Ariana Hilborn is very excited to run the Olympic Trials and aims to finish with no regrets! Hilborn is one of the few olympic trials qualifiers that did not compete in the sport of running through high school or college. Hilborn ran her first marathon in 2008 in 4:36. 10 marathons later she ran a 2:37 for the A standard. To Hilborn the journey has been a dream come true!
Runners Feed: Take us through a typical day of your life…
Ariana Hilborn: Living in Arizona makes for very early morning running from April until November. Usually we are starting by 4am during those months! I normally wake up, make mine and my husband Matt’s lunches for the day, have some tea, and check emails before I head out for my first run of the day. After my run, I do my cooldown routine and stretch, have some protein, breakfast, and COFFEE!! Then it is time to walk my 90 pound black lab, Tank. After our walk, I will get ready to work a shift at our local running store, Sole Sports. At work, it seems like I am always eating! When running 100+ miles a week, I have to be diligent about getting enough nutrition. After work, I will head out for run #2 followed by some type of strength work- either core or general strength. I eat a pretty early dinner- between 5pm and 6pm. By this time, I am starving! I roll my legs for 20 minutes on the foam roller every single night. The last thing I do before I go to bed is 15 minutes of visualization work. Oh, and how could I forget about some type of dessert and tea nightly! I have the biggest sweet tooth! I am usually in bed by 8pm reading to wind down from the day. My husband works full time so we spend most of our quality time together on the weekends.
RF: Do you work full or part-time while training? If so, what do you do? If not, what has kept you afloat while you pursue your dream?
AH: I had taught first grade the last 6 years and loved my job. However, I knew that I would not be able to give 100% to my kiddos and to training my best. I decided to take a leave from my job to focus on getting ready for the Olympic Trials. I knew that I would regret it if I did not take the opportunity to train as a ‘professional runner’ would. I still work part time at Sole Sports, and my bosses Lance and Karen have been so supportive of my goals. I have weekends to spend with my husband and we are able go up north get some altitude training in, and they have also adjusted my schedule for my highest mileage weeks. As we are getting closer to the trials, I am not working as much, but I love my job at the store and the staff is so awesome!
My husband Matt has really been my number one support. He is just amazing. He is working very hard so that I can take some time off to train. He is at every race and is so encouraging. I honestly could not do this without him. I also get tons of support from my family- my dad, sister, brother, and best friend are all running their first marathons in Houston, so it will be an amazing weekend! I am so excited to cheer them on! My coach, John Reich is the absolute best. He knows how to coach me so well and I have complete trust in him. My running club the Bandidos have also been great. They have been encouraging me throughout this entire journey. Whew! I am one lucky girl!
Brooks has been so supportive of my goals and I love working with them! I am also fed well by Perfect Foods Bars. They provide me with my daily breakfast and snack, so I am very grateful to be a part of the Perfect Foods family!
RF: When the going gets tough on the 14th what will keep you gunning for the finish line?
AH: I am going in to the race with the feeling that I do not want to have any regrets at the finish line. I am the fittest I have ever been and I am ready for a huge breakthrough in the marathon. I have to keep remembering that I can do this and to stay ‘relentlessly positive’. I know that all of my friends and family will be running with me in spirit, so that alone will get me to the finish line!
Rapid Fire
RF: What will you eat the night before?
AH: My stand-by- rice, chicken, potatoes for lunch, rice, banana and honey for dinner. My stomach is super sensitive and this combo works for me!
RF: Race day shoes?
AH: Brooks T7- I am so in love with these shoes.
View our list of 2012 Olympic Trials Qualifiers Here
