My old buddy Camille Herron is the odds on favorite at this Sunday’s Lincoln Marathon. I like her approach to racing. She’s also an Okie which makes her OK in my book. She has quite the story that I gladly share with you below.
WILL: In addition to being a 2 time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier you are now trying to win a marathon in every state in sub 2:50. That notoriety makes you one of the most recognized faces in marathoning. Does that put a target on your back? Are there any pressures?
CAMILLE: I thrive on pressure! I want to feel like I have more on the line because it gives me more incentive to push harder and win or place well. I can race well with or without competition– I’m comfortable pacing and pushing myself because I train alone. I like racing the major marathons too– if I’m healthy, fit, and racing a major, that’s when I run at my best.
I want to challenge myself in different ways, besides running fast. I like to set goals! I enjoyed winning my first marathon at Dallas White Rock in 2010, so I wanted to keep doing it and experiencing that thrill. I’ve found my niche with the prolific marathoning, and most importantly it’s fun, I meet people, and get to travel.
WILL: You won the Illinois Marathon in Champaign last weekend, in fact your competition schedule has been prodigous this year. How many races have you run? Have they all been marathons?
CAMILLE: I’ve run 4 marathons so far for 2013 and a 56K race in South Africa. Lincoln will be my 5th marathon this year. My goal has been to get 12 sub 2:45 marathons this year, to match Doug Kurtis’s feat of 12 sub 2:20 marathons in a year. However, I ran a little slower than expected at MS Blues (2:46) and then 2:45+ at Illinois, so I’m a little behind my goal. I’ve had a foot issue since last August, so I’m not quite at full speed and fitness, but at least I can keep aiming to win marathons and working towards my longterm goals. There’s also World Records for “Most wins under 2:50” (25) and “Most marathon performances under 2:50” (79).
WILL: You set a Guiness Book of World Records mark at last year’s Tulsa Marathon. Can you tell us about that distinguishing accomplishment?
CAMILLE: My foot injury last August forced me to take time off and skip the major fall marathon season. When I started back running in October, I remembered that one of my goals was to go for the superhero costume Guinness World Record. My Marathonguide.com Teammate, Michael Wardian, is the former men’s record holder. He had raced as Spiderman, and my other teammate Leah Thorvilson, had raced a 10K as Spiderwoman– between them, they were my inspirations to go for the record dressed as Spiderwoman. I knew the Route 66 Marathon was coming up, and since I went to school at The Univ. of Tulsa, it felt like the right place to do it. It was a ton of fun, but very difficult to do with all the sweating/GI problems/chafing/breathing– I ran 2:48 in the head-to-toe costume and won the marathon! I grabbed a can of ‘web fluid’ from a friend the last mile and shot it– the crowd went crazy!
WILL: You sit alongside my dear sweet Linda Kunasek on USATF’s Women’s Long Distance Running Executive Committee. First of all thank you for taking time to serve. What have you learned being involved in the very upper administrative echelons of our sport? I am very happy to see you in the fold, do you feel a sense of duty?
CAMILLE: You’re welcome! I’d gone to the Okla. USATF annual meeting, and I appreciated their support by bringing me to the National USATF meeting for the first time. It was a great learning experience! I’ve always been involved in leadership stuff. I felt like being a current elite athlete and aware of the issues impacting us, I could be the ‘voice’ for other athletes. I appreciate Kim Keenan-Kirkpatrick, Bill Roe, and Kelly Flathers for helping me figure out where I fit the best and allowing me to serve on the Executive Committees for Women’s LDR and LDR Division. I’ve already done some correspondence with them on certain issues, and it’s been wonderful being in touch with them– they’ve been very helpful! I really enjoy listening to what’s happening behind the scenes and being able to offer valued input when it’s needed. I learned about the ADP program from Linda, and I’ve passed on this information to other elites.
WILL: This will be your first time running Lincoln. There is a nice purse of $2000 for the win and another $2000 for the event record of 2:42:45. I know you well enough to say you are “In It To Win It”, but do you have any designs on the record bonus?
CAMILLE: I’m aware of both! Body willing (and conditions allowing), I’ll give it my best shot! I’m also excited about the challenge of simply running two marathons on back-to-back weekends, and seeing what I can run! I’ve done well doing them 2 weeks apart, so I’m optimistic. I’m feeling good right now, just a few days post-Illinois!
WILL: You are from Warr Acres, Oklahoma. Your husband Conor coaches at one of the colleges in OKC is that correct? Does he assist with your training or do you have another coach or do you write your programs?
CAMILLE: Yes, Conor coaches at Oklahoma City University. We moved back to Oklahoma almost 2 years ago, after being away for 6 years (Conor coached for two years at Oregon State and 4 years at Purdue). I LOVE being back home!
Conor has been coaching me since 2004. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for him! He mainly guides me on what hard workouts to do, and then I have the freedom on my mileage and other days. The past 4 years I’ve been giving him more input on mentally and physically what I feel like doing, and that’s put me more in-tune with my body and what works/doesn’t work. I’ve gotten better over time about resting and taking it easy.
I’ve got a bit of an atypical training and racing approach with all the marathons, so we really have to take it a day at a time on how I’m feeling. This year I’ve focused more on resting between marathons and only doing a few hard workouts, but if I have a good ~6-10 weeks between marathons I can train solidly and develop my fitness to get a peak performance.
WILL: What starting line can we expect to see you on, and when, after your tour of Nebraska’s capital city?
CAMILLE: I’m getting twice a week treatments on my foot right now, while continuing to train and race. I’m at a point where if I’m going to take a break and rest my body, I need to do it now. However, if I can make progress with my foot the next month, I’m going to aim for Grandma’s Marathon in June.
Camille is unconventional and that is precisely why we hit it off so well. She is as nice off the competition course as she is fierce on it. She is sponsored by INOV8 shoes and MarathonGuide.com. She brings her 2013 barnstorming tour to Lincoln this Sunday.
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