Three Decades, One Dream

L-R: Kristina Pham, Leah Thorvilson, Kerry Camberg, Chelsea VanDeBrake, Wendy Shulik (Producer)

I traveled to Duluth, Minnesota on June 17th to follow Heather Prekop in her third attempt to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials at Grandma's Marathon. While I was there, I met some other women who also have the same goal. They are from different parts of the country, span three decades in age and all have the same dream: to qualify for the Trials!

A few of them were going for their first-ever "B" standard qualifying time (2:46), while others who already have their "B" were trying for the elusive "A" standard (2:39). Those athletes who attain the "A" will receive financial assistance (hotel and travel to the Trials). After interviewing these ladies, it was no surprise that most cited the difficulty of juggling work, family and training and coming up with the money necessary for gear, physical therapy, entry fees and travel to races. Despite this, all of them are determined to do whatever it takes to get to the start line in Houston on 1/14/12.

Here is a video of four of the women I met in Duluth: Chelsea VanDeBrake, Kerry Camberg, Kristina Pham and Leah Thorvilson.