Miles of Support: How Community Powers Bryan Koch’s Marathon Goals

Bryan Koch’s road to joining the Beyond Type 1 marathon team isn’t what you’d expect. Not because running isn’t his thing—far from it. This is the guy who’s run across the entire state of Kentucky (yep, 210 miles) and even tackles open water swims. 

The kicker? After his first marathon in 2024, Koch vowed to never run another. He finished, but it wasn’t the race he’d envisioned.

“I trained and I did it—it wasn’t my best performance, but it wasn’t bad either. I like to finish strong, and this one taught me a lot. My nutrition wasn’t dialed in, and most of my training was on a treadmill, but every race is a lesson. That first marathon helped me level up.”

Now 39 years into his type 1 diabetes journey, Koch gave it another go at the NYC marathon. His secret weapon this time? Community.

*Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity

Running with a Plan

Around mid-July, Koch decided to hire a marathon coach to shake up his old routine, which was more focused on when to run but not how to run.

“Now, my training is way more intentional,” Koch admits. “It became more strategic—hill intervals, targeted runs, actual structure—and having a coach put it in perspective. I’m not aiming to be fast; I want to finish strong. That’s the goal.”

Sweat Equity 

As a field rep for Novo Nordisk, Koch—who’s been with the company for 18 years—gets the best of both worlds: a product that supports him when he’s giving it his all, and a community he can both help and be active with.

“I use fast-acting insulin,” Koch explains. “I’ve always used Novo Nordisk products, and I didn’t expect it would become part of my career—but working with them now gives me a great opportunity, whether I’m in the field or at an athletic event. I really appreciate Novo’s commitment to patient care. As a field rep, my job is sharing why I work for the company and how it helps patients—because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”

Miles of Support

Koch’s running community isn’t one-dimensional. He trains with several groups, from the local triathlon team to the Henderson World Run Club. The remarkable part is that everyone knows he has diabetes—and they genuinely look out for him.

“Once we were out on a run—not a long one, about 10 miles—when my buddy asked, ‘Bryan, what’s your blood sugar?’ I told him it was fine, but just as I looked down, my pump beeped,” Bryan says.

“He immediately told me, ‘I knew something was wrong. Get that sugar out!’ That’s what I love about community—someone I barely knew a year ago is now just as concerned about my blood sugar and my running as anyone else.”

For Koch, as for many others, managing type 1 diabetes can add an extra layer to a run—but he’s never let it slow him down. He continues to carry one persistent goal: never letting his diagnosis keep him from thriving. And his community has been with him every step of the way. 

Bryan already crushed the marathon, but the Beyond Type Run squad is still making strides and showing T1D never sets the pace. Ready to support his push through the end of the year? Check out his fundraising page!

This content was made possible by Novo Nordisk, an active partner of Beyond Type 1. Beyond Type 1 maintains editorial control over its content.