Meet the Olympic Marathoners Going for Team USA’s First Gold in 40 Years

On the Olympic Trials, Sisson, 32, was requested on the awards stage how she calms her nerves earlier than a race just like the Olympic marathon. “I’m married to a therapist, so he helps lots with these items,” she stated, laughing.

It most likely additionally helps to know you’re the quickest US feminine marathoner in historical past. Sisson set the American document of two:18:29 on the 2022 Chicago Marathon, the place she completed second. And from that day ahead, a number of followers thought-about her a lock to make the Olympic workforce.

She wasn’t all the time an ace at 26.2 miles, although. On the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials, she dropped out at round mile 22, although she later earned an Olympic spot within the 10,000 meters on the pandemic-delayed monitor and subject trials. After Tokyo, Sisson returned to marathon coaching, twice racing in Chicago and discovering her groove on the distance.

Earlier than she knew it, the Olympic cycle began up once more and it was time to begin specializing in the 2024 Marathon Trials. She got here into it with extra miles below her belt and extra expertise racing the gap, certain, but in addition a bit extra knowledge: She’s taking the time to dig into the foundation causes of recurring points, just like the facet stitches she’s gotten in a number of races, probably brought on by a biomechanical drawback associated to her working kind, she says.

“There’s most likely extra to remove from the times that don’t go properly than those that do,” Sisson tells SELF. “On the 2024 trials, I believe I dealt with the gap very well. I really feel like my physique’s getting stronger and the 26.2 miles is rather less daunting and scary.”

Sisson ready for the Florida warmth by coaching in Phoenix, one among her dwelling bases, and in Orlando, in addition to in Flagstaff, Arizona, for altitude work. (She additionally did some stints at her dwelling in Rhode Island, close to her longtime coach Ray Treacy). Going into Paris, she’s been focusing much more on hill work.

Whereas she’s out logging as much as 130 miles or so every week, she doesn’t suppose an excessive amount of about who she’ll see on the beginning line in August. As a substitute, she is targeted on acquiring as a lot health as potential whereas staying as wholesome and injury-free as she will—these are the “controllables” Sisson retains on the forefront.

“I solely have management over what I can do to get myself there,” Sisson says. “If I’m fearful about what another person is doing, I’m not centered on what I’m doing.”

She’s additionally trying ahead to looser restrictions in Paris, which might be a far cry from Tokyo, throughout which COVID-19 guidelines prohibited athletes from having household and associates there and required them to go away inside 48 hours after their competitors. This time? Her supporters, together with her therapist husband, Shane Quinn, might be cheering her on, and after the closing ceremony, she’ll be off to a trip in Good.

When Sisson contemplates how she would possibly go away the Paris Video games feeling happy along with her efficiency, she says, apart from her outcomes, she needs to easily really feel like she couldn’t have carried out something extra or higher on that day.