plan changed the way you approach training?

Being on a dedicated training plan has improved my times drastically in all distances ranging from 1 mile to 26 miles. It provided me structure and guidance helping me to avoid over-training through the use of progressive overload! It helped me stay motivated and accountable, as training was much different than what I’ve been doing. I was able to get to my goal race injury free and the fittest I’ve been in years!

Q: What are you currently training for, and what are your goals for the next year of running?

For the first time, I am training for the 1500m! Quite different than training for the marathon… I get the opportunity to represent USAFE (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) in the Netherlands on May 23rd, where I’ll compete against six other countries. My goal is to shoot for sub 4:00 in the 1500m, but most importantly get some experience in this event. At the tail end of the year, I’m shooting for sub 2:30 again during the Berlin Marathon!

Q: Any last thoughts or advice for our readers, Nathan?

I have found that taking rest days and listening to your body's signals are key to avoiding burnout and maintaining a sustainable training schedule. Not everyone can run every day of the week and sometimes twice a day. It's always better to take a break or reduce intensity when needed, rather than pushing through pain or fatigue.

Keep up with Nathan! 👇

Nathan’s Strava

Nathan’s Instagram

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