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Deena Kastor (Mammoth Lakes, CA)
On the conditions…
I’m really excited with the conditions we have set up. It looks like it will really promote a fast race, which is good for everybody and makes for a more honest team. So I’m excited we can give the crowd a good, solid, quick race with the fastest three across the finish line representing everyone in this room in Beijing.
On being in Boston…
I love being back in Boston. I have a great support system of family and friends that follow me everywhere, but never as great as Boston, so I’m excited to be here and finally get this race underway.
On the 2007 Boston Marathon…
I guess Boston last year taught me about the marathon. You can be so well prepared for something and distance can really get you. You have to be ready on that day. There’s no sense on focusing on my judgment or post race press, but really on just getting yourself as ready as possible for this race.
On racing ahead of the pack…
I definitely would like a quick race out of this. I don’t feel like I’m ever alone while I’m out there. There’s always a ghost over your shoulder, or a runner that’s coming up from behind and getting stronger at the finish. So until I cross that finish line, I’m not going to take anything for granted.
Elva Dryer (Gunnison, CO)
On race day
I think it’s going to be a great day. I’ve been here since Tuesday and running at about the same time the race is going on. And I can’t help but feel like, ‘Wow, if it stays like this, it’s going to be great.’ We have a great course for the athletes and the spectators and I can’t wait to hit the starting line.
Mary Akor (Hawthorne, CA)
On her preparation…
This year I have only raced a 10K and a half-marathon for my speed. For my strength, I have run a couple of marathons to build up on my endurance. These trials mean a lot to me and people have been complaining that I’m running too many races. So I haven’t done any races (In 2008) and am just focused on this race.
On the course…
It will be an advantage for me because I was training a lot in the hills, so I should be strong. It doesn’t matter what the course was going to be, as long as I’m ready for it.
Samia Akbar (Herndon, VA)
On Deena Kastor
I think Deena is definitely an inspiration to me, I was definitely star-struck the first time I met her a few years ago and she’s just a wonderful human being.
On the competition…
I think everybody is here because we really love to run and all of us are very competitive as well. We want to see how far we can push ourselves and see how we can run to our greatest potential. Katie and I are the youngest ones up here and it’s a goal of ours to be at this race and gain as much wisdom as we can for our racing experience.
On her experience…
I ran New York in 2006 and then did Osaka. They were two very different races and had two very different outcomes for me. All you can do is focus on your training and gain confidence from that. Whatever the outcome is, it makes you a stronger and wiser runner going forward. So you always have something to gain even if it isn’t the best performance or time.
Zolia Gomez (Alamosa, CO)
On being here…
Just being here is a dream come true. When I was a child, I would have never imagined being here right now. It’s just all a dream. A dream within reality.
On running the marathon distance…
I think the only reason why I went into the marathon is because Sunday long runs are my favorite. Even if I’m having a bad day, if I’m running 16, 18 or 20 miles, I’m a different person. If something else is going on in my life that really helps me.
Kate O’Neill (Palo Alto, CA)
On running a marathon beforehand…
Well I’m definitely glad I’ve run one coming into this. It was always an option to qualify on the track, but I’m glad to have had the experience of running in Chicago. It’s great to know that at the very least the weather will be a lot better.
On her coach Terrance Mahon…
It’s just such a confirmation that I’m headed in the right direction when I know that I have a coach that coached Deena to an American record and has had so much success with Ryan Hall. It just confirms that we’re doing the perfect training and our group has had a lot of success, especially Deena because she’s consistently running amazing workouts.
On strength vs. speed…
I think that having any racing experience over any distance helps in this sport, but I think it is really going to come down to strength. No matter how fast this course is, it’s still 26 miles and you can’t just fake your way through it. You have to be in shape and be really strong. Speed will help, but strength will really be a bigger factor.
On being an Olympian…
There’s something really awesome, not just about competing for the U.S., but with people from all different sports. It’s something you only get at the Olympics. It was really awesome to be over there with the Olympic Team and to see all of the other teams march in.
Blake Russell (Marina, CA)
On qualifying through the 10K…
I have run marathons before, but didn’t really get a chance to run and qualify. If it wasn’t for the 10K, I wouldn’t be here. It would have been ideal for me to have run another marathon, just to get one in, but it didn’t work out.
On her two previous Olympic Trials…
I’m hoping the third time’s a charm. I’ve been working my way up, seventh in the 10K and fourth in 2004. So I’ve got one more place to go. It would definitely be a dream come true and it’s something I probably hadn’t imagined coming true until about four years ago when I realized I was one of the better runners in the country and could do it.
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