Malcolm Connor On Patience & Boston
For the record, Malcolm Connor didn’t come into the marathon the usual way.
A former 800m runner, he now holds a 2:28:41 marathon personal best and a 1:07:23 half marathon, but his path into long distance has been anything but typical. The shift forced a different kind of mindset: More patience and more trust in the process.
Now based in North Carolina, he’s building towards the Boston Marathon 2026, putting in consistent, high-mileage weeks and focusing less on perfection and more on showing up.
For him, that’s what running has become.
A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT IT
Since joining PROJECT3, something has shifted. “I don’t have to do this. I get to do this.”
It’s simple, but it changes everything. Being around other runners has helped Malcolm too. With different backgrounds and different reasons for being there, you start to see how personal the sport actually is.
THE TRAINING BEHIND IT
At peak, Malcolm is running 75 to 80 miles a week.
That includes speed sessions, longer threshold work, and long runs that aren’t just about distance, but effort. While it’s structured, it is not rigid.
He’s recently moved from New England to Raleigh, which has also made a difference. Milder winters means more consistency and fewer interruptions.
Right now, the goal isn’t just chasing times. “In an ideal world, it’s always a PB. But it doesn’t have to be. It’s more about how I feel off the back of the training.”
CLOSER TO RACE DAY
As Boston gets closer, things start to shift and his focus is on more sleep, less intensity and less chasing. It’s about arriving in the right place, not squeezing in one more hard session.
WHEN IT GETS HARD
The marathon is a different challenge when you’ve come from shorter distances. “It’s just long. You need patience.”
There’s also the practical side: Fuelling and timing matters and if you get it wrong and you feel it. When things start to go, he keeps it simple: “You can do hard things.”
Sometimes it’s that. Sometimes it’s the crowd. Just something to pull your attention away for a minute.
QUICK FIRE
Pre-race meal: Pad Thai
Which marathon are you running: Boston 2026
Favourite route: William B Umstead State Park
Morning or evening: Morning
Solo or group: Both, but groups help
Running style: Chill
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE
“Enjoy it. Especially the race. It’s a celebration of the work you’ve put in. Don’t forget to smile.”
You can follow Malcolm’s marathon journey via his instagram @malcolmeconnor
