EP190 - Back Surgery Nearly Ended Her Running—Then She Qualified for Boston - Ryane Broussard

Ryane Broussard shares how a back injury and surgery nearly ended her running, and how faith, grit, smart training, and community helped her qualify for Boston after 30 marathons. Lessons for every ultrarunner chasing big goals.

Episode Summary: In this episode of Run the Riot, David sits down with Ryane Broussard, a driven runner, mom of four, and woman of faith who chased one goal for nearly two decades: qualifying for the Boston Marathon. But Ryane’s path wasn’t a straight line. After a sudden back injury left her unable to feel or control her left leg, doctors told her she’d need to find a new hobby and stop running. Ryane refused to accept that as the final word. What followed was years of rehab, identity rebuilding, and learning what perseverance really looks like—until she finally put it all together on race day and earned her Boston qualifier. This conversation is packed with practical lessons for any ultrarunner (or anyone training for marathons, ultrarunning, or ultra racing) who’s faced setbacks, self-doubt, or the weight of a long-term goal.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Ryane’s start in sports (including lacrosse) and how competition shaped her mindset
Moving from Texas to South Louisiana and finding a running community
The back injury that changed everything (and the hard season that followed)
Doctors said “no more running”—how Ryane approached recovery anyway
Identity shifts: when running becomes who you are (and how to reset it)
The Boston qualifier chase: flu, self-sabotage, vomiting at mile 19, and trying again
The power of words, self-talk, and what you “partner with” mentally
Why community matters: pacers, training partners, and people who believe with you
How she fits training into real life: faith, marriage, kids, work, then running

Key Moments

Starting point: sports background + love of achievement
Back injury + surgery: the moment everything changed
Rehab reality: relearning basic movement and rebuilding confidence
The Boston goal: 30 marathons, setbacks, and alignment on race day
The win: qualifying—and keeping it in the right place

Practical Takeaways for Runners

Race-day alignment matters: sleep, health, weather, and fueling can make or break the day
Mindset is trainable: negative self-talk can sabotage fitness you’ve already earned
Fueling is personal: don’t introduce “new” habits (like NSAIDs) without understanding the cost
Build a support system: a coach, a pacer, and training partners can carry you when your brain gets loud
Keep running in its place: what you do isn’t who you are—especially when setbacks hit

Mentioned in the Episode

Louisiana Summer Nights 50K/ultra effort
Zydeco Marathon
Stennis Marathon
Boston Marathon qualifying standards shift
Peloton/biking as a bridge during recovery

Guest Links

Ryane Broussard on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ryane.broussard

⁠

Ultrarunning Coach Oklahoma

Feeling inspired by this story? If you're looking to take your ultrarunning to the next level, check out our coaching services at Run the Riot Coaching. Let’s achieve your ultrarunning goals together!

Follow Us