Spikesmag.com caught up with the evergreen marathoner who ran a stunning 2:30 in Copenhagen at the age of 46!
There are many of us who take shortcuts,cutting off a corner here and there whilst trying to get through life with as little effort as possible.
Then there are others like marathon runners, who are not afraid to go that extra mile to achieve their goal.
And then, there are a select few, like 46-year-old elite marathoner Colleen De Reuck, who still compete and push themselves through the pain barrier to victory, long after many her age have retired.
But what is it that keeps champions like De Reuck motivated? What is it that draws the South African-born American out ofher bed early in the morning to train? And most importantly, what is it that keeps the star on top of her game and winning so impressively like she did in Copenhagen in May?
“I just love to run,” said De Reuck. “It’s a great sport. All you need is a pair of trainers and you can do it.”
But can it be just a simple case of the love of her sport keeps her going? “No, I love to run of course, but I think mykey to longevity in the sport has been that I would train hard when I needed to train hard, but I also made sure I took down time when I knew I needed time to recover.”
It’s this fact, she insists, that has helped De Reuck to continue to compete at a high level.
The resident of Boulder, Colorado was a late bloomer in athletics, appearing for South Africa at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 at the age of 28, where she finished in a respectable ninth.
The now American national has gone on to appear in four Olympics Games, won an individual bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships and also landed marathon victories in Berlin (in a personal best of 2:26:35) and Honolulu.
To add to this list of accolades, the evergreen runner triumphed in the Copenhagen marathon in May in a sprightly 2:30:51. Not bad going for a 46-year-old.
Out of these great moments, though, one highlight stands out above all others.
“Although winning in Copenhagen recently was a wonderful feeling, I think the highlight of my career for me was winning the USA Olympic Trials in 2004, said De Reuck.
“I was just 40 then so it really was a great achievement and highlight for me.”
Of course with age comes experience, which aided De Reuck in her victory in Copenhagen earlier this year, but the runner also points towards having a family that has enabled the marathoner to have another focus in her life, giving her a release from the pressures of being an elite athlete.
“I like to spend time with my family and catch up with other things that you’ve put on hold like chores or errands.
“Although I am often on the go, it’s a way of resting from competing that helps me recharge.”
After years of pounding the streets, most marathon runners have to retire through injury.
Although De Reuck has had her fair share of injuries in the past, the distance runner has always made sure she has looked after herself and not given in to the temptation of pushing herself back before her body is ready.
“I have made sure that if I had niggles in the past, that I would stop before I had a full blown injury.
“I also made sure that if I did get injured that I was fully healthy before I started training again.”
So what tips does De Reuck have for longevity in sport?
“For me it’s important to have a strong core and that I do plenty of cross training and strength training at the gym.
“I think you also need to make sure that you take enough down time between marathons and don’t train too hard throughout the year.
“It is just as important to recuperate mentally as well as physically as you need to ensure you’re in the best condition that you can be in.”
De Reuck is not the only member of the ’40-plus club’ who has kept themselves in peak condition. Romania’s 40-year-old marathon star Constantina Dita won gold at the Beijing Olympics at the age of 38 and is still competing at the highest level. Meanwhile, Russia’s Lyudmila Petrova finished second at last year’s New York Marathon at the age of 41.
Although there are many younger runners emerging on the marathon circuit, De Reuck is keen to show that it’s ability not your age that counts. “I will definitely carry on competing as I still enjoy it and I like to keep in shape.
“Although I am not aiming to run in London 2012, I would like to run in the USA Trials even though I know I won’t make the team.
“I love being at the trials and being part of the whole setup.
De Reuck might not fancy her chances at the trials, but if her performance in Copenhagen is anything to go by, the star has plenty more miles to be run and maybe, just maybe some of those miles will be on the streets of London in 2012.
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