Deena Kastor - ASICS Long Distance Runner

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• American Record Holder in the marathon (2:19.36) and half marathon (1:07.34)
• 2006 ranked #1 in the world in the marathon
• 2006 Winner London marathon
• 2005 Winner Chicago marathon
• 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist, Marathon
• Has held 12 American records in various distances

BACKGROUND

How did you start in your sport?
My mom enrolled me in our local track club when I was 11. This was after failing greatly in soccer, softball and ice skating. The first day of practice was so much fun and the sport

What does a typical training day look like?
My day is structured around training and recovery. In the past, recovery entailed a nap and a massage. Now, recovery is playing with my daughter, walking our dog or doing administrative work for the Mammoth Track Club.

What keeps you passionate about your sport?
Running, more than any other sport, has such a diverse participation, that although I love act of running, it is at competitions that I am able to connect with the other passionate runners in our sport. Whether it is a first time racer, a charity runner, a veteran marathoner or a fellow professional runner, races are a chance to mutually inspire one another.

What continues to drive you forward?
Running, more than any other sport, has such a diverse participation, that although I love act of running, it is at competitions that I am able to connect with the other passionate runners in our sport. Whether it is a first time racer, a charity runner, a veteran marathoner or a fellow professional runner, races are a chance to mutually inspire one another.  

What made you realize you had made it?
Once I moved to altitude and began working with Coach Vigil, I knew I would improve in the sport. What surprised me, was how improvement in running translates to improvement in life. Coach Vigil instilled great philosophies and always connected progress on a professional and personal level. He helped me make great decisions and once you build on a series of good decisions, success comes much easier. So, I "made it" the day I decided to work with Coach Vigil in the sport is the mental strength and clarity that running offers. This empowerment through running is what keeps me in the game.