PUBLISHED 10/22/2006
In the 29th running of the Chicago Marathon Elva Dryer was the first American woman to cross the line in an impressive marathon debut of 2:26:26. Known for her performance on the track, this petite powerhouse had a great showing here in the windy city.
Runner's World: Was the race what you expected it to be?
Elva Dryer: Actually, it was. I loved the crowds along the way and the energy they gave me. Also, the comradery among myself and a few of the other elite runners kept me going. We worked well together.
RW: What went right for you?
ED: There were too things that went right for me. First, I got myself to the start line and second, I got myself to the finish line. I've been meaning to do a marathon for a while now and my health and training were finally in line with one another so I could come and race here. Crossing the finish line was another important goal. After all, not everyone who starts gets to accomplish that.
RW: What went wrong for you?
ED: The wind was bad. It wasn't that cold, but the wind was brutle especially in the last 10K.
RW: What did you think of the course?
ED: It was true to its name: Flat and fast. I would, however, like to run the course in more ideal conditions to see how fast I could really run it.
RW: Did you run the race solo or were you in the middle of a group?
ED: I ended up running a lot of the race with Lidia Simon and Dulce Maria Rodriquez and we all worked well together. They kept me going and motivated. When I would start to drop back they would wave for me to get back up with them. It was great and really helpful.
RW: The marathon requires some different mental strategies than the 5K or 10K that you traditionally run. What kinds of strategies did you employ mentally to get you through the race?
ED: Well, I don't want to give away any of my secrets (laughs), but I do a lot of self talk and I work to push mental thoughts out of my head and replace them with positive thoughts. Always think positive-that's what I do.
RW: Did you ever hit the infamous wall?
ED: I don't think so. I was too busy battling that awful wind. Maybe what I thought was the wind was really the wall (laughs). I don't know. I only know that the wind was brutle!
RW: Did you accomplish your goals for this race?
ED: Yes, I ran the marathon I've been meaning to run for a while. I'd like to do the next one faster, but I've learned a lot from this one and I will be taking that experience with me for the future.
RW: Are you hooked on the marathon?
ED: Well, I know I want to do another one.
