2008 Woodie Awards
Next up: Boston, then Beijing
Coach qualifies for Olympic trials
Kat Timpf
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Two marathons down, and one to go - there's only 26.2 more miles between assistant track and field coach Sarah Hinkley and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Though she will have to wait until April for her shot at the Olympics, Hinkley qualified for the 2008 women's marathon trials, at the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn., this summer.
"The Grandma's Marathon saying goes, 'World class event, small town charm,'" said Bill Lundberg, head cross-country and track coach. "I had been saying to Sarah, 'Small town lady, world class charm.'"
Lundberg and assistant track and field coach Michael Nikkila traveled with Hinkley to Duluth on June 16. She almost opted out of the grueling 26.2 mile race earlier this summer due to overtraining.
"About three weeks prior to the marathon, I was a little worried and I thought about hanging up the shoes for awhile," Hinkley said. "My lower legs were really hurting. I had just over-trained and had gone a little too far."
To help rest up and prepare for the race, she did light running, treated her legs and spent time in the pool. Hinkley said she "still wasn't feeling sharp," but she went out and ran.
The day before, Lundberg and Nikkila helped Hinkley stripe her water bottles with tape so she could pick them out easily at aid stations during the run.
"I was dehydrated so quickly, and I needed to be drinking, but I was so nauseous that I couldn't get enough fluids," Hinkley said.
Wearing a fluorescent green jacket, Lundberg drove the course with Nikkila, jumping out at aid station or spots on the course to encourage her. In addition to the two coaches encouragement, Hillsdale alum Lewis Butler, '07, ran in the marathon with her.
"Lewis helped pull me through the last four miles, especially when I was blacking out," Hinkley said. "He helped steer me and kept me going."
Hinkley entered the race ranked 47th in the elite women, a ranking based on previous marathons and her runner's resume. She finished 6th for the women, and 92nd overall in a field that had over 6,000 entrants.
"I had to focus so hard just to stay in it," Hinkley said. "It was the hardest race I ever ran."
Because of a few seconds' discrepancy between her gun time - the time used - and her chip time, Hinkley initially missed the Olympic trials 'B' qualifying time of 2:47:00. However, she successfully challenged her qualifying time and was accepted into April's Olympic marathon trials in Boston.
An estimated 80 to 100 women will compete in Boston April 20 for three spots on the 2008 Olympic women's marathon team. Hinkley will get a chance to view the course mid-October when she heads to the U.S. 10-km Championships.
"I'm trying to stay healthy, and not to over do it," Hinkley said. "I'm excited about the race coming up in April. It's gonna be tough."
Though she will have to wait until April for her shot at the Olympics, Hinkley qualified for the 2008 women's marathon trials, at the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn., this summer.
"The Grandma's Marathon saying goes, 'World class event, small town charm,'" said Bill Lundberg, head cross-country and track coach. "I had been saying to Sarah, 'Small town lady, world class charm.'"
Lundberg and assistant track and field coach Michael Nikkila traveled with Hinkley to Duluth on June 16. She almost opted out of the grueling 26.2 mile race earlier this summer due to overtraining.
"About three weeks prior to the marathon, I was a little worried and I thought about hanging up the shoes for awhile," Hinkley said. "My lower legs were really hurting. I had just over-trained and had gone a little too far."
To help rest up and prepare for the race, she did light running, treated her legs and spent time in the pool. Hinkley said she "still wasn't feeling sharp," but she went out and ran.
The day before, Lundberg and Nikkila helped Hinkley stripe her water bottles with tape so she could pick them out easily at aid stations during the run.
"I was dehydrated so quickly, and I needed to be drinking, but I was so nauseous that I couldn't get enough fluids," Hinkley said.
Wearing a fluorescent green jacket, Lundberg drove the course with Nikkila, jumping out at aid station or spots on the course to encourage her. In addition to the two coaches encouragement, Hillsdale alum Lewis Butler, '07, ran in the marathon with her.
"Lewis helped pull me through the last four miles, especially when I was blacking out," Hinkley said. "He helped steer me and kept me going."
Hinkley entered the race ranked 47th in the elite women, a ranking based on previous marathons and her runner's resume. She finished 6th for the women, and 92nd overall in a field that had over 6,000 entrants.
"I had to focus so hard just to stay in it," Hinkley said. "It was the hardest race I ever ran."
Because of a few seconds' discrepancy between her gun time - the time used - and her chip time, Hinkley initially missed the Olympic trials 'B' qualifying time of 2:47:00. However, she successfully challenged her qualifying time and was accepted into April's Olympic marathon trials in Boston.
An estimated 80 to 100 women will compete in Boston April 20 for three spots on the 2008 Olympic women's marathon team. Hinkley will get a chance to view the course mid-October when she heads to the U.S. 10-km Championships.
"I'm trying to stay healthy, and not to over do it," Hinkley said. "I'm excited about the race coming up in April. It's gonna be tough."
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