RunMichigan:  How did you feel at the 2002 Philadelphia Marathon when you finished and knew you had qualified for the Olympic Trials?

Sarah: When I qualified at Philly I was really excited about running a fast time...qualifying for the Olympic Trials was the icing on the cake.

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

Sarah: Running my first Olympic Trials marathon is exciting but a little hard for me to imagine.  I'm used to small marathons and running by myself.  I can't wait to meet the other runners, though and to have the experience.
 

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

Sarah: I've run 22 marathons.  I'll probably start a lot faster in this marathon, but otherwise I'll run it like I have the others...the best race I can do on that particular day.  I listen to my body and then set my pace.

RunMichigan:   What is your goal for the Olympic Trials Marathon race?

Sarah: My goal for the Trials is to try for a personal best time...and to have fun.  All my fastest times have been when I go out and run for fun.

RunMichigan:   How will you use your success of winning five Bayshore Marathons to help with the Olympic trials race ?

Sarah: Winning the Bayshore marathon will help me mentally for the Trials, but it's been a whole different kind of race.  I usually end up by myself and that won't happen at the Trials.  Mostly, it's taught me how to run steady and run my own race and that will definitely help.
 

RunMichigan: What made you decide to start racing the Marathon?   and put the training in required to qualify for the Olympics Marathon Trials?

Sarah: I've always liked the longer road races and had a lot of endurance so I wanted to try the marathon.  After I had my first child it was a goal to get back into shape.  As for really racing a marathon, I got interested when I ran a 3:02 marathon without having done any speedwork at all.  I added some just to break the 3hour barrier and when that worked I was close to the Olympic Trials qualifying time so I just stepped up the speedwork a little more.  I was already getting in the mileage I needed to do.

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

Sarah: I'm self-coached , though I had a lot of coaching in high school and college.  I have a pretty good idea as to what I need to do and  I read a lot of articles and talk to other runners.

RunMichigan:   What races have your run this winter in your preparation for the Marathon trials?

Sarah: I ran the Austin Motorola marathon in February as a training run.  I was tired of trying to run long and fast in the snow so I ran that race as a marathon pace work-out.  We were going to be in Texas on vacation, anyway.

RunMichigan: What have you learned about the Olympic Trials course and will you have a chance to run part of the course before race day?

Sarah: I'll have a chance to run part of the Olympic Trials course before the race.  All I know now is that it has some rolling hills and I've added some of those to my training runs.

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

Sarah: These last couple of weeks I cut way back on my mileage but I'll do a couple of shorter speedwork sessions.

RunMichigan: How have you juggled raising three kids and your Marathon training, especially this winter as you trained for the Trials?

Sarah: Juggling raising 3 kids and marathon training would be impossible if not for my husbands' support.  He gives me time for my daily work-outs and helps by driving kids to soccer and finishing dinner, etc.  One of the hardest things about kids and running is to stay healthy enough to train well.  This winter we had 5 straight weeks when at least one kid was sick.  I tend to get a lot of those germs!

RunMichigan: What do you do to relax from running?

Sarah: When I want to relax from running I play piano or read.

RunMichigan: What is your favorite workout and why?

Sarah: My favorite work-out is to run a nice steady 20 miler.  I love to be outdoors and I choose a scenic route.  It's relaxing to me and I have time to think without interuptions.

RunMichigan:   Where is your favorite place to run in Michigan? And what is your favorite race to run in Michigan?

Sarah: I love running in Traverse City but my favorite race is actually the Pinckney Trail marathon.  I love that race!  It's beautiful and challenging.

RunMichigan:   When did you run your first Marathon and how did the race go?

Sarah: I ran my first marathon in 1995..the Detroit Free Press.  I felt great until mile 20 and hit the wall and pretty much crawled the last 6 miles.  I ran 3:17.