Track coach misses Olympics after Boston marathon
On track to run a great race, coach cramped up but returns to Hillsdale ready to coach and still running
Emily Breiner
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Sports
It was perfect marathon weather - mid 40s, breezy and the streets of Boston, Mass., were flooded with runners. One hundred and twenty four women ran in Sunday's Olympic qualifying marathon.
Hillsdale's assistant track coach Sarah Hinkley was among them. With a time of 2:53.15, Hinkley finished in 106th place.
"I was on pace to run a really great race, but I got cramped up through mile 18," Hinkley said. "I'm not really happy with the race, but it was a great opportunity to race in the Olympic qualifiers."
Though she will not compete in the Olympics, she plans to continue marathon training. She will take some recovery time in the next month to decide in which marathon to compete.
"If I had come off the marathon really well, I probably would have started training for 10-k races, but my body is not responding the way I want it to so for now I'll keep marathon training," Hinkley said.
This was Hinkley's third marathon. She started training for the Olympic qualifiers in December.
Hinkley ran a pre-Olympic qualifying marathon in Duluth, Minn., last June. Although she missed the qualifying time of 2:47.00 by .03 seconds, she asked her time be reconsidered. Officials accepted her time for the Olympic marathon trials this month.
Hinkley manages her own training and in addition to running, puts all she has into her full-time coaching job.
"I don't know if I've been able to balance coaching and my own training as well as I've liked," Hinkley said. "I'm up in the air about getting a coach. It would be more beneficial, but I'm stubborn."
Despite the difficult management of two practice schedules, the women's track team reveres her as an exceptional coach. Sophomore Erin Cvengros said Hinkley often runs with the team during practice.
"I do my hard workout in the mornings and run my recovery workouts with the team," Hinkley said.
Senior Jen Gunderson said Hinkley was probably the best coach she has ever had.
"She knows how we're feeling and predicts our times really well," Gunderson said. "It's nice to have a coach who can run with you during practice."
A recent graduate from Western Michigan University, Hinkley understands the ways of a college athlete.
"I think the most important thing a coach can do is seeing how her athletes are doing individually," Hinkley said. "Sure, there's a science behind it, but it's important to look at how each athlete responds."
Hillsdale's assistant track coach Sarah Hinkley was among them. With a time of 2:53.15, Hinkley finished in 106th place.
"I was on pace to run a really great race, but I got cramped up through mile 18," Hinkley said. "I'm not really happy with the race, but it was a great opportunity to race in the Olympic qualifiers."
Though she will not compete in the Olympics, she plans to continue marathon training. She will take some recovery time in the next month to decide in which marathon to compete.
"If I had come off the marathon really well, I probably would have started training for 10-k races, but my body is not responding the way I want it to so for now I'll keep marathon training," Hinkley said.
This was Hinkley's third marathon. She started training for the Olympic qualifiers in December.
Hinkley ran a pre-Olympic qualifying marathon in Duluth, Minn., last June. Although she missed the qualifying time of 2:47.00 by .03 seconds, she asked her time be reconsidered. Officials accepted her time for the Olympic marathon trials this month.
Hinkley manages her own training and in addition to running, puts all she has into her full-time coaching job.
"I don't know if I've been able to balance coaching and my own training as well as I've liked," Hinkley said. "I'm up in the air about getting a coach. It would be more beneficial, but I'm stubborn."
Despite the difficult management of two practice schedules, the women's track team reveres her as an exceptional coach. Sophomore Erin Cvengros said Hinkley often runs with the team during practice.
"I do my hard workout in the mornings and run my recovery workouts with the team," Hinkley said.
Senior Jen Gunderson said Hinkley was probably the best coach she has ever had.
"She knows how we're feeling and predicts our times really well," Gunderson said. "It's nice to have a coach who can run with you during practice."
A recent graduate from Western Michigan University, Hinkley understands the ways of a college athlete.
"I think the most important thing a coach can do is seeing how her athletes are doing individually," Hinkley said. "Sure, there's a science behind it, but it's important to look at how each athlete responds."
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