Walpole’s Westover in Olympic Marathon Trial
Saturday Race in Houston
by Chuck Bingaman
North Charlestown 5th grade teacher and Walpole resident Heidi Westover Saturday will race for the honor of representing the USA on the U.S. Olympic marathon team in London next summer.
Only the best runners in the U.S, have qualified to run this weekend--about 200 of them--and only the top three finishers will make the Olympic team.
“Making the Olympic team has been the goal of every girl on that starting line since they were in high school or even before,” Westover said on Monday. “It’s been my goal for a very long time, and it’s motivated me and many others to set their goals and to achieve them.”
Westover engaged a new coach last summer, Brad Hudson of Boulder, Colorado, who works with many of the country’s elite runners. Since that time she has worked very hard, focusing specifically on getting into the best possible condition for the marathon, the ancient 26 mile, 385 yard race. Her new coach has suggested a difficult training regimen involving two to three “long” runs of 18 to 26 miles and a total of 180 to 200 miles per week.
“I feel a lot stronger now than before,” Westover reported, “and in a short race of 5 miles in November, I improved on my previous personal best by 16 seconds!”
Westover also picked up a sponsor, Mizuno, the Japanese sporting goods manufacturer, and says that it has been a plus for her career. While Mizuno may be best known for its baseball gear, Westover said their track shoes “are really flashy...and really good!” She also noted that Mizuno will be hosting dinners in Houston Wednesday and Thursday for the women it sponsors, events she’s looking forward to.
How will it feel to line up for the 8:15 a.m. start against 200 of the best women marathoners in the country? “I’m nervous already!” Westover laughed Monday. “I started getting nervous last week! But I’m nervous for all my races, and my body seems to be handling it well.” It also helps, she said, that some of her closest running friends will be in the race, friends and competitors she knows from previous national and international races in the past few years.
How badly does Heidi want to make the Olympic team? “From representing the US in the world half-marathon championships in England and in a marathon in China past year, I know that representing our country is an incredible experience! And I just want to do it as much as I can!”
Westover left for Houston before dawn Wednesday with her personal cheering section: husband Rob, her parents, Meg and Tom Westerling of Acworth, Rob’s, parents, Cyndi and Dave Westover of Walpole, and her brother, Tom.
Highlights of both the men’s and women’s Olympic qualifying Marathons will be broadcast with same-day coverage from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday on NBC (WMUR--Manchester). Complete results and race background will be available on the website www.houston2012.com.
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