699. Sara Hall's 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials Recap

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2024

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

"This was the happy ending to it all, to all the struggle. But that's life, right? It wasn't how the story ended. But believing it was kept me in it."

Sara Hall just competed at her eighth Olympic Trials event. She went all-in for this one, hoping to make her first Olympic team. At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon in Orlando, FL, Sara ultimately finished fifth — two spots short of earning a spot on Team USA. Her 2:26:06 finish broke the American Masters Marathon Record, and as she processes what it all means for her and her journey, Sara shares in this episode that there's so much to be proud of and grateful for. (And, after her eighth Trials, it's fitting that this is Sara's eighth appearance on the Ali on the Run Show!)

FOLLOW SARA @sarahall3

SPONSORS:

Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you. (I'm an Otter!) Use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your order.
UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order.

What you'll get on this episode:

On Sara's recent car trouble, and how her body is feeling post-Trials (2:10)
What Aliphine and Sara talked about on the start line (3:50)
How serious was Sara's injury when she scratched from the Houston Half? (4:45)
All about Sara's pre-race warm-up (7:15)
Why Sara took off and threw her watch at mile 17 (9:30)
Sara shares her proudest racing moments (12:20)
On dealing with mid-race cramping (15:20)
What's next? (22:00)
Sara's first workout after the Trials (27:00)
On breaking the Master's Record at the Trials (28:40)
Sara's snapshot moment from the day (31:45)
The race plan (40:35)
How Sara processed and grieved this race with her family (40:20)
On making the final turn toward the finish line (48:40)
What it was like seeing training partner Makenna Myler at the finish (52:00)
On never giving up on your dreams (53:45)

Follow Ali:

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to the Ali on the Run Show. I'm your host Ali Feller and every week I talk with people who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond.
0:13.2	From professional athletes and celebrity runners
0:15.8	to the everyday amateur and back of the pack runner,
0:19.3	we are here to celebrate everyone and anyone
0:22.4	who enjoys a life on the run.
0:24.4	Whether you are running towards something big or away from something that's been holding
0:28.1	you back, I am here to hold your hand and help you pick up the pace. Today the U.S. Olympic Team Trials
0:34.6	marathon episodes continue. I am loving these. I hope you're enjoying them too.
0:39.2	Today you know her, you love her. You were probably rooting so hard for her during the trials.
0:46.7	My guest today is Sarah Hall. Sarah just competed in her eighth Olympic trials,
0:53.3	and she returns to the Alley on the Run show here
0:56.2	for the eighth time.
0:58.0	Sarah wanted to make this team so badly.
1:00.6	On race day, she finished fifth. She ran her heart out. She crossed the line in two
1:05.8	hours 26 minutes and six seconds and while she didn't make Team USA, she did
1:11.0	break the Masters American record in the Marathon, which was previously held by Des Linden.
1:16.0	Sarah is so easy and so fun to root for. She loves to race. She did deal with an array of injuries and setbacks leading up to the trials and then she went all in for this one.
1:27.2	It's really easy to talk about the good days. The podium finishes making the team. It's a lot harder to fall short and then talk about it on a
1:36.4	podcast I appreciate Sarah's willingness to have this conversation with me and I
1:41.8	always appreciate her openness, her honesty, and her vulnerability.
1:46.4	We both shed a few tears in this one.
1:48.3	So get your tissues and join us.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ali Feller, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Ali Feller and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.