Although my Marathon Trials race recap was a bit lengthy, I didn't feel that it did my thank-you's justice. SO many people helped me get to the starting line ready to race, and they deserve another shout-out. So in no particular order, here are my many heart-felt thanks to these awesome people!

My mom - Mom made me healthy, delicious, home-cooked meals every night while I was back home in California training before the Trials. It can be hard to get in enough calories in marathon training, let alone nutritious ones - after a hard tempo, the last thing I wanted to do was cook. Mom was there to feed me (and listen to my workout splits, if she hadn't been out there watching/cheering/on water bottle duty). Thanks Mom for all the healthy, tasty eats - can you be my personal chef in Providence too?? ;)

The Gregg men - Bill, Brendan, and Bryce - between the three of them, my dad and my brothers either ran with, biked with, or listened to the splits on every single one of my workouts. Marathon training was truly a family affair, with Bryce getting me out the door for doubles, Brendan on the phone talking shop, and Dad holding a stopwatch. I am so grateful for the Gregg men's constant encouragement and dedication to my dream.

Getting out the door for a dark + rainy double with Bryce, my 15 year-old brother.

Abbie Galloway - About 3 weeks before the Trials, I had an injury crop up and I was unable to train at full strength. I was so grateful to my dear friend Abbie, a physical therapist and former college steeplechaser (my teammate at UC Davis) who understood that taking some time off to heal just wasn't an option for me. Abbie treated me and got me back out there running pain-free - without her help, I don't know if I could have made it to the starting line. If you need a PT in Davis, CA, I can't recommend her more!

Dr. Leo Kormanik and the Ohio Sports Chiropractic team - Dr. Leo was my go-to sports guy when I lived in Cleveland - I saw him for all my chiro and ART needs. A fellow runner, Leo is a past Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon and I trust his treatments completely. Leo and his team flew out to LA on their own dime to treat Ohio athletes competing in the Trials. He treated me in LA and was so responsive to all of my pre-race chiro needs. THANK YOU, Leo!

New supporters - Shoe contracts can be hard to come by, and I've been in negotiations with various companies off and on since November. Right now I'm unattached as I figure out my next steps as we approach the Track Trials - but thankfully, I'm not without support! Many, many thanks to my news sponsors + supporters this year, including the Women's Sports Foundation, the Sacramento Running Association, the Pacific Association USATF Foundation, and most recently Picky Bars, as part of their "Feed the Dream" program. I continue to be supported by Coach Dena's Strava Track Club (thank you!!), and was honored to be one of five women in the Strava Marathon Trials Program (click to see our sweet video!).

Last but not least, my husband! Avi was fully on board with me doing whatever it took to perform my best at the Trials - even when that meant being apart for 3 months while I trained in warmer-weather California. I said goodbye to him in December while he held down the fort in snowy Rhode Island. Much love to my life partner who encourages me to relentlessly chase my dreams!

Many, many thanks to friends near and far who've embarked on this journey with me <3 The best -- Eugene, Oregon on July 2nd! - is yet to come!

It's taken me a while to put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard?) to sum up my first Olympic Trials experience. Right after the Trials I jetted off to Belize for some much-needed R&R, where I tried not to think about running for a week (but inevitably stalked Letsrun and read other people's race recaps). Now almost 2 weeks post-race, I'm back to training and have had time to process the race experience. My biggest takeaway is that I'm hungry for more.

The race unfortunately didn't play out as I'd hoped. I finished 54th, right around my entry seed of 56th but far from the place goal that I'd set myself. I ran 2:48, 9 minutes slower than my PR and over 15 minutes slower than I'd trained to run. With the hot weather in LA (it was the warmest Olympic Trials Marathon on record), my time goals had long gone out the window, but I still hoped to run a smart race and compete for place.

1st loop, by the Coliseum. Note my dad cheering in the background! PC my mom, Carolee Gregg

I went out somewhat conservatively, in about 40th place, adjusting my goal pace from 5:50 to 6:00-6:10 and finding a group with a similar plan. I quickly found myself tucked in with experienced marathoners Esther Erb Atkins and Wendy Thomas, two women I've raced against frequently and admire greatly for their marathoning expertise - they know what they're doing out there, so I felt confident in my decision to join their pack and go along for the ride. Also by my side was my Strava Track Club teammate and training partner, Stephanie Dinius - I was so glad to fall into stride with a friend with whom I've shared this journey to the Trials.

Our big group rolled along averaging 6:00 minute miles and I felt good. I could see people in front of us starting to come back, and our pack moved up in the field with every lap down Figueroa. We were running smart in the heat, making sure to get in lots of fluids, and I drew confidence from that (and gave my family a wave and a smile as I went by!).

With the temperature rising, I was happy to successfully grab every one of my water bottles; I also made sure to snag extra water to douse myself. At every fluid station, I soaked my hat, arms and torso, and also took wet sponges at the additional aid station. Despite these efforts, I could feel myself overheating.

Going for the pink & orange bottle - PC Kirsty Legg

But I knew that everyone else was feeling the heat too, and so pressed on. At some point I was in 30th place and eyeing the top 20 - I continued to reel women in, and also moved up in the field as the weather took its toll and people started to drop out. By mile 15, Steph and I were alone together as the pack had broken up, and we forged ahead together.

And then, somehow, I wasn't pressing on anymore. I knew our pace was slowing, to 6:20, but so was everyone else's. I lost Steph as we headed south down Figueroa on the 3rd lap - it's a bit of a haze how it happened, and it all fell apart so fast. The pace never felt hard and I wasn't struggling in the way miles 15-17 were tough in my previous marathon. I was prepared for it to hurt - I'd trained for it, and was ready. I was waiting to hit "the wall," but it never came. Instead, the heat just became more and more overpowering, and I just slowed down. It was like a fire was engulfing me, the heat ever more intense, and instead of battling my way through the flames, I slowly succumbed.

No more smiles :(PC Carolee Gregg — No more smiles :(
PC Carolee Gregg

6:31, 6:43, 6:53... I was running slower than my aerobic run pace, over a minute per mile slower than goal marathon pace. As I passed the start/finish line for my final 6-mile loop on Figueroa, I looked over at my brother Brendan, who was cheering from the grandstands, and put my hands up in the air, as if to ask, "What do I do?" My face conveyed my desire to drop out, to step off the course and make this nightmare of a race that was supposed to be a dream come true finally end. But he urged me onward, to not give up, to keep going. With tears, I continued.

7:12, 7:19, 7:22... I started dry-heaving as I entered the USC campus for the last time. I was gagging on my own spit, body rebelling, crying, suffering. Women were passing me right and left, everyone battling their own demons, leaving me alone with mine. I was so grateful when my friend Emma Polley urged me onward with some kind words, as did Teresa McWalters as she passed me.

The last two miles felt impossibly long. My blistered feet ached, my body yearned to stop, and I was far from joyful. This was not how things were supposed to go. Reminiscent of Kilimanjaro much? At least I wasn't puking.

Final turn to the finish - PC Mike Scott

I'd made it this far, I couldn't quit. So many people were there rooting for me, having made the long trek to LA to support me and my dreams. Family, friends, teammates from across the years, everyone invested in this goal of mine - I couldn't stop. With a grimace, I rounded the final U-turn to the finish and crossed that Olympic Trials Marathon finish line. 25% of the women who started the race did not - that's how challenging the conditions were. It wasn't pretty, it was far from what I'd hoped and trained for, but it was done.

Steph summed up the race the best:

"Didn't know it was possible to simultaneously feel so disappointed in a race outcome and yet so proud to have finished."

I was, and still am, so frustrated that I wasn't able to put together a race that demonstrated all the work I've done in the past 3.5 months, and over the past year. I know I have a MUCH faster marathon in me, in different conditions. I know I'm better than 54th place, but that was what I had on that day. I give so much credit to everyone who qualified for the Trials -- whether they finished or not, met their goals or struggled through challenges, made the team or simply crossed the finish line -- it was a great accomplishment to qualify for the Olympic Trials. To all my fellow qualifiers, I hope you celebrated this achievement.

The things I'll remember most about this 1st Trials experience are the people: the happy reunions with running friends, an embrace with Steph as we made our way to the start, the strong emotions I felt on the starting line, sharing this grand moment with so many strong, courageous women. The mid-race wave Brendan and I exchanged as we went our separate ways on Figueroa. Avi rooting me onward as I struggled. Loud cheers on the course from my family, my biggest fans. An enthusiastic post-race phone call with my sister, who watched the broadcast from Spain. Eating post-race dessert with my in-laws. So many wonderful texts, letters, emails, Facebook messages, comments - love was definitely all around. One often says that it's all about the journey. But for me, it was all about the people.