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An article of mine was published yesterday to go along with the Statesman’s communities package that runs each monday. I traded e-mails with the lady and obtained info and quotes that way. Cool story. -Lee

Houck qualifies for U.S. Olympic Trials
By Lee Clarkson
Statesman Journal
November 1, 2010

A goal such as qualifying for the Olympic Trials usually involves a lifetime of focus and determination to reach.

Jennifer Houck only started seriously training for marathons last fall.

One year and three marathons later, Houck has qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic marathon trials, set for Jan. 14, 2012 in Houston.

She posted the ‘A’ standard qualifying time Oct. 10 at the Chicago Marathon, running a personal-best 2 hours, 37 minutes, 16 seconds.

Houck, 26, originally is from Duluth, Minn., where she ran distance events in high school and college. She ran two marathons after graduating from high school, but the focus was on having fun and simply finishing.

After her college career ended, Houck shifted her focus to half-marathons.

She decided to enter last fall’s Twin Cities (Minn.) Marathon without really focusing on the race. After all, she was in half-marathon training mode.

“There was no pressure to qualify during the race,” Houck said. “I thought I was in about 2:47 shape entering it, and that’s exactly what I ran.”

In January, Houck ran just under 1:16 at a half- marathon in Houston. She and her coach, Chad Salmela, decided to focus on training for full marathons.

Houck competed in the Boston Marathon on April 19. She ran 2:39:02, missing the ‘A’ standard by just two seconds.

In order to focus on her training, Houck moved from Duluth to Oregon in July. The running community here and the mild winters encouraged the move.

While working at Silverton Hospital as a physical therapist, Houck has lived in both Portland and Salem before moving to Corvallis last month.

With the ‘A’ standard within reach after her result in Boston, Houck adjusted her training in preparation for Chicago. She trained at elevation for nearly three weeks in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Houck said she was pleased with her performance in Chicago. She felt strong most of the race, save for a four mile stretch in the middle of the race.

“I fell into my pace the first 13 miles and felt strong,” Houck said. From miles 13 to 16, however, the Chicago heat began to affect her.

Houck said she got goosebumps three different times and was concerned her legs might collapse under her. She feared she was succumbing to heat exhaustion.

After slowing her pace and focusing on consuming fluids, Houck began to feel better around mile 16 and felt strong the rest of the race.

“I was hoping to run closer to 2:35, but I am very happy to have achieved the A standard for the Olympic Trials,” Houck said.

With more than a year between now and the Trials, Houck’s future competition schedule is a bit up in the air.

She tentatively plans to compete in a half- marathon in Houston in January, the U.S. 15K Championships in March, the 25K Championships in May and the Grandma’s Marathon, a local race in Duluth, in the summer.

lclarkson@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6700

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