2:45:01 and Beyond: Holly Read

Holly commented on another woman's 2:45:01 and Beyond story I shared on social media, and after visiting her page I knew I needed to share her story too!  Many women can relate to balancing performance timelines and pregnancy, and to pregnancy running not going as planned.  Holly is now 2 months postpartum after her second child, and I am sure she has some PRs coming this fall!  Her coach has participated in two Trials himself, and inspired her to begin this journey.

Name: Holly Read

Age: 33

City/State: Redding, CA

Occupation: Business and Marketing Consultant, Personal Trainer, XC/Track Coach

Hobbies/Interests outside of running: Eating Ice Cream ;)

When did you start chasing the OTQ and what inspired you to try?

I first was inspired by my coach, Ken Hunter, in 2015. He qualified for 2 Olympic marathon trials in '84 and '88. I actually was on an 8 year break from running after getting injured in college. I finally started consistently running again in August of 2015 and he told me I should go for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. I ran for 5 months working my way up to 50 mile weeks before getting hurt in a 28 degree 5K in Indianapolis on Jan 1, 2016. My husband and I also wanted to start a family, so I got pregnant that month too and thought I’d run through the pregnancy to build a base. I didn’t due to the injury sidelining me for 6 weeks and then being too nervous and tired to run pregnant. So I didn’t consistently run again until July of 2017 and from that point on I was ready to go after an OTQ. I had never run a half or full marathon, and not even the distance of a half marathon at that point. But the dream was born.

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes.

My first marathon was the Eugene marathon April 2018, and although it wasn’t an OTQ attempt, I was originally trying to see what I could do and see if I could break 3 hours. Unfortunately, I got bronchitis which was almost pneumonia and was sidelined for 3 weeks about 9 weeks out from the race. Then the two weeks leading up to the race, my son and I got a horrible stomach bug. I was in urgent care the Wednesday before the race. But to my surprise I ran 3:03:21! Now I knew I could go for the OTQ but it would take a lot of dedication. 

My attempt was at CIM 2018. I knew it would have to be the perfect day but after being sick again for 2 weeks about 9 weeks out again, I pr’d my half and ran 1:21:52, so now it was really possible. What unfolded that day was something of a nightmare. The bus was an hour late which meant I arrived to the race at 6:20. The bathroom lines were huge but a gentleman let me go ahead of him and I was able to pee. No time for a warm up so I put on my shoes, threw my bag in bag check and jogged to the seeded start corral. I got in a few strides, found the 2:45 pacer and he took me to the elite bathrooms, but I only had a minute to go and just couldn’t get my stomach to empty. I knew this could be bad, but I tried to stay positive and off we went.

6:17 pace felt easy and the miles were flying by. The weather was perfect and even the pacer had Maurten that he shared with us which I had been practicing with! This was going to be my day! However, my stomach started churning around mile 7 or 8 and by mile 9 I had to stop but knew if I could empty my gut, I still had enough miles I could make up the time.

To cut the story short, about 6 or 7 more bathroom stops occurred over the next 15 miles with most of them being in the last 5 miles including a stop on a tree in downtown Sacramento because no bathroom was in sight. It was not only humiliating but heartbreaking. The perfect day turned into a nightmare. But I knew I would at least PR so I kept going despite every urge to quit and save my dignity. My coach was a finish line official and he was waiting for me. And with crap literally all over me, he hugged me. I cried. 2:55:01. An 8:20 PR. 10 minutes and 1 seconds off the OTQ time.

No problem. I have another year, right? Well no, I promised my husband we would have another child. Our oldest was now 2 and we didn’t want them too far apart. We agreed I would try one more time in LA in March and then have another kid. We both knew now that it wasn’t just a dream. I could actually do this if I didn’t have to stop so many times. However, my body was done. I ran two of my worst half marathons leading up to LA and knew it wasn’t a good choice to try again at this point. So instead, we got pregnant and I spent 2019 running through pregnancy and having my 2nd son. I delayed my dream to 2024 but my son is so worth it.

What did you gain from this journey?

I learned that I’m tough. I fought hard through that marathon and I didn’t give up. I finished. I PRed. I proved to myself that I can in fact qualify for the trials. It was only my second marathon, so I have a lot to learn and a lot of room to grow. Learning to trust my coach and what he thinks I can do rather than my own doubts was also a huge step for me. 

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit?

Honestly, the guts to try is what I’m most proud of. A lot of people thought I was crazy to set that lofty of a goal when I hadn’t even run a half or full marathon at the beginning of 2018. I’m proud of myself for getting back up and trying again for LA even though I didn’t end up running it. I am also proud of myself for listening to my body and not running LA. Sometimes it’s harder to know when to stop than to keep going.

Do you have any regrets or things you would have done differently in your OTQ pursuit?

I wouldn’t have taken the bus to the start or taken magnesium the night before the race! Haha! I also, would have believed my coach sooner than I did. I did a lot of things right leading up to this attempt, but I think running through my first pregnancy and sooner postpartum would’ve given me more time and more attempts at an OTQ instead of just 1. I also would’ve chosen a sooner marathon after CIM instead of doing another full training cycle for LA. It was too much for my body. I had been going nonstop since August of 2017 so my body really needed a break.

What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits?

Dream big! Shoot for the stars! Never let anyone talk you out of a dream or goal. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your dream. But most importantly, when you fall down, get back up. Try again. Don’t let the major heartbreaks break you. Come back stronger and fight for your dream, even if you have to delay it another 4 years. Don’t quit!

Tell us something unique about yourself.

I ran through my 2nd pregnancy, hitting 1541 pregnancy miles (10 of which I ran the day I went into labor). I was prouder of the races I ran pregnant, even though I was so much slower, than my non-pregnant PRs. I proved to myself I could do it. I won the races or my age group each time! I found a new strength inside myself running pregnant that I didn’t know existed. It was exactly what I needed this last year to find my love of running again in a new and unexpected way.

What’s next for you?

I am currently 2 months postpartum and am training for a half marathon in May, then the Women’s Indy Half in September, and hopefully the Indy Monumental Marathon in November this year to try for a sub 2:50. I’ll be 2 weeks shy of 1 year postpartum by then.

2:45:01 and Beyond: Liz Anjos

I met Liz on the now extinct Runner’s World blog site in 2009, back when we were embarrassed to tell anyone that we met online!  At that time she and I were both training to break 1:30 in the half marathon, so we quickly bonded over following each other’s training and then met up at the 2009 Portland Marathon.  Liz graciously opened her home to me before that marathon, and we ran together for most of the race in pursuit of a 3:10 finish. We have kept in touch through the years, while both dropping significant amounts of time from our PRs, and we were reunited at the 2020 Houston Marathon.  Liz was first inspired to work towards an OTQ in 2008, and spent almost 12 years working her marathon time down to being dangerously close – and she came the closest by throwing out traditional training plans and control.  Liz is a talented musician and writer, and a proud cat mom (even if you don’t love cats you’ll want Bo and Juno)!  She gives a lot back to the running community through coaching and running the Rose CityTrack Club, and she is just a genuinely wonderful person.

Photo credit: Steven Mortinson

Name: Liz Anjos
Age: 34
City/State: Portland, OR
Occupation: Running Coach, Rose City Track Club Co-Founder

Hobbies/interests outside of running:

Reading! I'll wake up extra early every day to read a chapter or two of whatever book I'm on, coffee in hand. I'm also a pianist. I spent about five years as a touring musician with indie-electronic act RAC and recently I've gone back to studying classical music.

When did you start chasing the OTQ and what inspired you to try? 

I was inspired following the 2008 Olympic Trials. Back then, there wasn't a live stream or anything and I remember following the race by continually refreshing this basic chart, maybe on Runner's World, that updated the race by mile splits. Magdalena Lewy-Boulet was leading for a long time, then Deena Kastor passed her with two miles to go and won. It's funny how even without real context of what was happening, it was terribly exciting just following the numbers. It was around that time that I perused the USATF website to read more about the Trials and what it would take to qualify. I remember the track standards looking extremely difficult, but the marathon standard of 2:47 at the time seemed attainable for a "late bloomer" runner like me. At that point, I was 22 years old and had only been running competitively for about two years. I thought with some time and hard work I might be able to get there.

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes. 

While I spent 10+ years working on improving as a runner and marathoner, I really only ever made one real attempt to qualify for the Trials. That was in Houston on January 19, 2020. I never had the guts to really go for it in previous races, because I didn't have the belief that I was capable. I had thought about trying to qualify in Chicago 2019, but my confidence was low and I did not want to suffer through the race and feel like a failure at the end. I played it very safe and ran a negative split race for a PR in 2:57. I had already signed up for Houston, which would be three months later, as a back-up plan to Chicago. In those three months, feeling I had nothing left to prove and nothing to lose after Chicago, I found a new sort of confidence. I kind of ditched the tried-and-true training methods I'd been faithful to and just ran as I felt. I put in some big miles on trails and took off days as I felt. I surprised myself in early December, running a 1:22:43 half marathon PR with relative ease. I hadn't broken even 1:24 in 2019. Six days later, I ran my first ultramarathon, the Hellgate 100K+ (technically 66 miles). It was freeing to go into a race with no expectations, as I had no idea what I was getting into. I ran hard and pushed through a lot of pain to the finish, very unlike my Chicago experience. I placed 4th in 14:18, only 18 minutes behind the winner. I realized I was so much stronger than I thought, and had sort of an epiphany that I was overthinking everything when it came to the marathon. So when I ran Houston Marathon, I didn't think at all, at least in the beginning. I just ran with the 2:45 pace group. I didn't look down at my watch until maybe 9-10 miles in. I ran another half marathon PR en route to a six-minute marathon PR of 2:51:34.

What did you gain from this journey? 

I learned that running is so much more simple than we make it out to be. You don't need a complicated training plan, you don't need fancy gadgets, you don't need perfect weather, you don't need to fret about every little detail. If you try to control every element about your running, you become a slave to your own self-perceived limitations.

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit? 

I'm proud of setting a goal and sticking to it for over ten years. That's a long time. I really feel that I did everything I could to get there. It's been this steady climb with ups and downs along the way, with a flourish of "up" just in the last few months leading to Houston. I see no reason not to keep going, but I also feel a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I don't need this goal to continue consuming my life. I've learned so much and have become a better person for trying.

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you’d done differently in your OTQ pursuit? 

Honestly, I kind of regret wearing the Nike Vaporfly Next% for Houston. It's the only race I've ever run wearing those shoes. They've become the center of such controversy, and I don't like the idea of the shoes I was wearing diminishing my (or anyone's) accomplishment. I mentioned that in December I ran my fastest half marathon ever with relative ease. That was in an old pair of clearance Nike Zoom Flys. Still, I gave in to the hype of the Next%, wanting to feel my best and leave no stone unturned when it came to my OTQ pursuit. I don't think the outcome of my race would have been different had I worn them or not - around 9-10 miles in the pace started to feel tough, so I made the decision to hang on with the 2:45 pace group through the half, then switch gears and finish out the race at a more sustainable pace. But if I felt I could do that regardless of the shoes, why did I feel the need to purchase them in the first place? The feeling of "everyone else is doing it" is very real. The marketing behind the shoes is very real. The shoes fit great and felt great. It's perfectly legal to wear them. But I ended up just feeling sort of icky about it.

What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits? 

I wrote this at the end of my Houston recap, but I'll say it here too: To those chasing after big goals of their own… speaking from the other side, as someone that didn’t get the perfect storybook ending: you will never regret giving yourself the chance to try. 

What’s next for you? This summer I'm planning a supported run/hike of the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, way before even the Olympic Trials goal. I decided to target the summer of 2020 about five years ago. I hoped I would accomplish my OTQ goal then move on toward new pursuits. I had this perception that trail running would ruin my ability to run fast on the roads, so thought I'd better put it off until after the Olympic cycle. Ironically, my running has improved tenfold since I began training more seriously for the Appalachian Trail. Now 2020 is finally here and I couldn't be more excited to finally go on this journey. The best part is, is that I no longer see it as the end-all or a capstone to my amateur running career. I'm already getting excited about what's beyond. There's so much more to discover and explore on the roads, trails, and within.

List any ways you’d like people to connect with you (Instagram, Twitter, blog, etc.).

You can find me on Instagram @pinkfeathers and Facebook at Running Liz. You can find my race recaps and long form posts, as well as info on personal coaching at runningliz.com. 

2:45 and Beyond: Jen Goff

I met Jen in the elite fluid drop line before the IndyMonumental Marathon 2019. A few of us were talking about our self-named “conservative start 2:45 pace group”, and she was interested in pacing with us.  You could see the excitement and encouragement in her eyes!  I was heartbroken for her when I learned that she had to drop out of the race due to an injury, and have since followed her journey back to health and fitness.  She is one determined woman!  She noted that she loves the process and even if she didn’t compete, she’d train anyway – which is exactly how I feel.  She is also my first interviewee who has participated in the soap box derby world championship.  :-)  Read her story and her plans to be faster as a master!

Name: Jen Goff

Age: 39

City/State: Greensboro, NC

Occupation: Running Coach at Fleet Feet Greensboro and Team Wicked Bonkproof

 Hobbies/interests outside of running:

I love to write (http://runjen1.blogspot.com), read guilty pleasure girly books, drink wine, eat good food, spend time with my hubby and two boys (ages 6 & 3), and laugh with friends!

When did you start chasing the OTQ and what inspired you to try?
Less than a year after my first son was born, I broke the 3-hour barrier in the marathon. I then kept dropping time pretty quickly down to 2:51, and I thought to myself, yeah...yeah, I can def do this!

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes.
I was not attempting an OTQ yet, but after I ran 2:51 at Indy in 2017, it became my full-on goal. Unfortunately in 2018, I dealt with a slew of health issues that kept me out of training & racing for half the year. My comeback race was the Myrtle Beach Marathon in 2019, which I won in 2:51. It was at this time that I devoted myself to getting the 2:45 at Indy again later that year. Training had gone very well, but unfortunately about four weeks prior to the race, I strained my calf, which turned into a tear. I dropped out of Indy at mile 5.

What did you gain from this journey?

Given that my training pointed towards being ready to hit the time, it took me a while to fully pick my head back up. However, once I accepted that it was not meant to be, I was able to realize how much I gained...confidence in my abilities, new friends (like you!), and a lot of perspective... Having been so laser-focused on that ONE goal, I've opened myself up to more; I want to run lots of different distances, train more often with other people, and have more flexibility with myself in my training.

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit?

That I know I can do it. I'm at a point where I feel okay not having officially done it because I hit workouts in training that I never thought I could! And honestly, I love the training anyway. I'm appreciative to truly enjoy the process. Competing is almost like a secondary thing for me... if it didn't exist, I'd still train anyway!

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you’d done differently in your OTQ pursuit? 

None! I went for it! I wouldn't change a thing.

What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits?

A goal is simply a dream with a deadline. I'll never stop dreaming. And my gosh, you have no idea how appreciative I am for all the support in my community.

Tell us something unique about yourself.

Before I ever started running, I raced soap box derby! I competed in the world championships in 1991 at age 11. I think I always need to be chasing something.......... :)

What’s next for you?

Now that my calf is healed, I have a few races planned for the year. I just won a marathon relay this past weekend with three of my awesome gal pals (2:36), and we had a BLAST! I have a 10-miler coming up in March, a marathon at the end of April, I'll run a half marathon leg as part of a 70.3 relay in May, and I'd like to hit new PRs in the 5K and 10K too. So, as you can tell, I'm opening myself up to some new adventures!

Anything else you’d like to share?
I turn 40 this year on the day of the Boston Marathon! I'm looking forward to being #fasterasamaster and hopefully proving that age is just a number! :)

2:45:01 and Beyond: Rachael Warner Sanchez

Rachael was among the gutsy last-minute OTQ in HOU chasers.  She certainly had guts - her race plan was to stay with the OTQ pack (no Plan B).  She tells others "We should all savor the process", which is the perfect message for any of us who have ever fallen short of our goal (read: every one of us!).  She loves the way the sport brings people from all different paths together.  She is coached by Kyle Heffner, a 1980 marathon Olympian, and planning to spend 2020 building speed in anticipation of the 2024 qualifying standards.

Name: Rachael Warner Sanchez

Age: 32

City/State: McKinney, TX

Occupation: Law Enforcement

Hobbies/interests outside of running:

Family/friend time and relaxing!

When did you start chasing the OTQ and what inspired you to try?

My good friend Raquel (who hit the B standard at CIM) suggested we try because, with hard work, 2:45:00 was doable. I started in earnest over the summer but with some anemia issues, my big push for OTQ started after running in the Chicago Marathon in October 2019

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes.

The Chevron Houston Marathon in January 2020 was my first real attempt. At Grandma’s Marathon in June 2019 I tested the pace but was not a full on effort. Circling back to my real attempt in Houston, I gave myself one goal (A long shot): hang onto the pace group for as long as possible. There are no second place options today. That was my “A” goal. My other “A” goal was to remain positive and supportive if I fell off pace.

What did you gain from this journey?

This journey really motivated me to try again because the atmosphere of the OTQ shake out run and the huge group of us trying for the same goal was inspiring. I also feel the ability is there because I explored training volume that I had never done before and in a very short amount of time, I made good progress.

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit?

I am most proud that I stuck to the initial goal. For 20 miles I loved the dream. I was running OTQ pace. I promised myself to go until my body would not and then just jog/run/struggle in. All or nothing.

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you’d done differently in your OTQ pursuit?

For sure the surging due to the large size of group taxed my legs in ways I was not used to yet. I had never experienced that kind of race rhythm and feel it took some of my energy from me. I ultimately wasn’t fully ready yet for a 2:45:00 marathon but I came off the group probably a few miles sooner than if I had been running more smoothly. We all had to contend with those circumstances of course.

What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits?

We all should savor the process. Allow yourself to feel the fruits of one’s hard work and even when a race doesn’t go as planed, still rejoice in the positives that got one to that point. Of course feeling disappointment is part of the process (Don’t feel ashamed for running someone else’s “dream time” and it not hitting the mark for your own personal goal). Gratitude from Deena Kastor’s book, very much, is what it’s all about.

Tell us something unique about yourself.

I am not very unique but I guess one could say I’m corky with an odd sense of humor.

What’s next for you?

I will be focusing on shorter/quicker races in 2020 to help build the threshold power needed for the marathon and wait for the new standards to be released. The 2021 Boston Marathon may be my next marathon.

I currently race for a team in North Texas called the Iron Distance Project and am coached by a man named Kyle Heffner. I will be looking forward to training and racing with my teammates this season. Mr. Heffner is a 1980 marathon Olympian who has really clicked with what my goals are and we are both excited to keep developing my endurance running abilities.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’d like to say to all the runners out there, both male and female, to keep on running and bolstering this wonderful sport! Seeing other runner’s journeys has been a true pleasure and would love for all of us to keep the ball rolling in this activity that brings all walks of life together.

2:45:01 and Beyond: Morgan Lingar

When Morgan ran by me during the final miles of Indy Monumental, I told myself, "Stay with that girl, she is going to get it".  I hung onto her for awhile, but then she sailed ahead, looking amazingly strong.  After the race I found her on Strava and saw just how close she was.  I then learned that she'd run Chicago 4 weeks before Indy - and watched her go on to run another fast marathon at CIM just 4 weeks after Indy!  I think this woman has recovery superpowers, and clearly she has some awe-inspiring determination.  Her journey really exemplifies how groups of strong women produce more strong women!

Name: Morgan Lingar

Age: 29

City/State: New York, New York

Occupation: Corporate Lawyer

Hobbies/Interests outside of running: reading books (mostly fiction & memoirs), barre classes, extremely unadventurous cooking and baking

When did you start chasing the OTQ and what inspired you to try?

I became interested in an OTQ as an eventual goal over the last year or so hearing how many of the NYC women I see running each day qualified, and then after running a big PR in the half marathon last March it seemed like a possibility for 2020. After hitting a few good long tempo runs in the late summer and early fall, and with a lot of encouragement from running friends, I decided to go for it.

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes.

This past fall, I ran the Chicago Marathon (2:47:17), Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (2:45:15), and California International Marathon (2:50:15). Three marathons in 12 weeks was very much not the original plan. Chicago was my third lifetime marathon, and a 10 minute PR, but I had some stomach issues in the second half and wanted to give it another go. Four weeks later at Indy, I was devastated when I just missed the standard. I felt recovered a few days later and had the best long run of my cycle the following week, so decided to give the four week turnaround another go at CIM but CIM just wasn't my day - I could tell in the first 10k the race was just going to be a fight to finish and it certainly was. I barely remember the last 13 miles!

What did you gain from this journey?

I had been running for one New York team the last few years but as part of this process of taking a step up in training and racing I decide to join the  Central Park Track Club. The combination of speedy teammates to push me in workouts and phenomenal coaching has been a game changer. As an added bonus, I've expanded my network in the NYC running community! I also learned that recovery a strong point for me. With the guidance of Devon, one of the Central Park Track Club coaches, and some insightful teammates, I found a great post-marathon system of taking some total rest days to repair but also jumping back into some really quality workouts after each marathon.

I've also spent a lot of time thinking about the value of running in my life and really focused on finding ways to use running to maximize joy over the past half year. Joining a competitive team and seeing my running improve has been a great confidence builder. I've also prioritized making plans to run with people every day - I often don't get out of work in time to socialize during the week, but running is a great excuse to socialize at 6:00 am!

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit?

I'm really proud of cutting 12 minutes off my marathon time in a year! I keep reminding myself that is a huge achievement despite not quite making the arbitrary 2:45 cutoff. And, I'm proud of myself for putting in some huge mileage weeks and workouts while working unpredictable hours. There are days when I sleep 4 hours and get up feeling exhausted to run an 8 miles of tempo in cold rain before dawn, or get up at 5:00 am on a Saturday to get in 22 miles, but those days really are building the mental toughness I need to succeed at the marathon and I'm proud of putting in that work.

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you'd done differently in your OTQ pursuit?

I don't regret anything about my training cycle. I suppose I do regret my 6:30 25th mile at Indy... I felt incredible that weekend but got a little too excited early in the race and wasted some energy, and then panicked when I dropped off a pack and ended up alone. With hindsight, I know the group I dropped from was running well under pace, and I should have stayed calm and found another pack. I ended up running much of the second half alone, and wasn't calculating my time well at the end, vacillating between thinking I was well under the goal and that I'd lost too much ground. I started losing focus the last couple miles and slowed a bit, though my body was still okay, and it wasn't until a guy started yelling at me to sprint with a half mile to go that I realized I was probably just going to miss it.

What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits?

Find running buddies to get you out there each day, both literally and figuratively. I've never had any trouble with the discipline of getting myself out the door every morning to run or do a workout, but my execution of workouts when alone was often poor. I would then try to cram another workout in too soon, and was running myself into the ground without actually hitting many quality workouts. Running workouts in a pack allows me calm down and zone out a little, and my workouts more recently have been much harder but with more recovery days, which has been a game changer.

I am also so grateful for my countless runner friends. Many of my closest friends are runners, from my college teammates to the crew I ran with in law school to my New York network. Beyond my regular morning running dates, I can usually drag someone out with me when I'm traveling for a wedding or bachelorette party. I'm not sure I ever would have tried a marathon if it wasn't for the encouragement of many of these special people, especially one of my friends from law school who taught me to love the journey of marathon training by letting me accompany her on her long runs for years before I considered signing up for my own.

Tell us something unique about yourself.

Unique only for a marathoner - I really enjoy explosive training like sprints, plyos and lifting. I was a middle distance runner in college, and I never really lost the satisfaction of getting to rest after just a short push of hard work!

What's next for you?
I'll be dropping back down in distance for the NYC and Brooklyn Half Marathons, along with some 5K-10K races, over the next few months! Big picture, my eyes are very much set on 2024 already.

2:45:01 and Beyond: Susie Duke

Susie experienced the Trials in 2016, but didn't quite make it back (despite phenomenal efforts!), so she can truly understand both sides of the coin.  After Susie and I finished fairly close at Indy Monumental, I began following her impressive journey and was amazed as she ran two more speedy marathons shortly after, making for three 2:46-2:47s in 10 weeks!  She fell more in love with the marathon through this journey, and at 39 she looks forward to breaking all her PRs as a master and wants to tell others that "it's never too late".  Oh, also she ran 30 miles for her 30th birthday, and she makes her own kombucha!

Name: Susie Duke
Age: 39
City/State: Grinnell, IA
Occupation: Associate Director of Global Courses at Grinnell College

Hobbies/interests outside of running:

I work international education and always have opportunities to travel, which I love. But truly, I am most recharged by time at home with family on my farm. I have horses to ride, a bunch of chickens, a way-too-big garden to manage, and we keep bees. When I’m not outside, I love cooking and fermenting. I always have a batch of kombucha and sauerkraut going.

When did you start chasing the OTQ and what inspired you to try?

In 2014, I qualified for the 2016 Trials. Soon after running 2:42 in Indy in 2014, I injured my back. I was a wreck. Overtraining combined with a few other SI-joint injuries—including a snow sledding accident and some unfortunate horse episodes—had weakened my low back. One morning I just woke up, bent over to pick something up, and it felt like I’d been run over by a truck. With a herniated L5-S1, I spent the next several months just getting back to walking without pain.

About a year later, I ran the very hot LA Trials. I only did it because I’d earned the right to be there. I was in terrible shape and in pain. Eventually, late in 2016, I had surgery to clean up the messy disc. I have and will always have permanent low-grade numbness in my right foot/ankle. Surgery was the best thing I could do to move me past much of the chronic pain that was holding me down. It took several years after my injury to get to a place where I could actually train consistently again. In the fall of 2018, I ran a 2:53 at my hometown marathon. That got me to thinking that maybe I could get within OTQ range. I started chasing the 2020 OTQ in the spring of 2019.

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes.

Fueled by my previous positive experience, I chose Indianapolis for my attempt. I knew the course and amazing elite organizers. And I have family in Indy, so it was an easy choice. But, the race felt like a struggle from the start. I felt cooked not long after halfway. My pace slowly declined over the second half. There were many points where I had a mental pity party, planning how it would be my last marathon. I finished in 2:46:23, wrapped my head in Mylar and cried for 30 seconds. Then I snapped out of it.

Until November 9, 2019, Indy had been the only attempt on my calendar. Later that day after the race, I started to look for other options. I decided on Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio that fell a month after Indy. It was a total long shot because my family went to France for Thanksgiving. We got home 48-hours before taking off to fly to Texas. I was jet-lagged and sickly with a sinus infection, but I felt great running. I probably felt too great and pushed a bit too hard the first half. Then I hit the hills. I had a perfect 20-miles and then bombed the last 10K. I finished first but in 2:47:something. So another miss.

At this point, the obsession was high. I decided that I wouldn’t be able to let it go if I didn’t give it one more go, since I still had time within the qualifying window. By then Houston was full, I decided to race Rock’n’Roll Arizona in Phoenix. The weeks leading up to Phoenix were actually perfect. I felt like a good day was possible.

Then we had a blizzard the weekend of the race. I was to fly to Phoenix with a friend on Saturday morning. Just a quick, direct flight down and then back late the night after the race. I didn’t want to miss work or make a big deal out of it. Just go and get it done. It’s never that simple. The forecast was bad enough that the airlines allowed flight changes. I moved to a Friday flight, but I didn’t choose a flight early enough. We got caught right in the middle of the storm. The Friday flight was cancelled. We were stranded in an airport hotel—a really nice one with a sweet pool, sauna, hot tub and solarium, which was a silver lining—then had to be rebooked but my original flight was full. AH! So we had to be routed through Philadelphia. I spent 14 hours on a plane waiting, deicing, and then flying across the country only to arrive in Phoenix less than 12 hours before the start of the race. I ran a shakeout mile on the hotel treadmill at 8:30pm and went to bed.

It was an absolute whirlwind getting there. So stressful. So tense. The race went as expected after all of that. I felt horrible from the start. Tired. Weighed-down. Just bad. I hoped that I might shake it and did from about mile 5-10. I thought I might settle in and be able to pull off a miracle, but then the sun came out and started to roast us. It was hotter that day than the previous several days. I don’t run well in heat. Somehow I hung on and ended up finishing fourth in 2:47:something. I’m consistent to say the least.

What did you gain from this journey?

I loved the training. I loved all the long miles. Through all of the training and then running three marathons within 10-weeks, I fell completely in love with the marathon all over again. And I’ve run a lot of marathons. Actually, a product of all of the OTQ attempts was something I’d been hoping to do, which was make my 2:42 less of an outlier. My 2014 Indy race was my only 2:40-something marathon I had run, but I have run in the 2:50s five times. Now I have several 2:40s to add to my resume.

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit?

I am proud that I persisted each time. In each race, there were many miles where I knew it wasn’t going to happen. As one of my good training buds exclaimed after Indianapolis, “You knew for 12-miles that you weren’t going to do it, yet you didn’t give up!” I guess I am proud of that. I’m also pretty glad that I didn’t listen to myself when I thought about throwing in the marathon towel after Indianapolis. The other races—while not the outcome I was hoping for—were so much fun and great memories.

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you’d done differently in your OTQ pursuit?

I only wish that I had started trying sooner. When I was in the thick of recovering from my injury, I thought that I might never run another marathon, at least not race one. Then one of the things that put me over the edge with recovery was hopping on the indoor bike trainer. I started doing Zwift early in 2019. My fitness skyrocketed. As I got stronger, I was able to run more and more miles. I regret some of my months of recovery were spent moping about how I’d let myself become so injured rather than actually doing something about it.

 
What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits?

It’s never too late. I have run most competitively in my 30s. I have a goal to PR in several distances later this year. That way I can claim that I truly am faster as a Master.

Tell us something unique about yourself.

I ran 30 miles on my 30^th birthday. But it was a Thursday and the first day of school—I was teaching at the time. I had to get up and start running at 2am so I had time to get back for school.

What’s next for you?

I’m going to try really hard to not run another marathon this year. We’ll see. First, I’m going to train for some speed and shorter events and see where that takes me. 

2:45 and Beyond: Bryanna Gondeiro-Petrie

I’ve enjoyed following Bryanna on Instagram and reading her blog for some time now.  I love her strong faith and trust in God.  I also love her Kidrunner (pull behind running stroller) run photos!  She is one busy lady; I had to laugh that her occupation listing started with “too many to list.”  She has been through a lot on this journey, and notes “Goals without any challenges would be boring.”  Make sure to read her whole story for some very exciting news!

Name: Bryanna Gondeiro-Petrie

Age: 30

City/State: Cedar Hill, TX 

Occupation: 

Too many to list......work from home mom and home school mom, work part time for the Freedom Foundation & Newman International Academy, part time for Tailwind Fitness, coach high school Track and Field and Cross Country (and middle school Cross Country), coach Privately run clients 

Hobbies/ interests outside of running: 

Being outdoors hiking and exploring, baking, reading, and knitting

When did you start chasing the OTQ & what inspired you to try? 

I have always loved running, since I could walk! I made it a goal to go for the OTQ back in 2013 right after I got married. I saw that my running was only getting stronger since high school and I wanted to see what I was capable of. In high school I didn't realize my potential and I guess I wanted to redeem myself and actually try at running. After making it a goal, but still not at a sub 3-hour marathoner, I found out I was pregnant with our first. I now have 3 kids and chasing my dream has had a few road bumps, good ones, but there's been challenges for sure.

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes.  

My first attempt for the OTQ was in 2017. The standards had just been announced and I ran a marathon PR a few months earlier, 10 months after my second child, my first marathon I won. My goal was the sub 2:45, with a PR of 2:52. I felt strong and like it was all doable. It was the Belingham Marathon in Washington. I got the flu the night before, from my cross-country girls. I woke up and tried to race anyway. It was miserable. I stayed on pace for 16 miles. I tore up a porta-potty at mile 13/14 and was dry heaving. Finally, at mile 15 I used someone’s phone to call my husband and tell him to come get me. I ran another mile to him and jumped into the car. It was devastating. I had never DNF'd and it sucked that it was all because of the flu. I was running with the lead girl, but felt weak and off.  I was confident I would be back though, so I wasn't down for long. I bounced right back, but then a few months later I was pregnant again with my third. 

Finally, after having my third in July 2018, I was ready to jump back in. We had moved to Texas from Washington when I was 30 weeks pregnant and the heat and humidity were miserable. I was working more than ever but I was able to get my runs in. I was having a good training block when I had to remove my appendix in March of 2019 due to appendicitis, a few months before another goal race. I was nursing and my baby was only 8 months. I didn't bounce back as good as I would have liked. I ran the race anyway, but didn't get my goal at Missoula.

I had CIM in Dec 2019 as my last shot and I knew it was possible. But while they were in taking my appendix out they found 2 big hernias, which explained the source of all my pain for a few years. I had to remove those in August 2019. Another surgery and 2 weeks of no running. I also started working 50+ hours a week and homeschooling my oldest two. I did all that I could and managed some 75 mile weeks in my buildup to CIM. I toed the line and was confident. I ran with the sub 2:45 group and it was thrilling. I felt good and controlled. My body started revolting around mile 8 and my leg couldn't remember how to run. I was tripping over it and kept stumbling. I began dragging it. It lost feeling and then my sciatic flared up. It was miserable. I suffered through 18 more miles and watched my dreams slip away. I was in so much pain and crossed the line in 2:53 - not breathing hard but my body felt dead. It was hard to accept that was it. Another attempt gone. 

I have learned that I worked hard and that family will always come first. I have many responsibilities and had 2 surgeries in only months. I have been nursing or pregnant for the last 5 years. I decided to try Houston in January but then we found out we were expecting again before Christmas 2019. I had run my fastest marathon pregnant at CIM (although not a PR by any means) and I knew Houston full wasn't going to happen so I did the half instead. Bitter, but also felt better because even if I would have qualified at CIM I had a baby growing inside, so it wouldn't have been a fun race in Atlanta. I realized my family was coming first again. It made the disappointment of CIM easier to handle, but I still have the thought "what if....." 

What did you gain from this journey? 

I have gained more knowledge. I have learned how to accept defeat and move on from it. I have learned that challenges only help to build you up and that watching others achieve their goals is so inspiring. I am young and I watch more and more women in their mid to late 30s killing it and crushing goals, and this gives me hope that I am not finished yet. 

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit? 

I am most proud of my family. 3 kids and growing!! I have done all of this while raising a family, home schooling, and working full time. Most of us cannot train like elites, but we are still considered elites. We juggle so much on a daily basis and have to make room for our training. This isn't the story of all elite runners, who spend hours in the gym each day, have massages, take naps, and hours to complete their workouts. I am so proud of all the working moms who have accomplished the OTQ or who have tried. It's hard raising a family while trying to train like an elite. Having my family experience my races with me is a blessing. I love seeing my family on the course, even if it means no sleep the night before the race, hahahaha!

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you'd done differently in your OTQ pursuit? 

I don't have any regrets. So much was outside of my control. I wouldn't trade my kids for anything. I couldn't help having surgeries. I only wish that my health was stronger and I didn't have to have those surgeries. I know they made it hard to bounce back and come back strong. 

What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits? 

I would like all to know that God's plans are bigger and better. His ways higher. Life will throw curve balls, but we will get the last laugh. Goals without any challenges would be boring. I love going by "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you." Keep pressing forward and don't give up. Even if you don't reach that goal this year or next year, keep running towards it. We don't always know God's timing or understand it, but it is always the best timing. I know that with each kid I have my comeback will be stronger. I want to live a life where I didn't give up. Where I tried. Don't let work, broken relationships, kids, family and obstacles hold you back...use them!! 

Tell us something unique about yourself? 

I am a nutritionist and I love having healthy food. I also grew up on a ranch in small town USA in Montana and it taught me what hard work is. 

What's next for you?

Right now what is next is nourishing this new miracle I have been blessed with and having a healthy forth pregnancy. After that it's getting my health back and facing reality....that recovery and rest are important. Then you can expect to see me back on the roads chasing the OTQ for 2024. I haven't given up yet....I have some years left in me.