Photo: PhotoRun.net
It has been nearly a month since I ran in the Olympic Trials Marathon in Houston, Texas. It feels like it was a lifetime ago, but I can still remember it clearly.
I didn’t feel stressed in Houston. I knew that Jerry had gotten me as ready as I could be given the time constraints in my preparation. But I did feel very nervous. I wanted to be on the team so badly, and it was the first time in years that I felt so emotionally invested in something. Although I knew I had done all I could on the training side, I worried that I hadn’t had enough time. I worried that I was going up against some pretty amazing women who had done perfect preparation. I had to believe in what I had done and run a smart and conservative race.
I tried to check out emotionally for the majority of the race, but when I made the final turn home about 200 meters from the finish line I felt a wave of emotion. I knew that it was going to happen. I was going to be on the team to London. The challenges of the past year were finally over. I could get across that line and comfort Colt, who had been crying at the start. (The poor kid hates yelling and the excitement of people cheering drove him to tears!)
Shalane waited for me at the finish with open arms, just as she has since the fall. She and Lisa have helped me through so many days of doubt, and there she was again to support me. When I finally got to Adam he gave me a huge hug and it made me cry. He has stood by me through all of this. Through my doubts, the injury, the training change. He never questioned my reasoning, but was there standing beside me.
Video: Flanagan, Goucher Are London-Bound
Now that I am on the team, am injury free, and have until August 5th to prepare, I’m feeling pretty excited! I feel like now it is a level playing field and I’m ready to see what I can do. Houston was a nerve wracking experience, but I got the job done and now I can look to opportunities ahead. I’m beyond excited to be a member of the 2012 Olympic Team and I can’t wait to run through the streets of London in the marathon.
This experience reminded me that you need to keep faith in yourself. Sometimes things don’t go as you hope, but you can still get the most out of the situation. I entered the trials behind in my fitness, but I was still able to get a coveted spot to London. Never count yourself out, you never know what you can do. Happy training!
