A roar went up as Megan Allan bolted through the sunlit back entrance to the Von Braun Center, just a few steps from her historic win in the 49th Rocket City Marathon.
Smiling broadly, Allan crossed the finish line in 2:48 and change, the cheers and applause still ringing around the building. She accepted her finisher’s medal and a long embrace from a friend before going to meet her family. Big hugs and smiles were exchanged. The release of emotions and relief was palpable after months of planning, training and a few doubts along the way.
Allan, 41, became the only the third Huntsville woman in at least 20 years to win the marathon’s women’s title. Allan joins Emma Hardman, who won in 2024 in 2:49:27, and Alana Scarano, who won in 2018 in 2:49:55.
“It went as good as I hoped for,” Allan said. “My goal was to win and break 2:50. I got both of those done so that was good. I was a little nervous with the wind and cold, so I went out with the 2:50 group for the first half of the race.”
Allan said she took off by herself for a bit at about the halfway point, but the group caught back up. She tucked in with them again for a few miles. Then, at about the Space and Rocket Center, it broke up and she went with the lead runners. She stayed with them before separating and hitting her stride in the final miles.
“The last three miles were tough with the constant wind, a cold headwind the whole time,” she said. “It was just like, seriously, we make it all this way and the wind hits us now like this? C’mon! But it worked out. I honestly was wishing we had a day or two of (similarly) cold weather before Sunday to try out some different clothing options.”
Running Family
Allan is part of a running family, with competitive roots dating to her high school days. She and her husband, Sean, were among champion University of Alabama-Huntsville teams in the early 2000s. Their daughters are successful runners, with multiple state championships. Sean and former UAH teammate Will Rodgers are co-owners of RunningLane in Huntsville. Along with the retail store, they put on and provide coaching, events and timing services.
Allan ran competitively until about 2008 or so, and then took a break. Life things, y’know? That’s common. Everyone who runs, swims, bikes or has a hobby at some point usually has a break. It can be a good reset, too, for the comeback.
Allan’s competitive comeback began about four years ago. Part of it was the itch to get back out there. The other reason was to run with their oldest daughter, who was competing on her school cross-country squad.
“She is a sophopmore this year and I have been running with her,” Allan said. “I definitely have been training for the marathon this year and have had a couple of good races lately. I did a 5K at the beginning of November and had a PR, and then the Ditto Landing 10K, and I had a PR there. Those were good events for me, so I knew I was on a good track.
“I ran the Rocket City marathon last year, which was my first one since 2008. Going into last year my only goal was a sub-3 hour marathon, and that’s just something to say you’ve done a sub-3. That was my only goal last year. I did that (finishing in 2:54) and then once I started training hard and consistently, I got my time down to 2:54. That’s when you start thinking that maybe you can go under 2:50.”
The last three miles in the headwind were challenging, but Allan got a boost about a mile from the finish. That’s where the RunningLane van along with her family and friends were, cheering her on for the final stretch. She easily qualified for the Boston Marathon in April, eclipsing the needed time by 47 minutes.
“I’ve done New York and Chicago, years ago,” she said. “So, I’m looking forward to Boston. It should be fun.”
Vlad Zander-Velloso of Georgia won the Rocket City Marathon in 2:28. The Huntsville Track Club partnered this year with Huntsville Hospital Foundation, with proceeds benefitting the new children’s therapy playground at the Women & Children’s Pediatric Therapy and Audiology Department.
The Rocket City Marathon and races are presented by the Huntsville Sports Commission.
