Molly Seidel taught us a lot about heart on Friday in the Olympic marathon.
Seidel, running in just her third marathon, earned the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics with a sensational effort on a day where athletes faced oppressive conditions from the heat and humidity. She is just the third American woman to ever medal in the Olympic marathon.
The former Notre Dame cross country and track & field star finished in 2:27:46 with a huge negative split. She went through half in 1:15:14, before ratcheting down the pace the rest of the way to close in 1:12:32.
Seidel ran alone for the final 2K, a spot where marathoners know they have to dig deep. She kept eventual Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir (2:27:20) and silver medalist Brigid Kosgei (2:27:36) well in her sights the whole way. It should be noted that Kosgei entered the race as the reigning Olympic champion and set the women’s world record at the Chicago Marathon two years ago.
On a personal note, I lined up next to Seidel about 20 months ago at the Rock N Roll San Antonio Half Marathon. That’s where Seidel qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials – a race where she’d finish second – after dipping well below the qualifying standard in 1:10:27.
Want to know the crazy part? I didn’t notice that aforementioned fact until after the race when I looked at post-race photos! Either I’m totally oblivious or so locked in before a race that I don’t notice what’s going on around me (There is also a chance that it’s both of those instances).
Tonight, we shall raise a glass to Molly Seidel for an amazing effort in the Olympic marathon and hope to replicate at least half of her tenacity the next time we toe the starting line of our own marathon (Speaking of which, I’ll be racing the Chicago Marathon in October and will be coming nowhere close to the mark that Kosgei threw down two years ago).