2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials
Donation protected
I am a runner chasing my dreams. I am currently training for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, CA on February 13, 2016. This is my second time qualifying for the trials. I had set out in 2011 with a goal to do a marathon in under 3 hours. I wanted to get back into shape and see what I could still do as a runner after a 10 year post-collegiate break. I made my sub 3 hour goal, but knew I had a lot more to give. I did two more marathons that year and on my third one (CIM 2011), I qualified for the 2012 trials and had taken 14 minutes off my initial marathon time. Although I was excited to hit that qualifying time, I knew enough about aerobic development that I realized it would take 6-8 years to reach my full potential in the marathon. I began wondering about the possibilities for 2016.
In 2013 I was ready to take my training and commitment to the next level so I contacted one of the top marathon coaches in the country - Brad Hudson out of Boulder, CO. I had to see if he was accepting new athletes and if he would be a good fit for me. After a discussion on training and goals, I knew he was a perfect fit and I've worked with him since. In the last 2 and a half years working with Brad, I've increased my mileage up to 100 miles per week in peak marathon training and have improved my times in every distance from 5k up to the marathon. The next step I took was giving up my full-time UPS driving position so that I could give as much of my physical energy and more time to training. After doing this, I've continued to see improvement and I am now into the last 16 weeks before the 2016 Trials. Brad, contacted me a few weeks ago to invite me to train in Henderson, NV with his other professional runners for the last six weeks leading up to the trials. This will give me the chance to train with a group of like-minded athletes with the same goal in an environment free of outside distraction. I realize this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I simply can not pass up. I have never been able to give this level of focussed attention to my training and I am excited to explore my limits.
Although it has benefitted my training, reducing my workload to part-time has proven to be tough financially. Travel to the Olympic Trials and the expenses of the training camp will be at least $3000. Any help minimizing this expense would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping me go after my dream!
In 2013 I was ready to take my training and commitment to the next level so I contacted one of the top marathon coaches in the country - Brad Hudson out of Boulder, CO. I had to see if he was accepting new athletes and if he would be a good fit for me. After a discussion on training and goals, I knew he was a perfect fit and I've worked with him since. In the last 2 and a half years working with Brad, I've increased my mileage up to 100 miles per week in peak marathon training and have improved my times in every distance from 5k up to the marathon. The next step I took was giving up my full-time UPS driving position so that I could give as much of my physical energy and more time to training. After doing this, I've continued to see improvement and I am now into the last 16 weeks before the 2016 Trials. Brad, contacted me a few weeks ago to invite me to train in Henderson, NV with his other professional runners for the last six weeks leading up to the trials. This will give me the chance to train with a group of like-minded athletes with the same goal in an environment free of outside distraction. I realize this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I simply can not pass up. I have never been able to give this level of focussed attention to my training and I am excited to explore my limits.
Although it has benefitted my training, reducing my workload to part-time has proven to be tough financially. Travel to the Olympic Trials and the expenses of the training camp will be at least $3000. Any help minimizing this expense would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping me go after my dream!
Organizer
Rachel Jaten
Organizer
Spokane, WA