Megan O’Neil is a Hansons–Brooks marathoner from Michigan who just punched her OTQ at Twin Cities in 2:36:43, taking second on a warm, windy day. She’s a former steepler turned road racer who works in software product/marketing, trains with the Hansons high-mileage model, and brings a gritty, good-humored Michigan vibe to everything she does.

In this episode, Megan recaps how the race unfolded keying off an OTQ pacer, handling hills and heat, and slipping under the standard while the live tracker lagged. She talks about mindset in the final miles (“level up” now so the next build can aim higher), why Kevin Hanson was cheering from his daughter’s wedding, and how Hansons’ cumulative-fatigue approach compares to Dathan Ritzenhein’s style. We get into the nuts and bolts of her training, how she manages stress with work, community runs, and a sports psych, and why a stint of climbing (and even boxing during an injury) made her tougher.

Enjoy this episode with Megan!

This episode is presented by V.O2, the coaching platform built on Dr. Jack Daniels’ proven training science. V.O2 gives coaches and athletes calibrated training paces, individualized planning tools, and team management features that help users train more accurately, improve performance, and reduce injuries. Listeners can find V.O2 in the app stores and at https://www.vdoto2.com. Save 20 percent with the code “roadtothetrials”.