From Hating Running To Representing Australia & Running 120km Ultra Marathons: Meagan Brown

Caitlyn Davey • July 8, 2025

As a world trail running competitor, ultra-marathon runner and someone who has represented Australia on the world stage, it’s something of a surprise to know that Meagan Brown hated running when she started out. Her first memory of running a marathon was at the Gold Coast Half Marathon, which she hated, to say the least. “I ran it in 2 hours 20 mins, I got to 17K and walked the rest and thought I never have to do this ever again,” confesses Brown.Coming from an army background, Brown moved around the country a fair bit, but what remained constant was her participation in sports. Basketball, tennis, netball, badminton – sports she showed much interest in while in school, however, it was tee ball and softball that she was mainly involved in throughout primary and high school.That being said, what comes as a shocker is the list of marathon Meagan boasts to have run since then. She says, “I’ve done 22 ultra-marathons, six 50Ks, nine 100Ks, a couple of 85Ks, and a 75k. My longest was a 120K which was in Italy.” Discovering trekking While she credits her interest in the field to having felt lost and being unable to find her identity, it’s no lie that she went to great heights, literally, in search of something that may spark joy inside her – that is when she found trekking as her escape.Meagan says, “I randomly decided to go on a hike, so I signed up by myself, packed my bags and left. I was the only person on the trek; so, it was me, the trek leader, and the porters. It was 96kms and you had six days, so you hike in the morning and most of the day and then set up camp in the evening.”'We were in one village, I was sitting there and looking out and there was some smoke from other villages and I had this feeling it was so overwhelming, like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. As if this is where I needed to be in life. I kept thinking, ‘How do I do more of this?’, ‘How do I get this feeling?’ So, when I came back, I knew I needed to be out in the trails. And yeah, I loved it. It changed the trajectory of my life, ever since I came back, I’ve just been wanting to feel that again,” she added.Prepping for racesHowever, it’s not all fun and games when you’re involved in a sport that’s as physically demanding as trail running is. Prepping for ultra-marathons means running and hiking for as much as five hours at a time, making sure you’re well hydrated and consuming enough to be able to power-through. Despite this, some tracks do get the better of you. One challenging track was Meagan’s second ultra-marathon which was 75kms and at an elevation of 4,500ft. “It’s classified as a sky run which is a really steep run. I didn't even know what it would be like, I just saw it’s teaser and thought how cool it looked and how much fun it would be.”'I was chasing the cut offs all day and I was just crying. I didn't think there could be trails that steep. Towards the end, my headlights went out, I didn't even have extra batteries or lights; I’d come so unprepared. I just sat there waiting for someone to come to where I was so I could complete the rest with them. I think I took 16 hours on that run,” says Meagan. Seven years later, in 2021, she went on to complete the same ultra-marathon and came out winning the race; resilience at its best.Meagan's best race Speaking of her best race which also brought in an uncomfortable surprise, was at the World Mountain Running Championship, held in Patagonia, which was a 42K run and had 4000m of climbing. “It was such an honour when I was told I got selected for the Australian mountain running team,” says Meagan. Soon after though, when she started to find her rhythm, upon reaching the 9K checkpoint, she hurt her ankle. “My heart sank and all I could think of was ‘I’m here representing my country, I don’t even know if I’ll get this chance again and I've rolled my ankle',” she shares.“I don't condone running through an injury, but I kept running through mine. I could pull out of the race, but I didn't want to pull out from such an event which we’d get joint points for too, as a team. I just tried to disconnect, which I wouldn't say is a good thing. But it was so amazing, it gave me the kick to be a fast runner, but I also got a shocker in the form of my injury,” Meagan adds.The importance of recovery We’ve previously shed light on athletes’ recovery process and how it’s just as important as training is; her views are no different. “I love recovery. I took a week off after the Gold Coast Marathon. If you want to perform really well, you need to rest and recover and let your body take in all the work that you're doing. I love sleeping too, I probably sleep nine hours a night. My Sundays are for pizzas and ice cream, so year, sleeping and eating - I love it,” she confessed.Meagan shares some tips for aspiring runners. “Don’t worry about distance, just focus on time. You could do 3 minutes of running and then walk for a minute, or 3 minutes of running and walk for 2 minutes. I used to do pole to pole, so I’d run till one pole, then walk till the next one and so on. One day I ended up running 4K into the city and realised I’d now have to walk back the whole way back. 'Consistency is also key, just try to get a rhythm going for yourself and stick to it,” she shares.Tune in to the podcast to learn more about trail running, and hear from Meagan.  

Previous Blogs

Why Strength Training Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Health Routine

February 16, 2026
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba, you’re not short of fitness options. There are 24-hour gyms. Bootcamps. HIIT studios. Yoga classes. Running clubs along the waterfront. But despite more access than ever, many people still feel stuck. Tired. Plateaued. Unsure whether what they’re doing is actually working. For many adults across Brisbane’s bayside suburbs, the missing piece isn’t more cardio or more intensity. It’s structured strength training. What Strength Training Actually Does (Beyond “Toning”) Strength training isn’t just about lifting heavy weights or looking muscular. It is one of the most well-supported interventions in exercise science for improving: • Lean muscle mass • Bone density • Insulin sensitivity • Resting metabolic rate • Functional capacity • Injury resilience When you lift weights progressively, your body adapts. Muscle fibres increase in size. Neural drive improves. Connective tissue strengthens. Bone responds to load. This isn’t aesthetic. It’s physiological. For adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s — especially busy professionals and parents — maintaining and building muscle becomes increasingly important. From around age 30 onwards, we gradually lose muscle mass if we don’t train against resistance. Strength training slows — and can even reverse — that decline. Why Many People Plateau in Traditional Gyms Joining a gym in Wynnum or Capalaba is easy. Progress is harder. Many people follow random workouts. They jump between machines. They try classes without a long-term plan. They train hard, but without structure. The body adapts quickly to repeated stimulus. If load, volume or intensity don’t increase over time, adaptation stalls. This principle is called progressive overload — and it is fundamental to strength development. Without it, workouts feel hard but don’t necessarily lead to measurable progress. That’s why tracking lifts, planning training blocks, and adjusting volume matter. Effort is important. Structure is essential. Strength vs “Burning Calories” A common goal across the Wynnum and Capalaba community is fat loss. Many people default to high-intensity cardio to “burn more calories”. While cardiovascular training improves heart health and work capacity, resistance training changes body composition in a different way. Muscle tissue is metabolically active. The more lean mass you maintain, the more energy your body requires at rest. Strength training also improves glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity, which influences how your body uses carbohydrates. In simple terms: Cardio burns calories during the session. Strength training improves how your body uses energy long term. The most effective approach often combines both — but strength should not be overlooked. The Importance of Coaching in Strength Training Not all training environments are equal. There is a difference between access to equipment and access to coaching. Research in motor learning consistently shows that technique improves faster and more safely when feedback is specific and timely. Good coaching reduces injury risk, improves force production and builds confidence under load. For beginners, this means learning correct movement patterns. For experienced lifters, this means refining efficiency and progressing safely. In both Wynnum and Capalaba, more people are moving away from “do it yourself” gym models and towards coached environments that prioritise progression and accountability. Because consistency — not intensity — predicts long-term success. Strength Training for Real Life The real benefit of strength training isn’t what happens in the gym. It’s what happens outside it. Carrying children. Lifting groceries. Walking the stairs without fatigue. Reducing back pain. Improving posture after long desk hours. Strength improves quality of life. For people living and working in Brisbane’s bayside suburbs — balancing work, school runs and community commitments — training needs to support life, not compete with it. Two to four well-programmed sessions per week is enough to create significant improvements in strength and body composition when done consistently. You do not need to train every day. You need to train intelligently. What To Look For in a Strength Training Gym in Wynnum or Capalaba If you’re considering starting strength training locally, look for: • Structured programming rather than random workouts • Progressive overload built into sessions • Coaches who adjust for injury, mobility and experience • A community that supports consistency • A clear pathway for beginners Strength training should feel challenging — but sustainable. It should build confidence, not intimidation. A Quiet Shift in Fitness Across Wynnum and Capalaba, there is a noticeable shift. People are moving away from extreme short-term “transformations” and towards long-term strength development. They want: Energy that lasts. Bodies that feel capable. Training that fits into real life. Strength training isn’t a trend. It is one of the most researched, effective and sustainable forms of exercise available. If you’ve tried everything else and still feel stuck, it might not be motivation you’re missing. It might be structure. And structure changes everything.

Join Rebuild Capalaba's Free Week Feb 2-8

January 19, 2026
If you’ve been thinking about getting back into training — or starting properly — this is your chance. From February 2–8 , you can train free for a full week at Rebuild Capalaba with unlimited access to our group sessions. No pressure. No judgement. No gimmicks. Just well-coached training, intelligent programming, and a community built around progress — not perfection. What Free Week Includes • Unlimited group training for 7 days • Coaching-led strength, conditioning, and cardio sessions • Scaled options to suit all experience levels • A supportive, ego-free training environment Whether you’re returning after a break, testing something new, or simply curious about what training should feel like — Free Week lets you experience it properly, without committing upfront. Free Week runs Feb 2–8. Spots are limited. Book your week and see how it fits into your life.

Join Rebuild Wynnum's Taster Day

November 24, 2025
Try a Session. Meet the Coaches. See What You’re Capable Of If you’ve been thinking about starting, restarting, or finding a gym that actually supports you — Taster Day is your opportunity. This is a free, one-day event designed for real people. No pressure. No expectations. Just great coaching, a welcoming community, and a chance to see whether Rebuild is the right fit for you. December 6, 7:30am at Rebuild Health and Fitness - 10 North Road Wynnum West. This session is FREE for people to join.
More Posts