Bryan Cowden, a Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) staffer, crossed the finish line of the 2025 Boston Marathon with a personal best time of 2 hours and 52 minutes an achievement nearly 13 years in the making.
His journey into running began in 2012 with a lighthearted challenge from an 80-year-old gym companion who pledged to walk a local Christmas race if Cowden agreed to run it. "She ended up ditching me, but I showed up anyway," he laughed. "To my surprise, I finished the 5K without stopping and that was it. I was hooked from the start."
Cowden's Boston training regimen has been nothing short of rigorous, routinely logging 100 kilometers a week before the workday even begins. "Most mornings, I'm out the door by 5:30 a.m. with my local running group in Sarnia, clocking 13 to 18 kilometers before heading into work," he said. Workouts at the newly installed track at LKDSB's Great Lakes Secondary School and challenging 30-kilometer hill runs in Arkona round out his weekly schedule training designed to mimic the infamous Newton hills on the Boston course.
Despite the demanding routine, Cowden says he's found a balance between his career with LKDSB and his passion for running. "The early morning runs are key they allow me to keep training consistent without interfering with my workday. That balance has actually made me more energized and focused in both areas of my life."
A graduate of LKDSB's Wallaceburg District Secondary School's class of 2000, Cowden looks back at his high school years with humour. "I doubt any of my gym teachers back then would have predicted I'd be running the Boston Marathon one day. It's funny how things come full circle."
For Cowden, the Boston experience held emotional weight. "There were two unforgettable moments," he shared. "The first was seeing my mom at the finish line she'd never been to a major marathon before. The second I saw her on Boylston Street, just 400 meters from the end, I burst into tears."
"And the second was high-fiving Boston Bruins NHL'er Zdeno Chara," he added, grinning. "He was out cheering on runners I couldn't believe it."
Back home in Ontario, Cowden's loved ones gathered to watch him race. "My girlfriend and closest friends hosted a watch party and actually saw me cross the finish line live on ABC. Knowing they were there in spirit gave me an extra boost."
Beyond his professional role in Information Technology with the LKDSB, Cowden is deeply committed to community causes. He proudly serves as run coordinator for the Sarnia and Chatham editions of Light Up the Night for Noelle a series of charity runs that raise funds to support local students through Noelle's Gift to Children. He also leads a kids' marathon program each summer, helping young runners work toward their own 42-kilometer goals. "Seeing their faces at the finish line is nothing short of inspiring," he said.
