Laura Murphy has been plugging away with her running since she graduated from Bowling Green State University. In that time she has twice qualified for the Olympic Marathon Trials.  Also since college, she has logged personal best times of 35:28 for 10k, 1:16.58 in the 1/2 marathon, and 2:48 in the marathon. Up next for Laura is the Boston Marathon. Read on to find out why she is running Boston and what she has been up to.

RM:  This is your first marathon in awhile. In fact, when was the last marathon you ran and what was the driving force behind you running this years Boston Marathon? Is this your first time running Boston?

LM: I ran Akron in 2005 – the first possible race to qualify for Boston 2007.  The reason for running Boston this year is mainly because it fits into the schedule.  Unlike years past when I’ve had a strict competitive calendar or targeted race, this “fits into schedule” refers more to the kids’ activities.  We have lull between basketball and swimming and baseball.

This is my first Boston. I’m not a fan of point-to-point courses, but it is one marathon that I must do, so why not now?  It’s been a hoot sort of, because it might come up in conversation that I’ve participated in two Olympic Trials marathons and peoples’ eyes will just glaze over and they nod.  When I say I’ve qualified for Boston, my running suddenly gains esteem. It is such a well known standard, even if that standard has changed over the years. 

LM: It makes me a little nervous to talk about my prep for Boston since this is probably the least running I’ve done to prepare for a marathon.   However, if I’m going to marathon into my twilight years, I’ve got to pace myself to be sure I can make it to the start line.  It will be an interesting experiment.  The training for Boston hasn’t varied much from my training over the last year, just adding a little to my average runs and of course throwing in the extra long run each week.   Swimming is also a new thing for me and I’ve tried to supplement my training with some time in the pool.  Whether this will help my running, I guess we will have to wait and see.  This is also probably the shortest training cycle I’ve gone for a marathon – but these are all changes that I think will lengthen my marathon career.

LM: The biggest hurdles will be the down hill start – I’ll take an up hill any day – and the logistics required to actually make it to the start.  I’ve had a few nightmares already about missing the start!   My idea of a great marathon is walking out my hotel door and down the street to the start, and then finishing and walking a few blocks back.  It will require more effort on my part to stay warm/cool and dry/hydrated (depending on the weather) while waiting around, but 20,000 other folks will be in the same boat, so I should be woman enough to handle it.

LM:  Making the start!   Once I do actually start, it will be a nice ride home if I’m able to hit 3:00, give or take 5 minutes.  This depends on perfect weather, of course.  I also want to feel “good”.  By “good” I mean strong and fit and not weak or exhausted too early into the race.

LM:  I feel like I’ve already ceded competitive marathoning since I don’t train with a very competitive attitude.  It is very different from the late ‘90s when marathon time was everything and place, awards, etc. were not at all on the radar.  Running a fast course and doing workouts and napping and being very running-centered in my life was when I was competitive.  Now, I can’t do that and I’ve discovered that I don’t want to do that.  I want to be fit and enjoy the challenge, but without sacrificing my kids’ activities (because I want them to be fit and have a healthy lifestyle as a priority) and the carefully balanced family life we enjoy.  Even with this current state, there are many things around the house that go undone during the highest mileage weeks (please don’t look at my kitchen floor!) but it is much shorter and not as intense as it used to be.

I’ll continue to be competitive at the shorter distances until I can’t.  It is like many other sports, in that half the victory is in showing up.  In running, if you can outlast your competition, whether in running faster or avoiding serious injury, you are going be competitive.

Thanks for the great interview Laura! (Interview conducted by Nick Cordes)