Interview with Maggie Wilkinson (Mrs. Tri Sam)

Maggie is my wife and mother of four children ranging in age from 10 to 1.75. She teaches math at Thornapple Kellogg High School, in Middleville, MI, and is an avid runner and a real competitor. She began her running career in her second year at Grand Rapids Community College when Greg Meyer asked her to help fill a gap on the cross country team. She had a successful season, and then turned her attention back to softball and Grand Valley State University. A few years later she started running again, entering local 5ks before moving up to the 25k, and then later the marathon. She has run the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, MI, the Grand Rapids Marathon, in Grand Rapids, and most recently, the 114th running of the Boston Marathon.

TS: First of all, congratulations on making it to and completing the Boston Marathon. This is a feat that many runners have aspired to accomplish. However, not all of us have been able to obtain this goal. So, tell me, what made you want to run a marathon of any kind in the first place?
MW: My friend Corrine was training for Bayshore and asked me to train with her. I figured if I’m going to do the training, I might as well run the marathon, so I signed up. I ended up qualifying for Boston in that race by only a second.

TS: When you were running the Grand Rapids Marathon, where you qualified for Boston for this year, was that the ultimate goal for you or were you simply trying to run the best darn marathon you could?
MW: Both. I really wanted to qualify for Boston so that I could go with my friend, Rita, but I also had just come off a good River Bank Run and wanted to see what I could do in the marathon. I had a time in mind that I wanted to beat and I did it.

TS: Running a marathon is quite an undertaking. How do you balance work, kids, and training?
MW: You (Tri Sam) give me a lot of time to train. I like the training programs that have me run 3 days a week. My body responds well to this format and it doesn’t take up a ton of time.

TS: What was the most challenging workout you completed in training for Boston?
MW: I ran a 16 mile run with a colleague of mine in the slush, with lots of wind and some snow and sleet. It was miserable, but I did it and am stronger for it.

TS: What was your favorite workout you completed in training for Boston?
MW: I ran a 20 mile run after work one Friday and it felt so good. The weather was perfect. Until then, I hadn’t run a 20 mile run that felt good the whole time.

TS: The city of Boston is quite an amazing place with a rich history. What were the highlights for you in simply being in the city itself?
MW: I’m not a big history buff, but I couldn’t get over every time you turned around there was another piece of history staring you in the face. We would walk down one street and I would feel like I was getting to know the city and then later we would walk down an adjacent street and it was completely different. I don’t know how they fit so much into such a small area. It is a wonderful city.

TS: There were some 27,000 people running the marathon. What was it like for you to be running with so many people?
MW: While running the marathon you don’t really get that there are 27,000 people running with you, the feeling of the run was similar to River Bank (5/3 Riverbank Run, Grand Rapids, MI). However, standing in line for the busses to get to athlete village and then getting to athlete village and seeing two gigantic fields loaded with people sitting down, standing up, waiting in line for the porta-potty, etc., is when it really hit me. Wow, there were a lot of people.

TS: Boston’s course is legendary. What were the highlights and challenges that the course itself?
MW: The crowds and tailgating the entire 26 miles was the highlight. I loved the uphill portions. The course was a nice course to run with tons and tons of support.

TS: The crowd support at Boston, I understand, is something to behold. What were your observations?
MW: There was never a spot along the course without crowd support. NEVER. I was expecting gaps between cities and towns. There were no gaps in spectators or support. Kids were out handing out licorice, water, oranges, and freezer pops. Everyone was cheering LOUD the entire time. There were tons of signs and lots of smiles. We were even interviewed by the local news as we were running up heart break hill.

TS: What is one of your most memorable moments during the marathon?
MW: When I was in line to get me finisher medal and got to the front, the guy putting them around our necks wouldn’t give one to me…I couldn’t figure out why. He kept looking down at my shirt and then back up at my face…I finally realized it was because I didn’t have my bib number showing. I had put a long sleeve shirt on over my running shirt and covered up my bib number. Once I lifted up my shirt and showed him my bib number, he smiled and said, “That’s the ticket” and put the medal around my neck.

TS: What was the most difficult part of the race for you?
MW: Any marathon is difficult. Just running the entire 26.2 miles and staying mentally tough.

TS: What’s more important to you, the finisher’s medal or the commemorative, technical, long-sleeved shirt?
MW: The finisher’s medal because only a finisher gets that.

TS: What did you rely on for race day nutrition along the course?
MW: I took two GU’s and drank Gatorade and water along the way. I grabbed couple of freezer pops. I love popsicles during a race.

TS: Other than your shoes and apparel, what piece of equipment could you simply not live without?
MW: I guess my fuel belt for my 16-20 mile training runs.

TS: Where was the best place to eat in Boston?
MW: Mikes Pastries

TS: Would you rather run backwards for a 5k or run a double marathon?
MW: I don’t know!!

TS: Who would be a better marathoner, the Cookie Monster or the Family Guy?
MW: Cookie Monster as long as there were cookies at the end

TS: What would be worse, forgetting your socks for a marathon or not being able to drink anything throughout the entire event?
MW: Not being able to drink anything throughout the entire event.

TS: What do you want your kids to take away from your example of running in the world’s premier marathon?
MW: Do your best with God’s given talents. Prepare and then enjoy.

TS: If you were given a $400 gift certificate for the expo at Boston, what would be the first thing you would want to buy?
MW: Since I already have my technical shirt…I guess a grey sweatshirt and some socks.

TS: Now that you’ve had a few days to limp around and lick your proverbial wounds, what’s next on the running agenda for you?
MW: Sunburst Marathon, June 5th.