424. Dave McGillivray, Boston Marathon Race Director

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 September 2021

⏱️ 83 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"We all have something in common. You know what it is? We woke up this morning. Not everyone else did. There's the best reason to go for a run."

Dave McGillivray is many things — philanthropist, motivational speaker, 166-time marathoner with a 2:29 PR, Ironman triathlete with a 10:36 PR, father, World Marathon Challenge finisher — but he is best known for his role as race director of the Boston Marathon. On this episode, Dave talks about what runners can expect at this year's race. As the "boots on the ground guy," Dave oversees everything that happens on race day, from the start line to the finish and every mile in between. But Dave's day doesn't end when the final finisher crosses the line: Every year after the official race concludes, Dave returns to the start line in Hopkinton and runs his Boston Marathon. Another famous Dave tradition: Every year on his birthday, Dave runs his age in miles. He's been doing this since he was 12 and hasn't missed a year yet. (This year, Dave is 67.) Dave cares deeply about this sport and the running community, and nearly everything he does, both personally and as the owner and founder of DMSE Sports, is for a greater purpose. This year, Dave served as a logistician for Covid-19 mass vaccination sites including Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park, and helped vaccinate 1.3 million people.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you'll get on this episode:

Dave's advice for World Marathon Challenge hopefuls (11:30)
Dave's morning routine (14:30)
What's top of mind for Dave, one month out from Marathon Monday? (19:20)
What goes into choosing a race event date? (37:20)
What race day is like for Dave — and all about his post-race tradition (47:45)
Dave's favorite part of race day, and his favorite Boston Marathon memories (55:15)
What unites runners? (1:03:40)
The role running plays in Dave's life right now (1:09:50)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks.
0:04.2	Go to ontherun.aftershocks.com to save 15% on all wireless headphones.
0:10.6	Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show.
0:17.2	I'm your host, Allie Feller, and every week I talk with people who are doing cool things
0:22.3	on the run and beyond.
0:24.3	We all share that love for running, and that's what brings us all together.
0:28.2	But of course, there is so much more to life than what happens on the run itself.
0:33.4	And this show is about finding out about those moments and decisions that have shaped who
0:37.9	we are today.
0:38.9	It's about the wise.
0:40.7	Why do we do what we do?
0:42.3	And how does getting sweaty factor in?
0:45.1	Now I have wanted to interview today's guest since the day I launched The Alley on the
0:49.6	Run Show, and now 424 episodes later, Dave McGilvery is here.
0:56.8	Dave is best known as the race director for the Boston Marathon, a job he's had for
1:01.2	decades now.
1:02.8	In addition to being the boots on the ground guy on Marathon Monday, he also runs his
1:07.4	own event management company, DMSC Sports, which puts on races you know and love like the
1:13.4	Falmouth Road Race.
1:15.1	Dave's list of personal and professional accomplishments is so long you may know the
1:20.0	story of how every year after the Boston Marathon is complete.
1:24.7	Dave goes back to the start line in Hopkinson and he runs his own Boston Marathon, starting
	...

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