Brett Ely: My day to day schedule can vary a bit, but I usually wake up around 6am, get to work around 7-7:30, and stay until 4:30-5pm. I run twice most days, and have three slots available: before work, during lunch, or after work. I like running first-thing in the morning, but that’s also when I’m most productive at the office so I more often get in 6-8 miles mid-day and then do a second run or a workout after I’m done for the day. I eat at least five times a day and have an impressive snack drawer in my office file cabinet. I’ll cook dinner after work/running, and then spend a few hours doing little projects around the house, catching up on phone calls, e-mails, and plans, or–best of all–relaxing with my husband. I try to get to bed by 10 and I’m usually pretty good about that. Weekends are a mixture of long runs, workouts, errands, home renovations, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life.

BE: I work full time as a research technician and coordinator at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. Most of the reseach projects I work on involve thermal physiology, and while I absolutely love my job, it can make training more difficult. If we have a heat protocol going, I’m spending several hours a day in an environmental chamber between 104-120 degrees Farenheight and find myself working 10-12 hour days. But, thankfully, when we’re not collecting data my job can be pretty flexible and I’m able to get a training run in during my lunch break. I’m very grateful to be able to run at a farily high level and have a career I’m really passionate about.

In addition to my job, I run for the Boston Athletic Association and receive coaching, travel support, and some great Adidas gear and shoes from them. The support from the club, the coaches, and my stud teammates are a big part of what makes this journey fun.

BE: I do alot of self-maintenance with core work, stretching, and foam-rolling. In addition, I have an incredible massage therapist (Carly Shea) and chiropractor (Dr. Victoria VanNederynen at Performance Health Center).

BE: BAA teammates, both in the race (Diana Bowser, Heather Cappello, Kasie Enman, Jeannette Faber, and Lucas Meyer) and on the course spectating.

• Our coach, Terry Shea, who will probably be more nervous and possibly cover more miles during the race than we will.
• My Craftsbury running camp family, an incredible group of individuals who attend Craftsbury Outdoor Center Running Camp where I coach for a week each summer.
• Most importantly, my husband Matt. There’s no other face I’d rather see at the end of the race.

BE: I’ll cover them with a blue and gold BAA logo.  While I may be the only girl over the age of eight who decorates things with colorful unicorns, the logo is easy to spot and I’m proud to be part of the team.

 

See Interviews with other Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifiers.