The recent Olympic trials marathon in Los Angeles were run in poor conditions and on a course not conducive to fast times. Indeed, of the 166 men’s starters, just 18 finished inside the 2:19 qualifying mark, and 61 would not finish at all. For the women, those numbers ran as 198 starters, just 40 finishing inside the 2:45 qualifying time, and 49 that did not finish. How then did Boulder’s Alia Gray run 2:35, a personal best? She tells us about it as this month’s Runner Box award winner.
Alia, 2:35 for 10th place at the Olympic marathon trials is great, congrats! That was a PR, as compared to your 2:39 at NYC in 2014, and given the course and conditions in LA, there couldn’t have been many that PR’d at the trials. How’d you train, and how’d you race that led to such a great result?
This training cycle was a more unconventional build-up than I ever would have chosen for myself. I went into greater detail with some of the events leading into this race in my blog, but the short version is this: I found out that I had a traumatic fracture to my fibula in mid-December and immediately adjusted training to use the AlterG in Richey’s office for a couple straight weeks. As symptoms got better, we started to transition to more and more outside running, but I was still even using the AlterG for most recovery runs through the week of the race. Before the injury, I knew that I had rounded into some pretty good early fitness, so I used that base as a confidence boost to help me through the rough patches. Thanks to the AlterG, I was able to still log decent mileage (90 miles per week) and workout, just at a lower body weight percentage.
Ironically, with the heat of the day in LA, I think I was actually more acclimated to warm running because of all the inside work I had to do. The room with the AlterG would get HOT! I’m taking this as my silver lining to the fracture. I also had a lot of time to think about my mental game leading into this race, and tried to prepare myself to be as tough as I could. I also made sure that I really nailed my fluids; I held onto my bottle each time for longer than most around me and took 1-2 oz. more than usual.
My previous personal best time in pretty rough conditions on a very windy day in New York, so I felt like the time was definitely beatable, especially with what training and racing over the past year has indicated. Given the conditions, I’m really encouraged with the way that I handled the distance. It makes me even more excited for my next 26.2 attempt with hopefully better weather and a smoother training build-up.
There are a lot of groups in Boulder. I think you moved to Boulder to run with the Hudson group, but are now coached by Joe Vigil and are part of the new Roots Running Project. Is that right? What brought you to Colorado and to this current point then?
Near the end of my collegiate career at Chico State, I had played with the idea of moving to Colorado simply to live in a beautiful place that would be conducive to training. I wasn’t exactly sure how to piece that all together right off the bat, though. My college coach, Gary Towne helped guide me through the next awkward year of figuring out next steps in life and the world of training after college. After about a year I made the move to Colorado with the help of my past college teammate Kara Lubieniecki who currently runs with the Hudson group. Joining their group was an easy jump at the time and let me get my feet wet in the area and continue post-collegiate running.
In the fall of 2014, I left the Hudson group because I felt like there were some fundamental changes that I needed to make in training and my approach to the sport. I stepped back from group training to re-evaluate my progression and long-term developmental goals and was lucky enough to have a couple people reach out on my behalf to Coach Vigil for guidance. I wasn’t even expecting a phone call back, but will never forget the day that he called and told me he was willing to take a chance on me. We’ve been working together since December of 2014, and in that time he’s helped me re-write my definition of hard work, positivity and ability to dream big.
Since he lives in Arizona, he faxes over all training plans to me, and Richey is a huge part in implementing it with the structure that it demands – planning routes, timing repeats, and even occasionally pacing me through quality days. The training is notoriously intense, but it’s paid off in the way of big personal best times over the 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon distances in the last 14 months.
The Roots Running Project, who else is a part of this group and how is it different from other groups?
We hadn’t initially thought of forming a group. However, in the Spring of 2015, a friend referred over Mara Olson (who is now a training partner and Roots Running member) to talk to us about post collegiate training in Colorado in general; at the end of her phone call with Richey, she asked if he would be interested in coaching her. With Mara moving out and joining up with our practices, we decided to make it a more official pursuit and established the Roots Running Project. We have since had Noah Droddy (who also qualified for the Marathon Trials), Jenny DeSouchet (who competed at CU), and Colby Chrusciel (while he prepares for his first collegiate cross country season) join with a couple more athletes moving out in the near future.
When considering potential athletes, we’re looking for people that we believe to be pretty well-rounded as people and as athletes across varying event group specialties. It’s not just about who’s the most talented, but who has the right mindset to optimize their ability and how well they fit in with the group’s dynamic. With the daily detailed and individualized approach that Richey takes with training, we’re still looking to stay small (between 8-12 athletes for the time being). We’re in a unique position with Richey as the coach of this group; he writes training for athletes, writes specific strength work for each athlete, implements and observes training and strength, and also serves as our main medical contact through his private practice, High Altitude Spine & Sport. His practice also has an AlterG treadmill, which the entire group has access to if needed to stay healthy (this is what I owe my most recent marathon cycle to).
Are you a full-fledged marathoner now, or will you get back on the track to try to make the trials in the 10000m?
I’m looking to get back on the track soon! I am definitely excited for the marathon distance long term, but also really believe in the need to work on my speed – I’m not ready to give up a track season yet. The balance between marathon training and track training is something that I’ve really enjoyed the past couple years; I relish the long stuff that I’m a little more natural at, but am ready to change things up both physically and mentally at the end of each buildup. I’ll focus on 10k this spring, but run some 5ks in the process.
Other than running, what’s the best thing about Boulder?
Oh man, this is a hard question. I love the Boulder/Denver area for many reasons, but overall, it’s the balance that it provides for me. This is undoubtedly a gorgeous place to train and live; it’s hard to get sick of the easily accessible natural beauty. On the other side, it doesn’t have the seclusion that many mountain towns have – we still have a pretty awesome coffee, food and concert scene – three things that are very dear to me. For me, the area is conducive as both a supreme training ground and as an appealing place to live happily which is immensely important.
And what’s your favorite thing in the Runner Box?
The Honey Stinger wafer! This girl has a sweet tooth; I could eat those things all day.
Thanks Alia, and congrats again!
Follow Alia on her blog at aliagray.com and on twitter @aliatgray.
“Leave the research to us, and we’ll leave the training to you,” says Runner Box. The Runner Box is a subscription-based service that delivers a “box” of runner-friendly goodies to you every other month, items like gels, bars, and other accessories hand-picked to add to your running. Many items are new to the market, and new items are expected with each box. A great service for yourself, the boxes also make great gifts and are often themed around holidays.
Previous “The Runner Box” Colorado Runners of the Month:
November 15 – Ali Williams
October 15 – Neely Gracey
September 15 – Timmy Parr
August 15 – Andy Wacker
July 15 – Lanie Szuch
June 15 – Joe Gray
May 15 – Brittni Hutton
April 15 – Andy Rinne
March 15 – Justin Ricks
February 15 – Laura Thweatt