Training for Olympic Trials

Hello!

My name is Anna Weber and I am 27 years old.  I have been running since August 1, 1999 and for as long as I can remember, I have had one goal:  to someday run in the Olympics.  While I may not be an Olympic-caliber runner quite yet, I am closing in on the first obstacle I need to surpass to one day reach that goal, which is to qualify for the Olympic Trials.  In order to qualify for the Trials (held February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles), I must run 2:43:00 by January 17, 2016.  To give myself the best possible chance to do so, I am planning to take time off of graduate school so that I can focus solely on my training.  My next race is the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on October 4, 2015. 


Here I am as an 8th grader (white/blue uniform on the far left) using my gangly arms to make sure I have enough space for 3 people on the starting line :)

Why am I asking for money?

Up to this point, I have never had the opportunity to focus on my training.  I have always been a very busy person.  At Michigan City High School I was all-state 4x while also taking AP and honors classes, as well as being involved in numerous extra-curricular activities such as German Club, Honor Society, Yearbook, and 4H.  At Marquette University, I competed in cross country and track on a dual athletics/academic scholarship while majoring in chemistry, literature, and math.  Now, I am at the start of my 5th year of graduate school at Indiana University, where I am pursuing a PhD in Analytical Chemistry.  Currently, IU's Analytical Chemistry department is ranked #5 in the nation.  I have found that giving my best effort towards high-level training AND a nationally ranked graduate school to be very difficult.  A typical day of elite marathon training includes 1-3 hours of running, 1-2 hours of stretching/plyometric drills/core strengthening/foam rolling, 8-10 hours of sleep, strength training 2-3 times a week, and utmost attention to rest, recovery, hydration, and nutrition.  On the other hand, an ideal day of graduate school includes 10 hours of productive lab time, as well as another 2-3 hours of analyzing data, reading science literature, and planning experiments.  The majority of my time in graduate school has been spent being exhausted, under-trained, under-productive, and extremely stressed out.  I strongly feel that giving myself a chance to train at the same level as the women I regularly compete with will help me achieve my goals. 


Here I am in high school (far left, navy blue shirt) the first time I qualified for the state cross country meet. 

Why do I think I can qualify for the Trials?

At my (road) marathon debut at the 2014 Chicago Marathon, I finished 49th place in 2:50:01, on what I considered to be an "off" day.  I took the training for my next marathon a little more seriously, and bettered my time to 2:47:54 at the 2015 Pittsburgh Marathon.  While that may not seem like that big of a time drop, if you consider that Chicago is pancake-flat and had perfect 50 degree weather while Pittsburgh is HILLY and was 75 degrees at the finish, then I truly believe that my 2:47:54 effort was much closer to 2:43:00 effort.  Additionally, I recently met with a sports nutritionist who uncovered deficiencies in my hydration, nutrition, and vitamin/mineral levels, as well as intolerances to soy, pork, and caffeine (3 staples of my diet).  Making necessary changes has already improved my overall wellness and training.  Finally, since 2011 I have been without a coach.  I am happy to announce that I once again am training under the guidance of my former high school coach, which should improve my performance.


Here I am in college (far right) running to a 12th place finish at the Great Lakes Regional in a 6k time of 21:29 at Indiana University. 

Where will the money go?

My budget is for August 1 - January 1 2016

Necessities
Rent:  $3435
Utilities (electric/internet): $425
Car Insurance:  $215
Health Insurance: $125
Groceries: $750
Running Shoes: $360
Race Gear: $100
Race Entries: $400
Race Travel: $500
Nutritional Supplements (iron, vitamin D3, probiotics, l-glutamine): $100
Race/training hydration/nutrition:  $150
Miscellaneous (toiletries, gas for car, etc): $500
Total: $7060

Wish List
Nutritionist: $230
Massage: $500
Chiropractor: $500
Yoga: $300
State Park Entry (for trail running):  $100
Total:  $1630


Here I am at the 2013 Land Between Lakes Marathon in Grand Rivers, KY, running to a 1st place finish in a course record time of 3:11:54. 

How else am I trying to raise money?

I am extremely uncomfortable asking people for money.  As of April 2015, I had nearly enough money saved up to support myself during the fall semester.  However, my car had to have its transmission replaced, which placed me in a very tough spot.  Should I blow my savings and fix my car; or, should I blow my savings, AND take out a car loan AND have more expensive car insurance and buy a newer/better car?  I chose the former option, and nearly emptied my bank account to fix my beloved station wagon.  Besides trying to crowd-fund in order to recoup what I lost, I am also tirelessly sending out sponsorship proposals to running-specific companies (i.e. Oiselle, ClifBar, etc.), as well as local breweries/restaurants/running stores.  I have also applied for training grants through the Road Runners Club of America.  Should I receive $8500 through these sources, I will immediately discontinue the gofundme website and return any money donated past my goal.  If I do not reach my goal of $8500, I will take out a personal loan to cover the difference. 


Here I am at Great Lakes Relay, a 300 mile/ 3 day adventure relay across the state of Michigan. 

Personal Bests/Accomplishments

Marathon: 2:47:54
Half-Marathon: 1:18:09
10k: 36:35
6k: 21:29
5k: 17:34
4k: 14:23
3k: 9:49
mile: 5:01

Course records:  Estes Park Half Marathon, Land Between Lakes Marathon


Me, after a February training run before Pittsburgh!