Adam and Natalie Boucher claim to be your average couple, but their running record suggests otherwise. The husband-and-wife duo, who both grew up in Memphis’ suburbs, started dating in pharmacy school, and have covered hundreds of miles together ever since.
The couple’s fitness journey began in 2019 when Natalie ran the Chicago Marathon and Adam the St. Jude Memphis Marathon.
“Before that, I don’t think I had exercised in five years,” Natalie admits. She began ramping up her training with a running coach and joining the Burn Boot Camp gym in Collierville, shaving an hour off her marathon time.
Initially, the couple would take turns, with one person running a marathon and the other partner going to support them from the sidelines. Eventually, the two began participating in the same runs, setting their own paces and reconnecting at the finish line.
With each race, the Bouchers discovered the true extent of their physical limits.
“We kept seeing how much farther we could go,” Natalie explains. They worked up to running a few 50K races before eventually tackling the inaugural Mamba 100K race in 2023.
After running a few out-of-state races, Natalie had “decided she wanted to run a marathon race in every state,” leading the couple to visit a few states yearly and run through stunning landscapes.
“The marathons usually launch our trips, and we explore from there,” Adam adds of races like Lean Horse in South Dakota and an international marathon in Berlin.
While Natalie thrives on testing her endurance in high-energy road runs, Adam prefers trail races for their natural beauty and solitude. Although their goals are somewhat different — Natalie’s a 100-miler and Adam’s to improve speed in shorter trail races — they clock three to four marathons annually together. The couple also regularly participates in the Big Buffalo 50, a local race set in some of Memphis’ best outdoor spaces for runners.
“Trail races have an incredibly supportive community,” Adam notes. “You often get cheered on by your competitors.”
The two believe that anyone can push themselves to reach great distances. “Your body is capable of doing more than you think,” Natalie says. Adam chimes in, adding, “There is that instant accountability when you sign up for a race, and running with a group can help keep you motivated.”
For Adam and Natalie, running is more than just a hobby. It’s a lifestyle. “Training provides structure, and you become more productive in other areas of life,” Adam notes. “And the running community is incredible — you start recognizing familiar faces at races, get to chatting, and 10 miles have flown by before you know it.”
Natalie appreciates running for its mental health benefits. “I can have a stressful day and then go on a run, and it quiets all the noise from the day,” she shares.
From 5Ks to ultra-marathons, Adam and Natalie Boucher’s shared passion continues to push them forward, one race at a time.
To run the Upcoming Buffalo 50k, visit Bigbuffalo50.raceroster.com.
By Shlomit Ovadia
Photo by Tindall Stephens
