40 min listen
Briana Boehmer: A Difficult Decision and the Power of Support
Briana Boehmer: A Difficult Decision and the Power of Support
ratings:
Length:
41 minutes
Released:
Dec 15, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Briana Boehmer had dreamed about qualifying for an Olympic trials since she was young. But she'd let go of that dream as she moved into her 40s. In her mind, she had aged out.
Boehmer's first competitive sport was running, which she did through college. After college, she became a competitive triathlete, eventually working up to racing the Ironman distance, which involves swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and then running the distance of a marathon, 26.2 miles.
With the onset of COVID in 2020, however, Boehmer returned to running only and decided to run a marathon. This was an event she'd never done on its own, without having swum and cycled for hours before.
In her first marathon, the 2021 California International Marathon or CIM, which took place in December 5, Boehmer shocked herself by running 2:33. With that time, she set the Masters 40+ course record and earned 7th place in the open women's field.
Suddenly, those scuttled Olympic trials dreams were back up for grabs: the Olympic trials qualifying (OTQ) time for the 2024 trials was 2:37.
But there was one big hiccough: the window to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials didn't open until January 1, 2022.
After that debut marathon, Boehmer was plagued by a series of injuries that kept her from getting that OTQ. Her final opportunity was CIM 2023, on December 3, and she was eager to race in the kit of her new sponsor Oiselle, as part of the company's innovative Underbirds program.
Unfortunately, an injury flare up just one week out from CIM ultimately led to Boehmer making the incredibly tough but necessary decision to not start CIM.
This is the story of what it looks like to face the fears and disappointment of making the difficult choice not to race, when there are big dreams at stake.
This is also what it looks like to remove limiting beliefs and experience the power of unwavering support. To borrow Boehmer's words: "I've already won."
Ways to Keep Up with Briana Boehmer
Instagram: @briboehmer
Mentioned in this Episode
Oiselle: https://www.oiselle.com/
Oiselle Underbirds sponsorship program: https://www.oiselle.com/pages/year-of-the-underbird
Ari Hendrix episode on WRS: https://womensrunningstories.com/ari-hendrix-journey-to-the-olympic-marathon-trials-a-quest-to-top-the-list
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Twitter: @WomenRunStories
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.com
Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/
Women's Running Stories is proud to be featured as one of the top 20 Women's Running podcasts by Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/womens_running_podcasts/
Women's Running Stories is proud to be featured as #4 on the GoodPods top Running podcasts list
Boehmer's first competitive sport was running, which she did through college. After college, she became a competitive triathlete, eventually working up to racing the Ironman distance, which involves swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and then running the distance of a marathon, 26.2 miles.
With the onset of COVID in 2020, however, Boehmer returned to running only and decided to run a marathon. This was an event she'd never done on its own, without having swum and cycled for hours before.
In her first marathon, the 2021 California International Marathon or CIM, which took place in December 5, Boehmer shocked herself by running 2:33. With that time, she set the Masters 40+ course record and earned 7th place in the open women's field.
Suddenly, those scuttled Olympic trials dreams were back up for grabs: the Olympic trials qualifying (OTQ) time for the 2024 trials was 2:37.
But there was one big hiccough: the window to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials didn't open until January 1, 2022.
After that debut marathon, Boehmer was plagued by a series of injuries that kept her from getting that OTQ. Her final opportunity was CIM 2023, on December 3, and she was eager to race in the kit of her new sponsor Oiselle, as part of the company's innovative Underbirds program.
Unfortunately, an injury flare up just one week out from CIM ultimately led to Boehmer making the incredibly tough but necessary decision to not start CIM.
This is the story of what it looks like to face the fears and disappointment of making the difficult choice not to race, when there are big dreams at stake.
This is also what it looks like to remove limiting beliefs and experience the power of unwavering support. To borrow Boehmer's words: "I've already won."
Ways to Keep Up with Briana Boehmer
Instagram: @briboehmer
Mentioned in this Episode
Oiselle: https://www.oiselle.com/
Oiselle Underbirds sponsorship program: https://www.oiselle.com/pages/year-of-the-underbird
Ari Hendrix episode on WRS: https://womensrunningstories.com/ari-hendrix-journey-to-the-olympic-marathon-trials-a-quest-to-top-the-list
Ways to Connect and Engage with Women's Running Stories
Instagram: @womensrunningstories
Twitter: @WomenRunStories
Website: womensrunningstories.com
Email host Cherie: clouiseturner@gmail.com
Women's Running Stories is a member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/
Women's Running Stories is proud to be featured as one of the top 20 Women's Running podcasts by Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/womens_running_podcasts/
Women's Running Stories is proud to be featured as #4 on the GoodPods top Running podcasts list
Released:
Dec 15, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Ann Ashworth + Comrades Marathon: What It Takes: South African Ann Ashworth had developed into a very good runner and had a passion for long-distance running, especially her country’s crown jewel, the 90-kilometer Comrades Marathon. Over time, she recognized that she just might have the talent and drive necessary to be among the top competitors at the race. This episode follows Ann’s journey of discovering competitive running in her youth all the way through to seizing her moment at Comrades in 2018. Ann’s story is one of hard work and dedication, overcoming and never, ever letting up. Through heartbreaking disappointment, painful injuries, and financial sacrifice, Ann remained firm in her focus to vie for the top spot at this race that she holds such deep passion for: “It’s not just a running race for me,” Ann says. “It’s a deeply spiritual experience, and it’s something that makes me feel insanely patriotic. It’s just an incredibly special race for me.” This episode is part of our by Women's Running Stories