Sideline Stories: Jason and Meaghan’s Journey – From Miles in Maine to Miles Around the World
Jason and Meaghan’s Journey: From Miles in Maine to Miles Around the World
We’re Jason and Meaghan, both proud Maine natives with a shared love for adventure, endurance, and pushing beyond limits.
Jason, 40, owns an epoxy company and has worked in painting alongside his father for over two decades. Meaghan, 34, holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition and has been a registered clinical dietitian for more than 10 years. For Jason, ultras and running his own business are exactly the same. Enduring the good, the bad and struggle. There are no days off. You’d be pressed to find anyone that can outwork him in all aspects.
Meaghan has always been a dedicated runner and fitness enthusiast. In 2015—the year they were married—she introduced Jason to running. His first-ever miles were during their honeymoon in Romania, simply wanting to share the experience together.
From that moment, their love for running and travel became a shared passion. It has taken them to the far corners of the world and deep into the limits of their own endurance.
Reflections from their journey~
Building the Base: From Maine Trails to Everest
In 2019, we took on our first ultra event—Maine’s own Last Man Standing. That race ignited a belief in us: there is no ceiling. No limitations. We could achieve anything with discipline and consistency.
We’re not naturally gifted athletes. What we’ve built came from grit, early mornings, and relentless effort. In the same year, we trekked to Everest Base Camp—an unforgettable experience that cemented our commitment to big miles and meaningful cultural exploration.
The Everyday Grind
Our day-to-day lives are demanding. Meaghan works full-time at Northern Light Hospital, and Jason runs a contracting business. Work begins by 7 a.m., which means our training happens before the world wakes up.
We’ve been setting 2:30 a.m. alarms for over a decade. Whether it’s lifting or running in the dark, it’s part of our DNA now. This discipline fuels our capacity to run 100+ mile races—and to thrive in our careers. Endurance has become our superpower.
Maine Tough
Being an athlete in Maine means embracing the extremes. We train in brutal cold, deep snow, intense rain, and sweltering heat and humidity. No matter the forecast, the alarm still goes off, and we get out the door. Tough conditions have forged our mindset. You can’t predict race day, so training in adversity is the perfect rehearsal. It’s hard—but deeply rewarding. There’s something empowering about knowing you’re putting in the work when most others wouldn’t. It makes you feel like a badass, and in truth, it sets you apart.
Homegrown Inspiration
Maine holds a special place in our journey. Events like Crow Athletics’ Down East Sunrise Trail Relay and the Mount Desert Island Marathon, and the Maine Community Bank Maine Marathon, marked some of our earliest longer distance races beyond local 5Ks and 10Ks. These traditional races built our confidence and drive.
But it was races like Back 40 Events’ Trail Festival at Pineland Farms and Last Man Standing where we discovered our potential to push much farther. Those trails taught us that endurance is a choice—and we chose to lean in.
Going Global: Nepal, Kilimanjaro, and Beyond
In 2025, we returned to Nepal for a new kind of challenge: the Mustang Trail Race. An eight-day ultra marathon through the Himalayas covering more than 100 miles and 30,000 feet of climbing. Only 50 runners from around the world took part, and we were honored to be among them.
Having previously run side by side in New Hampshire’s Ghost Train 100-Miler, we knew we had the rhythm and mental connection to get through another long-distance race together. The Mustang race pushed us physically and mentally, but we relied on each other—encouraging one another on steep climbs, reminding each other to hydrate and eat, and staying strong when things got hard.
We came home with lifetime memories and new friends from across the globe. That’s one of the greatest gifts of these races—the shared bond with strangers who understand what it means to endure.
What’s Next?
Our adventures have taken us to the Andes and Amazon of Ecuador, and in 2023, we summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The list of future goals continues to grow. Maybe the desert of Oman, the mountains of Uzbekistan, or the Gobi Desert in Mongolia—wherever the path leads, we’re ready. We feel honored to represent the grit and spirit of Maine on a global stage. Every challenge is a step toward building the kind of life we want—not just now, but into our senior years. We’ve met so many older athletes still grinding, still showing up, and it reminds us: you don’t stop when you get older—you get older when you stop.
One Step at a Time
Together, we’ve logged thousands of miles—both separately and together (side by side)—on roads, trails, and mountains across the world. This isn’t just about running. It’s about living intentionally, pushing boundaries, and choosing discipline every day. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: Stay consistent. Don’t stop. That’s what will take you farther than talent ever could.
