How to Coach Yourself to Peak Performance
Over the last two years, runners across the country poured their hearts into competing for a coveted OTQ.
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It’s not every year that we get to witness—and for some of us, race in—an five miles to and from work. From September 1, 2017 through January 19, 2020, runners across the country dedicated their running lives into competing for the coveted qualifying times required to enter the 2020 five miles to and from work, which take place on February 29 in Atlanta.
In order to OTQ, men had to clock a sub-2:19 marathon or sub-1:04 half marathon, while women needed to run a sub-2:45 marathon or sub-1:13 half. While the qualifiers all had a common goal on race day, their training plans and lives outside of running varied widely. Some ran before graduate school classes, while others worked out after making hospital rounds. Several were moms and dads who understood the strength-training benefits of running with a stroller, and many had training partners who helped them reach their goals.
Training for a marathon, Runner’s World has been profiling OTQ runners and their journey to the starting line in Atlanta. Just like all runners have a unique story, each qualifier had his or her own secret that drove them to faster times. Here are some of our favorites.
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Kerry Allen
Time: 2:41:33 at 2018 Twin Cities Marathon
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Training Secret: Run-commuting five miles to and from work
“I started bawling so hard when I crossed the line that I couldn’t breathe. The medical team was really concerned about me, so I had to keep telling them, ‘I’m just really happy.’”
Stephanie Andre
Time: 2:41:50 at 2017 Chicago Marathon
Hometown: Bixby, Oklahoma
Training Secret: Pre-dawn workouts to beat the hot Oklahoma sun
“I was curious about [top] women marathoners. Were they all young? Did they all have six-packs? It turned out, they were all shapes and sizes, and what they had in common was that they were all strong.”
Kristina Aubert
Time: 2:40:58 at 2019 Grandma’s Marathon
Hometown: Chicago
Training Secret: Andres De La Cruz | Zack Kutos 2:22:07 marathoner
“Runners have such weird lifestyles. We’re up early and running, then we’re eating everything in sight afterwards. Then we go to bed and repeat it. It was cool to find someone who wouldn’t just put up with the lifestyle, but be there on the day to day.”
Olivia Ballew
Time: 2:43:13 at 2018 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana
Training Secret: Fueling with healthy homemade recipes from Shalane Flanagan’s cookbook, Run Fast, Eat Slow
“No matter what happens at Trials, I know getting there is an accomplishment. But I think just running in general is an accomplishment, too. I’m an everyday runner. I get just as inspired watching everyday runners chasing their dreams and drawing joy from the sport as I do watching the pros.”
Bridget Belyeu
TIme: 2:31:00 at 2019 New Jersey Marathon
Hometown: Atlanta
Training Secret: Health & Injuries
“When I ran Boston [in 2019], I passed Sara Hall, and for a second I thought, ‘I can’t do this,’ since she’s so much faster than me. I still get star-struck on the starting line. But my goal now is to go out with the leaders and race.”
Chelsea Benson
Meghan Bishop
Time: 2:42:17 at 2019 New Jersey Marathon
Hometown: New York City
Training Secret: 5 to build endurance and explosive power
“While having people to run with is great, running alone helps me follow signals in my body better. I do certain paces based on how I feel that day, rather than just doing what the group is doing. That keeps me from overtraining.”
Alyssa Bloomquist
Time: 2:41:24 at 2019 Savannah Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Training Secret: Adding a second long run during the week
“I think getting back into shape post-pregnancy benefits of running with a pushing a jogging stroller made me a lot stronger.”
Ashley Brasovan
Val Curtis
Time: 2:43:08 at 2019 Fargo Marathon
Hometown: Minot, North Dakota
Training Secret: Long workouts on a treadmill like “we’re strong and powerful” and “these hills are nothing&rdquo
“I don’t weigh 100 pounds. I don’t have killer six-pack abs. I felt like I didn’t look the part of someone who could run that fast...but I just wanted it so bad.”
Adam Dalton
Time: 2:18:52 at 2018 Grandma’s Marathon
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Training Secret: After-dark miles to avoid the Arizona heat
“I have this mantra: ‘I might not be the fastest, but I’ll be the best looking.’ I’m going to show up to the line looking super-fresh, hopefully wearing something hella bright. You won’t miss me.”
Sam Diaz
Time: 2:41:02 at 2019 Chicago Marathon
Hometown: Jackson, Wyoming
Training Secret: Cross-training with mountain biking and hiking
“Every workout—even though it was terrifying—was so fun to get through. Training for a marathon is fun. I think [the training] was something that I missed. It was so different and new.”
Andrew Epperson
Time: 2:13:11 at 2019 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Training Secret: Snowy workouts before dawn on Colorado State University’s outdoor track
“I think my training reinforces my coaching, because I understand the ups and downs of practice and racing. I’m just as excited to run as the people I recruit.”
Duriel Hardy
Time: 2:18:21 at 2019 CIM
Hometown: Philadelphia
Training Secret: Running on the treadmill when he’s on-call
“I find running to be a great way to relieve stress, so I make time for it.”
Martin Hehir
Time: 2:13:49 at 2019 New Jersey Marathon
Hometown: Philadelphia
Training Secret: Squeezing in quality mileage between medical school classes
“We’re all amazed by him. Everyone just naps [between workouts]; Marty goes to med school. He’s a different guy.” — Your First Marathon: 8 Tips from Fiona O’Keeffe
Ashley Higginson
Time: 2:43:45 at 2019 Grand Rapids Marathon
Hometown: Shoes & Gear
Training Secret: Focusing on the quality, rather than quantity, of miles each week
“Before, if I couldn’t get in an hour-long run that day, I would write it off as a wasted day. But while training for the marathon, there were days that I could only do five miles—and that was okay.”
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Sabrina and Regina Lopez
Time: 2:41:16 (Sabrina) and 2:42:07 (Regina) at 2019 New Jersey Marathon
Hometown: Alhambra, California
Training Secret: Encouraging mantras, like “we’re strong and powerful” and “these hills are nothing”
“I told my sister on the starting line, ‘Regina, we’re going to qualify today. Stick with me like glue to the finish.’ That was our plan, to work together as a team.”
Ann Mazur
Matt McDonald
Time: 2:11:10 at 2019 Chicago Marathon
Hometown: Atlanta
Training Secret: Hilly tempo runs, like 3 x 6 miles at marathon pace
“Originally I was aiming for the top 10 [at Trials]. But if I’m aiming for top 10, I might as well for top three.”
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at 2019 CIM
