Today is a very special day for fans of American distance running--3 February is the day of the US Olympic Team Trials Marathon, a race which earns the top three finishers in the women's category and (probably) the top three finishers in the men's category a place on Team USA. To be in the race at all, women had to run a 2:37 marathon or a 1:12 half marathon; men needed a 2:18 marathon or a 1:03 half marathon.
Even though the ability to run these times is far, far, far out of my own experience or capacity, I draw a lot of inspiration from athletes who demonstrate persistence and longevity in the sport. While I wish everyone on the start line good health and good luck, here are some of the people I am particularly hoping have great races in Orlando!
Abdihakim 'Abdi' Abdirahman
There is a nonzero chance that this legendary runner will beat people who weren't able to walk in the year 2000, which was when he made his first appearance at the Olympic Games. He has made five (5!) straight Olympic Teams, in the 10,000 metres and marathon, and it is incredible to see him contending for a sixth.
Aliphine Tuliamuk
Winner of the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials marathon, expert crocheter, mother of a three-year-old, and seemingly all-around good egg. Media coverage of her Trials victory was pretty bad and I really admire the grace and articulateness with which Tuliamuk has spoken up about the need for coverage to get better. Also, if you listen to running podcasts, her interviews are always really fun.
Ari Hendrix-Roach
Stories of people who dramatically lower their marathon times are always inspiring to me; the emphasis and care Ari Hendrix-Roach places on representing African-American and queer runners makes me admire her even more. Plus, she's a twin and she has a dog named Casanova.
Betsy Saina
While I haven't been following her career for very long, I loved listening to the interview she did on the Keeping Track podcast back at the beginning 2023. Saina has one of the fastest personal records of all the athletes in the women's field, and even though I don't have kids myself, seeing parents, especially parents of young children, excel at running is really inspiring to me.
Des Linden
She lives up to the motto "Keep Showing Up", she has one of the best pro runner Instagrams out there, and her podcast with Kara Goucher is hilarious. Oh, and she's qualified for four Olympic trials in the marathon, made the team twice, and been alternate once. I love following Des Linden's running career and I hope she has a splendid race today.
Emilio de la Torre and English Tomlinson
Aside from runners who display persistence and longevity in the sport, and parents (especially mothers) who are runners, you will always find me cheering for fast teachers, in honour of my twin sister, who teachers seventh grade and somehow has the courage and stamina to train for marathons, too. Hoping Emilio and English have races they're proud of and a movie day planned for Monday.
Molly Huddle
I first started listening to running podcasts in late 2019, which is when Huddle--with her co-hosts, Olympians Alysia Montano and Roisin McGettigan, started Keeping Track, a podcast about women's sports. I deeply admire her consistent advocacy for more and better coverage of women's sports and the length and success of her running career. Also, she's the parent of a young child, and lives and trains part-time in my home state of Rhode Island.
Nathan Martin
The fastest Black marathoner born in the United States and someone who just seems to get better and better at running marathons. Also, he works as a substitute teacher and high school cross country coach, putting him on my list of fast educators to root for.
Noah Droddy
Paradoxically, while I admire athletes like Abdi Abdirahman or Molly Huddle, whose careers demonstrate both longevity and success, the pro runners who I love following most are the ones who persist when things don't go well. Noah Droddy seems to have had pretty large helping of ups and downs in the sport, particularly in terms of injuries and struggles to get sponsorship. I admire the way he keeps going and going for it.
Rosa Moriello
The "not all heroes wear capes" award of the Trials should surely go to Rosa Moriello, who has raised over $8,000 for the Orlando Youth Alliance and used her Instagram to educate people about LGTBQ+ issues in Florida during her marathon build.
Stephanie Bruce
One of the challenges for pro runners these days seems to be the extent to which they are expected to balance the work of running with the need to have an A-plus, authentic, genuine, personal (but not too personal) social media presence. One of the many reasons I would not want to be in their line of work! Yesterday, I was reading John Scalzi's excellent reflections on selling out in creative industries, and it strikes me that a lot of what he says about "personal brand" applies to runners, especially those who make podcasts and videos or do a lot on social media. Steph Bruce seems to be a runner with a really solid handle on her personal brand--I mean that as a genuine compliment. Bruce seems to have found a way to do social media that works for her, builds a community, and inspires other people. She also seems, like John Scalzi, to have a really solid grasp on the business side of her profession and those skills, coupled with her incredible persistence, make me root for her.
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