"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!)
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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)
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