Meet Carrie Gordon

I have been a runner for most of my life.  I started by running track and field in high school and

continued on to run cross country and track at the collegiate level at MSU-Mankato.  After graduation, I

slowly started running longer and longer distances until I ran my first marathon in 2005.  I also

participated in triathlons.  After my first marathon, I was hooked!  I had no idea what kind of time I

could run, I did not train properly, and I ended up losing my toenails because I wasn’t in the right shoes

for that long of a race.  I decided after running 4:05 in that first marathon that I could and would qualify

for Boston someday.  Fast forward to my 4th marathon, after two non-BQ marathons at 3:49 and 3:54, I

ran Grandma’s Marathon in June 2009.  I trained better and ran smarter.  The weather almost killed me

towards the end of the race (in the 80’s), but I pulled through at 3:36 to BQ for the first time.  Off to

Boston I went in 2010, and subsequently 2011 and 2012.  

I decided to take some time off from marathoning for my husband and me to try to start a family.  In

October 2013, we were blessed with the news that we were expecting a baby, due to arrive in the

summer of 2014.  The first trimester was easy and I was able to run lightly and I even did a few 5Ks.  

Shortly after entering the second trimester I ran into some issues and was no longer able to run.  I tried

to walk as much as I could, but as the pregnancy progressed, I gained more and more fluid weight,

making even walking difficult.  Baby ended up being very big as well (9lb10oz).

Landen was born in June 2014, healthy and happy.  I had to have an emergency c-section a few weeks

before his due date.  C-section meant 6 weeks until I could get the green light to run again.  5 weeks and

6 days after his birth, I laced up and hit the pavement – I just couldn’t wait any longer!  I started slowly

with low mileage and it was a real struggle to get back into shape.  It took months of running 6 days a

week with 40+ miles a week and I still was not running anywhere near where I ran pre-pregnancy.  In

late November I decided I needed to take a little time off and try again later.

I started running again in January, very easy miles on the treadmill, gradually increasing my mileage and

paces.  I decided to run the Get Lucky 7K in March and surprised myself with a 29:47 finish time.  My

confidence boosted, I decided to sign up for Goldy’s 10 mile Run in April.  I felt like things were finally

turning around.  I just didn’t realized how long it would take!  Going into Goldy’s I felt good, and I told

myself that if I ran under 1:10 I would get in contact with Coach Ron (who I knew from a friend) so that I

could seriously train for a few more races, including TCM, before baby #2.  Goldy’s went very well (other

than the hill in mile 9) and I finished in 1:08.  I emailed Coach Ron that following Monday.

Since then I have been working with Coach Ron, and I honestly feel like I am in the best running shape I

have been in since high school.  My training has helped me PR a few times this summer while training

for TCM; in June I ran 1:28 at Grandma’s in the half and recently 1:07 at Bear Water in the 10 mile.  

Some of the workouts have been tough; sometimes my legs feel dead.  The workouts and long-runs with

the team have been helpful and so much fun.  I am trusting in the process and in the training that all of

this hard work will pay off at TCM!

I never thought I’d be where I am running-wise going into TCM.  After last Fall I thought that my days of

running fast and PR-ing were over.  Training with Coach Ron has been just what I needed.  I’ve gotten

faster, my confidence has increased, and I’ve made new friends.    CANNOT WAIT FOR RACE DAY!!!

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