It's not everyday that someone contends for the podium in their first marathon, let alone hits the 2:10 mark. 26-year-old Chris Maxon, one of our 2025 Unsponsored Project athletes, is an anomaly. Not only did he put up a 2:10:54 at CIM 2025, enough to land him in 5th place, but he did it while holding down a full time job as a real estate agent.
We caught up with Chris ahead of the Boston Marathon to talk about debuting at 2:10, his build for Boston, his mindset with the 2028 Olympics looming on the horizon, and what keeps him up at night (hint: it's not his splits).
Chris... The question everyone wants to know... were you expecting a 2:10? Does anyone... expect a 2:10 in their debut?
Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but I was expecting 2:10. My expectation leading into the race was 2:09 on an excellent day. 2:10 on a great day, and 2:11 on an average day, with really anything over 2:11:30 a disappointing outing. I think that's why, as I'm asked about that race in particular, I’m not unhappy with it, but I think there was another day in another universe where thats a little faster. When I moved [to Boulder], I joked that I was gonna debut in 2:10, and as we got closer to the race, that “joke” became more of an expectation. I think that maybe somewhere in a deep, dusty corner of [my coach] Pete's brain, this was a reality, but I even had people afterward tell me they thought I was a little ambitious to go after that mark in my first one. For good reason, though, I know a lot of guys who start and would love a solid 2:13 or even just an OTQ… Unfortunately, I am way too ambitious to settle. I really didn't need anyone else to believe in me, though. It doesn't matter who believes in you at mile 23; if you don’t, it's over…
How has this build been?
The build has been good, all things considered. I had a few more aches and pains than the last build into CIM, but nothing serious. My workouts have been faster, the quality better, and the mileage higher. It's hard not to compare marathon builds, as everyone is different in nature. I focus on the day-to-day. I can say I’m on the other side of this one hungrier than the last one.
Highest and lowest mileage week?
I guess it depends on how we break it down. My lowest would be my first week back running after CIM, which was about 50 miles. My highest 7-day period was 143, and that was also my last week at peak mileage. I would say for the most part, I stayed 130-140 per week. We run off a 9/10 day cycle, so I tend not to keep a rigid track of it.
What has been your favorite part of this build?
I think the best part has been the purpose. I think a lot about my running career has been trying to find “my thing." I've always known deep down that it was the marathon. But now, I get to really embrace what I’m doing. So this has been fun, but it has also been purposeful. Some would say I’m in my bag.
How are you optimizing your life around training right now? (Areas you lean into - mindfulness, nutrition, sleep, etc., etc.????)
I’ve tried to really hone in on a few areas in this block. Nutrition has, and continues to be, a staple. Upping carbs before and after workouts (and within). I found that once I started tracking this more closely, I started to feel better, and turnaround from workouts increased. Also, on that note, I dialed in on protein, which also got me back on the metaphorical horse sooner. I started taking magnesium for a nerve issue early on, and found that even that supplementation helped workouts and runs—I would assume indirectly through sleep. My sleep scores were better, and my HRV stayed stable even in heavy training weeks. I’ve done a lot of visualizing this year, too. I’m watching Boston course previews while doing treadmill doubles up to 8% incline. I’m channeling mantras in workouts I can fall onto on race day. I think with visualization, we always think of good things, but I’ve also leaned into the bad and tried to make them good. That way, on race day, you can take this negative thought or feeling and flip it. It's a long race, and you're gonna have to fight a demon or two. It could be doubt, discomfort, belonging, or just plain old lactic acid.
What does Boulder do to your body that nowhere else does?
Aside from some hypoxia, it’s one of the few places that you can go from a downtown full of people to the middle of nowhere on a dirt trail with just your thoughts. There's a sense of peace you get here, an escape that a lot of places can't give you. I also have great support here. I have a team, a coach, and friends around me that make this a lot easier and a lot more fun. Another layer is the history of distance running here and knowing that I’m just a small chapter of the grand scheme of things.
Is there a number—a time—that would change things for you?
I don’t know if there's a particular number or place. I obviously think I can run under 2:10 and be a contender for top American. However, I don't know how things would change. It's all really a march towards the trials. I just need progress. I’m sure there is a mark that probably changes things for me in the eyes of the spectators, to be someone to watch, or for brands to take a chance on, but really, who cares? As I see it, to have a shot in 2028, I need to be a 2:05/2:06 guy that can adapt to a variety of different races.
Who do you tell when a workout goes well?
I have a few people I can talk to. Mainly, I talk to my friend John, a former teammate at Ole Miss. That’s a guy I can call after a mile breakdown workout and talk splits, and he knows. He's also still running and training, so he can do the same and [we can] bounce things off each other. I have a few really old teammates I'm still in touch with from IWU. Those are also guys I can lean into and talk splits and volume and not have to dumb everything down.
What does your body feel like right now, three weeks out?
Three weeks out is a word spot. In a sense, you are starting to feel good. The first leg of the taper starts, but you're still running a lot in the grand scheme of things. Easy runs feel better (and get shorter). Workouts feel better, and paces start dipping down with little effort. But you also start thinking you should feel better. It's the constant mental tug of war that you have to kind of temper as the weeks go on, 'cause it won’t stop until after race day.
What’s the last thing you think about before you fall asleep the night before a hard workout?
I think it's just mental preparation. I think before hard workouts, you have to blend emotions. It's a mix of “I’m going to crush this” and “this is going to get uncomfortable.” It really goes back to visualization. Knowing that the pain is going to come—it’s going to find you—but also knowing that it’s necessary to get to the destination. A lot of those workouts, you also just have to remember you’re not gonna see the benefits for a while.
Do you think the sponsored guys are better than you, or just different from you?
Not better…we just worry about different things on the day to day. For them, mileage, workouts, races...that's their job. Life is running, and if running starts going bad, then maybe there's some panic. For me, running is an escape of sorts. A way for me to take a break from life and work and put my energy into something I'm passionate about. If I have a rough day or tough workout, it doesn't matter cause I have a client call or showings or something else to do that day. So you close the “running box” and open the “work box." In a lot of ways, it's nice because it keeps the mind busy, and my life doesn't have to revolve around a sport.
What does Boylston Street mean to you—before you’ve run it?
Unfortunately, right now it means nothing…I'm sure April 20th will change that.
At Boston, you’re racing a much more difficult course than you did at CIM. What was your thought process in challenging yourself in this way?
I don't want to come off as overzealous or cocky/lack respect for the course. But I’m also not one to not research and make educated assumptions. There are a lot of guys and girls who have run PB’s at Boston. Boston can be fast; it just depends. It's also a course that rewards patience and discipline early on, and tests those who lack them.
I do think I'm a gritty guy. Like Rocky Balboa just taking hits for 15 rounds. The thought here is "this a racer's course." There aren't any pacers, there's terrain, and great competition. In my mind, it's my type of race. Time doesn't matter; place is king. It's also great practice for the trials. In 2028, there won't be a pacer and conditions aren't promised, but a line full of the best marathon runners and an opportunity is. That's what Boston is—an opportunity.
What do you think about outside of running?
I think it depends. A lot of times it’s about work. Meeting deadlines, planning for clients, and strategizing negotiations. I’ve never lost sleep [over] a bad workout or race, but I have lost sleep over deals…
