Mike McLean

Hi there! I am Big River Running Company's most recent addition back in February. If you have not met me, you will soon. The picture at the right was from our Valentine's Day Truffle Shuffle where I dressed as cupid. Ben and Matt told me that anyone who beat me would receive a bottle of wine, so I told them they better stock up!

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006 with degrees in Biology and Zoology and began working at a research lab where I met my future wife who was from St. Louis. All the while I maintained my long time job at a local running store up there called Movin' Shoes. In 2008 she moved back down here to attend nursing school at BJC, but we kept the relationship alive. In December 2010 I finally made the move to St. Louis to be with her, and that's when I met Matt and Ben. After getting married in March, we settled here in O'Fallon, MO where I began my new role as the store manager for Big River!

Finally I have a full time job in a sport that is my passion. Running is my favorite part of the day. In high school I probably would have made a better football player than a cross country runner, but I quickly fell in love with the sport. At about 200 pounds I was able to run a 17:20 5k, a :49 in the 400 on the track, and really loved being on the swim team. In college I tried several different sports - rowing, water polo, cycling, and even walked on the track team for a semester - but eventually focused on the sport of triathlon - a grand mix of all 3 sports. My first triathlon ever just so happened to be here in the state of Missouri at NEMO. It was the first one of the season, so I signed up to go, piled in the van, and away I went. I've now competed in many triathlons, including Ironmans - most of which have been for my brother.

My younger brother Eric has been fighting acute myelogenous leukemia for the past 8 years. He relapsed in the summer of 2009, and they told him he had months to live. I usually race in the Ironman Wisconsin to help raise money and awareness for his cause, and was offered a spot to run in 2009. He asked me to instead spend that time with him instead, and that if I signed up for 2010, he would be there to watch. How could he predict something like that? Well, he was right, he made it! The entire race all I could think about was getting to that finish line to give him a big hug, and it was the best feeling ever. Unfortunately he relapsed again this past January 2011, but it looks like he may overcome it once again.

Feel free to reach me at any time if you have any questions. And again, if we haven't met, I want that to change! Happy running everyone!

Please contact me with any questions

636.379.3888

mike@bigriverrunning.com