RunMichigan: How has your training gone the last 6 months in preparation for the trials?

My training has been going very well. I've been able to log in the miles without major injury or illnesses, and I've been hitting my times in workouts that are comparable to those in preparation for the 2000 Trials. Obviously, not every run, workout, or race feels great, but being able to hit my times while still having to struggle is just as good.

RunMichigan: How does it feel to be running in your second Olympic Trials Marathon?

It's so exciting knowing that I'll be toeing the line for the second time in the Olympic Trials. It's a level not many people reach, and I'm so fortunate to have already done it once, and will be doing it again in 3 weeks.

RunMichigan: Congratulations on your 10th place finish at the Gate RiverRun, what was the goal for this race? What other races have you used to prepare for the trials?

I expected to be in the top 15, and was hoping for a Top 10 finish, so I'm pleased with the results. However, I struggled the entire way, and ran alone for the last 7 miles. I didn't taper much for the race because I didn't want to compromise too much of my marathon training, so my legs were a bit tired. Other races I've used in preparation for the Trials were: the Disney 1/2 Marathon in mid-January (1st-1:18+) ; the Naples 1/2 Marathon at the end of Jan (2nd-1:15+); a 23-mile training/tempo run at the Birmingham Marathon in Feb; and a string of local races here in Jacksonville ranging in distances from the 5k to the 10k.

RunMichigan: In 2000 you finished 7th at the Olympic Trials Marathon, what is your goal for the 2004 Olympic Trials Marathon race?

I am hoping to place in the top ten again. There are so many factors that play into the marathon that I just can't expect to be in a certain position, no matter how fit I am. Look at what happened in 2000...Libby Hickman was one of the top contenders and placed 10th, and then we had Christine Clark, a B qualifier, win the race. That's the beauty and the beast of the marathon. I just hope I have beauty on my side when all is said and done.

RunMichigan: How many marathons have you run and how will you apply the knowledge from the previous marathons for the trials race?

I think I've run 8 marathons, thus far, but I don't care to keep count. Mentally, I'd rather be a miler, but physiologically, I'm unfortunately a marathoner. Nevertheless, with each marathon and each training phase I go through in order to prepare for one, I find it's a continuing education; everything to how much my body can handle in terms of constant high mileage to how far out I have to taper without it feeling as if it's going through withdrawal symptoms.

RunMichigan: Does being the 1999 US Marathon Champion help with preparing for a big race like the Olympic Marathon Trials?

Yes, because now I've experienced the pressure and the adrenaline-racing excitement all in one race. However, it doesn't guarantee you security from freaking out, so to speak. It just means I've been there before, and I'm familiar with that type of atmosphere. Hopefully, when I arrive in St. Louis and find myself in that environment again, I'll be able to keep myself calm and focused, and eager to toe the line, rather than being anxiety-ridden and dreading the start of the race.

RunMichigan: Who currently coaches you and how has your current trainingenvironment helped you prepare for the Olympic Trials?

Keith Brantly, who ran in the 1996 Olympics in the marathon, is coaching me. He's also my fiancé. At first, I didn't think we could handle both relationships, but the coach-athlete relationship started progressing in a positive manner, and right now, I couldn't be happier with the way things have evolved.
I'm still living and training here in Jacksonville, and will stay here until after the Trials. Keith and I moved to Asheville, NC, back in November, but both agreed it would be more advantageous for me to stay in Florida to train through the winter months. Keith also didn't want to make any drastic changes before the Trials, especially since I've got a great bunch of people to run with. My main training partner has been one of the top local guys, Jeff Tomaszewski. I've had to chase him in every workout and long run, which is what I need because he gets me out of my comfort zone.

RunMichigan: When will you travel to St. Louis to get to see the Olympic Trials course? What have you learned about the course?

I won't go to St. Louis till the Wed before the race. Financially, I just can't afford to stay there and train. I've heard by word-of-mouth that the course is pretty hilly, though. If that's the case, I wish they would've mapped out a flatter course, like they did for the men, to increase the likelihood of faster times.

RunMichigan: What type of training will you do these last couple of weeks to prepare for the Trials?

I've got one more 10k race this upcoming weekend, and after that, I'll have a couple of more light workouts on the track. The mileage will drop significantly and hopefully, I'll be able to get more sleep. I'm such a night owl by nature that focusing on that major aspect of training is unfortunately always neglected till the last 2 weeks before the race. Basically, from here on out, it's time to relax and ensure that I get to that line healthy and injury-free.

RunMichigan: How have you juggled working for 1st Place Sports and your Marathon training this winter?

First, I have to say that Doug and Jane Alred have been so unbelievably supportive with my training schedule. I basically don't have a schedule here at work. I just have to make sure that my job is done before I leave for the night. If it's not, it comes home with me because my major deadlines are always 3 days prior to any race date; and we usually have at least 2 races a month, but it's mostly three a month. What I do is basically help to organize the races (we put on about 25-30 races a year, including River Run). All of my work is computer- and paperwork-related, so I really don't have to worry about being on my feet all day. I'm in charge of such things as accounting, registration, race packets and numbers, expos, and of course, trouble-shooting. If anything goes wrong, I'm usually the first to hear it if Doug is unavailable. It does get pretty hectic around here, especially from the months between October and March. I just make sure the bulk of my training is done early in the morning (usually at 5:30 am), and then I'll leave work in the latter part of the afternoon to get the second run in. I have to come back though, so it's not like I have really short workdays. I can easily get in 35-40 hours during the week, but I still work most Saturdays during the busy part of our racing season.

RunMichigan: What is your favorite workout and why?

My favorite workouts are ladders, but the ones that end coming down. Mentally, no matter how long or how intense the ladder is, coming down in distance is a much better feeling than going up, which makes the workout that much more bearable.

RunMichigan: Where is your favorite place to run in Florida?

My favorite place to run in Florida is in Jacksonville, and my favorite place in Jacksonville is in the Ft Caroline area. There are two parks with hiking/running trails which makes it easier on the legs. If I choose to run the roads, scenery is great because of the big oak trees (shade!) and the neighborhoods are hilly (by Floridian standards), which makes me change my pace and stride up a bit.

RunMichigan: You had a very successful career at University of North Florida where you still hold the 1500m & 10000m records, how does that success help with your marathon racing?

Reaching the times to hold those records meant sitting down and coming up with plans...training and racing. I believe they came in my senior year, so it was a lengthy process in development. And that's basically how my running has evolved with the marathon. Success with the marathon rarely happens instantly, and even if it does, more times than not, your best days are still ahead of you. Although I've run 8 marathons thus far, I know I haven't had that ideal training cycle or that ideal race. I still believe my best running has yet to surface. As I tell Jeff, I just have to learn to shut my head off and let my body overtake the race. I joke around about having ADD with the marathon, so it takes quite a bit of mental energy to keep my focus on the race. If I'm not totally focused, that comfort zone reels me in pretty quickly.

RunMichigan: What do you do to relax from running?

During football season, I love to sit and watch the games, with the hopes of falling asleep. I rarely take naps, so if that happens, it's my favorite form of relaxation. Other than that, on a daily basis, there's nothing like sitting down with at least 2 cups of coffee and the newspaper. I also love crosswords, so I'm usually working on those after reading the paper.