10 Minutes With Marcus Brown

This week we welcomed Marcus Brown. The six-star World Marathon Majors finisher and host of A Runner's Life podcast which has seen some of the biggest names in running, from Carla Molinaro to Hugh Brasher be interviewed.

Marcus has also co-founded the Black Trail Runners community and his YouTube channel is full of useful running tips and inspo. Needless to say, he's a busy guy.

The concept is simple, our guests have 10 minutes to answer 10 weird and wonderful questions. It’s all about having a laugh, chatting with friends, and sharing some advice over a 0.0% beer.

First thing's first which one do you prefer the pale ale or lager?

Marcus: I think they're both nice. But my preference is a lager. So that's what I'd go for!

Okay, next question. Who would you love to have a beer with dead or alive

There's a guy called Ken Rideout who I came across on the Morning Shakeout podcast by Mario Fraioli. He was quite refreshing in the sense that, I don't know if it's a UK thing where we're all so polite about wanting to not say that we want to win and we're all kinda saying "no, after you!"... but maybe because Ken is American he's just very blunt in saying, "It is ok if you want to compete, with others or use it as a way to motivate and compete with yourself, I think it’s a good thing. I feel it's quite nice and refreshing to hear that honestly.”

So you've just become the landlord of a pub. It's your pub, your rules, what's the first rule you would put into place?

Okay, so there's a an American show by Nick Cannon, it's been on for quite a few years called Wild "N Out. It's like an improv comedy show with battle rapping and just a lot of comedy stuff. I would make a rule that they would have to perform like every Friday night, or Saturday night. It always makes me laugh so I'd have that to make you feel good, rather than anything else.

The punters are gonna love it! It's Friday night in your pub. What's on the jukebox?

So it's probably a couple of songs that I'm really liking at the moment. Dave, In the Fire. followed by Joey Bada$$, The Revenge, to start things off.

We're gonna have to play this later. Okay, so switching careers you're now a high fashion designer. What trend are you bringing back?

I remember when I was growing up people would have those t-shirts that used to change colour when you got hot or cold. I might not go with the 'full outfit', maybe just stick with the t-shirt.

We think you should think go big or go home and wear the full thing! Next question, what is a quote or mantra in general that you try to live your life by?

I’d say "get out of your own way". Also, "what would your future best self say to you at that time? What advice would they give you?" Generally I think we're always looking for stuff outside of ourselves. We're enough as we are, sometimes we can forget that. We've got a lot of strength and wisdom internally that we can draw on.

Okay, carrying on the trend of deep questions. Pork scratchings or lentil crisps?

I like both. I’d go for a combination of both to be fair!

You can definitely have both. Next up, what is the least important thing that's very important to you right now?

Hmm, I'd probably have to say the stuff I'm working on such as content for my YouTube channel. I am doing a race review for a race I just ran in the Azores. When I'm working on it I'm thinking, "is it really that important in the grand scheme of things?" but, it’s not fair to compare it to the greater good, I just aim to give value to the people watching it.

Second last question. What's your go to activity when you need to get some kind of headspace other than running?

Excluding running or being outside, I’d say it’s being fully present and playing with my kids... having my phone in another room!

Last question isn't really a question but a bit of a challenge to you. And we ask all our guests to do something that I've never done before in the next 24 hours, and we want to know what do you want to do with your day?

Well, there’s this Jamaican dish called curried goat - where I usually order this dish from they use lamb - and because I’m always ordering it my wife says I’d save so much money if I just made it myself. She’s already bought me all the ingredients and herbs and spices for it so... I’m gonna make that.

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There you have it folks. 10 questions in 10 minutes. Huge thanks to Marcus for sharing a beer with us an imparting some absolute pearls of wit and wisdom.

Follow Marcus over on his Instagram and YouTube channel for all things running. You won't regret it.